ES1135983U - PORTABLE FLUID HEATING EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Portable fluid heating equipment comprising a control element and a peripheral resistor (9), where the control element includes a thermostat and three outputs: - a first output (1) for connection to the network - a second output (7) for connection to peripheral resistance (9) - a third output for connection to a submersible probe for temperature control (14) characterized in that the control element additionally includes: - a differential switch (2) for protect against a possible branch - a contactor (4) - switch (15) to eliminate the possibility of electric shock - a power regulator (5) that allows the fluid to be heated with a variable heating rate. - a transformer (10) which allows operating at voltages of 220 V and 125 V. 2. Portable fluid heating equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it presents in the control element two additional pilots (18, 17). 3. Portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the control element incorporates a voltmeter (6) for measuring the voltage to which the resistance is subjected (9). 4. Portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes a submersible pump. 5. Portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control element is arranged in a box which is provided with elements (19) that allow the entry and exit of air, which enables the cooling of the equipment with air by natural convection.

Description

5 SECTOR AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of liquid heating devices with means for producing heat, and more specifically to portable water heaters. The main object of the present invention is a portable fluid heating equipment

10 with working power regulation, equipped with means that give it advantages over similar devices in the state of the art, such as: - differential switch to protect against possible shunts - switch to eliminate the possibility of electric shock when handling the bath -power control module that allows varying the intensity and therefore a rate of

15 variable heating - possibility of operation at both 220 V and 125 V.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Liquid heating devices are currently known in the state of the art,

20 mainly water, especially applied in research and analysis laboratories, chemical or pharmaceutical factories, clinics, hospitals, etc. Said water heaters currently on the market have among others the following drawbacks:

25-They heat the water with a heating element and recirculate it with a pump so that the temperature is homogeneous, this implies movement of the fluid, which is not suitable for this type of experiments.

-

They use thermostats, whose operation is based on a continuous cut and reset of their 30 devices to reach the required temperature again.

-

The use of thermostats involves reading, by means of a probe, the water temperature. Depending on the location of the probe (vertical - horizontal coordinates), a temperature reading is obtained, which may or may not coincide with the one we want to achieve. From

otherwise, if the probe is immersed in the bottom of the channel, the thermostat will be governed by the temperature at the bottom of the channel and not by the temperature in the area of the channel where experiments are usually carried out, that is, , on the surface.

5 -These thermostats generally have a pump for the recirculation of the liquid, which causes turbulence and undesirable flow movements.

-

Use of electrical immersion resistors located inside the liquid to be heated, which also produce very large variations in liquid temperature between 10 different parts of the container, which depending on the length, volume-surface of the liquid-channel and power of the heating element , may be of the order of 4 and 5 ° C.

-

They have large dimensions, occupying a considerable volume and preventing their transport and handling in different laboratories or places. 15 -Its installation is, as stated in the previous point, quite complex and difficult.

The Spanish patent 2372085 aims at a portable thermal bath of special application in laboratory experiments and research centers, which comprises:

20 -a channel inside which is a volume of liquid to be heated, -a resistive heating cable located on the outer face of the channel evenly distributed along its surface, which is connected to an external power supply that It provides electric energy producing its heating, and by means of which it is possible to regulate the temperature of the liquid without modifying the

25 voltage and intensity values transmitted to the heating cable, and - an insulating layer arranged below the heating cable, wrapping the outer surface of the channel, said insulating layer being adapted to make the outside ambient temperature less influential, as well as preventing loss of heat, so that it is transmitted entirely to the channel, which in turn heats the liquid

30 content inside. The operation of this device has revealed some possibilities for improvement, especially in relation to: -possibility of heating up to the designated temperature progressively. -versatility in terms of work volume -capacity of operation at variable tensions

-protection against possible shunts -Best protection for the operator during bathroom handling -portability

The heating equipment object of the present invention incorporates elements to provide it with the best references.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

10 The portable fluid heating equipment with working power regulation allows to maintain a hot bath at the setpoint temperature, presenting, in addition, several complementary qualities that differentiate it from other similar devices that are available in the market. First, it shows the possibility of heating up to the designated temperature progressively, with a rate of

15 heating that can be adjusted at the desired speed.

Secondly, this heating can be done with high power resistors, up to 4000 W, which allows a progressive heating, with controlled setpoint temperature, for a large volume of fluid, up to 250 L capacity. This versatility 20 in terms of work volume allows examining the responses of a large number of experimental or industrial units for all types of fluids, solids or biological materials, to various experimental heating ramps. This possibility of increasing the number of experimental or industrial replicas has a double advantage: on the one hand its performance is increased and, secondly, it confers greater reliability and

25 precision to the experiment or to the industrial procedure from the moment that allows to reduce the number of experimental sessions reducing, therefore, the instrumental error.

Third, the equipment has been designed to operate at variable voltages of 125 V and 220 V, which allows its use in laboratories with different working voltages.

30 Fourth, the equipment has a differential installed to protect it from possible shunt. It also has a contactor that allows, voluntarily, and through a switch, to cut the current to the contactor coil by totally suspending the

resistance current and, therefore, eliminating the possibility that the operator suffers an electric shock during the manipulation of the bathroom.

The latter qualities determine added advantages in terms of safety both for the operator and for the equipment. Finally, the device is small in size, which gives it the quality of being portable and can be easily moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

10 Figure 1: Perspective view of the equipment: A) from a first position B) from a second position.

Figure 2: Electrical scheme of the equipment

15 Figure 3: Thermal profiles simulating two circadian rhythms subjected to different heating rates:

A) Ramp Tmax 35.0 ºC Heating: On: 07.30 am, Tinicial 18.0 ºC; Off: 02.30 pm. Final 35.0 ºC (ΔT = 17 ºC, T = 420 min). Rate = 0.040 ºC / min 20 B) Ramp Tmax 24.0 ºC. Heating, On: 07.30 am, Tinicial 16.5 ºC; Off: 02.30 pm. Tfinal 24.0 ºC (ΔT = 7.5 ºC, T = 420 min). Rate = 0.017 ° C / min

List of references (Figures 1 and 2)

1. Plug the equipment into a grounded network.

25 2. Differential.

3.

Magnetothermal

Four.

Contactor

5.

Power regulator.

6.

Voltmeter.

30 7. Resistance outlet with earth connection.

8.

Earth resistance plug.

9.

Resistance with grounding shield.

10.

Transformer from 125 to 220 V. Optional, only for 125 V equipment.

eleven.

Thermostat, thermometer.

12.

Thermostat power.

13.

Thermostat relay for resistance connection.

14.

Probe.

fifteen.

Manual switch for resistance disconnection.

5 16. Orange light indicating the disconnection of resistance.

17.

Red light indicating that the resistance is connected.

18.

Green light indicating that the equipment is connected and ready to operate.

19.

Presses

10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a portable fluid heating equipment comprising a control element and a peripheral resistance (9). The control element includes a thermostat (11) and three outputs:

15 -a first output (1) for connection to the network -a second output (7) for connection to the peripheral resistance (9) -a third output for connection to a submersible probe for temperature control (14)

20 The control element additionally includes: -a differential switch (2) to protect against a possible shunt -a contactor (4) - switch (15) to eliminate the possibility of electric shock in the bathroom manipulation. -a power regulator (5) that allows the fluid to be heated with a heating rate

25 variable -a transformer (10) that allows operating at voltages of 220 V and 125 V

In a preferred embodiment, the heating equipment has two additional pilots in the control element (17,18).

In another preferred embodiment, the equipment incorporates a voltmeter (6) in the control element to measure the voltage to which the resistor (9) is subjected, which provides information on the heating rate.

Optionally, the equipment can include a submersible pump that would be introduced into the bathroom to make the bath water recirculate and achieve a homogeneous temperature in it.

Preferably, the control element is contained in a box that is provided with elements that allow the entry and exit of air, which makes it possible to cool the equipment with air by natural convection. In a particular configuration, these elements are cable presses (19) that are attached to the wall of the equipment box but without cable inside, that is, gaps, in order for air to pass through it and cool the equipment.

In a preferred embodiment, the equipment consists of a box of small dimensions (20 cm x 20 cm x 15 cm approx.) (Figures 1A and 1B) with a maximum weight of about 3.5 kg, and a resistance ( 9) which is connected peripherally through a plug (8). In this box you will find all the mechanisms and three cables come out of it: one with a plug (1) to connect to the network, the device being able to be operational at both 220 V and 125 V thanks to a transformer (10) (Figure 2). The second cable has a plug (7) to connect the resistor. This peripheral connection of the resistor (9) allows, on the one hand, the option of a quick replacement, if the resistance is damaged, or, alternatively, allows the equipment a wide versatility, both in the type of resistors to be used, which can vary in design, power or tension, as in the possibility of heating bathrooms with different depth or surface characteristics depending on the needs and requirements in their industrial use as research. The third cable is the submersible probe (14) for temperature control.

The equipment has a differential (2) installed to protect a possible branch. The rationale for this differential (2) is to provide additional security for the equipment and its operator. The main advantage of this additional protection is that in the event of a device failure, this jump in the installed differential (2) would not affect the general laboratory or room differential, so that the rest of the electrical equipment connected in the general installation would not remain Out of service. This differential, therefore, can avoid an unnecessary loss of time and resources by stopping the rest of the experiments and ongoing industrial processes. This differential (2) can be installed with different sensitivities. In the example presented, it carries a differential of 30 mA, being able to install one of 10 mA

similar to those wearing whirlpools. Likewise, the resistor (9) that is installed has a heating cable shield. In the event that there is a bypass, the leakage current would be annulled by the shield causing the differential protection to skip, but in no case would the operator handling the bathroom suffer any discharge. Likewise, the equipment has a magnetothermal protection (3) to protect any short circuit that occurs in it, while it acts as a switch.

Another safety element that the equipment has is a contactor (4). Its function is to eliminate the possibility of suffering an electric shock by the operator. Although the thermostat

(eleven)

that is installed has a relay (13) with enough intensity to connect and disconnect the resistor, the relay (13) actually cuts only one pole of the line, while the other pole would be submerged in the bathroom. This situation is extremely dangerous if the resistor does not have a resistive cable with shielding protection, since the operator could suffer a discharge of hundreds of volts with respect to ground. Installing a contactor (4) avoids that there is always a network pole submerged in the bathroom even if the resistor (9) is not working. It has been proven that the greatest electrical risk occurs when the resistor (9) is not working but there is an active cable in the bathroom. When the resistor (9) is working, there is no danger, even if the two cables are inside the bathroom, since when connected, the resistor (9) serves as a load and the peripheral voltage is much lower. In short, with the contactor (4) it is possible to ensure that there is no current in the bathroom when the resistor (9) is not working and in this way the risk of electric shock is avoided. For more safety, a switch (15) is installed, which the operator can operate manually when he or she needs to manipulate in the bathroom. This switch (15) would cut off the current to the contactor coil (4), with the resistance remaining

(9)

without power and, in this case, there is no possibility of electrical risk. The manual operation of the switch (15) is indicated by a visual signal by means of a pilot (16), which when lit indicates that there is no current in the resistor. When the operator has finished manipulating in the bathroom, re-activate the switch (15) and the pilot light

(16)

It shuts down, so that the device continues its normal operation.

On the other hand, the device has two additional pilots. The first, green

(18)

which indicates that there is a network and that the device is working, and a second red light (17), which indicates that the thermostat gives way to the contactor to feed the resistance (9). The resistance (9) is then loaded. This way you can know through the dial of

thermostat (11) at which temperatures the resistance is connected and heats the bath, being able to visually check the temperature range of the hysteresis and, therefore, the operating range of the thermostat (11). The equipment incorporates a thermostat (11) provided with its corresponding power supply (12) in order to maintain a fixed temperature in the bathroom. Its theoretical hysteresis is ± 0.1 ºC, advising the use of a small submersible pump in the bath to make the water recirculate and thus achieve a uniform temperature distribution in it. This favors the achievement of a real hysteresis of about 0.3-0.5 ° C. The equipment incorporates a probe (14) of the submersible type, much more precise, and therefore allowing its experimental hysteresis to be reduced as well.

On the other hand, the equipment incorporates a power regulator (5), manually controlled by the operator, which allows varying the intensity and, thus, causing the resistance (9) to heat the bathroom with a variable heating rate. To have a quantitative estimate of the intensity of regulation, the equipment incorporates a voltmeter (6) that marks which voltage the resistance is being subjected to, so that at higher voltage, the heating of the bath is faster and at lower voltage, the heating It is slower. This possibility of regulation of the intensity supposes an added benefit that translates into a greater precision in the setpoint temperature. Once this has been reached, the thermostat (11) stops and when the resistance (9) is reconnected, if the intensity has been adjusted to a low voltage, the heating provided to the bath would imply a very small heat output. This will determine a much narrower setting by achieving a minor experimental hysteresis, which can approach the theoretical hysteresis of ± 0.1 ° C, and ultimately, a more precise and less variable setpoint temperature. The box where the elements of the equipment are inserted have holes of the cable press type (19), which allow the cooling of the equipment by means of the entry and exit of hot air in the form of natural convection, while the entry of water by splashing or spilling liquids on the equipment.

To operate the equipment, it is connected and a setpoint temperature is selected in the thermostat (11). The thermostat (11) is also a thermometer and indicates the temperature of the bath water. From here, it is possible to select in the power control (5) the temperature rise ramp that you want to obtain by guiding us with the voltmeter (6). This allows you to get more or less rapid temperature rises

until the setpoint temperature of the thermostat (11) is reached in the bath and, at that time, the resistor (9) stops its operation and stops heating. The regulation of the power control (5) allows to establish a gradual heating that can be very useful in numerous industrial processes or in experimental designs in physical-chemical or biological research. For example, in the establishment of heating against different ramps that can simulate even heating cycles of the circadian type (see Figure 3). Ultimately with the power control it is possible to adapt the energy provided to the resistance so that a predetermined heating rate can be adjusted.

Claims (3)

1.-Portable fluid heating equipment comprising a control element and a peripheral resistor (9), where the control element includes a thermostat and three outputs: 5 -a first output (1) for connection to the network -a second output (7) for connection to the peripheral resistance (9) -a third output for connection to a submersible probe for temperature control (14) characterized in that the control element additionally includes: 10 -a differential switch (2) to protect against a possible shunt -a contactor (4) - switch (15) to eliminate the possibility of electric shock -a power regulator (5) that allows the fluid to be heated at a rate of variable heating -a transformer (10) that allows operating at voltages of 220 V and 125 V 2. Portable fluid heating equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two additional pilots in the control element (18, 17). 3. - Portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 20 1 and 2, characterized in that the control element incorporates a voltmeter (6) to measure the voltage to which the resistance (9) is subjected. 4.-Portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes a submersible pump. 5. A portable fluid heating equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control element is arranged in a box which is provided with elements (19) that allow the entry and exit of air, which It allows the cooling of the equipment with air through natural convection. DRAWINGS Figure 1A Figure 1B Figure 2 Figure 3