TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to an apparatus, system and method for heating fluids, and in particular for generating heat from renewable sources of energy.

BACKGROUND

In an effort to use sources of renewable energy, systems and devices have been introduced which use "natural" energy such as wind, through the use of wind turbines; sun, through the use of solar panels; water power, such as wave or tidal power; and the like. Wind energy may be particularly variable, given that wind tends to increase and decrease in power, and/or change direction, quite regularly. However, currently all such natural power sources, including wind power, have been used solely to generate electricity (directly); indirectly, such electricity may then be used for various applications, including with regard to heating of water, for example.

Heating fluids can be done in various way, typically by utilizing electric power, for example an electric heating element. According to another example disclosed in US 486443, a hydraulic friction heat generator is provided, having a cylindrical housing through which passes a motor driven drive shaft along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of discs is mounted on the shaft. Each disc has two or more generally radial slits extending radially inward from the disc periphery. Part of each disc adjacent a slit is angled or feathered outward from the plane of the disc, thereby to form a vane for pumping the hydraulic fluid axially. The discs are spaced from each other to provide free space between adjacent discs in which a high shear zone is created for heat generation by molecular collision in the hydraulic fluid. Heated hydraulic fluid is circulated through a heat exchanger by an impeller. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The background art does not teach or suggest an apparatus, system or method for directly heating a fluid such as water from a mechanical form of renewable energy, such as from wind power for example.

The present invention, in at least some embodiments, overcomes these drawbacks of the background art by providing an apparatus, system and method of use thereof for directly heating a fluid, such as water for example, from a mechanical form of renewable energy, such as from wind power for example, through the induction of turbulence.

Surprisingly, the present inventors have found that the induction of turbulence is beneficial for the heating of a fluid, contrary to the teachings of the prior art, which indicate that turbulence is to be avoided, particularly with regard to wind power.

In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a fluid regime characterized by chaotic, stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time. Flow that is not turbulent is called laminar flow. Turbulent flow for some applications is undesirable as it is uneven and may cause inefficiencies. However, for the present invention, such turbulent flow is desirable, for example for increasing the rate and/or extent of heating, and also, for at least some embodiments of the present invention, for increasing the evenness and extent of heating when a fluid is to be directly heated through action of the wind turbine, for example through better mixing of the fluid.

According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a vessel containing fluid, and a shaft that rotates due to power supplied by a renewable energy source, thereby inducing turbulence (directly or indirectly) within the fluid of the vessel.

According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, the shaft is rotated by a mechanical input element that is powered by a renewable energy source.

According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, the renewable energy is selected from a group consisting of wind and water. Although the below discussion mainly centers upon wind power, it should be understood that any suitable mechanical source of renewable energy, such as water power, may also supply power to the system and apparatus as described herein. The shaft rotates, thereby rotating the rotor and hence inducing turbulence in the fluid. It should be understood that the rotor may optionally move according to any suitable movement, including but not limited to lateral movement for example, such that its movements are not limited to rotation.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided an apparatus for heating fluid. The apparatus includes a chamber containing fluid therein, a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on a shaft extending inside the chamber. The at least one turbine blade being configured to extracts mechanical energy from an external fluid flow outside the chamber thereby creating a rotary motion of the shaft. The apparatus further includes at least one rotor disposed in the chamber and mounted on the shaft so as to rotate therewith in a first direction of rotation; and at least one stator disposed in the chamber in a such disposition with respect to the rotor that the temperature of fluid disposed therebetween increases in response to the rotation of the rotor.

The rotor can be configured to create a turbulent flow of the fluid inside the chamber. The turbulent flow can have a Reynolds number larger than 4000.

The at least one of the rotor and the stator includes at least one surface oriented transversely with respect to the first direction of rotation. The at least one surface can be in the form of a plurality of radially oriented blades.

According to an example both the rotor and the stator include a plurality of radially oriented blades, and wherein the disposition of the stator is such that the blades on the rotor face the blades of the stator.

The at least one stator can include a first stator and a second stator and wherein the at least one rotor is disposed between the first stator and the second stator. The at least one stator can be a counter rotor rotating in a second direction counter to the first direction of rotation of the at least one rotor.

The turbine can be a vertical-axis wind turbine, alternatively, the turbine can be a horizontal-axis wind turbine wherein at least one turbine blade includes a gear arrangement for rotating the shaft. The at least one turbine blade can be a savonius blade, alternatively the at least one turbine blade can be a darrieus blade.

According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a system for heating water. The system includes a water tank, a chamber containing heating fluid therein, a turbine having at least one turbine blade mounted on a shaft extending inside the chamber, the at least one turbine blade being configured to extracts mechanical energy from an external fluid flow outside the chamber thereby creating a rotary motion of the shaft, at least one rotor disposed in said chamber and mounted on said shaft so as to rotate therewith in a direction of rotation, at least one stator disposed in said chamber in a such disposition with respect to said rotor that the temperature of fluid disposed therebetween increases in response to the rotation of said rotor, and a heat exchange mechanism disposed between said chamber and said water tank for exchanging heat between the heating fluid and water inside the water tank. The heat exchange mechanism includes a closed-loop fluid conduit extending inside the water tank between an inlet of the chamber and an outlet thereof, such that the heating fluid therein flows from and toward the chamber thereby exchanging heat with the water in the water tank.

The water tank can further include an electric heating element for heating the water contained therein together with or instead of the heat exchange mechanism.

The rotor can be configured to create a turbulent flow of the fluid inside the chamber. The turbulent flow can have a Reynolds number larger than 4000.

According to an example at least one of the rotor and the stator includes at least one surface oriented transversely with respect to the direction of rotation. The at least one surface is in the form of a plurality of radially oriented blades. According to an example, both the rotor and the stator include a plurality of radially oriented blades, and wherein the disposition of the stator is such that the blades on the rotor face the blades of the stator.

The system can further include all the features described hereinabove with regards to the apparatus for heating fluid

According to yet another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a method for heating fluid inside a chamber. The method includes disposing a turbine at least partially in an external fluid flow outside the chamber, the turbine having at least one blade mounted on a shaft extending inside the chamber, the at least one blade being configured to extracts mechanical energy from the external fluid flow thereby creating a rotary motion of the shaft. The method further includes mounting at least one rotor on the shaft inside the chamber such that the rotor is rotated by the rotary motion, and mounting at least one stator in the chamber in a disposition with respect to the rotor, such that the temperature of fluid disposed therebetween increases in response to the rotary motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1A is a side sectional view of a fluid heating apparatus according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. IB is a to sectional view of a rotor taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1 A

Fig. 2A is a side sectional view of a system for heating fluids according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 2B is a perspective view of a rotor and stator arrangement in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 2C is a perspective view of a rotor and stator arrangement in accordance with another example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 3A is a side sectional view of a system for heating fluids according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 3B is a top view of a rotor and stator arrangement in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of a system for heating fluids according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Figure 5 shows an exemplary system block diagram, showing other components; and

Figure 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for heating a fluid through application of the system of Fig. 3A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention, in at least some examples, is of an apparatus, system and method of use thereof for directly heating a fluid, such as water for example, from a mechanical form of renewable energy, such as from wind power for example, through the induction of turbulence.

The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1A is of an exemplary, illustrative apparatus according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, featuring a rotor and a stator in a single chamber 108; Figure IB shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor, drawn through line "A-A" of Fig. 1A . As shown, an apparatus 100 features a wind turbine 102 for extracting mechanical power from wind (optionally such a turbine could also be easily adapted to receive power from water or flow and any fluid) and having at least one turbine blade 101 mounted on a shaft 104. Sufficient wind applied to the turbine blades 101 of the wind turbine 102 creates a rotary motion thereof. The turbine 100 is illustrated here as a horizontal- axis wind turbine having a gear arrangement for transferring the rotational motion of the blades to the shaft.

The shaft 104 extends inside the chamber 108 where it is connected to a rotor 106, which rotates in response to the rotation of shaft 104.

Shaft 104 and rotor 106 are preferably contained at least partially within a chamber 108 containing a fluid, such as water for this example, although optionally any suitable type of liquid or gas, or other fluid material, could be used. The rotation of shaft 104 and hence of rotor 106, due to the rotation of the turbine blades 101 of the wind turbine 102 in response to wind, causes turbulence within the fluid inside the chamber 108, thereby heating the fluid. To further induce turbulence and hence to further increase the rate and/or extent of heating the fluid, a stator 110 can be disposed in a such disposition with respect to the rotor 106 that the temperature of fluid disposed therebetween increases in response to the rotation of the rotor.

According to an example the stator 110 is disposed substantially parallel to rotor 106. Stator 110 according to one example does not rotate and can be stationary, such that turbulence is increased between rotor 106 and stator 110, and also around stator 110 and rotor 106. Unheated or optionally cold fluid such as water for example, can enter the chamber 108 through an inlet 112. The temperature of the heated fluid rises and then may be drawn off through an outlet 114. The configuration shown for apparatus 100 relates to optional direct heating of fluid in the chamber 108, as the fluid directly contacts rotor 106 and stator 110.

Optionally one or more bearings 116 and/or other seals are applied to the contact and/or exit points of shaft 104 and fluid tank 108 as shown. The rotor can include at least one surface oriented transversely with respect to the direction of rotation of thereof. For example, as shown in Figure 1 B the rotor 106 includes a surface in the form of a plurality of radially oriented blades 118 for further increasing turbulence induced by rotation of rotor 106.

According to one example (shown in Fig. 1A), the rotor and the stator includes a sloped face. The sloped face of the rotor is parallely disposed with respect to the sloped face of the stator. This way, the interface between the stator and the rotor is larger, and is not limited to the width of the chamber.

Thus, the rotor can be configured to create a turbulent flow which has a Reynolds number larger than 4000.

Figure 2A is of an exemplary, illustrative apparatus according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, featuring a system for heating fluids, such as water, and including a rotor and a stator in a chamber containing heating fluid, while the fluid, such as water, to be heated and then drawn from the fluid tank.

Components having the same or similar function to those in Figure 1 have the same reference number plus "100". As opposed to apparatus 100 of Figure 1, apparatus 200 of Figure 2 features a fluid chamber 220 and a water tank 222. Fluid chamber 220 can be contained, wholly or partially, within the tank 222. Tank 222 can hold the fluid which enters through inlet 112 in an unheated or cool state, and exits through outlet 114 in a heated stated, such as water for example. The fluid in fluid chamber 220 can optionally be the same or different fluid as for the tank 222; however the fluid chamber 220 can remains sealed, such that the fluid within the fluid chamber 220 does not contact the fluid in the tank 222. Therefore, the fluid chamber 220 can contain a nonaqueous fluid even if the tank 222 holds water; however if the fluid in the tank 222 is intended for human consumption, the fluid in the fluid chamber 220 can be compatible with human consumption, for example as some type of compatible oil. A heat exchange mechanism 224 allows heat exchange between the water of the tank 222 and the fluid of the fluid chamber 220. For example, as shown, heat exchange mechanism 224 can comprise one or more tubes or extensions to the fluid chamber 220, to increase the surface area for heat exchange with the fluid of external tank 222. For example, the exchange mechanism 224 includes a closed-loop fluid conduit extending inside the water tank between an inlet of the chamber and an outlet thereof, such that the heating fluid therein flows from and toward the chamber thereby exchanging heat with the water in the water tank.

It is appreciated that in order to allow heating the fluid inside the chamber, and transferring fluid through the heat exchange mechanism 224 a pump (not shown) can be provided for circulating the fluid. According to one example the rotor and the stator are configured to create pumping forces thereby circulating the heating fluid throughout the chamber 220 and the conduits of the heat exchange mechanism 224.

One or more seals 226 seal the contact and/or entry points of shaft 204 and internal fluid chamber 220.

The operation of apparatus 200 may optionally be similar to that of apparatus 100, except that when application of wind to the wind turbine 202 causes the shaft 204, and hence rotor 206 to rotate, only fluid within the fluid chamber 220 directly receives this mechanical energy and becomes turbulent, thereby heating this fluid directly. The fluid in the tank 222 is heated indirectly through heat exchange with heat exchange mechanism 224.

Fig. 2B shows a rotor 250 and a stator 260 according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter. According to this example both the rotor and the stator 260 include a plurality of radially oriented blades 255 and 265, respectively. The disposition of the stator 260 with respect to the rotor 250 is such that the blades 255 on the rotor 250 face the blades 265 of the stator 260, thus increasing the turbulence of the fluid in the fluid chamber.

Fig. 2C shows an arrangement of rotor and a stator having a first stator 270a and a second stator 270b and a rotor 272 disposed therebetween. The first stator 270a includes a plurality of blades 275a facing one side of the rotor 272, and the second stator 270b includes a plurality of blades 275b facing a second side of the rotor 272. The rotor 272 on the other hand, includes a plurality of blades 277 extending from both faces thereof. Thus, rotation of the rotor 272 creates turbulence which is enhanced by the blades 275a and 275b of the first and second stators 270a and 270b. It is appreciated that the above arrangements can be further configured to provide pumping effect thereby pumping fluids throughout the chamber and the heat exchange mechanism.

Figure 3 A shows a similar exemplary, illustrative apparatus according to at least some examples of the present invention, featuring both a plurality of fluid chambers with heat exchange and an additional heater; Figure 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor, drawn through line "A- A" of Figure 2.

Components having the same or similar function to those in Figure 2 have the same reference number plus "100". For this non-limiting example, an apparatus 300 is shown as featuring a turbine 330 with spherical blades having a vertical axis for example, savonius blades or darrieus blades, although of course optionally any Apparatus 300 operates similarly to apparatus 200 of Figure 2, except that apparatus 300 also features an additional heater 340, shown as an electrical heating element for the purpose of illustration only and without any intention of being limiting.

Additional heater 340 is provided for example to enable preheating of the fluid at least in the tank 322, for example optionally if insufficient wind power is provided and/or due to low temperature outside of external tank 322 (for example, optionally to prevent freezing of the fluid in external tank 322) and/or as an alternative heating source; or any combination of the above.

Figure 3B shows a cross-sectional view of rotor 306, drawn through line "A-A" of Fig. 3A, showing an optional plurality of crescent shaped fins 342 for further increasing turbulence induced by rotation of rotor 306.

Figure 4 shows a similar exemplary, illustrative apparatus according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, featuring both a plurality of fluid chambers with heat exchange and additional gearing.

Components having the same or similar function to those in Figure 2 have the same reference number plus "200". System 400 operates similarly to system 200 of Figure 2, except that system 400 also features additional gearing, specifically a rotor 440, a stator in the form of a counter rotor 442, a gear 444 and a gear idler 446. Counter rotor 442 rotates in an opposing direction to rotor 440. As shown, upon rotation of the blades of wind turbine 402 due to the application of wind, shaft 404 again rotates, causing rotor 440 to rotate. The rotation of shaft 404 also causes counter rotor 442 to rotate in the opposite direction, through the application of gear 444 and gear idler 446. Such a configuration would be expected to further increase the turbulence of the fluid within internal fluid chamber 420, as the effective speeds of the combined rotor 440 and counter rotor 442 is additive, such that the fluid experiences double the speed of rotor 440 alone (assuming that rotor 440 and counter rotor 442 are rotating at the same speed). Such turbulence again heats and then causes the fluid in external tank 422 to become heated through heat exchange mechanism 424, as previously described.

It is appreciated that according to another example the rotor and the counter rotor can be similar to the arrangement of Fig. 2C. That is to say, the rotor can be disposed between a pair of counter rotors, thereby increasing the turbulence of the fluid.

Figure 5 shows an exemplary system block diagram, showing other components in addition to an apparatus for heating water according to any of the embodiments of the present invention. Components having the same or similar function to those in Figure 1 have the same reference number plus "400".

As shown a system 501 features an apparatus 500 for heating water according to any of the examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, with a cold water inlet 512 and a hot water outlet 514. Apparatus 500 is shown as being connected to an exemplary diagram of a domestic hot water system, featuring a plurality of circulating pumps 550 for circulating hot water to various points in the system at which such hot water is required. Some non-limiting examples of such points include a heat exchange 552, a shower 554 and radiators 556 for radiating heat. Various thermostats may optionally be used as shown to control the temperature of the hot water at these different points.

Figure 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for heating a fluid through application of wind power; a similar method may optionally be implemented for application of water power. As shown, in stage 1, a wind turbine is provided that is attached to a mechanical input, such as a shaft and a rotor, for causing turbulence within a fluid to be heated. The wind turbine may optionally have gearing and/or any other necessary components. In stage 2, wind is applied to the wind turbine, causing the blades to rotate, and hence the mechanical input to move (optionally through rotation). In stage 3, movement, such as rotation, of the mechanical input causes turbulence within the fluid to be heated. In stage 4, the fluid to be heated increases in temperature, as a result of the rotation thereof. In stage 5a, the fluid to be heated is optionally drawn out directly; alternatively in stage 5b, the fluid to be heated transfers its heat to another fluid, and this second fluid is drawn out in stage 6. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.