The invention relates to a fluid circulating heating device for producing thermal energy comprising an actuating motor; a boiler made of steel plate applicable to receive the fluid; and a heat generating unit fixed on the shaft of the motor.

Patent application P 92 00708 describes an electric heat pump and a suitable condenser module applicable to warm up a heat conveying medium. The electric heat pump is provided with a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and an expansion valve at least some of which is arranged in a common housing. The common housing is formed as a pressure tight casing which encircles at least the compressor and the condenser. The pressure tight housing is pressure-tight insulated and has an inlet and an outlet through which the energy conveying medium is conducted. Via the outlet the compressor is connected to the condenser arranged inside the pressure tight housing. The condenser module is connected to the heat pump in which at least the condenser and the compressor are arranged in a common housing. The housing encircling the condenser and the compressor is formed as a pressure tight casing. The pressure tight housing is pressure-tight insulated and has an inlet and an outlet through which the energy conveying medium is conducted. Via the outlet the compressor is connected to the condenser arranged inside the pressure tight housing.

Hungarian patent application P 01 00876 describes a heat pump motor driven by operating material for utilization of the expansion force. This invention is a balanced motor version of rotational system with four working sectors and slide vanes, which is operated by the expansion pressure of the applied operating medium in a way that its working sectors are turned into a working space of expansion or compression alternately and the volume of the expansion spaces located facing one another is increased. The process is maintained by a compressor with an output exceeding losses the output of which compressor is added to the compression work accomplished by the compression working spaces of the heat pump motor by means of an operating medium flowing in the common line. Thus, the heat pump motor of the invention becomes independent of the common shaft of the drive motor and compressor and this circumstance by means of the balanced character of the motor makes it possible to establish an incredibly simple motor version. Its simplicity also makes it possible to produce the same of an order of magnitude adapted to the requirements of thermal power plants. Hungarian patent application P0900104 describes a water heating system for producing hot water or vapour which is used as heat energy. The system comprises a heating apparatus for generating cavitation, an electric motor, one or two heat exchanger, a flanged connector joined to the outer heat exchanger and a controlling system.

Hungarian patent application P10001 1 1 teaches a heating device and heater with liquid circulation. The device comprises a housing and a drum arranged in the housing rotatably around an axis of rotation. The housing has an inlet and an outlet for the liquid. Between the drum and the housing a gap is formed which makes flow of the liquid possible and the drum is provided with recesses suitable for generating cavitation. A pipe is also provided for introducing gas in the gap between the drum and the housing. The document also describes a liquid circulating heating system provided with a primary and a secondary circuit. Between the primary and the secondary circuit a heat exchanger is provided. The heating device of the document is arranged in the primary circuit. Patent application P10001 1 1 also relates to a method in which gas is introduced in a controlled manner in the gap between the drum and the housing.

The principle of operation of the present invention is entirely different from the operation of the known heat generating apparatuses, boilers. The basis of the invention is a so called fluid circulating boiler which generates heat energy by means of fluid circulation utilizing the physical process of the aforementioned patent applications P0900104 and P10001 1 1. The aim of the present invention is to provide a high- efficiency heating device. It has been realized that the heating device can be realised simply and economically when its swivel is provided with gaps according to the invention. It can be installed in any heat transfer systems operated with fluids, typically with water.

Accordingly, the invention is a fluid circulating heating device for producing thermal energy. The heating device comprises an actuating motor; a boiler made of steel plate applicable to receive the fluid; and a heat generating unit fixed on the shaft of the motor. The heat generating unit comprises a tube, a closing plate for closing one of the bases of the tube and blind holes formed in the tube. The shaft of the motor is arranged in the axis of rotation of the tube in the centre of the closing plate and fixed to the closing plate so that the shaft of the motor is guided through the entire length of the tube. That is, the open end of the tube is positioned nearer to the motor. The diameter of the tube is 100 - 400 mm; the length of it is between 50 - 250 mm. On the superficies of the tube in planes perpendicular to its axis of rotation 9 - 16 mm deep blind holes are formed concentrically. The number of the blind holes formed in one plane is 12 - 48 the diameter of them is 4 - 18 mm and the distance between the centre points of the blind holes is between 5 - 40 mm. The number of the planes is 2 - 10 and they are formed in a distance 10 - 30 mm from each other. The tube is made of aluminium with a wall thickness of 10 - 20 mm.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be defined in the following description and in the appended claims.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is the side view of the heating device;

Figure 2 shows the perspective view of the heating device;

Figure 3 is the perspective view of the heat generating unit;

Figure 4 is the partial sectional view of the heating device; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the system provided with the heating device.

The heating device 1 of the present invention produces thermal energy. The heating device 1 comprises an actuating motor 2 and a boiler 3 made of steel plate applicable to receive fluid (Figures 1 and 2). Boiler 3 contains the heat generating unit 4 fixed on the shaft 7 of the motor 2 (Figure 4). The heat generating unit 4 comprises tube 5, closing plate 6 closing one of the bases of tube 5 and blind holes 10 formed in tube 5 (Figure 3). Shaft 7 of motor 2 is arranged in the axis of rotation of tube 5 in the centre point of the closing plate 6 and it is fixed to the closing plate 6. Shaft 7 of motor 2 is guided through the entire length of tube 5. That is, the open end 9 of tube 5 is placed closer to motor 2 (Figure 4).

The diameter of tube 5 is 100 - 400 mm its length is 50 - 250 mm. The blind holes 10 on the superficies of the tube 5 are 9 - 16 mm deep. The blind holes 10 are formed concentrically in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation 8 of tube 5. The number of the blind holes 10 formed in one plane is 12 - 48 the diameter of them is 4 - 18 mm and the distance between the centre points of the blind holes is between 5 - 40 mm. The number of the planes is 2 - 10 and they are formed in a distance 10 - 30 mm from each other. The tube 5 is made of aluminium with a wall thickness 1 1 of 10 - 20 mm (Figure 3). The motor 2 runs at 2400 - 3600 rpm. It can be arranged either vertically or horizontally. Motor 2 may be water cooled. The material of tube 5 representing heat generating unit 4 is aluminium alloy provided with a coating for increased hardness. An inlet connection 12 and an outlet connection 13 suitable for the fluid inflow and outflow are formed in the wall of boiler 3.

Heat transfer unit 14 is installed between the inlet connection 12 and the outlet connection 13. Heat transfer unit 14 may be any type of known heat exchanger. Motor 2 is operated by means of control unit 16 through frequency changer 15. Further, control unit 16 is connected to sensing elements 17 and intervening elements 18. The energy needed for operating the system is ensured by energy source 19 (Figure 5). During operation of the heating device 1 according to the invention fluid is circulated in the boiler 3 of the heating device 1 . The fluid flows in the boiler through the inlet connection 12 and flows out through the outlet connection 13. In this closed circuit the heat generating unit 4 in boiler 3 is rotated at 2400 - 3600 rpm by motor 2. The vacuum bubbles originating from the fluid stream collide with each other in the internal space between boiler 3 and heat generating unit 4. As they collide they get destroyed and the developing heat raises the temperature of the surroundings that is the temperature of the fluid which receives and conveys the evolving heat energy.

The hot water with the required temperature can be produced more economically by leading the outgoing line connected to the outlet connection 13 back to the internal space of boiler 3 through a heat sensing automatic valve provided with a known T connector. This will shorten the time needed for reaching the required temperature thereby the amount of the used energy will be decreased. By means of the sensing elements 17 control unit 16 senses when the required temperature is reached and the intervening element 18 for example an automatic valve opens and the hot water, the heat energy (steam) can be passed to heating systems and hot water using systems. The operation of the system provided with the heating device 1 is controlled by control unit 16. By producing the fluid with the desired temperature continuous production of heat energy is ensured. At the same time reaching the destructive, unsafe limit and overheating of the apparatus is eliminated.

Continuous safe operation and endurance of the apparatus is ensured by intervening element 18. Through this overpressure is avoided and it ensures the required pressure for starting and maintaining the process in boiler 3. The heat generating unit 4 of the heating device 1 is rotated by motor 2 according to software running on control unit 16 on the basis of data received from sensing element 17 through frequency changer 15. For example a signal may be received from a safety switching system, from a boiler switch or the thermostat of the heating system. Intervening elements 18 (various intervening switches) are operated by control unit 16 on the basis of data received from sensing element 17. According to the software running on control unit 16 motor 2 rotates heat generating unit 4 fixed to a specially elongated shaft 7 in boiler 3 at suitable revolutions per minute specified by the programme preferably at 2400 - 3600 rpm (40 - 60 Hz).

The fluid in the thermal area of boiler 3 settles in the blind holes 10 formed on the superficies of the rotated heat generating unit 4. Design of the heat generating unit 4 is determined on the basis of the required performance. The diameter of tube 5 is selected greater and also deeper and a greater number of blind holes 10 are needed if higher performance is desired. According to the desired performance the diameter of tube 5 is selected between 100 - 400 mm and its length is selected between 50 - 250 mm. The blind holes 10 on the superficies of the tube 5 are 9 - 16 mm deep. The blind holes 10 are formed concentrically in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation 8 of tube 5. The number of the blind holes 10 formed in one plane is 12 - 48 the diameter of them is 4 - 18 mm and the distance between the centre points of the blind holes is between 5 - 40 mm. The number of the planes is 2 - 10 and they are formed in a distance 10 - 30 mm from each other.

When heat generation unit 4 is rotated the molecules of the fluid are affected by the centrifugal forces and as a result of this vacuum bubbles are produced in the fluid in blind holes 10. Due to the forces acting reversely the produced vacuum bubbles get out from the blind holes 10 and collide with each other in the internal space between boiler 3 and heat generating unit 4. As they collide they get destroyed and the developing heat raises the temperature of the surroundings that is the temperature of the fluid which receives and conveys the evolving heat energy. Instead of blind holes 10 recesses may be formed by milling on the superficies of heat generating unit 4. On the basis of the foregoing performing this is well within the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

The heat energy produced in the fluid in the thermal area of boiler 3 leaves through the pipe coupled to the outlet connection 13 of boiler 3 and via sensing element 17 e.g. an adjuster which ensures safe and proper operation and it goes into the space of utilization namely into the heat transfer unit 14. Then through sensing element 17 (e.g. an adjuster) the cooled fluid flows back to the thermal area of boiler 3 via the pipe coupled to the inlet connection 12 of boiler 3. It means that the process is accomplished in a closed fluid circulating circuit.

The control unit 16 of the heating device 1 ensures that the physical process takes place under controlled circumstances in such a manner that heat generating unit 4 is calibrated to deliver the required heat energy. The proper peripheral speed of the heat generating unit 4 is ensured by the direct drive mechanism of motor 2. Through sensing elements 17 and intervening elements 18 control unit 16 ensures that the fluid temperature produced by the heating device 1 corresponds to the temperature required by the consumer and/or the heating system and/or the hot-water supplier. At the same time when the temperature of the fluid reaches 95°C the motor 2 is switched off by control unit 16 and after the cooling period when the temperature reaches the pre-set lower threshold it re-starts motor 2.

An adjuster (part of the sensing element 17) ensures safe and proper operation of the apparatus. It is designed so that an automatic air vent is installed in the forward going pipe of boiler 3. Further the forward going pipe is connected to the outlet connection 13 through the adjuster by means of a T-connector. A so called liquidating unit is also part of the sensing element 17 which by letting the warmed up fluid through a circulating system removes the free oxygen atoms (originating from the physical process) from the fluid in this manner overpressure cannot occur. The returning pipe is connected to the inlet connection 12 of boiler 3. A liquid filter and a circulating pump and also an automatic refill assembled with a T-connector are installed between two liquid cut-off cocks representing part of another sensing element 17. The automatic refill automatically refills the fluid in order to ensure the pressure required for the continuous physical process in the thermal area of boiler 3. These elements are not shown in Figure 5 as realization of a fluid circulation of this kind is well within the knowledge of one skilled in the art.

The advantage of the heating device of the invention is that it is suitable for use in various systems producing/using thermal energy and hot water. Its design ensures the thermal energy required for producing hot water, vapour for heating, etc. Fossil combustibles can be replaced by the heating device according to the invention for producing hot water, vapour for heating and temperature regulation. It can be used in industrial as well as in household energy generating systems. It can be built in already operating heating and hot water supplying systems directly without redesigning them. It is environmentally sound, there is no harmful emission. Further, there is no need for a chimney or rebuilding the same. It operates with electric energy and producing the same thermal energy with other devices (e.g. gas-powered boilers) would require much more specific energy and affect the environment negatively. The device according to the invention uses electric energy so the importation of gas, oil and oil- products needed for producing hot water and thermal energy can be decreased significantly. The device according to the invention is applicable for use in industry as well as in household energy generating and consuming systems.

The heating device according to the invention is applicable for creating an efficient, energy saving environment friendly fluid circulating heating device family which can be operated on single-phase supply, 230 V or three-phase 400 V supply. This heating device family is applicable for heating flats, houses having individual or central heating using either underfloor heating or wall heating or radiators. Further it is applicable for producing hot water for use.