COMPOST-TYPE HEATER

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of methods and apparatuses

controlling water temperature. In particular, the present disclosure relates to

apparatuses and methods for controlling the water temperature of a pool.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] There are many issues with the pool heaters that are available on

today's market. In general, they are very costly to buy and to maintain. On

average a pool heater will cost approximately 2500$ to 5000 $ or more to

purchase and approximately 800$ for installation costs. Also, they can cost

about 600$ to about 1200$ in energy costs (gas, propane, electricity) per year

to operate in addition to maintenance costs. This energy consumption

contributes to the green house gases that damage the atmosphere.

[0003] Another factor is the constant noise that most heaters produce. Indeed,

most heaters generate a perpetual unpleasant buzz that can be annoying

when enjoying the pool. They are also quite annoying for the neighbors as

well.

[0004] Also, if the heater is defective, a technician is usually required in order

to repair the problem, which can be costly. Other costs are generated when

changing heating systems in order to go from fresh water to salt water. Also,

traditional pool heaters need to be covered or stored during winter months in

order to avoid damage to mechanical parts. However, even when well

maintained, the average pool heater only lasts about 7 to 10 years.

[0005] Some cost effective pool heaters have been introduced on the market,

but their main downfall remains that they are not efficient enough for client's

needs. Indeed, since they rely on the sun to generate heat and have a

relatively low energy conversion rate, they often fail to provide sufficient power

in order to heat a normal sized pool. Other types of pool heaters have also

been introduced on the market. Indeed, pool heaters relying on electricity or

fossil fuels although effective are sadly not cost efficient. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] It would thus be highly desirable to be provided with an apparatus that would at least partially solve one of the problems previously mentioned or that would be an alternative to the existing technologies.

[0007] According to one aspect there is provided method for controlling water temperature of a pool, the method comprising passing the pool water through a conduit having at least a portion disposed inside a recipient comprising compost, wherein at least a portion of the compost is contacting an exterior surface of the at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein for each about 1000 to about 2000 L of water contained in the pool, the at least a portion of the conduit has a proportional capacity of about 0.2 to about 7.0 L and the recipient contains a proportional volume of compost of about 5 to about 10 L.

[0008] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling water temperature of a pool, the method comprising passing the pool water through a conduit having at least a portion disposed inside a recipient comprising compost, wherein at least a portion of the compost is contacting an exterior surface of the at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein for each about 1000 to about 2000 L of water contained in the pool, a capacity of about 0.2 to about 7.0 L is proportionally used for the at least a portion of the conduit, and a volume of about 5 to about 10 L of compost is proportionally used.

[0009] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling water temperature of a pool, the method comprising passing the pool water through a conduit having at least a portion disposed inside a recipient comprising compost, wherein at least a portion of the compost is contacting an exterior surface of the at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein the method is carried out using:

a ratio pool water volume / capacity of the at least a portion of the conduit of about 500 to about 10000; and

a ratio pool water volume / volume of compost in the recipient of about 50 to about 500. [0010] According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a pool water temperature, the apparatus comprising:

a recipient adapted to receive compost; and

a conduit having at least a portion disposed inside the recipient, the at least one portion of the conduit having an exterior surface adapted to contact at least a portion of the compost, the conduit being effective for passing the pool water therethrough and for transferring to the pool water heat generated by the compost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the appended drawings which represent various examples:

[0012] Figure 1 is a front elevation view of an example of an apparatus as disclosed in the present document wherein a lid is shown in an open position and a trap door is shown in an open position;

[0013] Figure 2 is a front elevation view of another example of an apparatus as disclosed in the present document wherein a lid is shown in an open position and a trap door is shown in an open position;

[0014] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of another example of an apparatus as disclosed in the present document wherein a lid is shown in an open position and a drawer is shown in an open position;

[0015] Figure 4 is top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3, wherein the lid has been omitted for illustration purposes; and

[0016] Figure 5 is a front elevation view of another example of an apparatus as disclosed in the present document wherein a lid is shown in an open position and a side drawer is shown in an open position and wherein a portion of a housing wall and a portion of a coil have been omitted for illustration purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0017] The following examples are presented in a non-limitative manner. [0018] The term "pool" as used herein refers to a swimming pool, a hot tub, spa, swimming bath, wading pool or any water basin for similar purposes.

[0019] For example, the at least a portion of the conduit has a proportional capacity of about 0.5 to about 1.5 L, about 0.8 to about 1.2 L, about 6 to about 9 L, or about 7 or 8 L.

[0020] For example, the ratio pool water volume / capacity of the at least a portion of the conduit can be about 700 to about 4000, about 800 to about 3750, or about 1000 to about 2000.

[0021] For example, the ratio pool water volume / volume of compost in the recipient can be of about 100 to about 400 or about 125 to about 300.

[0022] For example, the method can comprise passing about 100 to about 300 L/min, about 150 to about 250 L/min, about 175 to about 225 L/min, about 190 to about 210 LJmin of pool water through the at least a portion of the conduit.

[0023] For example, the method can be effective for providing from about 40 000 to about 80 000, about 50 000 to about 70 000, from about 50 000 to about 60 000 or about 55 000 British Thermal Unit (BTU) per hour.

[0024] For example, the at least a portion of the conduit can have a capacity of about 10 L to about 200 L, about 10 L to about 185 L, about 20 L to about 50 L, about 20 L to about 30 L, or about 40 L to about 50 L.

[0025] For example, the recipient can contain a volume of compost of about 200 L to about 300 L or about 240 L to about 290 L.

[0026] For example, the pool can be a swimming pool that contains about 40 000 L to about 80 000 L of water or about 35 000 L to about 75 000 L of water.

[0027] For example, the at least one portion of the conduit can be a coiled pipe. The pipe can be chosen from a rubber pipe, a metal pipe, a fiberglass pipe and a plastic pipe. The coiled pipe can be a molded coiled pipe.

[0028] For example, the pipe can have a diameter of about 2 cm to about 6 cm or about 2 cm to about 3 cm. [0029] For example, water can be controlled by heating the water. Water can be heated up to a temperature of about 20°C to about 45°C, about 20°C to about 40°C, about 20°C to about 35°C, about 24°C to about 33°C, about 25°C to about 32°C, about 26°C to about 30°C, or about 27°C to about 29°C.

[0030] For example, the apparatus can further comprise a pump for circulating the pool water through the at least a portion of the conduit. The pump can effective for passing about 100 to about 300 L/min, about 175 to about 225 L/min, about 150 to about 250 IJmin, or about 190 to about 210 L/min of pool water through the at least a portion of the conduit.

[0031] For example, the apparatus can have a ratio recipient capacity / capacity of the at least a portion of the conduit of about 1 .5 to about 50, about 4 to about 20, or about 5 to about 15.

[0032] For example, the apparatus can further comprise a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can be coupled with a valve that is coupled to the at least a portion of the conduit.

[0033] For example, the apparatus can be effective for providing from about 40 000 to about 80 000, about 50 000 to about 70 000, from about 50 000 to about 60 000 or about 55 000 British Thermal Unit (BTU) per hour.

[0034] For example, the recipient can comprise a cover disposed on a top portion of the recipient and a drawer disposed at a bottom portion, the bottom portion being provided with an outlet for removing the compost from the recipient.

[0035] For example, the apparatus can be further provided with a supporting member provided with apertures and disposed above the drawer.

[0036] For example, the apparatus can further comprise at least one spacer sheet. The spacer sheet can be provided with apertures.

[0037] For example, the apparatus can further comprise a conduit support, the conduit being a coil rolled around the support. The support can also be provided with apertures.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1 , the apparatus 10 comprises a recipient 12 adapted to receive compost. The recipient 12 can be of different sizes and shapes. The recipient 12 comprises walls that define an internal chamber for receiving the compost. A conduit 16 is disposed inside the recipient 12. For example, the conduit 16 can be in the form of a coil as shown in Figure 1. The conduit 16 is provided with an inlet 18 for receiving water from a pool and an outlet 20 for exiting water that went through the conduit 16. The inlet 18 disposed at a bottom portion of the recipient 12 could also be disposed at a top portion of the recipient 12 and therefore the outlet 20 disposed at a top portion of the recipient 12 could also be disposed at a bottom portion of the recipient 12.

[0039] The compost can comprise various organic materials. For example, it can comprise common organic waste materials such as table wastes, lawn clipping, dried leaves, etc. It can also comprises various other ingredients such as sawdust, chicken manure and poultry wastes, brewery wastes, seaweed and kelp, tobacco stems and waste, wool clippings, sewerage sludge, straw, hay, cattails, weeds and discarded plants from the garden, cotton noils and wastes, paper scraps etc.

[0040] The apparatus 10 can also comprise a lid 24 on top of the recipient 12 to avoid spillage of the enclosed compost, prevent water from contacting the compost or to avoid animals or insects from having access to the inside of the recipient 12. The lid 12 can be connected or not to at least one of the housing wall 12. Moreover, the apparatus 10 can comprise a trap door 22 for discharging the compost. The apparatus can also comprise a stand 26 in order to elevate the apparatus from the ground. This stand 26 can be adapted to avoid any contact between the recipient 12 and the ground, which could lead to contamination of the compost by mold or insects. The stand 26 can be in the form of one of more foot under the apparatus 10 or any type of platform that is adapted to elevate the recipient 12. For example, the at least one foot or platform can elevate the apparatus 12 from about 1 cm to about 40 cm above the ground. Moreover, the apparatus 10 can comprise a tap 28 for discarding any liquids produced by the compost for example during fermentation. The apparatus 10 can also comprise at least one spacer (not shown) that allows for an easier oxygenation of the compost. Such a spacer can be provided with apertures. The at least one spacer can be a biodegradable sheet of organic matter which is disposed in the compost at a predetermined distance from at least one housing wall. In an embodiment, the apparatus 10 can comprise a valve coupled with a temperature sensor. This temperature sensor allows monitoring of the water temperature coming from the pool. When the incoming pool water has reached a desired temperature, the sensor will close the valve. For example, the desired temperature of the pool water can be of about 24°C to about 35°C, about 24°C to about 32°C, about 26°C to about 32°C, about 26°C to about 29°C, about 26°C to about 27°C, about 28°C, or about 29°C.

[0041] A conduit support 14 can also be further provided. The conduit support can be disposed inside the recipient 12. The conduit support 14 can be of various shapes. In an embodiment, the conduit support can have a general cylindrical shape. The conduit support 14 can be open on one or both sides, therefore allowing compost to enter into the conduit support 14. The conduit support 14 can be made of a material having high heat conduction, which therefore absorbs and transfers thermal energy rapidly. For example, the conduit support 14 can comprise brass or copper or any metal known as a thermal conductor. The conduit member 14 can be made of a perforated material for allowing oxygenation of the compost. The conduit support 14 is adapted to support the conduit 16 which is in the form of a coiled pipe in Figure 1.

[0042] In the apparatus 10, the pool water is being circulated inside the recipient 12. The water coming from the pool flows through the inlet 18, the conduit 16, and the outlet 20. The conduit 16, for example a coiled pipe, can be wrapped at least once around the conduit support 14 inside the recipient 12. The outlet 20 is used to exit the heated water outside of the recipient 12 and eventually back to the pool. The heat generated during fermentation of the compost will be at least partially transferred to the water circulating through the conduit 16 since the material of the conduit allows for conducting heat. Therefore, water passing through the conduit 16 will get warmer as it goes along the conduit 16. The coiled pipe, inlet and outlet can be made of a same or a different material. They can be made of plastic, rubber, fiberglass or metal or any types of materials that are good heat conductors. For example, aluminum or copper pipes can be used.

[0043] Wrapping the conduit 16 more than once around the conduit support 14 increases the surface of the conduit 16 that is in contact with the surrounding compost and the conduit support 14. Since both the compost and the conduit support 14 are hot when being in use, the conduit support 14 being heated by a heat transfer from the compost during fermentation, they will both play a role in controlling and/or heating the temperature of the water circulating through the conduit 16.

[0044] In Figure 2, there is shown an apparatus 1 10 that is similar to the apparatus 10 of Figure 1. In fact, the main difference between these two apparatuses is the type of conduit used. In apparatus 1 10, a conduit 1 16 is used rather than the conduit 16 (having a coiled pipe configuration) as it is the case in Figure 1. The apparatus 1 10 thus also comprises a recipient 1 12 adapted to receive compost, the conduit 1 16, an inlet 1 18 for receiving water from a pool and an outlet 120 for exiting water that went through the conduit 1 16. The apparatus 1 10 that also comprises a trap door 122, a lid 124, a stand 126 and a tap 128 is intended to be used in the same manner as described above for apparatus 10.

[0045] In another embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the apparatus 210 comprises a recipient 212 adapted to receive compost and having a conduit 216 disposed therein. In general, it can be said that the apparatus 210 works in a similar manner than apparatuses 10 and 110.

[0046] One of the main differences between the apparatus 210 and apparatuses 10 and 1 10 is the shape of the conduit. In apparatus 210 the conduit 216 can have a general shape of a square prism or square parallepiped shape as opposed to a general cylindrical shape as it is the case for the conduit 16 in apparatus 10.

[0047] Moreover, the apparatus 210 can comprise an inlet 218 provided with an inlet valve 217 as well as an outlet 220 provided with an outlet valve 219. The inlet 218 and the outlet 220 are in fluid flow communication with the conduit 216. This inlet valve 217 allows for stopping the water from entering the apparatus 210, which therefore stops the water circulation inside the conduit 216 and thus in the apparatus 210. The outlet valve 219 allows for stopping water from coming out of the apparatus 210. Moreover, the apparatus 210 can also comprise a bypass conduit 222 coupled to a bypass valve 221. The bypass valve 221 and bypass conduit can be used for preventing water from circulating inside the apparatus 210. For example, it the temperature of the pool water reaches a desired or predetermined value, valves 217 and 219 can be closed and valve 221 open thereby preventing pool water from circulating inside the apparatus 210. However, when using the apparatus 210 for heating pool water, the valve 221 is closed.

[0048] The apparatus 210 can also comprise a lid 224 on top of the recipient 212 to avoid spillage of the compost, water from contacting the compost, or to avoid animals or insects from having access to the inside of the recipient 212, a stand 226 in order to elevate the apparatus 210 from the ground.

[0049] The apparatus 210 can also comprise a drawer 229 in order to recuperate all debris produced by the decomposing compost. Indeed, as the compost ferments and is degraded juices and fine particles can be produced, which need to be removed from the apparatus 210. The presence, for example, of a bottom drawer therefore allows for cleaning out any of those resulting juices and particles.

[0050] As it can be seen in Figure 4, the apparatus 210 defines, inside the recipient 212, a chamber inside the conduit 216 and a chamber outside the conduit 216 (between the conduit 216 and the walls of the recipient 212). A compost support 231 provided with apertures (for example a grid or mesh type material) can be disposed above the drawer 229 for maintaining the juices or liquid and particles separate from the compost.

[0051] In Figure 5, an apparatus 310 similar to apparatus 210 is shown. The apparatus 310 however has a drawer 329 disposed on a side as opposed to a front drawer as it is the case for apparatus 210 (drawer 229).

[0052] The apparatus 310 that works in the same way as apparatus 210, also comprises a recipient 312, a lid 324, a stand 326, and a compost support 331. The inlet, inlet valve, outlet, and outlet valves are not shown. [0053] For example, the compost can be composed of organic materials derived from plant and/or animal matter that has been decomposed largely through aerobic decomposition. The process of composting is simple and can be practiced by individuals in their homes, by farmers on their land, and industrially by industries and cities.

[0054] The heat required to control the pool water temperature can be provided by hot composting. The latter is a process of rapid decomposition that takes place at high temperatures. This decomposition is performed, for example, mostly by bacteria, which are adapted to work at high temperatures in order to break down organic materials quickly and efficiently. Hot composting allows for fast production of compost with well-managed piles decomposing completely in approximately few weeks for example 8 to 15 weeks. Thermophilic composting involves an important heating stage. This heat is caused by microbial metabolism and can depend on carbon: nitrogen ratio of the materials, moisture content and aeration. During this heating stage, temperatures can be in the 55 to 65 °C range, but will often be higher or lower. This type of composting can typically follow a model for which all the materials for the heap are piled up at one time and no more is added.

[0055] The hot composting can allow production of thermal energy, which is used to control the water temperature of a pool by heat transfer. More precisely, heat transfer is the transfer of heat from one place to another. When an object is at a different temperature from its surroundings or another object, transfer of thermal energy, also known as heat flow, or heat exchange, occurs. Heat transfer occurs from a higher-temperature object to a cooler- temperature one as described by the second law of thermodynamics or the Clausius statement. The pool water can be transported inside the apparatus in order to be heated through heat transfer from the surrounding hot compost.

[0056] For example, the pool water can be discharged into the conduit. Indeed, the inlet is adapted to transport the pool water into the conduit. The conduit being surrounded by the compost, at least a portion of its external surface is in direct contact with the heated compost. Therefore, the temperature of the conduit and of the enclosed water will slowly increase by simple heat transfer. The outlet will collect the warm water and transport it back to the pool.

[0057] The conduit that carries the pool water can take on various forms, including those described and shown herein. Indeed, the cross-sections of the conduit can vary. The conduit can be laid out within the recipient in various configurations, such the cylindrical configuration of the conduit 16 in Figure 1 , the rectangular tubular configuration of the conduit 216 in Figures 3 and 4, and the square tubular configuration of the conduit 316 in Figure 5.

[0058] The heating apparatus, including those described and shown herein, can include a mechanism extending through the middle of the recipient and provided with forks or paddles etc., the mechanism being adapted to turn and thus mix the compost in the recipient. The heating apparatus can be provided with a type of cork screw so when it is rotated it will mix the compost. Such mixing mechanisms can be removable or permanently mounted to the recipient, and they can manually-operated by the user or they can be motorized, and in the latter case, a timer may be provided so that the compost is automatically mixed at pre-selected time periods or intervals.

[0059] The heating apparatus can also be adapted so that the recipient itself can be rotated, as a tumbler, so as to mix the compost therein. In such cases, the recipient can be manually rotated by the user or in a motorized fashion, and in the latter case, a timer may be provided so that the compost is automatically mixed at pre-selected time periods or intervals. Accordingly, various arrangements can be contemplated so that the compost can be mixed or tumbled as required to ensure good compost.

[0060] The apparatuses and methods described in the present application comprise several advantages compared to traditional pool heaters. Indeed, heat being provided by only composting, very low costs are necessary to operate the apparatuses and methods. Indeed, the apparatuses and methods necessitate very simple components. Compost comes from organic materials derived from plant and/or animal matter, which are produced as wastes by every household on a regular basis. No other energy sources in addition to the existing elements of the pool are required to heat the pool water. Repairing should not be required and if so, it should be mainly maintenance or very simple repairing steps. Finally, no noise is associated with use of such methods and apparatuses.

[0061] The person skilled in the art would understand that the various properties or features presented in a given embodiment can be added and/or used, when applicable, to any other embodiment covered by the general scope of the present disclosure.

[0062] The present disclosure has been described with regard to specific examples. The description was intended to help the understanding of the disclosure, rather than to limit its scope. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure as described herein, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the present document.