HEAT GENERATOR

Abstract

A heat generator having first and second members disposed around a shaft. One of the members has an electrically conducting portion and the other of said members has magnets mounted thereon opposite the said electrically conducting portion. A passage for fluid to be heated between the magnets and the electrically conducting portions is thus formed. The magnets are arranged so that their magnetic fields intersect the electrically conducting portions. Means are provided to rotate one member with respect to the other including an integral impeller and using liquid to be heated as the high pressure drive of a hydraulic motor.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A heat generator comprising a shaft, a fluid input and fluid output, first member and second member disposed around a shaft, the first member having a disc-like portion extending radially from the shaft, the second member with a plurality of magnets mounted thereon having a disc-like portion extending radially from the shaft and in which one of the members may rotate with respect to the other member and the first member has an electrically conducting portion intersecting the magnet fields of the magnets mounted on the second member and in which rotation of one member results in one or other of the magnetic field or the conducting member to rotate with respect to the other; in which the first member has an electrically conducting cylindrical portion extending laterally from the disc-like portion co-axially with the shaft; the second member has a cylindrical portion extending laterally from the disc-like portion co-axially with the shaft and with magnets mounted the cylindrical portion of said second member; and a passage for liquid to be heated is coaxial with the shaft, said passage being defined between the cylindrical portion of the second member and the electrically conducting cylindrical portion of the first member

27. A heat generator according to claim 26 in which one of the members is mounted on the shaft and the other member is fixed.

28. A heat generator according to claim 27 in which the member mounted on the shaft drives an impeller, the impeller, in operation, urging liquid into the passage.

29. A heat generator according to claim 28 in which the impeller is formed on the surface of the disc-like portion of the said member opposite the disc-like portion of the other member.

30. A heat generator according to claim 27 having an inlet connected to a source of liquid under high-pressure and an impeller mounted on the rotatable member, the high-pressure liquid rotating the impeller and the member on which it is mounted.

31. A heat generator according to claim 30 in which in which an impeller is mounted on the rotating member the impeller is formed on the surface of the disc-like portion of the said member opposite the disc-like portion of the other member.

32. Heat generator according to claim 31 in which, after passing thorough the impeller, the liquid flows into the passage.

33. A heat generator according to claim 27 having a hydraulic motor mounted directly on or coupled to the rotatable member to rotate that member, the hydraulic motor being supplied with high pressure hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump.

34. A heat generator according to claim 33 in which the liquid driving the hydraulic pump is discharged from the pump into the passage between the first member and second member.

35. A heat generator according to claim 34 forming part of a closed loop system in which the heat from the heated liquid is recovered and the liquid passes through a pump to become the high-pressure supply to the hydraulic motor.

36. A heat generator according to claim 26 in which the first member comprises at least two coaxial electrically conducting cylinders, an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, mounted on a common disc-like portion and the second member has one or more cylindrical portions nesting between the conducting cylinders, the cylindrical portion(s) of the second member having magnets mounted opposite the conducting cylinders, with two or more passages formed between the conducting cylinders and the cylindrical portion(s).

37. A heat generator according to claim 27 in which on the surface of the cylindrical portion of rotating member is formed as an impeller to drive liquid through the passage.

38. A heat generator according to claim 37 in which on the cylindrical portion of the rotating member is formed as a screw thread as the impeller.

39. A heat generator according to claim 27 in which the magnets are disposed around the outside of the cylindrical portion of the second member.

40. A heat generator according to claim 27 in which the magnets are disposed longitudinally along the length of the cylindrical portion of the second member and parallel to the axis of the shaft.

41. A heat generator according to claim 40 in which the magnets are mounted in grooves of the second member.

42. A heat generator according to claim 39 in which the cylindrical portion of the second member comprises corrugations, the corrugations being parallel to the axis of the heat generator, forming external and internal grooves, the magnets being mounted in the external grooves, and the internal grooves forming water passages.

43. A heat generator according to claim 40 in which one pole of each magnet mounted on the second member is coupled to a sheath of ferroelectric material.

44. A heat generator according to claim 27 having longitudinal magnets on the inside of the cylindrical portion of the first member and parallel to the axis of the cylindrical portion of the first member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an example of the first embodiment of a heat generator according to the invention, in which high pressure liquid passing through an impeller rotates one of the members;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a partial section of the heat generator of FIG. 1 showing an impeller driving liquid to be heated;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a second example of the first embodiment of a heat generator according to the invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing a closed hydraulic fluid circuit to supply high pressure fluid to the heat generator of FIG. 3 and using the fluid supply though the hydraulic motor as the working fluid of the heat generator;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section of a still further example of the first embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing an alternative configuration of magnets;

[0032] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the alternative configuration of magnets;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a partial cross section of the first and cylindrical portion of the second member of FIG. 7, in which the cylindrical portion of the second member has rectangular corrugations parallel to the axis and the magnets are mounted externally on the cylindrical portion of the second member is the grooves formed by the corrugations;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a partial section through a second embodiment of a heat generator according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 10 an end-on view of the heat generator of FIG. 9;

[0036] FIG. 11 is a section on the line A-A of FIG. 10;

[0037] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the heat generator of FIGS. 9 to 11;

[0038] FIG. 13 is a same as FIG. 10 with the case removed to show detail beneath;

[0039] FIG. 14A is the same as FIG. 9 but with a portion marked to show further detail as FIG. 14B; and

[0040] FIG. 14B is a detail view of part of the heat generator of FIG. 14A.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN DRAWINGS

[0041] In FIGS. 1 and 2 a heat generator 100 according to the invention comprises a first member 112 and a second member 122 disposed around a shaft 102 having a central axis A. The first member has a disc-like portion 114 extending radially from the shaft and an electrically conducting cylinder 116 extending laterally from the disc-like portion 114 and co-axially with the shaft A. The second member also has a disc-like portion 124 extending radially from the shaft 102 and a cylindrical portion 126, extending laterally from the disc-like portion and co-axially with the shaft 102. Magnets 108 are mounted and set into the cylindrical portion 126 opposite the electrically conducting cylinder 116 and with a passage 106 for liquid to be heated coaxial with the shaft 102 between the electrically conducting cylinder 116 and the cylindrical portion 126.

[0042] The second member 122 has a central hole 128 in its disc-like portion 124 through which the shaft 102 passes. Bearings 130 are inset into disc-like portion 124, around the central hole 128 and held in place by keeper plates 132. The bearings 130 support the shaft 102 and allow it to turn with respect to the second member 122. The first member 112 has an inner screw thread 117 which screws onto an outer screw thread 107 on shaft 102, fixing the first member 112 in position on the shaft 102, so that the first member 112 rotates with shaft 102, and causing the conducting cylinder 116 to rotate in the magnetic fields of magnets 108, causing the conducting cylinder to heat.

[0043] The face of the disc-like portion 114 of first member 112 is formed as an impeller 118, with a plurality of impeller blades 119 formed in the surface.

[0044] High pressure liquid to be heated is fed to the input 104 on the disc-like portion 124 of second member 122. The high pressure liquid drives the impeller 118 causing the first member 112 and shaft 102 to rotate about axis A. The liquid on leaving the periphery of impeller 118 passes through passage 106 in parallel to axis A where it is heated by the heat generated in conducting cylinder 116 by its intersecting the magnetic fields of magnets 108. After passing through passage 106, the heated liquid leaves the heat generator 100 through one or more ducts 105 through sealing plate 134, which is fixed and sealed to the cylindrical portion 126.

[0045] The sealing plate 134 has a central aperture 136 containing a bearing 138 providing additional support for shaft 102. The bearing is held in place by an endplate 140.

[0046] A sealing cover 142 prevents hot liquid accesses the volume contained between conducting cylinder 116 and the disc-like portion 114 of first member 112. The sealing cover has a central bore 144 with an inner thread 146, engaging with a further outer thread 148 and thus providing additional support for the first member 112 on shaft 102.

[0047] From the output 105, hot liquid may be passed to one or more heat exchangers or, for example, a coil in a hot water tank to recover and use the heat in the liquid. From there the liquid may pass through a hydraulic pump, which can be, for example, wind or water turbine driven, and pumped back under pressure to the input 104.

[0048] The electrically conducting cylinder 116, which rotates, has a screw 110 formed in its surface opposite the cylindrical portion 126 of fixed member 122. The screw acts to aid flow of liquid through the passage in a controlled manner, providing that the liquid remains in the passage for sufficient time to heat adequately but not so long that it boils prematurely.

[0049] In FIG. 3 an alternative arrangement is shown. Here the heat generator is immersed in a hot water tank 150. A hydraulic motor 156 is mounted on the opposed side of disc-like portion 114 to the impeller 128. The hydraulic motor 156 is driven by liquid between a high pressure input 158 and a low pressure output 160, turning the first member 112 about the shaft 102. An input 104 is provided in the disc like portion 124 of the second member 122. The impeller 128 pushes water drawn in through input 104 into the passage 106 parallel to axis A between the conducting cylinder 116 of the first member 112 and the cylindrical portion 126 of the second member 122, The cylindrical portion of the second member has members 108 inset therein. The water passing through passage 106 is heated by heat generated in the conducting cylinder 116 by its rotation in the magnetic fields of magnets 108. Water thus heated is discharged back into the hot water tank through annular outlet 105 between the ends of the cylindrical member 126 and conducting cylinder 116. The hydraulic motor 156 is a standard hydraulic motor and need not be described in detail here.

[0050] The open end of conducting cylinder 116 is optionally sealed with a sealing cover 142 mounted and supported in the same way as the sealing cover 142 shown in FIG. 1. Should the open end of cylindrical portion 126 of the second member require further support, an sealing plate can be provided mounted in the same way as sealing plate 134 shown in FIG. 1. In that case, one or more outlets to allow heated water back to the tank will be needed in the sealing plate.

[0051] A schematic drawing of a further alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 4. As in FIGS. 1 to 3 a heat generator 100 comprises a first member 112 having a conducting cylinder 116 and a second member 122 with a cylindrical potion 126. The conducting cylinder 116 and cylindrical portion 126 have a common axis A with the shaft 102. A hydraulic motor is 156 mounted on the disc like portion 114 of the first member 112 to rotate the first member about axis A. The cylindrical portion 126 of the second member second member has magnets 108 inset into its surface as in FIGS. 1 to 3. The hydraulic motor 156 is driven by high pressure fluid from a hydraulic pump 162 though input 158. However in this case rather than being discharged from the hydraulic motor directly through an outlet as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid on leaving the motor passes through the gap 106 between the conducting cylinder 116 and the cylindrical portion 126 on in which the magnets 108 are inset where it is heated by the heat generated in the electrically conducting cylinder 114 by its rotation in the magnetic fields of the of the magnets 108. After passing through the passage 106, the liquid leaves the heat generators through outlet 105, from where it passes to a heat exchanger 164 or other heat recovery system for use.

[0052] As in FIG. 1, in FIG. 3 the electrically conducting cylinder 116, which rotates, has a screw 110 formed in its surface opposite the cylindrical portion 126 of fixed member 122.

[0053] In FIG. 4, the liquid driving the hydraulic motor 156 is in a closed loop. From the heat exchanger or other heat recovery system 164, it passes through duct 166 to the input of hydraulic pump 162. The output 170 of hydraulic pump 162 is taken through duct 172 to the input 158 of hydraulic motor 156. The hydraulic pump 162 is driven by a shaft 174 from a wind or water turbine 176 or some other rotational power source. As necessary liquid in the system can be topped up by adding addition liquid through valve 178.

[0054] Moving to the further example of FIG. 5. In the heat generator 100, the shaft 102 is rotated about axis A by a motor, normally a hydraulic motor or other source of rotational energy, external to the device. The first member 112 comprises a disc-like portion 114 on which to co-axial electrically conducting cylinders, an inner electrically conducting cylinder 116A and an outer electrically conducting cylinder 116B cylinder are mounted. The second member 122 is mounted around the shaft 102, and has a cylindrical portion 126, extending between the conducting cylinders 116.

[0055] The cylindrical portion 126 has magnets 108 inset into its surface on both sides. The disc like portion 124 of the second member, is towards the opposite end of the heat generator to the disc-like portion 114 of the first member 112 As in FIG. 1, the disc like portion 124 had a central hole 128 through which the shaft 102 passes. Bearings 130 are inset into disc-like portion 124, around the central hole 128 and held in place by keeper plates 130. The bearings 130 support the shaft 102 and allow it to turn with respect to the second member 122. The first member 112 has an inner screw thread 117 which screws onto an outer screw thread 107 on shaft 102, fixing the first member 112 in position on the shaft 102, so that the first member 112 rotates with shaft 102, and causing the conducting cylinders 116A and 116B to rotate in the magnetic fields of magnets 108, causing the conducting cylinders to heat.

[0056] The construction forms two fluid paths between the conducting cylinder 116A and the cylindrical portion 126, and between the conducting cylinder 116B and the cylindrical potion 126 respectively. Both fluid paths 116A and 116B are parallel to the axis A of shaft 102 and co-axial therewith.

[0057] The outer conducting cylinder 116B, if not protected would get very hot, for safety, therefore the generator 100 is mounted in a cylindrical case 180 having end plates 182 with central apertures 184 and bearings 186 through which the shaft 102 passes.

[0058] High pressure fluid is pumped into the heat generator 100 through input 104 which passes through the case end plate 182 into the volume between the disc-like portion 114 of the first member 112 and the case end plate 182. A number of apertures 119 in the disc-like portion 114 allow liquid under pressure into the passages 106A and 106B. Seals 188 around the outside of the outer conducting cylinder prevent the liquid entering the gap between the outer conducting cylinder 116B and the case 180.

[0059] The liquid passes through passages 106A and 106B where it is heated from the heat generated tin the conducting cylinders 116A and 116B by their rotation in the magnetic fields of magnets 108. After the liquid is heated its passes out of the heat generator through outlet 105 in the case 180. To allow heated liquid to pass from passage 106A to the outlet, apertures 129 are provided in the disc-like portion 124 of member 122.

[0060] It can be seen that the arrangement of FIG. 5 doubles the heating capacity of the generator. As an alternative to the liquid flowing in parallel along passages 106A and 106B, the designed flow arrangements can be such that the liquid flows sequentially through passages 106A and 106B, this will have the effect of increasing the output temperature with a reduced flow volume.

[0061] It is also possible to add further electrically conducting cylinders to the first member 112 and one or more further cylindrical portions having magnets mounted thereon to member 122, the cylindrical portions nesting between the electrically conducting cylinders.

[0062] As in FIGS. 1 and 3 the electrically conducting cylinders 116A and 116B, which rotate, have screws 110 formed in their surfaces opposite the cylindrical portion 126 of fixed member 122.

[0063] FIGS. 6 and 7 are identical to FIGS. 1 and 2 save that a plurality of magnets 108 are disposed the length of the cylindrical portion 126 of the second member 122 rather than around it.

[0064] In FIG. 8, the cylindrical portion of the second member 126 has rectangular corrugations 127 extending along its length forming external grooves 127A, and internal grooves 127B, the latter forming elongate water passages between the cylindrical portion 126 of the second member and the cylindrical portion of the first member 116. The magnets 108 are mounted in the external grooves 127A, with alternating North and South poles (indicated by N and S) around the cylindrical portion of the second member, with high flux density between them. The gap 106A between the cylindrical portion of the first member and the base of the groove 127A is very small so that water in the passage 106 tends to flow though grooves 127B. Rotation of the cylindrical portion of the first member 116 with respect to the cylindrical portion of the second member through the flux induces eddy currents in the cylindrical portion of the first member which heats water in the passage 106 passing through the grooves 127B. The grooves 127B allow relatively larger volumes of water to pass through the heater when compared with the arrangement of FIG. 1. To maintain the magnets 108 in place, the cylindrical portion of the second member is surrounded by a backing plate 125, also made of a ferromagnetic material such as steel. The magnets are close together so that the grooves 127B are relatively narrow.

[0065] Performance of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is further enhanced by placing longitudinal magnets on the inside of the cylinder portion of the first member first cylinder parallel to the axis of the first cylinder.

[0066] In FIGS. 9 to 14, a heat generator 10 comprises a shaft 12 (only partially shown) connected to a source of power, a fluid input 14 and fluid output 16. First disc 18 comprising aluminium is mounted rigidly on the shaft 12. A pair of second fixed discs 22 and 23 are mounted around the shaft but not coupled to it, close to and either side of the first disc 18; the planes of the second discs 22 are parallel to the first disc 18.

[0067] Magnets 20, 21 in the form of elongate plates are mounted in recesses 36 in the second fixed discs 22, 23 either side of the first disc 18. The opposite poles of the magnets 20, 21 face one another through the first disc 18, say the north poles of magnets 20 face the surface of disc 18, and the south poles of magnets 21 face the opposite side of disc 18. The north-south poles of magnets 20 and 21 are thus aligned parallel to the axis of the shaft 12 and orthogonally to the first disc 18. The north/south pole are designated 20N 20S, 21N, 21S in FIG. 11.

[0068] A plurality of runner vanes are 24 cast as part of the first disc 18 and are upstanding up from the surface of the first disc on both sides thereof and forming a plurality paths 26 between the first and second discs 18 and 22 from close to the shaft 12 towards the magnets 20 The widths of said paths 26 increase from their inlets 28 close to the shaft to their outlets 30 close to the magnets 20.

[0069] The fluid input 14 to the heat generator passes through one of the pair of second discs and links with an inlet 28 causing water to flow the associated path 26. As disc 18 turns with the shaft 12, the water will be moved centrifugally outwards through the path 26. Each of the inlets 28 in turn passes by input 14 causing water to enter each of the paths 26. The water will flow out of outlets 30 into a thin passages 32 passing between the magnets 20, 21 and the vane free outer portion 34 of first disc 18.

[0070] Thin pieces 38 of the second discs 22 and 23 between the magnets 20,21 and passages 32 to prevent contact between the magnets 20, 21 and the water flowing in passages 32. The magnets are held in place in the recesses 36 by covers 40 over the recesses 36 in the second discs 22, 23.

[0071] The second discs 22, 23 have central holes 42 through which the shaft 12 passes. Bearings 44 are inset into second discs 22, 23, around the central holes 42 held in place by keeper plates 46. The bearings 44 support the shaft 12 and allow it to turn with respect to the second discs 22, 23. A plurality of bolts 48 in holes 49 around the outer edges of the pair of second discs 22 and 23 hold the pair of second discs in place around the first disc 18, allowing the first disc 18 freely to rotate between the two second discs, with its vane free portion 34 rotating within the fields created by the magnets 20, 21.

[0072] The outer rim of each of the second discs 22, 23 have ears 50 through which holes 52 pass, enabling the heat generators to be mounted in a frame or on a support. These ears 50 and holes 52 are not necessary in a small hand operated heat generators.

[0073] To assist good distribution of water over the vane free portions 34 of first disc 18, radial grooves 56 (see FIG. 13) are provided in the inner surfaces of the second discs 22 23 on the opposite sides of the discs from the recesses 36, the latter when seen in plan (FIG. 13) are positioned between the recesses.

[0074] A circular channel 57 cut into the inner surfaces of the pair of second discs extends around the outside of the recesses 36 and radial grooves 56, but connected to neither. Around the outside of each channel 57 is an upstanding circular lip 60 (see FIG. 14B). When the pair of second discs are assembled to together the two corresponding lips 60 mated, with a recess containing receiving a gasket 62 between them and seal the heat generator. The circular channels 57 combine to form a single collection channel 58, to conduct fluid travelling out of the passages 32 to the output 16, from where fluid leaves the heat generator.

[0075] In operation, the shaft 12 is connected to a power source, such as a wind turbine or hydraulic motor. The input 14 is connected to a source of water. Turning the shaft causes the fluid to be move centrifugally and be pushed by runner vanes 24 to the vane free portions 34 of first disc 18, into thin passages 32 and grooves 56. Turning disc 18 between the magnets 20, 2 causes currents to be generated in the first disc 18, particularly in the vane free portion 34 thereof and for the first disc 18 to heat again particularly the vane free portion 34; this in turn heats the fluid in thin passages 32 which then passes into collector channel 58 and out of the heat generator through output 16.

[0076] The unit is can be sized to requirement. For example, a unit suitable to generate 3 kW would be about 30 cm in diameter, driven by a 3 meter wind turbine. Large heat outputs the arrangements of FIGS. 1 to 8 may be preferred and the diameter of the discs in the second embodiment in FIGS. 9 to 14 would become large or two or more such heat generators would be mounted back to back with their first discs driven from a common shaft, with the output 16 of one such generator in connected to and providing the input 14 of the next generator in series.

[0077] Multiple outlets 16 can be provided. If say, two are used, one spaced from the other by a quarter of the distance around the periphery of the heat generator, two different temperature outlets can be provided as the dwell time of fluid in the heat penetrator will be different at each outlet.

[0078] The outside of the heat generators shown in the figures would normally be lagged to minimise heat loss. The heat generator was supplying a heating coil of a hot water tank, pipework to and from the heat generator would need to be lagged, and the system pressurised to ensure water or other fluid was always present in the heat generator. For other applications, the fluid supply would need to be under some pressure, for example from a header tank, for the heat generator to be primed with water before use to ensure the presence of fluid in the system; if a header tank is not available a small priming pump may be needed to pump fluid into the heat generator initially.

[0079] Although normally the heat generators as described in the figures use water as the operating fluid, other fluids can be used if specific performance was needed or the generator was in a closed loop systems. The output, when water, can be used directly. The output when the fluid is water or another fluid can be taken a heat exchanger or the heating coil of hot water tank and used for indirect heating purposes.

[0080] Throughout the description the magnets can be permanent magnets or electro-magnets. Where hydraulic motors discussed, they can be any conventional hydraulic motors, although for long life displacement motors are preferred.