Fluid heating methods and devices

Abstract

A heating pump 10 includes a rotor 20 having a plurality of blades 21. A dividing wall 15 radially extends within an interior portion of the heating pump 10. The dividing wall 15 has a width W. A distance L is defined along a circular arc between adjacent blades 21 in an intermediate position 21 a along the radial direction of the blades 21. A ratio W/L is preferably about 0.07 to 0.36, more preferably about 0.11 to 0.30 and most preferably, about 0.20.

1 . A fluid heating apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior, a suction port and a discharge port,    a rotor rotatably disposed within the housing interior, the rotor comprising a plurality of radially extending blades disposed on the peripheral surface of the rotor and a plurality of channels disposed between the plurality of blades, wherein the respective blades are each separated by a distance L that is defined as a circular arc length between adjacent blades taken at intermediate position along the radial direction of the blades and    a dividing wall radially disposed along the housing interior between the suction port and the discharge port and having a width W, the dividing wall preventing a direct flow of fluid between the suction port and the discharge port when a rotor blade is aligned with the dividing wall, wherein the ratio W/L is within a range of about 0.07 to 0.36.    
     
     
         2 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio W/L is within a range of about 0.11 to 0.30.  
     
     
         3 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio W/L is about 0.20.  
     
     
         4 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid regulator in communication with the discharge port, wherein the fluid regulator is arranged and constructed to restrict a flow of fluid exiting from the discharge port.  
     
     
         5 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the channels have a substantially semi-circular cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising an engine supplying rotational power to the rotor and a heating system, wherein fluid discharged from the discharge port is utilized to heat the heating system.  
     
     
         7 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 6 , further comprising a fluid regulator in communication with the discharge port, wherein the fluid regulator is arranged and constructed to restrict a flow of fluid exiting from the discharge port, the channels have a substantially semi-circular cross-section and the ratio W/L is within a range of about 0.11 to 0.30.  
     
     
         8 . A fluid heating apparatus as in  claim 7 , wherein the ratio W/L is about 0.20.  
     
     
         9 . A regenerative pump comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior, a suction port and a discharge port,    an impeller rotatably disposed within the housing interior, the impeller comprising a plurality of radially extending impeller vanes disposed on the peripheral surface of the impeller and a depressions formed between each two adjacent impeller vanes, wherein the impeller vanes are separated by a distance L and the distance L is defined as a circular arc length between adjacent impeller vanes taken at a middle position of the impeller vane along the radial direction of the impeller vane and    a dividing wall disposed along the housing interior between the suction port and the discharge port and having a width W, the dividing wall preventing a direct flow of fluid between the suction port and the discharge port when one impeller vane is aligned with the dividing wall, wherein the ratio W/L is within a range of 0.07 to 0.36.    
     
     
         10 . A regenerative pump as in  claim 9 , wherein the ratio W/L is within a range of 0.11 to 0.30.  
     
     
         11 . A regenerative pump as in  claim 9 , wherein the ratio W/L is 0.20.  
     
     
         12 . A method of heating a fluid comprising: 
 rotating an impeller of a regenerative pump in order to draw the fluid into the regenerative pump, the impeller comprising a plurality of radially extending impeller vanes disposed on the peripheral surface of the impeller, wherein the impeller vanes are separated by a distance L and the distance L is defined as a circular arc length between adjacent impeller vanes taken at a middle position of the impeller vane along the radial direction of the impeller vane and wherein a dividing wall of the regenerative pump has a width W and a ratio W/L is within a range of 0.07 to 0.36; and    regulating fluid pressure within the regenerative pump in order to restrict a flow of pressurized fluid from the regenerative pump, whereby the fluid is heated.    
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the ratio W/L is within a range of 0.11 to 0.30.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the ratio W/L is 0.20.