Magnetic heat generation

Abstract

A magnetic heater is provided having a conductor assembly and a magnet assembly. The magnet assembly is adapted to rotate relative to the conductor assembly about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductor assembly when relative motion is produced between the conductor assembly and first magnet assembly. The conductor assembly defines a fluid path therein for the transfer of heat from the conductor assembly to a fluid. The magnetic heater is a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the magnet assembly. The heat generated by the magnetic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a fluid.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . An engine-driven heat generation system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, an exhaust system, and a cooling system;   a magnetic heater comprising at least one conductor assembly and at least one magnet assembly in closely-spaced, opposing, alternating configuration with the at least one conductor assemblies assembly, the at least one conductor assembly at least in part defining a fluid path, the at least one conductor assembly and at least one magnet assembly aligned along an axis defined by the drive shaft, the conductor assembly comprising an electrically conductive material such that eddy-currents are induced within the conductor assembly when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux, each magnet assembly operably coupled to the drive shaft such that the at least one magnet assembly rotates relative to the at least one conductor assembly when the drive shaft is rotated so as to induce eddy currents in the at least one conductor assembly which heats the at least one conductor assembly and in turn heats a working fluid within the fluid path; and   a fluid handling system comprising:   a manifold flow control operable to direct the working fluid to the fluid path;   an exhaust heat exchanger operably coupled to the exhaust system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the exhaust system is transferred to the working fluid; and   a coolant heat exchanger operably coupled to the cooling system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the cooling system is transferred to the working fluid.   
   
   
       13 . The heat generation system of  claim 12 , the magnet assembly comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein the at least one magnet assembly is adapted to dispose the magnets in close proximity to the at least one conductor assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The heat generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic heater comprises:
 a first, second and third conductor assembly in alternating arrangement with a first, second, third, and fourth magnet assembly, the conductor assemblies and magnet assemblies in axial alignment with the drive shaft, the conductor assemblies and magnet assemblies spaced apart a predetermined distance.   
   
   
       15 . The heat generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one magnet assembly comprises:
 a magnet plate in the form of a substantially circular disk, a plurality of magnet pockets disposed on a side of the magnet plate and at a predetermined distance adjacent a magnet plate peripheral edge, the plurality of magnet pockets adapted to at least partially receive at least one magnet therein;   at least one magnet at least partially disposed within each magnet pocket; and   at least one retainer plate coupled to the magnet plate capturing the magnet within the magnet pocket.   
   
   
       16 . The heat generation system of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer plates comprise a plurality of fastener apertures adapted to receive suitable fasteners there through, the fastener apertures adapted to align with threaded bores disposed in the magnet plate. 
   
   
       17 . The heat generation system of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer plate comprises a plurality of retainer pockets complementary with the magnet pockets and adapted to receive at least a portion of at least one magnet therein. 
   
   
       18 . The heat generation system of  claim 15 , wherein the magnet pockets are adapted to receive the magnet entirely therein, and the retainer plate comprises a substantially flat surface to contain the magnet therein. 
   
   
       19 . The heat generation system of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer pockets are adapted to receive the magnet entirely therein, and the magnet plate comprises a substantially flat surface to contain the magnet therein. 
   
   
       20 . The heat generation system of  claim 13 , wherein the magnet plates further comprise a central shaft aperture adapted to accept the drive shaft therethrough. 
   
   
       21 . The heat generation system of  claim 12 , the at least one conductor assembly comprising a pair of conductor plates retained about a peripheral edge in fluid-tight engagement by a frame, the conductor plates comprise an electrically conductive material adapted to enable induced eddy-currents within the conductor plate when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux, the frame adapted to retain the conductor plates in facing spaced-apart relationship a predetermined distance apart defining a fluid space therebetween which in-part defines the fluid path, the frame adapted to seal the peripheral edge of the conductive plates defining the fluid space, the conductor plates each have a bushing aperture adapted to receive the bushing therein, a bushing seal about the bushing aperture adapted to engage the conductor plates about the bushing aperture and the bushing is operable to maintain fluid-tight engagement therebetween so as to define the fluid space. 
   
   
       22 . The magnetic heater of  claim 21 , the at least one conductor assembly further comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining at least a portion of the fluid path, the fluid space operable such that the working fluid may be passed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet sufficient to provide heat transfer from the conductor plates to the working fluid as the conductor plates are heated during operation. 
   
   
       23 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The magnetic heater of  claim 12 , wherein the working fluid is a liquid. 
   
   
       26 . The magnetic heater of  claim 12 , the fluid handling system further comprising:
 a fluid reservoir operably coupled to the fluid path wherein the working fluid is recollected in the fluid reservoir and either directed again through the manifold flow control or directed to an external heat exchanger by way of an external manifold, the external manifold operable to provide fluid take-offs operable to supply the working fluid to the external heat exchanger and return the working fluid to the fluid reservoir.   
   
   
       27 . An engine-driven heat generation system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, an exhaust system, and a cooling system;   a magnetic heater comprising at least one conductor assembly and at least one magnet assembly in closely-spaced, opposing, alternating configuration with the at least one conductor assembly, the at least one conductor assembly at least in part defining a fluid path, the conductor assembly comprising an electrically conductive material such that eddy-currents are induced within the conductor assembly when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux, each magnet assembly operably coupled to the drive shaft such that the at least one magnet assembly moves relative to the at least one conductor assembly when the drive shaft is rotated so as to induce eddy currents in the at least one conductor assembly which heats the at least one conductor assembly and in turn heats a working fluid within the fluid path; and   a fluid handling system comprising:   a fluid reservoir;   a manifold flow control operable to direct the working fluid to the fluid path;   an exhaust heat exchanger operably coupled to the exhaust system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the exhaust system is transferred to the working fluid; and   a coolant heat exchanger operably coupled to the cooling system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the cooling system is transferred to the working fluid, the fluid reservoir operably coupled to the fluid path wherein the working fluid is recollected in the fluid reservoir and either directed again through the manifold flow control or directed to an external heat exchanger by way of an external manifold, the external manifold operable to provide fluid take-offs operable to supply the working fluid to the external heat exchanger and return the working fluid to the fluid reservoir.   
   
   
       28 . The heat generation system of  claim 27 , the magnet assembly comprising a plurality of magnets, wherein the at least one magnet assembly is adapted to dispose the magnets in close proximity to the at least one conductor assembly. 
   
   
       29 . The heat generation system of  claim 27 , wherein the magnetic heater comprises:
 a first, second and third conductor assembly in alternating arrangement with a first, second, third, and fourth magnet assembly, the conductor assemblies and magnet assemblies in axial alignment with the drive shaft, the conductor assemblies and magnet assemblies spaced apart a predetermined distance.   
   
   
       30 . The heat generation system of  claim 28 , wherein the magnet plates further comprise a central shaft aperture adapted to accept the drive shaft therethrough. 
   
   
       31 . The heat generation system of  claim 30 , the at least one conductor assembly comprising a pair of conductor plates retained about a peripheral edge in fluid-tight engagement by a frame, the conductor plates comprise an electrically conductive material adapted to enable induced eddy-currents within the conductor plate when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux, the frame adapted to retain the conductor plates in facing spaced-apart relationship a predetermined distance apart defining a fluid space therebetween which in-part defines the fluid path, the frame adapted to seal the peripheral edge of the conductive plates defining the fluid space, the conductor plates each have a bushing aperture adapted to receive the bushing therein, a bushing seal about the bushing aperture adapted to engage the conductor plates about the bushing aperture and the bushing is operable to maintain fluid-tight engagement therebetween so as to define the fluid space. 
   
   
       32 . The magnetic heater of  claim 31 , the at least one conductor assembly further comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining at least a portion of the fluid path, the at least one conductor assembly adapted to provide a fluid passage within the fluid space defining at least a portion of the fluid path, the fluid space operable such that the working fluid may be passed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet sufficient to provide heat transfer from the conductor plates to the working fluid as the conductor plates are heated during operation. 
   
   
       33 . An engine-driven heat generation system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft, an exhaust system, and a cooling system;   a fluid handling system;   a magnetic heater comprising:
 one or more conductor assemblies at least in part defining a fluid path, each conductor assembly comprising a pair of conductor plates defining a fluid space therebetween, the fluid space in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet adapted to restrict the flow of a working fluid from the fluid inlet, through the fluid space, and out of the fluid outlet defining at least in part the fluid path, the conductor plates comprise an electrically conductive material operable to enable induced eddy-currents within the conductor plates when exposed to a time-varying magnetic flux; and 
 one or more magnet assemblies comprising one or more magnets, each magnet assembly in opposing, facing arrangement spaced apart a predetermined distance from a respective conductor assembly, wherein the magnet assembly is adapted to dispose the one or more magnets in close proximity to at least one conductor plate, each magnet assembly coupled to the drive shaft operable such that the magnet assembly moves relative to at least one conductor plate when the drive shaft is caused to rotate, wherein the magnet assembly is adapted to induce eddy currents in the at least one conductor plate when moved relative thereto, wherein the fluid space is operable to provide heat transfer from the conductor plates to the working fluid as the conductor plates are heated during operation, 
   the fluid handling system comprising:   a fluid reservoir;   a manifold flow control operable to direct the working fluid to the fluid path;   an exhaust heat exchanger operably coupled to the exhaust system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the exhaust system is transferred to the working fluid; and   a coolant heat exchanger operably coupled to the cooling system of the engine and operably coupled to the manifold flow control such that heat from the cooling system is transferred to the working fluid, the fluid reservoir operably coupled to the fluid path wherein the working fluid is recollected in the fluid reservoir and either directed again through the manifold flow control or directed to an external heat exchanger by way of an external manifold, the external manifold operable to provide fluid take-offs operable to supply the working fluid to the external heat exchanger and return the working fluid to the fluid reservoir.