Hybrid spa heater

Abstract

A hybrid spa heater is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the hybrid spa heater includes a cavitation fitting, where the cavitation fitting includes a plurality of orifices adapted to use water pressure to force water through to increase water temperature. The hybrid spa heater also includes an electric heater in fluid communication with the cavitation fitting, where the electric heater is adapted to increase the water temperature when an electrical resistance is applied. In addition, the cavitation fitting includes a chamber in downstream fluid communication with the plurality of orifices and is adapted to create a fluid vortex within the cavitation fitting to increase the water temperature. The cavitation fitting includes internal threading to mate with external threading of a water pump housing to allow the cavitation fitting to be removed for inspection and cleaning.

1 . A hybrid spa heater, the heater comprising:
 a cavitation fitting, wherein the cavitation fitting comprises a plurality of orifices adapted to use water pressure to force water therethrough to increase water temperature; and   an electric heater in fluid communication with the cavitation fitting, wherein the electric heater is adapted to increase the water temperature when an electrical resistance is applied.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 1 , the cavitation fitting further comprising a chamber in downstream fluid communication with the plurality of orifices and adapted to create a fluid vortex within the cavitation fitting to increase the water temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of orifices is disposed on a removable disc adapted to insert into the cavitation fitting upstream of the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 3 , further comprising a water pump having an inlet port and an outlet port, the cavitation fitting in fluid communication with the outlet port of the water pump, wherein the water pump is adapted to increase an outlet water pressure to be greater than an inlet water pressure at the inlet port. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 4 , further comprising a control module that controls the electric heater in response to a user selecting a desired water speed or temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 5 , wherein the cavitation fitting further comprises internal threading to mate with external threading of a water pump housing to allow the cavitation fitting to be removed for inspection and cleaning. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 6 , wherein the water pump is a centrifugal pump. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 7 , the water pump further comprising a variable speed motor. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 8 , wherein the cavitation fitting is a polyvinyl chloride material. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid spa heater of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of orifices are sized to increase a velocity of water through the cavitation fitting. 
     
     
         11 . A method of heating water for a spa, the method comprising:
 providing a cavitation fitting, wherein the cavitation fitting comprises a plurality of orifices adapted to use water pressure to force water therethrough to increase water temperature; and   increasing the water temperature when an electrical resistance is applied to an electric heater in fluid communication with the cavitation fitting.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising creating a vortex within a chamber of the cavitation fitting downstream of the plurality of orifices to increase the water temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting a removable disc having the plurality of orifices into the cavitation fitting upstream of the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising increasing an outlet water pressure to be greater than an inlet water pressure of a water pump in fluid communication with the cavitation fitting. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling an electric heater in response to a user selecting a desired water speed or temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising mating the cavitation fitting to a water pump housing to allow the cavitation fitting to be removed for inspection and cleaning. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the water pump is a centrifugal pump. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a speed of a motor for the pump to correspondingly adjust the outlet water pressure.