Evaporation apparatus for high efficiency fire place or heater with humidification feature

Abstract

A heater having an evaporating and humidifying apparatus therein, the evaporating and humidifying apparatus comprising a fluid pan with a heating element. In one aspect, the pan is in fluid communication with a condensate trap assembly. In one aspect the apparatus can include a base pan, the heating element, an insulator and an evaporation pan above the heating element. The evaporating and humidifying apparatus can include a fluid level sensor operatively associated with the heater controls. The condensate trap assembly may include a fluid level sensor operatively associated with the heater controls to determine fluid levels in the trap assembly. In one aspect the pan comprises an ultrasonic vaporization element in lieu of a heating element.

1 . A heater comprising;
 a control system for controlling the operation of the heater;   a burner;   a heat exchanger in communication with the burner;   a blower;   a condensate trap assembly; and   a humidifying apparatus comprising an evaporation pan in fluid connection with the condensate trap assembly, said pan associated with a vaporization element wherein the vaporization element vaporizes moisture from the evaporation pan to generate humidity.   
     
     
         2 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the vaporization element is a heating element. 
     
     
         3 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the vaporization element is an ultrasonic vaporization device. 
     
     
         4 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the humidifying apparatus is below the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the evaporation pan comprises a fluid sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The heater of  claim 5  wherein the evaporation pan fluid sensor is operatively associated with the vaporization element. 
     
     
         7 . The heater of  claim 5  wherein the evaporation pan fluid sensor is operatively associated with the control system. 
     
     
         8 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the evaporation pan further comprises an insulative sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the condensate trap assembly includes a fluid sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The heater of  claim 9  wherein the condensate trap assembly fluid sensor is operatively associated with the control system. 
     
     
         11 . The heater of  claim 9  wherein the condensate trap assembly fluid sensor is operatively associated the vaporization element. 
     
     
         12 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the evaporation pan further comprises an insulative sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The heater of  claim 2  wherein the heating element is an electric heating element. 
     
     
         14 . A heater comprising;
 a control system for controlling the operation of the heater;   a burner and associated heat exchanger;   a blower;   a condensate trap assembly; and   a vaporizing apparatus below the blower, the vaporizing apparatus comprising a fluid reservoir with a vaporization element disposed to vaporize fluid in the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         15 . The heater of  claim 14  wherein fluid reservoir comprises a fluid sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The heater of  claim 14  wherein the vaporization element is a heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 14  wherein the vaporization element is an ultrasonic vaporization device. 
     
     
         18 . The heater of  claim 15  wherein fluid reservoir fluid sensor is operatively associated with the control system. 
     
     
         19 . The heater of  claim 11  wherein the condensate trap assembly includes a fluid level sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The heater of  claim 15  wherein the condensate trap assembly fluid level sensor is operatively associated with the control system.