Method and apparatus for enhancing heat transfer in a fluid container

Abstract

An apparatus and method for enhancing the transfer of heat in a fluid within a reservoir. The interposition of heat exchangers between a primary heating arrangement and an auxiliary heating arrangement results in greater utilization efficiency in heat transfer to the fluid within the container. A predetermined arrangement of heat exchangers within the reservoir containing the same is also disclosed.

1 . A method of enhancing utilization efficiency of heat exchange in a fluid retained in a reservoir, comprising:
 providing a heater circuit having a primary heater for heating a reservoir heat exchanger disposed within said reservoir;   providing an auxiliary heater; and   interposing a secondary heat exchanger in fluid communication between said primary heater, said auxiliary heater and said reservoir heat exchanger to augment heat content of cool fluid returning from said reservoir heat exchanger with heat from said primary heater and said auxiliary heater.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including the step of disengaging said auxiliary water heater and said secondary heat exchanger upon reaching a predetermined fluid temperature in said reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , further including engaging a disengaged auxiliary water heater and said secondary heat exchanger on a heater circuit having said primary heater and reservoir with said reservoir heat exchanger for enhancing said utilization efficiency of heat exchanger at least until said predetermined temperature is reached. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least two heater circuits are connected to said auxiliary heater and said secondary heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir comprises a fracturing fluid reservoir for retaining fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a water reservoir for retaining water. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a drilling fluid reservoir for retaining drilling fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an acid reservoir for retaining acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , including providing a plurality of reservoir heat exchangers in spaced relation disposed within said reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , further including the step of positioning said reservoir heat exchangers in said reservoir to be spaced from the bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said reservoir heat exchangers are positioned in an angular relationship relative to the bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said angular relationship is between 0.1 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the horizontal bottom of said reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said angular relationship is between 15 degrees and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said reservoir heat exchangers are spaced in a predetermined relationship relative to one another to facilitate natural convection. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the relative distance between adjacent heat exchangers increases in a counter clockwise direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the relative distance is between the ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.7. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the relative distance is 1:1.5. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including engaging a disengaged auxiliary water heater and secondary heat exchangers on a heater circuit having said primary heater and reservoir with said reservoir heat exchangers for enhancing said utilization efficiency of heat exchange at least until said predetermined temperature is reached. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least two heater circuits are connected to said auxiliary heater and said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that said reservoir comprises a fracturing fluid reservoir for retaining fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         21 . A system for enhancing the rate of heart exchange in a fluid retained in a reservoir, comprising:
 a heater circuit having a primary heater for heating a reservoir heat exchanger disposed within said reservoir;   an auxiliary heater; and   a secondary heat exchanger interposed and in fluid communication between said primary heater, said auxiliary heater and said reservoir heat exchanger to augment heat content of cool fluid returning from said reservoir heat exchanger with heat from said primary heater and said auxiliary heater.   
     
     
         22 . The system as set forth in  claim 21 , further including a reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The system as set forth in  claim 18 , characterized in that said reservoir is a fracturing fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The system as set forth in  claim 21 , characterized in that said reservoir heat exchanger comprises a planar configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said heat exchanger is self-contained and includes a plurality of impressions over the surface area thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The system as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said impressions comprise dimples. 
     
     
         27 . The system as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said system includes a plurality of reservoir heat exchangers. 
     
     
         28 . The system as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein said reservoir heat exchanger of said plurality of reservoir heat exchangers includes a heater circuit and a secondary heat exchanger. 
     
     
         29 . The system as set forth in  claim 25 , further including a temperature monitor at least provided in said reservoir. 
     
     
         30 . The system as set forth in  claim 21 , characterized in that said system is a portable system. 
     
     
         31 . The system as set forth in  claim 21 , characterized in that said system is self-contained and independent of a vehicle in use. 
     
     
         32 . The system as set forth in  claim 21 , characterized in that said auxiliary heater and said secondary heater exchanger are connected to a plurality of heater circuits. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for enhancing utilization efficiency of the rate of heat exchange in a fluid retained in a reservoir having a heater circuit having a primary heater for heating a reservoir heat exchanger disposed within said reservoir, the improvement comprising:
 an auxiliary heater; and   a secondary heat exchanger interposed and in fluid communication between said primary heater, said auxiliary heater and said reservoir heat exchanger to augment heat content of cool fluid returning from said reservoir heat exchanger with heat from said primary heater and said auxiliary heater.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein said auxiliary heater and said secondary heat exchanger are portable. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said auxiliary heater and said secondary heat exchanger are connected to a plurality of heater circuits.