Radiant heat reflector and heat converter

Abstract

A system may include a tube through which hot fluid is transported from one end to another, wherein the tube radiates heat energy and transfers heat energy to surrounding air by convection. The system may also include a reflector that reflects the radiated heat and a hood that captures the heat energy from the surrounding air through convection, wherein the hood radiates the captured heat energy. The reflector may include a bi-involute curved surface.

1 . A system comprising:
 a tube through which hot fluid is transported, wherein the tube radiates heat energy and transfers heat energy to surrounding air; and   a reflector positioned on a first side of the tube to reflect the radiated heat in a direction outward of the tube, the reflector having a first curved surface and a second curved surface that meet at a junction, the tube spaced from the junction by a distance that is between 30% and 77% of a radius of the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface is configured as a portion of an involute curve and the reflector and tube are configured such that a plurality of lines tangent to an edge of the tube are perpendicular to the involute curve upon intersection. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein second lines intersecting a center of the tube and the involute curve create an acute angle between the involute curve and each of the second lines. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each plurality of lines tangent to the edge of the tube vary in distance from the involute curve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a longest of the plurality of lines tangent to the edge of the tube does not exceed one half of a circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface is configured as a portion of an involute curve, and wherein the involute curve is configured to intersect an edge of the tube at a point that is away from being directly above a center of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the point intersects the edge at an angle of 29° away from being directly above the center of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the point intersects the edge at an angle of between 5° and 35° away from being directly above the center of the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the point intersects the edge at an angle of greater than 360° away from being directly above the center of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface is configured as a portion of an involute curve, and wherein the involute curve is configured to intersect an edge of the tube at a point that is directly above a center of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second curved surfaces end above a bottom of the tube. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hood spaced from the reflector and configured to radiate a portion of the captured heat energy in generally the same direction as the reflected radiant heat. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the hood includes corrugations. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tube through which hot fluid is transported, wherein the tube radiates heat energy and transfers heat energy to surrounding air; and   a reflector positioned on a first side of the tube to reflect the radiated heat in a direction outward of the tube, the reflector having a first curved surface and a second curved surface that meet at a junction, at least one of the first curved surface and the second curved surface configured as a portion of an involute curve, and wherein the involute curve is configured to intersect an edge of the tube at a point that is away from being directly above a center of the tube.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the tube is spaced from the junction by a distance that is between 30% and 77% of a radius of the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the point intersects the edge at an angle of between 5° and 35° away from being directly above the center of the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the point intersects the edge at an angle of greater than 360° away from being directly above the center of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The hood of  claim 14 , further comprising a hood spaced from the reflector and configured to radiate a portion of the captured heat energy in generally the same direction as the reflected radiant heat. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hood includes corrugations. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a tube through which hot fluid is transported, wherein the tube radiates heat energy and transfers heat energy to surrounding air; and   a reflector positioned on a first side of the tube to reflect the radiated heat in a direction outward of the tube, the reflector having a first curved surface and a second curved surface that meet at a junction, at least one of the first curved surface and the second curved surface configured as a portion of an involute curve and the reflector and tube are configured such that a plurality of lines tangent to an edge of the tube are perpendicular to the involute curve upon intersection;   wherein a longest of the plurality of lines tangent to the edge of the tube does not exceed one half of a circumference of the tube.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the tube is spaced from the junction by a distance that is between 30% and 77% of a radius of the tube. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the involute curve is configured to intersect an edge of the tube at a point that is away from being directly above a center of the tube.