Natural gas fluid heating pre-start system

Abstract

A fluid heating pre-start system includes a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit includes a circulating pump, a heat exchanger, and a fluid jacket coupled to a piece of equipment. The pre-start system includes a heater positioned to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit using the heat exchanger. The pre-start system includes a controller positioned to control the operation of the fluid circuit and the heater. The pre-start system may be run until the piece of equipment is preheated to a desired temperature before the piece of equipment is activated.

1 . A system comprising:
 a fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including a circulating pump, a heat exchanger, and a fluid jacket coupled to a piece of equipment;   a heater, the heater positioned to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit using the heat exchanger; and   a controller, the controller positioned to control the operation of the fluid circuit and the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a gas-fired heater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the gas-fired heater is powered by a gas inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the gas-fired heater includes an electrically-controlled gas valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the gas-fired heater includes an igniter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the igniter is a glow plug. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of the fluid within the fluid circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is a temperature switch positioned to measure the temperature of the fluid at the exit of the equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of equipment is a generator that includes an engine. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of equipment includes components and wherein the fluid circuit has one or more fluid jackets abutting the components of the equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to and adaptively coupled to selectively power or control the circulating pump, an igniter, the igniter included in the heater, and a gas valve, the gas valve included in the heater. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller includes electronics to control a pump relay and an igniter driver. 
     
     
         13 . A method of preheating a piece of equipment comprising:
 engaging a heater;   heating a fluid in a fluid circuit with the heater;   pumping the fluid, through the fluid circuit, using a circulating pump, into a fluid jacket associated with the piece of equipment; and   operating the heater and pump until the fluid temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid is oil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising measuring the fluid temperature of the oil using a temperature sensor positioned within the fluid in the fluid circuit at an exit of the piece of equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid is heated before the piece of equipment is operated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heater and circulating pump are powered by a battery. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein no external power is used to operate the heater and circulating pump. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising operating the heater and the circulating pump a by a controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising igniting the heater using an igniter.