Adaptable inline fluid heating system

Abstract

An adaptable fluid heating system includes a reservoir and an inline heating loop. The reservoir holds a fluid such as lubricant oil. The adaptable fluid heating system includes an inline heating loop, the inline heating loop fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The inline heating loop includes a circulation pump and an inline heater. The circulation pump circulates fluid from the reservoir through the inline heater and back into the reservoir.

1 . An adaptable fluid heating system comprising:
 a reservoir, the reservoir holding a fluid;   an inline heating loop, the inline heating loop fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the inline heating loop including:
 a circulation pump; and 
 an inline heater. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the fluid in the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pump is driven by a circulation motor. 
     
     
         4 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 3 , wherein the circulation motor is driven by a VFD. 
     
     
         5 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising an immersion heater, the immersion heater positioned at a location proximate a suction inlet of the inline heating loop. 
     
     
         6 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, the controller positioned to control the circulation pump and the inline heater. 
     
     
         7 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine the temperature of the reservoir and, if the temperature is below a predetermined value, operate an immersion heater before the circulation pump. 
     
     
         8 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1  further comprising heat wrapping of conduits, heat recapture auxiliaries, or heating elements located under or surrounding the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 8 , wherein the heat recapture auxiliaries are one or more blower motors added to the circulation pump or circulation motor. 
     
     
         10 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 8 , wherein the heat elements located under or surrounding the reservoir are heat blankets or a thermal insulator. 
     
     
         11 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 1  further comprising an inline cooling system in fluid connection with the circulation pump but not the inline heater. 
     
     
         12 . The adaptable fluid heating system of  claim 11 , wherein the inline heater is separated by the circulation pump by a reversing valve. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 providing an adaptable fluid heating system, the adaptable fluid heating system comprising:
 a reservoir, the reservoir holding a fluid; 
 an inline heating loop, the inline heating loop fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the inline heating loop including:
 a circulation pump; and 
 
 an inline heater; 
 engaging the circulation pump; 
 pumping fluid from the reservoir through the inline heating loop; 
 heating the fluid passing through the inline heating loop with the inline heater; and 
 returning the heated fluid to the reservoir. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising prior to engaging the circulation pump heating the fluid in the reservoir with an immersion heater. The method of  claim 14  further comprising controlling the immersion heater, the circulation pump and the inline heater with a controller. 
     
     
         16 . The method of claim  15 , wherein the controller determines the temperature of the fluid within the reservoir using a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising reducing the viscosity of the fluid prior to engaging the circulation pump.