Portable hybrid hydronic heating system

Abstract

A portable fluid heating system and method for circulating heated fluid is provided. The system can include a primary heater using a fuel to heat a transfer fluid, a circulating pump for pressurizing the transfer fluid that has been heated by the primary heater, to circulate the transfer fluid through the system, a heat accessory which the transfer fluid can be circulated through, and an electric heater for heating the transfer fluid. The system can also include a flow reverser operative to reverse the flow of heat transfer fluid through the flow reverser and a flow rectifier to direct a flow of heat transfer fluid through the electric heater in a single direction. The method can include heating a heat transfer fluid with a primary heater using a fuel, circulating the heated heat transfer fluid through a heat accessory, and, further heating the heat transfer fluid with an electric heater.

1 . A portable fluid heating system comprising:
 a primary heater using a fuel to heat a transfer fluid;   a circulating pump for pressurizing the transfer fluid that has been heated by the primary heater and circulate the transfer fluid through the system;   a heat accessory which the transfer fluid can be circulated through; and   an electric heater for heating the transfer fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat accessory is a plurality of fluid circulation lines. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a first manifold and a second manifold and wherein the plurality of fluid circulation lines run between the first manifold and the second manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the primary heater is a gas-fired heater and the fuel is a gas. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the fuel is at least one of: propane; and natural gas. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fuel is an oil-fired heater and the fuel is an oil. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the fuel is at last one of: diesel; and, light oil. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the primary heater can operate both as a gas-fired heater and as an oil-fired heater. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the primary heater can have a supply port, and a return port, and wherein heat transfer fluid that enters the return port is heated in the primary heater before exiting through the supply port. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electric heater comprises a submersible electrical element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electric heater has a different power source than a power source of the primary heater. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the electric heater is provided inline of a return conduit running from the second manifold to the primary heater. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the electric heater is provided inline of a supply conduit running from the primary heater to the first distribution manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electric heater has multiple voltage connections. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a flow reverser connected between the primary heater and the first distribution manifold and connected between the primary heater and the second distribution manifold, the flow reverser operative to reverse the flow of heat transfer fluid through the flow reverser. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a flow reverser comprising: an intake port connectable to the supply port of the primary heater; an outlet port connectable to the return port of the primary heater; a first port connectable to the first distribution manifold; and, a second port connectable to the second distribution manifold, wherein the flow reverser is selectable between a first direction. where the intake port is operably connected to the first port and the outlet port is operably connected to the second port, and, a second direction. where the intake port is operably connected to the second port and the outlet port is operably connected to the first port. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the electric heater is connected in parallel with the plurality of fluid circulation lines. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the electric heater is connected in parallel with the first distribution manifold and the second distribution manifold. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a flow control provided adjacent the electric heater and restricting a flow of heat transfer fluid through the electric heater. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a flow rectifier to direct a flow of heat transfer fluid through the electric heater in a single direction. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the flow rectifier is connected in parallel with the plurality of fluid circulation lines and the electric heater is connected to the flow rectifier. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the flow rectifier comprises: a first port operably connected to the first port of the flow reverser; a second port operably connected to the second port of the flow reverser; an output port connected to the electric heater to direct heat transfer fluid to the electric heater from the output port; and, an input port operably connected to the electric heater to direct heated heat transfer fluid to the input port. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the flow rectifier has a series of check valves operative to rectify the flow of heat transfer fluid through the flow rectifier such that when there is a flow of heat transfer fluid in a first direction into the first port, the first port is operably connected the outlet port and the second port is operably connected to the input port and when there is a flow of heat transfer fluid in a second direction into the second port, the second port is operably connected to the outlet port and the first port is operably connected to the input port. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein when a first flow of heat transfer fluid is flowing in a first direction and entering the flow rectifier through the first port and a second flow of heat transfer fluid is flowing from the electric heater into the input port, a first check valve stops the first flow of heat transfer fluid flowing through the first check valve and a second check valve allows the first flow of heat transfer fluid to flow through the second check valve and out through the output port to the electric heater while a third check valve stops the first flow of heat transfer fluid flowing to the second port, the first check valve stops the second flow of heat transfer fluid flowing through the first check valve and the fourth check valve allows the second flow of heat transfer fluid to flow to the second port while the third check valve stops the second flow of heat transfer fluid from flowing to the output port. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein when a third flow of heat transfer fluid is flowing in a second direction and entering the flow rectifier through the second port and a fourth flow of heat transfer fluid is flowing from the electric heater into the input port, the fourth check valve stops the third flow of heat transfer fluid flowing through the fourth check valve and the third check valve allows the third flow of heat transfer fluid to flow through the third check valve and out through the output port to the electric heater while the second check valve stops the third flow of heat transfer fluid flowing to the first port, the fourth check valve stops the fourth flow of heat transfer fluid flowing through the fourth check valve and the first check valve allows the fourth flow of heat transfer fluid to flow to the first port and the second check valve stops the fourth flow of heat transfer fluid from flowing to the output port. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a flow switch, the flow switch stopping the electric heater heating when the flow switch determines there is no flow of heat transfer fluid through the electric heater. 
     
     
         27 . A method for circulating heated fluid, the method comprising:
 heating a heat transfer fluid with a primary heater using a fuel;   circulating the heated heat transfer fluid through a heat accessory; and   further heating the heat transfer fluid with an electric heater.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the heat transfer fluid is heated with the electric heater after the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the heat accessory and before the heat transfer fluid is supplied back to the primary heater. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the heat accessory is a plurality of fluid circulation lines.