Device and method for heating a fluid in a pipe with three-phase current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid heating devices with direct electrical heating methods require multiple insulations to prevent parallel current flow, which can lead to safety risks and inefficiencies, especially when the insulation is impaired by the fluid or due to poor electrical connections, particularly in systems prone to explosions.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring multiple electrically conductive pipelines connected to phase-shifted AC voltage sources forming a star connection, where each pipeline is assigned a voltage source with outer conductors and a neutral conductor, allowing for efficient heating without the need for redundant insulation, as the currents cancel out at the star point, reducing the risk of parallel current flow and sparking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple insulations are provided to prevent parallel current flow, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful parallel current flow into a beneficial effect by using phase-shifted AC voltages where the currents naturally cancel out at the connection point. The harmful factor (current flow through insulation) is transformed into a useful phenomenon (current cancellation that eliminates the need for insulation).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters by using phase-shifted AC voltages instead of DC or single-phase AC. This parameter change causes the currents to be out of phase, enabling them to cancel each other out at the star point, thereby eliminating the need for insulating measures.
2Reliability
If insulation effectiveness is impaired by medium or poor connections, then heating must be switched off, but this reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the vulnerability to insulation impairment by converting the system to one where current cancellation occurs naturally through phase-shifted voltages. This transforms the harmful situation (uncontrolled current flow when insulation fails) into a beneficial state where the system continues to operate safely without insulation, maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system becomes self-protecting through the natural cancellation of currents at the star point. The phase-shifted voltages automatically prevent parallel current flow without requiring external monitoring or control systems, allowing continuous operation even when insulation is impaired.
3Use of energy by moving object
If direct heating with conductive pipelines is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of parallel current flow and sparking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful parallel current flow into a beneficial cancellation effect by using phase-shifted AC voltages. The same conductive pipelines that enable efficient heating now naturally cancel out currents at the star point, eliminating sparking risks while maintaining heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage phase parameters to create out-of-phase currents that cancel each other out. This parameter change eliminates the harmful effects of parallel current flow and sparking while preserving the efficient direct heating capability of conductive pipelines.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables safe and efficient heating of fluids by eliminating the need for redundant insulation, minimizing the risk of parallel current flow and sparking, while maintaining effective heat transfer through Joule heating, thus enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
each outer conductor L1 to LM being electrically conductively connected to the respective pipeline 100 in such a way that a star connection is formed, in which each outer conductor is electrically conductively connected to the star point of the star connection via at least part of the respective pipeline
Implementation Method 2
the current itself flows through it, which heats the pipe to heat the fluid by, due to the electrical resistance of the at least one pipeline Joule heat is generated in the pipeline, which is proportional to the electrical power converted there and the length of time over which the current flows
Implementation Method 3
By means of thermal conduction or thermal radiation, heat can now be emitted from the heating cable to the pipeline and from the pipeline to the medium located or flowing in it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for heating a fluid (F), comprising at least one electrically conductive pipeline (100) for accommodating the fluid (F) and at least one voltage source (2) connected to the at least one pipeline (100), wherein the at least one voltage source (2) is designed to generate an electric current in the at least one pipeline (100), which electric current heats the at least one pipeline (100) in order to heat the fluid (F). According to the invention, the at least one voltage source (2) has M phase conductors (L1,..., LM), wherein M is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and wherein the at least one voltage source (2) is designed to provide an alternating voltage at the phase conductors (L1,..., LM), wherein those alternating voltages are phase-shifted in relation to each other by 2π/Μ, and wherein the phase conductors (L1,..., LM) are connected to the at least one pipeline (100) in an electrically conductive manner in such a way that a star circuit is formed.