Device and method for heating a fluid in a pipeline using three-phase current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid heating devices using electrically conductive pipelines require multiple insulation means to prevent parallel current flow, which can lead to safety risks and heat loss, especially when the insulation is compromised by the fluid medium.
Innovation Solution
A device with multiple electrically conductive pipelines and voltage sources, where each voltage source generates a phase-shifted AC voltage, forming a star circuit with the pipelines, allowing for reduced insulation needs by canceling currents at a neutral point, thereby minimizing the risk of parallel current flow and heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple insulation means are provided to prevent parallel current flow, then safety is improved, but device complexity and heat loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for multiple insulation means by using a star circuit configuration with phase-shifted AC voltages. The neutral point connection removes the parallel current path that would otherwise require insulation, directly resolving the contradiction by taking out the problematic current path rather than insulating against it.
Solution Approach 2:
The neutral point acts as an intermediary element that provides a safe return path for the phase-shifted currents. By introducing this intermediate connection point, the system allows currents to cancel each other out safely without creating dangerous parallel current flows through the pipeline, thereby maintaining safety without requiring multiple insulation layers.
2Reliability
If multiple insulation means are provided to prevent parallel current flow, then safety is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for multiple insulation means by extracting the parallel current path through the star circuit configuration. This eliminates the source of heat loss associated with multiple insulation layers while maintaining safety through the phase-shifted AC voltage system that cancels currents at the neutral point.
3Device complexity
If insulation means are reduced, then device complexity is reduced, but safety deteriorates due to risk of parallel current flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters by using phase-shifted AC voltages instead of direct current or simple AC connections. This parameter change transforms the current behavior so that currents cancel out at the neutral point, eliminating parallel current flow risks and maintaining safety with reduced insulation means.
Solution Approach 2:
The neutral point serves as an intermediary that safely manages the phase-shifted currents. By connecting all phase lines to this common neutral point, the system provides a controlled path for current cancellation, ensuring safety without requiring multiple insulation layers.
4Use of energy by moving object
If direct heating with single voltage source is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but safety risk increases due to unpredictable heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single voltage source into multiple phase-shifted AC voltage sources connected in a star circuit. This segmentation distributes the heating function across multiple phases while the neutral point connection ensures that currents cancel out, preventing unpredictable heat generation at any single location and maintaining both efficiency and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from a single voltage source to multiple phase-shifted AC voltage sources, the patent transforms the heating mechanism. The phase shifts cause currents to cancel at the neutral point, preventing concentrated heat generation and unpredictable thermal effects, while still achieving efficient heating through the distributed phase system.
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 configuration reduces the number of insulation means required, enhances safety by preventing unpredictable heat generation and sparks, and efficiently heats the fluid through Joulean heating without compromising safety.
Implementation Method 1
Joulean heat being generated in the pipeline owing to the electrical resistance of the at least one pipeline, which Joulean heat is proportional to the electric power converted there and the duration over which the current is flowing
Data Source
AI summary
A device for heating a fluid, including at least one electrically conductive pipeline for accommodating the fluid, and at least one voltage source connected to a respective pipeline. The voltage source is designed to generate an electric current in the connected pipeline which heats the pipeline in order to heat the fluid. Each voltage source has M outer conductors, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to two. Each voltage source is designed to provide an AC voltage at the outer conductors, wherein those AC voltages are phase-shifted through 2π/M with respect to one another, and wherein the outer conductors are electrically conductively connected to the pipeline such that a star circuit is formed.