Instant water heater with PTC plastic conductive electrodes
An instant water heater utilizing positive temperature coefficient plastic electrically conductive material structures for electrodes. The heating of the water is not generated by the electrodes, but instead by the resistance of the water to the electrical current flowing between them. The material of the electrodes undergoes a phase change at certain temperatures when whereby it converts from electrically conductive to electrically non-conductive at a predetermined temperature. The output temperature of the water is determined by a combination of the area of the electrodes that confront one another, the water's conductivity, the flow rate of the water and the current limiting capability of the conductive electrode materials positive temperature coefficient, which reduces or stops the heating of the water when the intended water temperature is achieved.
This is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/111,670, filed Apr. 21, 2005, which is not being abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONAn instant water heater which heats water flowing between two immersed electrodes, using improved electrodes with positive temperature cutoff (PTC) properties, increased efficiency and longevity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to water heaters of the type which heats water that flows between two electrodes, rather than by providing a hot element which is contacted by the water. In this invention, the water is heated by electrical current flowing through the water when the water is between the two electrodes.
So-called “instant” water heaters differ from conventional water heaters by their lack of a storage tank for hot water. Instead of heating and storing water for future usage, instant water heaters accept cold or cool water, heat it, and deliver it directly to the user point on demand. Such heaters find their most common usage in sink faucets, showers and tubs, although they can be provided for any other usage that requires hot water.
Among their advantages is that they can be placed very near to the use point. Pipes of substantial length need not be emptied of cold water before hot water arrives from a central source, for example. Also, it is much easier to run an electrical circuit to a distant heater than to provide a distant tank, and a long pipe to convey hot water from a central source to a distant use point.
Legionnaire's Disease is well known as a consequence of water stored for long periods at moderate temperature. Having no storage of the water at all profoundly reduces risk of such disease.
Presently-known instant water heaters do have major disadvantages, including short product life, dry-fire burn-out, short service life, liability to water damage, moderate rates of flow, high energy consumption, and release of metal ions into the water.
Another disadvantage of existing instant water heaters is their inability to accommodate varying input voltages and amperage along with water flow that matches their intended use. A complaint often heard is that the wrong instant water heater was purchased from many different available models. The necessary wide range of variables, such as voltage, circuit breaker amperage, and service flow in gallons is simply too confusing for many customers.
It is yet another disadvantage of existing instant water heaters that they often burn out or break coils due to water hammering, air in the water lines, or current overloads. These pose an electrical danger from direct contact of live broken coil ends to the water. The electrical current then passes directly into the water. Manifolds that are connected to ground with a grounding wire corrode, and it is only a matter of time before a corroded manifold or a burned out coil releases a full current into the water and out a faucet or other plumbing fixture when in use, to the risk of the user.
It is a disadvantage of conventional electrode water heaters to have to contend with the wide variation of water conductivity of drinking water, both in the United States and in other parts of the world. Water conductivity is measured in microsiemens, which is the same as micro mhos. Mhos are the inverse of ohms, and therefore represent the conductive characteristics of water, which absorbs more power as it becomes more conductive. Water conductivity in the United States can range from 50 microseimens to over 1,500 microsiemens. Foreign countries can have as high as 1,800 microsiemens.
The disadvantage occurs when their electrodes must be sized such that they are capable of attaining satisfactory performance with 50 microsiemen water, but must then regulate a potentially hazardous 30 times the current draw when the water is at 1,500 microsiemens. For example, an electrode water heater on a 50-amp breaker must attain an acceptable performance of 40 degrees of temperature rise from its cold water inlet to its hot water outlet. If the water is conductive to 50 microsiemens and the heater passes 1 gallon per minute, the power required is 26.8 amps at 220 VAC. In this case, there is no disadvantage to using an electrode since this is below the current rating of its 50-amp breaker. If, for example the water conductivity is 1,500 microsiemens, the potential load would then become 804 amps. This power must be regulated to below the 50-amp circuit breaker and more specifically, to the 26.8 amps to meet the 40-degree temperature rise at 1 gallon per minute. The condition is exacerbated when 3 gallons per minute are required. The potential current draw for the flow rate is a staggering 2,400 amps.
Since prior to this invention, electrodes could not be resized on the fly, regulating this amount of power has been costly. Typically, the common approach to electrode water heaters design is to use triacs, IGBT's, mosfets and other sine wave chopping devices to regulate the high current so that the circuit breakers do not trip. For low power requirements such as light dimmers, this is the preferred and inexpensive method. However, to regulate the high current potentials of electrode water heaters, these methods are economically and technically unacceptable.
It is yet another disadvantage of electrode water heaters that suggest methods of power regulation using said wave-chopping devices, that such devices can introduce harmonics in the line and heat the wiring without tripping the circuit breaker. Wires can become extremely hot, causing serious fire hazard. One solution to this disadvantageous condition is called “current matching”. However, current matching for electrode water heaters and boilers is nearly impossible to accomplish with such a widely varying electrical load without mechanically moving the electrodes as is done in large, expensive industrial electrode boilers. To do this in a home appliance such as an instant water heater would be too costly and would introduce wear parts that would greatly increase the failure modes of the device.
Yet another disadvantage of electronically regulating high current via AC wave chopping is the electromagnetic emissions that disrupt communications television signals and create radio static interference. These emissions are not allowed in Europe's “Flicker Standard” and can violate FCC regulations.
It is another disadvantage of electrode water heaters that in order to match the load to the line without the said expensive sine wave chopping devices, the preferred method is to physically move the electrodes via electric motors. This is done to either increase their relative distance from each other, or to pull them upward leaving less of the electrode submersed, hence reducing their surface area disposed in water.
It is an object of this invention to provide an electrode water heater whose current draw is passively and automatically regulated without chopping the sinusoidal AC electrical power which heretofore was necessary to regulate 1,500 amps, or more, down to within the required amperages of household circuit breakers.
It is another object of this invention to provide this regulation with no moving parts.
It is yet another object of this invention to accomplish this regulation with no electronic components such as triacs, IGBT's or mosfets sized to accommodate the high currents mentioned.
It is another object of the invention to regulate water temperature to an acceptable temperature by utilizing the merits of a Positive Temperature Coefficient conductive material that becomes non-conductive at a known temperature, and where necessary, utilizing less expensive state of the art electronic technology for a finer temperature setting.
It is another objective of this invention to regulate water temperature by way of the water transferring its heat into the Positive Temperature Coefficient material, and rendering it, or some varying portion thereof non-conductive.
It is yet another objective of the invention to regulate a high inrush of current by way of the material's electrical resistance heating itself from within so that it, or some varying portion thereof becomes non-conductive so as to appropriately reduce the active area of their opposed conductive faces.
It is yet another object of the invention to utilize a dynamic phase change location as a means to appropriately adjust the virtual effective size of the electrodes, in essence interpreting that dynamic as an electrode that passively and automatically changes its size to accommodate proper current draw and water temperature based on water conductivity and/or water flow.
It is another object of the invention to provide a temperature control valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the water heater's housing so as to provide a means to lower the outlet temperature of the water to below the PTC temperature of the material.
It is yet another object of the invention to restrict the flow of water through the water heater to a rate that will always allow for the PTC effect to render the electrodes non-conductive.
It is another object of this invention to regulate potentially thousands of amps with no electronic components. While the invention at first appears to defy the laws of physics by regulating its potential amperage draw without increasing its heat proportionally, as in the case of variable transformers, it must be understood that it is the load that is modulating itself. The result is a kinetic servo loop. The inverse occurs when the water's conductivity decreases, and an additional dynamic occurs when the flow of water acts upon the electrode's temperature the complex dynamics of which will become apparent in the detailed description of the invention.
Any plastic electrode that can be used in a domestic water supply and that exhibits PTC characteristics at an appropriate temperature to deliver usefully hot water can be used. However, other properties become dominant when using them in affordable water heaters with a suitably long life and a minimum usage of electrical current. Interestingly, it is not possible to boil water when plastic electrodes are used because when boiling temperatures are reached, cavitation occurs on the surface and prevents the flow of electrical current. This saves the large cost of temperature and pressure valves for standard water heaters.
For example, many plastic electrodes too quickly become coated with insoluble mineral deposits, such as the carbonates of calcium and magnesium, and other deposits which coat the electrode and limit its useful life. Purity of its ingredients is a prime requirement.
Other complications are the conductive transmissibility of electrical current from the surface the electrode into the water on its surface. There is a puzzling relationship between the conductivity of the electrode body itself and the connectivity of the surface in the water.
Still another complication is the need to reduce electrical consumption in the electrodes itself. It should be remembered that the heating of the water itself, and not by thermal circuitry of the cool water with the surface of the electrode. Embedded with these is the means to manufacture the product. A conductive package to improve the gross functions can, if too much is needed, prevent the economical usage of injection molding. This invention solves this issue.
This invention proposes to solve in large part the above problems, thereby to provide an improved instant water heater.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAn instant water heater according to this invention comprises a heating chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Water to be heated enters the chamber through the inlet, and after being heated, exits through the outlet to a point of use.
A pair of spaced-apart Positive Temperature Coefficient electrodes is mounted in the chamber, so disposed and arranged that an appropriate volume of the water passes between them so as to be heated by current that flows through the water from one electrode to the other.
According to a preferred application of the invention, the precise temperature to which the water is heated is maintained by the addition of an electronic temperature control circuit. A first order temperature is attained by the positive temperature coefficient conductive polymer's phase change temperature and a more precise electronic temperature setting by the user. For this specific application of the invention, the Positive Temperature Coefficient electrodes have a phase change temperature tolerance of several degrees F., and therefore are not normally used for laboratory use for fine adjustment of temperature. Their purpose is to regulate the water temperature, to an acceptable first order temperature, and regulate current draw in amps. A potentiometer dial setting can be adjusted to the desired fine temperature to within less than one degree F., or finer.
In most applications the order of magnitude to which the PTC electrodes can control temperature will be acceptable, thereby negating the need for any electronic controls.
According to this invention the Positive Temperature Coefficient electrodes are principally formed of, and their exposed surfaces are specifically made of, either an electrically conductive ceramic or polymeric resin.
According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the polymer electrode is loaded with a “conductive package” comprising two or more of the following: graphite as natural graphite, synthetic graphite, purified graphite, expandable graphite, expanded graphite, graphite flake and graphite fiber, and carbon as carbon black, purified carbon, carbon fiber, carbon fibrils, and carbon nano tubes to reduce the bulk electrical resistance of the material, provide suitable conductivity for the electrode, and to provide for enhanced connectivity with the water. This conductive package is preferably provided in the form of a good packing ratio of assorted sizes and correct proportions to give the best result as will later be described.
The Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) of the polymer relates to the temperature at which the material makes a phase change from electrically conductive to non-electrically conductive. The material maintains its crystalline structure up to its PTC temperature, in most cases around 60 degrees C., wherein it changes to an amorphous condition. This temperature is just short of the polymer's melt/flow point, but low enough where the material maintains enough of its structural integrity for the purposes of this invention.
When the polymer is below its phase change temperature, conductive paths are inherently created to form conductive pathways through the carbonaceous material. As the phase change temperature is approached, these paths disconnect. Since this is the point at which no additional electrical current can pass through the material, it ceases to increase in temperature and holds a “tripped” temperature while a maintaining trickle current passes through it. Upon cooling, it returns to its previous crystalline structure whereby the components of the carbon package reconnect at least in part, but never in the exact same formation as before. Not reconnecting in the exact way makes the material become more resistive the second time it is brought to its phase change temperature. It continues to become more resistive for about 3 or 4 more cycles where it then stabilizes to a resistance that will endure thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of cycles.
Since the PTC temperature of the polymeric or ceramic material is typically higher than a normally desired water temperature, say for a shower or washing hands, a water temperature control channel can be molded into the main housing of the water heater, disposed between and connecting the cold water inlet to the hot water outlet. This allows for cold water to bypass the heating chamber and mix directly with the exiting hot water. Perpendicular to this molded channel is a threaded needle valve used for controlling the amount of cool water to be mixed into the hot stream.
The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although this invention contemplates a number of physical arrangements for effective heating and for regulation of electrical current so as not to induce undesirable harmonics that can overheat electrical-wiring, the principal advantages of this invention are derived from the use of unique PTC electrodes which they all use.
A basic schematic of a prior art electrode water heater is shown in
Should the water conductivity become extremely high, a solution shown in
Since it is not possible nor practical to dynamically change an electrode's length, another scheme is suggested in
As will later be described in further detail, Positive Temperature Coefficient Polymers are loaded with distinctive carbon and graphite particulates ranging from carbon black, one of the most common, to carbon fibrils one of the most recently invented forms of carbon. In essence, the basic theory behind the PTC effect is that any crystalline polymer will experience a PTC effect when it reaches its softening temperature.
As the material passes through its phase change temperature, said strings 15 shown in
An improved and simplified scheme of the invention is shown in
For domestic or commercial use of hot water, such electronic circuitry 27 is not necessary when taking advantage of the PTC effect of the electrodes of this invention to joule heat water. In these applications, water flows 2 between said electrodes 1 and 3 while power 7 is applied to them. It is understood that in
As said water flow 2 doubles, using the illustrative value of 2 gallons per minute,
As water flow is halved, using the illustrative value of ½ gallon per minute,
It will be observed that an identical but inverse result as described for water flow occurs with variation in water conductivity.
As water conductivity lowers by 50% using the illustrative value of 1 gallon per minute,
As water conductivity doubles, using the illustrative value of an unchanged 1 gallon per minute,
Attending to the complex dynamics of water conductivity and flow for electrode water heaters has been expensive and difficult for regulating output temperature. This invention passively compensates for both of these critical aspects of electrode water heating.
Of course, there are limits to the dynamics of the invention. However, when said electrodes 1 and 3 are sized properly in relation the variations in water conductivity that is available from United States and other water infrastructures, acceptable flow rates and available power, the benefits of the invention are far more favorable than the prior art.
When water enters at a flow rate above what the available power can heat, the entire said flow path 21 of said electrodes 1,3 becomes conductive. This is because said water 2 cools the entire said electrodes 1,3 to below their PTC temperature. Conversely, in
In
An electrical cord 53 is secured to its three respective lugs, namely the power lugs 39,40, and a grounding lug 40. A wire 61 is run from said grounding lug 38 to said manifold 55 and attached with a screw 59. Two wires run from said power lugs 30,40 to the electrode connections 45. An angle bracket 56 is disposed on the top face of said bottom cover 57 and staked in place via protruding molded-in studs. A throttle screw 44 is threaded into a retaining plate 46 with matching threads. Turning said knob 44 allows an adjustment for cool inlet water to mix with the hot water thereby adjusting the outlet water temperature. The details of which are shown in greater detail in
The object of this invention is not to define the operation of electronics required to regulate a PTC plastic electrode water heater, but to include the optional embodiment of controlling temperature more accurately through the use of electronics.
The preferred conductive package of this invention uses-carbon in two or more of its forms. As previously mentioned, these carbonaceous materials are physical forms of graphite and of carbon in various shapes. Physical shapes make a considerable difference in this invention because much depends on linkage between adjacent particles, and conductance through them. Graphite flake offers advantages because of its shape and cross-section, for example.
The designer of these electrodes will consider their properties and their interlinking and separation in the two states of the plastic above and below the transition temperature.
It is a considerable advantage to proportion the sizes of the particles used to provide an optimum “fit”. If only large particles were used, there would be considerable voids between them that would more advantageously contain conductive particles. Just as a pile of round marbles leaves voids between them which could be filled with small particles such as pebbles or sand, so with this invention smaller particles, or even carbon black could be incorporated to advantage. This is called a “packing ratio” which relates to placing smaller particles in voids between the larger ones. It is an attainable objective to provide nearly identical electrical results with less loading of packed material, thereby facilitating the manufacturer of the product by affordable injection molding.
There are limitless combinations of these materials, from which the designer will select the one most appropriate to his intended application. Graphite flake with interposed smaller graphite fibers and perhaps some carbon black constitutes one useful combination.
The amount of carbonaceous material to be added to the plastic material is ordinarily determined by considerations of bulk resistivity (which is lowered by the carbonaceous material) and the surface connectivity with the water or other liquid to be heated (which increases with increased carbon). This is a “balancing act” which requires only some reasonable trial and error work to establish an intended result. It is well within the skill of a good formulator.
It is important that the material used in these electrodes be as pure as possible because of the tendency for salts to deposit on the electrode in a very short period of time if certain elements are in the materials where they act as “seeds” for deposition of insoluble salts. It is especially important to eliminate the following: ions of calcium, iron, aluminum and silicon, and silicates and carbonates, especially calcium carbonate. Unfortunately some of these elements get into the plastic material during the manufacture of the plastic itself, and during the manufacture of the electrode, unless great care and preparation are taken. Even medical grades of these plastics generally include enough of them to adversely affect the useful life of the electrode.
It is possible, with great effort, to produce plastic with sufficiently low levels of impurity, and this is an unusual requirement for an optimum electrode to be made. Similarly as to the carbonaceous materials. Carbonaceous materials are available in a purified condition, and these should be used.
In any event, the materials and their combination in the electrode should be as devoid of the aforementioned impurities as possible to the extent that the electrodes will have a significant life span. For optimum life span, impurities of the type described should be present in the electrode in less than about 100 parts per million. It is possible and preferred to keep them as close to 10 PPM as possible. The carbonaceous materials are available with almost no impurities. The manufacturer/molder should be cautioned that surface contamination of a previously used machine must be eliminated, lest these impurities enter the product.
An important advantage of the packing ratio is that it provides better conductivity with the use of less conductive packaging material. This enables better performance with less added material. As a consequence the electrode material can more readily be injection molded. When too much conductive package must be added, injection moldability becomes questionable because of the greatly increased pressures required by the machinery. Use of the injection molding process is highly advantageous because of it obvious economy. The use of this packing ratio consideration reducing the amount of conductive material for the same results.
This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description, which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An electrode for an instant water heater, said electrode being intended for submersion in water to be joule heated for conducting electricity for heating water disposed and in contact between itself and a confronting similar electrode, said electrode comprising: a polymer which at a lower temperature is conductive of electricity, and which inherently has a positive temperature coefficient, whereby said electrode loses at least some of its electrical conductivity and becomes non-conductive or nearly non-conductive at and above a temperature at which said polymer undergoes a phase change from crystalline to amorphous, whereby to reduce or substantially prevent passage of electrical current through it at and above said phase change temperature, thereby to prevent heating of water in which it is submerged to a higher temperature, and to remain in said crystalline phase at lower temperatures, and
- a conductive package of carbonaceous material distributed throughout said polymer to provide enhanced electrical conductivity at temperatures below said phase change temperature and less enhanced at temperatures above said temperature, said conductive package comprising carbonaceous material in a plurality of particle sizes, whereby more intimately to pack the carbonaceous material into the polymer to facilitate molding of the electrode by injection molding.
2. An electrode according to claim w in which said polymer and carbonaceous material are being substantially devoid of contaminant material so that the concentration of contaminant in the electrode is sufficiently low that seeds of insoluble salts formed from the water are unlikely to be formed on the surface of the electrode.
3. An electrode according to claim 1 in which said carbonaceous material comprises two or more of the following: natural graphite, synthetic graphite, purified graphite, expandable graphite, expanded graphite, graphite flake and graphite fiber, and carbon as carbon black, purified carbon, carbon fiber, carbon fibrils, and carbon nano tuber, thereby to reduce the bulk electrical resistance of the electrode, provide suitable conductivity for the electrode, and to provide for enhanced connectivity with the water.
4. An electrode for an instant water heater, said electrode being intended for submersion in water to be joule heated for conducting electricity for heating water disposed and in contact between itself and a confronting similar electrode, said electrode comprising: a polymer which at a lower temperature is conductive of electricity, and which inherently has a positive temperature coefficient, whereby said electrode loses at least some of its electrical conductivity and becomes non-conductive to nearly non-conductive at and above a temperature at which said polymer undergoes a phase change from crystalline to amorphous, whereby to reduce or substantially prevent passage of electrical current through it at and above said phase change temperature, thereby to prevent heating of water in which it is submerged to a higher temperature, and to remain in said crystalline phase at lower temperatures;
- a conductive package of particles of carbonaceous material distributed throughout said polymer to provide enhanced electrical conductivity at temperatures below said phase change temperature and less enhanced at temperatures above said temperature;
- said polymer and said carbonaceous material being substantially devoid of contaminant material so that the concentration of contaminant in the electrode is sufficiently low that seeds of insoluble salts formed from the water are unlikely to be formed on the surface of the electrode.
5. An electrode according to claim 2 in which contaminant material is contained in said electrode in total amount no greater than about 100 parts per million of the electrode.
6. An electrode according to claim 5 in which said contaminant material is contained in said electrodes in total amount no greater than between about 10 ppm and 100 ppm.
7. An electrode according to claim 4 in which contaminants to be excluded are among the following: ions of calcium, iron, aluminum and silicone, and silicates and carbonates, especially calcium carbonates.
8. In combination: a pair of electrodes according to claim 4, spaced apart from one another in a chamber adapted to submerge them and apply an electrical potential between them to heat the water by joule heating.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 23, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 27, 2007
Inventor: Ivanhoe Chaput (Gardena, CA)
Application Number: 11/710,628
International Classification: H05B 3/03 (20060101);