MODULAR CLIMATE CHANGE TARP SYSTEM
A heat transfer system having a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface, and two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source (heating) or heat sink (cooling) across the heat transfer surface. The flexible surface member may have a plurality of edge regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between edge regions, such as adjacent edge regions or opposing edge regions. The flexible surface member may have a plurality of corner regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between corner regions, such as adjacent corner regions or opposing corner regions.
Latest ICS GROUP INC. Patents:
The present invention relates generally to a portable heat transfer surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular system including a flexible membrane associated with connectable hoses adapted to circulate a thermal media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn industrial construction such as earthwork/earth moving, construction of oil & gas pipelines, maintenance of vessels or tanks, building construction, and other operations require heating or cooling in order to provide for operations to safely and efficiently continue in adverse climates or adverse ambient conditions. The equipment, work, and personnel may require protection from the ambient conditions and/or the localized ambient conditions may require management.
In cold climates, the topsoil or at least some depth of the earth's surface may freeze which may inhibit earthwork, such as digging or trenching. Traditionally thawing or warming of the ground may be accomplished by covering the ground with a combustible material such as coal or straw and a makeshift enclosure and burning the combustible material, covering the ground with a sheet or tarp and forcing heated air under the sheet or tarp until the ground is sufficiently thawed, or distributing a number of hoses across the ground and then covering the hoses with a sheet or tarp, the hoses separate from the sheet or tarp, and then pumping a heated fluid through the hoses. These operations may be time consuming and inefficient in both set up and operation.
In a related field, underground pipeline construction requires the creation of a trench, into which the pipeline is placed. Additional weight or ballast may be required to help overcome or counteract the buoyant forces that tend to push the pipeline upward, such as pipeline contents or groundwater. This weight or ballast may be provided by concrete weights that are set on or poured in place (on the pipeline) along a length of the pipeline, typically spaced apart one from the next or together. To obtain proper strength and other characteristics the concrete pour must be properly cured.
Generally, in the curing of concrete, best practices include managing moisture (humidity) and temperature, for a period of time. These stringent requirements can be difficult to meet in times of cold or hot temperatures.
Presently, the poured concrete may be heated with direct fired or indirect forced air heaters which heat the cold ambient air to provide heated air into a makeshift enclosure constructed to enclose a portion of the poured concrete (such as hoarding). One challenge is that the makeshift enclosure (such as hoarding) may be susceptible to wind damage. Another challenge is that the cold air can be very dry, and once heated that very dry hot air can pull moisture from the poured concrete, making it difficult to maintain the humidity for proper curing. In addition, the air heater, which may include an open flame, is an added fire risk.
In a related field, general construction such as commercial construction, residential construction, industrial construction etc. must sometimes proceed in cold weather. Presently, personnel, equipment or work product such as concrete pours may require localized control of the ambient conditions. This may be accomplished by direct fired or indirect forced air heaters and some form of cover or hoarding.
U.S. Ser. No. 12/132,571 “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Ambient Conditions” by the same inventors herein teaches one approach. Due to its design which includes a thermal conduit (or hose) with one inlet and one outlet for each surface member (or tarp) a large installation may become somewhat complex requiring preliminary layout design and use of additional headers or connecting hoses.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system and method that provides for a localized ambient condition control or management to allow these industrial operations to continue in cold or hot conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous methods and apparatus for controlling a localized climate or ambient condition.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a heat transfer system including a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface, and two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source (heating) or heat sink (cooling) across the heat transfer surface.
In one embodiment, the flexible surface member includes a plurality of side regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between side regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing side regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent side regions.
In one embodiment, the flexible surface member includes a plurality of corner regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between corner regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing corner regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent corner regions.
In one embodiment, each of the two or more thermal conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector.
In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits attached to the first side or the second side of the flexible surface member.
In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits sandwiched within the flexible surface member, between the first side and the second side.
In one embodiment, the surface member includes polyethylene sheet.
In one embodiment, the surface member is substantially impermeable to water vapor.
In one embodiment, the heat transfer system further includes an insulating member adapted for the flexible surface member.
In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits are releasably attached to the flexible surface member. In one embodiment, the flexible surface member further comprising channels for releasably retaining each of the two or more thermal conduits. In one embodiment, the channels comprising a mesh.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of heating or cooling a body including providing a heat transfer system having a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface, and two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, each of the two or more conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source or heat sink across the heat transfer surface, positioning the heat transfer system proximate the body, selectively connecting the heat transfer conduits, and supplying heated or cooled thermal media to the heat transfer system to heat or cool the body.
In one embodiment, the flexible surface member including a plurality of connection regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between connection regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing connection regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent connection regions.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Generally, the present invention provides a modular system for stand-alone portable management of heating, cooling, temperature maintenance, insulation, and vapour control.
Referring to
The thermal conduit 50 which is woven into the sheet 20 (slid through the mesh 90 forming channel 80 which holds it in place on one side of the sheet 20) is adapted to carry a heated (or cooled) thermal media 100 (see
The sheet 20 may also provide insulating qualities, for example of itself, or by forming an air space between the sheet 20 and the body that is being heated or cooled.
The surface member 10 is designed to allow different configurations and types of thermal conduit 50 as required by the application. As such, one (or a few) designs of the sheet 20 may be used with a variety of interchangeable sizes and designs of the thermal conduit 50 as required by the application to provide a wide variety of modular designs and configurations and energy flux (heating or cooling) for the surface member 10.
The surface member 10 may be constructed of a variety of layered materials including nylon (mesh hose fastening material), reflective metallic materials, and entrapped air pockets. This construction provides an insulator, heat reflector, and vapor barrier.
The physical construction of the surface member 10 also reflects its application. Robust in construction, its size and detail will vary, as it is handled by hand or by machine. Its designed to function in remote locations, rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions such as extreme cold, high winds, and blowing snow.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Thermal conduits 50A (50A-1, 50A-2, 50A-3, 50A-4), 50B (50B-1, 50B-2, 50B-3, 50B-4), and 50C (50C-1, 50C-2, 50C-3, 50C-4) are connected between and within the surface members 10A, 10B, and 10C to form a circuit or loop 105 for thermal media 100. As depicted, certain connections are referred to as “Closed” or “Open”. As used herein, “Closed” means the thermal conduit 50 is connected within a given surface member 10, and “Open” means the thermal conduit 50 is connected to a thermal conduit 50 for an adjacent surface member 10. For example, the connection between thermal conduit 50A-1 and 50A-2 is referred to as “Closed” because the fluid flow path stays within or on the surface member 10A. For example, the connection between thermal conduit 50C-4 and 50B-3 is referred to as “Open” because the fluid flow path extends between the surface member 10C and the surface member 10B. By selectively connecting thermal conduits 50 as “Closed” or “Open” a desired flow path for thermal media 100 is formed, extending from an inlet 60 across the area to an outlet 70, forming the circuit or loop 105 for thermal media 100.
Thermal media 100 is received to the inlet 60A-1 and returned from the outlet 70A-4. The thermal media 100 is heated (thermal media 100h) or cooled/chilled (thermal media 100c) by a thermal unit known to one skilled in the art, for example as described in U.S. Ser. No. 12/132,571 “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Ambient Conditions” by the same inventors herein.
Referring to
Thermal conduits 50A (50A-1, 50A-2, 50A-3, 50A-4), 50B (50B-1, 50B-2, 50B-3, 50B-4), and 50C (50C-1, 50C-2, 50C-3, 50C-4) are connected between and within the surface members 10A, 10B, and 10C to form a circuit or loop 105 for thermal media 100. As above, certain connections are referred to as “Closed” or “Open”. As an example of “Closed”, the connection between thermal conduit 50C-2 and 50C-3 is referred to as “Closed” because the fluid flow path stays within or on the surface member 10C. The outlet 70C-2 of the thermal conduit 50C-2 is connected with the inlet 60C-3 of the thermal conduit 50C-3.
As an example of “Open”, the connection between thermal conduit 50B-3 and 50C-2 is referred to as “Open” because the fluid flow path extends between the surface member 10B and the surface member 10C. The outlet 70B-3 of the thermal conduit 50B-3 is connected with the inlet 60C-2 of the thermal conduit 50C-2.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The surface members 10 shown herein are preferably rectangular or square, but may be other shapes, including but not limited to triangular or other polyhedron, or circular.
The surface members 10 may be interconnected, for example by straps and buckles, or other connection means for holding them in place, relative to each other or relative to the earth or other body being heated or cooled or both.
Applications and use are numerous and potentially unlimited as the system can be used for virtually any heat, thaw, cure, dry, or cooling application in any industry. The present invention provides for the management of temperature and optionally vapour or air flow. Some heating applications range from but are not limited to curing pipeline concrete ballast, tank coating, fluids heating, concrete curing in general, ground thaw, hoarding, and hydro testing (by maintaining temperature above freezing temperature of the hydro test fluid such as water and/or maintaining wall temperature during hydro test such as when required due to material properties).
In operation, the body or surface to be climate controlled is covered or enclosed with one or more of surface member(s) 10 and the thermal conduits 50 selectively connected as “Open” or “Closed” to form a fluid flow path 105 (or a plurality of fluid flow paths as the case may be). Thermal media 100 (or 100h or 100c) is then circulated through the fluid flow path 105 to transfer heat to or from the body or surface.
As used herein the inlet 60 and outlet 70 may be interchanged, as the thermal media 100 can flow either direction through the thermal conduits 50.
As used herein the first side 30 and the second side 40 may be interchanged. However, generally, the first side 30 would be nearest or more proximate the body being heated/cooled.
As used herein, a heat sink refers to heat flowing from the body or surface to the heat transfer surface in a cooling or refrigeration operation to cool the body or surface.
In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the invention.
The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A heat transfer system comprising: the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source or heat sink across the heat transfer surface.
- a. a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface; and
- b. two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface,
2. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the flexible surface member having a plurality of side regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between side regions.
3. The heat transfer system of claim 2, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing side regions.
4. The heat transfer system of claim 2, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent side regions.
5. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the flexible surface member having a plurality of corner regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between corner regions.
6. The heat transfer system of claim 5, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing corner regions.
7. The heat transfer system of claim 5, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent corner regions.
8. The heat transfer system of claim 1, each of the two or more thermal conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector.
9. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the two or more thermal conduits attached to the first side or the second side of the flexible surface member.
10. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the two or more thermal conduits sandwiched within the flexible surface member, between the first side and the second side.
11. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the surface member comprising polyethylene sheet.
12. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the surface member substantially impermeable to water vapor.
13. The heat transfer system of claim 1, further comprising an insulating member adapted for the flexible surface member.
14. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the two or more thermal conduits releasably attached to the flexible surface member.
15. The heat transfer system of claim 1, the flexible surface member further comprising channels for releasably retaining each of the two or more thermal conduits.
16. The heat transfer system of claim 15, the channels comprising a mesh.
17. A method of heating or cooling a body comprising:
- a. providing a heat transfer system including: i. a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface; and ii. two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, each of the two or more conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source or heat sink across the heat transfer surface;
- b. positioning the heat transfer system proximate the body;
- c. selectively connecting the heat transfer conduits; and
- d. supplying heated or cooled thermal media to the heat transfer system to heat or cool the body.
18. The method of claim 17, the flexible surface member having a plurality of connection regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between connection regions.
19. The method of claim 18, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing connection regions.
20. The method of claim 18, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent connection regions.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 30, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2011
Applicant: ICS GROUP INC. (Calgary)
Inventors: Dale Brummitt (Calgary), Ken Kachur (Calgary), Rick Gamracy (Cochrane), William Dan Henderson (Calgary), Steve Loeppky (Cochrane), Duane Nagy (Okotoks)
Application Number: 12/570,809
International Classification: F24J 3/08 (20060101); F28F 7/00 (20060101); F28D 15/00 (20060101);