Electric Heating Systems and Associated Methods

Abstract

Electric heating systems and associated methods for central heating and/or space heating that circulate a heating medium (e.g., antifreeze) and may comprise a tank, a pump, a motor blower, and a heater core. In certain applications, the tank may be an un-insulated rectangular tank that is fabricated from a material comprising black iron.

1 . An electric heating system comprising:
 a tank for storing a heating medium;   an electric heating element disposed in the tank for heating the heating medium in the tank;   a pump for circulating the heating medium in the electric heating system;   a heater core in fluid connection with the tank for exchanging heat between the heating medium and air; and   a motor blower for forcing the air across the heater core.   
     
     
         2 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating medium is present in the tank, and wherein the heating medium comprises antifreeze. 
     
     
         3 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is not insulated. 
     
     
         4 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is constructed from a material comprising black iron. 
     
     
         5 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is a horizontal rectangular tank. 
     
     
         6 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the heater core is a plate-fin heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the air intake for the motor blower is located a distance of about ½ inch to about 1 inch from a side of the tank for capturing passive heat loss from the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor blower is configured to force the air across the heater core for heating a room in which the electric heating system is located. 
     
     
         9 . The electric heating system of  claim 1  wherein the motor blower is configured to force the air across the heater core and into a duct system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of a building. 
     
     
         10 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a relief valve disposed in a top of the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat for controlling the electric heating element and a blower thermostat for controlling the motor blower, wherein the electric heating element is wired to the motor blower. 
     
     
         12 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal strap connecting the tank and the motor blower for capturing passive heat loss from the tank. 
     
     
         13 . The electric heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover enclosing the electric heating system, the cover comprising at least one opening. 
     
     
         14 . An electric heating system comprising:
 an un-insulated rectangular tank that comprises a heating medium and that is constructed from a material comprising black iron;   wherein the heating medium comprises antifreeze;   an electric heating element disposed in the tank for heating the heating medium in the tank;   a circulating pump for circulating the heating medium in the electric heating system;   a heater core in fluid connection with the tank for exchanging heat between the heating medium and air;   a motor blower for forcing the air across the heater core and having an air intake; and   wherein the air intake for the motor blower is located a distance of about ½ inch to about 1 inch from a side of the tank.   
     
     
         15 . The electric heating system of  claim 14 , further comprising a thermostat for controlling the electric heating element and a blower thermostat for controlling the motor blower, wherein the electric heating element is wired to the motor blower. 
     
     
         16 . The electric heating system of  claim 14 , further comprising a metal strap connecting the motor blower and the tank for capturing passive heat loss from the tank. 
     
     
         17 . A heating method comprising:
 heating a liquid in a tank with an electric heating element;   directing the liquid from the tank to a heater core;   forcing air across the heater core with a motor blower, whereby heat is exchanged from the liquid to the air; and   returning the liquid from the heater core to the tank.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising distributing the heated air through a building by way of a duct. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising capturing passive heat from the tank in a metal strap coupled to the tank and the motor blower. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising capturing passive heat from the tank in intake air for the motor blower.