Efficient Forced Air Heater

Abstract

Provided is a forced air heater. The forced air heater may comprise a housing defining a duct. The duct may be adapted for a flow of fluid therethrough. The heater may be adapted to provide a flow of fluid through the duct that is substantially laminar or transient.

1 . A forced air heater comprising,
 a housing defining a duct, said duct adapted for a flow of fluid therethrough;   said heater adapted to provide a flow of fluid through the duct that is substantially laminar or transient.   
     
     
         2 . The forced air heater of  claim 1 , wherein said flow of fluid comprises air, fuel, combustion products, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The forced air heater of  claim 2 , wherein said flow of fluid has a velocity exceeding 0.2 m/s. 
     
     
         4 . The forced air heater of  claim 3 , wherein said flow of fluid has a velocity exceeding 0.4 m/s. 
     
     
         5 . The forced air heater of  claim 1 , wherein said flow of fluid is substantially laminar. 
     
     
         6 . The forced air heater of  claim 5 , wherein said flow of fluid comprises air, fuel, combustion products, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The forced air heater of  claim 6 , wherein said flow of fluid has a velocity exceeding 0.2 m/s. 
     
     
         8 . The forced air heater of  claim 7 , wherein said flow of fluid has a velocity exceeding 0.4 m/s. 
     
     
         9 . A forced air heater comprising,
 a housing defining a duct, said duct adapted for a flow of fluid therethrough;   said heater adapted to provide a flow of fluid through the duct where said flow of fluid has a Reynolds Number less than 4000.   
     
     
         10 . The forced air heater of  claim 9 , wherein said flow of fluid comprises air, fuel, combustion products, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The forced air heater of  claim 10 , wherein said flow of fluid exceeds 0.002 kg/s. 
     
     
         12 . The forced air heater of  claim 11 , wherein said flow of fluid exceeds 0.005 kg/s. 
     
     
         13 . The forced air heater of  claim 9 , wherein said flow of fluid has a Reynolds Number less than 2300. 
     
     
         14 . The forced air heater of  claim 13 , wherein said flow of fluid comprises air, fuel, combustion products, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The forced air heater of  claim 14 , wherein said flow of fluid exceeds 0.002 kg/s. 
     
     
         16 . The forced air heater of  claim 11 , wherein said flow of fluid exceeds 0.005 kg/s. 
     
     
         17 . A forced air heater comprising,
 a housing defining an elongated interior region,
 said elongated interior region having a relative roughness less than 0.05, 
 said elongated interior region having a first end and second end, 
 said housing comprising,
 a first opening proximate to the first end and adapted to provide fluid communication therethrough between the environment and the interior region, 
 a second opening proximate to the second end and adapted to provide fluid communication therethrough between the environment and the interior region, 
 
   an air movement device adapted to create an air flow into the first opening and a flow of fluid out of the second opening; and   wherein, the heater is adapted to produce a fully developed flow of fluid therethrough without producing sound of more than 60 db.   
     
     
         18 . The forced air heater of  claim 17 , wherein the heater is adapted to produce a fully developed air flow therethrough without producing sound of more than 45 db. 
     
     
         19 . The forced air heater of  claim 18 , wherein the heater is adapted to produce a fully developed air flow therethrough without producing sound of more than 30 db. 
     
     
         20 . A forced air heater comprising,
 a housing defining an elongated interior region,
 said elongated interior region having a relative roughness less than 0.05, 
 said elongated interior region having a first end and second end, 
 said housing comprising,
 a first opening proximate to the first end and adapted to provide fluid communication therethrough between the environment and the interior region, 
 a second opening proximate to the second end, adapted to provide fluid communication therethrough between the environment and the interior region, and having an area of less than 0.008 square meters; 
 
   an air movement device adapted to create an air flow into the first opening and a flow of fluid out of the second opening, said flow of fluid exceeding 0.005 kg/s; and   wherein, the heater is adapted to produce a fully developed flow of fluid therefrom having a Reynolds Number less than 4000; and   wherein the heater is adapted to produce a fully developed flow of fluid therefrom without producing sound of more than 60 db.