Hydronic surface heating system

Abstract

A mobile surface heater is disclosed having a heat generation loop and a heat dissipation loop. The heat generation loop can include a heat generating device, a storage tank, and a first pump for circulating a fluid. The heat dissipation loop can be placed in fluid communication with the heat generation loop and includes a ground heating system having at least one heat transfer conduit extending between a supply manifold and a return manifold. A control valve can also be provided to deliver a mixed fluid flow stream to the ground heating system by selectively mixing fluid from the heat generation loop with fluid returning from the ground heating system return manifold. In one embodiment, an electronic controller is provided that operates the mixing valve to maintain a temperature setpoint of the mixed fluid flow stream and to maintain a minimum entering fluid temperature setpoint of the atmospheric water heater.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A mobile surface heater comprising:
 a. a heat generation loop including a heat generating device, a fluid storage tank, and a first pump for circulating a fluid through the heat generating device and the fluid storage tank;   b. a heat dissipation loop in fluid communication with the heat generation loop, the heat dissipation loop including:
 i. a surface heating system having at least one heat transfer conduit extending between a supply manifold and a return manifold; 
 ii. a second pump configured to circulate the fluid through the heat dissipation loop; and 
 iii. a control valve configured to deliver a mixed fluid flow stream to the surface heating system by selectively mixing fluid from the heat generation loop with fluid returning from the surface heating system return manifold; 
   c. an electronic controller configured to operate the mixing valve to maintain a temperature setpoint of the mixed fluid flow stream and to maintain a minimum entering fluid temperature setpoint of the heat generating device; and   d. a chassis having at least one pair of wheels and supporting the heat generation loop and the heat dissipation loop.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller includes a user interface configured to allow a user to select the mixed fluid stream temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to ensure that the minimum entering fluid temperature setpoint is satisfied before maintaining the mixed fluid stream temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for monitoring a surface or ground temperature to be heated by the mobile surface heater. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the system to maintain a surface or ground temperature setpoint once a threshold temperature of the surface or ground has been attained. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 5 , further comprising a containment box for capturing leaked fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 6 , further comprising a liquid sensor for detecting a leaked fluid in the containment box wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the mobile surface heater when the leaked fluid is sensed. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , further including a safety bypass valve extending between the supply and return manifolds. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating device is an atmospheric water heater having a fuel fired burner. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a generator for providing power to the heat generating device and the first and second pumps. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , wherein the control valve is a modulating three-way control valve. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile surface heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation loop is connected to the heat generation loop at a location between the heat generating device and the fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile ground surface heater comprising:
 a. a heat generation loop including:
 i. a first hydronic piping loop; 
 ii. an atmospheric water heater in fluid communication with the first hydronic piping loop; 
 iii. a storage tank connected to the first hydronic piping loop; and 
 iv. a primary pump configured to circulate fluid through the heat generation loop; 
   b. a heat dissipation loop including:
 i. a second hydronic piping loop in fluid communication with the first hydronic piping loop; 
 ii. a ground heating system connected to the secondary hydronic piping loop including a supply manifold, a return manifold, and at least one flexible conduit configured to be placed on a ground location for heating; 
 iii. a control valve configured to deliver a mixed fluid flow stream to the ground heater supply manifold by selectively mix supply water from the atmospheric water heater with water returning from the ground heater return manifold; and 
 iv. a secondary pump configured to circulate water through the secondary hydronic loop, the mixing valve, and the ground heater; 
   c. an electronic controller configured to operate the mixing valve to maintain a temperature setpoint of the mixed water flow stream and to maintain a minimum entering water temperature setpoint of the atmospheric water heater; and   d. a chassis having at least one pair of wheels and supporting the heat generation loop and heat dissipation loop.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile ground surface heater of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic controller includes a user interface configured to allow a user to select the mixed fluid stream temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile ground surface heater of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to ensure that the minimum entering fluid temperature setpoint is satisfied before maintaining the mixed fluid stream temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile ground surface heater of  claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor for monitoring a surface or ground temperature to be heated by the mobile surface heater. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile ground surface heater of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the system to maintain a surface or ground temperature setpoint once a threshold temperature of the surface or ground has been attained. 
     
     
         18 . A method for heating a surface, the method comprising:
 a. providing a surface heater having a heat generation piping loop and a heat dissipation piping loop wherein the heat dissipation loop includes at least one heat transfer conduit;   b. providing a control valve to provide a mixed flow to the heat transfer conduit by mixing heated fluid from the heat generation piping loop with return fluid from the heat transfer conduit;   c. selectively operating the control valve to maintain a heat generation loop minimum temperature setpoint; and   d. selectively operating the control valve to maintain a heat dissipation loop temperature setpoint.   
     
     
         19 . The method for heating a surface of  claim 18 , wherein the control valve is operated to give priority to the heat generation loop minimum temperature setpoint over the heat dissipation loop temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         20 . The method for heating a surface of  claim 19 , further including the steps of:
 a. monitoring a ground or surface temperature   b. comparing the ground or surface temperature to a threshold value; and   c. placing the surface heater in a maintenance mode once the ground or surface temperature has met or exceeded the threshold value such that the surface heater operates to maintain a ground or surface temperature at the threshold value.