Method and apparatus for heating liquids

Abstract

A fluid heating apparatus using cavitation includes a housing, an external rotor with cavitation bores in an outer surface thereof, and a motor for rotating the external rotor. An inner surface of the housing is spaced from the outer surface of the external rotor to create a fluid heating zone. The inner surface of the housing is configured with a spiral shape and wave form to enhance the heating of the fluid.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for heating a fluid using cavitation comprising:
 a housing having an inlet for fluid to be heated and an outlet to discharge the heated fluid from the housing;   a external rotor contained in the housing and adapted to rotate within the housing, the external rotor having a plurality of cavitation bores arranged in an outer surface thereof and the external rotor arranged within the housing to form a fluid heating zone between the outer surface of the external rotor and an inner surface of the housing that faces the outer surface of the external rotor,   wherein the inner surface of the housing facing the bore-containing outer surface of the external rotor has a spiral shape and a wave ramp running longitudinally along the inner surface, fluid entering the housing being heated by interaction with the spiral configuration of the inner surface and the wave ramp of the housing, bores in the external rotor, and external rotor rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stationary rotor head, the stationary rotor head mounted in the housing and having an outer surface which faces an inner surface of the external rotor, the outer surface of the stationary rotor head and an inner surface of the external rotor forming a second fluid heating zone, the outer surface of the stationary rotor head including a plurality of cavitation bores therein, the inner surface of the external rotor having a spiral shape and a wave ramp running longitudinally along the inner surface, fluid entering the second fluid heating zone being heated by interaction with the spiral configuration of the inner surface of the external rotor, the wave ramp of the inner surface of the external rotor, bores in the rotor head, and external rotor rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cavitation apparatus has a horizontal longitudinal axis and the wave ramp when viewed in a cross section transverse to the horizontal longitudinal axis is at a 6 o'clock position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cavitation apparatus has a horizontal longitudinal axis and each of the wave ramps when viewed in a cross section transverse to the horizontal longitudinal axis is at a 6 o'clock position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wave ramp on the inner surface of the housing has a face formed at a right angle with respect to the inner surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the wave ramp on the inner surface of the housing has a face formed at a right angle with respect to the inner surface of the housing and the wave ramp on the inner surface of the external rotor has a face formed at generally a right angle with respect to the inner surface of the external rotor. 
     
     
         7 . A method of heating a fluid using cavitation comprising the steps:
 a) providing the apparatus of  claim 1 ;   b) introducing fluid into the inlet;   c) rotating the external rotor to heat the fluid, and   d) discharging heated fluid from the outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         9 . A method of heating a fluid using cavitation comprising the steps:
 a) providing the apparatus of  claim 2 ;   b) introducing fluid into the inlet;   c) rotating the external rotor to heat the fluid, and   d) discharging heated fluid from the outlet.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is water.