Hydro excavation heating system and related methods

Abstract

A hydro excavation heating system includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas stream, a heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gas stream and configured to heat hydro excavation water by transferring heat from the exhaust gas stream to the hydro excavation water circulating therethrough, and a tank for storing the hydro excavation water. The system also includes a water pump having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the tank storing the hydro excavation water, a hydro excavation hose coupled to an outlet of the water pump, and a coupling coupled to the hydro excavation hose and to an inlet of the heat exchanger to define a closed circulation path through the system when heating the hydro excavation water, where the coupling is configured to disconnect from the heat exchanger in order to use the hydro excavation water during a hydro excavation operation.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydro excavation heating system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas stream;   a heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gas stream and configured to heat hydro excavation water by transferring heat from the exhaust gas stream to the hydro excavation water circulating therethrough;   a tank for storing the hydro excavation water and having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger and configured to receive hydro excavation water heated by the heat exchanger;   a water pump having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the tank storing the hydro excavation water;   a hydro excavation hose having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to an outlet of the water pump; and   a coupling coupled to a second end of the hydro excavation hose and to an inlet of the heat exchanger to define a closed circulation path through the system when heating the hydro excavation water, wherein the coupling is configured to disconnect from the heat exchanger in order to use the hydro excavation water during a hydro excavation operation.   
     
     
         2 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hose reel for winding the hydro excavation hose thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first temperature sensor interposed between the hydro excavation hose and the heat exchanger and configured to provide a first temperature of the hydra excavation water at a first location. 
     
     
         4 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a control valve coupled between the heat exchanger and the hydro excavation hose and configured to control a rate of flow of the hydro excavation water to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second temperature sensor interposed between the tank and the water pump and configured to provide a second temperature of the hydro excavation water at a second location. 
     
     
         6 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 5 , further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second temperature sensors and the control valve, the controller configured to operate the control valve in order to control the rate of flow of the hydro excavation water to the heat exchanger by comparing the first temperature to the second temperature and changing the rate of flow in response thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation line in fluid communication between the tank and the hose reel and configured to recirculate the hydro excavation water through the length of hydro excavation hose on the hose reel and back to the tank when the second temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The hydro excavation heating equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle having the internal combustion engine therein. 
     
     
         9 . The hydro excavation equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the water pump is driven by the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         10 . A hydro excavation heating system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas stream;   a heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gas stream and configured to heat hydro excavation water by transferring heat from the exhaust gas stream to the hydro excavation water circulating therethrough;   a tank for storing the hydro excavation water and having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger and configured to receive hydro excavation water heated by the heat exchanger;   a water pump having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the tank storing the hydro excavation water;   a hydro excavation hose having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to an outlet of the water pump;   a coupling coupled to a second end of the hydro excavation hose and to an inlet of the heat exchanger to define a closed circulation path through the system when heating the hydro excavation water, wherein the coupling is configured to disconnect from the heat exchanger in order to use the hydro excavation water during a hydro excavation operation;   a first temperature sensor interposed between the hydro excavation hose and the heat exchanger and configured to provide a first temperature of the hydro excavation water at a first location; and   a control valve coupled between the heat exchanger and the hydro excavation hose and configured to control a rate of flow of the hydro excavation water to the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a second temperature sensor interposed between the tank and the water pump and configured to provide a second temperature of the hydro excavation water at a second location. 
     
     
         12 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second temperature sensors and the control valve, the controller configured to operate the control valve in order to control the rate of flow of the hydro excavation water to the heat exchanger by comparing the first temperature to the second temperature and changing the rate of flow in response thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The hydro excavation heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a recirculation line in fluid communication between the tank and the hydro excavation hose and configured to recirculate the hydro excavation water through the hydro excavation hose and back to the tank when the second temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The hydro excavation heating equipment of  claim 10 , further comprising a vehicle having the internal combustion engine therein. 
     
     
         15 . The hydro excavation equipment of  claim 10 , wherein the water pump is driven by the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         16 . A method of heating hydro excavation water comprising:
 heating hydro excavation water by transferring heat from an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine to the hydro excavation water using a heat exchanger;   pumping the hydro excavation water from the heat exchanger to a tank;   pumping the hydro excavation water from the tank through a hydro excavation hose; and   returning the hydro excavation water to the heat exchanger and continuing to recirculate the hydro excavation water through the heat exchanger until a temperature of the hydro excavation water exceeds a threshold temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling a rate of flow of the hydro excavation water using a control valve coupled to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the exhaust gas stream is provided by the internal combustion engine of a vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the internal combustion engine is pumping the hydro excavation water from the heat exchanger to the tank and from the tank through the excavation hose. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising recirculating the hydro excavation water only through the tank and the hydro excavation hose when the threshold temperature is exceeded.