Inline fluid heater

Abstract

An inline fluid heater is disclosed, comprising: an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be heated; a substrate defining at least one conduit fluidly coupled with the inlet to receive the fluid; a positive thermal coefficient heater thermally coupled with the substrate and operable to heat the substrate to provide a heated fluid by heating the fluid within the at least one conduit; and an outlet fluidly coupled with the at least one conduit and operable to provide the heated fluid. In this way, a compact, cost-effective and efficient heater is provided which avoids the need for safety devices or safety circuits, as the positive thermal co-efficient heaters are self-limiting.

1 . An inline fluid heater, comprising:
 (a) an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be heated;   (b) a substrate defining at least one conduit fluidly coupled with said inlet to receive said fluid;   (c) a positive thermal coefficient heater thermally coupled with said substrate and operable to heat said substrate to provide a heated fluid by heating said fluid within said at least one conduit; and   (d) an outlet fluidly coupled with said at least one conduit and operable to provide said heated fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines a plurality of said conduits fluidly coupled with said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said conduits extend within said substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said conduits are at least one of parallel and intersecting. 
     
     
         5 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said conduits are at least one of elongate and serpentine. 
     
     
         6 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one of a mesh and fibres defining said conduits and encapsulated within a substrate housing. 
     
     
         7 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines at least one face which receives said positive thermal coefficient heater. 
     
     
         8 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines a plurality of faces which receive a plurality of said positive thermal coefficient heaters. 
     
     
         9 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is elongate and planar and received between a plurality of said positive thermal coefficient heaters. 
     
     
         10 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is non-planar. 
     
     
         11 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 10 , wherein said substrate receives at least one said positive thermal coefficient heater between faces of said non-planar substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 10 , wherein said substrate is folded and receives at least one said positive thermal coefficient heater between folds. 
     
     
         13 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one face is roughened to receive a thermal bonding material between said face and said positive thermal coefficient heater. 
     
     
         14 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said positive thermal coefficient heater comprises a positive thermal coefficient heater element housed within a thermally-conductive housing. 
     
     
         15 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet defines an inlet chamber fluidly coupling an inlet aperture operable to receive said fluid with said at least one conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet defines an outlet chamber fluidly coupling said at least one conduit with an outlet aperture operable to provide said heated fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is at least partially one of 3D printed and extruded. 
     
     
         18 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said inlets, each inlet being fluidly coupled with an associated at least one conduit defined by said substrate, each associated at least one conduit being fluidly coupled with an associated outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The inline fluid heater of  claim 18 , wherein each inlet is coupled with one of identical and differing at least one conduits.