Dual Fuel Fluid Heating Systems and Methods

Abstract

A fluid heating system is disclosed. The fluid heating system may include a first valve and a second valve configured to selectively control a supply of a first fuel source and second fuel source respectively. The fluid heating system may further include an air inlet configured to receive ambient air in the fluid heating system. The fluid heating system may further include a controller configured to determine whether the fluid heating system is using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source. The controller may be further configured to determine an optimal opening area of an air inlet of the fluid heating system based on the determination of whether the fluid heating system is using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source, and cause to adjust an opening area of the air inlet based on the optimal opening area.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid heating system comprising:
 a first valve configured to selectively control a supply of a first fuel source;   a second valve configured to selectively control a supply of a second fuel source;   an air inlet configured to receive ambient air in the fluid heating system; and   a controller configured to:
 determine whether the fluid heating system is using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source; 
 determine, based on whether the fluid heating system is using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source, an optimal opening area of the air inlet of the fluid heating system; and 
 cause, based on the optimal opening area, an opening area of the air inlet to adjust based on the optimal opening area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel source is biogas. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fuel source is natural gas. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid heating system comprises a gas burner. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid heating system of  claim 1  further comprising a damper configured to control an intake of ambient air in the fluid heating system, via the air inlet, for combustion of the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source, wherein the air inlet is part of the damper. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid heating system of  claim 5 , wherein the damper comprises an air moving screen configured to control the intake of ambient air in the fluid heating system. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid heating system of  claim 6 , wherein the air moving screen is configured to move between a first position and a second position to change the opening area of the air inlet, and wherein the air moving screen is configured to reduce the opening area when the air moving screen is in the first position as compared to the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid heating system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to cause adjustment of the opening area by causing the air moving screen to move between the first position and the second position based on determining the optimal opening area. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid heating system of  claim 8  further comprising an actuation mechanism configured to move the air moving screen between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid heating system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises electromagnetic coils and a magnetic rod. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the air moving screen is attached to the magnetic rod. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid heating system of  claim 9  further comprising a locking unit configured to lock the air locking screen at the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 obtain a desired fuel source parameter;   obtain a real-time fuel source parameter associated with the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source; and   select the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source to heat a fluid based on the desired fuel source parameter and the real-time fuel source parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the desired fuel source parameter comprises a desired fuel supply pressure or a desired methane content, and wherein the real-time fuel source parameter comprises a real-time fuel supply pressure or a real-time methane content. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid heating system of  claim 14  further comprising a detection unit configured to monitor the real-time fuel supply pressure and the real-time methane content of the first fuel source and the second fuel source, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the real-time fuel supply pressure or the real-time methane content from the detection unit. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid heating system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 select the first fuel source to heat the fluid when the real-time fuel supply pressure of the first fuel source is greater than or equal to the desired fuel supply pressure; and   select the second fuel source to heat the fluid when the real-time fuel supply pressure of the first fuel source is less than the desired fuel supply pressure.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid heating system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 select the first fuel source to heat the fluid when the real-time methane content in the first fuel source is greater than or equal to the desired methane content; and   select both the first fuel source and the second fuel source to heat the fluid when the real-time methane content in the first fuel source is less than the desired methane content.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to select a ratio of the first fuel source and the second fuel source based on the real-time methane content in the first fuel source, the real-time methane content in the second fuel source, and the desired methane content when the controller selects both the first fuel source and the second fuel source to heat the fluid. 
     
     
         19 . A method to heat a fluid with a fluid heating system, the method comprising:
 determining, by a controller, that the fluid heating system is using a first fuel source and/or a second fuel source;   determining, by the controller and based on the fluid heating system using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source, an optimal opening area of an air inlet of the fluid heating system; and   adjusting, by the controller and based on the optimal opening area, an opening area of the air inlet.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 determine whether a fluid heating system is using a first fuel source and/or a second fuel source;   determine an optimal opening area of an air inlet of the fluid heating system based on the fluid heating system using the first fuel source and/or the second fuel source; and   cause an opening area of the air inlet to adjust based on the optimal opening area.