Patent ID: 7337828
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: F28D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for transferring heat from a combustion heat source to a fluid to be heated comprising: providing a combustion heat source; providing a fluid to be heated at a position spaced from the heat source; providing a closed system including at least one conduit; providing an evaporation section of the closed system at the heat source; providing a condensation section of the closed system in the fluid to be heated; providing a heat transfer fluid medium within the closed system having a temperature of boiling from liquid to vapor such that heat from the heat source causes the liquid to boil to form a vapor in the evaporation section and such that release of heat from the condensation section to the fluid to be heated causes the vapor to condense to liquid in the condensation section; the at least one conduit forming a loop extending from the evaporation section through the condensation section and back to the evaporation section so as to conduct the heat transfer fluid medium from the evaporation section to the condensation section and back to the evaporation section; applying heat energy to the heat transfer medium by the heat source at the vaporizer section; the conduit and condensation section having a resistance to flow of the vapor from the vaporizer section to and through the condensation section; providing a trap having a trap leg defining a column of liquid in the conduit at a position adjacent to or at the evaporation section; and arranging the trap leg such that, subsequent to start-up and during steady state flow of the heat transfer fluid medium in the loop, the column of liquid in the trap leg is caused to reach a height which defines a pressure in the liquid at least equal to a pressure drop in the vapor caused by the resistance to flow of the vapor in the conduit from the evaporation section to and through the condensation section.