Patent Publication Number: US-2011073274-A1

Title: Modular climate change tarp system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a portable heat transfer surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular system including a flexible membrane associated with connectable hoses adapted to circulate a thermal media. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In industrial construction such as earthwork/earth moving, construction of oil &amp; gas pipelines, maintenance of vessels or tanks, building construction, and other operations require heating or cooling in order to provide for operations to safely and efficiently continue in adverse climates or adverse ambient conditions. The equipment, work, and personnel may require protection from the ambient conditions and/or the localized ambient conditions may require management. 
     In cold climates, the topsoil or at least some depth of the earth&#39;s surface may freeze which may inhibit earthwork, such as digging or trenching. Traditionally thawing or warming of the ground may be accomplished by covering the ground with a combustible material such as coal or straw and a makeshift enclosure and burning the combustible material, covering the ground with a sheet or tarp and forcing heated air under the sheet or tarp until the ground is sufficiently thawed, or distributing a number of hoses across the ground and then covering the hoses with a sheet or tarp, the hoses separate from the sheet or tarp, and then pumping a heated fluid through the hoses. These operations may be time consuming and inefficient in both set up and operation. 
     In a related field, underground pipeline construction requires the creation of a trench, into which the pipeline is placed. Additional weight or ballast may be required to help overcome or counteract the buoyant forces that tend to push the pipeline upward, such as pipeline contents or groundwater. This weight or ballast may be provided by concrete weights that are set on or poured in place (on the pipeline) along a length of the pipeline, typically spaced apart one from the next or together. To obtain proper strength and other characteristics the concrete pour must be properly cured. 
     Generally, in the curing of concrete, best practices include managing moisture (humidity) and temperature, for a period of time. These stringent requirements can be difficult to meet in times of cold or hot temperatures. 
     Presently, the poured concrete may be heated with direct fired or indirect forced air heaters which heat the cold ambient air to provide heated air into a makeshift enclosure constructed to enclose a portion of the poured concrete (such as hoarding). One challenge is that the makeshift enclosure (such as hoarding) may be susceptible to wind damage. Another challenge is that the cold air can be very dry, and once heated that very dry hot air can pull moisture from the poured concrete, making it difficult to maintain the humidity for proper curing. In addition, the air heater, which may include an open flame, is an added fire risk. 
     In a related field, general construction such as commercial construction, residential construction, industrial construction etc. must sometimes proceed in cold weather. Presently, personnel, equipment or work product such as concrete pours may require localized control of the ambient conditions. This may be accomplished by direct fired or indirect forced air heaters and some form of cover or hoarding. 
     U.S. Ser. No. 12/132,571 “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Ambient Conditions” by the same inventors herein teaches one approach. Due to its design which includes a thermal conduit (or hose) with one inlet and one outlet for each surface member (or tarp) a large installation may become somewhat complex requiring preliminary layout design and use of additional headers or connecting hoses. 
     It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system and method that provides for a localized ambient condition control or management to allow these industrial operations to continue in cold or hot conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous methods and apparatus for controlling a localized climate or ambient condition. 
     In a first aspect, the present invention provides a heat transfer system including a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface, and two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source (heating) or heat sink (cooling) across the heat transfer surface. 
     In one embodiment, the flexible surface member includes a plurality of side regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between side regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing side regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent side regions. 
     In one embodiment, the flexible surface member includes a plurality of corner regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between corner regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing corner regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent corner regions. 
     In one embodiment, each of the two or more thermal conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector. 
     In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits attached to the first side or the second side of the flexible surface member. 
     In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits sandwiched within the flexible surface member, between the first side and the second side. 
     In one embodiment, the surface member includes polyethylene sheet. 
     In one embodiment, the surface member is substantially impermeable to water vapor. 
     In one embodiment, the heat transfer system further includes an insulating member adapted for the flexible surface member. 
     In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits are releasably attached to the flexible surface member. In one embodiment, the flexible surface member further comprising channels for releasably retaining each of the two or more thermal conduits. In one embodiment, the channels comprising a mesh. 
     In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of heating or cooling a body including providing a heat transfer system having a flexible surface member having a first side and a second side, forming a heat transfer surface, and two or more thermal conduits, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface, each of the two or more conduits having a first end connector and a second end connector, each of the first end connector and the second end connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector, the two or more thermal conduits adapted to receive a thermal media to form a heat source or heat sink across the heat transfer surface, positioning the heat transfer system proximate the body, selectively connecting the heat transfer conduits, and supplying heated or cooled thermal media to the heat transfer system to heat or cool the body. 
     In one embodiment, the flexible surface member including a plurality of connection regions, the two or more thermal conduits extending between connection regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between opposing connection regions. In one embodiment, the two or more thermal conduits extending between adjacent connection regions. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a four-edged surface member of the present invention with thermal conduits; 
         FIG. 2  is a typical connector for use with thermal conduit of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative end to end configuration of surface members of the present invention (with detail of thermal conduit connection); 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative end to end configuration of surface members of the present invention (with thermal media circuit); 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative configuration of surface members of the present invention (with thermal media circuit); 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a further embodiment of a four-edged surface member of the present invention with thermal conduits; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative configuration of surface members of the present invention (extending linearly outward from supply/return headers); 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative configuration of surface members of the present invention (forming a circuit); 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative configuration of a surface member of the present invention (indicating alternate connection regions); 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative configuration of a surface member of the present invention utilizing opposing corner regions; 
         FIG. 11  is an illustrative configuration of a surface member of the present invention utilizing adjacent side regions; 
         FIG. 12  is an illustrative configuration of a surface member of the present invention utilizing adjacent corner regions; and 
         FIG. 13  is an illustrative configuration of a surface member of the present invention utilizing opposing side regions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally, the present invention provides a modular system for stand-alone portable management of heating, cooling, temperature maintenance, insulation, and vapour control. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a surface member  10  of the present invention includes a sheet  20  having a first side  30  and a second side  40 . At least three thermal conduits  50  (four thermal conduits  50  shown as  50 - 1 ,  50 - 2 ,  50 - 3 , and  50 - 4 ) extending from an inlet  60  at one edge  45  to an outlet  70  at an adjacent edge is attached to the first side  30  (shown), the second side  40  (not shown), or both the first side  30  and the second side  40  (not shown). The surface member  10  is a modular integration of the thermal conduit  50  and the sheet  20 , and provide a variety of functions including heat transfer, insulation (heat transfer reduction or inhibition), and vapor barrier. The first side  30  or the second side  40  or both may be heat reflective, for example light colored, such as white, silver, or mirrored, or may be heat absorbing, for example dark colored, such as black. 
     The thermal conduit  50  which is woven into the sheet  20  (slid through the mesh  90  forming channel  80  which holds it in place on one side of the sheet  20 ) is adapted to carry a heated (or cooled) thermal media  100  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), for example water, glycol, oil, steam, air or another fluid whether liquid or vapor, from a thermal unit or other heat source (not shown), and act as a conductive or radiant heat exchanger—depending upon the solid, liquid or vapour (such as air) being heated. 
     The sheet  20  may also provide insulating qualities, for example of itself, or by forming an air space between the sheet  20  and the body that is being heated or cooled. 
     The surface member  10  is designed to allow different configurations and types of thermal conduit  50  as required by the application. As such, one (or a few) designs of the sheet  20  may be used with a variety of interchangeable sizes and designs of the thermal conduit  50  as required by the application to provide a wide variety of modular designs and configurations and energy flux (heating or cooling) for the surface member  10 . 
     The surface member  10  may be constructed of a variety of layered materials including nylon (mesh hose fastening material), reflective metallic materials, and entrapped air pockets. This construction provides an insulator, heat reflector, and vapor barrier. 
     The physical construction of the surface member  10  also reflects its application. Robust in construction, its size and detail will vary, as it is handled by hand or by machine. Its designed to function in remote locations, rugged terrain and challenging weather conditions such as extreme cold, high winds, and blowing snow. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a joint  55  provides a connection between thermal conduits  50  to form a continuous flow path or circuit. The joint  55  may use connectors  65 / 75  attached to the respective thermal conduit  50  for convenience, and the connectors  65 / 75  may be male or female or color coded for convenience. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are almost limitless means for connecting one thermal conduit  50  to another thermal conduit  50  in accordance with the present invention, and the male/female connectors shown are but one example. Similarly, although two connectors  65 / 75  are shown, one skilled in the art recognizes that a single connector may be used for connecting one thermal conduit  50  to another thermal conduit  50  in accordance with the present invention, forming the joint  55 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a first surface member  10 A is located proximate to a second surface member  10 B. Thermal conduits  50 A are connected with thermal conduits  50 B. As an example, the connector  75 A- 2  at the outlet  70 A- 2  of thermal conduit  50 A- 2  and the connector  65 B- 1  at the outlet  60 B- 1  of thermal conduit  50 B- 1  are joined. Similarly, the connector  75 B- 4  at the outlet  70 B- 4  of thermal conduit  50 B- 4  and the connector  65 A- 3  at the outlet  60 A- 3  of thermal conduit  50 A- 3  are joined. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first surface member  10 A is located proximate to a second surface member  10 B which is located proximate to a third surface member  10 C. This is merely a simple example for illustration, and one skilled in the art recognizes that the modular design allows flexibility in laying out the surface members  10 . 
     Thermal conduits  50 A ( 50 A- 1 ,  50 A- 2 ,  50 A- 3 ,  50 A- 4 ),  50 B ( 50 B- 1 ,  50 B- 2 ,  50 B- 3 ,  50 B- 4 ), and  50 C ( 50 C- 1 ,  50 C- 2 ,  50 C- 3 ,  50 C- 4 ) are connected between and within the surface members  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C to form a circuit or loop  105  for thermal media  100 . As depicted, certain connections are referred to as “Closed” or “Open”. As used herein, “Closed” means the thermal conduit  50  is connected within a given surface member  10 , and “Open” means the thermal conduit  50  is connected to a thermal conduit  50  for an adjacent surface member  10 . For example, the connection between thermal conduit  50 A- 1  and  50 A- 2  is referred to as “Closed” because the fluid flow path stays within or on the surface member  10 A. For example, the connection between thermal conduit  50 C- 4  and  50 B- 3  is referred to as “Open” because the fluid flow path extends between the surface member  10 C and the surface member  10 B. By selectively connecting thermal conduits  50  as “Closed” or “Open” a desired flow path for thermal media  100  is formed, extending from an inlet  60  across the area to an outlet  70 , forming the circuit or loop  105  for thermal media  100 . 
     Thermal media  100  is received to the inlet  60 A- 1  and returned from the outlet  70 A- 4 . The thermal media  100  is heated (thermal media  100   h ) or cooled/chilled (thermal media  100   c ) by a thermal unit known to one skilled in the art, for example as described in U.S. Ser. No. 12/132,571 “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Ambient Conditions” by the same inventors herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first surface member  10 A is located proximate to a second surface member  10 B which is located proximate to a third surface member  10 C. This is merely a simple example for illustration, and one skilled in the art recognizes that the modular design allows flexibility in selectively laying out the surface members  10  as desired. 
     Thermal conduits  50 A ( 50 A- 1 ,  50 A- 2 ,  50 A- 3 ,  50 A- 4 ),  50 B ( 50 B- 1 ,  50 B- 2 ,  50 B- 3 ,  50 B- 4 ), and  50 C ( 50 C- 1 ,  50 C- 2 ,  50 C- 3 ,  50 C- 4 ) are connected between and within the surface members  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C to form a circuit or loop  105  for thermal media  100 . As above, certain connections are referred to as “Closed” or “Open”. As an example of “Closed”, the connection between thermal conduit  50 C- 2  and  50 C- 3  is referred to as “Closed” because the fluid flow path stays within or on the surface member  10 C. The outlet  70 C- 2  of the thermal conduit  50 C- 2  is connected with the inlet  60 C- 3  of the thermal conduit  50 C- 3 . 
     As an example of “Open”, the connection between thermal conduit  50 B- 3  and  50 C- 2  is referred to as “Open” because the fluid flow path extends between the surface member  10 B and the surface member  10 C. The outlet  70 B- 3  of the thermal conduit  50 B- 3  is connected with the inlet  60 C- 2  of the thermal conduit  50 C- 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a surface member  10  of the present invention includes a sheet  20  having a first side  30  and a second side  40 . At least two thermal conduits  50  (two thermal conduits  50  shown as  50 - 1 ,  50 - 2 ) extending from an inlet  60  proximate one corner portion of the surface member (shown at edge  45 ) to an outlet  70  proximate an opposite corner portion of the surface member  10  (shown at edge  45 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , surface members  10 A,  10 B,  10 C of the present invention are arranged in a linearly extending fashion from supply/return headers. A line of surface members may extend outward from each of  10 A,  10 B, and/or  10 C, and the final surface member “Closed” by connecting the inlet  60 /outlet  70  together to form a circuit between the supply header and return header. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , surface members  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D,  10 E,  10 F of the present invention are arranged in a circular fashion from a supply/return. A flow circuit is established between surface members  10 A (thermal conduit  50 A- 1 ),  10 B (thermal conduit  50 B- 1 ),  10 C (thermal conduit  50 C- 1 ),  10 D (thermal conduit  50 D- 1 ),  10 E (thermal conduit  50 E- 1 ), and  10 F (thermal conduit  50 E- 1 ). Within surface member  10 F, the hoses are “Closed” by connecting thermal conduit  50 E- 1  and thermal conduit  50 E- 2  (outlet  70 E- 1  is connected with inlet  60 E- 2 ). The flow circuit is completed back to the return header by surface member  10 F (thermal conduit  50 E- 2 ),  10 E (thermal conduit  50 E- 2 ),  10 D (thermal conduit  50 D- 2 ),  10 C (thermal conduit  50 C- 2 ),  10 B (thermal conduit  50 B- 2 ) and  10 A (thermal conduit  50 A- 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the surface member  10  has a plurality of connection regions  110  which may be utilized for the connection points for the thermal conduits  50 . One skilled in the art recognizes that there are several variations in the design of specific embodiments of the present invention. Corner regions  120 ,  120 -A, and  120 -O may be used. The corner region  120 -A and the corner region  120  are adjacent. The corner region  120 -O and the corner region  120  are opposing. Side regions  130 ,  130 -A, and  130 -O may be used. The side region  130 -A and the side region  130  are adjacent. The side region  130 -O and the side region  130  are opposing. One skilled in the art recognizes that the adjacent/opposing designation is relative and repeatable throughout the design. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the surface member  10  includes thermal conduits  50  extending between the corner region  120  and the corner region  120 - 0 . See also  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 . While depicted as extending between bottom-left and top-right connection regions  110 , one skilled in the art recognizes that the top-left and bottom-right connection regions  110  may alternatively be used. In this  FIG. 10 , the thermal conduits  50  are shown only schematically between the connection regions  110 , and the actual routing, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface is not shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the surface member  10  includes thermal conduits  50  extending between the side region  130  and the side region  130 -A (two side regions), and between the side region  130 -A and the side region  130 -O. See also  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . In this  FIG. 11 , the thermal conduits  50  are shown only schematically between the connection regions  110 , and the actual routing, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface is not shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the surface member  10  includes thermal conduits  50  extending between the corner region  120  and the corner region  120 -A (two corner regions), and between the corner region  120 -A and the corner region  120 -O. This configuration is similar to that of  FIG. 11 , with the connection regions  110  rotated by about 45 degrees relative to the surface member  10 . In this  FIG. 12 , the thermal conduits  50  are shown only schematically between the connection regions  110 , and the actual routing, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface is not shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the surface member  10  the surface member  10  includes thermal conduits  50  extending between the side region  130  and the side region  130 - 0 . While depicted as extending between the right and left side connection regions, one skilled in the art recognizes that the upper and lower side connection regions  110  may alternatively be used. This configuration is similar to that of  FIG. 10 , with the connection regions  110  rotated by about 45 degrees relative to the surface member  10 . In this  FIG. 13 , the thermal conduits  50  are shown only schematically between the connection regions  110 , and the actual routing, spaced apart and extending across a portion of the heat transfer surface is not shown. 
     The surface members  10  shown herein are preferably rectangular or square, but may be other shapes, including but not limited to triangular or other polyhedron, or circular. 
     The surface members  10  may be interconnected, for example by straps and buckles, or other connection means for holding them in place, relative to each other or relative to the earth or other body being heated or cooled or both. 
     Applications and use are numerous and potentially unlimited as the system can be used for virtually any heat, thaw, cure, dry, or cooling application in any industry. The present invention provides for the management of temperature and optionally vapour or air flow. Some heating applications range from but are not limited to curing pipeline concrete ballast, tank coating, fluids heating, concrete curing in general, ground thaw, hoarding, and hydro testing (by maintaining temperature above freezing temperature of the hydro test fluid such as water and/or maintaining wall temperature during hydro test such as when required due to material properties). 
     In operation, the body or surface to be climate controlled is covered or enclosed with one or more of surface member(s)  10  and the thermal conduits  50  selectively connected as “Open” or “Closed” to form a fluid flow path  105  (or a plurality of fluid flow paths as the case may be). Thermal media  100  (or  100   h  or  100   c ) is then circulated through the fluid flow path  105  to transfer heat to or from the body or surface. 
     As used herein the inlet  60  and outlet  70  may be interchanged, as the thermal media  100  can flow either direction through the thermal conduits  50 . 
     As used herein the first side  30  and the second side  40  may be interchanged. However, generally, the first side  30  would be nearest or more proximate the body being heated/cooled. 
     As used herein, a heat sink refers to heat flowing from the body or surface to the heat transfer surface in a cooling or refrigeration operation to cool the body or surface. 
     In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. 
     The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.