Patent Publication Number: US-2012024372-A1

Title: Solar operated water heater

Description:
RELATED US PATENT APPLICATION 
     This Continuation-In-Part U.S. Application claims priority to Non-Provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 12/074,021, filed Mar. 01, 2008, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to solar operated water heating devices, in particular a self-contained, solar operated, buoyant heat absorbent and heat transfer appliance, for heating a controlled fluid, such as water in a swimming pool, for example. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The presence and use of a swimming pool as a residential accessory is very great in today&#39;s society. In-the-ground swimming pools are very popular as residential accessories, in the warmer parts of the continental United States but are not limited to the warmer climes. Above-the-ground swimming pools are also very popular, especially where the residence is short of land area, for the pool. When the weather is warm and/or the sun is shining, the temperature of the water in the pool tends to warm and being in the pool water appears to be more enjoyable. When weather temperature gets cool and/or cold, use of the pool tends to be limited. In order to extend the use and/or enjoyment of a swimming pool in an environment where the weather becomes cool and/or cold, pool water heater appliances are frequently used. Many pool water heater appliance use natural or propane gas as fuel to heat the water of the pool. Heating the water of the swimming is preferred by many, especially in cool and/or cold weather, when the water in the pool becomes substantially lower in temperature than normal body temperature. 
     The problem with available pool water heaters is that the pool water heating appliance is large, cumbersome and expensive. The temperature of the water of a swimming pool, whether it is an in-the-ground or an above-the-ground swimming pool, may often be raised substantially above ambient temperature, using presently conventional swimming pool water warming appliances, however, this is often an over-kill and this is wasteful and expensive. It is very often found that the initial cost of the swimming pool water warming appliance is very high and the appliance is costly to run. The over-kill use, that often occurs, is a waste of energy and money. What is needed is a heater for the water of a swimming pool that is initially low in cost and inexpensive to run. The present invention is a self-contained or integrated swimming pool water heating appliance, which is buoyantly floated in the water contained in the swimming pool and uses solar energy to warm the water of the swimming pool. 
     The present invention is a self-contained, in-the-water appliance of assembled conventional technology, in a novel combination and relationship providing a functionally fashioned solar heat absorbing and heat transfer materials suspended, buoyantly, in an air and water environment for heating water in a controlled environment, such as a swimming pool, for example. Solar heat energy is directed to and/or concentrated on functional elements fabricated from heat absorbing and heat transfer materials, in a contained water environment. The functionally fashioned solar heat absorbing and heat transfer materials, such as heat exchange materials, for example, are exposed to solar rays and absorb heat energy from the sun. The absorbed heat is transferred from the heat exchange unit to the water in contact with the heat exchange unit. The water heated within the heat exchange unit rises, naturally, as the water is heated, initiating a water flow or circulation through the heat exchange unit. In order to ensure a discrete water flow through the heat exchange unit, a water pump means, such as a sump pump, for example, is provided. The input to the water pump means is connected to the unheated body of water adjacent the buoyantly floating water heater so that unheated water, of the contained water, is gently applied to the heat exchange unit of the integrated water heater. 
     As circulation is initiated, water, of relatively low temperature, flows through the integrated heater element and is heated. The heated water flows out an upper outlet of the water heater, flowing, in cascade fashion, over the exterior surface of the heat transfer element. The flowing, heated water is further heated as the water cascades over the exterior of the heat transfer element. A catch basin or trough is provided at the base of the heat transfer element. One or more water returns, connected to the catch basin, return the collected, heated water to the contained body of water. The returned, heated water causes the temperature of the body of water to rise, appropriately. A preferred embodiment of this invention provides a floating appliance, which consumes solar energy and is essentially cost free to operate. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a self-contained, free floating water heater that heats water of a body of water by applying direct solar energy and reflected solar energy onto heat exchange elements fabricated from materials that have good to excellent solar energy and heat transfer characteristics. Solar energy is collected and employed to heat water through the vehicle of a heat exchange unit or heat-sink device. A flotation apparatus, which may be in the form of a ring of buoyant material and supporting pedestal, supports the water heater in a partially submerged attitude in an air/water environment, within a controlled body of water. 
     The heat exchange unit nests in a substantially sealed reflector/container vessel. The vessel also supports a parabolic solar energy reflector between the base of the vessel and the heat exchange unit. The interior wall of the reflector/container vessel receives direct solar energy and reflects the direct solar&#39; energy on to the outer exterior surface of the heat exchange unit, while the parabolic solar energy reflector receives a second direct solar energy and reflects the second direct solar energy on to an inner exterior surface of the heat exchange unit. 
     Preferably, a reflector/container vessel is supported, buoyantly in a body of water. An inner wall of the reflector/container vessel is fabricated to provide good to excellent solar energy reflection and directional reflection characteristics. Solar energy applied directly from the sun to the surface of the inner wall is reflectively directed to the interior area of the reflector/container vessel. A heat exchange element is nested in the interior area of the reflector/container vessel for receiving solar energy reflected and directed from the inner wall of the reflector/container vessel. The reflected, directed solar energy from the inner wall is applied to the outer surface of the heat exchange element. The heat exchange element is oriented in the interior area of the reflector/container vessel so that the outer surface of the heat exchange element receives solar energy directly from the sun. Thus, the outer surface of the heat exchange element receives a concentration of direct solar energy, from the sun and reflectively directed solar energy from the inner wall of the reflector/container vessel, for heating water passed through the heat exchange element. 
     A parabolic dish reflector of solar energy provides additional reflected solar energy, reflected on to the inner surface of the heat exchange element. The parabolic dish reflector is contoured and oriented between the reflector/container vessel and the heat exchange element, for receiving solar energy directly from the sun and for reflecting the received solar energy on to the inner surface of the heat exchange element for further heating water passed through the heat exchange element. 
     Preferably, the heat exchange element is defined by an elongated tube disposed in serpentine configuration, with adjacent exterior walls of the serpentine configuration connected defining a substantially cone-shaped, hollow or chamber walled vessel. The materials from which the heat exchange element is fabricated have good to excellent heat absorbent and/or heat exchange characteristics. The chamber of the heat exchange element has an input or inlet at one end and an output or outlet at the other end. The inlet of the chamber is connected to the output of a submerged pump, for example a sump pump or a low power, low volume water pump, for maintaining a flow of water through the length of the coiled tubing defining the chamber of the heat exchange element. The outlet of the chamber ejects an exiting flow of heated water, in cascade arrangement, over the outer exterior wall of the cone-shaped vessel. The cascading water is further heated by the outer exterior wall of the vessel and is collected by a catch basin coupled to the base of the outer, exterior wall, adjacent an open portion of the vessel. Drains from the catch basin pass through ports in the wall of the reflector/container vessel and return the recovered, heated water to the body of the contained water. 
     The reflector/container vessel is supported on a pedestal and a flotation means so that the reflector/container vessel floats substantially on the surface of the body of contained water. 
     A power supply, which may be solar voltaic cells or variable temperature voltaic cells, may be mounted on or adjacent the exterior wall of the reflector/container vessel and connected to provide power to drive a submerged water pump means, for initiating and/or sustaining the flow of water through the heat exchange element. Alternatively, the power supply for the submerged water pump may be a battery, which compliments the self-contained, free flotation characteristic of the invention. If desired, a hard wire line may be used to provide power for the submerged water pump. If a hard or solid wire connection is used to connect the flotation device to residential current, for example, the free flotation characteristic is reduced somewhat, according to the size and length of the wire connection. 
     In an alternative arrangement the heat exchange element of the invention may be in the form of a hollow walled vessel, defining a chamber, with heat-sink vanes, spanning the width of the chamber, connected between opposing walls. The chamber has an input and an output for passing water through the chamber. The internal vanes connect to opposing walls and receive heat from the walls by conduction. Heat is transferred from the vanes and the walls to water passing through the chamber. The input to the chamber is connected to the output of the pump means for receiving water from the pump. The output from the chamber permits water passed through the chamber to exit the chamber and flowingly cascade over the exterior surface of the outside wall of the hollow walled vessel. One or both of the walls of the hollow walled vessel may be waved, thereby increasing the length and/or area of the surface of the wall without increasing the size of the vessel. The heat-sink vanes may be perforated, thereby increasing the surface area of the vane and thus increasing the heat transfer capability of the vane. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a self-contained heater accessory for heating water of a swimming pool that buoyantly floats in the body of water to be heated and uses solar energy for warming the water of the pool. 
     Another object is to provide a self-sufficient heater appliance for heating the water of a swimming pool that uses solar energy to heat the water and buoyantly floats in the body of water to be heated. 
     Another object is to provide a self-contained appliance, buoyantly floatable in the body of water contained in a swimming pool for heating the water of the swimming pool using solar energy to heat the water and circulate the water through the heating element. 
     A further object is to provide a heater appliance for the water of a swimming pool which is free floating, within the water to be heated, self sufficient, low in cost to operate, and will not waste energy in over heating the water. 
     These and other objectives will become apparent after viewing the following drawing showing embodiments of the invention and reading the following description thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a perspective view of the heater element container and heat collector of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  presents a perspective view of an embodiment of the heater element of the invention, connected to a pump means; 
         FIG. 4  presents a perspective view of a parabolic dish for reflecting solar heat toward the inner surface of the heater element of the invention; 
         FIG. 5 . presents a perspective view of the support pedestal and flotation element for the invention; 
         FIG. 6  presents a partial cut out, side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of a heater element usable in practicing the invention: and 
         FIG. 6   a  presents an exploded view of one embodiment of a heat sink vane useful in practicing the invention using the embodiment represented in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  presents a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the solar operated water heater; 
         FIG. 8  presents a sectioned side elevation view of an enclosed exemplary embodiment of the solar operated water heater; 
         FIG. 9  presents a sectioned side elevation view of an enclosed exemplary embodiment of the solar operated water heater, including enhanced thermal transfer elements; 
         FIG. 10  presents a sectioned side elevation view of a liquid enhanced heat exchanger for use in conjunction with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  presents an exemplary implementation of the solar operated water heater, placing a plurality of heaters in series; 
         FIG. 12  presents an exemplary implementation of the solar operated water heater positioning the heater proximate a body of water; and 
         FIG. 13  presents an exemplary embodiment of a self-contained solar operated water heater utilizing a series of heat exchanging fins for heating a body of water. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the several Figures, identical call outs are used to identify identical structure.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram representing the invention. Block  10 , REFLECTOR/CONTAINER, is supported on block  11 , PEDISTAL, which is supported on block  12 , FLOTATION ELEMENT. The flotation element holds the invention afloat in a body of water  24 , such as a swimming pool, for example. The HEATER ELEMENT, block  15 , is supported in the interior of the reflector/container  10 , over REFLECTOR DISH, block  19 . Block  18 , PUMP, is connected with the heater element  15  by a conduit  23 , the pump  18  being submerged in the body of water  24 . The heater element includes a catch basin  20  and drains  20   a. Block  21 , POWER SUPPLY, provides power for driving the pump  18 , providing a self-sufficient appliance.    
     The invention is a self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance for heating a contained body of water, for example, water in a swimming pool. A reflector/container  10  is held afloat, by a flotation means, in a body of contained water, such as water in a swimming pool, for example. The flotation means comprises a pedestal  11  and a flotation element  12 . The pedestal supports the reflector/container  10  and the flotation element supports the pedestal. The flotation element has sufficient buoyancy to lift and maintain a substantial portion of the reflector/container  10  above the surface  22  of the body of water  24 . The reflector/container  10  has a cover  13 , which is preferably fabricated from materials having characteristics, which are highly transparent to solar rays and/or solar heat and/or solar energy (hereinafter referred to as solar energy). The surface of the interior wall  14  of the reflector/container  10  is fabricated from materials and/or has a finish, which highly reflects, and directs solar energy received from the sun for concentrating and directing the received solar energy on to the outer surface of the heater element  15 . The cover  13  is fabricated for passing solar energy and for retaining heat in the interior of the reflector/container  10 , generating a greenhouse effect in the enclosed reflector/container vessel. The heater element  15  is preferably fabricated from materials having good to excellent solar energy absorbing characteristics and good to excellent heat transfer characteristics. A submerged water pump  18 , such as a sump pump means, for example, secured below the flotation member, has an input connected to the body of water in which the water pump is submerged and has an output connected to the input of the heater element  15 . The heater element  15  nests in the interior of the reflector/container  10 , over a parabolic dish solar energy reflector  19 . The parabolic dish is fabricated from materials, and has a surface having good to excellent solar energy reflection characteristics. The position and contour of the parabolic dish reflector  19  is such so as to reflect solar energy in a concentrated reflection, on to the inner exterior surface of the heater element  15 , through the open bottom of the heater element. Water pumped into the input or inlet of the heater element  15  by the pump  18  flows or circulates through the heater element and out the output or outlet of the heater element, cascading over the outer exterior surface of the heater element and into a catch basin or trough  20 . The water is heated while the water is in contact with the heater element. The heated water is returned to the body of water in the swimming pool through a drain  20   a.    
     A power supply  21 , which is preferably an array of solar cells or photovoltaic cells, is supported on the outer wall of the reflector/container  10 . The power supply is connected to the pump  18  for driving the pump. Alternatively, the power supply may be an array of variable temperature voltaic cells supported between the air and water adjacent the outer wall of the reflector/container  10 . If desired, a battery may be used as the power supply, the battery supported on the outer wall of the reflector/container  10 . 
     Preferably, the water heater appliance floats buoyantly in the body of water  24  in the swimming pool so that the surface  22  of the water is approximately in juxtaposition with the base or bottom of the reflector/container  10 . A conductor  23  defined by a pipe or tubing, provides a conduit for the water pumped from the body of water  24  to the heater element  15  by the pump  18 . The conductor  23  also serves as a means for suspending the pump in the body of water  24 . A port in the base of the reflector/container permits passage of the conductor  23 . The port and conductor for a watertight seal and prevent leakage into the interior of the reflector/container. The conductor  23  also passes through ports in the pedestal  11  and flotation member  12 , as well as the parabolic dish  19 . Drains  20   a,  from the catch basin  20 , return water from the catch basin to the body of water  24 , somewhat below the surface  22  of the water. It will be obvious that water, of ambient temperature, pumped from the body of water by the pump member is forcefully flowed through the heating element. The heating element is heated above ambient temperature by solar energy applied to the surfaces of the heating element. The heating element is a heat exchange unit. As the water flows through the interior of the heating element the flowing water is elevated in temperature, above the ambient temperature of the body of water. The water flows out of the heating element, somewhat elevated in temperature above the ambient of the body of water and cascades over the exterior of the heating element. Cascading the water over the exterior surface of the heating element further elevates the temperature of the water. The twice temperature-elevated water is returned to the body of water, from which it was taken, to raise the temperature of the body of water, appropriately. 
       FIG. 2  represents a preferred embodiment of a reflector/container  10  ( FIG. 1 ) usable in practicing the invention. A generally inverted cone-shaped member  25  has the surface of interior walls  14  fabricated for providing good to excellent direction and reflection characteristics for solar energy. The heater element  15  of  FIG. 1  is supported in the interior of the reflector/container  10  with ports  29  provided for accepting the drains  20   a  of the catch basin  20 . Preferably, each drain  20   a  fits into and extend out of a port  29  aligned to receive the drain. Each drain fits in a port in water-tight relationship, keeping water out of the reflector/container interior when the heater element  15  is nested in the reflector/container  10 . The drains  20   a  return water to the body of water  24  somewhat below the surface  20 . A port  30  is provided in the base of the reflector/container for passing the conduit  23 , in sealed relationship. 
     An array  31  “represents a power supply  21  in balanced array supported on the exterior wall  25  of the reflector/container  10 . The connection (not shown) between the power supply and the pump ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) for driving the pump will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The cover or seal  13  for enclosing the reflector/container is fabricated from materials having good to excellent solar energy transmitting and thermal retaining characteristics. When the cover plate  13  is covering the open top of the reflector/container  10  and the heater element  15  is nested in the interior of the reflector/container, solar energy passing through the cover  13  is directly applied to the outer, exterior surface of the heater element  15  and to the interior wall surface  14  of the reflector/container  10 . Solar energy applied to the interior wall surface  14  of the reflector/container is reflected and applied to the outer, exterior surface of the heater element  15 . The combined direct application of solar energy and reflected application of solar energy on to the outer, exterior surface of the heater element defines a concentrated application of solar energy on the outer, exterior surface of the heater element  15 . With the cover  13  fitted to the top of the reflector/container a greenhouse effect is provided. Application of solar energy to the inner exterior surface of the heater element is discussed below. 
     It may be desired to use an alternate, additional and/or back-up power supply. A battery  21   a,  represented in broken line form, may be used, if desired, when practicing the invention. 
       FIG. 3  represents a preferred embodiment of a heater element or heat exchange element, usable when practicing the invention. The heater element  15  is fabricated from tubing materials having good to excellent heat transfer characteristics. The tubing is helically disposed with longitudinal edges of adjacent tubing connected, defining a cone-shaped vessel with a hollow, serpentine chamber within its walls. The top of the cone-shaped vessel is closed  33  and has an outlet  34 , which connects with the upper end of the tubing or chamber for ejecting water passed through the chamber, for cascading over the outer wall  35 . The outer exterior  35  of the hollow wall defines a semi-tube cascaded wall, which terminates in open configuration  36 . The chamber has an inlet  37 , which communicates with the conduit  23  extending from the pump  18 , for receiving water pumped by the pump. Adjacent the open base of the cone-shaped chambered vessel is a catch basin or trough  20  with drains  20   a.  The drains extend out ports  29  for supporting the heater element  15  in the reflector/container  10 . 
       FIG. 4  represents a preferred embodiment of a parabolic dish reflector  19 , which is supported in the interior of the reflector/container  10 . The heater element  15  (represented in broken line form in  FIG. 4 ) nests in the reflector/container  10  above the parabolic dish reflector  19 . The inner exterior surface  38  of the parabolic dish reflector is fabricated and finished for reflecting solar energy. The dish  19  is adapted and oriented to receive, reflect and concentrate solar energy received through the cover  13 , on to the inner exterior surface of the heater element  15  through the open bottom of the cone-shaped vessel. The parabolic dish  19  has a port  39  through which the conduit  23  passes to connect with the inlet  37  on the heater element  15 . 
       FIG. 5  represents an embodiment of a pedestal  11  and flotation member  12 , which holds the invention afloat in a body of water. A port  40  in the base  41  of the pedestal permits passage of the conduit  23  (shown in broken line&#39; form) through the base of the pedestal, for communicating with the inlet to the chamber of the heater element. The pedestal fingers  42  provide support for the reflector/container vessel. The flotation member  12  has sufficient buoyancy, in water, to hold and maintain the appliance afloat in the body of water. 
       FIG. 6  represents, in cross-section elevation view, an alternate structure heat exchange element  15 ′, which may be used when practicing the invention, in substitution for the preferred embodiment. A hollow walled inverted cone-shaped vessel is defined by inner wall  44  and outer wall  45 , defining a chamber  46 . Heat-sink vanes  47  and  47   a  are secured, at their respective opposite ends, to opposing walls of the chamber. Although a plurality of vanes is represented, a single elongated vane may be used, if desired. Although heat transfer vanes are represented as spanned across the interior of a chamber, the structure may be reversed, and the vanes may be exposed to solar energy and a tube or tubes may pass through the vanes. The vanes are, fabricated from materials having good to excellent heat transfer characteristics. The vanes  47  and  47   a  receive heat from walls  44  and  45 , via conduction. The walls are heated by solar energy, as previously discussed. Water pumped through conduit  23 ′ flows through the chamber  46 , coming in contact with the vanes  47 ,  47   a,  which transfer heat to the water. Water flows out the outlet  34 , across the closed top  33 ′ and down the outer wall  45  to the catch basin  20 ′ and out the spout  20   a ′. The inner exterior surface of wall  44  may be heated by a solar energy reflecting dish, such as represented in  FIG. 4  and disposed as discussed above. 
       FIG. 6   a  represents, in cut-out view, a heat transfer vane, such as  47  that is connected to the spaced walls  44  and  45 . The heat transfer vane has holes, such as  48  and/or  49 , which increase the surface of the vane and increase the heat exchange capability of the vane. The vane is fabricated from materials having good to excellent heat transfer characteristics. 
       FIG. 7  represents a self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5 . The illustration includes a partial cut away section for clarity of the operational components. The self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5  includes a generally inverted cone-shaped member  25  having an exterior wall (identified by the leader line reference to  25 ) and an interior wall surface  28 . The exterior can be of any supportive material. The interior is preferably of a reflective material, focusing sunlight  60  onto a heater element  15 . The self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5  includes a solar panel (such as the array  31  of  FIG. 2 ) for converting solar energy from the sunlight  60  to electrical power. One such means would be accomplished by integrating a photovoltaic material into the array  31  ( FIG. 2 ). The generated power would be stored within a battery (such as the battery  21   a  of  FIG. 2 ). The stored power is used to operate any electrically operated device such as a pump  18 . 
     Pump  18  drives flow of the fluid, collecting cold or source water  50  from a body of water  24  via a intake conduit  23 , transferring the water through the heat exchanger  15  and returning the water as heated water  52  to the body of water  24 . The water can flow in any manner over, through, across, and the like, in communication with the heat exchanger  15  to transfer heat from the heat exchanger to the water  50 . In the exemplary embodiment, the water  50  is discharged through an outlet port  34  and over an exterior surface of the heat exchanger  15 . The heated water  52  continues through drains  20   a,  returning to the body of water  24 . A flotation element  12  can be integrated into the self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5 , allowing the user to place the appliance  5  into the body of water  24 . The heat exchanger  15  and other components can be assembled to a base  41 . The base  41  is supported by a plurality of pedestal fingers  42  extending radially from the base. The plurality of pedestal fingers  42  are placed upon or assembled to the floatation element  12 , providing floating support to the assembly. Although the fingers  42  are shown as being radially arranged, it is understood any support interface design can be provided between the elements of the appliance  5  and the floatation element  12 . Since the power is self contained within the appliance  5  and regenerating via a solar power sourcing system integrated therein, the appliance  5  is not tethered via any power cord, requiring any recharging, and the like. 
     A first alternate exemplary embodiment, referred to as a portable water heater  100 , is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The portable water heater  100  includes a saucer shaped enclosure comprising a transparent cover  102  and a reflective basin  104 , together forming an interior volume  108 . It is desirable that the transparent cover  102  be fabricated of a lens having focal intensification properties. The saucer shaped enclosure is preferably of a watertight assembly or other means providing buoyancy to the portable water heater  100 . The interior surface  106  is preferably fabricated having a reflective material provided thereon. A heat exchanger  110  is mounted within the interior volume  108 , oriented and located to optimize the absorption of energy from the sun from both the transparent cover  102  and the reflection from the interior surface  106 . The interior surface  106  of the reflective basin  104  is shaped to direct the solar energy at the heat exchanger. The reflective basin  104  can be a parabolic dish, a parabolic trough, an inverted pyramid, and the like. The heat exchanger  110  includes a heat exchanger core  112  for transferring the absorbed heat to a fluid. Optional heat sinks  114  the can be attached to the heat exchanger  110  to optimize heat transfer. 
     Fluid is driven through the heat exchanger  110  by an electrically operated pump  120 . The pump  120  is powered by stored electrical power (such as via a battery  21   a  of  FIG. 2 ) or electrical power directly obtained from the sun. The pump  120  draws water in through a supply conduit intake port  123  located at a free end of a supply conduit  122 , wherein the supply conduit intake port  123  is inserted into the body of water  24 . The supply conduit  122  is connected to the pump  120  at a pump intake port  121 , providing fluid communication therebetween. A heat exchanger supply conduit  124  is provided in fluid communication between the pump  120  and the heat exchanger  110  for transferring the fluid from the pump  120  to the heat exchanger  110 . A first end of the heat exchanger supply conduit  124  is connected to a pump discharge port  125  of the pump  120 , and a second, opposite end is connected to a heat exchanger intake port  111  of the heat exchanger  110 . The fluid pressure generated by the pump  120  directs the fluid to travel in thermal communication with the heat exchanger  110 , either through the heat exchanger core  112  (for internal passageways) or across an exterior surface of the heat exchanger core  112  (for external fluid paths over an exterior surface). A heat exchanger discharge conduit  126  is provides fluid communication between the heat exchanger  110  and the body of water. The heat exchanger discharge conduit  126  comprises a first end, which is connected to a heat exchanger discharge port  113  of the heat exchanger  110  and a second, free end having a heat exchanger discharge conduit return port  127  for returning heated fluid to the body of water. 
     Sunlight passes through the transparent cover  102  and is redirected towards the heat exchanger  110  by the shape of the transparent cover  102 . The transparent cover  102  can additionally be shaped to magnify the intensity or focal location of the light to enhance the heating process. The sunlight can be reflected towards the heat exchanger  110  by the reflective material applied to the interior surface  106 . 
     A second alternate exemplary embodiment, referred to as a portable water heater  200 , is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Like features of the portable water heater  200  and portable water heater  100  are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘2’. A fresnel lens  230  or any other focal lens is integrated into the portable water heater  200  to optimize the heating process. The fresnel lens  230  can be embedded within the interior volume  208  or integrated into the transparent cover  202 . The temperature within the interior volume  208  commonly rises as a result of the focused sunlight. A series of spaced apart heat exchanger fins  216  can be thermally coupled to the heat exchanger core  212  to collect the heat generated within the interior volume  208  and transfer the heat energy to the heat exchanger core  212 . 
     The efficiency of the portable water heater  5 ,  100 ,  200 , can be improved by incorporating a fluid enhanced heat exchanger  300  therein. An exemplary fluid enhanced heat exchanger  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The fluid enhanced heat exchanger  300  includes a heat exchanger  310  comprising a heat exchanger core  312 . Fluid is provided to the heat exchanger core  312  by a heat exchanger supply conduit  324 , and returned to the body of water by a heat exchanger discharge conduit  326 . An optional heat sink  314  can be provided along any section of an outer surface of the heat exchanger core  312  for optimizing thermal transfer. A fluid reservoir  340  is provided in thermal communication with the heat exchanger core  312 . The fluid reservoir  340  contains stored thermal transfer liquid  342  and/or stored gas  344 . The enclosed medium  342 ,  344  absorbs heat from the surrounding environment and transfers the thermal energy to the heat exchanger core  312 , directly to the passing fluid, or both. Examples of the retained fluid include water, Ethylene glycol (commonly known as antifreeze), ammonia, and the like. 
     Ammonia is heated to its boiling point in a separate sealed container that has had the air removed and replaced with a small amount of ammonia. The ammonia must be in a sealed container below or in a separate sealed compartment below the heating elements. When the ammonia is heated to its boiling point the vapor that rises is super heated (kind of like steam, but hotter) thus the top of the container, containing the ammonia becomes super heated which in turn heats the heating elements through conduction (direct contact with the top of the ammonia container). 
     Glauber&#39;s salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate, Na 2 SO 4 -10H 2 O) can be included in the interior volume  108  and/or the fluid reservoir  340  in contact with the heat exchanger  110 . The Glauber&#39;s salt absorbs heat and becomes molten. When the Glauber&#39;s salt converts into the molten state, the salt increases the retention of heat over a longer period of long time and distributes the heat evenly. 
     The efficiency of the portable water heater  5 ,  100 ,  200 , can be improved by reducing the pressure within the interior volume  108 . Alternately, the heat exchanger  110  can be placed within a sealed enclosure, whereby the efficiency can be enhanced by reducing the pressure within the sealed enclosure about the heat exchanger  110 . 
     The portable water heater  100 ,  200  can be sized to service a predetermined volume of water. To optimize manufacturing costs, size, flexibility, and the like, a plurality of portable water heaters  100 ,  200  can be arranged in series, as illustrated in  FIG. 11  or in parallel (well understood by those skilled in the art). A plurality of portable water heaters  100 ,  200  can be provided in fluid communication via a heat exchanged transfer conduit  128  in any arrangement, including in series, in parallel, or in combination thereof. Source fluid would be obtained from the body of water through the supply conduit  122  and returned to the body of water through the heat exchanger discharge conduit  126 . 
     An exemplary application of the portable water heater  100 ,  200 , is for heating body of water  24  within a swimming pool  424 . The self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5  can be placed upon an edge of the swimming pool  424  as illustrated or floating within the swimming pool  424 . Source water is obtained through the conduit  23 , heated within the self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5  and returned as heated water through the drains  20   a.  The drains can be provided as removable hoses, allowing the water to simply run off the heater element  15  or be directed to a desired, remote discharge location. The self-sufficient, buoyantly floated water heater appliance  5  can be placed onto the body of water, whereby the base  41  would support the apparatus on top of the body of water  24 . 
     The previously disclosed embodiments transfer the fluid across a heat exchanger and return the heated fluid to the body of water  24 . Alternately, apparatus can transfer thermal energy directly into the body of water  24  by utilizing a self-contained solar operated water heater  500 . An exemplary version of the self-contained solar operated water heater  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Like features of self-contained solar operated water heater  500 , and the portable water heater  100 ,  200  are numbered the same except preceded by the numeral ‘5’. Modifications to create the self-contained solar operated water heater  500  include extending the heat exchanger fins  516  through the reflective basin  504  providing sufficient surface area external to the reflective basin  504  to heat the surrounding water. This exemplary embodiment reduces the need for transferring the source water into and through the heat exchanger  510 . The heat exchanger  510  can be solid material or fluid based. A fluid based system includes a heat exchanger supply conduit  524  and a heat exchanger discharge conduit  526  in providing fluid communication between a pump  520  and a heat exchanger core  512 , thus creating a closed loop system. Power can be provided to the pump  520  by a stored power source  560 , a solar energy conversion device, or combination thereof A controller circuit board  570  can be integrated into the self-contained solar operated water heater  500 , allowing for intelligent control and operation of the system. Wiring  574  provides electrical power and/or signal communication between the controller circuit board  570 , the stored power source  560 , and the pump  520 . A user control interface  572  is in signal communication with the controller circuit board  570 , providing a user interface. The controller circuit board  570  can include a thermal sensing circuit coupled to a thermal sensor in thermal communication with the heat exchanger core  512  or the fluid therein, for determining the temperature of the fluid. The thermal sensing circuit would operate the pump  520  when the temperature is above or within a predetermined range. It is recognized that a similar circuit can be integrated within any of the embodiments presented herein. 
     In the foregoing description of the invention, reference to drawings, certain terms have been used for conciseness, clarity and comprehension. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied from or because of the terms used, beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Furthermore, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, represented, suggested or described. 
     Having now described a preferred embodiment of the invention in terms of features, discoveries and principles along with certain alternative structure and suggested changes, other changes that may become apparent to those skilled in the art may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.