Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations
US7383877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B3/141
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Certain embodiments provide a system including a heater. The heater includes one or more electrical conductors. The heater is configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater. The heater includes a ferromagnetic material. A conduit at least partially surrounds the heater. A fluid is located in a space between the heater and the conduit. The fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0° C. and 101.325 kPa). The system is configured to provide (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.