Heater
In certain embodiments, a heater comprises a fluid opening configured to communicate with a source of fuel. In some embodiments, the heater further comprises a first flow channel, a second flow channel, and a fluid flow controller in communication with the fluid opening. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to selectively permit flow of fuel to either the first flow channel or the second flow channel. In some embodiments, the heater further comprises at least one of a nozzle and an oxygen depletion sensor coupled with at least one of the first flow channel and the second flow channel.
1 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . A heater comprising:
a controller configured to selectively direct one of a first type of fuel to a first fuel channel and a second type of fuel to a second fuel channel;
a burner configured to produce a flame from fuel received via either the first or second fuel channel;
a first nozzle configured to produce a first pilot flame from fuel received via the first fuel channel;
a second nozzle configured to produce a second pilot flame from fuel received via the second fuel channel; and
a thermocouple positioned to be heated by a flame from at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle,
wherein the first nozzle differs from the second nozzle in at least one of the following manners:
the first nozzle is spaced a larger or smaller distance from a thermocouple than is the second nozzle;
the first nozzle defines a first air inlet and the second nozzle defines a second air inlet, the first air inlet being larger or smaller than the second air inlet; and
the first nozzle is coupled with a first injector configured to deliver fuel to the first nozzle at a first flow rate and the second nozzle is coupled with a second injector configured to deliver fuel to the second nozzle at a second flow rate, the first flow rate being larger or smaller than the second flow rate.
31 . The heater of claim 30 , wherein the first nozzle differs from the second nozzle in at least two of the following manners:
the first nozzle is spaced a larger or smaller distance from a thermocouple than is the second nozzle;
the first nozzle defines a first air inlet and the second nozzle defines a second air inlet, the first air inlet being larger or smaller than the second air inlet; and
the first nozzle is coupled with a first injector configured to deliver fuel to the first nozzle at a first flow rate and the second nozzle is coupled with a second injector configured to deliver fuel to the second nozzle at a second flow rate, the first flow rate being larger or smaller than the second flow rate.
32 . The heater of claim 31 , wherein:
the first nozzle is spaced a larger or smaller distance from a thermocouple than is the second nozzle;
the first nozzle defines a first air inlet and the second nozzle defines a second air inlet, the first air inlet being larger or smaller than the second air inlet; and
the first nozzle is coupled with a first injector configured to deliver fuel to the first nozzle at a first flow rate and the second nozzle is coupled with a second injector configured to deliver fuel to the second nozzle at a second flow rate, the first flow rate being larger or smaller than the second flow rate.
33 . The heater of claim 30 , further comprising a flow controller in fluid communication with the first and second fuel channels, the flow controller configured to direct at least a portion of fuel received from the first fuel channel toward the first nozzle when in a first operational state and configured to direct at least a portion of fuel received from the second fuel channel toward the second nozzle when in a second operational state.
34 . The heater of claim 33 , further comprising a burner nozzle configured to direct fuel toward the burner.
35 . The heater of claim 34 , wherein the flow controller is configured to direct at least a portion of fuel received from the first fuel channel to a first portion of the burner nozzle when in the first operational state and to direct at least a portion of fuel received from the second fuel channel to a second portion of the burner nozzle when in the second operational state.
36 . A heater comprising:
a first passage configured to receive fuel from a first fuel source when the heater is in a first operational state;
a second passage configured to receive fuel from a second fuel source when the heater is in a second operational state;
a control valve configured to receive fuel from the first passage when the heater is in the first operational state and configured to receive fuel from the second passage when the heater is in the second operational state;
a first thermocouple portion in electrical communication with the control valve;
a second thermocouple portion in electrical communication with the control vale;
a first oxygen depletion sensor nozzle positioned to direct a first flame toward the first thermocouple portion, the first nozzle configured to receive fuel from the control valve when the heater is in the first operational state, wherein fuel is delivered to the first nozzle at a first pressure; and
a second oxygen depletion sensor nozzle positioned to direct a second flame toward the second thermocouple portion, the second nozzle configured to receive fuel from the control valve when the heater is in the second operational state, wherein fuel is delivered to the second nozzle at a second pressure that is different from the first pressure,
wherein the first thermocouple portion cooperates with the control valve to substantially prevent fuel flow to the first nozzle after the first flame moves away from the first thermocouple portion and the second thermocouple portion cooperates with the control valve to substantially prevent fuel flow to the second nozzle after the second flame moves away from the second thermocouple portion.
37 . The heater of claim 36 , wherein the first nozzle is configured to produce a flame that moves away from the first thermocouple portion when the oxygen level in ambient air drops below a threshold level and the second nozzle is configured to produce a flame that moves away from the second thermocouple portion when the oxygen level in ambient air drops below the threshold level.
38 . The heater of claim 37 , wherein the threshold level is between about 18 percent and about 18.5 percent.
39 . The heater of claim 36 , wherein a single thermocouple comprises the first thermocouple portion and the second thermocouple portion.
40 . The heater of claim 36 , wherein a first injector is positioned to deliver fuel to the first nozzle and a second injector is positioned to deliver fuel to the second nozzle.
41 . The heater of claim 36 , further comprising a burner configured to produce a flame when the heater is in either the first operational state or the second operational state.
42 . The heater of claim 41 , further comprising a third nozzle positioned to deliver fuel to the burner.
43 . The heater of claim 42 , wherein the third nozzle defines a first flow path configured to direct fuel toward the burner when the heater is in the first operational state and defines a second flow path configured to direct fuel toward the burner when the heater is in the second operational state.
44 . The heater of claim 36 , further comprising a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the control valve.
45 . The heater of claim 44 , wherein the pressure regulator defines at least a portion of the first passage and at least a portion of the second passage.
46 . The heater of claim 44 , wherein the pressure regulator is configured to selectively couple with one of a natural gas source and a propane gas source.
47 . The heater of claim 36 , further comprising a flow controller configured to transition the heater between the first and second operational states.
48 . A heating apparatus comprising:
a first flow path configured to receive natural gas from a first fuel source;
a second flow path configured to receive propane gas from a second fuel source;
a control valve configured to fluidly communicate with the first flow path and the second flow path;
a flow controller in fluid communication with the control valve, the controller configured to direct natural gas received from the first flow path along a first passageway when in a first operational state and configured to direct propane gas received from the second flow path along a second passageway when in a second operational state;
a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first passageway along which the controller is configured to direct natural gas, the first nozzle configured to produce a flame that moves from a first position to a second position when the oxygen content in ambient air drops below a threshold level, wherein the control valve is configured to permit fuel to flow to the flow controller when the flame is in the first position and is configured to substantially prevent fuel from flowing to the flow controller when the flame is in the second position; and
a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second passageway along which the controller is configured to direct propane gas, the second nozzle configured to produce a flame that moves from a first position to a second position when the oxygen content in ambient air drops below a threshold level, wherein the control valve is configured to permit fuel to flow to the flow controller when the flame is in the first position and is configured to substantially prevent fuel from flowing to the flow controller when the flame is in the second position.
49 . The heating apparatus of claim 48 , further comprising a thermocouple in electrical communication with the control valve.
50 . The heating apparatus of claim 49 , wherein each of the first and second nozzles is positioned to direct a flame toward the thermocouple.
51 . The heating apparatus of claim 48 , further comprising a burner selectively in communication with one of the first flow path and the second flow path.
52 . The heating apparatus of claim 51 , wherein the flow controller is configured to direct natural gas received from the first flow path along a third passageway toward the burner when in the first operational state and is configured to direct propane gas received from the second flow path along a fourth passageway toward the burner when in the second operational state.
53 . The heating apparatus of claim 51 , further comprising a third nozzle in fluid communication with the flow controller, the third nozzle positioned to direct fuel toward the burner.
54 . The heating apparatus of claim 48 , further comprising a third nozzle in fluid communication with the flow controller.
55 . The heating apparatus of claim 48 , further comprising a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the control valve.
56 . The heating apparatus of claim 55 , wherein the pressure regulator defines at least a portion of the first flow path and at least a portion of the second flow path.
57 . The heating apparatus of claim 55 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a first regulator portion and a second regulator portion, the first regulator portion configured to regulate natural gas received via the first flow path at a first pressure level and a second regulator portion configured to regulate propane gas received via the second flow path at a second pressure level that is different from the first pressure level.
58 . The heating apparatus of claim 57 , wherein at least a portion of the first flow path is between the first regulator portion and the control valve and at least a portion of the second flow path is between the second regulator portion and the control valve.