US 12,439,479 B2
Ohmic heater with multiple operating states
Michael J. Wieckowski, Charleston, SC (US); Jeremiah M. Callahan, Sullivan's Island, SC (US); and Weston Scott Catron, Charleston, SC (US)
Assigned to OHMIQ, INC., North Charleston, SC (US)
Filed by OhmlQ, Inc., North Charleston, SC (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/952,888.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/937,877, filed on Nov. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153302 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. H05B 3/00 (2006.01); F24H 1/20 (2022.01); H05B 3/03 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 3/0019 (2013.01) [F24H 1/202 (2013.01); H05B 3/03 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ohmic heater comprising:
(a) a structure defining a flow path for liquid extending in a downstream direction;
(b) a first pair of electrodes disposed within the flow path adjacent one another in the downstream direction but spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction;
(c) a second pair of electrodes disposed within the flow path downstream from the first pair of electrodes, the electrodes of the second pair being within the flow path adjacent one another in the downstream directions but spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction, the structure including a dielectric wall defining a tubular elongated passage forming a part of the flow path between the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes, the dielectric wall encircling the part of the flow path about an axis extending along the downstream direction so as to define the tubular elongated passage; and
(d) an electrical circuit including a power source having two poles and configured to vary a voltage applied between the two poles, the electrical circuit being operative in at least three states including:
(i) a first state in which the circuit applies a variable voltage between the electrodes of the first pair;
(ii) a second state in which the circuit applies a variable voltage between the electrodes of the second pair; and
(iii) a third state in which the circuit applies a variable voltage between at least one electrode of the first pair and at least one electrode of the second pair so that, in the third state, the only current path through any of the electrodes extends between the at least one electrode of the second pair and the at least one electrode of the first pair, through the tubular elongated passage, and current flows through the liquid in the tubular elongated passage,
wherein the electrical circuit has a first specific resistance between the electrodes of the first pair in the first state, the electrical circuit has a second specific resistance between the electrodes of the second pair in the second state, the second specific resistance being different than the first specific resistance, and the electrical circuit has a third specific resistance between the at least one electrode of the second pair and the at least one electrode of the first pair in the third state, the third specific resistance being higher than the first and second specific resistances.