WO2025009000A1

WO2025009000A1 - High energy saving proximity heater with capillary tube

Info

Publication number: WO2025009000A1
Application number: PCT/IT2024/050113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesca TORCHIO; Giorgio TORCHIO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-07-04
Filing date: 2024-05-30
Publication date: 2025-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-04
Also published as: IT202300013860A1; TW202504384A

Abstract

A heating apparatus for fluids and/or air is described comprising: a capillary tube heater (1) connected to a power stage (5); an electronic control board (7); first means (9) for sealing and connecting fluid; power supply means (30) designed to provide a variable power supply from 380V to 5V of a multi-purpose power driving power supply type; one or more pumps (22) to control flow rate and pressure of fluid and/or air in the capillary tube heater (1); a first temperature sensor (50) to deactivate the supply of the capillary tube (3) in case of danger; a second and a third temperature sensors (56, 58) designed to read the temperature of the fluid entering and exiting the capillary tube (3), in order to provide operating parameters for the heating apparatus; a first electronic circuit (52) and a second electronic circuit (54) to deactivate the power supply to the capillary tube (3) in the event of failures of the first temperature sensor (50) or of an anomaly in the electronic control board (7).

Description

HIGH ENERGY SAVING PROXIMITY HEATER WITH CAPILLARY

TUBE

The present invention refers to a proximity heater with capillary tube with high energy saving, and in particular to the sector of heating fluids and/or air, mainly water, through the use of electric current; in particular, the present invention refers to a device for heating fluids with high energy savings through the use of electrical current supplied appropriately after an electronic control. In particular, from here on, the term "fluid" or "fluids" contained in the description must be interpreted as "fluid and/or air" or "fluids and/or air", respectively. In particular, the fluids are placed under pressure in one or more capillary-sized tubes, and are subsequently dispensed, leaving the device at the desired temperature and pressure via a nozzle.

The production of hot water for domestic use and for the operation of household appliances in the on-board washing cycle, and for the preparation of hot drinks (such as tea or coffee) or for the solution of other household tasks, is well known.

However, the technologies used are strictly linked to the use of electrical resistors of more or less large dimensions, and electrical consumption, despite improved efficiency in recent years, is still high, with negative consequences for the environment and the economy of the user.

In recent years, high and very high pressures have been produced (from 50 to 100 atmospheres) , and even 224 atmosphere boilers (critical pressure) .

The steam boiler today constitutes the essential part of a complex system apparatus, i.e. the steam generator, the system in which the thermal energy produced by a fuel is converted into energy .

Today, water heating in household appliances occurs mainly through the use of a resistor. The resistance is the element, normally made up of a copper coil, which is used to heat water or fluids.

The heating operation is usually carried out by electricity which, passing inside it, heats the copper part which, in contact with water or surfaces, releases its heat. To prevent electrical energy in contact with water from causing a short circuit, the resistor is equipped with ceramic insulation inside the filament where it passes between the current and the copper part which allows the transfer of heat from this energy.

The reason why the electrical energy passing through an electric filament generates heat is called "Joule Effect", a well-known physical law, which is the basis of most modern heating technologies and which, generically, "governs" any energy transformation of the electricity into other forms of energy. The Joule Effect, therefore, states that the power transferred to the material in which an electric current flows is given by the following formula: P=VI, which shows that the electric power (P) supplied is directly proportional to the electric potential (V) as well as directly proportional to the electrical intensity (I) circulating in the circuit itself.

Due to Joule's discovery, we now know that heat is nothing more than a form of energy, specifically "degraded" energy. This type of energy can hardly be transformed into another form of energy instead of, for example, kinetic energy or gravitational energy which are easily transformable .

Heat, in fact, is the sum of the kinetic energies of atoms and molecules that form a body and the index of this kinetic energy of each particle is the temperature. Likewise, electric current is nothing more than the ordered movement, generated by an electric field, of electrons having kinetic energy. When the flow of electric charges passes through a resistance, the kinetic energy of the electric charges (electrons) is transferred, partially or totally, to the material through which the same electric current passes. In its macroscopic form, applying Ohm's law, Joule's Formula can be expressed with the following o equation P=RI , where V=RI .

The electric power is therefore directly proportional to the resistance (R) of the circuit and to the square of the intensity of the electric current ( I ) .

In the case of household appliances, the resistor is provided with two terminals, called electrical poles, to which the electrical power cables of the household appliances themselves are connected .

The present invention overcomes the technical problems described above, due to a new system that allows the heating of fluids and/or air of variable flow rates and with significant energy savings. This invention works for flows with extremely small microscopic fluid passage sections, with only a capillary size tube. Flow rates for normal domestic or industrial sizing (e.g. 1 inch or more up to 394 inches, one inch being 2.54 cm) , can be obtained by multiplying in a bundle of capillary tubes or, separately, up to the number necessary to obtain the flow of hot fluid (e.g. water) that comes out of a nozzle or a connecting element (closed circuit) of the desired size. The outgoing or circulating fluid is controlled in pressure and temperature, through the use of an electronic system of a known technology, appropriately calibrated based on the type of result desired.

The use of the present invention allows for significant energy savings compared to traditional fluid heating systems (e.g. water) in use up to now. This saving can be quantified as no less than sixty percent (60%) . The savings are generated by the combined effects of the use of very high transmissivity steel, the heat generated by appropriately positioned electrical poles which, together with the management of the electronic board, provides a correct heat balance.

The present invention also solves other technical problems, drastically reduces dispersion, and does not require a mixer to reach the desired temperature. The item is regulated by an electronic card with dedicated firmware, which can also be managed by a multifunctional display or regulator with adjustable temperature and continuous flow of the known art .

According to the invention, with the aggregated capillary tube bundles, the heat balance from the outside of the beam to the centre of the bundles is also electronically controlled. This system allows further savings due to the congruence of heated capillary tubes positioned next to each other, where the electronic card automatically controls and determines the constant and immediate energy power transmitted to each tube. The energy will be used gradually lower as you get closer to the centre of the beam (e.g. h? of an inch [1.91 cm] or 1 inch [2.54 cm] or more up to 394 inches [746.76 cm ] ) the heat transfer occurs, by convection and radiation, from the external capillaries to the internal ones or even by conduction if the tubes are in contact with each other .

The present invention also solves the well- known problem relating to the accumulation, inside the pipe or near joints, of limestone, in addition to the crushing of limestone due to the effect of ion exchange to the extent of over 80%. The present invention also solves the problem of a large period of thermal inertia, present in many appliances or stoves, drastically reducing it by over 80%, with a clear increase in energy savings.

Considering that the present invention produces immediate heating of the desired fluid to the desired temperature combined with the proximity of the nozzle leak, or closed circuit, a further energy saving of over 60% is obtained due to the factors mentioned; this with a very substantial benefit for the environment and the global economic cycle .

The quantity of Joules needed, for example, to heat the quantity of water normally used by domestic machines to produce e.g. an espresso coffee, taking into account the heating time, the stand by time and also the coffee brewing time is normally between 120, 000 and 150, 000 Joules. With the present invention, with the same functioning, consumption is approximately 18, 000/20, 000 Joules with an energy efficiency of over 87%.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term heater includes a heating apparatus of various known techniques, which can operate on different forms of energy. The heater has the task of heating fluids (e.g. water) for industrial use or both for domestic use e.g. shower, washing machine, dishwasher, iron, hot drink dispensers (e.g. coffee and tea) , radiators, floor washers, etc. Another possible application of the present invention is, for example, the heating of car interiors or the heating of seats for heating the car.

In the context of the present invention, "High energy saving proximity heater with capillary tube" means a heater that can be operated both electrically and with batteries or with electricity generators (fuel cells, supercapacitors) due to the fact that the electrical consumption of the invention is particularly low. In the context of the present invention, microfiltration apparatus means a filtering apparatus that retains impurities of 15microns and at least 80% of limestone. A further object of the present invention is providing a proximity heater with such arrangements as to prevent over-temperatures and dangers to the user in case of any type of over-heating occurring inside and immediately outside the proximity heater itself .

Document W0-A1-2016/ 12 978 of one of the Applicants of the present invention describes a prior art heating apparatus.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with a proximity heater with capillary tube such as that described in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this description.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block view of a first preferred embodiment of the proximity heater with capillary tube according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a block schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the proximity heater with capillary tube according to the present invention .

Referring to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described. It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modifications can be made to what is described (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims.

With reference to the Figures, the heating apparatus for fluids and/or air of the present invention substantially comprises:

- a capillary tube heater 1 composed of at least one capillary tube 3, having a section for passage of fluids and/or air, such capillary tube heater 1 being suitable for containing the fluid and/or air from heat and connected to a power stage 5 capable of supplying electrical voltage to the capillary tube heater 1; an electronic control board 7 connected to the capillary tube heater 1 and designed to control flow and temperature of fluid and/or air and to drive a frequency generator and provide power supply safety; in particular, it is possible that power stage 5 and electronic control board 7 are made as a single board:

- at least first fluid sealing and connecting means 9 operatively connected to said capillary tube 3 at one end I of entry of fluid and/or air into the capillary tube 3;

- power supply means 30 designed to provide a variable power supply from 380V to 5V, such power supply means 30 being a multi-purpose power driving power supply; one or more pumps 22 connected to the capillary tube heater 1 and designed to be operated by the electronic control board 7 to control flow rate and pressure of fluid and/or air in the capillary tube heater 1; at least one first temperature sensor 50 designed to read the temperature of the capillary tube 3, monitored by the electronic control board 7 capable of deactivating the power supply of the capillary tube 3 if a dangerous temperature limit is reached, or lack of fluids in the circuit, or energy jumps due to supply failures, or damages due to wrong manoeuvres or connections, etc. ;

- at least one second temperature sensor 56 designed to read the temperature of the fluid entering the capillary tube 3, monitored by the electronic control board 7 in order to provide operating parameters for the heating apparatus; at least one third temperature sensor 58 designed to read the temperature of the fluid exiting the capillary tube 3, monitored by the electronic control board 7 in order to provide operating parameters for the heating apparatus;

- a first electronic circuit 52 designed to deactivate the power supply to the capillary tube 3 in the event of a failure of the first temperature sensor 50;

- a second electronic circuit 54 designed to deactivate the power supply to the capillary tube 3 in the event that an anomaly is detected in the operating parameters of the electronic control board 7.

In particular, the above multi-purpose power driving power supply 30 can have a direct current type output voltage, or an alternate current type output voltage. The direct current supply is the most usual one, and the power supply transforms the input alternate electric current at 110V - 240V into an output direct electric current at IV - 96V. Moreover, in the present invention, it is possible to operate only with a low-voltage alternate current, with high savings of components, cable sections, etc.

In this way, the inventive device is equipped with an active safety system, which continuously monitors the capillary tube 3 and the power supply means 20 and the electronic control board 7 of the capillary tube 3, and has the task of avoiding dangerous conditions following an unwanted overheating of the capillary tube 3.

The safety system indicated above works by continuously monitoring the following three parameters : a) temperature of the capillary tube 3, via the temperature sensor 50 which reads the temperature of the capillary tube 3, in turn monitored by an electronic circuit in the control board 7 capable of deactivating the power supply of the capillary tube 3 if a dangerous temperature is reached; b) integrity of the temperature sensor 50: it is continuously monitored and, in the event of a failure of the sensor 50 itself, the first electronic circuit 52 deactivates the power supply to the capillary tube 3; c) integrity of the control board 7 and power supply 20 of the capillary tube 3: various parameters of the control board 7 are monitored simultaneously and, if an anomaly is detected, the second electronic circuit 54 deactivates the power supply of the capillary tube 3.

The safety system is with intrinsic activation: a fault in the safety system deactivates the power supply to the capillary tube 3.

Optionally, the heating apparatus of the invention further comprises a temperature detector 20 operatively connected to the electronic control board 7 and designed to provide values for forecasting future operating conditions of the heating apparatus, since such temperature detector 20 measures the outside temperature of the capillary tube 3 on its external surface.

Optionally, the fluid heating apparatus can further comprise at least second fluid sealing and connecting means 13 operatively connected to the capillary tube 3 at a fluid outlet end 0 in the capillary tube 3.

Again optionally, the fluid heating device can also include a third electronic circuit (not shown) for PWM driving of the pumps 22 if they can be driven .

This highly energy-saving capillary proximity heater 1 generates continuous heating (if not regulated) of fluids (e.g. water, air) to the desired temperature.

Furthermore, the power stage 5 consists of a low frequency signal generator and a capillary power drive.

The block diagram in Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, where the components indicated perform the following functions : the capillary tube 3 is an electrically conductive tube through which the fluid to be heated passes the capillary tube 3 is electrically connected to the power stage 5 with a signal conditioner that performs the electrical conditioning and power control of the capillary tube 3 the control board 7 is used to drive the signal conditioner in the power stage 5 and for the safety of the power supply: this block reads the temperature from the temperature sensor 20 (not shown, but also present in the diagram of Figure 2) located on or near the capillary tube 3 or on the fluid that passes through the capillary tube 3 and generates control signals for the power supply means 30 and the power stage 5, for the purpose of:

* reaching and maintaining the required fluid temperature

* checking the electrical power imposed on the capillary tube 3

* checking and commanding power stage settings 30

* checking and controlling the power stage settings 5

* checking the safety devices of the power supply means 30 and of the capillary tube 3, in order to avoid overtemperatures.

The direct use of the present invention is also possible (taps, showers, radiators, etc. ) or as a support for other equipment such as washing machines, floor cleaners, dishwashers, irons, machines for dispensing hot drinks (e.g. coffee or tea) , equipment for the creation of steam, or medical equipment, heating and abatement systems for fumes and polluting materials, heated furniture or carpets, radiators or radiant walls, in the automotive field, for heating passenger compartments or seats of motor vehicles. Obviously, this list of applications is only illustrative and does not limit the operational range of the device of the present invention.

In one application of the invention, a capillary tube 3 made of steel with high or very high thermal transmissivity is used, bare or coated with ceramic or composite material or plastic, for food use where necessary.

The capillary tube 3 can also be made of copper, aluminum or other conductive materials.

In this capillary 3, which can be grouped into bundles, electrical connections can be fixed which supply electrical voltage to the capillary tube 3, which will be crossed by the electric current and, therefore, heated by the Joule effect (as indicated later, it is heated, generally, the internal fluid and not the capillary, but it may happen that the capillary is heated where necessary or for example if air or gas must be heated) . For example, it may be required to create steam at a critical temperature of over 100 °C for special applications: in this case, the value of 100 °C is exceeded in the capillary tube and then, if necessary, a secondary heating of the tip of the capillary tube is added with special nozzles heated separately, but always controlled by probes and electronic boards already present or added specifically.

On one side of the capillary tube 3 a nozzle (not shown) can be positioned for the outlet of hot water (or hot fluids, air) or for connection to a closed circuit or heat exchanger, with a temperature detector (not illustrated) , or the nozzle can be heated separately to increase the output temperature.

All heating and dispensing processes are controlled by the electronic board 7, which is adequately and appropriately constructed and calibrated for the entry of the water into the capillary tube for the flow rate and pressure, both atmospheric and induced by the pumps 22 or other system; the electrical power required to heat the water to the desired temperature is more than 90% less than any other known heating system. According to precise calculations, the power necessary to power a professional 3-group coffee machine for 24 hours and for an average daily production of 200 espresso coffees and 100 cappuccinos is approximately 14/15 kWh, which multiplied by an average of 330 days per year, means 4,500/5, 000 kWh per year. While with capillary technology, for the same daily production, we have a consumption of approximately 1.5 kWh/day and an annual consumption of approximately 490/500 kWh. Therefore, with an average saving of 90% and therefore with both monetary and emissions savings that are impossible to match. The size of the nominal internal diameter of the tube according to the invention is 0.13 mm (insulin needle) but it could also reach 1000.00 mm. The pipes can also be aggregated in 8s (8) bundles, more or less large, such as to create aggregations capable of heating greater quantities of water or fluid for normal domestic or industrial use (e.g. 1.905 or 2.54 cm (3/4" or 1") or higher) .

In these cases, the electronic control card 7 will be adequately calibrated to manage the desired temperature by continuously varying the electrical flows for each capillary since the temperature inside the bundle is intrinsically higher than the external one as a result of known physical laws.

In one embodiment of the proximity heater 1, it provides enough heat for the water to a temperature of 60 °C to serve the work of a washing machine. Also in this case, the energy saving compared to a normal electrical resistance is more than 60%.

In another embodiment, a suitable number of proximity boilers serving the outlet of a shower (which can be battery powered due to low consumption) heating the capillary tubes 3 which bring the water to the desired temperature and then be mixed with cold water until the desired temperature is reached, in fact the low flow rate of the capillaries helps the possibility of instantly reaching very high temperatures and therefore mixable with water at room temperature in order to have the right desired temperature.

A further preferred embodiment of the heater 1 uses a capillary tube 3. The water in a coffee machine involves the heating of one or more capillary tubes suitable for heating the water necessary for extraction from a coffee filter or of hot or cold drinks. Also in this case, the scarcity of energy required means that the use of electricity from the mains is not necessary, but the entire operation can be carried out with a battery of the necessary power. A preferred form of boiler construction close to high energy savings (e.g.

an inch [1.91 cm] or 1 inch [2.54 cm] or greater) is to heat the seats and passenger compartments of cars at combustion or electric as well as the creation of windshield wiper, headlight and camera cleaning systems, with emission of steam or water under pressure and at the right temperature, more suitable for cleaning and removing frost or dirt. Cutting-edge systems and technology know that the absence of heat engines on vehicles powered by electricity, stored in rechargeable batteries, represents a serious problem for winter heating of the passenger compartment and seats of this type of vehicle, which is difficult to solve. The proximity heater also works in a closed circuit, with considerable energy savings, and can provide heating of the passenger compartment with bundles of three tubes appropriately positioned in a serpentine on the floor and on the roof of the car as well as inside the passenger seats or where desired. The electronic board 7, appropriately calibrated, will very quickly bring the passenger compartment temperature to the desired value. The same proximity heater can be used as well as a heater for the hot air outlet nozzles. The combination of the three systems generates comfortable heat and energy savings of more than 60% compared to the state of the art. The same technique can be applied to any hair dryer, mixing the very hot air obtained from 1 or more capillaries and mixing it with air at room temperature generated by fans in order to obtain an output flow of the desired temperature (120/140 °C) .

As regards the description of the capillary system of the present invention, applied on a coffee machine, in the coffee sector (HORECA, HOME, OCS, VENDING, etc. ) there are different extraction methods: arm coffee machines with one or multiple groups, capsule/pod machines, semi-professional, semi-automatic, automatic machines, etc. and consequently different systems to create hot water and/or fluids, steam and pressure, the main elements for extraction.

The capillary system can be applied at 360°, in fact, given its simplicity, creating hot water and/or air or steam always has the same operation, the only element that changes could be the electronic board which is simplified or complicated based on the machine on which it is applied.

The capillary system will replace and simplify any existing system, eliminating most of the parts that make up a current machine.

The capillary system is thus made up of five parts : the steel capillary tube of specific diameter, thickness, roughness and length

- the special connectors for connection to the hydraulic circuit (currently, this connector is capable of holding capillaries of any diameter in place gently and without causing breakages: it is a connector made up of a screw that tightens inside a metal tube that contains a plastic/rubber insert, or similar which tightens around the pipe in an increasing manner as the pressures generated increase and also as the closing screw is tightened the electronic board also composed of temperature probes, valve management and power wires the electrical power supply and transformation board

- the pump management .

The electronic board, designed using a special firmware, drives the pumps and activates the electrical circuit that brings low voltage modulated current to the capillary, which begins to heat water, controlling and stabilizing the outlet temperature .

Due to a combination of physical and electronic factors, only the water inside the capillary is heated and the capillary tube remains cold. In this way the efficiency is very high, with no losses in heat or other factors.

The same thing happens for steam, with the sole and fundamental variation that the capillary system transforms only the percentage of water that is required into steam. In fact, water vapor is a mix of air and water whose percentage determines its quality and need. For frothing milk, for example, the humidity of the steam must not exceed 12% and with a temperature in the cup not exceeding 65/70 degrees so as not to destroy the milk proteins .

Both hot water and steam are generated instantly and only close to their actual use. In the case of extractions, the capillary generates hot water at the desired temperature directly above the shower head, avoiding induced thermal problems. In the case of steam, the capillary tube generates it directly in the steam wand, at the required humidity percentage.

A preferred future variation will be a new extraction assembly, a block made of steel and ceramic or plastic, which will contain the capillaries and all connections for creating water and steam, applicable to current and newly created coffee machines in order to simplify the assembly of the system. As already mentioned above, the system will replace the current ones, eliminating much of the current components.

In the case of the steam wand, it is ensured that hot air under pressure is also injected to create the so-called "Automatic Cappuccino Makers".

As regards possible examples of espresso coffee extraction, a classic espresso coffee extraction must have a duration of approximately 26/30 seconds, a quantity in the cup of approximately 30/33 cc and a temperature in the cup of at least approximately 65/80 °C (these parameters may vary by country) . The pressure must reach 8/9 bar in 7/8 seconds and remain constant.

Obviously, quality of coffee, roasting, grain size and pressing of the same play a fundamental role in the extraction and its repetitiveness.

The capillary tube is an open system so the pressure created by the pump comes out on the coffee powder as hot water, or directly as steam from the wand, but without any closure or valve. This particularity of the system goes beyond the current certifications which instead require safety valves by law. If necessary, it will adapted by installing a valve even if it is unused and/or useless .

However, in the hydraulic circuit of the capillary system there is a pressure regulation valve which, in the event of overpressure, discharges the excess out of the system; and even the electronic board itself is equipped with protection systems, both digital and physical (fuses) ones, which, in the event of a lack of water or anomalies, completely shut down the transit of electrical current.

The capillary system and its electronic components work at 24V, but the heating part even reaches below a single IV. The inventive power board takes power from an external source (110- 240V) . The system will be implemented with batteries or similar systems (hydrogen cells, solar panels, supercapacitors, etc. ) .

Contrary to current heating and steam production systems, the thermal properties and therefore the temperatures of water and steam are digital parameters, which can be modified over time and also during use.

The summary of a capillary extraction includes : external water connection (aqueduct) or internal/external water tray. Unlike current systems which also require a filter to avoid the formation of limescale, in the present invention it is not needed

- to settle, limestone requires a certain type of physical-chemical condition: presence of water in the pipes or boilers, water heat above 65/80 °C. Cold water circulates in the hydraulic system of the capillary tube; furthermore, the capillary tube has a water content of a few grams which can be emptied after each heating, and therefore there are really no conditions for its formation, except over a very long time

- pumps for suction and creation of the right pressure in the hydraulic system. The pumps can be of various models, the most common are the vibration pumps, therefore those that turn on and off without the possibility of adjustment and those that can instead be controlled to give greater or lesser flow to the system

- the main delivery of the hydraulic system then goes to multi-way valves which, controlled by our electronics, send the water into the capillary tube for the creation of hot water, or into the one for the creation of steam. The two capillary tubes exit at different points of the machine: one in the extraction group and the other in the steam wand; in fact, there would be a third way for creating hot water for tea or similar, but currently the same capillary tube of the group is used by adapting a third valve.

The capillary tubes can be identical, the only difference is that of the steam which has a regulation - both fixed and mechanical - to determine the quantity of water to be pushed inside the capillary to be heated.

The further peculiarities of the present invention are:

• to fix the capillaries to the water/steam inlet and outlet points, they can be obtained directly from the unit block, or connected separately and then screwed on;

• there are no conditions for the transfer of chemical material;

• unlike other systems currently in use in the HORECA-OCS-VENDING-HOME sector, the capillary is also suitable for the production of non-heated drinks ;

• replacing the capillary tube allows always having a heating system as good as new; furthermore the same used capillary can be easily cleaned with ultrasound systems and then reused;

• the fact of having all electrical parts at low voltage (24V or more or less) facilitates certification and in any case reduces electrical risks to zero;

• it has been certified that there are no electrolysis phenomena and more generally of the formation of gaseous or other types of compounds.

Other possible applications of the present invention are automatic vending systems for the production of coffee and/or hot or cold drinks. These drinks can derive from the automatic grinding of coffee beans, from already ground coffee powder and/or from powders of various nature. Furthermore, liquids or powders can be added to sweeten or extracts from powder or liquids for milk and its derivatives .

Vending machines are essentially divided into: Table-Top which is positioned on a support and Free-Standing which rests directly on the ground.

The capillary system completely replaces the current heating and hot fluid recirculation systems and manages to ensure that the desired temperature is present from the first coffee.

Vending machines positioned in areas with extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) encounter major thermal drift problems: cold coffee in the case of low external temperatures, vaporization in the case of high temperatures.

The capillary is a digitalized system, therefore it always maintains the temperature set by the system; furthermore, by heating near the point of use, one will not have the problem of thermal drift due to the distance between the point of creation of the hot fluid/steam and the point of use . In vending machines, fluids, hot or cold, can be used to mix the powders used to create drinks that do not derive from grinding or a classic (automatic) extraction. Mixing these powders creates dirt and unhygienic encrustations in most cases; for this reason, being able to create water or steam at desired temperatures also allows sanctification if necessary.

The savings achieved in this sector are notable, not only in the electrical component but also in terms of water waste. Each time quantities of water are used to clean the pipes after the various mixes of powders, or coffees, which are not used with the capillary system - precisely determining the temperature, volume and steam production .

In Capsule/Pod systems, the extraction circuit is simplified as is the possible electronic and power supply board. The big advantage is the usual one of having the right temperatures of the fluids instantly, but also of being able to have machines that can run on batteries or with solar panel systems or other.

Another important application is in the sector of ovens, both domestic and industrial ones: in fact, steam cooking is creating new forms of very healthy cooking. The capillary system can generate instant steam with possible variations in temperature, humidity and pressure according to needs. Furthermore, steamers can be created for both slow and rapid cooking at different temperatures, humidity and pressure. Even in bread ovens, the capillary system can be combined with other known technologies to have the right saturated steam flows.

Claims

1. Heating apparatus for fluids and/or air comprising :

- a capillary tube heater (1) composed of at least one capillary tube (3) , having a section for passage of fluids and/or air, said capillary tube heater (1) being suitable for containing the fluid and/or air from heat and connected to a power stage (5) capable of supplying electrical voltage to the capillary tube heater (1) ;

- an electronic control board (7) connected to the capillary tube heater (1) and designed to control flow and temperature of fluid and/or air and to drive a frequency generator and provide power supply safety;

- at least first fluid sealing and connecting means (9) operatively connected to said capillary tube (3) at one end (I) of entry of fluid and/or air into the capillary tube (3) ;

- power supply means (30) designed to provide a variable power supply from 380V to 5V, said power supply means (30) being a multi-purpose power driving power supply; one or more pumps (22) connected to the capillary tube heater (1) and designed to be operated by the electronic control board (7) to control flow rate and pressure of fluid and/or air in the capillary tube heater (1) ;

- at least one first temperature sensor (50) designed to read the temperature of the capillary tube (3) , monitored by the electronic control board (7) capable of deactivating the power supply of the capillary tube (3) if a dangerous temperature limit is reached;

- at least one second temperature sensor (56) designed to read the temperature of the fluid entering the capillary tube (3) , monitored by the electronic control board (7) in order to provide operating parameters for the heating apparatus;

- at least one third temperature sensor (58) designed to read the temperature of the fluid exiting the capillary tube (3) , monitored by the electronic control board (7) in order to provide operating parameters for the heating apparatus;

- a first electronic circuit (52) designed to deactivate the power supply to the capillary tube (3) in the event of a failure of the first temperature sensor (50) ;

- a second electronic circuit (54) designed to deactivate the power supply to the capillary tube (3) in the event that an anomaly is detected in the operating parameters of the electronic control board ( 7 ) .

2. Heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detector (20) operatively connected to the electronic control board (7) and designed to provide values for forecasting future operating conditions of the heating apparatus.

3. Heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said multi-purpose power driving power supply has a direct current type output voltage.

4. Heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said multi-purpose power driving power supply has an alternate current type output voltage .

5. Heating apparatus according to any of the previous claims, further comprising at least second fluid sealing and connecting means (13) operatively connected to said capillary tube (3) at one end (0) of fluid and/or air outlet in the capillary tube (3) .

6. Heating apparatus according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a third electronic circuit for PWM driving of the pumps

7. Heating apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the capillary tube heater (1) is made of high transmissivity steel.

8. Heating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the capillary tube heater

(1) is made of graphene or other conductive materials .

9. Heating apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the power stage (5) consists of a low frequency signal generator and a capillary power drive.