Thermal generator using carbon nanotube composite material

Abstract

A thermal generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite includes an outer electrode portion, an inner electrode portion facing the outer electrode portion and spaced apart from the outer electrode portion by a predetermined distance, a connection portion connecting the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion, and a support portion provided to the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion including the connection portion to mutually shield the outer electrode portion, the inner electrode portion, and the connection portion. A surface of the connection portion does not directly face the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion. The outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion include electrodes having polarities different from each other and have heat generating regions generating heat by a current flowing through the CNT composite disposed between the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a heat generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite material, and more particularly, to a heat generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite material applied to a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] Various devices are provided in a vehicle to allow passengers to ride comfortably.

[0003] Among them, an air conditioner has a function of controlling the temperature inside the vehicle to help passengers move comfortably.

[0004] In particular, a heat generator occupies a very important part.

[0005] For example, a steering wheel can be provided with a heating wire so that the steering wheel is not cold, and a seat is provided with a heating wire to prevent it from becoming cold.

[0006] However, since the steering wheel or the seat can be the part of the passenger's body that most frequently comes into contact with the vehicle, it is a common technique to add an electric heating wire as a heat generator.

[0007] However, some vehicles are provided with a heating wire in a part of the passenger's body that can come into contact with the vehicle other than the steering wheel or the seat.

[0008] For example, in some high-end models, an electric heating wire can be additionally provided in a door handle, an armrest, etc.

[0009] Such a heat generator can make driving more comfortable by preventing the passenger's arm part from feeling cold when it comes into contact with the interior material of the vehicle.

[0010] However, there is a problem that the electric heating wire of a conventional vehicle has low heat efficiency.

[0011] That is, there is a problem that the heat efficiency of heat generated by the electric heating wire is reduced since the heating area is smaller than the application area.

[0012] In addition, the conventional method using the electric heating wire has a limitation in that a manufacturing process of incorporating the electric heating wire is increased, and its application range is limited.

[0013] The matters described in the description of the related art are for helping understanding of the background of the present application, and can include matters that have been known to those skilled in the art to which the present application pertains. SUMMARY

[0014] In order to overcome the above-described problems of the related art, an object of the present application is to provide a heat generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite material, which can improve the heating efficiency even while reducing the load of an air conditioner of an electric vehicle by using a CNT mixture.

[0015] To achieve this object, the present application provides a heat generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite, in which an external electrode portion, an internal electrode portion facing the external electrode portion and spaced apart from the external electrode portion by a predetermined distance, a connecting portion connecting the external electrode portion and the internal electrode portion, and a support portion provided to the external electrode portion and the internal electrode portion including the connecting portion and shielding the external electrode portion, the internal electrode portion, and the connecting portion so that a surface of the connecting portion does not directly face the external electrode portion and the internal electrode portion are included. The external electrode portion and the internal electrode portion include electrodes having different polarities from each other and have a heat generating region which generates heat by a current flowing through the CNT composite disposed between the external electrode portion and the internal electrode portion.

[0016] The external electrode portion has a front electrode portion which can be formed in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a front end electrode portion which is bent at an end of the front electrode portion and extends from the end of the front electrode portion in an interior direction of the vehicle, the support portion has a front support portion which surrounds an outer circumferential surface of the front electrode portion to shield the outer circumferential surface of the front electrode portion, and the internal electrode portion includes a front counter electrode portion which is formed in parallel with the front end electrode portion and spaced apart from the front end electrode portion by a predetermined distance.

[0017] The external electrode portion has a rear electrode portion which can be formed in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a rear end electrode portion which is bent at an end of the rear electrode portion and extends from the end of the rear electrode portion in an interior direction of the vehicle, the support portion has a rear support portion which surrounds an outer circumferential surface of the rear electrode portion to shield the outer circumferential surface of the rear electrode portion, and the internal electrode portion includes a rear counter electrode portion which is formed in parallel with the rear end electrode portion and spaced apart from the rear end electrode portion by a predetermined distance.

[0018] The external electrode portion has a central electrode portion which can be formed in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and the support portion has a front connecting support portion which extends perpendicularly from one end of the central electrode portion in an interior direction of the vehicle, a rear connecting support portion which extends perpendicularly from the other end of the central electrode portion toward the interior direction of the vehicle, and a central support portion which connects the front connecting support portion and the rear connecting support portion, and the internal electrode portion includes a central counter electrode portion which is provided to the central support portion and faces the central electrode portion.

[0019] At least two pairs of counter electrodes composed of the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion can be provided, the heat generating region includes at least two heat generating regions arranged between the pairs of counter electrodes, and the current directions of any one of the plurality of heat generating regions and another heat generating region adjacent thereto are not parallel to each other.

[0020] The central counter electrode portion and the central electrode portion are formed to have an inclination angle with respect to each other.

[0021] The outer electrode portion has a "U" shape as a whole, and includes a front end electrode portion, a central electrode portion, and a rear end electrode portion.

[0022] The front end electrode portion and the rear end electrode portion 103 are formed to have different lengths from each other.

[0023] Portions of the side surfaces of the front connecting bracket portion, the central bracket portion, and the rear connecting bracket portion are cut.

[0024] The side surface portion of the front connecting bracket portion facing the front end electrode portion is cut, the side surface portion of the central bracket portion facing the central electrode portion is cut, and the side surface portion of the rear connecting bracket portion facing the rear end electrode portion is cut.

[0025] The application described above has the following effects.

[0026] First, even if the air conditioning load of an electric vehicle is reduced, the heat generation efficiency can be improved.

[0027] Second, even if the structure is simple, the heat generation efficiency can be improved.

[0028] Third, since the application provides a heat generator using a CNT composite material, heat transfer can be uniformly performed to suppress unevenness of heat distribution, thereby providing a comfortable ride environment.

[0029] Fourth, the heat generator can be simply installed at a place where heat generation is required, thereby reducing the manufacturing process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a heat generator using a carbon nanotube (CNT) composite material according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a heat generating region and a non-heat generating region of a heat generator using a CNT composite material according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of each portion of a heat generator using a CNT composite material according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a heat generation principle of a CNT composite (mixture) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode configuration of a CNT composite (mixture) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present application can have various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and are specifically described in the detailed description. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the present application to specific embodiments, but to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives contained within the spirit and technical scope of the present application.

[0036] In describing each drawing, like reference numerals are used to refer to like components.

[0037] Terms such as first and second can be used to describe various components, but these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

[0038] For example, a first component can be called a second component, and similarly, a second component can also be called a first component, without departing from the scope of the present application. The term "and / or" includes a combination of more than one of the relevantly described items or any one of the relevantly described items.

[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application pertains.

[0040] Terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted to have meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly so defined in the present application.

[0041] First, the overall structure of a heat generator using a CNT composite according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application will be schematically described, and detailed structures will be described later.

[0042] In the heat generator, the outer electrode portion 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application can be formed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or have a predetermined angle.

[0043] That is, the outer electrode portion 100 can have a portion in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a portion having a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0044] The internal electrode portion 200 faces the external electrode portion 100 and is spaced apart from the external electrode portion 100 by a predetermined distance.

[0045] The connecting portion 150 may be the portion that connects the external electrode portion 100 to the internal electrode portion 200.

[0046] The support portion 300 can be disposed on the outer electrode portion 100 and the inner electrode portion 200 including the connection portion 150, and serves as a shield surrounding the outer electrode portion 100, the inner electrode portion 200 and the connection portion 150, such that a portion of the connection portion 150 does not directly face the outer electrode portion 100 and the inner electrode portion 200.

[0047] That is, the connecting part 150 may not have polarity.

[0048] The outer electrode portion 100 and the inner electrode portion 200 can be formed by electrodes having different polarities from each other.

[0049] The heating area can be an area heated by an electric current flowing through the CNT composite material disposed between the outer electrode portion 100 and the inner electrode portion 200.

[0050] More specifically, the external electrode portion 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a front electrode portion 104 and a front electrode portion 101; the front electrode portion 104 may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; the front electrode portion 101 bends at the end of the front electrode portion 104 and extends from the end of the front electrode portion 104 along the interior direction of the vehicle.

[0051] The support portion 300 may have a front support portion 301 that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the front electrode portion 104 to shield the outer peripheral surface of the front electrode portion 104.

[0052] The internal electrode portion 200 may include a front reverse electrode portion 201, which is formed parallel to and spaced apart from the front electrode portion 101 by a predetermined distance. The heating area becomes the first heating area.

[0053] On the other hand, the external electrode portion 100 may also have a rear electrode portion 105 and a rear end electrode portion 103; the rear electrode portion 105 may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; the rear end electrode portion 103 bends at the end of the rear electrode portion 105 and extends from the end of the rear electrode portion 105 along the interior direction of the vehicle. Here, the bracket portion may have a rear bracket portion 307 that surrounds (to shield) the outer peripheral surface of the rear electrode portion 105.

[0054] The internal electrode portion 200 can include a rear counter electrode portion 205 which can be formed in parallel with the rear end electrode portion 103 and spaced apart from the rear end electrode portion 103 by a predetermined distance.

[0055] At this time, the heating region becomes a second heating region.

[0056] On the other hand, the external electrode portion 100 can have a central electrode portion 102 formed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0057] At this time, the bracket portion 300 can have a front connection bracket portion 302 which extends vertically from one end of the central electrode portion 102 toward the inside of the vehicle, a rear connection bracket portion 306 which extends vertically from the other end of the central electrode portion 102 toward the inside of the vehicle, and a central bracket portion 304 which connects between the front connection bracket portion 302 and the rear connection bracket portion 306.

[0058] The internal electrode portion 200 can include a central counter electrode portion 203 which is provided to the central bracket portion 304 and faces the central electrode portion 102. At this time, the heating region becomes a third heating region.

[0059] That is, the heat generator using the CNT composite according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application can also be expressed as follows.

[0060] At least two counter electrode pairs composed of the external electrode portion 100 and the internal electrode portion 200 can be provided.

[0061] The counter electrode pair refers to a pair of the external electrode portion 100 and the internal electrode portion 200 which face each other.

[0062] The heating region can be provided between the counter electrode pairs and can include at least two heating regions. At this time, the current direction of any one of the plurality of heating regions and another heating region adjacent thereto can not be parallel to each other.

[0063] The external electrode portion 100 as a whole can have a "U" shape including the front end electrode portion 101, the central electrode portion 102, and the rear end electrode portion 103.

[0064] Next, the detailed structure of the heat generator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application will be described.

[0065] The principle of the heat generator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application is to heat by the electrode portion provided in the CNT composite.

[0066] The heat generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application includes an electrode portion and a heat generating region.

[0067] More specifically, the electrode portion includes a first electrode portion 100 and a second electrode portion 200 having polarities opposite to each other.

[0068] For the sake of explanation of the exemplary embodiment of the present application, the outer electrode portion 100 can be referred to as the first electrode portion 100, and the inner electrode portion 200 can be referred to as the second electrode portion 200.

[0069] Further, the electrode portion includes at least two heat generating regions in which the direction of an electric field formed between the first electrode portion 100 and the second electrode portion 200 is formed differently from each other.

[0070] The support portion 300 shields the second electrode portion 200 from the first electrode portion 100.

[0071] The first electrode portion 100 can be formed so as to be entirely exposed with respect to a vertical cross section in a longitudinal direction, and the second electrode portion 200 can be formed so as to be partially exposed with respect to a vertical cross section in the longitudinal direction.

[0072] The "entirely" of the entirely exposed described below means a complete exposure without covering any portion of an outer peripheral surface thereof.

[0073] Further, the "partially" of the (something) partially exposed means a state in which a portion of an outer peripheral surface is covered.

[0074] The first electrode portion 100 can have a "U" shape as a whole, including a front end electrode portion 101, a central electrode portion 102, and a rear end electrode portion 103. Here, the lengths of the front end electrode portion 101 and the rear end electrode portion 103 can be formed differently from each other.

[0075] More specifically, the second electrode portion 200 can include a front counter electrode portion 201, a central counter electrode portion 203, and a rear counter electrode portion 205.

[0076] The front counter electrode portion 201 faces the front end electrode portion 101 in parallel.

[0077] A current flows between the front counter electrode portion 201 and the front end electrode portion 101, and generates heat.

[0078] At this time, a heat generating region between the front counter electrode portion 201 and the front end electrode portion 101 is referred to as a first heat generating region.

[0079] A heat generating principle by the electrode portion (hereinafter, also referred to as a CNT heat generator) provided on a CNT composite material to generate heat is as follows.

[0080] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the CNT heat generator can be an assembly made of a CNT mixture and having electrodes so as to generate heat by itself when the electrodes conduct electricity.

[0081] More specifically, the CNT heat generator has the properties of a conductor by combining CNTs, which can be a conductive agent, with a polymer compound.

[0082] Therefore, as a principle, when electricity is applied to the CNT heat generator, heat is generated in the process of movement of electrons.

[0083] The central counter electrode portion 203 connects the front counter electrode portion 201 with the rear counter electrode portion 205, and the central counter electrode portion 203 faces the central counter electrode portion 102.

[0084] Since the central counter electrode portion 203 faces the central electrode portion 102, heat is generated when current flows between the central counter electrode portion 203 and the central electrode portion 102.

[0085] The heat generation region between the central counter electrode portion 203 and the central electrode portion 102 is referred to as a second heat generation region. The central counter electrode portion 203 can have an inclination with respect to the central electrode portion 102.

[0086] That is, the length of the central counter electrode portion 203 can be longer than the length of the central electrode portion 102.

[0087] More specifically, the central counter electrode portion 203 can be exposed to face the central electrode portion 102, and can have an inclination away from the central electrode portion 102 in a direction away from the front end electrode portion 101.

[0088] Therefore, the length of the front counter electrode portion 201 can be shorter than the length of the rear counter electrode portion 205.

[0089] However, the length of the front counter electrode portion 201 can be equal to the length of the front end electrode portion 101.

[0090] Therefore, electrons can move uniformly between the front counter electrode portion 201 and the front end electrode portion 101, thereby uniformly generating heat.

[0091] As Figure 1 indicated by the red double-headed arrow in FIG. 1, it should be noted that the direction of current flow in the third heat generation region is different from that in the first and second heat generation regions.

[0092] In addition, the second electrode portion 200 can be disposed between the front end electrode portion 101 and the rear end electrode portion 103.

[0093] The front counter electrode portion 201 and the central electrode portion 102 can be perpendicular to each other.

[0094] In addition, the rear counter electrode portion 205 and the central electrode portion 102 can be perpendicular to each other.

[0095] The rear counter electrode portion 205 can be parallel with respect to the rear end electrode portion 103.

[0096] Therefore, when the current flows between the rear counter electrode portion 205 and the rear end electrode portion 103, heat can be generated.

[0097] At this time, the heat generation area between the rear counter electrode portion 205 and the rear end electrode portion 103 is referred to as a third heat generation area.

[0098] The bracket portion 300 can include a front bracket portion 301 and a rear bracket portion 307, which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and all of the exposed portions are disposed therebetween. Here, the length of the front bracket portion 301 can be equal to the length of the rear bracket portion 307.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 1, the front bracket portion 301 and the rear bracket portion 307 can be integrally formed as an integral bracket portion 308 to completely shield some portions of the first electrode portion 100 including the central electrode portion 102. Figure 2

[0100] In addition, the bracket portion 300 can include a front connecting bracket portion 302 and a rear connecting bracket portion 306, which are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance while forming the exposed portions of the portions. Here, the length of the front connecting bracket portion 302 can be smaller than the length of the rear connecting bracket portion 306.

[0101] The bracket portion 300 can include a central bracket portion 304 connecting the front connecting bracket portion 302 and the rear connecting bracket portion 306.

[0102] The length of the central bracket portion 304 can be the distance between a first point 303 and a second point 305. In the central bracket portion 304, the first point 303 can be a point closest to the central electrode portion 102, and the second point 305 can be a point most spaced apart from the central electrode portion 102. The length of the central bracket portion 304 can be longer than the length of the central electrode portion 102.

[0103] The front connecting bracket portion 302, the central bracket portion 304, and the rear connecting bracket portion 306 can partially expose the second electrode portion 200.

[0104] ​That is, the front connecting bracket portion 302, the central bracket portion 304, and the rear connecting bracket portion 306 can partially shield the second electrode portion 200, respectively. A side surface facing the front end electrode portion 101, a side surface facing the rear end electrode portion 103, and a side surface facing the central electrode portion 102 can be formed by exposing a portion thereof, respectively.

Claims

1.A heat generator using a carbon nanotube composite material, comprising: an outer electrode portion including: a front electrode portion extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a front end electrode portion bent at an end of the front electrode portion and extending from the end of the front electrode portion in an interior direction of the vehicle, a rear electrode portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a rear end electrode portion bent at an end of the rear electrode portion and extending from the end of the rear electrode portion in the interior direction of the vehicle, and a central electrode portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; an inner electrode portion facing the outer electrode portion and arranged to be spaced apart from the outer electrode portion by a predetermined distance; a connection portion connecting the outer electrode portion with the inner electrode portion; and a bracket portion provided to the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion including the connection portion and shielding the outer electrode portion, the inner electrode portion, and the connection portion so that a surface of the connection portion does not directly face the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion, wherein the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion include electrodes having polarities different from each other and include heat generating regions that generate heat by a current flowing through a carbon nanotube composite material provided between the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion. 2.The heat generator using the carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 1, wherein the bracket portion has a front bracket portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the front electrode portion to shield the outer peripheral surface of the front electrode portion, the inner electrode portion includes a front counter electrode portion parallel to the front end electrode portion and spaced apart from the front end electrode portion by a predetermined distance. 3.The heat generator using the carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 1, wherein the bracket portion has a rear bracket portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the rear electrode portion to shield the outer peripheral surface of the rear electrode portion, the inner electrode portion includes a rear counter electrode portion parallel to the rear end electrode portion and spaced apart from the rear end electrode portion by a predetermined distance. 4.The heat generator using the carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 1, wherein the bracket portion includes: a front connection bracket portion extending perpendicularly from one end of the central electrode portion in the interior direction of the vehicle; a rear connection bracket portion extending perpendicularly from the other end of the central electrode portion toward the interior direction of the vehicle; and a central bracket portion connecting the front connection bracket portion with the rear connection bracket portion, the inner electrode portion including a central counter electrode portion facing the central electrode portion in the central bracket portion. 5.The heat generator using the carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 1, wherein the heat generator includes at least two counter electrode pairs composed of the outer electrode portion and the inner electrode portion, the heat generating regions include at least two heat generating regions arranged between the counter electrode pairs, a current direction of any one of the plurality of heat generating regions and another heat generating region adjacent thereto are not parallel to each other. 6.The heat generator using carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 4, wherein, the central counter electrode portion is arranged to have an inclination angle with respect to the central electrode portion. 7.The heat generator using carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 4, wherein, the outer electrode portion has a "U" shape as a whole, and includes a front end electrode portion, a central electrode portion, and a rear end electrode portion. 8.The heat generator using carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 7, wherein, the front end electrode portion and the rear end electrode portion have different lengths. 9.The heat generator using carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 8, wherein, part of the side surface of the front connecting bracket portion, the central bracket portion, and the rear connecting bracket portion is cut. 10.The heat generator using carbon nanotube composite material according to claim 9, wherein, part of the side surface of the front connecting bracket portion facing the front end electrode portion is cut, part of the side surface of the central bracket portion facing the central electrode portion is cut, part of the side surface of the rear connecting bracket portion facing the rear end electrode portion is cut.

Images