Ceramic Heater Plate Layout for Bubble-Safe Water Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating apparatuses with ceramic heaters suffer from reduced heating efficiency due to water not fully contacting the heating surfaces, leading to wasted heat, thermal impact, and inconsistent temperature control, especially when using smaller amounts of water or lower pressures, which can result in bubble generation and damage to the ceramic heaters.
Innovation Solution
A heating apparatus with vertically disposed ceramic plates and a housing design that allows water to flow through a zigzag path, ensuring contact with all surfaces of the ceramic plates, and includes a partition wall and varying power application to the plates to manage bubble generation and heat transfer efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If water flows through the inner space of the ceramic heater, then the inner wall should contribute to heating, but the heating wire is placed adjacent to the outer wall causing water to be heated mostly by the outer wall
Solution Approach 1:
The heating wire is divided into two separate heating wires: a first heating wire adjacent to the inner wall and a second heating wire adjacent to the outer wall. This segmentation allows both the inner and outer surfaces of the ceramic heater to contribute effectively to water heating, resolving the issue where only the outer wall was utilized for heating.
2Temperature
If high power is applied to the heating wire to achieve high temperature warm water, then the heating temperature increases, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single high-power heating wire is segmented into two heating wires with different power ratings. The first heating wire (inner) has lower power and the second heating wire (outer) has higher power. This allows optimized energy distribution where each heating wire operates at appropriate power levels, achieving high water temperature while improving overall energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different power levels are applied to different locations: the first heating wire adjacent to the inner wall operates at lower power, while the second heating wire adjacent to the outer wall operates at higher power. This local quality differentiation optimizes heat transfer efficiency at each surface, improving energy efficiency while achieving the desired water temperature.
3Loss of time
If water flows quickly through the heating apparatus, then heating time is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to insufficient contact time
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is segmented into two stages: first stage heating occurs at the inner wall via the first heating wire, and second stage heating occurs at the outer wall via the second heating wire. This segmentation extends the effective heating duration without requiring increased water flow time, as both surfaces contribute to heating simultaneously during water passage.
4Device complexity
If bubbles are generated during heating, then phase change occurs, but thermal impact damages the ceramic heater
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented between two heating wires positioned at different locations (inner and outer walls). This distribution of heating zones prevents concentrated bubble formation and thermal impact at a single location, reducing the risk of ceramic heater damage while maintaining effective heating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances heat transfer efficiency, prevents thermal impact from bubbles, and allows for precise temperature control by ensuring water contacts all surfaces of the ceramic plates, reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of the ceramic heaters.
Implementation Method 1
a heating wire 22, installed inside the ceramic heater 20
Implementation Method 2
Water, when flowing through the inner space of the ceramic heater 20, is heated by contacting the inner wall of the ceramic heater 20
Data Source
AI summary
A heating apparatus includes a ceramic heater including a plurality of ceramic plates having a plate shape, and a housing including an inlet hole and an outlet hole, the housing in which the ceramic heater is installed. The ceramic plates are disposed vertically in the housing in a parallel manner and the outlet hole is disposed in an upper portion of the housing, such that when a fluid flows through a flow path formed along the ceramic plates, bubbles, generated by the fluid heated by the ceramic plates, ascend toward edges of the ceramic plates.