Ceramic Heater Liquid Heating Device with Slit-Based Bubble Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid heating devices using ceramic heaters face challenges in downsizing due to infrared lamp costs and issues with boiling bubbles accumulating near sealing portions, leading to overheating and reduced heater life, especially when the heater is laid horizontally.
Innovation Solution
A liquid heating device design featuring a ceramic heater with a slit at the wrap-meeting part to create a non-heat generation portion, where the outlet is positioned to cross the axial direction of the ceramic heater, preventing boiling bubbles from accumulating near the sealing portion and facilitating their discharge, even when the heater is laid horizontally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rod-shaped ceramic heater is used for rapid heating and downsizing, then heating performance is improved, but boiling bubbles accumulate near the sealing portion causing local overheating and potential sealing deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The ceramic heater is segmented by introducing a non-heat generation portion (gap) in the heating section. This divides the continuous heating zone into distinct segments, creating a bubble discharge path that prevents bubble accumulation near the sealing portion while maintaining rapid heating capability in the remaining heating zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the ceramic heater are assigned different functions: the front-end portion provides intensive heating for rapid water heating, while the non-heat generation portion (wrap-meeting part) serves as a bubble discharge path. This local differentiation allows the heater to simultaneously achieve rapid heating and reliable sealing by directing bubbles away from the sealing area.
2Volume of moving object
If the ceramic heater is downsized to reduce device size, then device compactness is improved, but heater temperature must be increased leading to more boiling bubbles and thermal shock
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful boiling bubbles are converted into a beneficial discharge mechanism. The non-heat generation portion acts as a dedicated bubble escape path, transforming the problematic bubble accumulation into a controlled bubble discharge process. This allows the heater to operate at high temperatures with increased bubble generation while maintaining reliability through systematic bubble evacuation.
3Reliability
If the outlet is positioned to facilitate bubble discharge, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble discharge function is merged with the existing outlet structure. The outlet is positioned to align with the non-heat generation portion, combining the water outlet function with the bubble discharge path. This integration achieves reliable sealing and bubble evacuation without adding separate components or complex mechanisms.
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 effectively prevents boiling bubbles from accumulating near the sealing portion, maintaining the sealing property and extending the life of the ceramic heater, while allowing for downsizing and increased efficiency with higher watt density ceramic heaters.
Implementation Method 1
a ceramic heater of which a front-end portion is located in the internal space and of which a base-end portion is retained by the container so that the ceramic heater is attached to the container... the liquid is heated by the ceramic heater
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid heating device (200) including: a container (100) having an internal space (100i), inlet (103) and outlet (105); and a ceramic heater (171,172) of which base-end portion (17R) is retained by the container, the ceramic heater including ceramic sheet (17s) having a heat generation portion (17a) and being wrapped around an outer circumference of ceramic base (17g) such that, at a wrap-meeting part of the ceramic sheet, a slit (17v) extending in the axial-line L direction is formed as a non-heat generation portion, wherein the liquid is heated by the ceramic heater, the outlet is located apart from the inlet in the axial-line direction, and a first-axis n1 direction in a vicinity (105R) of an opening end (105e) facing the internal space, of the outlet, crosses the axial-line direction, and a front end of the heat generation portion is located on the base-end portion side relative to the outlet.