Ceramic Hot Water Heater Layout for Compact Vehicle Cabin Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric heating systems in hybrid and electric vehicles face challenges in reducing size and weight while efficiently heating hot water for air-conditioning, as they rely on cast heat transfer blocks and lack efficient ceramic heaters suitable for vehicle applications.
Innovation Solution
An electric heating type hot water heating apparatus utilizing a ceramic heater with a rod-shaped shaft section, strategically positioned within a flow path to align with the water flow direction, and optionally including a second ceramic heater, to efficiently heat the medium while minimizing size and weight, and incorporating features like taper sections and vibration-proof members to prevent heat shock and optimize heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cast heat transfer block is used as a heating element, then the heating device can be manufactured, but the size and weight of the heating device cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from cast metal heat transfer block to ceramic heating element, which has different density and thermal properties. This material substitution enables weight reduction while maintaining heating functionality through the ceramic's high thermal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential heating function from the bulky cast heat transfer block and concentrates it into a compact ceramic heater element. This extraction removes unnecessary material while preserving the core heating capability, achieving weight and size reduction
2Ease of manufacture
If a cast heat transfer block is used for heating, then heating can be performed, but the heating device size and volume cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the heating element by substituting ceramic material for cast metal, which has different density and thermal conductivity characteristics. This enables compact design with reduced volume while maintaining effective heating performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heating function from the large-volume cast block and concentrates it into a compact ceramic heater, removing excess material and achieving significant volume reduction
3Ease of manufacture
If heat transfer medium flows through a cast heat transfer block, then heating can be performed, but prompt heating cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter by using ceramic material with superior thermal properties compared to cast metal. This enables faster heat transfer from the heating element to the water, achieving prompt heating response
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential heating function and concentrates it in a compact ceramic element with high thermal efficiency, eliminating the thermal inertia associated with large cast blocks and enabling rapid heating
4Productivity
If ceramic heater is used to directly heat liquid, then heating efficiency can be improved, but the ceramic heater may be damaged by heat shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies gradual heating control to cushion the thermal shock that would otherwise damage the ceramic heater. By progressively increasing temperature rather than sudden heating, the ceramic material is protected from thermal stress while maintaining high heating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control that adapts to the ceramic heater's thermal characteristics. The heating rate is dynamically adjusted to prevent excessive thermal gradients that could cause damage, while still achieving efficient heating operation
5Power
If multiple ceramic heaters are disposed in the flow path, then calorific value can be increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating function into multiple independent ceramic heaters arranged in the flow path. This segmentation allows distributed heating zones that increase total calorific value while maintaining modular simplicity in the overall structure
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
The solution enables efficient heating with reduced size and weight, effective bubble exclusion, and enhanced heat transfer, allowing for prompt heating and increased calorific value while preventing ceramic heater damage from heat shock and vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a ceramic heater disposed in the flow path
Implementation Method 2
the flow path includes an upward flow path which extends in an up/down direction of a vehicle as well as in which a water flow direction of the heat transfer medium is directed upward
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
An object of the invention is to provide an electric heating type hot water heating apparatus which can efficiently perform heating and whose is size and weight are reduced, a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus provided therewith, and a vehicle. SOLUTION The electric heating type hot water heating apparatus 100 according to the invention, which supplies hot water as a heat transfer medium to a heating heat exchanger disposed in a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus via a piping, comprising a case 30 having an inlet port 31, a flow path 40, and an outlet port 32 of the heat transfer medium; and a ceramic heater 200 disposed in the flow path 40.