Composite heating panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air source heat pumps with underfloor or radiator systems face inefficiencies in heating delivery, leading to high energy costs and long start-up times, as they require high water temperatures similar to traditional fossil fuel boilers, making them uneconomical in the long term.
Innovation Solution
A composite heating panel design featuring a tortuous pipework layout within a gypsum fibre board structure, with a heat dissipation panel and insulation to maximize heat transfer and minimize heat loss, allowing for efficient radiant heating and potential cooling, while being adaptable to existing construction methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air source heat pump is used with underfloor piped system in high mass concrete slab, then heat delivery is achieved, but start-up time is significant and system becomes uneconomical to run
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heating function into multiple independent heating panels distributed throughout the space, each capable of rapid heat delivery. This segmentation allows individual panels to heat up quickly without requiring the entire high mass concrete slab to reach temperature, thus reducing start-up time while maintaining effective heat delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from volumetric heating (heating the entire concrete slab mass) to surface-level heating (heating panels mounted on walls or ceilings). This dimensional change from 3D mass heating to 2D surface heating dramatically reduces thermal mass requirements and accelerates heat delivery response time.
2Speed
If air source heat pump is used with standard radiator system, then quick response to varying conditions is achieved, but water temperature needs to be 70-80°C making it expensive to run
Solution Approach 1:
The heating panels are designed to operate effectively at lower water temperatures (below 70-80°C) by optimizing the panel construction, tubing configuration, and heat transfer surfaces. This parameter change in operating temperature allows the air source heat pump to run more efficiently, reducing energy costs while maintaining quick response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating panels utilize composite construction combining highly conductive materials (such as aluminium or copper heat dissipation panels) with insulating materials. This composite structure maximizes heat transfer efficiency at lower temperatures, enabling rapid response without requiring high water temperatures that would increase energy consumption.
3Quantity of substance
If high mass concrete slab is used for underfloor heating, then heat storage capacity is increased, but time to reach required temperature is significant
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly heating the entire high mass concrete slab, the system concentrates heating capacity in localized high-performance panels with optimized heat transfer properties. This local quality enhancement allows sufficient heat storage and delivery capability in compact units without requiring the thermal mass of the entire slab to be activated.
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 composite heating panel achieves efficient heat delivery at lower fluid temperatures, reducing energy consumption and start-up times, and can be integrated into existing building systems, providing a cost-effective and efficient heating solution.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate length of tubing for receiving a flow of fluid therethrough, the fluid being at above ambient temperature, wherein the length of tubing is disposed between the insulated panel and the heat dissipation panel
Implementation Method 2
a heat dissipation panel in contact with the rear surface of the front panel
Implementation Method 3
an insulated panel; and an elongate length of tubing for receiving a flow of fluid therethrough
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A composite heating panel comprises a front panel having opposite front and rear surfaces; a heat dissipation panel in contact with the rear surface of the front panel; an insulated panel; and an elongate length of tubing for receiving a flow of fluid therethrough, the fluid being at above ambient temperature. The length of tubing is disposed between the insulated panel and the heat dissipation panel, and the length of tubing follows a tortuous flow path including at least one loop.