Electric Fluid Heater with Parallel Flow Channels for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric heating devices for fluids in vehicles face issues with non-uniform heating due to pressure drops and turbulences, leading to local overheating and inefficiency, particularly when heating aqueous fluids like water-glycol mixtures.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with an inlet and outlet chamber and multiple parallel flow channels separated by a rib, with a diffuser-like inlet chamber and nozzle-like outlet chamber to reduce flow resistance and promote smooth fluid flow, ensuring uniform heating by dividing and reuniting fluid streams outside the heating elements attached to the housing walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fluid stream is divided into several flow channels, then the heating uniformity is improved, but pressure drop and turbulences increase leading to non-uniform heating
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple parallel flow channels (at least two, preferably four to six) that run side by side from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. This segmentation allows the fluid stream to be divided into multiple smaller streams, improving heat distribution uniformity while maintaining manageable flow velocities in each channel
Solution Approach 2:
Separating walls (ribs) are introduced as intermediary structures that divide the flow path into multiple channels. These walls are designed with specific geometry and spacing to guide fluid flow smoothly between channels, reducing turbulence and pressure drop while maintaining heating uniformity
2Productivity
If the fluid flow velocity is increased to reduce heating time, then productivity is improved, but local overheating and disintegration of the fluid occur
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the fluid stream into multiple parallel flow channels, the heating process is distributed across several channels. This allows for faster overall heating (improved productivity) while maintaining lower flow velocities in each individual channel, preventing local overheating and fluid disintegration
Solution Approach 2:
Each flow channel provides a localized heating environment with controlled flow characteristics. The multiple channels create different local flow conditions that collectively achieve uniform heating, allowing the system to operate at higher overall productivity without sacrificing temperature uniformity
3Device complexity
If a single flow channel is used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but heating uniformity deteriorates due to pressure drops and turbulences
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is divided into multiple parallel channels with simple individual structures, avoiding the need for complex convoluted single-channel designs. This segmentation achieves better heating uniformity while keeping each channel's structure relatively simple and easy to manufacture
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 configuration reduces pressure drop, ensures uniform heating, increases efficiency, and minimizes steam bubble formation, allowing for easier steam bubble exit, resulting in improved heating uniformity and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electric heating element being attached to a housing wall outside the flow path
Implementation Method 2
heat the housing wall, which then transfers heat to the fluid through thermal conduction
Implementation Method 3
a diffuser-like inlet chamber and nozzle-like outlet chamber to reduce flow resistance and promote smooth fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
An electric heating device for heating fluids, comprising a housing, inlet and outlet connection pieces arranged at inlet and outlet openings of the housing, respectively, a flow path in the housing through which the fluid to be heated flows leading from the inlet connection piece to the outlet connection piece, and an electric heating unit attached to the housing. The flow path comprises inlet and outlet chambers and at least two flow channels running side by side from the inlet to the outlet chambers. A separating wall separates two flow channels from one another. Each flow channel has an inlet section connected to the inlet chamber and defining an inlet flow direction and an outlet section connected to the outlet chamber and defining an outlet flow direction. The inlet connection piece is oriented in the inlet flow direction and/or the outlet connection piece is oriented in the outlet flow direction.