Wall Ring Heating Layer for Fan Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fan designs with external electrical resistance heaters for preventing ice formation on the wall ring are inefficient in energy use, wasteful in heat energy, and pose safety risks due to high voltage, especially in cold applications where the wall ring material is poorly conductive.
Innovation Solution
An electrically conductive heating layer is integrated on the inside of the wall ring, with contact elements on its side edges, directing current flow circumferentially, allowing for direct heating and thermal conduction/radiation to prevent ice formation, and can be designed as a thin, energy-efficient CNT lacquer or tape, covering only critical areas to reduce material and energy usage, and operating at lower voltages for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical resistance heater is placed around the wall ring from the outside, then the wall ring can be heated to prevent ice formation, but a large amount of energy is required and heat energy is lost to the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is inverted from the conventional external placement to an internal placement on the wall ring's inner surface. This reversal allows the heating element to directly warm the wall ring from the inside, preventing ice formation at its source without wasting energy heating the external environment. The heating element contacts the wall ring internally, transferring heat directly to the critical areas where ice forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is applied as a localized layer on specific areas of the wall ring's inner surface, particularly where ice formation is most critical. This selective heating approach focuses energy only on the necessary zones rather than uniformly heating the entire wall ring or surrounding environment, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective ice prevention.
2Power
If an electrical resistance heater is used with mains voltage of 230V, then sufficient heating power can be achieved, but safety problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical parameters of the heating system are changed by operating at low voltage (e.g., 12V or 24V) instead of standard mains voltage (230V). This parameter change significantly improves safety by eliminating the risk of electric shock and short circuits, while the heating power remains sufficient through optimized resistance and current control in the heating element design.
3Loss of energy
If the wall ring consists of materials that are only slightly thermally conductive, then the wall ring can be made with certain insulating properties, but a large amount of energy is required to heat the wall ring sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating the wall ring from the outside (which would require overcoming the material's low thermal conductivity), the heating element is placed on the inside surface of the wall ring. This inverted approach allows heat to be applied directly at the critical interface where ice forms, bypassing the need to conduct heat through the entire wall ring thickness and reducing the total energy input required.
4Reliability
If a heating element covers the entire wall ring surface, then complete ice prevention can be achieved, but material costs and energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is applied selectively to specific high-risk areas on the wall ring's inner surface where ice formation is most likely to occur, such as areas directly exposed to cold air flow or where temperature gradients are steepest. This localized application reduces the quantity of heating material required and lowers energy consumption while maintaining effective ice prevention coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than applying heating coverage to the entire wall ring surface (excessive action), the heating element is applied only to the critical partial areas where ice prevention is most needed. This partial action approach achieves sufficient protection without the material and energy costs of complete surface coverage.
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 solution effectively prevents ice formation on the wall ring and fan blades with reduced energy consumption and enhanced safety by using a thin, conductive heating layer that directs heat where needed, minimizing material and energy waste, and operating at lower voltages, thus improving fan reliability in cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element heats up its surroundings through thermal conduction and thermal radiation
Implementation Method 2
the heating element heats up its surroundings through thermal conduction and thermal radiation
Implementation Method 3
the heating element comprises an electrically conductive heating layer... directing an electric current flowing through the heating element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns a wall ring (1) for a fan, with a fan wheel, comprising at least one heating element (3) for heating the wall ring (1). The heating element (3) comprises an electrically conductive heating layer which is disposed on the inner side (2) of the wall ring (1) facing the fan wheel.