Fissured Foil Heat Transfer Panel for Flexible Pipe Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diffuser plates in underfloor heating systems are rigid and difficult to trim, limiting their use to straight pipe installations, resulting in significant unheated areas due to inability to accommodate curves and bends, and requiring multiple product types for complex room layouts, complicating installation and heat transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer panel with meandering fissure lines in a thin metal foil heat-conducting layer and horseshoe-shaped channels with inwardly-directed lips, allowing flexible pipe routing and efficient heat transfer, enabling easy installation and trimming to accommodate bends and obstacles without reducing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid diffuser plates are used, then structural strength and rigidity are improved, but adaptability to pipe routing around obstacles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser plate is segmented into modular components including straight sections and curved sections that can be assembled in different configurations. This allows the heating system to adapt to various pipe routing requirements while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection mechanisms between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from rigid fixed plates to modular segments that can be dynamically configured during installation. The curved sections and straight sections can be arranged flexibly to accommodate obstacles and different room layouts, providing adaptability without compromising the overall structural strength when properly assembled.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional rigid diffuser plates are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation during installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the diffuser into standardized modular segments with precise factory-formed shapes (straight and curved sections), the system eliminates the need for on-site trimming while maintaining manufacturing precision. The segments are designed to connect through simple mechanical means, greatly easing installation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
All necessary shaping, curving, and connection features are prepared in advance during manufacturing. The modular segments arrive ready-to-install with pre-formed channels and connection points, eliminating the need for on-site trimming, bending, or complex assembly operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple product types (straights and curves) are used, then adaptability to complex layouts is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The modular diffuser segments are designed with universal connection features that work the same way regardless of whether connecting straight-to-straight, straight-to-curve, or curve-to-curve. This universal interface simplifies the system despite having multiple segment types, reducing installation complexity while maintaining adaptability to complex layouts.
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 panel allows for efficient heat transfer around obstacles and in non-rectangular rooms, simplifying installation and maintaining heat transfer in areas where conventional systems fail, reducing unheated areas and simplifying material calculations and design.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer panel which comprises a support board and a heat-conducting layer which covers the support board
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The panel includes a body (1) of cellular structural support material formed with an array of interconnecting surface channels (3) into which a flexible fluid-conducting pipe can be inserted. A heat-conducting layer (2) comprising sheets of metal foil (20 and 21) is bonded to the support material spanning the channels (3) prior to use. The foil sheets are provided with fissure lines (12 and 13) extending along the channels in a non-coincident wavy path whereby the layer (2) can be divided to allow insertion of a pipe into selected channels. In a preferred configuration the channels (3) form a pattern of intersecting straight lines intercepted by circles.