Fluid Conduit Heating Assembly With Integrated Power Source Heat Sink

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional aircraft heating methods for liquids, such as water in galley inserts or lavatories, require heating entire tanks, which occupy valuable space and are inefficient, as they do not effectively utilize space for alternative features.

Innovation Solution

A heating assembly comprising a fluid conduit with a heater and power source, where a heat sink thermally couples the power source to the fluid conduit, allowing efficient heat transfer and reducing the need for external cooling systems by pre-heating the fluid before it reaches the heating element, thereby minimizing energy consumption and space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional tank heating methods are used, then the entire tank of water is heated, but this occupies valuable space in the aircraft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of water heatedVSAvoidspace occupied by heating system

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the necessary portion of water for heating by routing it through a fluid conduit, rather than heating the entire tank. The heater is positioned along the fluid conduit to heat water as it flows, eliminating the need for large tank heating systems and freeing up aircraft space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is segmented into a fluid conduit that carries water through the heater, rather than heating a single large tank. This segmentation allows selective heating of only the water needed, reducing the overall space requirement while maintaining heating functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If a heat sink thermally couples the power source to the fluid conduit, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy loss in heat transferVSAvoidcomplexity of heating assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink merges the power source and fluid conduit into a single thermally coupled assembly. The power source is thermally coupled to the fluid conduit via the heat sink, creating an integrated structure that improves heat transfer efficiency while minimizing the number of separate components and connections required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If the fluid conduit extends through the heat sink with a tortuous path, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the length of the conduit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidlength of fluid conduit

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid conduit is configured with a tortuous (curved/snaking) path as it extends through the heat sink. This curved configuration increases the contact surface area between the conduit and heat sink, improving heat transfer efficiency while keeping the overall device compact and avoiding excessive conduit length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 of fluids with reduced power consumption and space requirements, eliminating the need for external cooling systems and maintaining a compact design, while improving heat transfer efficiency through the use of a tortuous fluid conduit within the heat sink.

Implementation Method 1

a heat sink positioned upstream of the heating element and thermally coupling the power source to the fluid conduit, such that the fluid receives heat from the power source in use

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heating element may be configured to emit radiation towards the fluid conduit to heat any fluid in the conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation heating: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

The heater may comprise a signal generator configured to generate a radio frequency signal, for example, a microwave signal. The power source may be a power amplifier. The power amplifier may be configured to amplify the generated radio frequency signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic signal generation and amplification:

Implementation Method 4

The heating element may comprise a capacitive coupling electrode configured to induce an alternating electric field to heat any fluid in the fluid conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250093072A1Heating assembly

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 BE AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

A heating assembly for a vehicle, the heating assembly comprising: a fluid conduit for carrying fluid; a heater positioned along the fluid conduit, the heater comprising a heating element configured to heat any fluid within the fluid conduit and a power source configured to supply power to the heating element; and a heat sink positioned upstream of the heating element and thermally coupling the power source to the fluid conduit, such that the fluid receives heat from the power source in use.