Heating apparatus comprising a battery installed within the entry fresh air flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric heating devices with integrated batteries face issues such as reduced battery lifespan due to heat confinement, complex and costly industrialization, and inefficient heat dissipation, which affect performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an air inlet at the lower part of the casing and an air outlet at the upper part, allowing air to circulate through the device, with the electrical energy storage device positioned between the air inlet and heating element, promoting natural convection and direct thermal contact between electrochemical cells and air, thereby enhancing heat transfer and reducing internal heat losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective casing is used for the battery, then the battery is protected and can be handled as a single block, but the heat produced by the battery is confined leading to increased internal temperature and reduced battery lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifespanVSAvoidinternal temperature of battery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the protective casing from the battery, extracting the heat confinement problem. The battery is installed directly in the air flow path without an enclosing protective envelope, allowing heat to be carried away by the circulating air rather than being trapped inside a insulated casing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the air flow (pneumatic system) to cool the battery. The circulating air acts as a cooling medium that absorbs heat from the battery cells as it passes through the device, replacing the need for a protective casing with a passive convective cooling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Loss of energy

If a protective casing with thermal insulation is used for the battery, then the battery is protected, but the heat produced by the battery is delayed in being valued for heat production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidheat transfer delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The protective casing that causes heat transfer delay is removed. The battery is exposed directly to the air flow, eliminating the insulating barrier that would delay heat transfer from the battery to the surrounding air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow serves dual purposes: it provides cooling for the battery and simultaneously serves as the heat transfer medium for heating the room. The heat produced by the battery is immediately transferred to the circulating air, which then distributes it throughout the space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If a protective casing is used for the battery, then the battery assembly can be handled as a single block, but the industrialization of the heating device becomes substantially complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindustrialization complexityVSAvoidprotective casing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective casing is extracted from the design, simplifying the manufacturing process. Without the need to produce, assemble, and install a separate protective envelope around the battery, the manufacturing complexity and costs are reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery mounting is integrated directly into the housing structure. The battery is installed in a recess or dedicated space within the housing, eliminating the need for a separate protective casing and reducing the number of components and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 maintains the lifespan of electrical components, improves efficiency by minimizing internal heat losses, and simplifies and cost-reduces industrialization by eliminating the need for a protective casing, while ensuring effective heat dissipation and energy management.

Implementation Method 1

The air flow circulates by natural convection effect in the case.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNatural convection: Free Convection

Implementation Method 2

The electrochemical cells are in direct thermal contact with the flow of air which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heating member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3676540B1Heating apparatus comprising a battery installed within the entry fresh air flow
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 LANCEY ENERGY STORAGE
  • EP3676540B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3676540B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3676540B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a heating appliance (1) of the electric radiator type, comprising a housing (11) containing a DC-operated electrical energy storage device (2) charged by an electrical power supply source outside the appliance (1), and at least one heating body (12) that can be powered by the electrical power supply source and/or by the electrical energy storage device (2). The housing (11) also comprises at least one air inlet (13, 15) arranged in a lower part of the housing (11) to allow air to enter the space internally defined by the housing (11), and at least one air outlet (14) arranged in an upper part of the housing (11) to allow the air to leave said space. The electrical energy storage device (2) is arranged across the air flow that circulates, in said space, from said at least one air inlet (13, 15) to said at least one air outlet (14), in a location situated, as observed in the direction of circulation of said flow, between said at least one air inlet (13, 15) and said at least one heating body (12).