Heating body for a device for electrically heating and circulating a liquid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric heating devices for motor vehicles, particularly hybrid and electric vehicles, face challenges in increasing heating power while minimizing size, as the addition of heating elements leads to increased bulk and reduced performance due to inefficient heat exchange and potential liquid stagnation.

Innovation Solution

The use of helical heating elements arranged in a specific configuration, where one heating element wraps around another, and the inclusion of a core in the central zone to enhance heat exchange, reduces the overall size and increases performance by optimizing the flow and heat transfer between the heating elements and the liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If heating elements are multiplied and aligned one after another to increase heating power, then heating power is improved, but device bulk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating powerVSAvoiddevice bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing one helical heating element inside another helical heating element, with the inner element having a smaller diameter than the outer element. This concentric arrangement allows multiple heating elements to occupy the same spatial envelope, significantly increasing heating power while maintaining a compact device bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a linear one-dimensional arrangement of heating elements to a three-dimensional concentric configuration. By utilizing radial and axial dimensions simultaneously, the heating elements are arranged in space to maximize power density without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If heating elements are arranged in a compact configuration, then device size is reduced, but heat exchange efficiency may worsen due to potential liquid stagnation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs helical (curved) heating elements instead of straight configurations. The helical shape promotes turbulent flow patterns and prevents liquid stagnation by creating continuous flow paths that wrap around the heating elements, ensuring efficient heat exchange while maintaining a compact device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating elements are divided into multiple discrete helical sections with terminal sections that extend toward the base. This segmentation creates multiple flow paths and prevents large stagnant zones, maintaining heat exchange efficiency in the compact concentric configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 allows for increased heating power with reduced size, improved heat exchange efficiency, and prevention of liquid stagnation, enhancing the performance of the electric heating device while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

an electric current is circulated to raise the temperature of a heating element on board this heating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The liquid to be heated thus passes through the heating device and is brought into contact with the heating element, an exchange of calories then takes place between the heating element and the liquid intended for heating the passenger compartment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3900484B1Heating body for a device for electrically heating and circulating a liquid
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP3900484B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3900484B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3900484B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Heating body (1) for a device (16) for electrically heating liquid, said heating body (1) comprising at least one first helical heating element (4) defined by a diameter (d1), a second helical heating element (5) defined by a diameter (d2), and a base (2) carrying the first and the second heating element (4, 5), characterized in that the first diameter (d1) is greater than the second diameter (d2), and in that the first heating element is disposed around the second element. The heating body (1) can be configured so as to comprise three heating elements, or more, arranged such that the size in terms of length is limited, and could include a core, disposed so as to be surrounded by all of the different heating elements, reducing the volume of liquid inside the chamber (15) in which the heating body (1) is housed.