Heating System Component With Compact NTC Thermistor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating system components face challenges in compact design and cost-effectiveness due to the limitations of inexpensive NTC thermistors, which cannot withstand temperatures above 100°C, leading to slow response times and potential damage during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A heating system component with a carrier unit and heating unit, where an NTC thermistor is effectively in thermal contact with the carrier unit's dry side, thermally insulated from the heating unit, allowing for accurate fluid temperature measurement without exposure to excessive temperatures, and featuring a heat conducting plate with a projecting part for direct temperature sensor mounting and shielding to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If inexpensive NTC thermistors are used for temperature measurement, then cost is reduced, but the temperature sensor cannot withstand temperatures above 100°C and must be positioned away from the heating unit, resulting in slow response time
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier unit is divided into a wet side (in contact with fluid) and a dry side (opposite surface), allowing the temperature sensor to be positioned on the dry side away from direct heating while still achieving thermal contact through the carrier unit material. This segmentation enables inexpensive NTC thermistors to be used without exposing them to temperatures above 100°C while maintaining compact design and fast response time.
2Loss of time
If the temperature sensor is directly mounted near the heating unit for fast response, then response time is reduced, but the sensor is exposed to excessive temperatures causing damage or requiring expensive high-temperature sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier unit acts as an intermediary between the heating unit and the temperature sensor. The dry side of the carrier unit provides a thermal interface that allows the temperature sensor to measure fluid temperature through thermal conduction while being physically isolated from the high-temperature heating unit, protecting inexpensive sensors from thermal damage.
3Volume of moving object
If the heating system component is made compact to reduce space, then volume is reduced, but assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor, carrier unit, and heating unit are merged into a single integrated component where the sensor is effectively in thermal contact with the dry side of the carrier unit. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets, screws, and complex assembly steps, allowing compact design while maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly.
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
Enables a compact, cost-effective design with reliable temperature measurement and reduced risk of damage during assembly, ensuring efficient heating system operation within the temperature range of common household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature sensor is effectively in thermal contact with at least a part of an upper surface of said dry side of the carrier unit
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the heat conducting plate is covered with an insulating layer on top of which the temperature sensor and conductor paths connected to the temperature sensor are formed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating system component (100) for a heating system for heating a fluid medium, with a carrier unit (110), and a heating unit (120) coupled to said carrier unit (110), wherein said carrier unit (110) comprises a wet side and a dry side, wherein said wet side corresponds to a surface of said carrier unit (110) configured to be in contact with said fluid medium, wherein said dry side is located on a surface opposite to said wet side; and wherein said heating unit (120) is recessed in a groove (112) provided on said dry side of the carrier unit (110). A temperature sensor (170a), in particular an NTC thermistor, positioned to measure a temperature of a fluid medium at the wet side of the carrier unit, wherein the temperature sensor is effectively thermally insulated from the heating unit (120).