Heating element and method for operating a heating element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiators, particularly heat pump radiators, face challenges in optimizing heat exchange efficiency and noise levels due to airflow bypassing the edges of the heat exchanger, leading to reduced performance and increased noise at higher fan speeds.
Innovation Solution
The radiator design incorporates an angled heat exchanger with air guide elements at the edges to redirect airflow into the heat exchanger, ensuring uniform airflow distribution and improved heat transfer, while maintaining a standard installation depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fan speed is increased to improve heating and cooling output, then performance increases, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the heat exchanger (angling the front face) and introduces air guide elements to modify airflow patterns. These parameter changes enable more effective heat transfer at lower fan speeds, thus improving performance without increasing noise levels.
2Device complexity
If conventional heat exchanger arrangement is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but airflow bypasses edges reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing air guide elements specifically at the edge regions where airflow bypass occurs. The heat exchanger front face is angled locally to redirect airflow, and air guide elements are positioned only where needed to prevent bypass, thus improving efficiency without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide elements act as intermediary components between the airflow and the heat exchanger. They mediate the airflow path, redirecting it into the heat exchanger edges, and prevent bypass without requiring a complete redesign of the heat exchanger structure.
3Productivity
If air guide elements are added to redirect airflow, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide elements are introduced only in the edge regions where airflow bypass occurs, rather than throughout the entire heat exchanger. This localized approach improves heat exchange efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
4Productivity
If heat exchanger front face is angled, then airflow distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger front face is angled asymmetrically relative to the rear face, creating an oblique arrangement that improves airflow distribution. While this asymmetric design enhances performance, it does increase manufacturing complexity compared to a conventional parallel-plate design.
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 design enhances heating and cooling performance by up to 35% and 26% respectively, while reducing noise levels by allowing operation at lower fan speeds, thus optimizing energy efficiency and acoustic performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fan, wherein the fan is arranged in the radiator and is configured to generate an airflow through the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger with a front face and a rear end face, which are defined by a height and a width of the heat exchanger and are spaced apart from each other by a depth
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a radiator (1) comprising a heat exchanger (2) with an end face (2-1) and a rear end face (2-2), which are defined by a height (H) and a width (B) of the heat exchanger (2) and are spaced apart from each other by a depth (T), and a fan (3), wherein the fan (3) is arranged in the radiator (1) and is configured to generate an airflow (6) through the heat exchanger (2), wherein an end face (2-1, 2-2) of the heat exchanger (2) exposed to the airflow (6) is arranged obliquely in the radiator (1), and wherein an air guide element (11) is arranged in an edge region (10) of the end face (2-1) and/or in an edge region (10) of the rear end face (2-2) of the heat exchanger (2), which prevents airflow through the edge region (10). a portion of the airflow (6) flowing towards the edge area (11) is directed into the heat exchanger (2).Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a radiator (1).