Helical Groove Heating Unit for Better Fluid Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems for fluid mediums in domestic appliances have a limited heat transfer area due to the shape of the heating elements, leading to inefficient heating and potential thermal hot spots, particularly at cranked ends.
Innovation Solution
A heating system with a disk-like carrier unit featuring a groove around its central axis, where the groove bottom is inclined, optimizing flow conditions and heat transfer by allowing a helical heating element to match the groove shape, reducing the need for cranked ends and enhancing thermal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heating element is arranged in a conventional groove with a flat bottom, then the manufacturing is simple, but the heat transfer area is limited and thermal hot spots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The groove bottom is designed with an inclined surface instead of a flat bottom, creating a curved/angled geometry that allows the heating element to be positioned at an optimal angle for heat transfer. This curvature enables better thermal contact between the heating element and the fluid medium while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard machining processes.
2Ease of operation
If the heating element has cranked ends to fit into the groove, then it can be installed, but thermal hot spots occur at the cranked ends
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is designed with a specific inclined bottom geometry that allows the heating element to maintain a consistent orientation throughout its length. This local geometric feature ensures uniform heat distribution along the heating element while eliminating the need for cranked ends, thereby preventing thermal hot spots at bent sections.
3Productivity
If the groove bottom is inclined with an inclination angle >0°, then flow conditions are optimized and heat transfer is improved, but the groove geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The groove bottom is designed with a specific inclination angle parameter that optimizes the balance between heat transfer efficiency and manufacturing feasibility. By carefully selecting this angular parameter, the system achieves improved flow conditions and heat transfer while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes and acceptable precision requirements.
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 improves hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer, reduces the risk of hot spots, and increases the durability of the heating elements by optimizing the flow and heat distribution within the system.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element at least partially arranged in said groove of said carrier unit
Implementation Method 2
This design allows an optimization of the flow conditions in a pump or conveyor pump, respectively, in which the inventive heating system is used
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating system for heating a fluid medium, said heating system comprises a carrier unit and a heating unit, with the carrier unit having a surface comprising at least a plane portion being at least substantially normal to a longitudinal axis and an at least part-circularly shaped groove extending from said carrier unit and wound about the longitudinal axis, and the heating unit having a heating element at least partially arranged in said groove of said carrier unit. In the inventive heating system, the groove extends at least partially helically about the longitudinal axis. The present invention further relates to a heated conveyor pump for conveying and heating a fluid medium, said pump comprises a drive unit, a pump housing and the inventive heating system. The heating system is coupled to the pump housing with the groove extending into the pump housing in a manner such that the size of the cross-section of the groove decreases in the flow direction of the conveyed fluid medium.