Induction Heater Tank Assembly for Stable Compact Water Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized induction heaters in water dispensers face issues with deformation and insufficient heating due to pressure increases during operation, and they struggle to efficiently heat water in smaller sizes while maintaining space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hot water tank assembly with a flat plate-shaped first cover and a second cover, featuring welding portions and protrusion portions to prevent deformation, along with a gap spacer to maintain a consistent distance between the working coil and the tank, ensuring accurate induction heating and efficient water heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the induction heater is miniaturized to reduce space occupation, then the water dispenser size is reduced, but the heater undergoes deformation and heating becomes insufficient due to pressure increase during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The induction heater is divided into separate functional components: a coil assembly for generating electromagnetic fields and a water tank assembly for containing and heating water. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the coil can be miniaturized while the water tank can be designed with sufficient structural strength to withstand pressure without deforming, thereby maintaining heating performance despite reduced overall size.
2Volume of moving object
If the induction heater is miniaturized to fit limited spaces, then space efficiency is improved, but deformation occurs due to pressure increase during operation
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the coil assembly from the water tank assembly, the structural stability requirements are placed primarily on the water tank which can be designed with adequate thickness and reinforcement, while the coil assembly can be miniaturized without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring thicker sections at the bottom and sides where pressure is highest, and thinner sections at the top where pressure is lower. This local quality variation provides structural stability against pressure-induced deformation while minimizing the overall volume of the heater.
3Volume of moving object
If the induction heater is miniaturized to reduce space occupation, then the water dispenser becomes more compact, but insufficient heating occurs due to pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The separation of coil and water tank allows the water tank to be designed with optimized geometry and wall thickness that maintains structural integrity under pressure, ensuring that the heating process can proceed to completion without deformation-related heating failures, even in a miniaturized configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The water tank is designed with specific geometric parameters including optimized wall thickness distribution and internal volume that allow sufficient heating time and pressure containment, enabling the miniaturized heater to achieve the required water temperature despite the reduced size.
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 effectively prevents deformation, ensures consistent induction heating, and allows for efficient heating of water in smaller sizes, providing hot water at a uniform temperature range while maintaining compactness.
Implementation Method 1
Induction heating heats objects using electromagnetic induction. When a current is supplied to a coil, an eddy current may be generated on an object to be heated
Implementation Method 2
Joule heat generated by a resistance of a metal may increase a temperature of the object
Data Source
AI summary
An induction heater and a water dispenser having an induction heater are provided. The induction heater may include a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of a first cover and a second cover to each other and provided with an inner space to heat liquid. The first cover may be configured to have a flat plate shape and to be heated by a working coil. The second cover may include a base configured to face the first cover and separated from the first cover, and a welding portion formed by welding with the first cover and provided on a protruding surface that protrudes from the base toward the first cover.