Inductive Humidifier Reservoir Heating With Fewer Thermal Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional induction heating systems for humidification are inefficient due to multiple thermal layers that impede heat transfer, leading to longer heating times and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An inductive heater humidifier design featuring a ferrite base with a ferrous oxide transition metal element, a magnetic coil, and a non-metallic cover plate, where the induction coil generates eddy currents and alternating magnetic polarizations to efficiently transfer heat to a ferromagnetic reservoir via convection, while minimizing stray magnetic fields and maintaining a cool central core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional thermal layers are used in induction heating systems for humidification, then the system structure is complete and stable, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to thermal barriers impeding heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary thermal barrier layers from the heating system structure. By extracting these intermediate thermal layers, the system achieves direct heat transfer from the induction heater to the target object, eliminating the energy loss caused by thermal barriers while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetically conductive intermediate layer that serves as an efficient heat transfer mediator. This layer has high magnetic permeability and thermal conductivity, allowing it to channel both magnetic flux and heat efficiently from the induction heater to the target, replacing the function of multiple thermal layers with a single optimized intermediary structure.
2Productivity
If conventional heaters are used for humidification, then the system is simple in structure, but heating time increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal conduction heating with induction heating technology. By using electromagnetic induction to generate eddy currents directly in the target object or a magnetically conductive layer, the system achieves rapid heating without the energy losses associated with conventional thermal transfer through multiple layers, thereby increasing heating speed while reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the magnetic and thermal parameters of the intermediate layer by selecting materials with specific magnetic permeability and thermal conductivity values. This parameter optimization ensures efficient coupling of magnetic energy and thermal energy transfer, enabling fast heating with minimal energy loss and improving overall system productivity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If ferromagnetic materials with high magnetic permeability are used in the induction heater, then stray magnetic fields are reduced, but heating efficiency may deteriorate if the materials saturate magnetically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions of the heating system. The intermediate layer uses ferromagnetic material with high magnetic permeability to confine and channel magnetic flux, reducing stray fields. Meanwhile, the heating zone maintains optimal magnetic field strength below saturation levels to ensure efficient eddy current generation and heat transfer, thus resolving the contradiction between magnetic field confinement and heating efficiency.
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
The solution enables rapid and efficient heat transfer to the target, reducing energy consumption and eliminating thermal barriers, thus enhancing heating efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the induction coil is energized to produce and target eddy currents in the ferromagnetic base that generate heat
Implementation Method 2
induction coil is energized to produce and target eddy currents
Implementation Method 3
the heat is convectively transferred to the reservoir via the base plate to heat the fluid
Implementation Method 4
Hysteretic heating is another form of induction heating that results from alternating the magnetic domains in a strong magnetically susceptible material such as iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An inductive heater humidifier for heating fluids is provided by the present disclosure. The humidifier includes a reservoir having a ferromagnetic bottom plate. The reservoir is disposed on top of a non-metallic cover plate, which rests on a topless ferrite base. The ferrite base includes induction coil for generating heat. The induction coil is energized to produce eddy currents that generate heat, which is convectively transferred to the reservoir via the bottom plate to heat fluid in the reservoir.