Infra-red device for focused heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating methods, such as space heating and radiant heat, are inefficient and consume high amounts of energy, especially in older buildings where significant insulation is not feasible, leading to challenges in heating specific areas like churches without compromising their architecture or damaging contents.
Innovation Solution
A heating system utilizing IR heating devices with optical elements to focus IR radiation directly onto objects or people, minimizing energy waste by heating only the intended target, and a controller to manage the IR heating devices and optical elements for precise heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If space heating is used to maintain comfortable temperature throughout the building, then the building interior is warmed, but energy consumption increases and heat loss to surroundings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform space heating to localized radiant heating of specific objects and people. The IR heating devices target specific areas (organ loft, choir stalls, pews) rather than heating the entire building volume, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining necessary temperatures in occupied zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent IR heating devices that can be individually controlled and directed at different targets. This segmentation allows the system to heat only the necessary areas (different sections of the church) rather than treating the entire space uniformly, reducing wasted energy on unoccupied or already warm areas.
2Productivity
If radiant heat systems are used to provide immediate heating effect, then heating efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases due to high electricity requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the heating system by using infrared radiation in specific wavelength ranges (3-14 μm atmospheric window) that penetrate air efficiently and are directly absorbed by objects and people. This parameter optimization allows radiant heating to achieve high efficiency with lower overall energy input compared to conventional electric radiant heaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces conventional electric heating elements with IR LEDs or laser diodes that generate infrared radiation directly through electroluminescence or stimulated emission. This substitution eliminates the inefficiencies of resistive heating and provides more direct energy transfer to targets, improving productivity while reducing energy consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional heating systems are used in older buildings, then heating coverage is achieved, but heat loss from the building increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IR heating devices provide localized heating to specific areas (seats, organ loft, choir stalls) rather than attempting to heat the entire building volume. This approach maintains necessary temperatures in occupied zones while minimizing heat loss through the building envelope, as the overall indoor temperature can be kept lower.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial heating action by focusing energy only on occupied zones and leaving unoccupied areas cooler. This selective heating approach reduces the temperature gradient between interior and exterior, thereby reducing heat loss through walls and windows while still providing adequate heating where people are present.
4Use of energy by moving object
If IR heating devices are used to focus heat on specific targets, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to optical elements and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical elements (lenses, mirrors, reflectors) as intermediaries between the IR heat sources and targets. These optical components focus and direct the infrared radiation precisely onto desired areas, enabling energy-efficient targeted heating while managing the complexity through standardized optical design patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust the operation of IR heating devices based on actual heating needs. This feedback control optimizes energy efficiency by activating devices only when and where heating is required, while the modular control architecture manages system complexity through distributed intelligence rather than centralized complexity.
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
Significantly reduces energy consumption by focusing heat only on the object or person being heated, improving energy efficiency and maintaining comfort while minimizing heat loss from the building.
Implementation Method 1
focus or direct IR radiation emitted by the IR heating device onto an object to be heated
Implementation Method 2
optical element arranged to focus or direct IR radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system comprises at least one IR heating device 3 and at least one optical element arranged to focus or direct IR radiation emitted by the IR heating device 3 onto an object to be heated 1.