Laminate Heater Structure for Uniform Heating of Recessed Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating structures for objects like flexible pipes suffer from inefficient heat conduction due to air layers in recesses, leading to non-uniform heating and potential overheating, while also having low workability in attachment and detachment.
Innovation Solution
A heating structure comprising a laminate type heater with a heat generation layer, covering layers, and a filler made of metal fiber or resin that penetrates into the recesses of the object, enhancing thermal conduction and flexibility, and a manufacturing method for setting the filler between the object and the heater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a jacket heater is set on the outer peripheral side of a flexible pipe, then heating function is provided, but air layers remain in recesses causing poor heat conduction and non-uniform heating
Solution Approach 1:
A filler material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the jacket heater and the flexible pipe surface. This filler penetrates into the recesses of the pipe surface, replacing the low-conductivity air layers with a material that has higher thermal conduction properties, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency and heating uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler material is designed to be porous or fibrous in structure, allowing it to penetrate and fill the recesses of the flexible pipe surface effectively. This porous structure enables the filler to conform to the irregular surface geometry while maintaining good thermal contact, solving the problem of air layer formation in recesses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a planar heating device with slits is used to improve following ability, then flexibility is enhanced, but air remaining in gaps still hinders uniform heating
Solution Approach 1:
The filler acts as an intermediary that bridges the gaps between the flexible heating device and the pipe surface. Even when the heating device conforms to the pipe shape, the filler ensures complete contact by filling any remaining gaps, thereby achieving uniform heating while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler is applied locally in the gap regions between the heating device and pipe surface. This localized application ensures that heat conduction is improved precisely where needed (in the gaps and recesses) without affecting the overall flexibility and conformability of the heating device.
3Reliability
If conventional heating structures are used, then heating function is provided, but workability in attachment and detachment is low
Solution Approach 1:
The filler serves as a detachable intermediary layer between the heating device and the pipe. This allows the heating device to be easily attached and detached from the pipe by simply removing or adding the filler material, significantly improving maintenance workability while maintaining reliable heating function during operation.
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 provides efficient and uniform heating, reduces heat retention, and improves workability in attachment and detachment, contributing to energy savings and preventing overheating.
Implementation Method 1
a filler penetrating into the recesses between the surface of the object to be heated and a surface of the laminate type heater, and having flexibility and higher thermal conduction properties than air
Implementation Method 2
a laminate type heater including a heat generation layer and one or more layers covering the heat generation layer
Data Source
AI summary
A heating structure includes: an object to be heated that has recesses on the surface thereof; a laminate-type heater that includes a heat-generating layer and a layer covering the same; and a filler that has flexibility and higher thermal conductivity than air, and is inserted into the recesses between the surface of the object and the surface of the laminate-type heater.