Layered Heating Module for Engine Oil Preheating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oil-water heat exchangers for internal combustion engines face challenges in efficiently preheating engine oil, leading to increased pollutant emissions when the oil is not at operating temperature, and their production is complex and tailored to specific applications.

Innovation Solution

A heat exchanger system comprising an oil-water heat exchanger module with a separate layered heating module, featuring a substrate with an electrical heating coating applied to it, which is mounted externally, allowing for simple and flexible heating of fluids without direct application to the heat exchanger, thereby enabling effective preheating and upgrading existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heating device is applied directly to the heat exchanger surface, then heating effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device is segmented into a separate layered module that can be manufactured independently and then assembled to the heat exchanger. This allows the heating element to be produced using simple painting processes on a separate substrate, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining heating effectiveness through the layered structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A substrate acts as an intermediary between the heating coating and the heat exchanger surface. The heating coating is applied to the substrate rather than directly to the heat exchanger, simplifying the manufacturing process while the substrate serves as a carrier that can be easily attached to the heat exchanger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heating coating is applied directly to heat exchanger, then heating efficiency is improved, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to different heat exchangers
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The layered heating module with substrate is designed as a universal component that can be adapted to different heat exchanger types and sizes. The substrate serves as a flexible carrier that can be manufactured in various dimensions and attached to different heat exchanger surfaces, making the heating solution universally applicable while maintaining heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If heating device is integrated into heat exchanger, then preheating capability is improved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreheating capabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The heating coating is applied to the substrate in advance during a simple painting process, creating a pre-assembled heating module. This preliminary action allows the heating element to be ready for installation on the heat exchanger without requiring complex integration processes, thus improving preheating capability while keeping production simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 a simple, effective, and flexible means to heat fluids in heat exchangers, reducing pollutant emissions and simplifying production, while maintaining reliable operation across various heat exchanger types and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a heating coating applied to the substrate, in particular the carrier plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

oil-water heat exchanger module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3417673B1Heat exchanger system
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 WEBASTO AG
  • EP3417673B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a heat exchanger system, in particular for connection to an internal combustion engine, preferably of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one heat exchanger module, in particular an oil-water heat exchanger module (10), and a layer-heating module (11) which is or can be mounted on the heat exchanger module, wherein the layer-heating module (11) comprises a substrate, in particular a carrier plate (12), and an electric heating coating (13) applied to the substrate, in particular the carrier plate (12).