Modular Ondol Panel Heating Structure for Fast Leak Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heating structures, such as Korean floor heaters (ondols), require high construction costs and time due to multiple cement casting and curing processes, and are prone to increased load and water leakage issues, necessitating complex and costly repairs.

Innovation Solution

A heating structure featuring an insulator with an ondol panel having a hot water passage and a pipe housing that includes connection pipes for hot water supply and discharge, allowing for reduced construction time and costs, and easy maintenance by replacing individual ondol panels if leaks occur, without the need for cement construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional heating structures use multiple cement casting and curing processes, then the heating system can be installed, but construction time and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating system installationVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The heating structure is divided into separate modular components: an insulator layer, an ondol panel with integrated hot water passages, and a pipe housing. These modules can be manufactured independently and assembled without requiring multiple cement casting and curing cycles, thereby reducing construction time while maintaining installation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite construction combining the insulator (first material), ondol panel (second material), and pipe housing (third material) with different thermal and structural properties. This composite approach allows each layer to perform its specific function without requiring extensive cement work, reducing both time and cost while ensuring proper installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional heating structures use multiple cement casting and curing processes, then the heating system can be installed, but construction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating system installationVSAvoidconstruction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the heating system into pre-fabricated modules (insulator, ondol panel, pipe housing), each component can be manufactured efficiently using optimized processes and materials. This reduces waste, lowers material costs, and eliminates the need for expensive multiple cement casting operations, thereby reducing overall construction costs while maintaining installation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the construction parameters from traditional cement-based multi-layer casting to a modular assembly approach. This parameter change eliminates curing time requirements and reduces material costs associated with multiple cement layers, making the construction process more cost-effective while ensuring reliable installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If water leakage occurs in conventional heating structures, then the heating system fails, but complete dismantling and reconstruction are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating system functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into modular components where the ondol panel with hot water passages is a separate replaceable unit. If water leakage occurs, only the affected ondol panel or pipe housing module needs to be removed and replaced, not the entire heating system. This segmentation dramatically simplifies maintenance while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hot water passages and pipes are extracted as separate, accessible components within the modular structure. The pipe housing can be removed to access and replace leaking pipes without dismantling the entire floor heating system, enabling easy repair while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If conventional heating structures use multiple layers, then the heating system can be constructed, but the overall floor load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating system constructionVSAvoidfloor load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses thin-film or thin-walled modular components for the insulator, ondol panel, and pipe housing instead of thick cement layers. These thin-walled structures provide the necessary thermal insulation and structural support while significantly reducing the overall weight and floor load compared to traditional multi-layer cement constructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

By using composite materials with high strength-to-weight ratios for the insulator, ondol panel, and pipe housing, the invention achieves reliable heating system construction with minimal weight. The composite structure provides adequate mechanical strength and thermal performance without the excessive weight of traditional multi-layer cement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution reduces construction time and costs, maintains flatness, and simplifies maintenance by allowing for quick replacement of faulty panels, while minimizing the overall load and construction costs associated with the heating structure.

Implementation Method 1

an insulator (110) disposed on a top surface of a structure (100)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

an ondol panel (200) disposed on a top surface of the insulator (110), the ondol panel having a hot water passage (211)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2532977B1Heating structure
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 LEE SANG WON
  • EP2532977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2532977B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2532977B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is a heating structure used for increasing an indoor temperature. The heating structure includes an insulator disposed on a top surface a structure, an ondol panel disposed on a top surface of the insulator, the ondol panel having a hot water passage including an inlet port and an outlet port, a pipe housing having a top surface to correspond to the top surface of the insulator, the pipe housing including a connection pipe receiving part therein, a hot water supply pipe having one end connected to the inlet port and the other end connected to a hot water supply part, the hot water supply pipe being received in the connection pipe receiving part, and a hot water discharge pipe having one end connected to the outlet port and the other end connected to a hot water discharge part, the hot water discharge pipe being received in the connection pipe receiving part. Thus, it may be unnecessary to wait until the casted cement is cured like the related art. Therefore, a construction period may be significantly reduced, and also, construction costs may be reduced. Also, if water leakage occurs in one of the ondol panels, only the leaking ondol panel may be replaced to easily maintain and repair the heating structure.