Multiple Pillar Liquid Heater for Uniform Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for heating liquids, such as breastmilk, are often time-consuming and imprecise, leading to potential nutrient degradation, bacterial pasteurization, and the risk of scalding due to excessive temperatures and temperature gradients.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion heater system integrated within a liquid holding vessel, featuring multiple heater pillars with resistive wire coils, a thermal sensor, and a mixing element driven by a motor, which efficiently heats liquids to a target temperature while minimizing hotspots through even heat distribution and automatic temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple heater pillars are used to heat liquid, then heating speed and temperature uniformity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heater pillars (at least two) that are distributed within the liquid-holding volume. Each pillar contains a heating element that independently heats the liquid, enabling parallel heating operations that increase overall heating speed and improve temperature uniformity throughout the liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
A mixing element is introduced as an intermediary component that circulates the liquid between the heater pillars and the bulk liquid. This mediator ensures efficient heat transfer from the heater pillars to the entire liquid volume, maximizing the heating effectiveness of the multiple pillars while maintaining system simplicity.
2Productivity
If heating power is increased to reduce heating time, then productivity is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates causing hotspots
Solution Approach 1:
The total heating power is segmented across multiple heater pillars, each operating at lower individual power levels. This distribution prevents localized overheating and hotspots while maintaining high overall heating efficiency through parallel operation of multiple heating zones.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor pillar equipped with thermal sensors provides real-time temperature feedback to a computing system. The computing system continuously monitors temperature at multiple locations and dynamically adjusts the power supplied to each heater pillar to maintain uniform temperature distribution, preventing hotspots even during rapid heating.
3Device complexity
If a single heating location is used, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature uniformity deteriorates causing hotspots
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single heating location, the system employs multiple heater pillars positioned at different locations within the liquid-holding volume. This spatial segmentation of heating sources ensures that heat is applied throughout the liquid, creating uniform temperature distribution and eliminating hotspots that would occur with a single heating point.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system transitions from a single-point (0D) or surface (2D) heating approach to a volumetric (3D) heating distribution by placing heater pillars throughout the liquid volume. This dimensional change enables simultaneous heating from multiple spatial locations, dramatically improving temperature uniformity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If heating duration is extended to ensure even heating, then temperature uniformity is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heater pillars operate simultaneously to provide distributed heating throughout the liquid volume, enabling rapid achievement of temperature uniformity without requiring extended heating duration that would be necessary with a single heating source.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing element continuously circulates the liquid throughout the heating process, ensuring that all portions of the liquid are constantly exposed to heated regions. This continuous action maintains efficient heat transfer throughout the entire heating duration, achieving uniform temperature quickly and maintaining it consistently.
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 system quickly and evenly heats liquids to a target temperature, reducing the risk of nutrient degradation and scalding by ensuring precise temperature control and minimizing temperature gradients.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the at least two heater pillars can be configured to comprise a heating element configured to transfer heat to a liquid in a liquid-holding volume
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the heating elements comprise respective resistive wire coils
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and apparatuses for heating a liquid are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a heater includes a base comprising a generally planar surface and at least two heater pillars and a sensor pillar configured on the base. The at least two heater pillars each comprise heating elements. The sensor pillar includes a thermal sensor. A mixing element is configured on the generally planar surface of the base and is coupled to a mixing motor. When powered, the heating elements of the heater pillars are configured to generate heat and the mixing motor is configured to cause the mixing element to rotate.