Panel heater and method for assembling such a panel heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel heaters face inefficiencies in heat transfer due to unpredictable stress mounting and cumbersome installation, leading to inconsistent thermal contact and reduced ΔT coefficient.
Innovation Solution
A planar heater package with a heat-radiating panel and heat source held by transverse brackets, allowing for controlled pre-stress and easy installation, featuring a concave curvature and thermal insulation, with retaining wires and lateral strips to maintain thermal efficiency during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the panel is mounted directly in the housing under stress, then thermal contact is improved, but the stress control becomes difficult and mounting becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a removable front part and a fixed rear part, allowing the panel to be mounted in the front part separately and then attached to the rear part. This segmentation enables easy installation while maintaining controlled stress on the panel for good thermal contact.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting bracket or front housing part acts as an intermediary between the panel and the main housing. This intermediary component provides a controlled mounting interface that applies consistent stress to the panel, ensuring good thermal contact while making installation and removal straightforward.
2Loss of energy
If the panel is mounted under high stress to improve thermal contact, then heat efficiency improves, but the mounting precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is pre-stressed in a controlled manner during the mounting process using the removable front housing or mounting brackets. This preliminary action ensures the panel is under optimal stress for thermal contact before final installation, reducing the need for high precision during the actual mounting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system allows for adjustment of the stress parameter applied to the panel. By changing the mounting parameters (such as the clamping force or positioning), optimal thermal contact can be achieved without requiring extremely high mounting precision.
3Reliability
If the panel is securely fixed in the housing to maintain pre-stress, then thermal efficiency improves, but panel replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into removable and fixed parts, allowing the panel to be securely mounted in the removable front part while the rear part remains fixed. This enables easy panel replacement by simply removing the front part, while maintaining stable thermal contact when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a static fixed mounting to a dynamic removable mounting. The front housing or brackets can be easily attached and detached, allowing the panel to be securely fixed during operation for stable thermal contact, but easily replaced when needed.
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
Enhances thermal efficiency and ΔT coefficient by ensuring consistent pre-stress and improved thermal contact between the panel and heat source, reducing heat loss and increasing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the package is maintained by said lateral portions so as to be in a stressed condition with respect to the brackets when the panel is heated, as a consequence of thermal expansion of the panel with respect to the brackets
Implementation Method 2
The package preferably further comprises at least one layer of thermal insulation material in contact with the heat source
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
In a heater according to the invention, a heat-radiating panel (3) is part of a planar package (1) comprising, besides the panel (3), a heat source (4,6,21) and preferably a thermal insulation means (5,22), wherein said package (1) is held in place along two opposite edges of the package (1), by a number of brackets (2) which run transversally from one edge (10) of the package to an opposite edge (20), along the back side of the package (1). The brackets (2) are removably mounted in the housing (25,26,27) of the heater. In this way, the package (1) can be easily installed in and removed from the housing (25,26,27). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the panel (3) is mounted under a pre-stress with respect to the brackets (2) by the fact that the mounting of the edges of the panel (3) into the brackets (2) imposes a concave curvature on the panel (1), the curve running from one edge to the opposite edge. The fact that the panel (3) is mounted in the brackets (2) instead of the housing (25,26,27) makes it possible to mount the panel (3) under a well-defined pre-stress that is not dependent on the housing (25,26,27) as such.