Plane Heating Element Layout for Uniform High-Temperature Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resistive electric stoves with plane heating elements face limitations in uniformly heating at high temperatures and maximizing the heating area due to uniform insulation gaps between bridges, which restricts the realization of high power in limited areas.

Innovation Solution

The electric heater features a plane heating element with varying insulation gaps between bridges, proportional to the potential difference, allowing for a more efficient distribution of heat and increased hot wire length within a limited area, thereby optimizing the heating area and power delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uniform insulation gaps are maintained between all bridges in the plane heating element, then electrical insulation is ensured, but the heating area is reduced and uniform high-temperature heating cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidheating area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the insulation gap sizes based on local electrical potential differences. Bridges are categorized into first bridges (lower potential difference) and second bridges (higher potential difference), with corresponding first and second insulation gaps. This allows each region to have optimized gap dimensions matching its electrical characteristics, maximizing heating area while maintaining insulation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the insulation gap is increased to ensure electrical insulation between bridges, then safety is improved, but the heating area and power output are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulation safetyVSAvoidpower output
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by setting different insulation gap dimensions for different bridge locations. First bridges experience lower potential differences and use smaller first insulation gaps, while second bridges face higher potential differences and use larger second insulation gaps. This localized optimization allows maximum heating area and power output while ensuring adequate insulation where electrically necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If the heating element area is limited, then the device size is compact, but the maximum achievable power and heating area are constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating element areaVSAvoidpower output
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Within the constrained heating element area, the patent applies local quality by strategically varying insulation gap sizes. By using smaller gaps where electrical stress is lower and larger gaps where electrical stress is higher, the design maximizes the usable heating area within the limited space, thereby achieving higher power output without increasing overall device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by varying the insulation gap dimension parameter across different bridge locations. This parameter optimization allows denser bridge packing in low-stress regions and adequate spacing in high-stress regions, maximizing the number of bridges and total heating area within the constrained device footprint, thus increasing power output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enables uniform high-temperature heating across a larger area while achieving higher power output in a compact space by adjusting the gap sizes between bridges based on potential differences, enhancing cooking efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element attached to the surface of the substrate and having a predetermined shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3614803B1Electric heater
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3614803B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3614803B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3614803B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An example of an electric heater according to the present invention includes a substrate (an insulating material capable of forming a conductor pattern on a surface of an insulating substrate); and a plane heating element formed on one surface of the substrate, in which the plane heating element includes a pattern portion connecting a start point and an end point, which are located at the outermost side, the pattern portion includes a plurality of tracks having an arc shape, which are spaced apart from each other and are formed to have a length increasing from the inside to the outside, and a plurality of bridges connecting the tracks in series, and the bridges are formed on both sides with respect to a reference line passing through the center of the pattern portion, and an innermost gap Gin between the pair of bridges located at the innermost side of the pattern portion and facing each other about a reference line is configured to be shorter than an outermost gap Gout between a pair of bridges located at the outermost side of the pattern portion and facing each other about the reference line.