Electric Plate Radiator Flow-Return Layout for Uniform Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric panel radiators lack medium circulation, leading to inefficient heat distribution, frequent switching of the heating element, reduced service life, and uneven temperature distribution, which limits heat output and increases the risk of burns.

Innovation Solution

An electric flat heating element design where one plate serves as the flow and one as the return, with strategically oriented bores in the support inserts to create a defined flow direction for the heating medium, allowing circulation and improving heat distribution and output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heating plates are filled with heating medium and heating device is arranged between them, then heating function is achieved, but heat distribution is uneven and heating time is very long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat distributionVSAvoidheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies hydraulic principles by introducing pipe sections that enable circulation of the heating medium through the heating plates. The pipe sections create flow paths that allow the heating medium to move continuously through the system, improving heat distribution and reducing heating time by preventing stagnant zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The heating plates are segmented into multiple zones with pipe sections distributed throughout. This segmentation allows different regions of the heating plates to be served by dedicated pipe sections, ensuring more uniform heat distribution across the entire surface and reducing overall heating time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If heating medium stands in the radiator without circulation, then simple structure is maintained, but temperature differences within plates are large and heat output is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidheat output
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hydraulic circulation system using pipe sections connected to the heating plates. This allows the heating medium to flow continuously through the plates, eliminating stagnant zones and large temperature differences, thereby significantly improving heat output while maintaining relatively simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If heating medium does not circulate, then structure is simple, but water near heating element becomes very warm and switching frequency increases reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a hydraulic circulation system through pipe sections that enable continuous movement of the heating medium. This circulation prevents localized overheating near the heating element, reducing thermal stress and switching frequency, thereby extending the service life of the heating element and switching device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Device complexity

If both plates are heated evenly without flow/return definition, then structure is simple, but heat distribution is poor and burn risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidburn risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by creating distinct flow and return paths through the pipe sections. The heating medium enters through one plate (flow plate) and returns through the other (return plate), creating intentional temperature differences between plates. This asymmetric design allows control over which plate is warmer, reducing burn risk on the return plate side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by defining different thermal characteristics for different plates. The flow plate is designed to be warmer while the return plate is cooler, allowing adaptation to different safety requirements (e.g., in schools and kindergartens where the cooler return plate faces the room to reduce burn risk).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design enhances heat distribution and comfort, reduces the frequency of heating element switching, extends its service life, and increases heat output by promoting medium circulation and uniform temperature distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device (4) is provided between the heating plates (1, 2), which is surrounded by a heating medium and is connected to the heating plates (1, 2) by pipe sections (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the heating medium heats it, which in turn heats the heating plates... the heat spreads in the heating medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2187144B1Electric plate radiator
Publication Date: 2014.12.24 H M HEIZKORPER GMBH CO
  • EP2187144B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2187144B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The electrical flat radiator has two heating plates (1,2), which are connected with each other by a pipe piece (3) and a heating unit (4). The heating unit is surrounded by a heating medium and is arranged between the heating plates. The heating unit has an inlet and outlet in the heating plates for the heating medium. The outlet is arranged on the heating plate in an area of the heating unit more deeply than the intake in the other heating plate.