Plated Blower Housing as an Ohmic Heater for HVAC Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems require efficient heating solutions for delivering heated airflow, and existing methods may not effectively utilize the blower housing's inner surface for heating, leading to inefficiencies and potential need for additional heater assemblies.
Innovation Solution
The blower housing's inner surface is configured as an ohmic heater by applying electrically-conductive plating and attaching electrodes to distribute electrical current, which heats the airflow through ohmic heating, eliminating the need for separate heater assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate heater assembly is used to heat airflow, then heating function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function with the existing blower housing by applying electrically-conductive plating to the housing's outer surface. This merges the heater functionality into the structural component, eliminating the need for a separate heater assembly while achieving the required airflow heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower housing is given multiple functions: it serves as both the structural housing for the blower and as the heating element. The electrically-conductive plating transforms the housing into a dual-purpose component that provides both mechanical support and thermal heating functionality.
2Productivity
If electrically-conductive plating is applied to blower housing, then heating efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the blower housing by applying an electrically-conductive plating layer. This parameter change enables the housing to function as a heating element, improving heating efficiency through direct resistive heating of the airflow-contacting surface.
3Power
If electrodes are attached to plated surface, then current distribution improves, but attachment reliability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically-conductive plating serves as an intermediary layer between the electrodes and the blower housing. This intermediate conductive layer facilitates reliable electrical connection and current distribution across the housing surface, solving the attachment reliability challenge by providing a dedicated interface for electrode mounting.
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 efficiently heats the airflow within the HVAC system, reducing the requirement for additional heater assemblies and enhancing heating efficiency by distributing heat uniformly across the blower housing's surface.
Implementation Method 1
The blower housing's inner surface is configured as an ohmic heater
Data Source
AI summary
A blower assembly of an HVAC system may include an electrically-conductive plating applied to an inner surface of a blower housing, a first electrode attached to the electrically-conductive plating at an inner wall of the blower housing via an electrically-conductive RTV silicone, and a second electrode attached to the electrically-conductive plating at an outer wall of the blower housing via an electrically-conductive RTV silicone. The first electrode may pass a current through the electrically-conductive plating of the blower housing to the second electrode that may act as an ohmic heater and provide a thermal energy discharge which may exchange heat with an airflow flowing through the blower housing as a result of operating the blower assembly.