Portable Heater Core Layout for Low Pressure Drop Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional space heaters face challenges in thermal efficiency and ease of serviceability, particularly with the increasing costs and diminishing supply of fossil fuels, necessitating the development of more efficient and maintainable heating solutions.
Innovation Solution
A portable space heater design featuring a heat exchanger with an inner and outer cylindrical duct configuration, a fan for air circulation, and a dividing wall to direct airflow through a heat exchanger, enhancing thermal efficiency and serviceability by minimizing pressure drops and allowing for easy replacement of thermal energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional space heaters are designed with simple structures, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal efficiency deteriorates due to higher airflow pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger employs a nested dual-duct configuration where an inner cylindrical duct is positioned within an outer cylindrical duct, creating intermediate chambers that guide airflow. This nesting arrangement increases thermal exchange surface area and improves thermal efficiency without adding external structural complexity, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional single-duct or planar heat exchanger designs to a three-dimensional dual-duct cylindrical configuration. This dimensional change creates intermediate chambers that optimize airflow paths and thermal exchange surfaces, improving thermal efficiency without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
2Loss of energy
If conventional space heaters use complex heat exchanger designs to improve thermal efficiency, then thermal efficiency is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates due to difficult component replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into distinct modular components: an inner cylindrical duct, an outer cylindrical duct, and intermediate chambers. This segmentation allows individual components to be manufactured separately and assembled, facilitating easier repair and replacement of specific parts without requiring complete disassembly of the entire heat exchanger assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested dual-duct design allows the inner duct to be independently accessed and replaced within the outer duct structure. This nesting configuration maintains compact dimensions for improved thermal efficiency while enabling sequential access to internal components for maintenance and repair operations.
3Ease of repair
If heater core components are made accessible for serviceability, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional access mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The heater core is divided into separable modules that can be independently accessed through strategic openings in the housing. This segmentation enables service personnel to access specific components without disassembling the entire device, improving ease of repair while avoiding the complexity of multiple access mechanisms by using simple opening configurations.
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 design achieves improved thermal efficiency by reducing airflow pressure drops and allowing for efficient heating of larger areas while keeping the exterior case cool, with enhanced serviceability through minimal disassembly for maintenance and replacement of components.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger comprises an inner duct and an outer duct, both cylindrical having a circular cross-section in the illustrated embodiment. The inner duct is disposed adjacent and surrounding the source of thermal energy and the outer duct surrounds the inner duct to define an intermediate chamber between the inner and outer ducts.
Implementation Method 2
A fan communicates with the air inlet and the air outlet for moving air through the heater core.
Implementation Method 3
The dividing wall separates the heater core into a first portion adjacent the air inlet and a second portion adjacent the air outlet. The dividing wall inhibits fluid communication between the air inlet and air outlet, and the dividing wall further comprises an opening extending therethrough.
Data Source
AI summary
A heater is provided with a heater core having a source of thermal energy in a heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger. A fan moves air through the heater core from an air inlet to an air outlet. The heater core is thermally insulated by an air jacket from an exterior case.