Preheating Element Managing PTC Heating Element Current Surge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices for providing liquid additives, such as urea-water solutions, face challenges with freezing at low temperatures and insufficient current supply during startup, particularly when using PTC heating elements, which can lead to overheating and inadequate heating power.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a preheating element to raise the temperature of a PTC heating element, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reducing the high initial current demand of PTC heating elements, thereby preventing overload and ensuring effective thawing of frozen additives without excessive energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a PTC heating element is used to melt frozen liquid additive, then the liquid additive can be thawed effectively, but the current consumption during start of operation becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a preheating element to raise the temperature of the PTC heating element before it is activated. This preheating step reduces the temperature difference between the PTC element and the frozen liquid additive, thereby reducing the initial current demand when the PTC element starts operating. The preheating element is activated first to bring the PTC element to a temperature where its electrical resistance is not yet at maximum, thus lowering the power surge.
2Reliability
If a PTC heating element is used for heating, then automatic protection against overheating is achieved through resistance increase, but the available current from the power supply becomes insufficient during start of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by activating a preheating element before the PTC heating element. This sequence ensures that when the PTC element is activated, the temperature difference is reduced, which lowers the initial current demand and prevents power supply overload while maintaining the PTC element's automatic overheating protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The preheating element acts as an intermediary between the power supply and the PTC heating element. It prepares the thermal conditions before the PTC element operates, mediating the transition from cold start to active heating while managing current consumption and preventing power supply overload.
3Speed
If the PTC heating element is activated directly without preheating, then the device can start operation quickly, but the high initial current demand causes power supply overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by activating a preheating element before the PTC heating element to reduce the temperature difference and initial current demand. This sequence manages the start-up process to prevent power supply overload while still achieving relatively quick operation start.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by activating the preheating element first, then subsequently activating the PTC heating element after a time delay. This staged, periodic activation allows the system to manage current consumption in phases rather than all at once, preventing power supply overload while maintaining efficient operation.
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 approach enables efficient thawing of frozen liquid additives while minimizing current consumption and preventing overheating, ensuring reliable device operation under cold start conditions by using a preheating element to preheat the PTC heating element, thus optimizing the temperature range for efficient melting and reducing energy losses.
Implementation Method 1
conducting heat from the preheating element to the at least one PTC heating element such that a temperature of the at least one PTC heating element is raised
Implementation Method 2
PTC heating elements are electrical heating elements heated by an electrical current flowing through them
Implementation Method 3
They have the additional characteristic that the electrical resistance for the current increases with rising temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A method for starting operation of a device for providing a liquid additive, the device having at least one preheating element and at least one PTC heating element, includes: a) heating by the at least one preheating element; b) conducting heat from the at least one preheating element to the at least one PTC heating element such that a temperature of the at least one PTC heating element is raised; and c) heating by the at least one PTC heating element when the temperature of the PTC heating element has been raised.