PTC heating element and electrical heating device with such a PTC heating element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PTC heating elements face limitations in heat output and efficiency due to shielding structures that obstruct direct fluid access to the heat-emitting surface, leading to suboptimal heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-permeable metal structure surrounds the PTC element and conductor paths, creating an electromagnetic shield while allowing direct fluid access to the heat-emitting surface, enhancing heat transfer through swirling fluid flow and convective dissipation, with a mesh size optimized for turbulent flow and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed shielding shell is used to provide electromagnetic shielding, then electromagnetic radiation is blocked, but heat transfer to the medium is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a mesh structure made of metal wires or rods with mesh sizes between 1-10mm, creating a porous electromagnetic shield that allows fluid penetration. This porous structure enables direct contact between the heating element and the medium while maintaining electromagnetic shielding through the conductive metal framework
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding structure combines conductive metal materials (for electromagnetic shielding) with an open mesh geometry (for fluid flow). This composite approach integrates both shielding and heat transfer functions into a single structure, eliminating the need for separate closed shells
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shielding is placed close to the heat-emitting surface, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but fluid access to the heat-emitting surface is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh structure's inherent porosity allows fluid to reach the heat-emitting surface even when the shielding is positioned close to it. The open spaces in the mesh provide flow paths while the metal framework maintains shielding effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding effectiveness is achieved not just by proximity to the heat-emitting surface but by the three-dimensional mesh structure that extends into the fluid flow path, providing shielding through multiple layers of conductive material while maintaining fluid access
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 improves heat transfer efficiency by allowing fluids to directly reach the heat-emitting surface, increasing the heat output and effectiveness of the PTC heating element, while maintaining electromagnetic shielding and ease of electrical connection.
Implementation Method 1
PTC heating element comprising at least one PTC element and two conductor paths assigned to different polarities, which are electrically conductively connected to the PTC element
Implementation Method 2
The PTC heating element has a metal structure that is made fluid-permeable and defines an electromagnetic shielding around the PTC element and the conductor paths
Implementation Method 3
the fluid flow is swirled by the metal structure, which leads to an improved heat transfer at the interface, i.e. the heat-emitting surface
Implementation Method 4
a flow gap is created between the shielding and the heat-emitting surface. In this flow gap, there is an improved heat transfer compared to known solutions, since the fluid flow is swirled by the metal structure
Implementation Method 5
The PTC heating element has a metal structure that is made fluid-permeable and defines an electromagnetic shielding around the PTC element and the conductor paths
Data Source
AI summary
A PTC heating element comprises at least one PTC element and two conductor paths which are assigned to different polarities and which are electrically conductively connected to the PTC element and are provided with connection elements for the electrical connection of the PTC element. The PTC heating element has improved heat discharge due to the provision of an electromagnetic shielding which is formed from a fluid-permeable metal structure and which surrounds the PTC element and the conductor paths.