Radiant Heater Assembly for Uniform Poultry Floor Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infrared heaters in poultry houses create large hot and cold areas on the floor, leading to inefficient heating and discomfort for birds, as they do not effectively maintain a consistent temperature zone within the desired range of 85°F to 100°F.
Innovation Solution
A radiant heater is designed with a burner assembly, end plates, an inner cone, emitter assemblies, a reflector pan, and a canopy to produce a quadrangular heat zone on the floor within the specified temperature range, redirecting heat downward and outward to maximize floor heating while minimizing heat loss to the ceiling and sidewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional infrared heaters are used in poultry houses, then radiant heat is provided to the floor, but large hot and cold areas are created on the floor resulting in inefficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The heater divides the heating function into multiple emitter assemblies (first and second emitter assemblies) positioned at different locations and angles, each responsible for heating specific zones. This segmentation allows the heater to cover the entire floor area more uniformly, reducing hot and cold spots while maintaining heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater employs emitter assemblies with different orientations and positions to address specific local heating needs. The first emitter assembly targets one area of the floor while the second emitter assembly targets another area, allowing each component to optimize its local heating quality and collectively achieve uniform overall temperature distribution.
2Loss of energy
If radiant heat is directed downward to heat the floor, then floor heating efficiency is improved, but heat is lost to ceiling and sidewalls
Solution Approach 1:
The heater changes the directional parameters of heat emission by positioning emitter assemblies at specific angles and orientations. This parameter optimization ensures that the majority of radiant heat is directed downward onto the floor where it is needed, while minimizing upward and lateral heat loss to the ceiling and sidewalls, thereby improving both energy efficiency and heating effectiveness.
3Area of stationary object
If the heater covers a larger floor area, then the comfort zone increases, but the temperature spread becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The heater segments the large heating area into multiple zones, each served by a dedicated emitter assembly. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone's temperature while collectively covering a larger comfort area, maintaining temperature consistency across the entire floor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The emitter assemblies are positioned and oriented asymmetrically to match the specific geometry of the poultry house and the desired comfort zone shape. This asymmetric configuration allows the heater to expand the comfort zone area while maintaining optimal temperature distribution, as each emitter is strategically positioned to address specific spatial requirements.
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 solution generates a larger, more consistent comfort zone on the floor, reducing hot and cold areas, improving fuel efficiency and bird comfort, and ensuring that heat is focused where needed, thereby enhancing weight gain and feed conversion.
Implementation Method 1
The burner assembly is configured to produce heat within the combustion chamber and to heat the emitter assemblies and the inner cone member
Implementation Method 2
The emitter assemblies are configured to direct a substantial portion of the heat downwardly and outwardly toward the floor in order to produce the generally quadrangular zone of heat
Implementation Method 3
A reflector pan is positioned below the burner and the emitter assemblies
Implementation Method 4
Insulation may be provided within the inner cone cavity. The insulation redirects the heat from the inner cone member back toward the emitter assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A radiant heater is configured to be positioned above a floor at a predetermined distance and to produce a generally quadrangular zone of heat within a predetermined temperature range, preferably between approximately eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit and one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit, on the floor. The heater includes an elongated burner assembly, an inner cone member, at least one emitter assembly and end plates which define a combustion chamber. The emitter assembly is configured to direct heat produced within the combustion chamber downwardly and outwardly to the floor to form the generally quadrangular zone of heat. A canopy is provided which directs heat heading upwardly and outwardly back downwardly toward the floor and toward the emitter assembly. A reflector pan is positioned below the burner and the emitter assembly and assists in directing the heat from the emitter assembly toward the floor. A blower assembly may be incorporated into the heater.