Resistive structure for the uniform heating of fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers for providing hot water suffer from temperature fluctuations when the tap is opened, leading to unsafe high temperatures, and require additional storage tanks or pipelines, increasing dimensions and costs.
Innovation Solution
A resistive structure with a labyrinthine design, using a perforated tubular element and a ring-shaped resistive layer, allows for instantaneous and uniform heating of fluids without the need for storage tanks or long pipelines, utilizing a large heat exchange surface within a compact device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a plate heat exchanger is used to heat water, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but temperature control stability deteriorates causing unsafe high temperatures when tap is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow path is segmented into multiple serpentine channels within the resistor body, creating multiple heating zones that work in parallel. This segmentation ensures uniform heat distribution and prevents localized overheating, maintaining temperature stability even during rapid flow changes when the tap is opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistor body pre-heats the water in a controlled manner through its extended serpentine path before the water reaches the outlet. This preliminary heating action ensures that the water temperature is stabilized at the desired level before delivery, eliminating the temperature spike problem that occurs with conventional heat exchangers during tap opening.
2Reliability
If storage tanks or long pipelines are added to maintain temperature, then temperature control is improved, but device dimensions and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is merged directly into the water flow path by integrating the resistor body with inlet and outlet channels. This combination eliminates the need for separate storage tanks or long pipelines, achieving compact dimensions while maintaining effective temperature control through the serpentine heating path.
Solution Approach 2:
The water flow is redirected into a serpentine path within the three-dimensional resistor body structure. This dimensional transformation allows the water to traverse a long heating path within a compact volume, achieving effective heating without requiring long linear pipelines or large storage spaces.
3Volume of stationary object
If a compact resistive structure is used, then device dimensions are reduced, but heat exchange surface area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine heating channels are nested within the resistor body structure, with the water flow path winding through the interior volume. This nesting arrangement maximizes the heat exchange surface area within the available volume, achieving compact dimensions while providing sufficient heating surface area for effective heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange surface is extended into the third dimension through the serpentine winding path within the resistor body. Instead of relying on a simple linear path, the water flows through a multi-dimensional serpentine route that increases the effective heat exchange surface area within a compact volume.
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 solution ensures a consistently controlled and homogeneous water temperature, reducing water and time consumption, while maintaining a compact design and avoiding direct fluid contact with the resistive layer, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
resistive structure for uniformly heating fluids
Implementation Method 2
passing cold water through a plates heat exchanger, inside which a hot fluid is sent through
Implementation Method 3
heat exchange which is rather efficient
Data Source
AI summary
A resistive structure for the uniform and homogeneous heating of fluids, comprising a resistor (10) formed by at least one perforated tubular element (13) made of conductive material, inside which there are inserted, in order, starting from the external edge and proceeding towards the center of the resistor (10), at least a first tubular element (11) made of conductive material, an insulating layer (14) within which a wire or ring-shaped resistive layer (12) is embedded, at least a second tubular element (15) made of conductive material and an inner central portion (16) made of conductive material.