Power controlled heating system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating cables face issues with high starting currents and complex installations due to their length, leading to safety concerns and increased costs, especially when cut to specific lengths for applications, as they require adaptation of voltage and are not as mechanically strong as series resistive cables.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using series resistive heating members with predetermined resistance per unit length, allowing for adaptation to various lengths and providing a constant current to maintain power output within a defined voltage interval, eliminating the need for voltage transformation and ensuring safety and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a heating cable is made longer to cover larger areas, then the heating coverage is improved, but the starting current increases to dangerous levels
Solution Approach 1:
The heating cable is divided into multiple parallel conductors, each carrying a portion of the total current. This segmentation distributes the current load across multiple paths, reducing the current density and preventing dangerous starting currents while maintaining adequate heating coverage over larger areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters by using multiple parallel conductors with specific resistance values. By adjusting the number of conductors and their individual resistance, the system maintains constant power output per unit length while operating within safe voltage intervals (8-230V, 15-400V, 5-110V, or 40-1000V), thereby controlling starting current levels.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a heating cable is cut to a specific length for a particular application, then the adaptability is improved, but the installation complexity increases due to voltage transformation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The heating cable is designed with multiple parallel conductors that can be configured to provide universal compatibility across different voltage intervals. The same cable design can operate within 8-230V, 15-400V, 5-110V, or 40-1000V ranges, eliminating the need for voltage transformation equipment and simplifying installation while maintaining length adaptability.
3Reliability
If the current is kept constant to prevent high starting currents, then the safety is improved, but the required voltage increases with cable length
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heating cable into multiple parallel conductors, the total resistance is distributed across multiple paths. This allows the system to maintain constant current operation for safety while the required voltage remains within acceptable intervals because the parallel configuration effectively reduces the overall resistance compared to a single long conductor.
4Ease of operation
If a parallel resistive cable is used to allow cutting to length, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mechanical strength and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel conductor structure provides inherent cut-to-length capability while maintaining mechanical strength. Each conductor can be independently managed, and the parallel configuration distributes mechanical stresses, allowing the cable to be cut and installed on-site without compromising structural integrity, unlike series configurations where cutting would break the continuous current path.
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 allows for flexible and cost-efficient heating solutions by maintaining constant power output per unit length, reducing safety risks, and enabling heating cables to be adapted on-site to specific lengths without complex voltage transformations, suitable for various applications including floor heating and pipe heating.
Implementation Method 1
The current is related to the voltage according to Ohm's law: U = R . I, wherein U is the provided voltage, I is the current and R is the total resistance of the heating element. The resulting power output which corresponds to an increased temperature of the heating element and thus, its surrounding environment, may be formulated as P = U ·I = R ·I 2
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
In summary, the present invention discloses a method for heating an object, where the method comprises the steps of: choosing (101) one or more elongated heating member or members; adapting (102) said one or more elongated heating member or members to form an elongated combined heating member (21) having a length within a predetermined length interval; and providing (103) a predetermined constant current through said elongated combined heating member (21) by connecting a means (22) for generating a constant current to a first end (23) and a second end (24) of said elongated combined heating member (21), such that said combined heating member (21) generating a power per unit length when said constant current flowing through said combined heating member (21) between said first end (23) and said second end (24). The present invention further discloses a device (20) for heating an object and a kit of parts (4) for assembling such a heating device.