Transformer Heating Element for High-Voltage Vehicle Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating elements in vehicles, especially electric vehicles, require high DC voltages for operation, leading to large and costly designs due to the need for extensive insulation measures for personal and fire protection.
Innovation Solution
A compact heating element design utilizing a transformer to convert high DC voltage from the vehicle electrical system into a low AC voltage, where the secondary winding of the transformer serves as the heating conductor, allowing for efficient heating with reduced insulation needs and increased safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high DC voltage is applied to heating elements, then heating output is sufficient, but insulation measures are required increasing size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
A transformer is introduced as an intermediary device between the high voltage power source and the heating element. The transformer converts high DC voltage to low AC voltage, allowing the heating element to operate at safe low voltages while still achieving sufficient heating output through the transformed electrical parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters from high DC voltage to low AC voltage by using a transformer. This parameter transformation allows the heating element to maintain adequate heating performance while operating at voltages that do not require extensive insulation measures, thus reducing device complexity.
2Power
If high DC voltage is used for heating, then heating performance is adequate, but personal and fire protection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transformer acts as a protective intermediary that isolates the heating element from high voltage dangers. By converting high DC voltage to low AC voltage, the transformer enables adequate heating performance while eliminating the personal and fire protection risks associated with high voltage operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful high DC voltage into beneficial low AC voltage through the transformer. This transformation maintains heating performance while converting the harmful high voltage characteristic into a safe low voltage operation, thus turning a harmful factor into a benefit.
3Reliability
If insulation measures are added to high voltage heating elements, then safety is improved, but device size and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transformer serves as a safety intermediary that provides isolation between the power source and heating element. This intermediary approach achieves safety improvement without requiring additional insulation measures on the heating element itself, thereby avoiding increases in device size and production cost.
4Reliability
If insulation measures are added to high voltage heating elements, then safety is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transformer provides safety improvement through voltage transformation rather than through costly insulation measures. This intermediary approach achieves the same safety level while avoiding the increased production costs that would result from extensive insulation materials and assembly processes.
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 enables a compact, lightweight heating element that can be integrated into vehicle air-conditioners with high heating output while minimizing insulation requirements, allowing for efficient and safe operation with reduced material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a transformer (6) for transforming the high AC voltage into a low AC voltage. The transformer (6) has a primary winding (7) that is connected to the converter unit (5) in an electrically conductive manner and a secondary winding (8) interacting with the primary winding (7) in the known manner
Implementation Method 2
an electrically conductive heating conductor (2) equipped for heating air or liquid which leads through a fluid path for a fluid flow of air or liquid, so that the heating conductor can be flowed about by air or liquid
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating element (1) comprising a heating conductor (2) equipped for heating air or liquid, a converter unit (5) for converting a high DC voltage of a vehicle electrical system (10) into a low AC voltage (11) and a transformer (6) for transforming the high AC voltage (11) into a low AC voltage (12). During the operation of the heating element (1), the converter unit (5) is fed from a vehicle electrical system (9) with a high DC voltage of a vehicle electrical system (10) wherein a high AC voltage (11) generated by way of the converter unit (5) from the high DC voltage of a vehicle electrical system (10) is fed to a primary winding (7) of the transformer (6). A secondary winding (8) of the transformer (6) has a lower winding number than the primary winding (7), so that the high AC voltage (11) fed to the primary winding (7) is transformed into a low AC voltage (12) in the secondary winding (8). It is substantial that a heating conductor (2) forms the secondary winding (8). The invention relates in particular to a vehicle having such a heating element (1) and further in particular to a method for operating such a heating element (1).