Underfloor Heater With Raised Heat Diffuser to Reduce Boiling Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power electric heaters in liquid heating vessels generate excessive noise due to bubble nucleation and collapse, which existing noise reduction methods may adversely affect thermal transfer and increase boil time.
Innovation Solution
An underfloor heater with a raised portion containing heat diffusing material above the heating element to enhance heat transfer and reduce noise, featuring a heat diffusing plate to direct heat perpendicular to the raised portion and inhibit bubble collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high power ratings (up to 3 kW) are used in electric heaters, then heating speed is improved, but noise generation increases due to bubble nucleation and collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (anti-scale composition) between the heating element and the water to prevent direct contact and bubble formation. This mediator reduces noise by preventing bubble nucleation on the heating element surface while allowing thermal energy transfer to continue efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the water by adding anti-scale composition, which modifies the water's properties to reduce bubble formation. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high power heating while reducing noise through altered nucleation characteristics.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If known proposals for reducing heating noise are implemented, then noise is reduced, but thermal transfer to the liquid deteriorates and boil time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chemical parameter changes (adding anti-scale composition) rather than physical barrier methods, maintaining thermal transfer efficiency while reducing noise through modified bubble nucleation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-scale composition acts as a chemical intermediary that facilitates thermal transfer while preventing noise-generating bubble formation, unlike physical barriers that would impede heat transfer.
3Power
If the heating element surface temperature is increased, then heating power is improved, but bubble generation speed and density increase causing more noise
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-scale composition intermediary allows the heating element to operate at high temperatures for maximum power output while preventing the direct bubble formation that would cause noise, decoupling power output from noise generation.
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 reduces noise and improves heating efficiency by minimizing bubble formation and enhancing thermal conduction, while maintaining effective heat transfer into the liquid.
Implementation Method 1
a raised portion including heat diffusing material located above an underfloor heating element so as to assist heat transfer into the liquid to be heated
Implementation Method 2
an underfloor heating element
Implementation Method 3
the nucleation of small bubbles that emanate from or close to the hot surface of the kettle element, rise within the liquid and then collapse
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
An electrical heater for a liquid heating vessel comprises a base plate having an upper side for forming at least part of the floor of a liquid reservoir of the vessel and an underside to which an electrical heating element is directly or indirectly attached. The base plate includes a raised portion arranged to project upwardly into the reservoir, the raised portion including heat diffusing material and being arranged above the heating element such that heat generated by the heating element passes through the heat diffusing material.