Variable Thickness Carbon Heating Conductor for Localized Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating devices lack the ability to adapt to specific installation or operating conditions, and they often have uniform heating power distribution, which is not suitable for applications requiring localized temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A heating device with a flat electrical heating conductor made of carbon-based materials, such as graphite, is designed to vary in thickness along its path between electrical connections, allowing for non-uniform heating power distribution and temperature control. The heating conductor can be configured in various geometric shapes and thickness profiles to achieve specific heating patterns, including circular and rectangular designs, with thickness variations that can be adjusted using layer application or removal methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If uniform heating conductor thickness is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but heating power distribution is uniform and cannot be adapted to specific installation or operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The heating conductor is designed with spatially varying thickness, where different regions have different thicknesses to provide localized heating power adjustments. This allows adaptation to specific installation conditions and operating requirements without requiring multiple different heating devices.
2Temperature
If heating conductor thickness varies, then localized temperature control is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness parameter of the heating conductor is varied continuously or in steps across different regions to achieve desired temperature distributions. This parameter change allows localized temperature control while the manufacturing process is designed to accommodate these variations.
3Quantity of substance
If carbon-based heating conductor material is used, then material costs are reduced, but manufacturing precision control becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The heating conductor uses carbon-based material with spatially varying thickness to achieve both cost reduction and functional requirements. The local thickness variations are intentionally designed to compensate for material properties and achieve uniform heating performance.
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 configuration enables precise control over heating power and temperature distribution, allowing for optimal heat transfer in applications like heating flowing media, while reducing material costs and thermal stress on the device.
Implementation Method 1
at least one planar electrical heating conductor arranged on the support... The heating conductor material is carbon-based, for example, in a simple embodiment, graphite with a very high proportion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 3E~3F
AI summary
A heating device comprises a support and a planar electrical heating conductor arranged on the support, which runs between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the at least one heating conductor has a carbon-based material as its heating conductor material. The thickness of the heating conductor between the electrical terminals can vary, at least partially, and is not constant in order to adapt to a locally available heating power. Additionally, the heating conductor can be either rectangular and short or annular.