Vertical Radiator Channels for Low-Temperature Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiators are inefficient for low-temperature heating systems due to reduced natural convective thermal exchange, leading to larger dimensions and increased energy waste, and lack effectiveness in both heating and cooling applications.
Innovation Solution
A radiator design featuring vertical heating elements with additional heat exchange apparatuses and a three-way thermostatic actuator that automatically switches between heating and cooling modes, utilizing a finned heat exchanger and electric fan for enhanced convective thermal exchange, allowing for efficient operation at low temperatures and reduced dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional radiators are used in low temperature heating systems, then the system can operate at lower temperatures, but the natural convective thermal exchange is remarkably reduced leading to insufficient heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator surface is divided into multiple vertical heating elements with finned structures, increasing the segmented surface area for heat exchange. This segmentation allows each element to generate its own convective currents, maintaining efficiency at lower temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional horizontal or flat radiator surfaces to vertical three-dimensional finned structures. This dimensional change creates natural chimney effects and enhances convective thermal exchange in the vertical dimension, compensating for reduced temperature differential.
2Loss of energy
If the heat carrier fluid temperature is reduced to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but the radiator dimensions must increase to maintain the same thermal output
Solution Approach 1:
The finned structures concentrate heat exchange activity in specific local zones with optimized geometry. Each fin acts as a localized heat transfer enhancement element, allowing the entire radiator to achieve high efficiency without increasing overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiator employs composite finned structures combining different geometric forms (vertical elements, fins, channels) to maximize heat transfer surface density within constrained volume, enabling efficient low-temperature operation without bulky dimensions.
3Productivity
If additional heat exchange apparatuses are added to enhance thermal efficiency, then heating and cooling performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical finned heating elements serve dual functions for both heating and cooling operations. The same structural components enable heat exchange in both directions by reversing the heat carrier fluid temperature, eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple heat exchange functions (convection, radiation, conduction) are merged into a single integrated finned structure. The vertical elements simultaneously perform multiple thermal exchange roles, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high thermal efficiency.
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 radiator achieves high thermal efficiency with reduced dimensions, enabling effective heating and cooling while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact, with performance nearly three times that of standard radiators under similar conditions.
Implementation Method 1
room air follows a convective motion by entering said lower mouth and exiting from said upper mouth of said at least one laminar channel and absorbing heat from the heat carrier fluid flowing in said one or more vertical heating elements
Implementation Method 2
electric fan for enhanced convective thermal exchange
Implementation Method 3
a heating body, usually comprising one or more radiating elements, emitting heat by natural convection and irradiation
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a radiator comprising one or more vertical heating elements (1), capable to receive a flow of a heat carrier fluid coming from a radiator inlet joint (50), characterised in that it further comprises at least one shaped wall (7) coupled to a rear surface of said one or more vertical heating elements (1), said at least one shaped wall (7) having a transverse profile defining at least one laminar channel (703) delimited by said at least one shaped wall (7) and by at least one portion of said one or more vertical heating elements (1) and having a lower mouth and an upper mouth, whereby, when a heat carrier fluid having a temperature higher than a room temperature flows in said one or more vertical heating elements (1), room air follows a convective motion by entering said lower mouth and exiting from said upper mouth of said at least one laminar channel (703) and absorbing heat from the heat carrier fluid flowing in said one or more vertical heating elements (1).