A heating element for heating air or liquid may include an electrically conductive heating conductor equipped for heating at least one of air and liquid, a converter unit configured to convert a high DC voltage into a high AC voltage, and a transformer. The transformer may include a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding may have a lower winding number than the primary winding such that the high AC voltage, which is fed to the primary winding by the converter unit, is transformed into a low AC voltage in the secondary winding. The heating conductor may at least partially form the secondary winding and may be flowed through by a secondary current heating the heating conductor. An amperage of the secondary current may materialise as a function of an ohmic resistance of the heating conductor and of the low AC voltage.

A method for operating an electric heating system of a kitchen machine and a kitchen machine for carrying out the method are proposed, wherein a measuring temperature of the heating system is determined by means of a temperature element in order to carry out a calibration of a heating element and/or to compare the measuring temperature with a heating temperature of the heating element determined by means of the heating element for identifying a critical heating state.

A method of predicting the temperature of a resistive heating element in a heating system is provided. The method includes obtaining resistance characteristics of resistive heating elements and compensating for variations in the resistance characteristics over a temperature regime. The resistance characteristics of the resistive heating element include, but are not limited to, inaccuracies in resistance measurements due to strain-induced resistance variations, variations in resistance due to the rate of cooling, shifts in power output due to exposure to temperature, resistance to temperature relationships, non-monotonic resistance to temperature relationships, system measurement errors, and combinations of resistance characteristics. The method includes interpreting and calibrating resistance characteristics based on a priori measurements and in situ measurements.

A safe heating circuit includes a PTC electric heating element; a first switching element, coupled into a ground loop of the PTC element and configured to switch on or off a power loop of the PTC element based on an on-off control signal; a first voltage acquisition circuit, configured to sample a first temperature voltage based on a ground current of the PTC element; an NTC element, disposed between the PTC element and a sensing element; the sensing element, configured to receive a leakage current from the PTC element transmitted by the NTC element; a second voltage acquisition circuit, configured to sample a second temperature voltage based on the leakage current; and a controller, that compares the first or second temperature voltage to a set temperature voltage and output the on-off control signal based on a comparison result.

An exhaust system is provided that includes at least one exhaust aftertreatment unit provided in an exhaust fluid flow pathway and a thermal storage device disposed upstream from the exhaust aftertreatment unit. The thermal storage device is operable to store thermal mass and provide thermal insulation to enable a catalyst to maintain a minimum predetermined temperature for a minimum predetermined time. In one form, a heater is also provided proximate the thermal storage device, along with variations that include a secondary flow pathway for the thermal storage device.

A susceptor for use in a heated fluid flow system is provided. In one form, a susceptor is arranged within a conduit and adapted to absorb radiant energy from at least one heating element and inhibit the radiant energy from being absorbed by the at least one wall of the conduit and/or other components. In another form, the susceptor absorbs and inhibits the radiant energy from being absorbed by the outer wall of the conduit.

A heater system for an exhaust system is provided. The heater system includes a heater disposed in an exhaust conduit. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements disposed in the exhaust conduit. A heating control module controls the plurality of heating elements differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating element. In other forms, the heater system for an exhaust system has a plurality of heating zones, instead of a plurality of heating elements. The heating control module controls the plurality of heating zones differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating zone.

A fluid control system is provided that in one form includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a heater disposed in the second flow channel, and a fluid control device disposed upstream from the first and second flow channels. When the heater is turned on, the fluid control device changes a fluid flow rate through at least one of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. In another form, the fluid control system includes a bypass conduit, a heater disposed within the bypass conduit, and a fluid control device disposed near the inlet and outlet of the bypass conduit. In still another form, the fluid control system includes a regeneration device disposed downstream from at least one exhaust aftertreatment system and closes an outlet of the exhaust pipe.

A control system for use in a fluid flow application is provided. The control system includes a heater having at least one resistive heating element. The heater is adapted to heat the fluid flow. The control system further includes a control device that uses heat loss from at least one resistive heating element to determine flow characteristics of the fluid flow.

A control system for a heating system of an exhaust system is provided. The control system includes at least one electric heater disposed within an exhaust fluid flow pathway, and a control device adapted to receive at least one input selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate of an exhaust fluid flow, mass velocity of an exhaust fluid flow, flow temperature upstream of the at least one electric heater, flow temperature downstream of the at least one electric heater, power input to the at least one electric heater, parameters derived from physical characteristics of the heating system, and combinations thereof. The control device is operable to modulate power to the at least one electric heater based on at least one input.