Heating block half-shell and heating block for avoiding static air bubbles

Abstract

A continuous flow heater includes a heating block, where the heating block includes a heating block half-shell for a continuous flow heater. The half-shell includes a partial wall for a heating channel that includes at least one deflection area for a liquid flow. The half-shell further includes, in the deflection area, at least one pin that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel.

Claims

1. A heating block half-shell for a continuous flow heater, the heating block half-shell comprising: a partial wall of a heating channel, wherein the heating channel includes a deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the deflection area, in a longitudinal section that is parallel to a flow path plane, includes a section that is guided essentially along one-half of an elliptic ring.

2. The heating block half-shell of claim 1, wherein the at least one pin extends essentially perpendicularly with respect to a flow path plane in which the flow path extends.

3. The heating block half-shell of claim 1, wherein the deflection area in the flow direction is adjoined by an essentially straight section of the heating channel; and the at least one pin is situated in an inlet zone of the deflection area in which a liquid flow undergoes no change in direction or a change in direction of at most 45 compared to the essentially straight section.

4. The heating block half-shell of claim 1, wherein the deflection area in the flow direction is adjoined by an essentially straight section of the heating channel; and the at least one pin is situated in an outlet zone of the deflection area up to which a liquid flow has undergone a change in direction by at least 135 with respect to the essentially straight section.

5. A heating block for a continuous flow heater, the heating block half-shell comprising: a partial wall of a heating channel, wherein the heating channel includes a deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the deflection area is symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry, and the at least one pin includes at least two pins that are likewise symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry.

6. A heating block for a continuous flow heater, the heating block half-shell comprising: a partial wall of a heating channel, wherein the heating channel includes a deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the at least one pin includes an exposed end with a connecting element that is configured for connection to an exposed end of a counter pin of a second heating block half-shell.

7. A heating block for a continuous flow heater, the heating block comprising: a heating channel that includes at least one deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the at least one deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the at least one pin extends essentially perpendicularly with respect to a flow path plane in which a flow path extends.

8. The heating block of claim 7, wherein the at least one deflection area includes at least two deflection areas, at least one of which is provided without any of the at least one pin.

9. A heating block, for a continuous flow heater, the heating block comprising: a heating channel that includes at least one deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the at least one deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the heating block includes two heating block half-shells, at least one of which includes a partial wall of the heating channel and includes one or more of the at least one pin, wherein the deflection area, in a longitudinal section that is parallel to a flow path plane, includes a section that is guided essentially along one-half of an elliptic ring.

10. An electric continuous flow heater comprising a heating block, wherein the heating block includes: a heating channel that includes at least one deflection area for a liquid flow; and at least one pin that is in the at least one deflection area and that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel, wherein the at least one pin extends essentially perpendicularly with respect to a flow path plane in which a flow path extends.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a deflection area of a conventional heating channel.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heating block half-shell according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3a is a plan view that shows an operating principle of a heating channel according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3b shows a detail of the deflection area in FIG. 3a, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view (i.e., a longitudinal section) of a deflection area 100 of a conventional heating channel. The deflection area includes a bend 102 and straight heating channel sections 101 and 103 of which, as is apparent from flow direction 105 schematically indicated by the arrow, straight heating channel section 101 is used as a feed line, and straight heating channel section 103 is used as a discharge line, of a liquid flow in and out, respectively, of bend 102. A heating coil 104 is situated in straight heating channel section 103.

(6) As schematically illustrated by circular arrow 106, the change in direction of the liquid flow creates a recirculation, which causes disadvantageous adhesion of an air bubble 107 to the wall of the heating channel in deflection area 100.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a deflection area 20 of a heating block half-shell according to an example embodiment of the present invention, which includes a partial wall 24 (in the present case, one-half of a wall) for a heating channel 25. The deflection area includes a bend 22 and straight sections 21 and 23, which can be used as feed and discharge lines, respectively, for the bend. The cross sections in which the change in direction (infinitesimally) begins or ends can be regarded as a delimitation of the bend.

(8) The heating channel in the illustrated section is designed in such a way that a flow path of a liquid to be conducted through extends in a flow path plane E specified by the indicated x-y coordinate system.

(9) In the longitudinal section in parallel to the flow path plane, the deflection area with bend 22 includes a section that leads essentially along one-half of an elliptic ring. This half of the elliptic ring is axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry that extends in parallel to the x axis.

(10) In addition, deflection area 20 also has a design that is symmetrical, in particular with respect to a plane of symmetry (not depicted) that is situated orthogonally with respect to flow path plane E and has a direction in parallel to the x axis.

(11) Pins 10, 12 having a circular cylindrical shape are situated in deflection area 20, and in their longitudinal direction L each protrude into heating channel 25. Pins 10, 12 are each situated perpendicularly with respect to flow path plane E.

(12) Pins 10, 12 include an exposed end with a connecting element 11, 13, respectively. Connecting element 11 is designed as a journal in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In contrast, connecting element 13 is a mortise which is complementary to connecting element 11. As is apparent from the illustration, connecting elements 11, 13 are each configured for connection to a suitable other connecting element of a counter pin of a second heating block half-shell (not shown). Such a suitable connecting element would have one of the respective complementary shapes. Thus joined, the overall pins formed in each case from the pin and counter pin would completely traverse a heating channel enclosed by the two heating block half-shells, thus generating advantageous turbulences, as explained with reference to FIG. 3a.

(13) FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a plan view (i.e., in the longitudinal section in parallel to a flow path plane) of a deflection area 30 of a heating channel according to an example embodiment of the present invention, and the operating principle thereof.

(14) Deflection area 30 includes a bend 32 and straight sections 31, 33, of which section 31 is used as a feed line section, as is apparent from the flow direction indicated by the arrow. A heating coil 34 for heating the liquid conducted through is situated in discharge line section 33.

(15) Pins 14, 16 are situated within bend 32 in deflection area 30, and according to an example embodiment of the present invention each protrudes (not illustrated) in their longitudinal direction into the heating channel.

(16) Impingement of liquid flow F on pin 14 causes the formation of a chain of alternating, oppositely directed vortices, which in particular includes vortices 15a, 15b, 15c. The vortex radius increases with increasing distance from pin 14 as the flow obstruction.

(17) Similarly, when the liquid flow impinges on pin 16, another chain of alternating, oppositely directed vortices, which in particular includes vortices 17a, 17b, 17c, is generated. The radius of these vortices also increases with increasing distance from the flow obstruction that generates them, which in the present case is pin 16.

(18) Overall, the two vortex chains create turbulences in the deflection area which prevent adhesion of air bubbles.

(19) In fact, it has been determined in experiments that in a conventional design of the deflection areas, such air bubbles form up to a flow rate of 4 L/min. With a heating block according to an example embodiment of the present invention, it has been possible to prevent air bubbles from settling above a flow rate of 2.5 L/min.

(20) Lastly, FIG. 3b shows a detail of deflection area 30 in enlarged scale. It is apparent that the two pins 14, 16 are situated within the bend, i.e., in an area in which the flow direction has already undergone a change. While liquid flow F in straight section 31, as the feed line section, has a direction R.sub.1, the liquid flow at pin 14 is deflected in a direction R.sub.2 and by an angle . This angle in the present case is less than 45.

(21) At pin 16, the liquid flow has already been deflected by an angle in a direction R.sub.3, and angle is greater than 135.

(22) As described above, such angles for the generation of favorable vortex chains are particularly advantageous for preventing air bubbles from settling.