Infra-red radiant panel heater using PTC conductive polymeric electrodes

Abstract

An infrared radiant panel heater utilizing a liquid-tight enclosure with at least one surface emissive of infrared energy by liquid inside the enclosure. A pair of polymeric electrodes having the property of positive temperature cut off are submerged in the liquid inside the enclosure, near the bottom thereof. Liquid is heated by electrical current flowing through the liquid between the electrodes. Convective flow of liquid distributes heated liquid throughout the enclosure. The cutoff temperature can be selected by electrolyte concentration in the liquid (usually water and sodium chloride) and the properties of the electrodes. In some embodiments a reversed face of the enclosure is reflective, so that most of the infrared energy is directed into the room rather than against a wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] A radiant panel heater which heats a room by way of two spaced apart water-immersed electrodes contained in an enclosure that is designed to heat the water and radiate long infrared wavelengths for heating a space such as a room. The water is joule-heated by electrical current flowing through it between the electrodes. The electrodes are made of polymeric material, which has the property of positive temperature coefficient to prevent overheating of the heater, establishment of the temperature to which the water is heated. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to heaters of the type (usually panels) which heat a room by way of long infrared waves, rather than by forced air flowing through super-hot heating elements, or by convection as in oil-filled or water-filled radiator-style heaters. With this invention, a room is heated by radiation from a warm surface that has been coated or treated with an appropriate texture well known by one...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a panel type radiant heater that uses an enclosure filled with water that is heated by two polymeric electrodes. The heat is transferred to a prepared surface, such as a room, through an infrared-emitting surface. The heater can also be mounted on a wall or placed on a floor for added flexibility. The electrodes are arranged so that the water is heated by current flow through it. The technical effect of this invention is a more efficient and effective way to transfer heat to specific areas, resulting in faster and more uniform heating."

Problems solved by technology

There exist disadvantages of existing radiant panel heaters in that they suffer from unevenly heated surfaces due to the juxtaposition of imbedded heating wires placed between their front and rear panels, essentially reducing the purpose of the efficiency of emitting uniform long infrared waves over a large area.

Another disadvantage of radiant panel heaters is their slow warm-up.

It is yet another disadvantage of existing radiant panel heaters that when mounted in their typical vertical fashion, their upper portions tend to be much hotter than their lower portions.

It is another disadvantage of existing radiant panel heaters that mount either to a wall or to a ceiling that their radiant energy emits from both sides, namely the side facing into a room and the another side facing a wall.

It is yet another disadvantage of existing radiant panel heaters that their basic construction does not readily lend itself to high volume manufacturing techniques.

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