Patent Application
20070246200
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat-exchange module for liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat-exchange module for liquid that preheats a heat-exchange member to a predetermined temperature and thus stores heat energy in the heat-exchange member for increasing the heating rate of the liquid.
2. Description of Related Art
The housing 7 includes an inlet 71, an outlet 72, and a vent 73. The inlet 71 is defined in a higher portion of the housing 7 for guiding liquid into the housing 7. The outlet 72 is defined in a lower portion of the housing 7 for discharging heated liquid after heat exchange. The vent 73 is located adjacent to the inlet 71 for exhausting gas and for maintaining gas pressure in the housing 7. In use, liquid is filled into the housing 7 via the inlet 71 and the heater unit 8 is then activated to heat the housing 7 for rising the temperature of the liquid.
However, when the liquid in the housing 7 is heated to a boiling state, the liquid absorbs a large amount of heat energy and vaporizes. The steam exits the housing 7 via the vent 73, leading to a waste in the heat energy. Further, it is difficult to maintain the liquid in the housing at a high-temperature state, as the liquid in the steam phase carries away a large amount of heat energy. Hence, the heater unit 8 must repeatedly heat the housing 7 for maintaining the temperature of the liquid, resulting in repeated boiling of the liquid and waste of tremendous energy. Further, the heater unit 8 only wraps around the outer circumference of the housing 7 such that the heat-exchange area is merely a portion of the outer surface of the heater unit 8 and that most portion of the outer surface of the heater unit 8 is exposed to the environment. Hence, tremendous heat energy escapes to the environment, leading to further waste of energy and low heat-exchange efficiency.
An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-exchange module for liquid that preheats a heat-exchange member to a predetermined temperature and thus stores heat energy in the heat-exchange member for shortening the time required for subsequently heating the liquid, thereby enhancing the heat-exchange efficiency and saving energy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat-exchange module for liquid that includes at least one thermal adjusting channel for controlling a temperature difference between two portions of the heat-exchange member, thereby controlling the heat-conduction efficiency.
A heat-exchange module for liquid in accordance with the present invention comprises a heat-exchange member and at least one heater unit. The heat-exchange member comprises a first portion including at least one liquid passageway through which a liquid flows, a second portion coupled with the at least one heater unit for heating the second portion, and at least one thermal adjusting channel between the first portion and the second portion of the heat-exchange member. The at least one heater unit heats the second portion to a predetermined temperature to thereby store heat energy in the heat-exchange member. The at least one thermal adjusting channel maintains a temperature difference between the first portion and the second portion such that the liquid is heated to a temperature substantially not greater than the predetermined temperature after flowing through the at least one liquid passageway.
Preferably, the at least one thermal adjusting channel includes a fin structure on an inner circumference of the at least one thermal adjusting channel.
The fin structure may include a plurality of fins that are staggered or parallel to one another or arranged irregularly.
Alternatively, a heat-buffering material may be mounted in the at least one thermal adjusting channel.
Preferably, the first portion has a sectional area smaller than that of the second portion.
An anti-oxidation coating may be provided on an inner circumference defining the at least one liquid passageway for preventing the liquid from contacting the heat-exchange member.
Alternatively, the at least one liquid passageway is defined by an anti-oxidation metal tube for preventing the liquid from contacting the heat-exchange member.
The at least one heater unit may be a heat pipe or a thermoelectric chip of Peltier effect.
The at least one heater unit may be embedded in the second portion of the heat-exchange member.
Alternatively, the at least one heater unit is wound around an outer perimeter of the second portion of the heat-exchange member.
A heat-insulating material may be mounted around an outer perimeter of the heat-exchange member.
Alternatively, a vacuum-insulating structure is mounted around an outer perimeter of the heat-exchange member.
Preferably, an external control unit is connected to the at least one heater unit. The external control unit controls the at least one heater unit to preheat the heat-exchange member.
In an example, the heat-exchange member is annular.
In another example, the first portion and the second portion of the heat-exchange member are concentric to each other.
Preferably, the first portion is radially outward relative to the second portion.
Preferably, the heater unit is located in a center of the second portion for uniformly heating the heat-exchange member.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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More specifically, the heater units 2 are activated by the control unit (not labeled) to preheat the heat-exchange member 1 before the liquid enters the heat-exchange member 1. When the heat-exchange member 1 is heated to the predetermined temperature (there is a large temperature difference between the temperature of the liquid and the predetermined temperature), a large amount of heat energy is stored in the first portion “a” and the second portion “b” of the heat-exchange member 1. Hence, the heat energy stored in the heat-exchange member 1 and the heater units 2 can be used to continuously heat the liquid, and the temperature of the liquid rises to a temperature substantially not greater than the predetermined temperature after passing through the liquid passageway 11. Next, the heated liquid is guided via a tube (not shown) to an outlet (not labeled) for discharging purposes. Thus, it is unnecessary to accumulate the liquid in the heat-exchange module before heating, preventing escape of the liquid in steam phase and avoiding repeated heating. Further, since the heater units 2 preheat the heat-exchange member 1, low-power heater units can be used and energy waste is reduced.
Further, the thermal adjusting channels 12 reduce the heat-conduction rate between the first portion “a” and the second portion “b” of the heat-exchange member 1 such that a temperature difference exists between the first portion “a” and the second portion “b” of the heat-exchange member 1. More specifically, by providing the thermal adjusting channels 12 between the first portion “a” in which the liquid passageway 11 is defined and the second portion “b” in which the heater units 2 are mounted and by controlling an overall volume of the thermal adjusting channels 12, the heat exchange between the first portion “a” and the second portion “b” can be precisely controlled and adjusted to the predetermined temperature difference such that the temperature of the first portion “a” is slightly lower than that of the second portion “b”. This assures the liquid temperature (e.g., 95° C.) to be slightly below the predetermined temperature, allowing application in various heating devices for various liquids, such as water dispenser, water-heating devices, wine-warming devices, etc.
In a case that the liquid is a beverage, an anti-oxidation coating of such as stainless steel can be formed on an inner circumference defining the liquid passageway 11 by electroplating. The anti-oxidation coating has high conductivity. Alternatively, the liquid passageway 11 is defined by an anti-oxidation metal tube (such as a stainless steel tube) directly embedded in the heat-exchange member 1. Thus, direct contact between the beverage and an interior of the heat-exchange member 1 is avoided, preventing heavy metal in the heat-exchange member 1 from entering the beverage.
Further, an insulating material 3 (such as heat-insulating cotton or foamed styrene) or a vacuum-insulating device (such as vacuum-insulating glass) can be mounted around the outer perimeter of the heat-exchange member 1 for reducing heat loss resulting from heat exchange between the heat-exchange member 1 and the environment, further reducing escape of energy and further enhancing the heat-exchange efficiency.
As apparent from the foregoing, the disadvantages of the conventional heat-exchange module are overcome. The heat-exchange module for liquid in accordance with the present invention provides enhanced heat-conduction efficiency and saves energy.
While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims.
