Patent Application
20160010893
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a heating device, and particularly relates to a heating device capable of generating heat through chemical reaction of hydrogen.
2. Related Art
Presently, portable heaters generally produce heat by burning gas, and such flame type heater has a risk of causing fire. Another type of the portable heater uses a platinum group metal catalyst layer to catalyse hydrocarbon such as C3H8, etc. to produce chemical reaction with oxygen in the air, and generates heat energy required by the portable heater through the chemical reaction, and such non-flame type heater may reduce a chance of causing fire. However, when the portable heater that generates the heat energy through the chemical reaction of the C3H8 is operated, the catalyst layer has to be pre-heated to about 150 degrees centigrade in order to effectively catalyse the C3H8 to react with oxygen, which is time-consuming and energy-consuming.
Moreover, besides vaporous water is generated from the chemical reaction between the C3H8 and the oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are also generated, and if such type of the portable heater is used in a confined space, it probably causes carbon monoxide poisoning.
China Patent No. 101852333 discloses a heat providing system, which provides heat to a hydrogen storage material in a hydrogen storage tank, and a hydrogen consuming device receives a first hydrogen flow from the hydrogen storage tank, and a catalytic heater receives an oxygen flow and a second hydrogen flow come from the hydrogen storage tank. China Publication No. 102927571 discloses a hydrogen nozzle, which is applied to hydrogen energy non-ignition catalyst heater. China Publication No. 102944012 discloses a non-ignition catalyst heater using hydrogen as fuel. China Patent No. 102944103 discloses a non-ignition catalyst heating system using hydrogen as fuel. China Patent No. 202955687 discloses a non-ignition catalyst heater using hydrogen as fuel. China Publication No. 102494342 discloses an environmental friendly non-ignition catalyst hydrogen burning and heating system, in which ceramic fiber is used to make hydrogen to have an oxidation heat reaction. China Publication No. 1897343 discloses a fuel cell, which has a catalytic reaction heat based heater. China Publication No. 103213944 discloses a gas generation device, in which hydrogen generated through a chemical reaction of water and metal hydroxide is used by a fuel cell to produce electricity, and electric energy consuming devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. consume the electricity generated by the fuel cell.
The information disclosed in this BACKGROUND section is only for enhancement of understanding of the BACKGROUND of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the information disclosed in the BACKGROUND section does not mean that one or more problems to be resolved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The invention is directed to a heating device, in which a catalyst layer is unnecessary to be pre-heated, and carbon monoxide harmful to human body is not generated during a using process of the heating device.
Other objects and advantages of the invention can be further illustrated by the technical features broadly embodied and described as follows.
In order to achieve one or a portion of or all of the objects or other objects, an embodiment of the invention provides a heating device including a hydrogen generating unit, a heating unit, a temperature sensing module, and a control unit. The hydrogen generating unit includes a first tank, a second tank, and a driving element. The first tank contains a liquid reactant, and the second tank contains a solid reactant. The driving element is connected to the first tank and the second tank, and is configured to drive the liquid reactant to move from the first tank to the second tank, such that the liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant to generate hydrogen. The heating unit is connected to the hydrogen generating unit and includes a catalyst layer. At least a part of the hydrogen moves from the second tank to the heating unit and contacts the catalyst layer to react to generate heat energy. The temperature sensing module is configured to sense at least one temperature of the heating device and transits a temperature signal to the control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the driving element, and controls the driving element according to the temperature of the heating device after receiving the temperature signal of the temperature sensing module.
In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit turns on or turns off the driving element according to the temperature.
In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit controls a working state of the driving element according to the at least one temperature, so as to change a flowing rate of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating device further includes a fuel cell connected to the hydrogen generating unit. At least another part of the hydrogen moves to the fuel cell from the second tank, and reacts in the fuel cell to generate electric energy.
In an embodiment of the invention, the fuel cell is configured to supply electricity to the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating device further includes an electronic module. The control unit is electrically connected to the fuel cell and the electronic module, and controls the fuel cell to supply electricity or not to supply electricity to the electronic module according to an amount of electricity of the electronic module.
In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic module includes an electric energy storage unit and an electronic component. The electric energy storage unit stores electric energy from the fuel cell and supplies electricity to the driving element and the electronic component, and the control unit controls the fuel cell to supply electricity or not to supply electricity to the electric energy storage unit according to the amount of electricity of the electric energy storage unit.
In an embodiment of the invention, the fuel cell is configured to supply electricity to the electronic component.
In an embodiment of the invention, when the amount of electricity of the electric energy storage unit is lower than a storage amount predetermined value, the control unit controls the electric energy storage unit to supply electricity to the driving element and not to supply electricity to the electronic component.
In an embodiment of the invention, the hydrogen generating unit includes an airflow channel and a first guide structure. The airflow channel is connected between the second tank and the heating unit. The first guide structure is connected between the second tank and the fuel cell. A part of the hydrogen in the second tank flows through the airflow channel to reach the heating unit. Another part of the hydrogen in the second tank flows through the first guide structure to reach the fuel cell. The second tank has a fourth guide structure, and the fourth guide structure is aligned to the solid reactant. The liquid reactant is configured to flow through the fourth guide structure to reach the solid reactant.
In an embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensing module includes a first temperature sensing element. The first temperature sensing element is disposed on and electrically connected to the control unit. The first temperature sensing element senses a first temperature of the heating device at the control unit. The at least one temperature includes the first temperature.
In an embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensing module includes a second temperature sensing element. The second temperature sensing element is disposed on the hydrogen generating unit and is electrically connected to the control unit. The second temperature sensing element senses a second temperature of the heating device at the hydrogen generating unit. The at least one temperature includes the second temperature.
In an embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensing module includes a third temperature sensing element. The third temperature sensing element is disposed on the heating unit and is electrically connected to the control unit. The third temperature sensing element senses a third temperature of the heating device at the heating unit. The at least one temperature includes the third temperature.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating device further includes a safety protection module. The safety protection module is electrically connected to the control unit for sending a safety signal to the control unit, such that the control unit turns off the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the safety protection module includes a horizontal sensing element. The horizontal sensing element is electrically connected to the control unit. When the horizontal sensing element senses an inclining angle of the heating device to be greater than an inclining angle predetermined value, the control unit turns off the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the safety protection module includes a contact sensing element. The contact sensing element is disposed on the first tank and is electrically connected to the control unit. When the contact sensing element senses that the second tank is separated from the first tank, the control unit turns off the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the safety protection module includes a water level sensing element. The water level sensing element is disposed on the first tank and is electrically connected to the control unit. When the water level sensing element senses that a water level of the liquid reactant in the first tank is lower than a water level predetermined value, the control unit turns off the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating device further includes a fuel cell. The safety protection module includes a position sensing element. The fuel cell is detachably connected to the hydrogen generating unit. At least another part of the hydrogen moves to the fuel cell from the second tank, and reacts in the fuel cell to generate electric energy. The position sensing element is disposed on the hydrogen generating unit and is electrically connected to the control unit. When the position sensing element senses that the fuel cell is detached from the hydrogen generating unit, the control unit turns off the driving element.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first tank has an annular space, and the annular space contains the liquid reactant and surrounds the second tank.
In an embodiment of the invention, the heating unit includes a porous structure, and the porous structure is disposed between the catalyst layer and the hydrogen generating unit.
According to the above description, the embodiment of the invention has at least one of the following advantages. In the heating device of the embodiment of the invention, the hydrogen generating unit is used to generate the hydrogen, and the hydrogen is reacted with the oxygen in the air through catalysis of the catalyst layer to produce heat energy. Since the heating device of the embodiment of the invention produces the heat energy without using a conventional reaction of hydrocarbon and oxygen in the air reacted by the conventional heating device, carbon monoxide hannful to human body is not generated, and none flame is generated, such that usage safety of the heating device is improved. Moreover, based on high activity of the hydrogen, the catalyst layer may quickly and effectively catalyse the reaction of the hydrogen and the oxygen to generate heat energy, such that the heating device is more energy-saving and time-saving in usage. In addition, in the heating device of the embodiment of the invention, the driving element is used to drive the liquid reactant to move towards the solid reactant, the control unit is used to control the operation of the driving element according to the temperature of the heating device, and a flowing rate of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank is automatically adjusted according to a heating quantity requirement, an environmental temperature, and a temperature of the hydrogen generating unit, so as to control a generating rate of the hydrogen generated through the reaction of the liquid reactant and the solid reactant and an amount of the generated hydrogen, such that the heating device is more convenient in usage. Moreover, the heating device of the embodiment of the invention further includes a safety protection module electrically connected to the control unit for detecting whether a usage state of the heating device is normal. If the heating device is in an abnormal usage state, a safety signal is sent to the control unit and the control unit turns off or does not turn on the driving element, so that the usage safety of the heating device is enhanced.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the terms “facing,” “faces” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and “adjacent to” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass directly and indirectly “adjacent to”. Therefore, the description of “A” component facing “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component directly faces “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Also, the description of “A” component “adjacent to” “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component is directly “adjacent to” “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
Referring to
Referring to
Since the heating device 100 of the embodiment generates the heat energy without the conventional reaction reacted by the conventional heating device using hydrocarbon and oxygen, but generates the heat energy through reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, such that carbon monoxide harmful to human body is not generated and the heating device 100 has higher usage security. Moreover, through high activity of the hydrogen, the catalyst layer 142 may quickly and effectively catalyse reaction of the hydrogen and the oxygen to generate the heat energy, such that the heating device 100 is more energy-saving and time-saving in usage.
In the embodiment, the liquid reactant is, for example, liquid water (H2O), and the solid reactant may be a solid hydride, for example, solid sodium borohydride (NaBH4) added with proper solid catalyst, and the solid sodium borohydride is reacted with the liquid water to generate hydrogen, wherein a reaction formula thereof is
Moreover, the liquid reactant may also be acidic water solution, and the solid sodium borohydride is reacted with the acidic water solution to generate hydrogen, wherein a reaction formula thereof is 2NaBH4+2H+→B2H6+2Na++2H2. In another embodiment, the liquid reactant may also be a water solution generated by solid hydride added with water and the solid reactant may include a solid catalyst, and hydrogen is generated when the water solution contacts the solid catalyst in the solid reactant. In other embodiments, the hydrogen may be generated through reaction of other suitable types of solid reactant and liquid reactant, which is not limited by the invention.
For example, the solid reactant may be other types of solid hydride, such as boron hydride/borohydride, nitrogen hydride, carbon hydride/hydrocarbon, metal hydride, boron nitrogen hydride, boron carbon hydride, nitrogen carbon hydride, metal boron hydride/borohydride, metal nitrogen hydride, metal carbon hydride/hydrocarbon, metal boron nitrogen hydride, metal boron carbon hydride, metal carbon nitrogen hydride, boron carbon nitrogen hydride/boron nitrogen carbon hydride, metal boron carbon nitrogen hydride/boron nitrogen carbon hydride, or a combination thereof, and besides the sodium borohydride (NaBH4), the solid hydride further includes but not limited to NaH, LiBH4, LiH, CaH2, Ca(BH4)2, MgBH4, KBH4 or/and Al(BH3)3. Moreover, the solid reactant may be various compounds with a common formula of BxNyHz including but not limited to H3BNH3, H2B(NH3)2BH3, NH2BH2, B3N3H6, morpholineborane (C4H12BNO), borane-(CH2)4O, B2H4, or a combination thereof. The solid catalyst may be solid acid or salts containing Ru, Co, Ni, Cu, Fe, or a solid catalyst formed by using ions thereof.
The heating device 100 of the embodiment further includes a control unit 150, and the control unit 150 is, for example, a control circuit board, and is electrically connected to the driving element 136. The control unit 150 controls the driving element 136 according to at least one temperature of the heating device 100. Regarding the operation that the control unit 150 controls the driving element 136 according to the temperature of the heating device 100, a flowing rate and flowing quantity of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank 134 are automatically adjusted according to a heating quantity requirement, an environmental temperature, and a temperature of the hydrogen generating unit 130, so as to control a generating rate/velocity of the hydrogen generated via reaction of the liquid reactant and the solid reactant and an amount of the generated hydrogen, such that the heating device 100 is more convenient and safe in usage.
A detailed method that the control unit 150 controls the driving element 136 according to at least one temperature of the heating device 100 is described below. Referring to
The temperature sensing module 160 of the embodiment further includes a second temperature sensing element 160b. The second temperature sensing element 160b is disposed on the hydrogen generating unit 130 and is electrically connected to the control unit 150. The second temperature sensing element 160b is used for sensing a temperature of the heating device 100 at the hydrogen generating unit 130. In detail, the second temperature sensing element 160b may be disposed on the first tank 132 at a place close to the second tank 134 for sensing a second temperature of the second tank 134 in the heating device 100, i.e. the temperature of the hydrogen generating unit 130 mentioned above (which is equivalent a instantaneous reaction temperature of the liquid reactant and the solid reactant). The control unit 150 determines whether the hydrogen generating unit 130 is overheated due to the reaction of the liquid reactant and the solid reactant according to the second temperature. The second temperature sensing element 160b outputs a temperature signal to the control unit 150 and the control unit 150 turns off the driving element 136 according to the temperature signal if the second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensing element 160b is higher than a highest reaction temperature predetermined value, so as to avoid overheating of the hydrogen generating unit 130 due to continuous operation thereof. The control unit 150 turns on the driving element 136 according to the second temperature if the second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensing element 160b is lower than the highest reaction temperature predetermined value, so as to drive the hydrogen generating unit 130 to operate. In another embodiment, the first temperature sensing element 160a and the second temperature sensing element 160b may be a same temperature sensing element, and the initial temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element is the first temperature and a second temperature is sensed after a period of reaction when the heating device 100 is turned on to work initially.
The temperature sensing module 160 of the embodiment further includes a third temperature sensing element 160c. The third temperature sensing element 160c is disposed on the heating unit 140 and is electrically connected to the control unit 150. The third temperature sensing element 160c is used for sensing a third temperature (which is equivalent to a heating quantity requirement/demand) of the heating device 100 at the heating unit 140. A temperature signal is output to the control unit 150 and the control unit 150 determines that the heating unit 140 has enough heating quantity/value and slows down the operation of the driving element 136 according to the third temperature if the third temperature sensed by the third temperature sensing element 160c is higher than a heating temperature predetermined value, such that the flowing rate of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank 134 is deceased to reduce the generating rate of hydrogen, or the driving element 136 is turned off to reduce the amount of the generated hydrogen. The control unit 150 determines that the heating quantity/value of the heating unit 140 is inadequate and turns on the driving element 136 according to the third temperature if the third temperature sensed by the third temperature sensing element 160c is lower than the heating temperature predetermined value, such that the hydrogen generating unit 130 continuously provides hydrogen to the heating unit 140 for reacting to generate heat, or the operation of the driving element 136 is speed up to increase the flowing rate of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank 134, so as to increase the generating rate of hydrogen. The first temperature sensing element 160a, the second temperature sensing element 160b, and the third temperature sensing element 160c are, for example, temperature sensors.
As described above, the control unit 150 may control the operation of the driving element 136 according to the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature of the heating device 100, so as to be able to adjust the flowing rate and flowing amount of the liquid reactant flowing to the second tank 134 according to the heating quantity requirement, the environmental temperature, and the temperature of the hydrogen generating unit 130, and predetermined temperatures of different phases/stages may be set to control the hydrogen generating process, such that generation of the hydrogen may be more efficient, and a hydrogen consuming amount of the heating device 100 is saved and usage safety thereof is improved.
Referring to
The heating device 100 further includes an electronic module 180, and the electronic module 180 includes an electric energy storage unit 182, an electronic component 184, and an electronic component 186. The electric energy storage unit 182 is, for example, a lithium battery, and the electronic component 184 and the electronic component 186 are, for example, respectively a light-emitting device and a charging socket. The lithium battery is used for storing the electric energy come from the fuel cell 170 and supplying power to the driving element 136, the light-emitting device, and the charging socket; wherein the light-emitting device is, for example, a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, or a bulb used for providing an illumination light or a scene/situational light, and wherein the charging socket is, for example, a USB plug or other socket capable of charging an external device.
In another embodiment, the fuel cell 170 supplies power to the driving element 136, the electronic component 184, and the electronic component 186 only through the electric energy storage unit 182, and the control unit 150 is electrically connected to the fuel cell 170 and is electrically connected to the electronic module 180.
The control unit 150 controls the fuel cell 170 to supply electricity to the electric energy storage unit 182 of the electronic module 180, such that the electric energy storage unit 182 has enough electric energy for supplying to the driving element 136, the electronic component 184, and the electronic component 186. Moreover, the control unit 150 may control the electric energy storage unit 182 to only supply power to the driving element 136 without supplying power to the electronic component 184 and the electronic component 186 when the amount/quantity of electricity of the electric energy storage unit 182 is lower than a storage amount predetermined value, wherein the storage amount predetermined value is, for example, a sum of an amount/quantity of electricity used for actuating/activating the driving element 136 and an amount/quantity of electricity supplied to the electronic component 184 and the electronic component 186, so as to ensure a right/normal operation of the driving element 136.
In another embodiment, the fuel cell 170 may directly supply electricity to the driving element 136, the electronic component 184, and the electronic component 186 to reduce loss of electric energy. For example, in an initial operation stage of turning on the heating device 100 and the fuel cell 170 does not generate enough electricity yet, the electric energy storage unit 182 is used to supply electricity to the driving element 136; when the heating device 100 has run for a period of time and the fuel cell 170 generates enough electric energy, the fuel cell 170 directly supplies electricity to the driving element 136, the electronic component 184, and the electronic component 186 to reduce loss of electric energy. Moreover, the control unit 150 controls the fuel cell 170 to supply electricity to the electric energy storage unit 182 if the amount of electricity of the electric energy storage unit 182 is lower than a storage amount predetermined value; the fuel cell 170 is controlled to stop supplying electricity to the electric energy storage unit 182 if the amount of electricity of the electric energy storage unit 182 is higher than or equal to the storage amount predetermined value; wherein the storage amount predetermined value is, for example, a sum of an amount of electricity used for actuating/activating the driving element 136 and an amount of electricity supplied to the electronic component 184 and the electronic component 186 or an amount of electricity of the fully charged electric energy storage unit 182. However, the invention is not limited by the descriptions mentioned above.
Referring to
The safety protection module 190 of the embodiment further includes a contact sensing element (not shown). The contact sensing element is disposed on the first tank 132 and contacts the second tank 134, and is electrically connected to the control unit 150. When the contact sensing element senses that the second tank 134 is separated from the first tank 132, the control unit 150 turns off the driving element 136 to avoid a continuous operation of the driving element 136 to cause leakage of the liquid reactant in the first tank 132 under the situation that the second tank 134 is not disposed/assembled/configured to the first tank 132. The contact sensing element is, for example, a pressure sensor.
Moreover, the safety protection module 190 of the embodiment further includes a water level sensing element 190c. The water level sensing element 190c is disposed on the first tank 132 and is electrically connected to the control unit 150. When the water level sensing element 190c senses that a water level of the liquid reactant in the first tank 134 is lower than a water level predetermined value, the control unit 150 turns off the driving element 136 to avoid a continuous operation of the driving element 136 to waste electricity under the situation that the liquid reactant is inadequate. The water level sensing element 190c is, for example, a submerged water level sensor, a hydrostatic submerged water level sensor, or other devices used for detecting a water level.
The safety protection module 190 of the embodiment further includes a position sensing element 190b. Since the fuel cell 170 may be detachably connected to the hydrogen generating unit 130 and the position sensing element 190b is disposed on the hydrogen generating unit 130 and is electrically connected to the control unit 150, the position sensing element 190b turns off the driving element 136 through the control unit 150 when the position sensing element 190b senses that the fuel cell 170 is detached from the hydrogen generating unit 130. The position sensing element 190b is, for example, a pressure sensor.
A detailed structure of the heating unit 140 of the embodiment is described below. Referring to
A detailed transporting method for the liquid reactant and the hydrogen of the embodiment is described below. Referring to
Moreover, the hydrogen generating unit 130 further includes a second guide structure 130c and a third guide structure 130d, a containing space S2 of the second tank 134 is used for containing the solid reactant 60 and has a fourth guide structure 134a therein. The second guide structure 130c is, for example, a conducting pipe, and is connected between the driving element 136 and the first tank 132. The third guide structure 130d is, for example, a conducting pipe, and is connected between the driving element 136 and the fourth guide structure 134a of the second tank 134. The fourth guide structure 134a is aligned to the middle of the solid reactant 60. The driving element 136 is used for driving the liquid reactant 50 in the first tank 132 to sequentially flow through the second guide structure 130c, the driving element 136, and the third guide structure 130d to reach the second tank 134, and then the liquid reactant 50 flows through the fourth guide structure 134a to reach the solid reactant 60. According to the structure of the embodiment of the invention, the channel for the hydrogen 70 flowing through and the channel for the liquid reactant 50 flowing through are separated and are not interfered with each other, which avails outflow of the hydrogen 70 and inflow of the liquid reactant 50.
Referring to
A detailed structure of the second tank 134 is described below. Referring to
The breathable waterproof membrane 134d is, for example, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, which is fixed to the fixing component 134e and covers the containing space S2, so as to prevent the liquid reactant 50 from moving away from the containing space S2 and so that the hydrogen 70 in the containing space S2 may move away from the containing space S2 through the breathable waterproof membrane 134d. The check valve 134b is disposed at a tail end of the fourth guide structure 134a to prevent the liquid reactant 50 in the containing space S2 from flowing back to the first tank 132 through the fourth guide structure 134a.
In summary, the embodiments of the invention have at least one of the following advantages. In the heating device of the embodiment of the invention, the hydrogen generating unit is used to generate the hydrogen, and the hydrogen is reacted with the oxygen in the air through catalysis of the catalyst layer to produce heat energy. Since the heating device of the embodiment of the invention produces the heat energy without using a conventional reaction of hydrocarbon and oxygen in the air reacted by the conventional heating device, carbon monoxide harmful to human body is not generated, such that usage safety of the heating device is improved. Moreover, based on high activity of the hydrogen, the catalyst layer may effectively catalyse the reaction of the hydrogen and the oxygen to generate heat energy without preheating, such that the heating device is more energy-saving and time-saving in usage. In addition, in the heating device of the embodiment of the invention, the driving element is used to drive the liquid reactant to move towards the solid reactant, and the control unit is used to control the operation of the driving element according to the temperature of the heating device, so as to automatically adjust a generating rate of the hydrogen generated through the reaction of the liquid reactant and the solid reactant according to a heating quantity demand/require, such that the heating device is more convenient in usage. Moreover, the control unit may automatically control the fuel cell to supply or not to supply electricity to the electronic components according to an amount of electricity of the electronic components of the heating device, so as to further improve usage convenience of the heating device.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Moreover, these claims may refer to use “first”, “second”, etc. following with noun or element. Such terms should be understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless specific number has been given. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201410333367.5 | Jul 2014 | CN | national |
This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 201410333367.5, filed on Jul. 14, 2014. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
