EP1145598B1 - Verbesserungen an elektrischen heizelementen - Google Patents

Verbesserungen an elektrischen heizelementen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1145598B1
EP1145598B1 EP99939537A EP99939537A EP1145598B1 EP 1145598 B1 EP1145598 B1 EP 1145598B1 EP 99939537 A EP99939537 A EP 99939537A EP 99939537 A EP99939537 A EP 99939537A EP 1145598 B1 EP1145598 B1 EP 1145598B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
track
heating element
track portion
ptcr
thick film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99939537A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1145598A2 (de
EP1145598A3 (de
Inventor
Robert Andrew O'neill
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Otter Controls Ltd
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Otter Controls Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Otter Controls Ltd filed Critical Otter Controls Ltd
Publication of EP1145598A2 publication Critical patent/EP1145598A2/de
Publication of EP1145598A3 publication Critical patent/EP1145598A3/de
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Publication of EP1145598B1 publication Critical patent/EP1145598B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0202—Switches
    • H05B1/0213—Switches using bimetallic elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227—Applications
    • H05B1/0252—Domestic applications
    • H05B1/0258—For cooking
    • H05B1/0269—For heating of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/013—Heaters using resistive films or coatings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/017—Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/019—Heaters using heating elements having a negative temperature coefficient
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/02—Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements relating to electric heating elements and more particularly concerns electric heating elements of the so-called thick film type which comprise a resistance heating track or layer formed on a substrate, for example a printed ink track formed on a stainless steel substrate with an insulating layer between the substrate and the track and, preferably, a further insulating layer overlying the track.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with thick film heating elements for water boiling vessels, such as domestic kettles and hot water jugs for example, but is capable of wider application.
  • Controls are well known which are adapted to switch off the power supply to electric heating elements if the element overheats. It is known furthermore that a special problem can arise if thick film heating elements in kettles and hot water jugs are operated on a slope, for example with the appliance standing on a sloping draining board, in that local overheating of the element can occur, leading to failure of the heating element, if any part of the heating element track is exposed above the water level in the appliance. Because thick film heating elements have low thermal mass and limited lateral heat transfer capability, any part of the heating element track exposed above the water level suffers a rapid temperature rise which can result in failure of the element. This can happen if, for example, the lid of a kettle is left off so that the water boils away with the kettle standing on a modest slope.
  • a thermal actuator set to operate at a high temperature is required which causes difficulties, at least as regards cost implications, in regard to the manufacture and setting of a stable, snap-acting, bimetallic device operable at the requisite temperatures.
  • Typical temperature settings for overtemperature protection of an immersion heating element of the mineral insulated, metal sheathed, resistance heating type, or an underfloor heating element having such a metal sheathed heating element clamped or clenched to the undersurface thereof, would be 135 ⁇ 15°C, whereas for a thick film heating element the equivalent temperature setting is around 180 ⁇ 5°C, the tighter tolerance resulting from the problem of slower response from a bimetal of too high a setting.
  • a thick film heating element comprises a main heater portion and, electrically connected in parallel therewith, a plurality of parallel-connected track portions having an NTCR (negative temperature coefficient of resistance) characteristic in series with a track portion having a PTCR characteristic, the plurality of NTCR track portions being distributed around the main heater track portion.
  • NTCR negative temperature coefficient of resistance
  • the temperature of the PTCR track portion will rise, thereby increasing its resistance so that an increased proportion of the supply voltage appears across it. This leads to a disproportionate increase in the power dissipated in the PTCR track portion, thereby raising its temperature even if it is still below the water level.
  • This increase in temperature of the PTCR track portion is sensed by the heating element overtemperature protection device which will switch off the heating element before any of the main heater portion is exposed above the water level, thus preventing any damage.
  • the arrangement can be such that the PTCR track section is distributed with the NTCR track sections about the main heater portion of the heating element.
  • the PTCR track portion can be the portion first exposed as the heating element boils dry. This will result in the temperature of the PTCR track section increasing, enhanced by the PTCR effect, so that the heating element overtemperature protection device will again be operated.
  • FIG. 1 shown therein is a plan view of the track layout of a thick film heating element embodying the present invention. It is to be noted that the dimensions and proportions of the tracks are schematic only and do not represent a practical form, it being well within the skills of an average skilled thick film heating element designer to transform the schematically illustrated layout of Figure 1 into a practical form.
  • the thick film heating element 1 of Figure 1 might for example comprise a stainless steel disc substrate having an electrically insulating layer, of glass for example, formed on one or both of its major surfaces.
  • the track pattern is then formed onto the insulating layer, for example by a screen printing process employing electrically conductive ink paste which is fired following deposition.
  • An overlying electrically insulating layer, for example of glass, may then be provided on top of the track pattern to protect the same.
  • the track pattern comprises a main heater portion 2 occupying the major central part of the heating element 1 and, connected in parallel therewith, four NTCR track sections 3 which are connected in parallel with each other by means of interconnecting tracks 4 formed of a highly electrically conductive material such as silver and a PTCR track section 5 which is connected in series with the four NTCR track sections 4, again by means of highly electrically conductive (eg. silver) tracks.
  • a main heater portion 2 occupying the major central part of the heating element 1 and, connected in parallel therewith, four NTCR track sections 3 which are connected in parallel with each other by means of interconnecting tracks 4 formed of a highly electrically conductive material such as silver and a PTCR track section 5 which is connected in series with the four NTCR track sections 4, again by means of highly electrically conductive (eg. silver) tracks.
  • Figure 2 shows the schematic circuit diagram of the arrangement of the heating element shown in Figure 1.
  • the main track portion 2 is surrounded by the four NTCR track portions 4 and the PTCR track portion 5. If the heating element is operated on a slope and boils dry, for example because the lid is left off an associated appliance, then one of the sensor tracks, namely the NTCR tracks 4 and the PTCR track 5, will be exposed first and its temperature will rise. If it is an NTCR track portion 4 then its resistance will fall, which allows an increased current to flow through the PTCR track portion 5. Depending on the overall circuit resistance, the increased current flowing through the NTCR track portion will further heat it and reduce its resistance, amplifying the effect. The temperature of the PTCR track portion 5 will rise, increasing its resistance, further increasing the proportion of the supply voltage which appears across it.
  • the embodiment is an example of the operation of the invention and uses four parallel NTCR track portions in series with a single PTCR track portion. Assuming that the power generated in all five sensor tracks is the same and that the power density is around 10 watts per square centimeter, this will give, in a typical element, a running temperature of 120°C. To achieve this means that the resistance of the PTCR track is 1/16 of the resistance of each of the NTCR tracks, assuming an NTCR and PTCR of 0.006/°C, which is typical of suitable materials. With a layout as shown, at the running temperature of 120°C, the sensor tracks would have a power output of 28 watts each.
  • the invention not only enables heating elements to be operated safely at an inclination, but also enables bimetallic sensors to be used since the low running temperature of the PTCR track portion 5 will allow bimetals of a much lower operating setting to be used, whilst the large temperature rise under fault conditions means that a wide blade tolerance may be used.
  • the track layout shown is only one possible configuration.
  • a different number of NTCR track portions could be used in parallel, in series with the PTCR part.
  • a smaller number of NTCR track portions means that they must each cover a greater arc angle, which may make them less sensitive to slope angles since only a part of the arc would be exposed. It might be that five NTCR track portions (giving a reduction in resistance to 77% in the example above) would be the maximum to have an effective change in resistance, whilst three NTCR track portions (a reduction to 67%) would be a good compromise to give adequate slope sensitivy.
  • the PTCR track portion is placed on the element periphery, aligned with the NTCR track portions but the PTCR track portion could be located anywhere on the heating element, for example to align with our X4 protection system which is described in our British Patent Application No. 9808484.1.
  • the slope protection system of the present invention may be combined with other element control systems, for example the steamless control system of our British Patent Application No. 9816645.7, or any simple element protection control such as the X2 control which is described in GB-A-2 283 156.
  • the PTCR track could be arranged to operate one of the X4's bimetals, whilst the other bimetal could be operated conventionally by the main heater track. This would reduce the number of high, close tolerance, bimetals required.
  • two NTCR/PTCR circuits could be used, each PTCR track operating one of the X4's bimetals.
  • the limit to such arrangements is the element topology, which limits the shapes and circuits that are practical because of the circuit complexity they cause, together with the need to achieve a uniform high power density over as much of the element as possible to minimise the element area and cost.
  • a feature of this invention is that it can give rise to an unstable circuit, in which the NTCR tracks cause the total sensing circuit resistance to fall as the current rises, leading to thermal runaway which, if not controlled, will destroy the sensor tracks.
  • This instability can be used positively to quicken the response of the system to fault conditions and increase the temperature of the PTCR track more rapidly that either the low power density or low initial temperature would suggest.
  • the conditions for this are fulfilled when the resistance of the PTCR track and/ or its temperature coefficient of resistance is much lower than that of the NTCR network.
  • This, albeit much simpler example, is simpler to the principles of designing fighter aircraft that are aerodynamically unstable so they can react to the controls much more quickly.
  • a further variation of the present invention would be to switch only the main part of the heating element off when the thermal cut-out operates, leaving the sensing circuit energised. The heat from this would prevent the cut-out from resetting, giving effectively a manual reset by means of a voltage maintained thermal cut-out. To do this would require that the sensor circuit did not thermally run away, as described above, but had a sufficiently low temperature stable state.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Dickfilm-Heizelement (1) mit einem Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) und elektrisch parallel dazu geschaltet mehreren parallel geschalteten Spurabschnitten (3) mit NTCR-Verhalten (negativem Widerstandstemperaturkoeffizienten), die in Reihe mit einem Spurabschnitt (5) mit PTCR-Verhalten (positivem Widerstandstemperaturkoeffizienten) geschaltet sind, wobei die NTCR-Spurabschnitte (3) um den Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) herum verteilt sind.
  2. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach Anspruch 1, wobei mindestens drei der NTCR-Spurabschnitte (3) vorhanden sind.
  3. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach Anspruch 2, wobei vier oder fünf der NTCR-Spurabschnitte (3) vorhanden sind.
  4. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der PTCR-Spurabschnitt (5) mit den NTCR-Spurabschnitten (3) um den Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) herum verteilt ist.
  5. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche mit Anschlußabschnitten (8, 9), die es erlauben, eine temperaturempfindliche Steuereinrichtung im Betrieb mit dem Heizelement zu koppeln, so daß sie auf die Temperatur des PTCR-Spurabschnitts (5) unter Abschalten der Energiezufuhr zu zumindest dem Haupt-Heizspur-Abschnitt (2) anspricht.
  6. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, das ein beispielsweise aus rostfreiem Stahl gebildetes Substrat mit einer beispielsweise aus Glas gebildeten elektrisch isolierenden Schicht auf einer seiner Hauptoberflächen und mit einem auf der elektrisch isolierenden Schicht gebildeten Spurmuster und eine weitere beispielsweise aus Glas gebildete elektrisch isolierende Schicht, die das Spurmuster bedeckt, aufweist.
  7. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mehrere der Haupt-Heizspurabschnitte (2) vorhanden sind, denen jeweils eine Sensorschaltung mit mehreren der parallel geschalteten NTCR-Spurabschnitten (3) und einem wie zuvor genannten in Reihe geschalteten PTCR-Spurabschnitt (5) zugeordnet sind.
  8. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, das eine ihm zugeordnete wärmeempfindliche Steuereinrichtung enthält, die so angeordnet ist, daß sie auf die Temperatur des oder jedes PTCR-Spurabschnitts (5) anspricht, um die Zufuhr elektrischer Energie zu dem mindestens einen zugeordneten Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) zu steuern.
  9. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach Anspruch 8, wobei die wärmeempfindliche Steuereinrichtung einen auf die Temperatur des PTCR-Spurabschnitts (5) ansprechenden ersten Sensor und einen auf die Temperatur des entsprechenden Haupt-Heizspur-Abschnitts (2) ansprechenden zweiten Sensor aufweist.
  10. Dickfilm-Heizelement nach Anspruch 7 und 8, wobei die wärmeempfindliche Steuereinrichtung einen auf die Temperatur eines ersten PTCR-Spurabschnitts (5), der einem ersten Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) zugeordnet ist, ansprechenden ersten Sensor und einen auf die Temperatur eines zweiten PTCR-Spurabschnitts (5), der einem zweiten Haupt-Heizspurabschnitt (2) zugeordnet ist, ansprechenden zweiten Sensor aufweist.
  11. Elektrisch betriebener Wasserheizkessel mit einem Dickfilm-Heizelement nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche.
EP99939537A 1998-08-12 1999-08-12 Verbesserungen an elektrischen heizelementen Expired - Lifetime EP1145598B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9817594A GB2340713B (en) 1998-08-12 1998-08-12 Improvements relating to electric heating elements
GB9817594 1998-08-12
PCT/GB1999/002664 WO2000010364A2 (en) 1998-08-12 1999-08-12 Improvements relating to electric heating elements

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1145598A2 EP1145598A2 (de) 2001-10-17
EP1145598A3 EP1145598A3 (de) 2002-09-11
EP1145598B1 true EP1145598B1 (de) 2003-07-16

Family

ID=10837151

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99939537A Expired - Lifetime EP1145598B1 (de) 1998-08-12 1999-08-12 Verbesserungen an elektrischen heizelementen

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1145598B1 (de)
CN (1) CN1143596C (de)
AT (1) ATE245335T1 (de)
AU (1) AU5380699A (de)
DE (1) DE69909654T2 (de)
GB (1) GB2340713B (de)
WO (1) WO2000010364A2 (de)

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2851404A1 (fr) * 2003-02-18 2004-08-20 Acome Soc Coop Travailleurs Dispositif a cable chauffant ctp comprenant un dispositif de limitation de courant
GB0700079D0 (en) * 2007-01-04 2007-02-07 Boardman Jeffrey A method of producing electrical resistance elements whihc have self-regulating power output characteristics by virtue of their configuration and the material
PL2106195T3 (pl) 2008-03-28 2010-09-30 Braun Gmbh Element grzewczy z czujnikiem temperatury
PL2106194T3 (pl) * 2008-03-28 2014-05-30 Braun Gmbh Wkładka grzejna z regulacją temperatury
GB2460833B (en) * 2008-06-09 2011-05-18 2D Heat Ltd A self-regulating electrical resistance heating element
GB0911410D0 (en) * 2009-07-01 2009-08-12 Mantock Paul L A low power electric heating system
DE102011002861A1 (de) * 2011-01-19 2012-07-19 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Geschirrspülmaschine mit zumindest einer Heizung zur Erwärmung von umlaufender Flüssigkeit
CN110197749B (zh) * 2018-02-27 2022-03-22 香港理工大学 一体化加热器及其温度传感方法
KR102110417B1 (ko) 2018-08-21 2020-05-13 엘지전자 주식회사 전기 히터
KR102177948B1 (ko) * 2018-10-16 2020-11-12 엘지전자 주식회사 전기 히터
CN109688645B (zh) * 2019-01-24 2021-08-10 广西桂仪科技有限公司 一种陶瓷厚膜直发加热器及其制备工艺
DE102020115017A1 (de) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 Eugen Forschner Gmbh Elektrische schaltung für ein fluidleitungssystem
CN112747832B (zh) * 2020-12-24 2022-04-12 华中科技大学 一种制热和自馈温融合型传感器及其应用

Family Cites Families (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2185161B (en) * 1985-12-09 1990-03-21 Otter Controls Ltd Controls for electrically powered heating elements
US4849611A (en) * 1985-12-16 1989-07-18 Raychem Corporation Self-regulating heater employing reactive components
GB2228396A (en) * 1989-02-20 1990-08-22 Emaco Electric hotplate
GB8924936D0 (en) * 1989-11-04 1989-12-28 Ceramaspeed Ltd Radiant electric heaters
DE4317040A1 (de) * 1993-05-21 1994-04-28 Schott Glaswerke Glaskeramikkochfeld mit wenigstens einer Kochzone und einer zugeordneten Anzeigeeinrichtung
JPH06342686A (ja) * 1993-06-01 1994-12-13 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 電気発熱装置
GB2296847B (en) * 1994-11-30 1999-03-24 Strix Ltd Electric heaters

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1143596C (zh) 2004-03-24
EP1145598A2 (de) 2001-10-17
WO2000010364A2 (en) 2000-02-24
CN1344482A (zh) 2002-04-10
GB9817594D0 (en) 1998-10-07
GB2340713A (en) 2000-02-23
WO2000010364A3 (en) 2001-11-08
DE69909654T2 (de) 2004-04-15
AU5380699A (en) 2000-03-06
DE69909654D1 (de) 2003-08-21
EP1145598A3 (de) 2002-09-11
GB2340713B (en) 2003-03-12
ATE245335T1 (de) 2003-08-15

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