GB2130705A

GB2130705A - Heating systems

Info

Publication number: GB2130705A
Application number: GB08232969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Ernest Ascroft
Original assignee: PEDSHIRE Ltd
Current assignee: PEDSHIRE Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-18
Filing date: 1982-11-18
Publication date: 1984-06-06

Abstract

Heat transfer from a heat source to its environment, particularly from a hot water radiator to a room, can be improved by means of a blower (13) which is positioned alongside the heat source (14). The blower conveniently may comprise a tangential electric fan (11) in a narrow housing (1) which can be mounted beneath a domestic radiator (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating systems This invention relates to space heating systems and is more particularly concerned with the improvement of heat transfer from an existing heat source to the environment thereof in a room or other area to be heated thereby.

With a central heating system using hot water radiators in a domestic residence or other premises, the problem can arise that one or more such radiators is incapable of effecting heat transfer to its environment at a rate high enough to attain with sufficient rapidity a desired air temperature and to maintain this uniformly within acceptable limits. This may be the case for example where a radiator is too small to attain the desired temperature having regard to the area to be heated thereby, or where the radiator is first turned on in a cold room, or where the environment is subjected to relatively low temperature influences due to cold.weather conditions or draughts or the like.

Also, there is the problem that, at least in some circumstances, the inherent relatively low rate of heat dissipation by natural convection from a radiator may result in the establishment of an appreciable thermal gradient between such radiator and remote parts of the area to be heated thereby, to the extent that uncomfortable temperature differentials may occur in such area, and the temperature of the radiator and its immediate vicinity may be unduly high giving rise to inefficient energy utilisation and even possible deleterious effects such as damage to paint work.

To a certain extent it may be possible to overcome or reduce the above problems by modifying existing radiators to improve heat transfer properties (for example by attachment of fins), or by replacing existing radiators with larger radiators or with radiators of the kind incorporating blowers, or by using supplementary heat sources (such as electric fan heaters).

However, these remedies may not be wholly satisfactory in all cases due to cost and/or convenience considerations.

An object of the present invention is to enable heat transfer from an existing heat source to its environment to be improved in a simple, convenient and relatively inexpensive manner.

According to the invention therefore, there is provided a method of improving heat transfer from a heat source to its environment wherein a blower formed as a separate unit to said heat source is disposed in relation thereto so as to be capable of directing a forced flow of air over or in close proximity to said source.

With this arrangement, as a consequence of the forced air flow produced by the blower, it is possible to achieve rapid, efficient heat transfer whilst at the same time, due to the separate construction of the blower this can be applied to an existing heat source in a particularly simple, convenient and inexpensive manner.

It is visualised that the invention may find particular application in relation to hot water radiators of a central heating system installed in a domestic residence or other premises although the invention is not intended to be restricted to this application and the method thereof may be applied to any heat source of any kind of heating system in any environment as appropriate.

With regard to the blower, this may comprise an electric fan, particularly a fan of the tangential kind, and this may be mounted in a suitable housing. Most preferably, and in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blower for use in performing the abovedescribed method comprising an elongate housing with an elongate opening thereto, and an electric fan disposed within the housing and adapted to blow air through said opening longitudinally thereof. With this arrangement the blower can be conveniently disposed in relation to said heat source in a manner particularly suited to the production of a forced convection current in the vicinity thereof.Thus, where the heat source is a wall-mounted panel radiator, the blower may be disposed upright alongside the radiator Or in level disposition beneath same such as to direct a curtain of air flowing over the surfaces of the radiator.

The blower may be permanently or detachably mounted relative to the heat source for example by engagement thereof with a wall bracket or with a peripheral structure of the heat source or otherwise. Alternatively, it is possible simply to position the blower removably adjacent the heat source, for example by placing same on the floor beneath a wall-mounted radiator. Where the blower is positioned removably or is detachably mounted it will be appreciated that the blower need only be disposed in its operative position relative to the heat source on a temporary basis and when required, such blower on other occasions being removed for storage or for use elsewhere in relation to a different heat source.

Alternatively the blower may be utilised in permanent association with the pertaining heat source.

The blower may be provided with an electric lead for connection thereof to a nearby electrical mains socket, although alternatively, and as appropriate, the blower may be permanently wired to electrical mains supply.

One or more electrical control devices such as an on/off switch, a thermostatic switch, a speed control, a timer or the like may be used in conjunction with the blower and, conveniently, where the blower has a housing as mentioned above, the or each said device may be mounted thereon.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of a blower according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the blower of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are side and front views showing the blower of Figs. 1 and 2 in one position of use; Figs. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 of an alternative position of use.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a blower 13 comprises an elongate housing 1 constructed from shaped steel sheeting 2 providing a horizontal bottom wall 3 and a vertical back wall 4, and an extruded aluminium section 5 fixed to turned-over edge portions 6 of the sheeting 2 and providing a horizontal top wall 7, a vertical front wall 8 and a forwardly inclined intermediate wall 8a. The ends of the housing 1 are closed with end plates (not shown) attached to tF t sheeting 2 and the extrusion 5.

The walls 7, 8 contain elongate openings in the form of grills 9, 10 which extend from a position close to one end wall (at the left of Fig. 2) to a position spaced from the opposite end wall.

Within the housing 1 there is mounted an electric fan 11 comprising an electric motor and a cylindrical fan blade structure of the tangential kind, that is, a fan blade structure which produces a tangentially impelled curtain of air. The motor is mounted on the steel sheeting 2 within that end portion 12 of the housing 1 which is beyond the grill openings 9, 10. The fan blade structure is mounted in alignment with the grill openings 9, 10 such that on rotation thereof air is sucked in through the front opening 9 and impelled out through the top opening 10.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the blower 13 can be positioned horizontally on a floor surface beneath a wall-mounted hot water panel radiator 14 of a domestic central heating system. The motor of the blower can be powered from mains supply via an electric lead (not shown) extending through an opening at a convenient position in the housing.

With this arrangement, as required, a forced air flow can be produced over the surfaces of the radiator 14 thereby giving rise to forced convection currents which facilitate efficient transfer of heat from the radiator to its environment. In particular the arrangement is such that the curtain of air leaving the top opening 10 runs parallel to both faces of the radiator as a consequence of the arrangement of the fan blade structure within the housing in relation to the top opening 10 and due to the fact that the width of the opening 10 corresponds to or is only slightly greater than the width of the radiator.

The blower 13 is of long, narrow construction suited to installation below the radiator as shown.

The blower may be free-standing or, alternatively may be fixed permanently or detachably to the floor or the wall or a skirting board or other structure as desired.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the blower 13 may alternatively be mounted vertically on the wall alongside the radiator 14 using a suitable mounting bracket or the like, so that the impelled air current flows transversely across the radiator surfaces rather than vertically as in the case with the arrangement of Figs. 3 and 4.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, if desired, the housing may also contain one or more control devices such as an on/off switch, a neon, a thermostat, a timer, a speed control or the like, preferably mounted in the region of the end portion 12. Also, if desired, the blower may be permanently wired to a central heating control system for automatic operation.

Claims

1. A method of improving heat transfer from a heat source to its environment wherein a blower formed as a separate unit to said heat source is disposed in relation thereto so as to be capable of directing a forced flow of air over or in close proximity to said source.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises a hot water radiator.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said blower comprises an electric fan.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said fan is of the tangential kind.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said blower comprises an elongate housing with an elongate opening thereto, and an electric fan disposed within the housing and adapted to blow air through said opening longitudinally thereof.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said blower is disposed alongside a wall mounted panel radiator so as to direct a curtain of air flowing over the surfaces of the radiator.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said blower is in upright disposition.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said blower is in level disposition beneath the radiator.

9. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said blower is permanently or detachably mounted relative to the heat source.

10. A blower for use in performing the method of claim 1, comprising an elongate housing with an elongate opening thereto, and an electric fan disposed within the housing and adapted to blow air through said opening longitudinally thereof.

11. A method according to claim 1 and a blower according to claim 10, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.