GB2494635A

GB2494635A - Heating system using infra-red heat

Info

Publication number: GB2494635A
Application number: GB1115752.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert William Lewis
Original assignee: TOTALSIM Ltd
Current assignee: TOTALSIM Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-13
Filing date: 2011-09-13
Publication date: 2013-03-20
Also published as: GB201115752D0

Abstract

The heating system comprises one or more infra-red heaters that are configured to direct heat to an area having a heat demand. The area may be a room of a building and the system may comprise a plurality of infra-red heaters and a secondary heat source, wherein the secondary heat source provides a background temperature to the room, such as 15 degrees Celsius, and the plurality of infra-red heaters direct heat at one or more persons in the room to heat those persons to a desired temperature set by the or each individual person. The desired temperature for each individual person may be set by a personal heat controller mounted on a necklace worn by each person. Such a system allows greater flexibility than a conventional central heating system, since an active person could set their personal target temperature to a low setting such as 18 degrees Celsius, whereas a comparatively sedate person in the same room could set their personal target temperature to a higher setting, such as 22 degrees Celsius.

Description

PERSONAL 1-JEA11NG SYSTEM [0001] This invention relates to domestic heating systems.

[0002] Houses tend to use central heating systems, heat storage systems or a central heat source such as a fire or electrical heater in a room and the ike. Such systems do not discriminate between what is heated and what is not heated in a particular room or area of the house. Similarly such systems do not discriminate between the amount of heat one person in the room receives compared with another. It is well known, for example, that a person who has been physically active is more comfortable in a room heated to a lower temperature that one, particularly an elderly person, who has been inactive. It is also known that a person moving around a house is more comfortable at a lower temperature than when the same person is sitting.

[0003] This invention overcomes the problems with existing domestic heating systems whereby a person can be heated at a temperature to suit them personally and the activity that they are undertaking.

[0004] According to the present invention a heating system for individuals in a space comprises one or a plurality of infra-red heaters operable by a control system under individual's management such that the individual may control the level of heat falling on them by use of the control system.

[0005] The space is commonly a room in a house. Normally in a room three or four infra-red heaters will be provided in a room to direct heat at the main used areas to heat people in those used areas directly, but not the air in the room itself of the room so that individuals in the room can control the amount of heat that they receive on an individual basis. Normally the heaters would be situated in edges between the walls and ceiling of a room, and preferably in corners where they are less intrusive and radiate heat to a larger area of the room. Each infra-red heater would project a spot of heat maybe as small as 10cm in diameter where there was a demand, but the heater would be able to very quickly move this spot around and effectively paint the subjects in the room requiring heat, and to the level of heat demanded from each controller. The heater would detect the people via their heat signature, or through a controller mounted on a necklace on the person.

[0006] The heat supplied by the infra-red heaters would enhance the background heat supplied by the normal domestic heaUng system of the house, which may be set at a much lower temperature than would normally be the case.

For example, instead of a room or hose being heated by a central heating system to 21°C as is not uncommon in the United Kingdom, the background heat provided by the domestic heating system could be set to say 15°C, with individuals in the room controlling the heat provided by the infra-red heaters to heat them individually and any local surfaces, so that one person can be at 22°C and another at 18CC.

[0007] Infra-red heaters heat only surfaces, including individuals on which theft heat falls. They do not heat large volumes of air. By controlling heat falling on an individual in the way described and setting the background heating at a much lower level than would normally be the case, substantially energy savings can be achieved. Furthermore, rather than individuals in a room being uncomfortably hot or cool, depending on the temperature of the room, thy can adjust their heating levels to suit their personal needs at the time.

[0008] Control of the infra-red heaters is by way of a receiver connected to each individual heater which switches the heater on and controls the level of heat emitted in response to a controller with a transmitter in the hands of individual. The communication between the transmitter and receiver would be conventional radio or IR transmission. This part of the arrangement is very conventional.

[0009] With the control system described, there would be a feedback mechanism to prevent any one individual or part of an individual becoming over-heated. The heaters in a system would direct their heat to one source of demand then another, so painting individuals and nearby surfaces, once the heat demand of an individual had been met heat would be directed elsewhere, or turned off temporarily until demanded again as a result of a fall in a temperature at an individual's controller. In such a way several individuals can be painted' with heat on a rotating basis.

[0010] As an alternative, the infra-red heaters could have a heat detection system, whereby in turn they direct heat at any warm body mitting heat at a temperature consistent with that of a human. Once the temperature of that body had risen beyond the setting of the controlled associated with that person, the controller would send a signal to the heaters not to direct more heat to that particular warm object.

[00111 In one arrangement the controller and transmitter are worn as in a medallion around the necks of individuals.

[00121 The infra-red heaters would normally be conventional electrically power devices plugged into the domestic electric supply.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A heating system comprising a plurality of infra-red heaters directing heat at such individuals in an area having a demand for heat.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A heating system acceding to claimi in which the heaters monitor a space for heat sources characteristic of humans and directing heat towards them.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A heating system comprising a plurality of infra-red heaters operable by individual controls under individuals' management such that the individual may control the level of heat falling on them by use of the control system.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A heating system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising a plurality of infra-red heaters to direct heat at the main used areas of a space so that individuals in the space can control the amount of heat that they receive on an individual basis.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A heating system according to claim 4 wherein the space is a room having walls and a ceihng wherein the infra-red heaters are situated in edges between the walls and ceiling of a room.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A heating system according to claim 5 wherein infra-red heaters are situated in the corners of the room.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A heating system according to claim 5 or 6, additionally including a separate heating means to heat the air in the room.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A heating system according to claim 7 in which individuals may set their own individual heating demand over and above the background temperature of the room.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A heating system according to any preceding claim in which individuals are painted in turn by heat.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A heating system according to any preceding claim in which individuals may have personal heat controllers communicating with receivers associated with the infra-red heaters.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A heating system according to claim 10 in which one or more controllers are mounted on necklaces for individuals to wear, 12. A heating system substantially as hereinbefore described.</claim-text>