Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STATIONARY INFRARED RADIATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]The invention relates to a stationary infrared radiator which is to be
operated in a
decentralized manner for heating buildings, having a reflector and at least
two different
components emitting IR radiation for heating, wherein the reflector has a
longitudinal axis
and a transverse axis extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis and
parallel to the
reflector, and a reflector surface. The first component is designed as a light
radiator or as
a dark radiator and has a connection for supplying fuel gas. The second
component is
designed as an electric resistance heater having at least one heating element.
The
infrared radiator is preferably mounted suspended from a ceiling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]A stationary infrared radiator which is to be operated in a
decentralized manner is
to be understood as a heating device, in particular for halls, which is
primarily designed
as a ceiling device and is directly operated using fuel gas and/or electrical
energy. Such
decentralized infrared radiators generate the thermal energy themselves and
emit it to
the environment via the respective radiating components, overwhelmingly in the
form of
IR radiation. They function, when driven by fuel, in a temperature range
between 300 C
and 900 C and, when driven by electricity, at up to 1200 C. Fuel gas and
also fuel oil
are to be understood as fuels. In the case of centrally operated radiators,
the thermal
energy is centrally generated outside of the respective radiator and
hydraulically supplied
to the radiators by means of heat exchangers, in contrast to decentralized
radiators.
[0003]Operating infrared radiators with a burner and indirectly in combination
with
electrical energy, is already known. EP 2 492 600 B1 describes heating the
combustion
air with the aid of solar energy before introducing it into the burner,
wherein electrical
energy is also used in addition to thermal energy.
[0004] EP 3 239 616 B1 describes a system of an infrared radiator, in which
the radiant
tube is produced from stainless steel and is heatable both using fuel gas and
also using
an electric resistance heater.
[0005] DE10 2009 021158 Al describes the basic design of an infrared radiator
with a
reflector designed as a housing with a reflector surface and with an
additional tube
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reflector arranged between the radiant tube and the reflector surface. An
alternative
design of a generic infrared radiator is known from DE10 2012 025299 Al, in
which a
reflector is accommodated by a separate housing and additional tube reflectors
are also
provided. The respective reflector forms a hood for the warm air generated by
the infrared
radiators. According to CN 203 605 313 U, a floor unit is known, in which a
gas heating
device and an electric heating device are combined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The underlying object of the invention is to design an infrared
radiator, which may
be operated using different energy media, and arrange it in such a way that it
may be
more precisely controlled as a ceiling unit with respect to its temperature
and is
simultaneously easier to produce.
[0007] The problem is solved according to the invention in that the first
component and
the second component are arranged in front of the reflector surface offset
from one
another in a direction of the transverse axis and/or the first component and
the second
component are arranged in front of the reflector surface offset from one
another in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and/or in a direction
perpendicular to the
transverse axis. The preferred solution is also included in this solution,
that the first
component and the second component are respectively arranged in front of the
reflector
surface offset from one another in a direction of the transverse axis and in a
direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the transverse axis.
[0008] Due to the offset and during pure electrical operation, the electric
heating element
partially heats the component of the dark or light radiator provided for
emitting. The dark
radiator preferably forms an exhaust gas pipe, functioning as a radiant tube,
for
combusting the fuel gas. In particular in the case of dark radiators, the
radiant energy of
the electric heating element, captured or absorbed by the exhaust gas pipe
designed as
a radiant tube, is discharged or emitted again as radiant heat. Since the dark
radiator or
light radiator is likewise completely located under the reflector, the so-
called shading of
the electrically-generated IR radiation thus does not negatively impact the
radiation factor
or the efficiency of the infrared radiator. The advantage of the shading is
significant in the
case of power adjustment by means of pulse width modulation of the electric
heating
element. In this case, the mass of the dark radiator or light radiator results
in additional
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inertia, which results in a favorable equalization of the temporal radiation
profile. The
advantage according to the invention is greater due to the design and geometry
used in
dark radiators than for light radiators. Another advantage which supports this
effect is the
convection trough usually formed by the reflector or the hood of the
reflector, in which the
warm air collects and thus prevents any convection losses due to shadowing.
[0009] Regardless of the advantage for pulse width modulation, the structural
separation
of the radiant tube or incandescent body for the fuel gas energy medium from
the
resistance heater for the electrical energy medium achieves that the radiant
temperatures
may be controlled in a targeted way for each medium in isolation. Due to the
structural
separation, the respective surface temperatures do not substantially influence
each other
in bivalent operation of the infrared radiator, thus when it is heated with
fuel gas and
simultaneously with electricity. With respect to the relevant prior art, the
necessity of
electrical insulation of the radiant tube is thereby eliminated as well as the
processing of
stainless steel for the radiant tube.
[0010]According to the invention, the method for operating an infrared
radiator is also
advantageous, in which the radiant tube captures the radiation energy of the
electric
heating element through absorption and the mass inertia of the radiant tube is
used for
equalizing the temporal radiation profile of the infrared radiator in the case
of pulse width
modulation of the electric heating element. The radiant tube causes a shadow
for the
radiation of the heating element or a shading of the electrically-generated IR
radiation,
which is advantageously exploited.
[0011] It may also be hereby advantageous if both components are attached to
the
infrared radiator structurally separated or independently from one another.
Each
component may thus be designed and installed in isolation, without having to
take
structural features of the respective other components into consideration. The
infrared
radiator has a mounting, which is designed, for example, as a reflector,
housing, and/or
as a bulkhead, wherein the respective components are attached to the mounting.
[0012] It may be further advantageous if a separate tube reflector is provided
between the
reflector and the component. Due to the tube reflector, it is possible to set
the radiation
sector and the radiation direction of the respective component with respect to
efficiency
and shading. For this purpose, the surface of the tube reflector may have
different radii
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of curvature and an asymmetry relative to the respective component. The
reflector is
designed as double-walled and reflects the IR radiation emitted by all
components. An
outer wall extending parallel to the reflector is provided on the side of the
reflector
opposite the reflector surface and is insulated from the reflector by an air
gap. With
regards to efficiency, it may be advantageous if insulation is provided
between the
reflector and the tube reflector. By this means, the amount of radiation
reflected by the
tube reflector is optimized with respect to the pure air gap insulation.
[0013] With respect to the electrical component, it may be advantageously
provided that
the heating element has a heating spiral which is sheathed with a metallic
and/or ceramic
sheath. The two materials are generally used in alternation. It has been shown
that the
advantage of pulse width modulation may be used for both types of heating
elements,
thus for those made from metal and those made from ceramic. As an alternative
to a
surrounding, symmetrical sheath, the heating spiral may be meander-shaped or
in strips
laid adjacent to one another, embedded into a metallic and/or ceramic material
or
sheathed by the same.
[0014] It may be advantageous for the further improvement of efficiency if
insulation is
also provided between the heating element and the reflector. In the case of
use without
a separate tube reflector, the proportion of radiation directed upward or
behind the heating
element is minimized by this means in favor of the proportion of radiation
directed
downward or forwards. This advantage may be used both for ceramic heating
elements
and also for heating elements with a metallic sheath. With respect to a simple
design, it
may be advantageous is if the heating element is mounted on the reflector. The
reflector
thereby functions as a supporting component, and a connection for the heating
element
through the reflector into a supporting housing, which is present behind the
reflector, may
be thus omitted.
[0015] It may be further advantageous for the pulse width modulation if the
first
component is designed as a dark radiator, has a burner for fuel, and has at
least one
exhaust gas pipe coupled to the burner and designed as a radiant tube. The
exhaust gas
pipe forms a very good buffer for absorbing the radiation emitted by the
heating element,
and the exhaust gas pipe has a very good property of redischarging or
reemitting this
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absorbed radiation. In addition to the material property, the large surface
and the large
mass of an exhaust gas pipe are decisive for the advantage of being used as a
buffer.
[0016] It may be advantageous for the operation of an infrared radiator with
fuel if a
suction fan is arranged at the end of the exhaust gas pipe so that the exhaust
gas pipe
connects the burner to the suction fan. The fuel does not flow freely into the
exhaust gas
pipe and completely combusts in the exhaust gas pipe.
[0017] It may be advantageous for a dark radiator if the exhaust gas pipe has
at least one
linearly-extending section or at least two linearly-extending sections coupled
via a
connecting tube deflecting the exhaust gas flow, wherein the linearly-
extending sections
are arranged on the reflector parallel to the longitudinal axis. The course of
the exhaust
gas pipe is largely dependent of the geometry of the flame, which is also
controlled by the
suction fan.
[0018] As an alternative to a dark radiator, it may be advantageous if the
first component
is designed as a light radiator, has at least one incandescent body, and has a
connection
for supplying fuel gas to the incandescent body. Such heat sinks, preferably
produced
from ceramic, form a very large surface for the fuel and may also have
catalytic properties.
[0019] The combination of electrical components with components that are
operated with
fuel has the advantage that the infrared radiator only has one electrical
connection which
is provided to supply and/or control all components. Correspondingly, the
addition of a
second component does not necessitate an increase in installation costs.
[0020] It may be advantageous for a dark radiator if the reflector is placed
on at least two
bulkheads arranged parallel to the transverse axis, wherein the bulkheads have
attaching
points for suspending the infrared radiator. At the same time, the bulkheads
have multiple
recesses which function as mounts for the exhaust gas pipe.
[0021] It may be advantageous with regard to versatility if at least one
electrical ceiling
light with a light source is provided as a working light, connecting to the
reflector surface
in at least one direction of one of the axes or connecting to the reflector in
at least one
direction of one of the axes. The present installation, in the form of
electrical cables and
supports for the infrared radiator, may be simultaneously used for lighting
due to this type
of integrated ceiling light.
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[0022] It may also be advantageous if the connection is designed for three-
phase
alternating current and the same number of heating elements and/or light
sources are
connected to each phase of the connection. A uniform network load is achieved
in this
way.
[0023]With regard to a simpler production, it may be of particular
significance for the
present invention if a common control unit is provided to control the two
components and
the two components may be selectively controlled independently from one
another or
simultaneously with one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the
patent claims
and in the description and depicted in the figures. As shown in:
[0025] Fig. 1 is a sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of an
infrared
radiator having an electric heating element made from metal and a dark
radiator operated
with fuel gas;
[0026] Fig. 1a is an electric heating element with a sheath made from metal
symmetrically
encircling the heating spiral;
[0027] Fig. 2 is a sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of an
infrared
radiator having an electric heating element made from ceramic and a dark
radiator
operated with fuel gas;
[0028] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an infrared radiator having an electric
heating element
made from metal and an electric heating element made from ceramic and a dark
radiator
to be operated with fuel gas;
[0029] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an infrared radiator through a bulkhead;
[0030] Fig. 5 is a view from below of an infrared radiator according to Fig.
1;
[0031] Fig. 6 is a view from below of an infrared radiator according to Fig.
2;
[0032] Fig. 7 is a sectional view in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
an infrared
radiator according to Fig. 6;
[0033] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of an infrared radiator in a view from
below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] For reasons of clarity, the respectively identical components depicted
in the
following figures are not consistently numbered. The respective reference
numeral of a
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certain component may be determined from the respective first figure of a
certain view.
These are essentially Figs. 1, 5, and 7.
[0035] Numerous details of an infrared radiator 1 are depicted in a sectional
view in Fig.
1. The central design component is an air-gap insulated reflector housing,
which is formed
from a trapezoidal reflector 2 having an inner reflector surface 20 and an
outer wall 23
spaced apart by an air gap 10. Reflector 2 and outer wall 23 are connected to
one another
via webs 11.
[0036] Reflector 2 forms a hood 26, closed at the top, in which multiple
components 30,
40 are arranged to generate heat in the form of infrared radiation. Air gap 10
is accessible
via holes 29 in reflector 2, so that air may be extracted from hood 26 via air
gap 10 and
supplied to a burner 3 (Fig. 7). Reflector 2 lies on a bulkhead 25, depicted
in figure 4 in
cross section, which has tabs 27 for suspension. A housing 24, which functions
to
accommodate the technology and, as depicted in Figs. 5-7, may be designed as a
lighting
housing 5 for accommodating a ceiling light 50, is connected on both sides,
respectively
at the ends of reflector 2.
[0037] In all exemplary embodiments, a component for heating, designed as
radiant tube
30, is identically positioned underneath reflector 2 for heating. Radiant tube
30 functions
to supply and combust fuel gas and has two sections Al and A2 (Fig. 8)
extending parallel
in the direction of longitudinal axis L. An additional tube reflector 21,
which reflects the
infrared radiation more precisely and also more focused than reflector surface
20, is
provided between radiant tube 30 and reflector surface 20 for each of the two
radiant
tubes 30. Insulation 6 is incorporated between tube reflector 21 and reflector
2.
[0038] A second component for heating is provided in the form of an electric
resistance
heater 4. This comprises three heating elements 40 extending in the direction
of
longitudinal axis L, which have a heating spiral 41 with a metallic sheath 42,
depicted in
greater detail in Fig. 1 a. An additional tube reflector 22, which reflects
the infrared rays
more precisely and also more focused than reflector surface 20, is also
provided here in
front of reflector surface 20 and above heating element 40. The efficiency may
also be
increased here by additional insulation 6.
[0039] Electric resistance heater 4 is arranged centered and above the two
sections of
radiant tube 30. Electric resistance heater 4 is thereby likewise offset in
the direction of
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transverse axis Q with respect to radiant tube 30 as well as offset above in
the vertical
direction perpendicular to transverse axis Q. Due to this offset, radiant tube
30 lies in the
radiation sector of heating element 40, which is depicted with dashed lines on
the left side
for a heating element 40 by way of example. This always creates a radiation
shadow,
regardless of whether radiant tube 30 is colder or warmer than heating element
40.
[0040]According to Fig. 2 and as an alternative to heating elements 40 made
from metal,
heating elements 40 are provided with a sheath 42 made from ceramic, in which
heating
spiral 41 is embedded. Due to the larger surface of ceramic heating element
40, in
contrast to heating element 40 made from metal, insulation 60 is incorporated
between
ceramic heating element 40 and tube reflector 22. A radiation shadow is also
created by
ceramic heating element 40, which is depicted by way of example for the left
section of
radiant tube 30.
[0041]A combination of metallic and ceramic heating elements 40 in conjunction
with a
dark radiator is depicted in Fig. 3. In this exemplary embodiment, ceramic
heating
elements 40 are positioned laterally on the flanks of reflector 2.
[0042]According to all depicted exemplary embodiments and regardless of the
selection
of the material for electric resistance heater 4, an offset to radiant tube 30
is provided,
which according to the invention enables a simple power adjustment using pulse
width
modulation of the electric heating elements together with an independent
assembly.
[0043]As is clear in Fig. 4, two recesses 28 for mounting radiant tube 30 are
provided in
bulkhead 25 together with three recesses 28 for three heating elements 40 made
from
metal.
[0044]According to the view from below according to Fig. 5, the exemplary
embodiment
according to Fig. 1 is depicted with heating elements 40 made of metal, which
extend
symmetrically centered to two straight sections Al and A2 of radiant tube 30.
Two
sections Al and A2 of radiant tube 30 are flow technically connected to one
another via
a connecting tube 32 at their end opposite burner 3. The two exemplary
embodiments
according to Figs. 5 and 6 are structurally identical, except for the type of
heating
elements 40, and are equipped with ceiling lights 50. For this purpose, a
lighting housing
5, by means of which reflector 2 is increased in length, is connected on both
sides to
reflector 2 in the direction of longitudinal axis L. Lighting housing 5
terminates, as is
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indicated in Fig. 7, with a light permeable cover 52 facing downward. A light
source 51 is
provided in lighting housing 5 behind cover 52 as a working light with a
luminous flux of
at least 5,000 lumens and up to 150,000 lumens.
[0045] In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 7, housing 5 functions
simultaneously to accommodate burner 3, suction fan 31, and flame pipe 33 and
as the
lighting housing. It is clear in the sectional view that this technology is
accommodated in
left lighting housing 5. The flame is introduced into radiant tube 30 via
flame pipe 33
connecting to burner 3. With the aid of suction fan 31, the flame and the
exhaust gas are
suctioned out of radiant tube 30, which likewise functions as an exhaust gas
pipe. Light
source 51 and cover 52 are provided in lighting housing 5 underneath the
technology.
The convection of the warm air out of hood 26 is curbed by the extension
reflector 2 in
the direction of longitudinal axis L on both sides. This is indicated by
dashed arrows,
which show that the warm air, which exits downward from hood 26, may not flow
upward
due to the two lighting housings 5. It is simultaneously possible to extract
the warm air,
which is generated by light source 51 and which circulates in lighting housing
5 as
indicated by a dashed arrow, and supply it to the burner as combustion air.
This is
achieved by air gap 10 between reflector 2 and outer wall 23, which functions
as an air
duct. The flow for the extracted air in the air duct is graphically indicated
with arrows in
Fig. 1 and 5 and also in Fig. 7. Aside from the warm air from lighting housing
5, the warm
air exiting laterally from hood 26 is also extracted via holes 29 and supplied
to burner 3
via air duct 10.
[0046]Additional exemplary embodiments are sketched in Fig. 8, in which
reflector 2 is
enlarged by variously arranged and dimensioned lighting housings 5 and the
convection
is curbed by these means. One first possibility is to arrange further lighting
housings 5 on
one side in the direction of longitudinal axis L or, as indicated with dashed
lines, on both
sides parallel to longitudinal axis L, such that reflector 2 is also increased
in its width, that
is, in the direction of transverse axis Q. In addition, lighting housing 5
might also be
designed as a module 54 and attached to or plugged on to already present
housing 24 or
to a first lighting housing 5. The electrical supply for controlling and for
light source 51 is
provided during the attachment to or plugging on to by corresponding contacts
(not
depicted in greater detail) between the modules and lighting housing 5 or
housing 24. A
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further possibility provides for arranging reflector 2 and the technology in a
common
housing 24 and also for mounting both ceiling lights 50, which are provided on
both sides
in the direction of longitudinal axis L, in this common housing 24.
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List of reference numerals
1 Infrared radiator
Air gap
11 Webs
2 Reflector
Reflector surface
21 Tube reflector
22 Tube reflector
23 Outer wall
24 Housing
Bulkhead
26 Hood
27 Tabs
28 Recesses
29 Holes
3 Burner
Component/Radiant tube/Exhaust gas pipe
31 Suction fan
32 Connecting tube
33 Flame pipe
4 Electric resistance heater
Heating element
41 Heating spiral
42 Sheath
5 Lighting housing
Ceiling light
51 Light source
52 Cover
53 -
54 Module
6 Insulation
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60 Insulation
Al Section
A2 Section
L Longitudinal axis
Q Transverse axis
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