WO2006095149A1

WO2006095149A1 - Convection guide and radiator

Info

Publication number: WO2006095149A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/000783
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-08
Filing date: 2006-03-06
Publication date: 2006-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-08
Also published as: GB0504754D0

Abstract

A convection guide for improving the efficiency of a radiator for heating a building. The guide comprises at least one guide element having a convection surface for forming a convection path with said radiator, thereby to allow air in said path to be heated by said radiator, and to be guided by said convection surface under convection. The convection surface comprises a plurality of substantially continuous undulations arranged to induce non-linear passage of said heated air over said convection surface.

Description

Convection Guide and Radiator

The present invention relates to a convection guide for radiators for heating buildings and in particular central heating radiators, and to a radiator including a convection guide.

Central heating systems for heating buildings are well known. Typically, central heating systems comprise a plurality of hot water radiators, which radiate thermal energy from water heated in a boiler and circulated around the system.

A common type of central heating radiator is shown in figure 1 generally at 10. The central heating radiator 10 comprises a radiator portion 12 and a convection guide 14. The radiator portion 12 comprises a conventional fluid baring chamber having a room side radiative surface 16, for radiating thermal energy, from heated water passing through the chamber, to heat a room of a building. Typically, the room side surface is horizontally non-planar, being provided with a plurality of vertically oriented elongated ridges and troughs (not shown). The vertical orientation of the ridges and troughs increase the radiative surface area without, in operation, adversely affecting the convection circulation of air over the surface into the room. Hence, the efficiency of the radiator is increased compared to purely planar radiative surfaces.

The convection guide 14 comprises a plurality of convection conduits 18 provided on a wall side surface 20 of the radiator 10. In operation, air hi the conduits 18 is heated by the radiator 12 and begins to rise under convection. The convected air is channelled upwardly by the conduits, out of open upper ends, to contribute to the circulation of air heated by the radiative surface.

In the absence of a convection guide, air heated by the wall side surface of the radiator during operation circulates within the relatively large wall side space, in an uncontrolled manner, without contributing significantly to heating the room. Thus, the convection guide helps to improve the efficiency of the radiator.

However, as the air in the convection conduits 18 becomes heated it rises relatively quickly up each conduit out of the corresponding upper end, where the air is no longer significantly heated by the radiator. Thus, the rising air is only heated for a relatively short time before leaving the conduits. Hence, whilst the conduits do contribute to the efficiency of the radiator 10 compared to radiators without a guide, the contribution is nominal.

US 1313438 and US 1426716 both disclose radiators including convection guides having a non-continuous surface comprising a plurality of small louvres through which air is allowed to enter the convection conduit. Whilst this slows convection, it does so be allowing cooler air to enter the conduit, which then mixes with the rising air, thus cooling it. Furthermore, the plurality of louvres provides a route via which heat can escape from the desired convection path

The present invention provides an improved convection guide suitable for enhancing the efficiency of a radiator.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a convection guide for improving the efficiency of a radiator, the guide comprising: at least one guide element having a convection surface for forming a convection path with said radiator, thereby to allow air in said path to be heated by said radiator, and to be guided by said convection surface under convection; wherein, said convection surface is arranged to induce non-linear passage of said heated air over said convection surface.

Preferably said convection surface is non-planar in the direction of convection.

Said guide may comprise means for securing said guide to said radiator.

The or each guide element may be configured for insertion into a convection conduit of said radiator.

Preferably said convection surface comprises a plurality of undulations.

At least one undulation may comprise a generally a triangular or 'V shaped cross-section.

At least one undulation may comprise a generally arcuate cross-section. Preferably said convection surface is thermally reflective.

Preferably said convection guide comprises a guide portion for re-directing said heated air non-vertically as said air leaves said conduction path.

Said guide portion may be arranged for re-directing said heated air substantially laterally.

Preferably said convection guide comprises at least two guide elements arranged with respective convection surfaces facing one another, said path being formed by said radiator and said surfaces.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a radiator comprising a convection guide according to the first aspect.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial three-dimensional view of a radiator according to the prior art;

Figure 2a shows a partial three-dimensional view of a radiator including a convection guide according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2b shows a side view of a radiator including a convection guide according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 a shows a partial three-dimensional view of a radiator including a convection guide according to a second embodiment;

Figure 3b shows a side view of a radiator including a convection guide according to the second embodiment;

Figure 4a shows a partial three-dimensional view of a radiator including a convection guide according to a third embodiment; Figure 4b shows a side view of a radiator including a convection guide according to the third embodiment;

Figure 4c shows a partial side view of the top of the radiator according to figure 4b;

Figure 5 shows a cut-away three-dimensional view of a radiator including a convection guide according to a fourth embodiment;

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a convection guide according to a fifth embodiment; and

Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a convection guide according to a sixth embodiment.

It will be appreciated that throughout the description directional and orientational terms such "vertical" and "horizontal" are used to describe features of radiators and convection guides in relation to conventional installation and operation as illustrated in the figures.

In figure 2a and 2b a radiator having a convection guide according to a first embodiment is shown generally at 100. The radiator 100 comprises a radiator portion 102 and a convection guide 104. The radiator portion 102 comprises a conventional fluid baring chamber having room side and wall side radiative surfaces 106, 108, for radiating thermal energy, from heated fluid passing through the chamber 102, to heat a room of a building.

The radiative surfaces 106, 108, are horizontally non-planar, comprising a plurality of vertically oriented elongated ridges 110 and troughs 112 for maximising radiative surface area without, in operation, adversely affecting the convection circulation of air over the room side surface 106 into the room.

The convection guide 104 includes anon-planar guide element 114 comprising a plurality of substantially continuous elongated wave like undulations 116 extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the wall side radiative surface 108, and perpendicular to the vertical ridges 110 and troughs 112. Thus, the undulations 116 form a substantially continuous non- planar convection surface 118 for guiding convected air, in operation.

The guide 104 comprises a sheet of material suitable for providing a thermally reflective convection surface. For example, the material may be aluminium or the like. Alternatively, the material may be a composite material and may comprise a plurality of layers each for enhancing a thermal property of the guide element 112, such as, for example, its reflective and/or insulative properties.

The undulations 116 are arcuate resulting in a regular generally sinusoidal cross-section to the guide element 114. It will be appreciated, however, that the cross-section need not be regular and may comprise undulations of different widths/frequency and different heights/amplitude. Furthermore, the cross-section need not be sinusoidal and may comprise any suitable regular or irregular wave pattern, for example, a skewed sinusoidal, sigmoidal or other such pattern.

The guide element 114 is located generally vertically adjacent to, and spaced apart from the radiator portion 102, with the convection surface 118 facing the wall side radiative surface 108. Thus, the space between the respective surfaces 108, 118 forms a non-linear convection path 120 for guiding heated and convected air in operation.

The guide element 114 is secured in position to the wall side surface 108 by suitable fixing means. It will be appreciated, however, that while it is advantageous to secure the convection guide to the radiator portion, the guide may alternatively be secured to a wall in a suitable position relative to a radiator.

Hence, in typical operation, air in the convection path is heated by the radiator 100 and begins to rise under convection. The convected air is guided upwardly by the convection surface 118 to contribute to circulation of air heated by the radiative surface 106. However, the undulations 116 act to impede the convection process creating localised eddies, and circulating currents in the convecting air. The rising air thus takes longer to leave the convection path 120, relative to air in a convection conduit, of comparable height, of the type described with reference to figure 1. Hence, the air spends more time in the region of the wall side radiative surface 108 resulting in an increased heating effect and improved efficiency. In figures 3 a and 3b a radiator having a convection guide according to a second embodiment is shown generally at 200. The radiator 200 comprises a radiator portion 202 and a convection guide 204. The radiator portion 202 comprises a conventional fluid baring chamber having room side and wall side radiative surfaces 206, 208, for radiating thermal energy, from heated fluid passing through the chamber 202, to heat a room of a building.

The features of the radiator 200 are generally similar to like features described for the first embodiment and they will not be described again in detail other than to highlight differences.

Like the first embodiment the convection guide 204 includes a non-planar guide element 214 comprising a plurality of elongated undulations 216 extending substantially parallel to the wall side radiative surface 208 and perpendicular to vertical ridges 210 and troughs 212. Thus, the undulations 216 result in a non-planar convection surface 218 for forming a nonlinear convection path 220 and thus for guiding convected air, in operation, as described previously.

However, unlike the first embodiment the undulations 216 are generally 'V shaped in cross- section resulting in a regular triangular wave cross-section to the guide element 214. It will be appreciated, however, that the cross-section need not be regular and may comprise undulations of different widths/frequency and different heights/amplitude. Furthermore, the cross-section need not be 'V shaped and may comprise any suitable regular or irregular pattern, for example, a sawtooth or other such pattern.

In figures 4a and 4b a radiator having a convection guide according to a third embodiment is shown generally at 300. The radiator 300 comprises a radiator portion 302 and a convection guide 304. The radiator portion 302 comprises a conventional fluid baring chamber having room side and wall side radiative surfaces 306, 308, for radiating thermal energy, from heated fluid passing through the chamber 302, to heat a room of a building.

The features of the radiator 300 are generally similar to like features described for the first embodiment and they will not be described again in detail other than to highlight differences. Like the first embodiment the convection guide 304 includes a non-planar guide element 314 comprising a plurality of elongated generally sinusoidal wave like undulations 316 extending substantially parallel to the wall side radiative surface 308 and perpendicular to vertical ridges 310 and troughs 312. Thus, the undulations 316 result in a non-planar convection surface 318 for forming a non-linear convection path 320 and thus guiding convected air, in operation, as described previously.

Unlike the first embodiment, however, the convection guide 304 further comprises a generally horizontal shelf portion 322. The shelf 322 extends from an upper end of the guide element 314 over a top of the radiator portion 302 thus forming a lateral component 324 to the convection path 320. Hence, in operation, heated air initially rises under convection generally vertically but non-linearly guided by a vertical component of the convection path 320 . The convected air is then redirected laterally over the radiator by the lateral component 324 to contribute to circulation of air heated by the radiative surface 306.

The shelf portion 322 is located close to the radiator portion such that the lateral component 324 of the convection path 320 is relatively narrow compared with the generally vertical component. Hence, in operation, pressure builds up in the vertical component forcing the redirected air out of the lateral component at a higher relative velocity thereby enhancing the heating effect to the room.

In figure 4c a different arrangement of a radiator including a convection guide according to the third embodiment is shown generally at 330. The arrangement is generally similar to that described for the third embodiment having a radiator portion 302 and a convection guide 304 and like parts are given like reference numerals.

The alternative arrangement 330 comprises a convection guide 304 having anon-planar guide element 314 having a plurality of undulations 316 of triangular or 'V shaped cross-section similar to the guide element 214 described for the second embodiment. Thus, in operation, the guide forms a non-linear but generally vertical component of a convection path 320.

The guide 304 further includes an upper guide portion 326 extending arcuately from an upper end of the guide element 314 over a top of the radiator portion 302 thus forming a non- vertical component 328 to the convection path 320. Hence, in operation, heated air initially rises under convection guided by the vertical component of the convection path 320. The convected air is then redirected over the radiator by the non-vertical component 328 to contribute to circulation of air heated by the radiative surface 306. The curvature of the upper guide portion 326 can thus be optimised to maximise its contribution to effeciency.

In figures 5 a radiator having a convection guide according to a fourth embodiment is shown generally at 400. The radiator 400 comprises a room side radiator portion 402, a wall side radiator portion 403 , and a convection guide 404. Each radiator portion 402, 403 comprises a conventional fluid baring chamber for radiating thermal energy, from heated fluid passing through the corresponding chamber to heat a room of a building.

The room side radiator portion 402 comprises room side and internal radiative surfaces 406, 407. Similarly, the wall side radiator portion 403 comprises wall side and internal radiative surfaces 408, 409. The radiator portions 402, 403, are aligned generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another with internal radiative surfaces 407, 409 facing one another to form a intermediate convection space 426.

The radiator is further provided with a closure 428 configured for capping the convection space 426. The closure 428 is provided with a plurality of apertures 430 for allowing air heated in the intermediate space 426 to escape under convection.

The convection guide 404 is provided in the convection space 426 and comprises a plurality of guide elements 414 extending, transversely substantially from one internal surface 407 to the other 409. Each guide element 414 comprises a non-planar sheet comprising a plurality of wave like undulations 416 extending the full transverse width of the element 414. Thus, the undulations 416 form two substantially parallel non-planar convection surfaces 418, 419 for guiding heated air, in operation, by convection.

The guide elements 414 are regularly placed along the longitudinal length of the radiator to form a plurality of convection paths 420 between respective faces 418, 419, of adjacent elements 414. The guide elements 414 are configured such that the undulations 416 of adjacent elements 414 are substantially parallel. However, it will be appreciated that the elements 414 may be arranged in any suitable manner, for example, with the undulations 416 of adj acent elements out of phase such that the elements represent substantial mirror images of one another when viewed in cross-section.

The undulations 416 are generally 'V shaped in cross-section similar to those described for the second embodiment, thus resulting in a regular triangular wave cross-section to the guide element 414. It will be appreciated, however, that the cross-section need not be regular and may comprise undulations of different widths/frequency and different heights/amplitude. Furthermore, the cross-section need not ' V shaped and may comprise any suitable regular or irregular pattern, for example, a sawtooth or other such pattern. Furthermore, the undulations may alternatively be arcuate, similar to those described for the first embodiment, thus forming a generally sinusoidal cross-section or the like.

It will be further appreciated that the guide elements may alternatively be positioned at any suitable angle relative to the general plane of the radiative surfaces.

In figure 6 a further embodiment of a convection guide is shown generally at 500. The guide is generally similar to the alternative arrangement of the third embodiment described with reference to figure 4c and will not be described again in detail other than to highlight the main differences.

As described previously, the guide 500 comprises a non-planar guide element 514 having a plurality of undulations 516 of triangular or 'V shaped cross-section forming a convection surface 518, similar to that of the guide element 214 described for the second embodiment. Thus, in operation, the guide may be arranged to form a non-linear but generally vertical component of a convection path. The guide 500 further includes an upper guide portion 526 extending arcuately from an upper end of the guide element 514, for forming a non- vertical component to the convection path.

However, the convection guide 500 comprises an accessory for a previously installed radiator 502 rather than part of a pre-assembled unit. The guide 500 comprises two fixing apertures ^'530 arranged for mutual engagement with mounting brackets (not shown) on the radiator 502. It will be appreciated that the any suitable number of fixing apertures 530 maybe used in any suitable arrangement. For example, additional apertures may be provided for allowing the guide to be installed with any of a plurality of standard radiator fittings.

Hence, in operation, the guide 500 maybe fitted to an existing radiator 502 by engaging the mounting brackets of the radiator 502 in the fixing apertures 530.

Ih figure 7 a further embodiment of a convection guide is shown generally at 600. The guide 600 comprises an accessory for a previously installed radiator 602 having convection conduits 603 similar to the conduits 18 described in the introduction with reference to figure 1.

The convection guide 600 comprises a plurality of elongated guide elements 614 located generally adjacent to but spaced apart from one another in the same general plane. The guide 600 is further provided with a connection member 615 from which the guide elements 614 extend.

Each guide element 614 comprises an elongated non-planar sheet comprising a plurality of wave like undulations 616 extending the full transverse width of the element 614. Thus, the undulations 616 form two substantially parallel non-planar convection surfaces 618, 619 for guiding heated air, in operation, by convection.

The guide elements 614 have width and length corresponding respectively to the internal width and height of the conduits 603. Similarly, the elements are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent conduits 603.

Hence, in operation, the elements 614 of the convection guide 600 maybe inserted into the conduits 603 of a previously installed radiator 602 to improve the heating contribution made by air convected through the conduits 603 and thus the efficiency of the radiator 602.

It will be appreciated that although it is advantageous for manufacturing reasons to positioned the guide elements 614 in the same plane, the elements may be rotated relative to one another, for example with respective convection surfaces facing one another. Such positioning could be used, for example, to make a convection guide suitable for insertion between the internal radiative surfaces of a previously installed twin radiator, similar to that described with reference to figure 5.

It will be further appreciated that although several embodiments have been described, each having different features, many of the features described are interchangeable between embodiments. Furthermore, a number of alternative features are possible.

For example, the convection guides described as part of a single radiator/guide unit may alternatively comprise an accessory for a previously installed radiator. Furthermore, the guides may comprise any suitable means either for fixing the guide to the radiator, or for fixing it to a wall behind the radiator, for example, brackets with screw holes, bolt holes or the like.

It will be further appreciated that while the convection surface is described as being substantially continuous, the surface may be provided with one or more louvres or apertures

, through which air may be allowed to enter the convection path. Where present the number and configuration of these apertures are preferably optimised to ensure that the air entering the convection path does not significantly negate the positive affect of the undulations. For example, the apertures could form just a small section of each undulation and/or could be included only in a selection of the undulations. \

Claims

1 A convection guide for improving the efficiency of a radiator for heating a building, the guide comprising:

at least one guide element having a convection surface for forming a convection path with said radiator, thereby to allow air in said path to be heated by said radiator, and to be guided by said convection surface under convection;

wherein, said convection surface comprises a plurality of substantially continuous undulations arranged to induce non-linear passage of said heated air over said convection surface.

2 A convection guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein said convection surface is non- planar in the direction of convection.

3 A convection guide as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said guide comprises means for securing said guide to said radiator.

4 A convection guide as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the or each guide element is configured for insertion into a convection conduit of said radiator.

5 A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said convection path includes an air inlet, and an air outlet at respective ends thereof,

and wherein said convection surface forms a continuous convection path open to the air only at the inlet and the outlet.

6 A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one undulation comprises a generally a triangular or 'V shaped cross-section.

7 A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one undulation comprises a generally arcuate cross-section. A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said convection surface is thermally reflective.

A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a guide portion for re-directing said heated air non- vertically as said air leaves said conduction path.

A convection guide as claimed in claim 9 wherein said guide portion is arranged for redirecting said heated air substantially laterally.

A convection guide as claimed in any preceding claim comprising at least two guide elements arranged with respective convection surfaces facing one another, said path being formed by said radiator and said surfaces.

A radiator comprising a convection guide according to any preceding claim.

A radiator as substantially herein described with reference to figures 2a and 2b, figures 3a and 3b, 4a to 4c, or figure 5.

A convection guide as substantially herein described with reference to figures 2a and 2b₃ figures 3a and 3b, 4a to 4c, figure 5, figure 6, or figure 7.