Patent Publication Number: US-2021172612-A1

Title: Heating appliance with a built-in battery arranged in the incoming fresh air flow

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2018/052745 filed on Nov. 7, 2018, which claims priority to French patent application FR 17/60818 filed on Nov. 16, 2017 the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention concerns an electrical radiator type heating appliance having a case containing, on the one hand, an electric power storage device operating under a direct current intended to be charged by an electric power supply source external to the appliance, on the other hand, at least one heater member which can be powered by the electric power supply source and/or by the electric power storage device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In some heating appliances, it is known to integrate at least one battery associated to the heater member. Such a battery allows storing the electric power used by the heating appliance, in order to space the consumption of electricity over time. 
     Despite all the advantages that these solutions can have in terms of managing the electric power, these solutions are not yet entirely satisfactory. 
     Indeed, the battery includes, in known manner, a protective envelope in the form of a case which allows holding and protecting the internal elements of the battery, allowing the assembly to be manipulated in one piece. Such a protective envelope often has a thermal insulation property and therefore has the secondary effect of confining the heat produced by the internal elements, in particular the cells, during the operation of the battery. This generates an increase in the internal temperature of the elements, in particular the cells, and negatively impacts the service life of the battery. In addition to confining the heat inside the battery, the protective envelope also delays the moment when the heat produced by the battery is valued in terms of heat production. 
     Moreover, the known general organization which implements such a protective envelope makes the industrialization of the heating appliance substantially complex and expensive, which can be problematic on a large scale. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention aims at solving all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above. 
     In this context, an objective is to provide a heating appliance meeting at least one of the following objectives:
         maintaining the service life of the electrical components as high as possible,   providing the highest possible efficiency,   providing an easy and low cost industrialization.       

     This object can be achieved thanks to providing an electrical radiator type heating appliance having a case containing, on the one hand, an electric power storage device operating under a direct current intended to be charged by an electric power supply source external to the appliance, on the other hand, at least one heater member which can be powered by the electric power supply source and/or by the electric power storage device, the case comprising at least one air inlet arranged in a lower portion of the case to allow air to enter the volume delimited internally by the case and at least one air outlet arranged in an upper portion of the case to allow air to exit said volume, the electric power storage device being implanted across the air flow which circulates, in said volume, from said at least one air inlet to said at least one air outlet, at a location located, seen in the direction of circulation of said flow, between, on the one hand, said at least one air inlet and, on the other hand, said at least one heater member 
     The heating appliance can also meet the technical characteristics presented below, taken individually or in combination. 
     Said at least one air inlet comprises an opening arranged in the rear face of the case. 
     The electric power storage device comprises a battery based on an assembly of electrochemical cells. 
     The case contains two opposite plates framing the electrochemical cells on either side thereof in a direction along which the thickness of the case is counted. 
     The air flow which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heater member circulates in the interval delimited between and by said two opposite plates. 
     The electrochemical cells are in direct thermal contact with the air flow which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heater member. 
     The case and the electric power storage device delimit respectively first elements and second elements of the same fastening system ensuring holding the electric power storage device at said location relative to the case. 
     The air flow circulates by natural convection effect in the case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be even better understood using the detailed description which is exposed below with reference to the appended figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically represents a side sectional view of a first example of a heating appliance according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically represents a side sectional view of a second example of a heating appliance according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  represents a front sectional view of the heating appliance of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  represents a portion of an example of an electric power storage device that can be used for the appliances of  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  represents, in perspective, the heating appliance of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  represents, in perspective, the power storage device as a whole; 
         FIG. 7  represents a first embodiment of the power storage device; and 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  show a second embodiment of the power storage device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the electrical radiator type heating appliance  1  comprises a case  11  containing, on the one hand, an electric power storage device  2  operating under a direct current intended to be charged by an electric power supply source external to the heating appliance  1  and, on the other hand, at least one heater member  12  which can be powered by the electric power supply source and/or by the electric power storage device  2 . 
     The case  11  typically consists of a frame formed from a metal material. 
     The electric power supply source to which the heating appliance  1  is intended to be connected can for example deliver an alternating electric voltage. This is typically the local electrical network. 
     Alternatively or in a combined manner, the electric power supply source can be configured so as to supply the heating appliance  1  with a direct electric voltage. This is for example the case with renewable energy based power sources, typically photovoltaic panels, fuel cells, supercapacitors or batteries based on electrochemical cells. 
     The purpose of such an electric power storage device  2  is to be able to store electric power within the heating appliance  1 , in particular when inexpensive and/or renewable energy based electric power is available. 
     According to a non-limiting embodiment, the electric power storage device  2  comprises a battery based on an assembly of electrochemical cells  16 , illustrated by  FIG. 6 . In particular, this assembly can comprise first assembly elements allowing assembling a plurality of electrochemical cells  16  to each other so as to constitute a horizontal row and second assembly elements allowing vertically assembling several rows to each other. The nature and the design of the first and second assembly elements are not limiting in themselves. 
     The electric power storage device  2  can also comprise, alternatively or in combination with a battery as detailed above, a supercapacitor and/or a fuel cell. 
     The case  11  comprises at least one air inlet arranged in a lower portion of the case  11  to allow an air flow  3   a  outside the case  11  to enter the volume delimited internally by the case  11 . By way of example, said at least one air inlet may comprise an opening  13  formed in the lower face of the case  11 , the air flow  3   a  outside the heating appliance  1  being able to penetrate into the interior volume of the case  11  through this opening  13 . Typically, this opening  13  can be in the form of a grid. 
     The case  11  also comprises at least one air outlet  14  arranged in an upper portion of the case  11  to allow an airflow  3   c  to exit the volume delimited internally by the case  11 . For example, said or at least one air outlet  14  comprises an opening formed in the upper face of the case  11 , the air flow  3   c  inside the heating appliance  1  and previously heated by said at least one heater member  12  being able to exit the interior volume of the case  11  through this opening. Typically, this opening can be in the form of a grid. 
     It can be seen from the above that a certain air flow  3   a  outside the heating appliance  1  can penetrate into the case  11 , through said at least one air inlet, in order to be heated inside the case  11 . After penetrating the case  11 , the air flow circulating between said at least one air inlet and the heater member  12  and intended to be heated by said at least one heater member  12  is marked  3   b . The air flow which circulates between the heater member  12  and said at least one air outlet  14 , after undergoing a heating by the heater member  12  is intended to exit the case  11  via said at least one air outlet  14 , corresponds, in turn, to the air flow  3   c.    
     Advantageously, the electric power storage device  2  is implanted across the air flow  3   b ,  3   c  which circulates, in the interior volume of the case  11 , from said at least one air inlet to said at least one air outlet  14 . 
     More specifically, the electric power storage device  2  is implanted, relative to the case  11 , at a location located, seen in the direction of circulation of the flow  3   b ,  3   c , between, on the one hand, said at least one air inlet and, on the other hand, said at least one heater member  12 . In other words, the electric power storage device  2  is implanted across the air flow  3   b  which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heater member  12 . 
     In a non-limiting, but nevertheless very advantageous embodiment, corresponding to the first example of  FIG. 1 , said at least one air inlet comprises, in addition to the opening  13  arranged in the lower face of the case  11 , an opening  15  arranged in the rear face of the case  11 . This opening  15  allows the air flow heated by the heater member  12  to exit the case  11  in the event of closing said at least one air outlet  14 . 
     This opening  15  allows avoiding the possible overheating of the heater member  12  and also limiting the possible risks of overheating of the electric power storage device  2 , in order to avoid a degradation and a reduction in the service life of said electric power storage device. 
     However, this opening  15  is optional and the second example of a heating appliance  1  according to the invention which is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 2  is devoid of such an opening  15 . 
     Said at least one heater member  12  can in particular comprise at least one radiating heater body and/or at least one heat transfer fluid heating device. Such a radiating heater body can comprise at least one electrical resistance intended to be supplied by a direct voltage, for example in the range of 50V. The radiating heater body can also further comprise a resistor intended to be supplied by an alternating voltage, for example 230V, allowing using, in conjunction, the two types of heater sources in order to obtain a point heat effect to compensate for thermal reductions, for example night or day reductions. 
     It is very advantageous to provide that the electrochemical cells  16  are in direct thermal contact with the air flow  3   b  which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heater member  12 . 
     The thermal contact of the electrochemical cells  16  with the air flow  3   b  firstly allows fulfilling a first function consisting in heating the air flow  3   b  before it reaches the heater member  12 , allowing promoting the efficiency of the heating appliance  1  by avoiding the internal thermal losses. 
     The thermal contact of the electrochemical cells  16  with the air flow  3   a  allows fulfilling a second function consisting in cooling the electrochemical cells  16  by thermal transfer of the calories from the electrochemical cells  16  to the air flow  3   b , which partially results in maintaining the electrochemical cells  16  at a temperature close to that of the air flow  3   a  and thus extending their service life. 
     It is therefore noted that there is a real advantageous synergy between these two functions. 
     Thus, the integration of the electric power storage device  2 , which is advantageously devoid of a protective envelope unlike the prior art, directly into the case  11  which also contains said at least one heater member  12  allows a facilitated and cost-effective industrialization of the heating appliance  1 . 
     These arrangements, although advantageous, are however not limiting. Indeed, it is possible to provide that the electric power storage device  2  is provided with an envelope which is at least partially open in order to let the air flow pass. 
     Advantageously, the case  11  contains two opposite plates framing the electrochemical cells  16  on either side thereof along a direction (denoted Y in  FIG. 5 ) in which the thickness of the case  11  is counted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the air flow  3   b , which circulates from said at least one air inlet to said at least one heater member  12 , circulates in the interval delimited between, and by, the two opposite plates comprised in the case  11 . 
     Thus, such opposite plates have the advantages of ensuring a protection of the electrochemical cells  16  and of guiding the air flow  3   b , for a better efficiency of the heating appliance  1  and a good robustness. 
     According to one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , each electrochemical cell  16  can be in the form of a cylinder whose axis A is perpendicular to the reference plane P defined by one of the two opposite plates. Such an orientation of the cells  16 , generally perpendicular to the direction (denoted Z) of circulation of the air flow  3   b  with which they are in thermal contact, promotes the quality of this heat exchange in a simple, efficient and cost-effective manner. Typically, the direction Z corresponds to the vertical direction once the heating appliance is fastened to the wall. 
     In the represented variant, the electrochemical cells  16  are staggered, within the same horizontal row, in a direction denoted X jointly perpendicular to Z and Y. The vertical stack of the vertical rows on top of each other takes place along the direction Z. 
     In a first embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the horizontal rows of cells  16  are stacked along Z such that the electrochemical cells  16  are aligned in the direction Z from one horizontal row to the other. As a result, the flow of fresh air between the electrochemical cells  16  is relatively rectilinear in the direction Z, limiting the pressure losses. This flow is symbolized by the vertical arrows in  FIG. 7 . 
     In the second embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the horizontal rows of cells  16  are stacked along Z such that, from one horizontal row to the other, the electrochemical cells  16  are offset in the direction X, finally resulting in a distribution of the cells in a staggered manner. This has the advantageous effect of causing deviations for the air flow, symbolized by the zigzag arrows in  FIG. 8 , which ultimately allows creating turbulence in the air flow in order to improve the heat exchanges between the air and the cells  16 . 
     These very advantageous arrangements are not, however, limiting since the orientation of the axis A of the cells  16  can be arbitrary relative to the direction of circulation of the air flow  3   b , for example by being oriented parallel to the reference plane P, which has the advantage of making the thickness of the heating appliance potentially small. 
     It should be noted that the air flows  3   b ,  3   c  circulate naturally in the case  11 , that is to say, without a vacuum or overpressure system. On the contrary, the air flow circulates by natural convection effect in the case  11  originating from the heat released by the heater member  12  as well as by the electric power storage device  2 . 
     In a manner not represented in details, the case  11  and the electric power storage device  2  respectively delimit first elements and second elements of the same fastening system ensuring holding the electric power storage device at said location relative to the case  11 . This fastening system can operate on principles of snap-fitting, screwing or equivalent. 
     Thus, it results from the above that the heating appliance  1  allows maintaining the service life of the electric power storage device  2  as high as possible, whether in normal operation thanks to thermal transfer with the air flow circulating in the case or in critical operation in the case of an abnormal heating. 
     On the other hand, the heating appliance  1  has the highest possible efficiency because of the limitation of internal thermal losses due to the useful recovery of the calories generated by the electric power storage device  2  during its operation. 
     Finally, the use of an electric power storage device  2  implanted so as to promote the thermal transfer with the air flow circulating between the air inlet and the heater member, and advantageously devoid of a protective envelope unlike known techniques, promotes an easy and cost-effective industrialization of the heating appliance  1 .