Heater elements with enhanced cooling
View Patent ↗A heater assembly with enhanced cooling pursuant to various embodiments described herein makes use of fluidic flow in the insulation or in the space used for insulation. By creating a natural convection or forced convection flow, the heater cools down faster, it can operate at lower temperatures and/or higher temperature precision, and it can improve temperature controllability by generating higher heat loss rates.
1. A heater insulation, comprising
a layer of insulation material, wherein the layer of insulation is configured to insulate a heater element from an outside ambient;
one or more channels disposed within the layer of insulation, wherein the plurality of channels passes through along a length of the layer of insulation;
a manifold coupled to the plurality of channels, wherein the manifold comprises an inlet;
a restrictor assembly coupled to the plurality of channels,
wherein the restrictor assembly is configured to adjustably change a flow rate of the plurality of channels; and
a locking assembly coupled to the restrictor assembly,
wherein the locking assembly is configured to fixedly couple the restrictor assembly to the layer of insulation.
2. A heater insulation as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of channels comprises straight lines or curved lines passing along the length of the layer of insulation.
3. A heater insulation as in claim 1 further comprising
a controller assembly coupled to the restrictor assembly, wherein the controller assembly is configured to automatically adjust the flow rate of the plurality of channels.
4. A heater insulation as in claim 1 further comprising
a blower assembly coupled to the inlet of the manifold.
5. A heater insulation as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of channels is vacuum formed within the layer of insulation.
6. A heater insulation as in claim 1 further comprising
one or more tubes disposed in the layer of insulation.
7. A system comprising
a heater;
a layer of insulation material, wherein the layer of insulation is configured to insulate the heater from an outside ambient;
one or more channels disposed within the layer of insulation, wherein the plurality of channels passes through along a length of the layer of insulation;
a manifold coupled to the plurality of channels, wherein the manifold comprises an inlet;
a restrictor assembly coupled to the plurality of channels,
wherein the restrictor assembly is configured to adjustably change the flow rate of the plurality of channels; and
a locking assembly coupled to the restrictor assembly,
wherein the locking assembly is configured to fixedly couple the restrictor assembly to the layer of insulation.
8. A system as in claim 7 further comprising
a quartz tubes, wherein the heater is disposed outside the quartz tube.
9. A system as in claim 7 further comprising
a controller assembly coupled to the restrictor assembly, wherein the controller assembly is configured to automatically adjust the flow rate of the plurality of channels.
10. A system as in claim 7 further comprising
a blower assembly coupled to the inlet of the manifold.
11. A method for controllably heating a chamber, the method comprising
turning on a heater for heating the chamber;
turning on a fluidic flow, at least during a portion of the time the heater is turned on, through one or more channels within an insulation layer, wherein the insulation layer covers the heater to insulate the chamber; and
wherein the fluidic flow is adjusted by varying outlet openings of the plurality of channels.
12. A method as in claim 11 wherein the fluidic flow comprises a gas flow or a liquid flow.
13. A method as in claim 11 wherein the fluidic flow is manually adjusted.
14. A method as in claim 11 wherein the fluidic flow is automatically adjusted through a controller.
15. A method as in claim 11 further comprising
flowing the fluidic flow through a heat exchanger before or after the fluidic flow entering or exiting the plurality of channels.