Increase resistance for efficient heating

Patent · 23 November 2021

OSTI ID:1860106

Kisner, Roger A.

Conductors for use in heating systems are provided. The conductors are configured to have an extended current path for the current and increased resistance as seen by the current. The heating system may be an induction system. For example, the conductor may comprise a conductive material having a surface which faces an induction coil of an oscillating circuit. This surface may have a predetermined pattern of peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys form a non-linear current path for the induced current when exposed to an electromagnetic field generated by the oscillating circuit. Other conductors such as a heat pipe may be used. The pipe may have walls with varying thicknesses over its length. The varying thicknesses may include a first thickness and a second thickness which alternate. The heat pipe may be used in an induction or direct contact heating system where AC is directly applied to the pipe.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): 11,184,959
• Application Number: 16/240,201
• OSTI ID: 1860106
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English