Company:

2D Heat Ltd

Project:

Flame-Sprayed heating elements

Year:

2008

Status:

UK Runner Up

Jeff Boardman looked at the conventional hob heating process in 1990 and thought "there has to be a better way" - 2D Heat Ltd's flame-sprayed heating element may just be that way. He was referring to the severe inefficiencies in the production and performance of traditional heating elements,which rely on heat radiation and convection at massive temperatures and a convoluted production process. The new element is deceptively simple - instead of a bundle of high-cost, low-efficiency wires, this is sprayed directly onto the article that needs to be heated (e.g. a hob or the back of an oven panel).

Instead of a traditional production system which requires a wire mill company, a tube mill, a chemical company and a rod rolling company; the new, endlessly versatile element (it is a spray after all!) simply requires a company to produce the powder, a company to prepare the oxide and an OEM assembler. This is expected to deliver a reduction in the energy cost of production by 55-80 times as well as a 16-fold reduction in the raw materials required. Moreover, in use, it should save 40-50% versus current A/B rated appliances, which, combined, should generate 1m tonnes of carbon savings per annum. The good news doesn't end there: Clare Hanmer of the Carbon Trust said "this project is a great example of a drop-in solution that offers consumers exactly what they want, heat to cook food,with the upside of large carbon savings.". Boardman couldn't have predicted that this 'better way' of heating simple kitchen appliances could be so simple and so easy to integrate.