Air-Water Mixing Shower Head for Low-Flow Showering and Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower systems require significant amounts of water and energy to provide an effective shower experience, with limited potential for reduction in water usage and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The shower apparatus incorporates a shower head design that uses pressurized air blown into the shower head to mix with water flow, allowing for reduced water usage and enabling in-situ drying, with operation modes for normal showering, drying, and water-only modes, utilizing a venturi structure with convergent and divergent regions to optimize water and air interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional shower systems use water supply only, then water delivery is simple, but water usage is high (15-20 liters per minute)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by introducing a pressurized air supply system that mixes air with water in a mixing chamber. The air is delivered through ducting to the shower head where it combines with water flow, creating a foam-like spray that provides effective showering with dramatically reduced water consumption (2-5 liters per minute compared to conventional 15-20 liters per minute).
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized air supply system serves multiple functions: it mixes with water to reduce water usage during showering, provides drying capability after showering, and can be adjusted to create different spray patterns. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single integrated air delivery system that can operate in combination with water or independently.
2Temperature
If conventional shower systems heat large amounts of water, then adequate water temperature is achieved, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a foam-like spray by mixing pressurized air with water, which copies the volume and coverage characteristics of conventional high-water showers. This foam structure allows the limited heated water to be distributed more effectively throughout the spray, providing adequate temperature coverage with much less total water heating required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the water delivery by introducing pressurized air that creates numerous small air-water bubbles. This increases the surface area and distribution of the heated water, allowing better thermal coverage with reduced water volume, thereby reducing the total energy required for heating.
3Ease of operation
If shower heads use multiple spray orifices, then spray coverage is improved, but orifices block easily in hard water areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a large diameter water pipe (about 8 mm) for the shower fluid output instead of multiple small orifices. The pressurized air mixes with water in this larger pipe, creating the foam spray effect without requiring numerous small openings that are prone to blocking. This single large outlet maintains reliable operation in hard water conditions while providing adequate spray coverage.
4Speed
If venturi sections are used to increase water velocity, then spray strength is improved, but water pressure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressurized air to provide the additional velocity and spray strength that would otherwise require high water pressure. The air flow through the mixing chamber and ducting creates a foam spray with sufficient velocity and penetration without needing to increase water pressure, making the system suitable for locations with limited water pressure availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution dramatically reduces water usage by 80% and energy consumption by 79%, allowing for effective showering with 2-5 liters per minute, while enabling simple drying and reducing mould formation, and can be retrofitted or integrated into existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the air may be drawn or sucked in by creating a region of low pressure inside the shower head, which may be effected by passing the water through a venturi similar to that described above. As the water velocity increases, the pressure is reduced
Implementation Method 2
pressurised air can be blown into the shower head for mixing with the water flow... enabling ambient air in the vicinity of the shower head to be drawn into the shower head to mix with the water flowing through. This may be used to create a foam effect, whereby the water contains small bubbles of air trapped within it
Implementation Method 3
enabling pressurised air to be blown through the shower head in the absence of water... enabling simple in-situ drying of a user of the shower
Data Source
AI summary
Shower apparatus comprises a shower head (1) for expelling fluid in use, means (2) for connecting the shower head (1) to a water supply (3), a pressurized air supply (4), and guidance means (5) for guiding air flow from the pressurized air supply (4) to the shower head (1).