Apparatus for heating liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure cleaning devices face inefficiencies in heating flowing liquids, leading to energy waste and increased manufacturing costs due to the high temperature of heat exchangers, which restricts material selection and requires bulky designs to accommodate temperature-sensitive components.
Innovation Solution
A liquid heating apparatus with a burner unit directing a flame downwards through a coil with multiple layers of windings, where residual energy from the flame and exhaust gases is used to preheat the liquid in a surrounding reservoir, reducing the need for heat-resistant materials and allowing for a more compact design by minimizing external heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional heat exchanger is used to heat flowing liquid, then the liquid can be heated to desired temperature, but the heat exchanger itself becomes very hot requiring bulky design and heat-resistant materials
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into two distinct parts: an internal heat exchanger surrounded by liquid, and an external heat exchanger through which liquid flows. This segmentation allows the internal heat exchanger to be heated to high temperatures for efficient heat transfer, while the external heat exchanger remains cooler as it only transfers heat to the flowing liquid, eliminating the need for bulky heat-resistant materials throughout the entire apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid surrounding the internal heat exchanger acts as an intermediary thermal medium. It absorbs heat from the internally heated exchanger and then transfers this heat to the flowing liquid through the external heat exchanger. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve high heating efficiency without requiring the external components to withstand extreme temperatures.
2Productivity
If high temperature heat exchanger is used, then heating efficiency is improved, but material selection is restricted and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchanger into internal and external parts with different thermal requirements, the system can use inexpensive, easily manufactured materials for the external heat exchanger while concentrating heat-resistant materials only where absolutely necessary in the internal components, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal heat exchanger is designed with localized high-temperature resistance only in the regions directly exposed to the heat source, while other parts can use standard materials. This local quality approach optimizes material usage and reduces manufacturing complexity compared to using heat-resistant materials throughout the entire heat exchanger.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional heating apparatus is used, then liquid can be heated, but energy efficiency is poor due to harmful heating of the heat exchanger itself
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid surrounding the internal heat exchanger serves as an intermediary that efficiently transfers heat from the heated internal exchanger to the flowing liquid through the external heat exchanger. This intermediary mechanism ensures that thermal energy is directed toward heating the liquid rather than being wasted on heating the external heat exchanger structure itself, thereby improving overall energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid surrounding the internal heat exchanger automatically absorbs excess heat that would otherwise be wasted on heating the external components. This self-service mechanism allows the system to utilize its own working fluid as a thermal buffer, improving energy efficiency without requiring additional active cooling systems or energy input.
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 approach achieves high energy efficiency, allowing for a more compact and cost-effective design while ensuring safe integration of components, with energy efficiency reaching up to 94% or higher, and eliminates the need for separate heat shielding, enabling efficient heating of liquids like water in high-pressure washers.
Implementation Method 1
the burner unit is arranged to burn a fuel so as to generate a flame
Implementation Method 2
the flame or exhaust gases are being directed downwards within the first layer of windings towards a bottom portion of the internal housing
Implementation Method 3
the flame or exhaust gases are redirected from said bottom portion towards a space between the first layer of windings and an inner wall of the internal housing so as to allow the flame or exhaust gases to contact all of: the second layer of windings, the inner wall of the internal housing, and the first layer of windings
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and method for heating a liquid, such as water, flowing into and through said apparatus (1) from an associated liquid source. The apparatus comprises top portion with a burner unit (60) and a coil (5) arranged in an internal housing (30), said internal housing (30) arranged inside an external housing (40) dimensioned so as to form a liquid reservoir (50) in between said two housings (30, 40) and wherein said burner unit (60) is arranged so as to direct a flame towards said coil (5). The liquid flows into the apparatus through a liquid inlet into said liquid reservoir (50) and from said liquid reservoir (50) through the coil (5) from a coil inlet to a coil outlet, and wherein the coil (5) and internal housing (30) are arranged so as to direct the flame from the burner unit (60) through a tortuous path ensuring a high energy transfer from said flame to said liquid. This design is advantageous for integration of the apparatus into a compact device, since the cool water surrounds the hot internal part of the apparatus. Thus, the external surface of the apparatus is cool enough to allow sensitive components to be placed close to the external housing (40), and at the same time, the apparatus provide a high energy efficiency.