Bidet Water Generator Housing to Cut Eddy Current Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional generators used in bidets suffer from reduced power generation efficiency due to eddy current losses caused by metal housings, which compromise stability against internal pressure and result in insufficient power generation.
Innovation Solution
A generator design featuring an upper and lower housing with a larger diameter through-hole for the rotating shaft, a bearing, and communication holes to connect impeller and magnet spaces, along with a thicker bottom portion in the lower housing to reduce eddy current losses and enhance stability, while maintaining efficient power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a metal housing is used to endure internal water pressure, then stability against internal pressure is improved, but power generation efficiency decreases due to eddy current loss
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separate parts: an upper housing made of non-conductive material (resin) and a lower housing made of conductive material (metal). This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the upper housing prevents eddy current loss while the lower housing provides pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used for different portions of the housing based on local requirements. The upper housing uses non-conductive material where eddy current prevention is critical, while the lower housing uses metal where pressure resistance is the priority. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between pressure stability and eddy current loss.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the thickness of the housing is increased to endure internal pressure, then stability against internal pressure is improved, but the distance between the bobbin and magnet increases, reducing power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The housing thickness requirement is segmented between two materials. The metal lower housing provides structural strength with minimal thickness, while the non-conductive upper housing completes the enclosure without interfering with the magnetic field. This eliminates the need to increase overall housing thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing uses a composite structure combining metal and non-conductive materials. The metal portion provides mechanical strength to resist internal pressure, while the non-conductive portion maintains electrical isolation. This composite approach achieves pressure stability without increasing the distance between bobbin and magnet.
3Reliability
If a seal unit is added to prevent water from flowing into the magnet, then water protection is improved, but friction between the shaft and seal unit increases, reducing power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The seal unit is completely removed from the design. Instead of sealing around the rotating shaft, the patent uses a stationary seal structure where water is prevented from entering the magnet area through the housing design itself. This eliminates the friction problem while maintaining water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A bearing is introduced as an intermediary element to support the rotating shaft without requiring a dynamic seal. The bearing allows smooth rotation while the housing structure provides the water barrier, separating the rotational function from the sealing function to eliminate friction losses.
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
The design achieves improved power generation efficiency and stability against internal pressure, increasing the amount of power generated while minimizing eddy current losses.
Implementation Method 1
As the impeller 20 is rotated, the magnet 40 is rotated integrally with the impeller 20 to generate a current in the coil bobbin 51 serving as the stator
Implementation Method 2
the impeller 20 is rotated by the pressure of water introduced from a water supply source 15 through the water inlet 12
Data Source
AI summary
A generator includes: an upper housing and a lower housing; a water inlet and a water outlet provided in the upper housing; an impeller rotatably fixed inside the upper housing; a magnet provided in the lower housing, connected to a rotating shaft of the impeller, and rotated integrally with the impeller; and a bobbin positioned outside the magnet. A bearing through which the rotating shaft passes and a communication hole connecting a space for housing the impeller to a space for housing the magnet are disposed in an intermediate surface between the space for housing the impeller and the space for housing the magnet.