Bivalent multifunction storage system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bivalent multifunctional storage systems for heating and hot water preparation face high manufacturing and operating costs, and low efficiency due to the need for frequent heating to over 60°C for domestic hot water, with solar energy utilization limited by the cycling frequency of the heating system.
Innovation Solution
A bivalent multifunctional storage system incorporating a primary heat generator and electric heating elements powered by a photovoltaic system, with the electric heating elements positioned in the hot water charging zone to preheat the storage medium, which is then pumped into a counterflow heat exchanger to minimize disruption to temperature stratification and optimize solar energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heating system frequently heats the storage medium to over 60°C for domestic hot water preparation, then the required temperature for hygienic hot water is achieved, but the cycling frequency increases and solar energy utilization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank is divided into multiple temperature zones (hot water charging zone at 60-80°C and buffer storage zone at lower temperatures). This segmentation allows the photovoltaic heating elements to operate at lower temperatures while the stratification maintains the required hot water temperature layer, reducing the need for frequent high-temperature cycling and improving solar energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temperature stratification as an additional dimensional aspect to the storage system. By creating vertical temperature gradients within the storage tank, the system can simultaneously maintain high temperature zones for hot water preparation and lower temperature zones for solar heating, effectively decoupling the temperature requirements and improving overall system efficiency.
2Productivity
If electric heating elements are positioned in the buffer storage zone to preheat the storage medium, then the primary heat generator operates less frequently, but the temperature stratification is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are positioned specifically in the buffer storage zone rather than uniformly distributed throughout the tank. This localized heating approach preheats only the lower temperature zone without directly interfering with the hot water charging zone stratification, allowing the primary heat generator to operate less frequently while maintaining overall temperature stratification stability.
3Productivity
If the storage medium is pumped from the upper part of the hot water charging zone into the flow gap, then the counterflow heat exchanger operates efficiently, but the temperature stratification is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer storage zone preheats the storage medium before it enters the hot water charging zone and flow gap. This preliminary heating action reduces the temperature differential required in the counterflow heat exchanger, improving its efficiency while minimizing the disturbance to the hot water charging zone stratification since the pumped medium is already preheated.
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
Reduces the need for primary energy input, optimizes solar energy utilization, and maintains temperature stratification, thereby lowering manufacturing and operating costs while enhancing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electric cartridge, here also referred to as E-cartridge (20.1), the heating surface of which is arranged in a heating zone within the hot water charging zone for heating the storage medium
Implementation Method 2
The inlet of the flow gap has a distance A to the uppermost inner termination of the tank wall;A domestic hot water charging pump, designed for charging the flow gap with storage medium... at least one electric cartridge... powered by a photovoltaic system
Implementation Method 3
a counterflow domestic hot water heater, which runs at least partially through the hot water charging zone, wherein the counterflow domestic hot water heater has a coiled domestic hot water pipe designed as a heat exchanger surface
Implementation Method 4
The buffer storage tank is filled with heating water... The storage medium in the tank is heated by means of the heat source... such that the storage tank always contains a stratified charge with several layers of the storage medium at different temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-functional storage system 1 for generating heating energy and for domestic hot water heating. The system comprises a multi-zone stratified storage tank with a buffer storage zone 5 and a hot water charging zone 6 above it, featuring a storage medium 3 with stratified charge at different temperatures; a counterflow domestic hot water heater 10, with a domestic hot water line 11 and a flow line 14 such that a flow gap 15 exists between them; a domestic hot water charging pump 18 for charging the flow gap 15 with the storage medium 3; a control unit 21 for operating the multi-functional storage system 1; and an electric heating element 20.1, the heating surface of which is arranged within the hot water charging zone 6, with the heating area extending at most to the eighth coil of the domestic hot water line 11. The invention also relates to a method for operating the multi-functional storage system 1. (Fig. 1)