Boiler Dual-Circulation Design for Simultaneous Heating and Hot Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boilers with small heating surface areas face inefficiencies in heating-water supply, leading to inadequate heating, increased pressure loss, and erosion of heat transfer elements, requiring larger radiators and increased pump capacity, which raises costs and reduces durability.
Innovation Solution
A boiler design with a tank, main heat exchanger, hot-water heat exchanger, and three-way valve allows for efficient heating-water circulation and temperature control, enabling simultaneous heating and hot water use, even with small heating surface areas, by adjusting the three-way valve's opening rate based on heating and hot water loads, and using internal and external circulation pumps to manage water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the heating equipment has a small heating surface area, then the boiler volume and weight are reduced, but the heating efficiency is insufficient due to limited heating-water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating-water circulation system into two separate loops: an internal circulation loop (with internal circulation pump) for heat exchange in the main heat exchanger, and an external circulation loop (with external circulation pump) for supplying heating-water to heating equipment. This segmentation allows each loop to be optimized independently, enabling sufficient heating-water supply to heating equipment even when the heating equipment has a small heating surface area, while maintaining a compact boiler design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank serves multiple functions: it stores heating-water, acts as a mixing chamber for return water, and provides a common connection point for both internal and external circulation systems. The three-way valve provides multi-functionality by directing heating-water from the main heat exchanger to either the tank or the hot-water heat exchanger, enabling the system to handle both heating and hot water demands simultaneously.
2Volume of moving object
If the heating equipment has a small heating surface area, then the boiler volume and weight are reduced, but the pressure loss of heating-water increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the circulation system into internal and external loops with separate pumps, the patent eliminates the need for high circulation speeds in a single loop. The external circulation pump can be sized appropriately for the heating equipment's requirements, maintaining sufficient pressure without requiring excessive pump capacity, thus reducing overall pressure loss while keeping the boiler compact.
3Volume of moving object
If the heating equipment has a small heating surface area, then the boiler volume and weight are reduced, but the heat transfer elements are eroded due to excessive heating-water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The internal circulation pump handles only the heat exchange circulation in the main heat exchanger, while the external circulation pump handles the supply to heating equipment. This segmentation prevents excessive flow rates in the main heat exchanger that would cause erosion, as the internal circulation pump can be sized appropriately for heat exchange requirements rather than being oversized to meet heating equipment demands.
4Productivity
If the three-way valve opening rate is adjusted based on heating and hot water loads, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The three-way valve is designed to dynamically adjust its opening rate based on the relative demands of heating and hot water loads. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the distribution of heating-water from the main heat exchanger, directing more flow to heating equipment when heating demand is high and more to the hot-water heat exchanger when hot water demand is high, thereby maintaining high heating efficiency while adapting to varying load conditions.
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 ensures sufficient heating-water supply to heating equipment, reduces corrosion risk, extends the service life of heat exchangers, and allows for easy temperature control, enhancing heating efficiency and reducing the boiler's volume and weight while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a main heat exchanger 130 for heating heating-water using combustion heat of a burner 140
Implementation Method 2
a hot-water heat exchanger 180 for heating cold water into hot water through a heat exchange between heating-water heated in the main heat exchanger 130 and the cold water
Implementation Method 3
an internal circulation pump 120 for circularly supplying heating-water stored in the tank 110 to the main heat exchanger 130
Data Source
AI summary
The boiler of the present invention which enables the simultaneous use of heating and hot water includes: an internal heating-water discharge line for heating water, which has a circulation path for heating water forcibly fed by an internal circulation pump between a tank and a main heat exchanger; a supply water discharge line for heating water, which has a circulation path for heating water forcibly fed by an external circulation pump and supplied and returned from/to the tank and an indoor heating mechanism; and a three-way valve provided on a second indoor heating water connecting pipe of the internal heating-water discharge line for heating water, which adjusts the degree to which it is opened according to the indoor heating load and the hot water load in order to supply hot water passing through the main heat exchanger to the tank and a hot-water heat exchanger. The internal heating-water discharge line of the boiler and the supply water discharge line for heating water are connected to the internal space of the tank disposed therebetween.