Central Water Mixing Control for Multi-Fixture Sanitary Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary systems require high installation effort and are not easily adaptable to different needs or specifications, making them inefficient for flexible adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary system with a mixing center that uses consumer identification transmitted to a control center to control mixing units, reducing installation effort by allowing automatic setting of parameters based on the type of consumer, and incorporating sensors for temperature, pressure, and flow rate control, with optional water recovery for energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional sanitary systems with separate hot and cold water pipes are used for each fixture, then temperature and flow control is achieved, but installation effort and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple water supply lines (hot and cold water pipes) into a single mixed water line that delivers pre-mixed water to all fixtures. The mixing process is centralized at the water heater unit rather than being distributed to each fixture, simplifying the piping infrastructure while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central control unit that acts as an intermediary between the water heater and the fixtures. This control unit receives consumer identification, determines the appropriate mixing ratios, and controls the mixing units to deliver water at the correct temperature and flow rate, eliminating the need for complex individual control at each fixture.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional sanitary systems are installed, then water supply to multiple fixtures is achieved, but adaptability to different consumer needs and specifications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability through consumer identification. When a fixture is activated, the control unit identifies the consumer type (e.g., bathtub, shower, sink) and automatically adjusts the mixing ratios and flow rates to match the specific requirements of that consumer, allowing the system to adapt to different needs without physical reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (temperature, flow rate, mixing ratio) based on consumer identification. The control unit stores different parameter sets for different consumer types and automatically selects the appropriate parameters, enabling versatile adaptation to various fixture requirements while maintaining a simple unified piping structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If consumer identification and automatic control systems are implemented, then adaptability and safety are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a universal multi-functional device that handles consumer identification, determines fixture type, calculates mixing ratios, controls multiple mixing units, and monitors system operation. This centralized multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate control systems into a single unit, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
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 system reduces installation and maintenance efforts by automatically adjusting settings for different consumers, ensuring safe water delivery and optimizing water and energy usage through precise control and recovery of thermal energy.
Implementation Method 1
a controllable mixing unit (1) having a hot water connection (2.4) and a cold water connection (3.4) as well as a mixed water connection (4.14), wherein the mixing unit (1) is designed to create a desired mixed water temperature and/or a desired flow rate by mixing hot and cold water
Implementation Method 2
the control center takes into account for controlling the controllable mixing unit... the control center can control the valves or mixers belonging to the fluid line to which the consumer is connected
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sanitary system with a mixing unit (1) which can be connected on the inlet side to a hot water line (2) and a cold water line (3) and on the outlet side to a mixing line (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) leading to a decentralized consumer (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). The mixing unit (1) has a controllable mixing element (4.16, 4.15, 4.26, 4.25, 4.36, 4.35) for the controllable supply of water from the cold water line (3) and/or the hot water line (2) into the mixing line (4.1, 4.2, 4.3). The decentralized consumer (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) is assigned an operating device (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) for inputting a parameter value, such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, and/or flow quantity. A control unit (9) is provided to control the controllable mixing unit (4.16, 4.26, 4.36, 4.15, 4.25, 4.35) based on the parameter value. A control unit for the consumer (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) is also provided.3) The relevant consumer identification is transferable to the control center (9), which the control center (9) uses to control the controllable mixing unit (4.16, 4.15, 4.26, 4.25, 4.36, 4.35). The sanitary system may also include a recovery system to save water and heat energy.