Cold water tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cold water tanks struggle to maintain water at high pressure, leading to rapid water flow and inadequate cooling, as well as limitations in faucet or cock positioning due to the need for low height placement to manage pressure differences.
Innovation Solution
A dual-tank system where water enters through a lower inlet pipe in the first tank, flows upward, and is cooled in a second tank with an evaporator, allowing stable pressure and cooling, with an air flow pipe and outlet pipe configuration that maintains pressure and facilitates free positioning of discharge outlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If water is introduced into the cold water tank at high pressure, then the water inflow pressure is maintained, but the water flows too quickly through the tank, shortening the cooling period and reducing cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The cold water tank is divided into multiple compartments (first cold water tank and second cold water tank) with separate flow paths. Water can be introduced into either tank independently, allowing the system to segment the cooling process and prevent excessive flow speed through a single tank, thereby maintaining both pressure and adequate cooling duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The second cold water tank is positioned inside the first cold water tank, creating a nested structure. This nested configuration allows water to flow through the inner tank while surrounded by the outer tank, effectively increasing the cooling path length and residence time without compromising the inflow pressure, as the pressure is maintained at the inlet before the nested structure.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the cold water tank is positioned under the water supply source to allow water to remain in the tank for sufficient cooling time, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the degree of freedom in positioning the faucet or cock is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple tanks with independent outlets. The first cold water tank has its own outlet, and the second cold water tank (inside the first) also has its own outlet. This segmentation allows different faucets to be positioned at different heights and locations, with each faucet connected to a specific tank, thereby maintaining positioning freedom while ensuring adequate residence time in each tank segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested structure of the second tank inside the first tank utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently. This vertical nesting allows outlets to be positioned at different heights and spatial locations without requiring the entire system to be positioned low for gravity-based flow, thus maintaining faucet positioning freedom while ensuring sufficient cooling residence time through the extended flow path.
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 ensures water remains in a stable state for sufficient cooling while maintaining inflow pressure, allowing for flexible positioning of discharge outlets and improved cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
having an evaporator included in a refrigerating cycle to cool the introduced water
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a cold water tank including: a first tank having an inlet pipe through which water to be cooled is introduced; and a second tank provided in the interior of the first tank such that water of the first tank can be introduced thereinto, having an evaporator included in a refrigerating cycle to cool the introduced water, and having an outlet pipe through which cooled water flows. Although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can remain in the cold water tank for a period of time required for being cooled, and although water is introduced at high pressure, the introduced water can be in a stable state in the cold water tank. Thus, water can be cooled with its inflow pressure maintained, and the degree of freedom of a faucet or cock for allowing cold water to flow therethrough can be improved in its height.