Condensate Pan With Internal Trap for Tight Furnace Clearances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional condensate traps in high efficiency furnaces are external and require additional clearance, which is often not available, and must be manually repositioned for different furnace installations, leading to space inefficiencies and increased labor.
Innovation Solution
An internal condensate trap integrated within the condensate pan, allowing for the same pan to be used in various furnace positions without external traps, thus eliminating the need for additional space and reducing installation labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external condensate traps are used, then condensate drainage function is provided, but additional clearance space is required and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate trap is merged with the condensate pan by forming the trap as an integral part of the pan structure. The trap is defined by the pan's side walls and bottom, eliminating the need for a separate external trap device and reducing the required clearance space while maintaining the condensate drainage function.
2Ease of manufacture
If condensate trap is pre-installed for one configuration, then factory assembly is simplified, but labor is required to move the trap for different configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate pan is designed with universal applicability across multiple furnace configurations (upflow, downflow, horizontal right, horizontal left). The integral trap design allows the same pan to function correctly in any configuration without requiring relocation or modification, making the component multi-functional and eliminating installation labor for trap repositioning.
3Reliability
If external condensate traps are used, then condensate drainage is achieved, but the number of components and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate trap function is merged into the condensate pan structure, reducing the total number of components from two separate devices (pan and external trap) to a single integrated component. This simplification maintains the reliability of condensate drainage while reducing device complexity and the number of parts that could potentially fail.
Data Source
AI summary
A condensate pan for a condensing furnace includes a main chamber to receive exhaust gases, a condensate trap separate from the main chamber and internal the condensate pan and a main drain.