Condenser Coil Holder Structure for Tight Tank Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Condenser coils in heat pump water heaters often revert to their original shape after bending, leading to shape and size inaccuracies, and are not securely held against the water storage tank, resulting in heat transfer inefficiencies and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A condenser coil holder with a shape complementary to the tank's bottom surface is used to securely hold the coil, reducing separation and enhancing heat transfer efficiency by applying force and using insulating materials like plastic or foam to improve thermal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the condenser coil is made flexible to accommodate tank bottom contours, then adaptability to non-flat tank surfaces is improved, but the coil cannot be held tightly to the tank resulting in heat transfer inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A holder device is introduced as an intermediary component between the condenser coil and the tank bottom. This holder has a shape complementary to the tank bottom contour and provides a mechanism to secure the flexible coil tightly against the tank surface, enabling both adaptability to non-flat surfaces and tight contact for efficient heat transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is divided into a first portion that contacts the tank bottom and a second portion that forms a base, allowing the structure to adapt to the tank contour while providing secure anchoring points to hold the coil tightly in place
2Manufacturing precision
If the condenser coil is bent to the intended shape, then the coil shape accuracy should be improved, but spring back causes great variation from intended specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with a pre-formed shape that is complementary to the tank bottom and the intended coil configuration. By installing the coil within this pre-shaped holder structure, the coil is constrained to maintain the intended shape and size, compensating for spring back effects that occur during bending
Solution Approach 2:
The holder structure changes the physical constraints on the coil, providing rigid boundaries that prevent the coil from reverting to its original shape. This external structural support modifies the effective shape parameters of the coil assembly to match the intended specifications
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
This solution improves heat transfer efficiency, reducing energy consumption by ensuring tight contact between the condenser coil and the tank, allowing for more efficient water heating.
Implementation Method 1
The separation between the condenser coil and the bottom of the tank results in heat transfer inefficiencies
Data Source
AI summary
A condenser coil holder apparatus comprises a first portion formed to have a shape that is at least substantially complementary to a shape of a bottom surface of a water storage tank of a water heater so as to hold a condenser coil against the bottom surface of the water storage tank of the water heater when assembled. The condenser coil holder apparatus also comprises a second portion formed as a base for the first portion.