Continuous-Flow Water Heater with Nested Interior Heating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing continuous-flow heaters face limitations in heat output due to pipe length constraints, leading to space issues or complex geometries, and alternative solutions involving special components are costly.
Innovation Solution
A continuous-flow heater design featuring a pipe section with both a wall heater and an interior heater, where the interior heater is anchored in a curved section and protrudes into a straight section, allowing for increased heating output per length using standard components like U-shaped heating rods or coiled designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a long pipe section is used to increase heating output, then heat output increases, but space requirements increase and geometry becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
An interior heater is nested inside the pipe section, with the heating element positioned within the interior space of the pipe. This allows a second heating component to be contained within the existing structure, effectively doubling the heating capacity without increasing the external footprint of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating functionality is extended from a single wall-mounted heater to include an interior heater that operates in the third dimension within the pipe's interior space. This vertical/utilization of internal space allows increased heating output without extending the pipe length externally.
2Power
If a long pipe section is used to increase heating output, then heat output increases, but the pipe section becomes tortuous and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The interior heater is nested within the pipe section, utilizing the internal volume rather than extending the pipe externally. This maintains a simple, straight pipe geometry while achieving increased heating output through the addition of the internal heating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating capacity is increased by adding functionality in the radial dimension (inside the pipe wall and interior space) rather than extending in the longitudinal dimension (pipe length). This keeps the pipe geometry simple and straightforward.
3Power
If special components are used to locate heating on the pump, then heating functionality is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interior heater uses standard, universally available heating rod components rather than specialized pump-integrated heating elements. This allows the use of off-the-shelf parts that can be manufactured and installed using conventional processes, reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of developing a specialized integrated pump-heating component, the solution copies the simple, proven technology of standard heating rods and adapts it for use within the pipe section. This leveraging of existing, well-understood components reduces development and manufacturing costs.
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 configuration achieves a high heat output in a simple and space-efficient manner, suitable for household appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, using modular components that can be easily controlled and maintained.
Implementation Method 1
A wall heater arranged in or on the wall of the pipe section with which the process water in the interior can be heated
Implementation Method 2
an interior heater with a spacer to the wall in the interior, which can also be used to heat the water in the interior
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The household device has a line system for process water and a flow heater arranged in the line system. The flow heater has a tube section (15), where a tube section covers an interior chamber (18). The process water is guided in the interior chamber. An interior heating (21) is arranged in the interior chamber in the interior chamber additionally for a wall heating part (20). The tube section is made of metal, particularly steel.