Continuous-Flow Liquid Heating With Minimal Water Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heaters waste energy and time by heating excessive amounts of water, as users typically fill kettles to the maximum and the heating process is inefficient, leading to energy wastage and prolonged heating times.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus constrains the liquid volume to a small percentage of the total vessel volume, ensuring maximum surface area exposure to the thermal element, allowing for rapid heating or cooling of only the required amount of water, with a heating element that nearly fills the vessel, minimizing residual water and energy waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a kettle is filled to maximum capacity, then the heating element has sufficient surface area contact with water, but excessive amounts of water are heated wasting energy
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple heating zones or elements of varying sizes. A small heating element is used when only a small amount of water is needed, while larger elements can be activated when more water requires heating. This segmentation allows the system to match the heating capacity to the actual water volume, preventing energy waste from heating excessive water.
2Productivity
If traditional kettles are used, then water heating capacity is sufficient for full loads, but heating time is excessive for small quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system dynamically adjusts the heating power or activates different heating zones based on the detected water volume. When a small amount of water is present, only the appropriate small heating element is activated to provide rapid heating. When more water is added, additional heating elements are progressively activated. This dynamic adaptation optimizes heating speed for each water volume scenario.
3Loss of energy
If heating elements are reduced to minimize water volume, then energy efficiency improves, but heating capability for larger volumes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is divided into multiple segmented zones with different heating capacities. The controller can selectively activate specific segments based on the water volume detected. This allows the system to use only the necessary heating capacity for the current water amount, minimizing energy waste while maintaining the capability to heat larger volumes when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is designed with multi-functional heating elements or zones that can serve different purposes. The same heating system can efficiently handle both small quantities (using minimal heating zones) and large quantities (activating all zones) of water, making it universally applicable across different usage scenarios without compromising energy efficiency or heating capacity.
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 approach enables near-instantaneous supply of heated or chilled water, reducing energy waste and heating time, while maintaining a compact and efficient design suitable for domestic and industrial use.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal element in the form of a pipe, having a first end for receiving a liquid, a length down which the liquid passes and a second end for discharging the liquid
Implementation Method 2
Arranged at the first end of the pipe is a solenoid valve which controls the flow of liquid into the pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for altering the temperature of a liquid, comprising: a pipe having a first end for receiving a liquid and a second end for discharging the liquid; and a thermal element for altering the temperature of the liquid, wherein the thermal element is located in the pipe such that the volume available for the liquid within the pipe is in the range 0 to 20 % of the pipe volume.