Device for the local provision of hot water and buffer tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central collective heating systems face high costs and inefficiencies due to the need to heat water to a very high temperature for distribution, leading to excessive heating of buildings, energy wastage, and challenges in using renewable energy sources, as well as risks of bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
A device connected to a central distribution network with a buffer tank and a booster heat pump that uses heat from the network to locally provide hot water, incorporating an additional heat exchanger within the buffer tank to preheat water before it reaches the booster heat pump, allowing for lower network temperatures and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is heated to a very high temperature in the central collective heating system to offset transport losses and prevent bacterial growth, then the reliability of hot water supply is improved, but the energy consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hot water supply into two temperature zones: a high-temperature central distribution network for heat transport and a low-temperature local buffer tank for sanitary hot water. This segmentation allows the distribution network to operate at lower temperatures while maintaining reliability through the local buffer tank that ensures adequate temperature at the point of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank acts as an intermediary between the central distribution network and the local hot water supply. It receives warm water from the network, maintains it at a safe temperature to prevent bacterial growth, and provides it locally without requiring the entire distribution network to operate at high temperatures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water is heated to a very high temperature in the central distribution network, then the risk of bacterial growth is reduced, but the building overheating problem worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the temperature function: the distribution network transports water at moderate temperatures sufficient for heat delivery, while the buffer tank locally maintains the high temperature needed to prevent bacterial growth. This eliminates the need for high-temperature water to circulate throughout the entire building.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank provides localized high-temperature water storage at each living unit, ensuring bacterial prevention only where needed for sanitary hot water supply, rather than heating the entire distribution network to high temperatures.
3Use of energy by moving object
If an additional heat exchanger is added to preheat cold water before it enters the buffer tank, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional heat exchanger is integrated into the buffer tank structure, merging the preheating function with the existing hot water storage system. This allows the heat exchanger to utilize the thermal energy already stored in the buffer tank, preheating incoming cold water before it mixes with the hot water, thereby reducing the energy required by the booster heat pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank's stored thermal energy is used to preheat incoming cold water through the additional heat exchanger, allowing the system to serve itself by utilizing its own thermal resources rather than requiring external energy input for the entire heating process.
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 reduces energy costs, minimizes the risk of bacterial growth, and provides efficient local heating and hot water production, while maintaining effective building temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
a booster heat pump to heat the water in the buffer tank, whereby the booster heat pump will use heat from the central distribution network
Implementation Method 2
an additional heat exchanger which is located downstream from the inlet and upstream from the entry for preheating cold water before it is heated by means of said means, whereby the additional heat exchanger uses heat from the central distribution network
Implementation Method 3
the device is provided with a buffer tank with water and with a booster heat pump to heat the water in the buffer tank
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Device (1) for the local provision of hot water, the device (1) being connected to a central distribution network (2) with water at a certain temperature; whereby the device (1) is provided with a buffer tank (6) with a booster heat pump (7) for heating the water in the buffer tank (6), whereby the booster heat pump (7) will use heat from the distribution network (2); whereby the device (1) is provided with an inlet (8) for cold water and an outlet (9) for sanitary hot water, and with means (10) for heating the cold water to sanitary hot water using the heat of the buffer tank (6); whereby the device (1) is provided with an additional heat exchanger (19) which is located downstream from the inlet (8) for preheating cold water, whereby the additional heat exchanger (19) uses heat from the distribution network (2) and whereby the additional heat exchanger (19) is located in the buffer tank (6).