Diffuser for thermal storage tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal storage tanks experience undesirable mixing of hot and cold water due to traditional pipe connections, leading to reduced temperature delivery efficiency during sustained water draws.
Innovation Solution
A diffuser system with sequentially arranged flow sections of increasing cross-sectional area is used to minimize mixing by reducing kinetic energy and promoting laminar flow, ensuring temperature stratification within the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional pipe connections are used to discharge cold and hot water into the thermal storage tank, then the discharge process is simple, but mixing of cold and hot water occurs leading to reduced temperature delivery efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser divides the water discharge process into multiple sequential flow sections (first, second, third, and additional flow sections) with progressively increasing cross-sectional areas. This segmentation allows the water flow to be gradually expanded and kinetic energy to be progressively reduced, preventing mixing while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser transitions the water flow from a narrow one-dimensional pipe connection into a progressively expanding three-dimensional flow pattern through multiple flow sections. This dimensional change allows the water to expand radially and vertically, reducing velocity and kinetic energy while maintaining discharge effectiveness without requiring complex mechanical components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cold water is discharged into the lower portion and hot water into the upper portion using traditional techniques, then the discharge process is straightforward, but mixing occurs before water can stratify
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser segments the discharge process into multiple controlled flow sections that progressively expand the water flow. This segmentation allows cold and hot water to be discharged into their respective portions (lower and upper) without direct mixing, as each flow section independently controls the discharge pattern while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser acts as an intermediary device between the water supply and the thermal storage tank. It mediates the discharge process by controlling the flow expansion and kinetic energy reduction, ensuring that cold and hot water reach their designated portions without mixing, while the device itself remains a relatively simple passive component.
3Productivity
If water flow kinetic energy is high upon entering the tank, then the discharge flow rate is maintained, but mixing with stored water occurs reducing volume usage efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser segments the high-velocity water flow into multiple flow sections with progressively increasing cross-sectional areas. This segmentation allows the flow velocity to be gradually reduced through controlled expansion at each section, preventing mixing while maintaining adequate discharge flow rate and improving volume usage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser transforms the high-velocity one-dimensional flow into a progressively expanding three-dimensional flow pattern. This dimensional change allows the kinetic energy to be distributed over a larger volume, reducing the velocity and mixing potential while maintaining the overall discharge rate and improving volume usage efficiency.
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
The diffuser system maintains temperature stratification, allowing efficient delivery of heated water and minimizing mixing, thereby maximizing heat engine efficiency and temperature consistency.
Implementation Method 1
A diffuser system with sequentially arranged flow sections of increasing cross-sectional area is used to minimize mixing by reducing kinetic energy and promoting laminar flow
Implementation Method 2
A diffuser system with sequentially arranged flow sections of increasing cross-sectional area is used to minimize mixing by reducing kinetic energy and promoting laminar flow
Data Source
AI summary
A diffuser is provided for use in a thermal storage tank. The diffuser includes a fluid inlet to receive a flow of liquid into the diffuser, and a fluid outlet to discharge the flow of liquid out of the diffuser into an internal volume of the thermal storage tank. A flow circuit extends between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A plurality of flow sections are sequentially arranged along the flow circuit. Each one of the plurality of flow sections defines a cross-sectional flow area for the flow of liquid. The cross-sectional flow area within any one of the plurality of flow sections is greater than the cross-sectional flow area within any of the plurality of flow sections arranged upstream of said one of the plurality of flow sections.