Drinking water cooling system for cooling, storing and filtering drinking water
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking water cooling systems face challenges in providing pure water quality due to impurities and limescale deposits, and they consume excess energy due to inefficient cooling and heat dissipation, leading to prolonged waiting times for chilled water.
Innovation Solution
A drinking water cooling system with a replaceable filter unit and thermal insulation, featuring a coupling mechanism for easy filter replacement and improved heat transfer through a cold bridge element, which pre-cools the water before storage, reducing energy consumption and cooling time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling system with compressor and heat exchanger is used to cool drinking water, then the water can be chilled to low temperatures, but the system generates significant waste heat that causes components and stored water to warm up, increasing energy consumption and cooling time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from the compressor into a beneficial pre-cooling mechanism. The heat exchanger is positioned to transfer waste heat from the compressor to the fresh water tank, pre-cooling the incoming water before it enters the cooling tank. This transforms the previously harmful thermal energy into a useful cooling effect, reducing the overall energy consumption of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the waste heat dissipation function with the water pre-cooling function into a single heat exchanger component. Instead of having separate systems for heat dissipation and pre-cooling, the heat exchanger performs both functions simultaneously by transferring thermal energy from the compressor to the fresh water tank, thereby reducing the number of components and improving system efficiency.
2Temperature
If the cooling system operates periodically in standby mode to maintain low water temperature, then the chilled water temperature is maintained, but the cooling circuit continuously generates waste heat that heats up components and media
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by continuously pre-cooling the fresh water tank using waste heat from the compressor during all operating phases including standby mode. This ensures that when the cooling tank needs to be re-chilled, the incoming water is already at a lower temperature, reducing the cooling time and energy required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system serves itself by using its own waste heat from the compressor to pre-cool the incoming water. The heat exchanger automatically transfers thermal energy from the compressor to the fresh water tank without requiring additional control systems or external energy input, making the system self-regulating and efficient.
3Ease of operation
If warm water from the filter reservoir flows into the cooling tank after replacement, then the filter unit is replaced conveniently, but the cooling time increases significantly and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously pre-cools the fresh water tank using waste heat from the compressor, even during filter replacement operations. This ensures that when warm water from the filter reservoir is introduced into the cooling tank, the incoming water is already at a lower temperature, significantly reducing the time and energy required to re-chill the water after filter replacement.
4Volume of stationary object
If insufficient ventilation is provided in the installation cabinet, then the device can be installed in compact spaces, but the waste heat causes components and media to heat up, reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat that would otherwise accumulate in the installation cabinet into a beneficial pre-cooling resource. By positioning the heat exchanger to transfer waste heat from the compressor to the fresh water tank, the system eliminates the need for extensive ventilation while actually using the thermal energy to improve cooling 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 system efficiently cools and filters water, reducing energy consumption and maintenance efforts while ensuring quick access to chilled water by pre-cooling the water before storage, thus enhancing user comfort and system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one cold bridge element is arranged between the filter unit and the drinking water storage tank, so that the filter unit can be cooled by the cooling tank
Implementation Method 2
at least one thermal insulation unit is provided for thermally insulating at least the cooling tank
Implementation Method 3
a cooling coil arrangement through which the coolant flows. The cooling coil arrangement is in thermal contact with the water in the water tank
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
A drinking water cooling system for cooling, storing, and filtering drinking water is proposed, wherein at least one drinking water storage tank (2) for storing the drinking water and at least one cooling unit (8) for cooling the drinking water stored in the drinking water storage tank (2) as well as at least one filter unit (3) comprising at least one filter water for filtering and/or purifying the drinking water to be cooled and stored are provided, wherein the drinking water storage tank (2) comprises at least one inlet opening (4) for filling and/or allowing the drinking water to be cooled and stored to flow in and an outlet opening (9) for emptying and/or allowing the cooled and stored drinking water to flow out, wherein the design and economic effort and/or energy consumption are reduced as much as possible compared to the state of the art and/or user comfort is improved.This is achieved according to the invention by comprising at least one first coupling element of a coupling unit for the detachably fixable coupling of the filter unit (3), so that the filter unit (3) is designed as an interchangeable filter unit (3).