Flapper Heat Trap Structure for Water Heater Standby Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat loss occurs through thermal convection currents in the inlet and outlet piping of water heaters during standby periods, reducing energy efficiency despite insulation efforts.
Innovation Solution
An improved heat trap with a tubular body and a seal element comprising axially spaced flapper members joined by a spine, which forms a seal against the interior surface of the tubular body to prevent heat transfer through the piping, minimizing convection losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the water heater system operates during standby periods with inlet and outlet piping exposed, then the system structure remains simple and easy to manufacture, but significant heat loss occurs through thermal convection currents in the piping
Solution Approach 1:
The heat trap device is segmented into distinct functional components: a tubular body for structural support, a seal element with flapper members for blocking convection currents, and a spine for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat trap acts as an intermediary device installed in the inlet and/or outlet piping between the water heater tank and the building plumbing system. This intermediary component blocks thermal convection currents without requiring modification to the existing piping system or tank, thereby reducing heat loss while maintaining system simplicity.
2Loss of energy
If a heat trap device is installed in the inlet or outlet piping, then heat loss through convection currents is reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flapper members and spine are merged into a single integrated seal element assembly, reducing the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This merging simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the heat blocking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The flapper members are designed as flexible elements that can be formed from single pieces of material, allowing for simplified manufacturing through forming processes rather than complex assembly. The flexibility enables the flappers to effectively block convection currents while accommodating installation variations.
3Loss of energy
If flapper members are positioned to seal against the tubular body interior surface, then heat loss is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing components
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted as a distinct feature of the flapper members within the seal element, separate from the tubular body structure. This extraction allows the sealing mechanism to be optimized independently while maintaining the overall simplicity of the heat trap device.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex multi-component sealing system, the invention inverts the approach by using simple flapper members that rely on their own weight and flexibility to seal against the tubular body interior surface, eliminating the need for additional sealing components.
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 heat trap significantly reduces heat loss from the hot water storage tank during standby periods by effectively sealing the inlet and outlet pipes, enhancing the energy efficiency of the water heater system.
Implementation Method 1
Heat loss and the associated reduction in energy efficiency is known to occur in water heater systems. During standby periods in which discharge of stored hot water from the tank is not required, it is desirable to substantially reduce heat loss from the stored hot water to cooler areas outside the tank. A significant portion of this heat loss occurs at the water heater inlet and outlet ports through which water is introduced into, and removed from, the water storage tank. Specifically, when water is neither being added to the water storage tank by means of the cold water inlet port nor removed from the water storage tank by means of the hot water outlet port, heat from the hot water from within the water storage tank tends to flow in the form of convection currents upward through the cold water inlet port and the hot water outlet port.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved heat trap disposed in at least one of an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe for delivery of cold water into and hot water out of a water tank. The improved heat trap includes a tubular body and a seal element comprising first and second axially spaced flapper members which are adjoined by a spine. The seal element extends through the tubular body whereby the first and second flapper members form a seal against an interior surface of the tubular body to prevent the delivery of water through the tubular body.