Floating Fire Pit Design for Water Heating via Buoyant Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire pits are limited to use on land and do not allow for heating water bodies effectively.
Innovation Solution
A floating fire pit design that encloses a volume of gas within tubular members, with a base surface submerged below water, allowing combustible material to be combusted above the water surface, transferring heat to the surrounding water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fire pit is used on land, then it can provide heating and combustion functionality, but it cannot effectively heat water bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium between the combustion chamber and the target area. The fire pit is positioned such that combustion occurs above water level while the base is submerged, allowing heat transfer through the water medium to achieve effective heating of water bodies
Solution Approach 2:
The fire pit transitions from traditional ground-based horizontal placement to a vertical water-based configuration. The base surface is positioned below the water line while the combustion chamber extends above water level, creating a three-dimensional spatial arrangement that enables both combustion and water heating functions simultaneously
2Loss of energy
If the base surface is positioned below the water line to enable water heating, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but structural stability and combustion safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is divided into distinct functional segments: a submerged base surface for heat transfer to water, sidewalls that transition from submerged to above-water positions, and a combustion chamber positioned above water level. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its function while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the fire pit structure have different functional properties: the base surface below water maximizes thermal contact with water for efficient heat transfer, while the combustion chamber above water ensures safe combustion conditions. The sidewalls provide structural transition between these zones with varying exposure to water and fire
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
Effectively heats water by combusting combustible material above the water surface, maintaining buoyancy and transferring heat efficiently through materials with high thermal conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
a floating fire pit including a tubular member that encloses a volume of gas
Implementation Method 2
The combustible material may then be combusted while above the base surface, according to the method. A temperature of at least a portion of the volume of water may then be increased via heat generated by combustion of the combustible material
Implementation Method 3
transferred heat to the surrounding water
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are components of a floating fire pit and methods of use of the floating fire pit to heat a volume of water. Specifically, embodiments of the floating fire pit include one or more tubular members, a base surface, and one or more sidewalls connecting the base surface to the one or more tubular members. The one or more tubular members enclose one or more volumes of air, and the floating fire pit has a buoyancy sufficient to float in the volume of water such that at least a portion of the one or more tubular member is above a surface of the volume of water and the base surface is below the surface of the volume of water.