Continuous Flow Pipe Heating with Low Residual Water Volume
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heaters, such as electric kettles, waste energy by boiling excess water and take too long to produce the required quantity of heated water, due to inefficient heating mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact apparatus with a thermal element that nearly fills a pipe, allowing only a small volume for liquid, ensuring maximum surface area exposure and rapid heating or cooling, with a solenoid valve and heating element configuration that minimizes residual water volume and energy waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional water heater (e.g., electric kettle) is used to heat water, then water can be heated to boiling point, but a large amount of energy is wasted heating excess water and the heating time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple heating zones along the pipe length, with heating elements distributed throughout. This allows continuous heating of water as it flows through the pipe, rather than heating a large volume all at once. The water is heated incrementally in segments along its path, reducing total heating time and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static heating approach (heating a fixed volume in a kettle) to a dynamic continuous flow heating approach. Water flows continuously through the pipe while heating elements are activated along the flow path, enabling rapid heating of small quantities of water on demand without the inertia of heating large volumes.
2Area of stationary object
If a thermal element nearly fills the pipe, then maximum surface area exposure for heating is achieved, but the volume available for liquid is reduced to less than 20% of total volume
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is nested within the pipe, with the thermal element occupying the central portion of the pipe cross-section. This nested configuration maximizes the surface area contact between the heating element and the water flowing in the annular space around it, while maintaining a compact structure where the heating element is contained within the pipe boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe structure is designed with non-uniform properties: the central region contains the heating element with high thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer, while the outer annular region provides sufficient flow passage. This local differentiation optimizes both heating surface area and liquid flow volume for the overall pipe structure.
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
Provides near-instantaneous supply of heated or chilled water with significant energy savings and reduced heating time, as the small residual water volume is quickly heated or cooled, addressing the inefficiencies of prior art water heaters.
Implementation Method 1
a tube containing water, in which is situated a heating element
Implementation Method 2
a solenoid valve and heating element configuration that minimizes residual water volume
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for altering the temperature of a liquid, comprising: a pipe having a first end for receiving a liquid and a second end for discharging the liquid; and a thermal element for altering the temperature of the liquid, wherein the thermal element is located in the pipe such that the volume available for the liquid within the pipe is in the range 0 to 20% of the pipe volume.