Heater tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instantaneous water heaters are prone to limescale buildup and 'hot shot' issues due to uneven heating and temperature extremes, which affect performance and user safety.
Innovation Solution
The design features a heater tank with electric heating elements that gradually reduce power along the fluid flow path, using multiple heating elements with varying powers and configurations, such as segmented or helically pitched filaments, to ensure even heating and minimize surface temperature peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high power heating elements are used to heat water efficiently, then heating performance is improved, but limescale buildup increases due to high surface temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed with non-uniform power distribution along its length, creating different local heating characteristics. The power per unit length varies along the flow path, with lower power density in regions where water temperature is already higher, thereby reducing peak surface temperatures and limescale formation while maintaining overall heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power parameter of the heating element along its length rather than maintaining constant power. By varying the power per unit length parameter along the fluid flow path, the system optimizes heating efficiency while controlling surface temperature to minimize limescale buildup.
2Speed
If high power heating elements are used to heat water quickly, then heating speed is improved, but hot shot occurrences increase due to temperature extremes
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the heating element have different power densities tailored to local water temperature conditions. Upstream sections with cooler water receive higher power density for rapid heating, while downstream sections with warmer water receive lower power density, preventing temperature extremes that cause hot shot.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element progressively heats water along the flow path rather than applying full power at once. This staged heating approach prevents sudden temperature spikes when water flow resumes after interruption, mitigating the hot shot effect.
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
This design reduces limescale buildup and mitigates hot shot occurrences, providing safer and more efficient water heating with reduced temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
one or more electric heating elements having an electric heating element power and operable to heat fluid flowing, in use, along the fluid flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
A heater tank for an instantaneous water heater comprising: a heater tank having a heater tank inlet and a heater tank outlet and a fluid flow path from the heater tank inlet to the heater tank outlet; one or more electric heating elements having an electric heating element power and operable to heat fluid flowing, in use, along the fluid flow path; wherein one or more of the electric heating elements extend along at least a portion of the fluid flow path and are configured such that the fluid flowing, in use, along the fluid flow path experiences a reduction in a local electric heating element power as the fluid flows, in use, along the fluid flow path.