Hot Water Tank Bypass Heating for High-Flow Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hot water supply apparatuses face challenges in supplying a sufficient amount of high-temperature water due to significant temperature differences and reduced water flow rates, leading to inadequate supply when demand is high.
Innovation Solution
The proposed hot water supply apparatus addresses this by heating the medium-temperature water in the tank to a higher temperature, reducing temperature differences, and allowing the heated water to bypass the tank, thereby increasing the flow rate and amount of high-temperature water supplied to the target, while also utilizing the high-temperature layer of the tank to enhance the supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If low-temperature water at the bottom of the tank is heated to high temperature by the heating section, then high-temperature water is supplied to the hot water supply target, but the flow rate is reduced due to significant temperature difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water heating process into two stages: first heating low-temperature water to medium temperature, then heating the medium-temperature water to high temperature. This segmentation reduces the temperature difference in each heating stage, allowing higher flow rates while achieving the same final temperature result.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary heating of water to medium temperature before the final heating to high temperature. By pre-heating the water to an intermediate state, the subsequent heating process can operate at higher flow rates with reduced temperature differential, increasing overall productivity.
2Loss of energy
If the flow rate of water through the heating section is reduced to heat low-temperature water to high temperature, then heating efficiency is improved, but the amount of high-temperature water supplied to the target is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is segmented into two efficient stages: low-temperature to medium-temperature heating, then medium-temperature to high-temperature heating. Each stage operates at optimal efficiency with appropriate flow rates, collectively producing sufficient high-temperature water while maintaining high heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous water circulation and heating through the two-stage process, ensuring that water is constantly being heated and supplied without interruption. This continuous operation ensures both high efficiency and sufficient quantity of hot water supply.
3Quantity of substance
If high-temperature water is returned to the tank, then heat dissipation occurs, but the tank can store hot water for future use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bypass channel that allows high-temperature water to be directly supplied to the hot water supply target without returning to the tank. This creates a local quality difference in the water circulation path: water that would normally return and cause heat dissipation instead bypasses the tank and is delivered directly where needed, eliminating energy loss while still maintaining adequate stored hot water in the tank.
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 solution ensures a sufficient and efficient supply of high-temperature water to the hot water supply target, reducing heat dissipation and increasing the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat source apparatus, thus improving energy conservation.
Implementation Method 1
a water heat exchanger (13)
Implementation Method 2
a pump (21)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A hot water supply channel (40) is configured to execute a first hot water supply operation in a hot water storage state where a low-temperature layer (L), a medium-temperature layer (M), and a high-temperature layer (H) are formed in a tank (30). The first hot water supply operation is an operation of heating water in the medium-temperature layer (M) to a first temperature by a heating section (13) and supplying the water heated to a hot water supply target (T).