Immediate Hot-Water Supply Control Using Flow-Based State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immediate hot-water supplying systems require additional sensors to detect the hot-water supplying state, increasing system complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a second hot water supply device with a check valve and flow sensors to differentiate between circulation heat keeping and hot-water supply operations, allowing detection of the hot-water supplying state without dedicated sensors, and adjusts the number of active devices based on flow demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors (second flow amount sensor and third temperature sensor) are added to detect hot-water supplying state, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first flow amount sensor is made to serve multiple functions: it detects both the flow amount of water supplied from the waterworks and the flow amount of water discharged to the hot-water tap. By universally using this single sensor for both detection purposes, the system can determine hot-water supplying state without requiring dedicated additional sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The detection functions for supply pipe flow and return pipe flow are merged into a single detection mechanism. The system combines the flow amount detection from the first flow amount sensor with temperature detection from the second temperature sensor to comprehensively determine the hot-water supplying state, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensors
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors (second flow amount sensor and third temperature sensor) are added to detect hot-water supplying state, then detection accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first flow amount sensor is made to serve multiple functions: it detects both the flow amount of water supplied from the waterworks and the flow amount of water discharged to the hot-water tap. By universally using this single sensor for both detection purposes, the system can determine hot-water supplying state without requiring dedicated additional sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing components (first flow amount sensor and second temperature sensor) to perform the detection function that would otherwise require additional dedicated sensors. The existing sensors serve themselves to provide the necessary detection data, eliminating the need for extra sensor purchases and installations
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 configuration enables efficient hot-water supply operation by determining the hot-water supplying state and adjusting device activation without additional sensors, reducing system complexity and cost while optimizing water usage.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve configured to enable water to flow from the second supply pipe to the second hot water supply device, and disable water from flowing from the second hot water supply device to the second supply pipe
Implementation Method 2
a first heating unit which is connected on the way of the first supply pipe and configured to heat water flowing through the first supply pipe
Implementation Method 3
a second heating unit which is connected on the way of the second supply pipe and configured to heat water flowing through the second supply pipe
Implementation Method 4
a circulation pump configured to circulate water in a circulation circuit composed of the first supply pipe and the return pipe
Data Source
AI summary
An immediate hot-water supplying system 1 includes a P hot water supply device 10 configured to heat water flowing through a first supply pipe 2, an N hot water supply device 30 configured to heat water flowing through a second supply pipe 3, a check valve 6, and a coupled controller 60 configured to, when the flow amount detected by a second flow amount sensor 34 is equal to or more than a hot-water-supply detection flow amount, perform a hot-water supply operation in which a first burner 12 or a second burner 32 is burned with a circulation pump 16 stopped, and when the flow amount detected by the second flow amount sensor 34 is less than the hot-water-supply detection flow amount, perform a circulation heat keeping operation in which the first burner 12 is burned with the circulation pump 16 activated.