Hot Water Tank Heater Layout for Better Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hot water supply tanks lack optimization in shape and heater arrangement to enhance heat transfer performance, with insufficient technology for designing based on key factors influencing heat transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hot water supply tank design that optimizes the shape and heater arrangement by determining the optimal ratio of side height to bottom diameter and heat transfer area, with the heater installed on both the bottom and side of the heating container, to maximize heat transfer performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the heater is installed only on the side of the heating container, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heat transfer performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heating container is divided into multiple heating zones: the heater is segmented to be installed on both the side wall and the bottom surface of the heating container. This segmentation allows different portions of the container to receive targeted heating, improving overall heat transfer performance while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular heater installation
2Loss of energy
If the heat transfer area is increased, then the heat transfer performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater installation employs local quality by concentrating heating elements in specific high-need areas: the bottom surface and lower side wall portions of the heating container receive heater installation, while upper portions rely on natural convection. This localized heating approach maximizes heat transfer performance in critical zones without unnecessarily increasing device complexity across the entire container surface
3Loss of energy
If the aspect ratio of the heating container is optimized, then the heat transfer performance is maximized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for optimal performance: the aspect ratio (height-to-diameter ratio) of the cylindrical heating container is determined to be between 0.5 and 1.5, and the heater coverage area on the side wall is optimized to be 30-70% of the total side wall area. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing guidelines that balance heat transfer performance maximization with achievable manufacturing precision
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
The optimized design achieves higher heat transfer performance by determining the optimal aspect ratio based on the heater's arrangement and area, leading to improved heating efficiency and reduced heat loss.
Implementation Method 1
a heater installed on an outer side of the heating container and transferring heat to the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a heat insulator interposed between the case and the heater
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a hot water supply tank including: a case forming an appearance of the hot water supply tank; a heating container accommodating a fluid and having an inner side treated with anticorrosive; a heater installed on an outer side of the heating container and transferring heat to the fluid; and a heat insulator interposed between the case and the heater, wherein in a predetermined volume of the heating container, a ratio at which a performance of the heater to transfer heat (hereinafter, heat transfer performance) is maximized (hereinafter, optimum ratio) among the ratios of side height to bottom diameter of the heating container (hereinafter, aspect ratios) is determined by whether the heater is installed on the bottom as well as side of the heating container, and determined based on an area of the heating container occupied by the heater (hereinafter, heat transfer area).