Hot-Water Piping Layout Inside Tank to Prevent Standby Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In beverage supply devices, the hot water in delivery piping cools during stand-by times, leading to potential bacterial growth, especially in compact designs where hot water cannot be efficiently maintained at a high temperature without increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
The hot-water delivery piping passes through the hot-water tank, allowing the heater to maintain the water temperature by returning the water surface to the tank's level and using a U-shaped heater arrangement to keep the piping warm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the hot-water delivery piping is arranged outside the hot-water tank in compact beverage supply devices, then the device size is reduced, but the hot water temperature declines during stand-by time leading to bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The hot-water delivery piping is arranged to pass through the interior space of the hot-water tank, utilizing the tank's internal volume for dual purposes: water storage and thermal maintenance of delivery piping. This nesting approach maintains compact device size while ensuring the delivery piping remains thermally insulated by the surrounding hot water environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot water inside the tank acts as an intermediary thermal medium that surrounds and heats the delivery piping, preventing temperature decline during stand-by periods. The piping is positioned to be immersed in or surrounded by the hot water, using the hot water itself as a thermal insulation barrier.
2Reliability
If special heat-insulated piping materials are used to maintain hot water temperature, then bacterial growth is prevented, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hot-water tank's own thermal energy is utilized to maintain the temperature of the delivery piping. The system serves itself by using the hot water stored in the tank to thermally insulate and heat the delivery piping, eliminating the need for separate active heating systems or expensive specialized insulation materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot-water tank serves multiple functions: it stores hot water for beverage preparation and simultaneously acts as a thermal insulation chamber for the delivery piping. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated insulation components, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If the hot-water valve is closed to stop water flow, then water is saved, but the hot water in the delivery piping cools down and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery piping is pre-positioned to pass through the hot-water tank, establishing a thermal maintenance environment before water flow stops. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the valve closes and water flow stops, the piping is already surrounded by hot water that will prevent cooling, allowing the water to remain reusable for the next beverage preparation.
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 that hot water remains at a proper temperature, preventing bacterial growth and maintaining quality without increasing costs or device size.
Implementation Method 1
a hot-water tank (10) storing hot water heated by a built-in heater (16)
Implementation Method 2
the hot water remaining in the hot-water delivery piping (19) is kept warm at a temperature of the hot water inside the hot-water tank (10) by the hot water inside the hot-water tank (10)
Implementation Method 3
a hot-water delivery piping (19) for guiding the hot water pumped up by a pump (18) arranged below the hot-water tank (10) and stored in the hot-water tank (10)
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage supply device can suppress a decline of a temperature of hot water remaining in a hot-water delivery piping for guiding the hot water pumped up by a pump to a beverage extraction unit without increasing a cost. The beverage supply device with a hot-water tank storing the hot water heated by a built-in heater is provided with the hot-water delivery piping for guiding the hot water pumped up by the pump arranged below the hot-water tank to the beverage extraction unit. The hot-water delivery piping is arranged to pass through the hot-water tank so that the hot water remaining in the hot-water delivery piping during a stand-by time is kept warm at a temperature of the hot water inside the hot-water tank by the hot water inside the hot-water tank.