Hot Water Re-Circulation Isolator System in Combination with Water Heater/Hydronic Heating System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hot water recirculation systems in combination with water heater/hydronic heating systems waste energy by continuously heating water in the air handler loop even when it's not needed, as recirculated water flows through both the air handler and recirculation loops.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controllable valve, either electronically actuated or pressure-controlled, to isolate the air handler loop from the recirculation loop when space heating is not required, ensuring that only the recirculation loop receives heated water, thereby preventing unnecessary heating of the air handler loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If recirculation loop is installed in conjunction with combination water heater and hydronic heating system, then hot water delivery is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary heating of hydronic system
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water circulation into two separate loops: a recirculation loop for hot water delivery and a hydronic heating loop for space heating. This segmentation allows independent control of each loop, preventing the water heater from unnecessarily heating the hydronic system when only hot water is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated return line acts as an intermediary pathway that allows recirculation water to return directly to the water heater without entering the hydronic heating system. This mediator prevents the mixing of the two circulation paths and eliminates unnecessary heating of the hydronic loop.
2Reliability
If recirculation water flows through both air handler loop and recirculation loop, then hot water is maintained throughout the system, but water heater runs longer heating unnecessary water
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system is segmented into distinct pathways: recirculation lines for hot water delivery and hydronic lines for space heating. This segmentation ensures that recirculation water remains in the hot water distribution system and does not unnecessarily traverse the hydronic heating loop, reducing water heater runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different circulation qualities to different zones: the recirculation loop maintains hot water in fixture supply lines, while the hydronic loop handles space heating. This local differentiation ensures each loop receives only the water flow it needs for its specific function.
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 approach significantly reduces energy consumption by heating only the recirculation loop when hot water is needed, making the system more energy efficient compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The purpose of the recirculation loop is to pre-heat water in the plumbing system
Implementation Method 2
The air handler 102 exchanges heat from the water to air
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system includes a water heater configured to heat water, a water recirculation loop configured to receive a first portion of hot water from the water heater and to provide the first portion of hot water back to the water heater, an air handler loop configured to receive a second portion of hot water from the water heater and to provide cooled water back to the water heater, and a controllable valve configured prevent the air handler from receiving the second portion of the hot water.