Hot Water Storage Tank Temperature Profiling Using Outlet Pipe Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for managing hot water in storage tanks with modern insulation designs are impractical due to the difficulty in accurately measuring temperature profiles along the tank length, necessitating an alternative approach to effectively track and manage hot water stratification.
Innovation Solution
Monitoring the temperature at the outlet pipe and using software to calculate the temperature profile within the tank based on known properties, employing temperature sensors and a processing element to model the tank as discrete elements, and incorporating empirical stratification models to predict energy distribution and usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are placed along the length of the tank to measure temperature profile, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate due to modern tank insulation designs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature measurement function from the tank body by placing sensors only at the outlet pipe, separating the measurement location from the insulated tank structure. This allows accurate temperature profile calculation without penetrating or modifying the tank insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet pipe temperature serves as an intermediary measurement point that indirectly provides information about the entire tank's temperature profile. The processing element uses this single measurement point to calculate stratification throughout the tank through software algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are installed along the tank, then temperature profile tracking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for multiple sensors by extracting only the essential measurement point at the outlet pipe. The processing element then reconstructs the full temperature profile through calculation, eliminating complex multi-sensor installation while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing element creates a virtual copy of the temperature profile through software calculation based on the single outlet temperature measurement. This computational model replicates what multiple physical sensors would provide, eliminating hardware complexity.
3Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are mounted on modern insulated tanks, then temperature measurement is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to insulation barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement location from the insulated tank surface to the accessible outlet pipe. This eliminates the need to remove or penetrate insulation, making sensor installation straightforward while maintaining measurement accuracy through computational methods.
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 method provides accurate and efficient management of hot water storage, optimizing energy usage, reducing waste, and enabling remote control and grid management capabilities, while improving energy efficiency and user interaction with the system.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus comprises either one or more temperature sensors, either one or more mounting brackets, a computer implemented processing arrangement locally or remotely configured to receive the temperature sensor signals
Implementation Method 2
A conventional way to do this is to put temperature sensors along the length of the tank. However with modern tanks, insulation is often built on to the tank making it very difficult to do this effectively
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for managing hot water in a hot water storage tank heating system has one or more temperature sensors, a mounting bracket, a computer implemented processing arrangement configured to receive the temperature sensor signals and an interface to communicate with a user or additional processors either locally or remotely.