Insulated Hot Water Tank with Shuttered Heat-Release Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot water tanks are complex, costly, and suffer from heat loss, especially when heating small areas, and pose safety risks due to internal gas burners within thermally insulated enclosures.
Innovation Solution
A hot water tank apparatus with a thermally insulated enclosure featuring a movable shutter and a helical heat exchanger connected to various heat sources, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reduced heat loss, and optionally incorporating a condenser or fan for enhanced air heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a gas burner is placed inside the tank within the thermally insulated enclosure to heat water, then heating efficiency is improved, but safety hazards increase due to the presence of internal gas burners
Solution Approach 1:
The gas burner is extracted from the interior of the tank and relocated to the exterior, eliminating the safety hazard of having a gas burner inside the thermally insulated enclosure while preserving the heating function through the external heat exchanger system
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic heat exchanger network with radiators is used to heat spaces, then heating capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hot water tank serves dual functions: as a water heater and as a space heating source. The tank itself acts as a radiator through its thermally insulated enclosure, eliminating the need for separate hydraulic heat exchanger networks and radiators, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining heating capability
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is merged with the hot water storage function. The thermally insulated enclosure that normally only prevents heat loss now also serves as a heating element that radiates heat to the surrounding space, combining two functions into one system
3Loss of energy
If the tank is completely enclosed in a thermally insulated enclosure to minimize heat loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but heat loss to surrounding spaces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally insulated enclosure has differentiated thermal properties: the upper portion maintains high thermal insulation to prevent heat loss, while the lower portion features a heat exchanger area with reduced insulation or enhanced heat transfer characteristics to enable controlled heat release to the surrounding space, allowing simultaneous energy efficiency and space heating
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 solution provides a simpler, more economical heating system with reduced heat loss and improved efficiency for heating both water and air, while eliminating safety hazards from internal gas burners.
Implementation Method 1
a helical heat exchange winding connected to a heat source
Implementation Method 2
the portion of the reservoir which is opposite the movable part of said shutter is surrounded by a helical heat exchange winding connected to a heat source
Implementation Method 3
an insulating enclosure in which the reservoir is placed
Implementation Method 4
opening forming a window in the wall of said enclosure, opening provided with at least one shutter making it possible to close it on demand
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The apparatus (1) has a reservoir (2) containing water, and a heat source i.e. electrical resistor (4) for heating the water. The reservoir is placed in an insulating enclosure (3), where an area of the reservoir is not in direct contact with a wall of the insulating enclosure, and the area communicates with the exterior of the insulating enclosure. The area is opposite an opening (320) that forms a window of a wall of the insulating enclosure. The opening is equipped with a flap pivotable around a vertical or horizontal axis.