Hot Water Supply Temperature Feedback for Energy Consumption Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot water provision devices face significant energy consumption issues, particularly during prolonged usage like long showers, and existing solutions either require substantial technical effort or compromise user comfort by terminating or reducing hot water supply.
Innovation Solution
A method that records hot water withdrawal parameters, compares them to predefined limits, and gradually reduces the outlet temperature as a perceptible signal to inform users about energy consumption, allowing for increased signal intensity with repeated limit breaches without additional display devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the hot water supply continues at full temperature during prolonged withdrawal, then user comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors withdrawal parameters (flow rate, duration, temperature) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the heating power. When prolonged withdrawal is detected, the system provides feedback signals to reduce heating intensity, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining acceptable comfort levels through gradual temperature adjustment rather than abrupt cutoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating power is made dynamic rather than static. The system adjusts the heating power level in real-time based on the detected withdrawal duration and parameters. During initial withdrawal, full heating power is applied; during prolonged withdrawal, the power is reduced dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize energy consumption while maintaining comfort.
2Use of energy by moving object
If existing solutions terminate or significantly reduce hot water supply to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but user comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of binary on/off control, the system changes the heating power parameter to intermediate levels during prolonged withdrawal. The heating power is reduced to a lower but non-zero level, maintaining a gradual temperature adjustment that preserves user comfort while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous full-power operation.
3Loss of information
If additional display devices are added to inform users about energy consumption, then information provision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the hot water itself as the information carrier. By adjusting the outlet temperature based on detected withdrawal parameters, the system communicates energy consumption information directly to the user through the sensory experience of the water temperature. This eliminates the need for separate display devices while still providing effective feedback about energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot water temperature acts as an intermediary that translates internal energy consumption data into user-perceptible information. Instead of using electronic displays or additional communication channels, the system uses the physical property of water temperature as a mediator to convey energy consumption status to the user in an intuitive and immediate way.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for operating a hot water supply system (1) is presented, comprising at least the following steps: a) recording a withdrawal parameter (21) that allows a direct inference about the quantity of hot water withdrawn; b) comparing the withdrawal parameter (21) recorded in step a) with a predefined limit value (22); and c) lowering the outlet temperature (23) of the hot water supply system (1) as a temperature signal (17, 18, 19) to a signal temperature (8, 9, 10) for a signal period (12, 14, 16) when the limit value (11, 13, 15) is reached by the withdrawal parameter (21).