Integrated Hot Water Unit with Building Space Heating Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current drinking water generation systems in multi-storey low-energy housing are complex and costly to install, requiring separate systems for heating and cooling, and often necessitate elaborate radiators or underfloor heating systems, which increase construction costs and installation effort.
Innovation Solution
A drinking water generation system that integrates building space heating into the drinking water production unit, allowing direct heating of the building space without the need for long heating lines or radiators, and utilizing a heat exchanger unit and flexible energy sources such as heat pumps or district heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate central heating and hot water systems are installed in multi-story low-energy buildings, then heating and hot water supply functions are fulfilled, but construction costs and installation effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate heating and hot water systems into an integrated unit that provides both functions through a single device with unified control, eliminating the need for separate piping systems and reducing installation complexity while maintaining reliable heating and hot water supply
Solution Approach 2:
The heating unit is designed to perform multiple functions including space heating, domestic hot water preparation, and potentially cooling, allowing a single device to replace multiple separate systems and reduce overall system complexity in low-energy buildings
2Temperature
If complex radiators or underfloor heating systems are installed, then building space heating is achieved, but construction costs and installation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from complex radiator or underfloor heating systems and integrates it directly into the hot water generation unit, allowing space heating to be achieved through the unit's own housing surfaces without requiring separate heating installations
Solution Approach 2:
The heating unit serves dual purposes by using its housing and casing as heating surfaces that directly warm the building space, eliminating the need for additional dedicated heating components and reducing installation effort
3Reliability
If heated domestic hot water circulation pipes are installed to prevent Legionella, then health safety is improved, but system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hot water storage and circulation functions into an integrated unit with built-in heating capability, allowing Legionella prevention through localized heating without requiring extensive circulation piping systems throughout the building
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 reduces installation effort and costs by eliminating the need for complex heating line systems and radiators, while also providing a flexible and efficient energy supply that can adapt to various needs and conditions, including new and existing buildings.
Implementation Method 1
at least one building space heating surface is provided at least on the housing (2) and/or the casing for heating/warming the building space
Implementation Method 2
The building space can be heated directly by the domestic hot water generation unit through the housing and casing surfaces
Implementation Method 3
ambient air is drawn in, and its thermal energy is used by a heat exchanger to heat the stored drinking water or hot water
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A domestic hot water generation unit (1) for installation/arrangement in a building room and for generating domestic hot water with a domestic hot water storage tank for storing and dispensing domestic hot water, in particular service water, to a discharge fitting such as a tap and/or shower head is proposed, wherein at least one domestic hot water heat exchanger device (11) is provided for heating the domestic hot water in the domestic hot water storage tank (3), wherein at least the domestic hot water storage tank (3) and the domestic hot water heat exchanger device (4) are arranged within a housing (2) and/or a casing (2), which at least partially improves the disadvantages of the prior art. This is achieved according to the invention by providing at least one building room heating surface (5) for heating the building room, at least within and/or on and/or in the housing (2) and/or the casing (2).