Hot-Water Recirculation Control for Predicted Usage Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot-water supply devices require manual user intervention for scheduling instant hot-water operations, leading to energy wastage and user discomfort due to incorrect detection of hot-water usage patterns and unnecessary heat insulation circulation.
Innovation Solution
A hot-water supply device with a control system that automatically detects and reserves time zones for instant hot-water operations based on actual usage patterns, using flow rate sensors and a clock to synchronize and adjust the instant hot-water operation timing, eliminating the need for manual user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If sensor-based user movement detection is used to trigger heat insulation circulation, then hot-water preparation can be started in advance, but the system requires additional sensors and communication components increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own operational data (flow rate sensor readings and clock time stamps) to automatically detect usage patterns and trigger heat insulation circulation, eliminating the need for external sensors and communication components while achieving proactive hot-water preparation
2Reliability
If heat insulation circulation is activated based on detected user movement, then hot-water availability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors flow rate sensor data and clock time stamps to detect actual hot-water usage patterns, using this feedback to intelligently activate heat insulation circulation only when and where needed, ensuring hot-water availability while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulation circulation operation is dynamically adjusted based on detected usage patterns, transitioning from static predetermined scheduling to adaptive operation that responds to actual user behavior, thereby optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency
3Loss of energy
If instant hot-water operation is delayed until after movement detection, then energy waste is reduced, but user comfort deteriorates due to low-temperature water provision
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of usage patterns through flow rate monitoring and clock time recording, then proactively activates heat insulation circulation in advance of predicted usage events, ensuring hot-water availability without premature energy consumption
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 achieves both energy saving and user comfort by ensuring instant hot-water is available at the right time while minimizing unnecessary operations, thus optimizing energy consumption and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a flow rate sensor which detects the supply of the hot-water from the hot-water supply tap
Implementation Method 2
a circulation path which carries out instant hot-water operation which circulates and heats the hot-water remaining in the hot-water supply path
Data Source
AI summary
A hot-water supply device includes a hot-water dispenser supplying hot-water, a hot-water supply path supplying the hot-water to a hot-water supply tap, a circulation path carrying out instant hot-water operation which circulates and heats the hot-water remaining in the hot-water supply path, a first clock repeatedly measuring unit times in which a pattern of hot-water usage of a user makes a round, and a flow rate sensor detecting the supply of the hot-water from the hot-water supply tap. The control portion detects, for each of the unit times and based on detection signals of the flow rate sensor, a time zone in which hot-water supply operation is carried out, and reserves, based on a time zone in a first unit time in which the hot-water supply operation is carried out, a time zone in a second unit time following the first unit time for carrying out the instant hot-water operation.