Hot Water Dispenser Venturi Drainback for Refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration appliances face challenges in optimizing energy efficiency, cleanliness, and reducing water wastage in dispensing systems, particularly in providing hot, cold water, and ice, as existing designs often require significant energy and are difficult to clean, with issues like 'dribbling' after dispensing due to residual water in conduits.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser system featuring a refrigerated cabinet, a hot water storage tank with a heater, and a venturi portion to create reduced pressure, allowing water to be drawn back into the tank after dispensing, along with a water management system that distributes water flow to multiple conduits without additional pumping, ensuring efficient and clean dispensing of hot, cold water, and ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If water is stored in conduits for dispensing, then dispensing speed is improved, but water wastage increases due to residual water remaining after dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the venturi effect to create negative pressure that automatically draws residual water from the conduit back into the tank without requiring additional pumps or manual intervention. The flowing water itself generates the suction force needed to retrieve the residual water, making the system self-service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of residual water (water wastage) into a beneficial effect by using the venturi effect to create negative pressure that actively retrieves the residual water. What was previously a waste problem becomes a controlled retrieval process.
2Reliability
If heating element is continuously on to maintain hot water, then hot water availability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element operates periodically rather than continuously. The controller activates the heater only when the water temperature drops below the desired threshold, maintaining hot water availability while minimizing energy consumption through periodic rather than continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensing feedback to control the heating element. When the water temperature is sufficient, the heater remains off; when temperature drops below the threshold, the heater activates. This feedback control ensures hot water availability while optimizing energy usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex valving system is used to distribute water to multiple dispensers, then dispensing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single tank and valving system serves multiple functions by distributing water to different dispensers (hot water dispenser, cold water dispenser, ice maker) based on controlled valve activation. This multi-functional approach provides dispensing flexibility while avoiding the need for separate systems for each dispenser type.
4Loss of time
If water flows quickly through the tank to reduce dispensing time, then dispensing speed is improved, but pressure control becomes difficult leading to dribbling
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical pressure control mechanisms with a venturi-based pressure control system. The venturi effect naturally creates negative pressure to retrieve residual water and control flow, eliminating the need for complex mechanical pressure regulation while preventing dribbling.
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 enhances energy efficiency by heating water on demand, reduces water wastage through effective drainage, and improves cleanliness by allowing steam cleaning, while maintaining user-friendly operation and flexibility in appliance design.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet includes a venturi portion for creating a reduced pressure within the hot water storage tank via flow of water into the hot water storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispenser area, a cabinet water inlet in the refrigerated cabinet connectable to a premises water line, and a hot water storage tank. The tank has a tank body, a heater in the tank body, an inlet for admitting water into the tank body supplied via the cabinet water inlet, and an outlet for providing water via a dispensing conduit to a dispenser in the dispenser area. The inlet includes a venturi portion for creating a reduced pressure within the hot water storage tank via flow of water into the hot water storage tank. The reduced pressure communicates with the dispensing conduit via the outlet so that, after dispensing water remaining in the dispensing conduit is drawn toward the tank body. Refrigeration devices with premises line pressure water distribution systems are also disclosed.