Heating system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating systems using gas as fuel are being replaced by more sustainable alternatives, such as electric heaters, which generate less heating power, leading to a discrepancy in energy availability when solar energy is produced during the day but hot water is needed in the evening or early morning, and existing systems face issues with fouling due to high temperatures from renewable sources.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid heating system comprising a central heating water circuit, a tap water circuit, a slow heating hot water appliance, a fast heating hot water appliance, and a buffer tank, with a switching system to connect these components, allowing for heat exchange between circuits to ensure consistent hot water availability and efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar energy is used as the secondary heat energy source, then sustainable heating is improved, but fouling inside heat exchangers occurs due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer tank as an intermediary component between the solar collector and the heat exchanger. The buffer tank receives high-temperature fluid from the solar collector, allows it to cool down, and then supplies the cooled fluid to the heat exchanger. This mediator prevents the harmful high temperature from directly causing fouling in the heat exchanger while still enabling sustainable heating through solar energy.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electric heaters are used to replace gas heaters, then sustainability is improved, but heating power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heating sources (solar collector, heat pump, and conventional heater) into a hybrid heating system. This merging allows the system to leverage the sustainability benefits of renewable sources while compensating for their lower power output with conventional high-power sources when needed, thus achieving both sustainability improvement and adequate heating power.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer tank stores thermal energy in advance when solar energy is available or when heating demand is low. This preliminary storage of heat allows the system to meet high heating power demands later without relying solely on low-power renewable sources, effectively preparing energy reserves ahead of time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If solar energy is produced during the day, then renewable energy availability is improved, but hot water availability in the evening or early morning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank stores thermal energy in advance during the day when solar energy is available. This preliminary energy storage bridges the time gap between energy production and consumption, ensuring hot water availability in the evening or early morning when solar energy is not being produced.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching system ensures continuous hot water supply by seamlessly transitioning between different heating sources. When solar energy is unavailable, the system automatically activates alternative sources (heat pump or conventional heater) to maintain continuous hot water availability without interruption, thus eliminating time loss.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a by-pass pipe is used to bypass the secondary heat energy source, then fouling is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a simple by-pass pipe that requires additional valves and control mechanisms, the patent employs a buffer tank as an intermediary that naturally cools the high-temperature fluid through thermal exchange with the surrounding environment and stored water. This approach reduces fouling without significantly increasing system complexity, as the buffer tank serves multiple functions including storage, cooling, and system decoupling.
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 system ensures reliable hot water supply by buffering heat from renewable sources and using a fast heating appliance to meet peak demand, improving efficiency and reducing fouling issues, while maintaining a versatile hybrid system for both central heating and tap water needs.
Implementation Method 1
a slow heating hot water appliance that is configured to heat water of the first water circuit
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat exchanger that is connected to the first water circuit and arranged in the heat buffer water in said buffer tank
Implementation Method 3
a fast heating hot water appliance that is a faster heating hot water appliance than the slow heating hot water appliance, wherein said fast heating hot water appliance is configured to heat the heat buffer water that is stored in said buffer tank
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating system, comprising: - a first water circuit that is one of a central heating water circuit and a tap water circuit; - a second water circuit that is an other of the central heating water circuit and the tap water circuit; - a slow heating hot water appliance that is configured to heat water of the first water circuit; - a buffer tank, configured to store heat buffer water of the second water circuit; - at least one heat exchanger that is connected to the first water circuit and arranged in the heat buffer water in said buffer tank; - a fast heating hot water appliance that is a faster heating hot water appliance than the slow heating hot water appliance, wherein said fast heating hot water appliance is configured to heat the heat buffer water that is stored in said buffer tank; and - a switching system configured to connect at least two of: - the slow heating hot water appliance; - the fast heating hot water appliance; - the buffer tank; and - a radiator of the central heating water circuit.