Integrated Temperature Buffer for Compact Water Heater Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitary washing devices require a separate temperature stabilizer and heating device, leading to increased space occupation and inconvenience, as integrating them while ensuring temperature uniformity is challenging due to the need for a considerable volume for the temperature stabilizer.
Innovation Solution
A heating device with an integrated heat exchange flow path and temperature buffer part, where the temperature buffer part is placed inside the housing and communicates with the heat exchange flow path through through holes, allowing for uniform temperature mixing and reduced space occupation, using mixing ribs to enhance mixing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the temperature stabilizer and heating device are separately placed, then the temperature uniformity is ensured, but the space occupied is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the temperature stabilizer and heating device into a single unit, combining two previously separate components. The temperature stabilizer is positioned within the housing of the heating device, allowing both functions to coexist in one compact structure, thereby reducing the overall space occupied while maintaining temperature uniformity through the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature stabilizer is nested inside the housing of the heating device, with the stabilizer positioned within the available internal space. This nesting arrangement allows the temperature stabilizer to utilize the space already defined by the heating device's housing, achieving compact integration without compromising the volume needed for temperature stabilization
2Volume of stationary object
If the temperature stabilizer is integrated into the heating device, then the space is reduced, but the temperature uniformity becomes difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the temperature stabilizer at a specific location within the heating device's housing, optimized for thermal mixing. The stabilizer is placed in a region where it can effectively receive heated water from the heating element and perform temperature equalization before water exits, ensuring temperature uniformity is achieved at the critical location where water is drawn for use
3Temperature
If the temperature stabilizer has a considerable volume, then the temperature uniformity is achieved, but the device cannot be downsized
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the temperature stabilizer with the heating device housing, the patent eliminates the need for a separate stabilizer unit. The stabilizer utilizes the internal volume of the heating device's housing, combining the functions of heating and temperature stabilization in one integrated component, thereby achieving temperature uniformity without increasing the overall device size
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 configuration achieves stable warm water temperature and downsizes the heating device by integrating the heat exchange flow path and temperature buffer part, ensuring uniformity and reducing the occupied space, thus enhancing user convenience and device compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (23) which heats the fluid inside the heat exchange flow path
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchange flow path (24) which is placed inside the housing (13) and communicates with the inlet port (11)
Implementation Method 3
a temperature buffer part (25) which is placed inside the housing (13) and communicates with the outlet port (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A heating device is provided with housing (13) which has inlet port (11) and outlet port (12), heat exchange flow path (24) which communicates with inlet port (11), and heater (23) which heats fluid inside heat exchange flow path (24). The heating device is further provided with temperature buffer part (25) which communicates with outlet port (12) and one or more through holes (21) which allow heat exchange flow path (24) and temperature buffer part (25) to communicate with each other. Heat exchange flow path (24) guides the fluid flowing in through inlet port (11) and allows the fluid after being heated to flow into temperature buffer part (25) through through holes (21), and temperature buffer part (25) guides the fluid flowing in through through holes (21) to outlet port (12). Accordingly, the heating device capable of allowing the fluid having a uniform temperature to flow out is achieved.