Integrated Water Heater and Distiller Using Pilot Light Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing distilled water for human consumption are uneconomical due to inefficiencies in energy usage and excess water handling, often requiring separate heating elements and auxiliary systems.
Innovation Solution
A device that integrates a main tank for heating fluid with a condensing tank, evaporator tank, and distillate tank, utilizing a pilot light or electric filament for continuous heat, and fluid flow regulators to manage fluid levels and flow efficiently, allowing heat from distillation to be reused for heating, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate heating elements and auxiliary systems are used for distillation, then the distillation function is achieved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function and distillation function into a single integrated apparatus. The water heater body serves as both the heating chamber and the distillation chamber, with the heating element simultaneously performing heating and generating vapor for distillation. This eliminates the need for separate heating elements and auxiliary systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable distillation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element in the patent serves multiple functions: it heats water for drinking purposes, generates vapor for distillation, and provides thermal energy for the entire system. The water heater body also serves dual purposes as both a water heating device and a distillation apparatus. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while ensuring reliable operation of both heating and distillation functions.
2Reliability
If separate heating elements are used for distillation, then the distillation process can be controlled, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating and distillation processes into a single energy-efficient system. The heating element heats water, and the resulting vapor is directly condensed for distillation. The latent heat released during condensation is recovered and used to preheat incoming water, creating a closed-loop energy system that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining controlled distillation through the natural phase change process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the latent heat that would normally be wasted during vapor condensation into a useful resource. The condensation chamber captures the latent heat released when vapor condenses into liquid, and this heat is transferred back to preheat the incoming water supply. This transforms what would be energy waste into a beneficial preheating function, significantly reducing the energy required for the distillation process.
3Reliability
If auxiliary heating systems are used, then the heating function is reliable, but the cost of operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the latent heat energy that is released during vapor condensation and redirects it to preheat the incoming water supply. This energy recovery system converts what would be wasted thermal energy into a useful heating function, reducing the overall energy cost of operation while maintaining reliable heating performance throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an energy recovery mechanism where the latent heat from condensing vapor is captured and reused to preheat incoming water. Instead of discarding this thermal energy to the environment, the system recovers it through heat exchange between the condensing vapor and the incoming water supply, thereby reducing the energy cost of operation while maintaining reliable heating function.
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 approach provides a cost-effective method for producing both heated and distilled water by leveraging the heat from distillation for heating purposes, optimizing energy use and fluid management.
Implementation Method 1
a main gas heater including a pilot light for heating the main tank
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator tank for vaporizing fluid received therein, the evaporator tank being heated by the pilot light
Implementation Method 3
a condensing coil, disposed in the condensing tank, for exchanging heat between fluid vaporized by the evaporator tank and fluid in the condensing tank
Implementation Method 4
a condensing coil, disposed in the condensing tank, for exchanging heat between fluid vaporized by the evaporator tank and fluid in the condensing tank
Implementation Method 5
the condensing tank containing one or more heat conducting rods that allow heat to be conducted to the lower region of the condensing tank
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for heating fluid and distilling fluid includes a main tank for containing fluid to be heated by a main gas heater and a pilot light for heating the main tank, a condensing tank for passing fluid to the main tank and having one or more heat conducting rods that allow heat to be conducted to the lower region of the condensing tank, an evaporator tank for vaporizing fluid and being heated by the pilot light, a condensing coil for exchanging heat between fluid vaporized by the evaporator tank and fluid in the condensing tank, a holding tank for receiving fluid from a main source, a delaying float bowl tank to receive fluid from the holding tank and including a first fluid flow regulator for regulating fluid flow to the evaporator tank according to an amount of fluid in the delaying float bowl tank, and a distillate tank.