Point-of-Use Water Heating Assembly With Temperature Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Point of use (POU) water heaters face challenges in providing consistent hot water, especially in cold climates, as they require high heating power without being cost-effective and struggle to maintain temperature when multiple points of use are active simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A water heating assembly with a switchable valve that directs water through a heating path or a bypass path, using a tank with heating elements and temperature control sensors to maintain a set temperature, allowing for efficient heating and bypassing when the inlet temperature meets the set point, thereby reducing response time and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a tank is included in the POU water heater, then hot water can be provided for a steady period, but the device size increases and installation space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is installed inside the tank, and the temperature control assembly is integrated into the tank structure. The valve is mounted across the bypass piping that connects to the tank system. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to occupy the same spatial envelope, maximizing the hot water storage capacity within a compact footprint suitable for POU installation.
2Loss of time
If heating power is increased to heat cold water quickly, then response time is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve dynamically switches between the heating path and bypass path based on the inlet water temperature. When cold water is detected, the valve directs water through the heating element for rapid heating. When warmer water is available, the valve automatically routes water through the bypass, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining quick response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control assembly continuously monitors inlet water temperature and autonomously controls the valve position without user intervention. The system self-adjusts between heating and bypass modes based on real-time temperature conditions, optimizing the balance between response time and energy efficiency automatically.
3Loss of energy
If a bypass path is added to the system, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating path and bypass path are merged into a single integrated water heating assembly with a unified tank structure. The valve, heating element, and temperature control components work together as a coordinated system, allowing the device to achieve energy efficiency through path selection while maintaining a compact, unified design suitable for POU installation.
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 effectively reduces the response time for hot water delivery at the point of use, saving energy and ensuring consistent hot water availability, even in cold conditions, by selectively using the heating path or bypassing the heating unit based on temperature needs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element installed inside the tank to heat water contained in the tank up to near the temperature set point
Implementation Method 2
an inlet temperature sensor mountable about the inlet of the tank for sensing an inlet temperature of the water fed through the inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A water heating assembly, related kit, use and method make use of a temperature control near a point of use of water, so as to reduce a time response for hot water at this point of use are provided. The water heating assembly includes a tank for containing water, an inlet temperature sensor for sensing an inlet temperature of the water upstream of the tank, and a valve located upstream of the tank. The valve is actuated when the sensed inlet temperature reaches a given temperature set-point such that the water is bypassed from the tank and directly sent to the point of use. The water heating assembly is configured such that the point of use can be fed with water at the desired temperature in a reduced time, the water coming directly from the hot water source and/or the water heating assembly, thereby saving water, energy and time.