Potable Water Supply Station With Single-Pipe Hot Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plumbing installations require extensive pipe networks and mixing valves for hot and cold water, risking scalding and contamination, with inefficient energy use due to constant hot water circulation.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary installation system that supplies hot water at a predetermined setpoint temperature and flow rate via a control device, eliminating the need for mixing valves and allowing single-pipe connections, enabling demand-based hot water provision and centralized temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate cold and hot water lines with mixing valves are used for each tap, then hot and cold water can be supplied to different taps, but the pipe network becomes extensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a single-pipe system that can universally supply both hot and cold water to any tap through electronic control. The hot water component can selectively supply hot water or allow cold water flow through the same pipe, eliminating the need for separate hot and cold water lines at each tap while maintaining the ability to provide different water types to different taps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mixing function from the tap level and relocates it to a centralized control system. Instead of having mixing valves at each tap, the system uses electronic control devices that regulate hot water supply from a single pipe, separating the temperature control function from the water distribution infrastructure.
2Temperature
If hot water is supplied at high temperature, then hot water demand is met, but scalding risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements electronic control devices with sensors that continuously monitor temperature and flow conditions. The system receives target temperature requests from remote control units and uses feedback control to adjust the hot water supply, ensuring the actual temperature matches the requested temperature and preventing scalding by never exceeding safe temperature thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electronic control devices as intermediaries between the hot water source and the tap. These control devices act as mediators that regulate hot water flow and mix it with cold water electronically controlled, preventing direct high-temperature water from reaching the tap and thereby eliminating scalding risk while still meeting hot water demands.
3Ease of operation
If hot water is constantly circulated to maintain temperature, then hot water is readily available, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces continuous hot water circulation with periodic, on-demand hot water supply. The hot water component only operates when a tap requests hot water through the remote control system, eliminating the need for constant circulation while ensuring hot water is readily available when needed through rapid electronic response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service hot water provision where the remote control unit at the tap autonomously requests hot water when needed. The centralized hot water component responds only to actual demands, allowing the system to serve itself efficiently without continuous operation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining hot water availability on demand.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A sanitary installation (1) is disclosed comprising a hot water component for providing hot water, in particular potable hot water, for at least one tap (2), at least one tap (2) connected to the hot water component, at least one remote control unit (3) for requesting a setpoint temperature and/or a setpoint flow rate for the at least one tap (2), and at least one control device (16) structurally separate from and coupled to the remote control unit (3) for setting an actual temperature and/or an actual flow rate from the hot water component to the at least one tap (2) based on the requested setpoint temperature and/or the requested setpoint flow rate. Furthermore, a potable water supply station (10) suitable for use in such a sanitary installation (1) is disclosed.