Dual Heating Rod Hot Water Tank Using Direct PV Preheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decentralized energy generation from solar radiation faces challenges due to variable network loads, high conversion costs, and inefficiencies in AC conversion, especially in hot water generation systems, which require complex installations and are less efficient at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a DC voltage generating photovoltaic device connected to a second resistive heating rod, allowing direct conversion of electrical energy to heat without AC conversion, using two resistive heating rods operated by AC line voltage and DC from photovoltaic conversion, with a control unit for independent control and energy adjustment based on hot water consumption patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar collectors with heat exchangers are used for hot water generation, then solar energy can be utilized, but the installation becomes relatively complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat exchanger component from the solar thermal system and replaces it with a photovoltaic module directly coupled to a heating element. This eliminates the need for complex heat exchanger installations, fluid circulation systems, and associated plumbing, while maintaining solar energy utilization through direct electrical heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical thermal transfer system (solar collectors with heat exchangers requiring fluid circulation) with an electrical system (photovoltaic modules directly powering heating elements). This substitution simplifies the installation by eliminating mechanical components while achieving the same hot water generation function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If photovoltaic systems convert DC voltage to AC voltage for network feeding, then energy can be fed into public networks, but conversion costs and losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inverter component from the photovoltaic system, eliminating the DC-to-AC conversion step. By directly connecting the photovoltaic module to the heating element, the system bypasses conversion losses entirely and uses the generated DC electricity directly for water heating, while still maintaining the ability to feed excess energy to the grid through DC coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the photovoltaic system to serve its own energy needs directly without requiring external conversion infrastructure. The system consumes its own generated electricity for heating, eliminating dependency on AC conversion and enabling standalone operation, while maintaining grid interaction capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If solar collectors are used for hot water generation, then solar energy can be converted to heat, but efficiency is low at low ambient temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the solar thermal collection system with a photovoltaic-electrical heating system. Photovoltaic modules maintain relatively stable efficiency across a wider temperature range compared to thermal collectors, and the direct electrical heating transfers energy more efficiently to water, overcoming the ambient temperature performance limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy conversion parameter from thermal (solar thermal collectors) to electrical (photovoltaic modules). This parameter change allows the system to operate more efficiently at lower ambient temperatures, as photovoltaic conversion and resistive heating are less sensitive to ambient temperature variations than thermal collection systems.
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 solution simplifies energy usage for hot water generation, reduces conversion losses, and allows for efficient energy utilization from solar radiation, enabling stand-alone operation without inverters, while minimizing network electricity consumption by combining pre-heating with photovoltaic electricity and post-heating with AC line voltage.
Implementation Method 1
DC voltage generating photovoltaic device
Implementation Method 2
resistive heating rod to heat the water located in the hot water storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for producing hot water, comprising a hot water reservoir, a first and a second resistance heating rod for heating the water in the hot water reservoir, a reservoir temperature sensor, and a control unit, by means of which the first resistance heating rod can be connected to a network alternating voltage source, wherein the system comprises a photovoltaic device for producing a direct voltage and the photovoltaic device can be connected to the second resistance heating rod by means of the control unit or a further control unit.