Sanitary device and method for operating a sanitary device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary fixtures consume excessive energy due to pumps operating on cold water when it is unsuitable for preheating, leading to inefficiencies in thermal energy recovery systems.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary installation with a sensor to detect hot water flow, activating a pump only when hot water is present, and using a heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from wastewater to cold water, reducing the need for additional hot water and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the pump feeds used water to the heat exchanger continuously when a sensor detects flow, then thermal energy recovery is maximized, but energy consumption increases when the used water is cold and unsuitable for preheating
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a sensor to detect the temperature or suitability of used water for preheating, and based on this feedback, the control unit activates or deactivates the pump accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the pump only operates when thermal energy recovery is beneficial, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption when the used water is cold.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump operation is made dynamic rather than static - it can be activated or deactivated based on real-time conditions of the used water temperature. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to varying thermal conditions and optimize the balance between thermal energy recovery and pump energy consumption.
2Productivity
If the pump operates to feed used water to the heat exchanger, then preheating of cold water is achieved, but unnecessary operation occurs when used water temperature is insufficient for preheating
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor provides continuous feedback on the temperature of used water, allowing the control system to make informed decisions about pump operation. When the sensor detects that used water temperature is below a threshold for effective preheating, the pump is deactivated, preventing wasteful operation and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects and evaluates the temperature of used water before the pump is activated. This preliminary assessment ensures that the pump only starts operating when the conditions are favorable for effective preheating, avoiding unnecessary operation when the used water is too cold.
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
Reduces energy consumption by optimizing the operation of pumps and heat exchangers, enhancing thermal energy recovery efficiency in sanitary facilities.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy from at least part of the mixed water flowing out via the drain to the cold water
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Sanitary installation (1), comprising at least: - a cold water supply line (2) for cold water; - a hot water supply line (3) for hot water; - a mixing valve (4) for mixing the cold water and the hot water to form mixed water; - a dispensing device (5) for the mixed water; - a basin (6) with a drain (7) for the mixed water; - a sensor (8) for detecting a supply of hot water to the mixing valve (4); and - a heat exchanger (9) for transferring thermal energy from at least a portion of the mixed water flowing out via the drain (7) to the cold water. Furthermore, a method for operating a sanitary installation (1) is proposed.