Scale trapper and water heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scale trapping units in water heaters face issues with pressure drop increase and blockage due to scale particle accumulation, requiring frequent cleaning or replacement, which can lead to inefficiencies and complaints about feed water quality.
Innovation Solution
A scale trapping unit with a void region and a scale adsorbing element having large opening ports to prevent pressure drop and blockage, allowing water to flow through while trapping scales by adsorption and crystallization, reducing the need for maintenance and extending operational time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scale trapping unit with a scale adsorbing element is used to trap scale particles, then scale deposition on the heat exchanger is prevented, but pressure drop increases and the unit becomes blocked due to scale particle accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The scale trapping unit is divided into two functional regions: a scale adsorbing element region for trapping scale particles and a void region for storing accumulated scales. This segmentation prevents scale particles from blocking the water flow path while maintaining effective scale trapping, thereby resolving the contradiction between preventing scale deposition and avoiding pressure drop increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The void region acts as an intermediary space between the scale adsorbing element and the water flow path. It receives and stores accumulated scales, preventing them from blocking the flow path and causing pressure drop, while allowing the scale adsorbing element to continue trapping scales effectively.
2Reliability
If the scale adsorbing element is used to adsorb scales, then scale trapping performance is maintained, but the unit requires frequent cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of scale accumulation (blockage and pressure drop) is extracted from the scale adsorbing element by providing a separate void region for scale storage. This allows the scale adsorbing element to focus solely on trapping scales without being affected by accumulation, thereby extending its operational life and reducing maintenance frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The void region automatically receives and stores scale particles as they are trapped by the scale adsorbing element, eliminating the need for external cleaning or replacement operations. The system self-manages scale accumulation, extending the operational period without maintenance.
3Ease of repair
If large amounts of tap water are used for cleaning the scale adsorbing element, then scales are removed from the unit, but feed water quality is compromised due to discharged scales
Solution Approach 1:
The void region, which initially seemed to be just empty space, is converted into a beneficial scale storage facility. Scales that would otherwise be harmful (causing blockage) are redirected to the void region, eliminating the need for cleaning operations that could compromise feed water quality. The harm of scale accumulation is converted into a useful storage 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
The solution effectively inhibits pressure drop and blockage in the scale trapping unit, maintaining high scale trapping performance and extending the operational period of the water heater without maintenance, ensuring efficient scale removal and heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a scale adsorbing element 8 having a function of adsorbing scales
Implementation Method 2
trapping scales by adsorption and crystallization
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A scale trapping unit (5) includes a casing (5a) having a water inlet and a water outlet at respective ends, and a scale adsorbing element (8) loaded in the casing (5a), the scale adsorbing element (8) having opening ports (10), each of the opening ports having a representative length greater than a length of a scale particle. The casing (5a) has a void region (9) at least at the end where the water inlet is located. A scale trapping unit inlet pipe (11) is perpendicularly connected to a central portion of a bottom surface at the end of the casing (5a) where the water inlet is located. The scale trapping unit inlet pipe (11), the void region (9), and the scale adsorbing element (8) are linearly aligned so that water flows therethrough in a constant direction.