Sealed Tankless Water Heater Flushing With Recirculating Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing open systems for removing scale and sediment from tankless water heaters are cumbersome, hazardous, and inefficient, posing risks to users and the environment due to spills and vapors from acidic solutions, and lack safe storage options.

Innovation Solution

A sealed, self-contained recirculating system with a holding basin, submersible pump, filter system, and carry handles for easy storage, which allows for visual monitoring and reuse, reducing odor and spill risks by using a filter to remove scale and sediment without disassembling the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If open flushing systems are used to remove scale and sediment, then the cleaning function is achieved, but user safety and environmental protection deteriorate due to spills and vapors from acidic solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning functionVSAvoiduser safety and environmental protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a sealed container with a flexible lid that can be closed to contain the acidic flushing solution. This sealing mechanism prevents vapors from escaping and protects against spills, directly addressing the safety and environmental concerns while maintaining the scale removal function. The flexible lid allows for easy opening and closing during the flushing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If open systems are used for scale removal, then the flushing operation can be performed, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome setup and repeated use requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflushing operation capabilityVSAvoidsystem setup and reuse

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple components including the container, pump, filter, and hoses into a single integrated flushing system. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate setup steps and allows the entire system to be easily stored and reused without disassembly, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining effective scale removal capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates a filter that automatically captures and retains sediment and scale particles during the flushing process. This self-service filtering mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention to separate debris from the flushing solution, reducing the frequency of repeated uses and simplifying the overall operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If acidic flushing solutions are used, then scale and sediment removal is effective, but harmful factors increase due to odor and irritation from vapors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescale and sediment removal effectivenessVSAvoidodor and vapor irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealed container with closable lid creates a closed system that contains the acidic flushing solution and its vapors. This prevents odor and irritation from affecting the user while the acidic solution continues to effectively dissolve and remove scale and sediment deposits from the tankless water heater internal components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 system effectively removes scale and sediment from tankless water heaters while minimizing odor and spill risks, providing safe and efficient operation with easy storage and reuse, enhancing user safety and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a filter system secured within the holding basin to a filter opening in the cover lid of the holding basin, which filter system is an integral component of the flushing system, wherein the filter system includes a filter for filtering solid substances from the tankless water heater during a flushing procedure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9228575B2Sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system

Publication Date: 2016.01.05 ZOELLER PUMP

AI summary

A sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system including a holding basin, a cover lid for the holding basin firmly securable and sealed liquid tight to the holding basin, a submersible pump contained within the holding basin, a submersible pump hose, securable from the submersible pump within the holding basin to a discharge opening in the cover of the holding basin, a filter system, securable within the holding basin to a filter opening contained in the cover lid, wherein the filter system includes a filter for filtering solid substances from the tankless water heater during a flushing process, a discharge hose for connecting the discharge opening to the water heater, and a filter hose for connecting the filter opening to the water heater.