Shower Drain Heat Exchanger for Brief-Shower Water Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower water heat exchangers have low efficiency, particularly during brief showers, and are prone to inefficiencies due to non-optimal water flow and placement angles.
Innovation Solution
A draining device with draining openings positioned in the lowest part of the drain, ensuring a water level of at least half the drain height, and a heat exchanger positioned underneath, allowing water to flow uniformly over the entire exchanger surface, even at non-horizontal angles, with a spiral-shaped tube for enhanced heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heat exchanger is arranged under a grating with openings, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat exchange efficiency is low particularly during brief showers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a top-down water flow arrangement (water flowing over a grating onto the heat exchanger) to a bottom-up arrangement (heat exchanger positioned in the lowest part of the drain with water flowing upward onto it). This dimensional repositioning ensures that the heat exchanger is always in contact with water regardless of shower duration or drain orientation, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the heat exchanger from being arranged under a grating at the top of the drain to being arranged in the lowest part of the drain. This parameter change ensures optimal water contact and heat exchange efficiency, particularly during brief showers when water flow is limited
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drain is placed at a non-horizontal angle, then installation flexibility is improved, but water may not flow uniformly over the heat exchanger surface
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the heat exchanger in the lowest part of the drain rather than under a grating, the system ensures that water naturally flows onto the heat exchanger from above regardless of the drain's angular orientation. This maintains uniform water contact and heat exchange efficiency while allowing installation flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The arrangement ensures that the heat exchanger is always at the lowest point where water accumulates, creating an equipotential condition for water flow. This ensures uniform water distribution over the heat exchanger surface regardless of the overall drain angle, maintaining heat exchange efficiency
3Reliability
If the heat exchanger is placed upstream of the stench trap, then leak detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By placing the heat exchanger upstream of the stench trap in the water flow path, the system enables preliminary leak detection before water reaches the stench trap. Any leaks in the heat exchanger can be detected early, preventing contamination and allowing timely maintenance, while the overall device structure remains relatively simple
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 ensures efficient heat exchange during brief showers, reduces the risk of stench trap filling, allows for quick detection of leaks, and facilitates easy cleaning, while maintaining a high throughput rate and minimizing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger which is arranged under the drain and which is provided with at least one tube, wherein the tube is positioned substantially under the draining openings such that shower water flows through the draining openings and onto the tube of the heat exchanger during use
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange between the shower water and the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
shower water flows through the draining openings and onto the tube of the heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a draining device (2,102,202,302) configured to recover heat from used shower water, wherein the draining device (2,102,202,302) comprises: - a drain (6,106,206,306) which is provided with a drain height (H1), wherein draining openings (8,108,208,308) are arranged in a lowest part (7) of the drain; and - a heat exchanger (10,110,210,310) which is arranged under the drain (6,106,206,306) and which is provided with at least one tube (12,112,212,312), wherein the tube is positioned substantially under the draining openings such that shower water flows through the draining openings and onto the tube of the heat exchanger during use, wherein the draining openings are formed such that, during use, a height of a water level (H2, H3)) of the shower water situated in the drain is at least half the drain height.