User interface for controlling a shower system
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a significant lag time between opening the mixing valve and reaching the desired water temperature in shower systems, leading to unnecessary water wastage as the system continues to run while waiting for the temperature to stabilize, and further wastage occurs as users adjust the valve to reach the desired temperature.
Innovation Solution
A recirculating shower system with a digital user interface that mixes hot and cold water to achieve the desired temperature before output, featuring a recirculation pump, shutoff valves, and a controller that manages the water flow to prevent wastage by only delivering water when the temperature is reached and the user is ready to shower.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mixing valve is opened to deliver water, then water flow is provided to the user, but water is wasted during the lag time before the desired temperature is reached
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of water in a storage tank before the user needs it. The controller activates the water heater to heat water in advance, and the mixing valve is kept closed during this heating phase, preventing water wastage while ensuring hot water is ready when the user opens the valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a recirculation pump to automatically circulate water through the heating system, and a temperature sensor continuously monitors water temperature to automatically control the mixing valve and water heater, eliminating the need for manual temperature adjustment and reducing water wastage.
2Ease of operation
If the mixing valve is continuously adjusted to reach the desired temperature, then the user can control water temperature, but additional water is wasted during the adjustment process
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a temperature sensor and controller that automatically monitor and adjust the mixing valve to achieve the desired temperature without user intervention. The user simply opens the valve and the system handles the temperature control, eliminating water wastage from manual adjustment attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller about the actual water temperature, which then adjusts the mixing valve position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the desired temperature is reached efficiently without unnecessary water flow or manual adjustment wastage.
3Loss of time
If water is heated and stored before delivery, then the desired temperature is achieved quickly, but energy is consumed during the heating and storage process
Solution Approach 1:
The system heats water in advance and stores it in a tank before the user needs it. By performing the heating action preliminarily, the system eliminates the waiting time when water would otherwise be wasted, and the energy consumption occurs only once during storage rather than continuously during water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation pump continuously circulates water through the heating system, maintaining ready-to-use hot water in the storage tank. This continuous circulation ensures that hot water is always available immediately when the user opens the valve, eliminating temperature stabilization delays.
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 reduces water wastage by ensuring water is only delivered at the desired temperature and only when needed, minimizing the time the shower is in use, thus conserving water during the waiting period and adjustment phase.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculation pump configured to pump water received from the first inlet to the second inlet
Implementation Method 2
a mixing valve configured to mix water received from the first water supply and the second water supply to produce a mixed water stream
Implementation Method 3
a first shutoff valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the mixed water stream being allowed to flow from the mixing valve to the first outlet when the first shutoff valve is in the open configuration and prevented from flowing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A user interface (120) for controlling a shower system (100) includes at least one control (140) configured to be actuated by a user and generate one or more signals for controlling an operation of the shower system (100), and at least one indicator light (154) configured to illuminate in different patterns which are matched to different operational stages of the shower system (100). The at least one indicator light (154) may be configured to provide a first light pattern when the shower system (100) is in a first operational stage, and a second light pattern that is different from the first light pattern when the shower system (100) is in a second operational stage. The first operational stage may include when water in the shower system (100) is being warmed to a predetermined temperature, and the second operational stage may include when a temperature of the water has reached the predetermined temperature.