Single-Pipe Instant Water Heating With Wastewater Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing systems waste time and resources as users wait for hot water, which often results in overheating water in a central tank, transmitting it through separate pipes, and then mixing it with cold water at the point of consumption, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A smart system and apparatus that heats water locally and on demand at the point of consumption, using a smart controller with WiFi connectivity to adjust flow rate and temperature, and incorporates a heat exchanger to reuse heat energy from wastewater, eliminating the need for a hot water tank and separate hot water pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is heated in a central water heater and transmitted through separate pipes to the point of consumption, then hot water is available at the demand point, but the system complexity increases and heat losses occur during transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water heating function from the central water heater and relocates it to the point of consumption through an instant heating element integrated into the faucet. This eliminates the need for separate hot water pipes and a thermal storage bin, reducing system complexity while maintaining hot water availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the water heating process by implementing localized heating at each demand point rather than centralized heating. Each faucet becomes an independent heating unit, eliminating the need for complex pipe networks and thermal storage infrastructure.
2Loss of energy
If water is heated locally at the point of consumption, then heat losses during transmission are eliminated, but the need for instant heating capability increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The faucet system performs self-heating of water at the point of consumption without requiring external hot water supply infrastructure. The instant heating element integrated into the faucet provides autonomous heating capability, eliminating heat transmission losses while keeping the system simple and self-contained.
3Loss of time
If hot water is stored in a thermal storage bin adjacent to the demand point, then hot water is delivered instantly, but the system requires additional infrastructure and incurs additional costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pre-storing hot water in thermal bins, the system performs preliminary heating action instantly at the moment of demand through the integrated heating element. This eliminates the need for thermal storage infrastructure while achieving instant hot water delivery.
4Temperature
If water is overheated in a water heater and then mixed with cold water at the point of consumption, then the desired temperature is achieved, but energy efficiency decreases due to unnecessary heating
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality control by heating water to the exact required temperature at the point of consumption rather than overheating in advance. The integrated heating element and temperature sensor provide precise local temperature control, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption from overheating and subsequent mixing with cold water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating parameter (temperature) based on real-time demand requirements. The controller modulates the heating element to deliver water at the precise temperature needed, avoiding the energy waste associated with fixed high-temperature heating and subsequent cooling through mixing.
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
This solution reduces plumbing system size and cost, saves water and energy, and provides instant, adjustable warm water on demand, enhancing user comfort and aligning with the principles of net-zero buildings by promoting self-sufficiency and efficient resource use.
Implementation Method 1
Harvesting the heat energy of drained wastewater and using it right away for the water being warmed is another feature of this solution
Implementation Method 2
The heating body can be a resistive element, a magnetron generating microwave, or a thermoelectric body generating heat using electricity
Implementation Method 3
The heating body can be a resistive element, a magnetron generating microwave, or a thermoelectric body generating heat using electricity
Implementation Method 4
The heating body can be a resistive element, a magnetron generating microwave, or a thermoelectric body generating heat using electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus are provided for on-demand and instant warm water supplying at the point of consumption. In this method only cold water is distributed and supplied to different places within a building through a single piping system. The apparatus has only a single input pipe for cold water and heats water in a heating unit just as needed on demand at the point of consumption after harvesting the heat energy of wastewater from drainage. The heating unit alternatives are an electric resistive element, a magnetron generating microwave, or a thermoelectric body warming the input water as needed and no more through a controller. No hot and cold-water mixer is used. The method and apparatus help the building industry save on plumbing costs and consumed energy and water, while bringing more comfort to users through direct and local discharging of warm water on demand and as adjusted instantly.