Solar Water Tank Heating Layout for Domestic and Space Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic heating systems require separate configurations for solar energy and boiler heating, leading to complexity and increased costs, making it inconvenient to integrate solar energy for both domestic water and space heating effectively.
Innovation Solution
A heating system that combines a solar collector, a combustion device, and a space heating apparatus via a common heat exchanger, with a controller to manage the use of solar and combustion heating, allowing solar-heated water to be used for both domestic purposes and space heating without mixing with the transfer fluid, simplifying the system and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate heating systems are used for solar water heating and space heating, then each system can be optimized independently, but the overall system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines solar water heating and space heating into a single integrated system. The solar collector heats water that is stored in a tank, and this same hot water serves dual purposes: domestic hot water supply and space heating through a heat exchanger connected to radiators. This merging eliminates the need for separate systems while maintaining optimization of both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot water stored in the tank serves multiple functions simultaneously. It provides domestic hot water directly to taps and showers, and also heats the transfer fluid in the space heating circuit through the heat exchanger. This multi-functionality allows a single system to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated systems.
2Device complexity
If a common heat exchanger is used for both solar and combustion heating, then system complexity and cost are reduced, but thermal interference between heating sources may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is divided into distinct thermal zones: a solar heating zone that receives heat from the solar collector and a combustion heating zone that receives heat from the boiler. This segmentation allows independent control and thermal management of each heating source, preventing thermal interference while using a common heat exchanger structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between solar heating and combustion heating based on availability and demand. The controller activates the combustion heater only when solar heating is insufficient or unavailable, creating a dynamic, adaptive system that maintains reliability while simplifying the overall configuration.
3Device complexity
If solar-heated water is used directly for space heating, then system simplicity increases, but contamination of the transfer fluid may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the solar-heated domestic water and the space heating transfer fluid. This heat exchanger allows thermal energy transfer from the hot water to the transfer fluid while maintaining physical separation, preventing contamination of the transfer fluid while enabling space heating functionality.
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 efficiently uses solar energy for heating domestic water and space heating, ensuring sanitary comfort while reducing system complexity and costs by utilizing a single heat exchanger for both solar and combustion heating, ensuring reliable and cost-effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
a solar collector associated with the water tank for heating the domestic water
Implementation Method 2
solar collector associated with the water tank for heating the domestic water
Implementation Method 3
a combustion device (e.g. a fuel fired boiler) coupled with the water tank via a heat exchanger for heating the domestic water
Implementation Method 4
coupled with the water tank via a heat exchanger (maybe a plate heat exchanger) for heating the domestic water
Implementation Method 5
a space heating apparatus (e.g. radiators or under floor heating loop) adapted for being passed through by a hot transfer fluid (e.g. water) thereby radiating heat into space
Implementation Method 6
the space heating apparatus is coupled with the water tank via the heat exchanger for allowing the domestic water to heat the transfer fluid for space heating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~4B
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention discloses a heating system comprising a water tank for storage of domestic water; a solar collector associated with the water tank for heating the domestic water; a combustion device coupled with the water tank via a heat exchanger for heating the domestic water; and a space heating apparatus adapted for being passed through by a hot transfer fluid thereby radiating heat into space, wherein said space heating apparatus is coupled with the water tank via the heat exchanger for allowing the domestic water to heat the transfer fluid for space heating. By this configuration, the water inside of the tank can store solar energy by the solar collector heating the domestic water, and the heated water can be extracted during tap for domestic usage, also can be used for space heating via the heat exchanger without mixing the domestic water and the transfer fluid.