Tankless Fluid Heater With Negative-Pressure Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot water heaters require significant energy to maintain stored water at a predetermined temperature and suffer from delays in producing heated water on demand, with inefficiencies in heating capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fluid heater design featuring an enclosed combustion chamber, burners, and a heat transfer section with tubes, where a negative pressure source ensures continuous hot fluid production, and a microprocessor adjusts fuel flow based on temperature output, enhancing efficiency and on-demand heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a storage tank is used to maintain water at a predetermined temperature, then a supply of hot water is available on demand, but a substantial amount of energy is required to maintain the stored water at the predetermined temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage tank from the system entirely, transitioning from a stored-hot-water system to an on-demand heating system. The heat transfer section directly heats water as it flows through the tubes, eliminating the need for a storage tank and the associated energy waste from maintaining stored water temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating action by preheating water as it flows through the heat transfer section before delivery. The continuous flow of water through the heated tubes ensures water is heated just before use, rather than maintaining it at temperature in advance.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If coils are used for heating water upon demand, then energy consumption is reduced compared to storage tanks, but there is a delay between demand and supply of heated water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by maintaining a continuous flow of water through the heat transfer section tubes. The negative pressure source ensures uninterrupted flow, and the continuous exposure to heated surfaces eliminates delays, providing heated water immediately upon demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by employing a negative pressure source (vacuum pump or fan) to create suction that drives continuous water flow through the heat transfer section. This hydraulic-pneumatic system ensures water moves continuously through the heating tubes without interruption or delay.
3Adaptability or versatility
If coils are used for heating water upon demand, then the system can heat water on demand, but the amount of heated fluid that can be produced is limited and efficiency can be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional coil configuration to a three-dimensional array of multiple tubes within the heat transfer section. This dimensional expansion increases the total heat transfer surface area and volume, enabling greater amounts of water to be heated simultaneously while maintaining on-demand capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the heating system into multiple separate tubes within the heat transfer section, each contributing to the overall heating capacity. This segmentation allows parallel heating of multiple water streams, increasing total productivity while maintaining the flexibility of on-demand operation.
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 reduces energy consumption, minimizes delays in producing heated water, and improves heating efficiency by continuously producing hot fluid and adjusting fuel flow according to demand, resulting in a more efficient and responsive heating system.
Implementation Method 1
A negative pressure source is operatively coupled to the heat transfer section second end and is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of tube chambers, where a continuous flow of hot fluid is produced
Implementation Method 2
at least one burner coupled to the enclosed combustion chamber... configured to burn a combustible fuel
Implementation Method 3
a heat transfer section having a first end operatively coupled to the enclosed combustion chamber... an outside wall of each of the plurality of tubes and an inside wall of the heat transfer section define the closed chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid heater comprises an enclosed combustion chamber, at least one burner operatively coupled to the enclosed combustion chamber and a heat transfer section. The heat transfer section has a first end operatively coupled to the enclosed combustion chamber, a second end, an outer wall defining a closed chamber therein, a fluid inlet port coupled to the outer wall in fluid communication with the chamber and a fluid outlet port coupled to the outer wall in fluid communication with the chamber. A plurality of tubes have an opened first end, an opposite opened second end and a chamber extending therebetween, wherein the plurality of tubes are mounted within the heat transfer section so that an outside wall of each of the plurality of tubes and an inside wall of the heat transfer section define the closed chamber. Each of the tube chambers are in fluid communication with the enclosed combustion chamber. A negative pressure source is operatively coupled to the heat transfer section second end and is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of tube chambers, where a continuous flow of hot fluid is produced at the heat transfer section fluid outlet port.