Tapping unit with only one connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing faucet systems with temperature adjustable features for tapped water, especially those using heat exchangers, face high energy consumption and design limitations due to continuous heating of water without demand, leading to unnecessary energy waste.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow system with a domestic flow path connected to a heat exchanger, featuring a secondary flow path and flow regulating means that only allows heating fluid to flow when there is demand, utilizing a temperature sensor to maintain set-point temperature and adjust heating flow accordingly, ensuring efficient heat transfer only when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If continuous heating of water is implemented in heat exchanger systems, then the water is always ready for use, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system operates periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates the heating element only when needed, based on detected demand signals from tapping units or temperature sensors, thereby eliminating energy waste from continuous operation while ensuring water is heated on-demand
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors and control units monitor the water temperature and heating status in real-time, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables intelligent decision-making about when to activate heating, optimizing energy usage while maintaining water readiness when required
2Reliability
If heat exchanger systems operate continuously, then heating capacity is maintained, but unnecessary energy waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from continuous operation to periodic operation, activating the heat exchanger only when heating demand is detected. This maintains reliable heating capacity when needed while eliminating energy waste during periods of no demand
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational state and environmental conditions to trigger heating cycles. Through integrated sensors and control logic, the system automatically activates heating when temperature thresholds are met or demand is detected, eliminating the need for external continuous operation while maintaining reliability
3Temperature
If multiple flow paths are implemented for heating and domestic water, then temperature control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the heating flow path and domestic water flow path through a single heat exchanger unit with integrated control. This consolidation maintains the temperature control benefits of separate paths while reducing overall system complexity through unified design and control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is designed as a multi-functional unit that handles both heating and domestic water functions within a single device. This universal design eliminates the need for separate dedicated systems while maintaining effective temperature control through its dual-purpose 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
This solution reduces energy waste by ensuring the heat exchanger only heats water to the required temperature and only uses the necessary volume of heating fluid, thus optimizing energy consumption and reducing unnecessary heating.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (5) with a primary flow path (1, 3) and a secondary flow path (4, 14) for heating the domestic fluid to a required temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relate to a fluid flow system comprising a domestic flow path connecting a tapping unit outlet to a supply of domestic fluid, where a heat exchanger has a secondary flow path connected at the domestic flow path, the tapping unit connected to the secondary side flow path outlet, and where flow setting means is adapted for a user to open and close a domestic flow regulating means connected to the domestic flow path, said flow system further includes a heating flow regulating means for adjusting the flow rate of a heat exchanging fluid through a primary side path of said heat exchanger, where said system comprises means to ensure said heating flow regulating means is only open when there is a flow through said domestic flow path. This ensures the heating fluid only flows when there is a demand for a heated tapped domestic fluid, thus not wasting not used heat transfer from the heat exchanging fluid flowing in the primary side when not required.