Twisted Spiral Pipe Coil for Low-Temperature Water Heaters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heaters are inefficient in low-temperature heating systems, particularly in air source heat pumps, due to suboptimal heat exchange designs.
Innovation Solution
A water heater design featuring a spirally wound pipe coil with twisted pipes and separators, where the working agent inlet pierces the water tank bottom, enhancing heat exchange and allowing for easy pipe replacement, optimized for low-temperature heating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional pipe coil structure is used in water heaters, then the device complexity is low, but the heat exchange efficiency is insufficient for low-temperature heating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spiral curvature to the pipe coil structure, where the pipe is wound in a spiral pattern around the water tank rather than using conventional straight or simple coiled sections. This spiral configuration increases the heat exchange surface area and improves thermal efficiency by maintaining better contact with the tank wall across varying temperature gradients, directly addressing the insufficient heat exchange efficiency in low-temperature systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pipe coil into multiple independent sections that can be separately installed and adjusted. Each spiral section is designed as a modular unit with specific pitch and diameter parameters, allowing optimization of heat exchange in different zones of the water tank. This segmentation enables improved thermal performance without requiring complete redesign of the entire pipe system
2Loss of energy
If the pipe coil is tightly wound to maximize heat exchange area, then the heat exchange efficiency improves, but the pipes cannot be easily replaced when damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe coil is divided into discrete spiral sections that are independently supportable and replaceable. Each section is mounted on separate support structures within the water tank, allowing damaged sections to be accessed and replaced without disturbing the entire pipe coil assembly. This maintains tight winding for heat efficiency while enabling localized maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate support structures and connection elements that act as mediators between the tightly wound pipe sections and the tank wall. These intermediaries provide mechanical support and positioning, allowing the pipes to maintain close contact with the tank for efficient heat exchange while being decoupled enough to facilitate removal and replacement when needed
3Ease of manufacture
If the pipe coil structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the heat exchange performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral pipe configuration uses standard pipe bending techniques that can be manufactured using conventional equipment. The spiral geometry is achieved through controlled forming processes that are already established in pipe fabrication, avoiding the need for complex custom tooling while delivering superior heat exchange performance compared to straight or simple coiled sections
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 design intensifies heat exchange in low-temperature heating systems, particularly in air source heat pumps, by improving the structure of the pipe coil and using separators to maintain pipe distance and facilitate replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a pipe coil (5) wound spirally around the water tank (1) in the space (6) between the external jacket (4) and a wall of the water tank (1)... a working agent flows inside the pipes... intensifies heat exchange in low-temperature heating systems
Implementation Method 2
the pipe coil (5) is made up of at least two pipes twisted together spirally... the heat transfer performance is increased by promoting turbulence of water flowing
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A water heater containing a water tank featuring an external jacket and a pipe coil wound spirally around the water tank in the space between the said external jacket and a wall of the water tank. The water tank (1) is closed at the bottom with a bottom wall (2) fitted with an outlet stub pipe (3) for the heated water, and open, at least partially, at the top providing access to the space (6) between the water tank (1) and the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1). The pipe coil (5) is made up of at least two pipes twisted together spirally and wound around the said water tank (1), where the pipes feature collectors at their both ends, and where a working agent flows in countercurrent with respect to the heated water.