Under sink water dispensing system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water dispensing systems require large and expensive ventilation systems to expel heated air, making them cumbersome and costly for generating instantaneous chilled water without elaborate setups, especially for household use.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained water dispensing system with a vapor compression system and thermoelectric module that includes a compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion device, along with thermally conducting plates, to efficiently transfer heat between storage tanks, allowing for chilled water dispensing without the need for external ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional heat transfer systems use large heat exchangers to reject heat to ambient air, then chilled water can be produced, but the system becomes large and requires expensive ventilation systems to expel heated air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat rejection function from the traditional air-based heat exchanger and relocates it to a liquid-based condenser. The heated liquid is pumped to the condenser where heat is transferred to ambient liquid (lake, river, ocean, or municipal wastewater), eliminating the need for large ventilation systems and air handling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate liquid medium as a mediator for heat transfer. Instead of directly rejecting heat to ambient air, the system uses a liquid carrier (lake water, river water, ocean water, or municipal wastewater) to absorb heat from the condenser, enabling efficient heat rejection without complex air handling equipment.
2Productivity
If conventional systems are designed to provide instantaneous chilled water, then cooling performance is improved, but the system becomes expensive and cumbersome for household installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from air-based heat rejection to liquid-based heat rejection, utilizing the third dimension of liquid flow paths. The condenser is designed to immerse heat exchange surfaces in liquid or utilize liquid flow through channels, enabling compact design with high heat transfer efficiency suitable for household installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heat transfer medium parameter from gas (air) to liquid, which has higher heat capacity and thermal conductivity. This parameter change enables smaller heat exchanger surfaces and more compact system design while maintaining instantaneous chilled water production capability.
3Power
If large heat exchangers are used to reject heat to ambient air, then heat transfer capacity is improved, but the system requires large space and expensive ventilation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using liquid flow instead of air flow for heat rejection. The liquid-based condenser utilizes pumped liquid circulation to achieve high heat transfer capacity in a compact volume, replacing the pneumatic air handling systems that require large spaces.
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
Enables the provision of chilled drinking water directly to a kitchen sink or faucet without requiring ventilation systems, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining efficient heat transfer and temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator being connected to the first storage tank in conductive thermal communication to remove heat from the first liquid volume
Implementation Method 2
the condenser being connected to the second storage tank in conductive thermal communication to transmit heat to the second liquid volume
Implementation Method 3
A vapor compression system may be provided and may include a compressor spaced apart from the first storage tank and the second storage tank to motivate a refrigerant along a cooling circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A water dispensing system includes a faucet, a sink basin mounted beneath the faucet downstream therefrom, a first storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a first liquid volume, a second storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a second liquid volume, and a vapor compression system including a compressor, an evaporator in fluid communication with the compressor, the evaporator being connected to the first storage tank in conductive thermal communication, a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser being connected to the second storage tank in conductive thermal communication, and an expansion device in fluid communication with the compressor.