Wait water collection system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers waste significant amounts of water while waiting for it to reach a desired temperature, and stagnant water accumulates in pipes, leading to inefficiencies and increased utility costs.
Innovation Solution
A wait water collection system that utilizes a thermal diverter, expansion vessel, and pressure sensors to capture and manage excess water, ensuring it is reused or drained efficiently without electrical power, using water pressure alone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is heated and stored in pipes for later use, then water availability is improved, but water waste increases due to wait water and stagnant water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful stagnant water from the pipe system using a drain gate mechanism. When water flow stops, the drain gate automatically opens to remove stagnant water from the pipe, preventing waste while maintaining system reliability for future water delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-heating water and storing it in the pipe before actual use. This ensures immediate water availability when needed, while the drain gate prevents the stored water from becoming wasteful stagnant water.
2Loss of substance
If a drainage system is added to remove stagnant water, then water waste is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain gate valve operates automatically based on water pressure conditions without requiring external control systems. When water flow stops and pressure drops, the valve self-activates to drain stagnant water, then self-closes when flow resumes, eliminating the need for complex electronic controls or manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles where water pressure itself controls the drain gate operation. The valve lever and seal mechanism utilize pressure differentials to automatically open for drainage and close for normal operation, avoiding the need for electrical actuators or complex mechanical systems.
3Extent of automation
If electrical power is used to control water management, then automation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The entire water management system operates autonomously using only water pressure and gravity. The drain gate valve, thermostatic diverter, and expansion vessel work together without electrical power, achieving automation through passive hydraulic and thermal mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electrical control systems with mechanical and thermal mechanisms. The thermostatic diverter uses temperature-sensitive wax to automatically redirect water, while the drain gate uses pressure-driven lever mechanisms, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or electronic controls.
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
Reduces water waste by collecting and reusing excess water, minimizing stagnant water accumulation, and optimizing water usage without additional energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal diverter to redirect water flow based on temperature differences
Implementation Method 2
an expansion vessel to store excess hot water under pressure
Implementation Method 3
pressure sensors to capture and manage excess water
Data Source
AI summary
The wait water collection system provided herein may be used to reducing the amount of water wasted while a shower, for example, warms up. The wait water collection system may include a hot water input carrying hot water to the system. The hot water may or may not be “hot” when delivered by the hot water input and may need to “warm up.” The wait water collection system may include a thermal diverter on a water line where the hot water travels, which may adjust based on whether the temperature of the hot water meets a temperature threshold. If the water does not meet the temperature threshold, then the hot water may be delivered to an expansion vessel. If the water meets or exceeds the temperature threshold, then the hot water may be delivered to a mixer valve for providing the water to a user.