Water delivery system and method for making hot water available in a domestic hot water installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In domestic hot water delivery systems, the water in the hot water line cools down over time, leading to cold bursts when hot water is drawn, especially when the line is embedded under concrete, as existing recirculation methods are not effective with tankless heaters at low flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A tankless water delivery system with a circulatory pump having preset performance levels, where a low speed circulation maintains water temperature and a higher speed activates the tankless heater for reheating, controlled by temperature sensors and a control device to prevent cold bursts and optimize heating operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circulatory pump is used to recirculate hot water continuously, then hot water availability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to constant heating operation
Solution Approach 1:
The circulatory pump operates periodically rather than continuously, switching between active circulation mode and standby mode based on temperature thresholds. The control device monitors water temperature and activates the pump only when temperature drops below a threshold, thereby maintaining hot water availability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the circulatory pump based on temperature conditions. When water temperature is sufficient, the pump operates at low or zero flow rate; when temperature drops, the pump increases flow rate to trigger heating. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining hot water supply and minimizing energy use.
2Loss of time
If the circulatory pump operates at high flow rate to quickly reheat water, then response time is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulatory pump's flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on system needs. During reheating phases, the pump operates at high flow rate to quickly move water through the heater for rapid temperature recovery. During maintenance phases, the pump reduces to low or zero flow rate. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve fast response when necessary while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hot water line is embedded under concrete for installation stability, then structural stability is improved, but heat loss increases leading to cold bursts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating actions by circulating hot water through the line before cold bursts can occur. The temperature monitoring and periodic circulation ensure that water in the embedded line remains sufficiently heated, preemptively counteracting the heat loss caused by concrete embedding. This preliminary action maintains installation stability while compensating for thermal losses.
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
Ensures consistent hot water supply by maintaining minimal temperature variation in the hot water line and quick reheating, preventing cold bursts and optimizing energy use by controlling the tankless heater's operation based on flow rates and temperature thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
a circulatory pump arranged in the second portion of the hot water line, wherein the circulatory pump has a prefixed first performance level and a prefixed second performance level
Implementation Method 2
a tankless heater device for heating water
Implementation Method 3
controlled by temperature sensors and a control device to prevent cold bursts
Data Source
AI summary
A water delivery system is provided, comprising at least one faucet device with a cold water faucet part and a hot water faucet part, a cold water line to the at least one faucet device, a tankless heater device for heating water, a hot water line having a first portion running from an outlet of the tankless heater device to the at least one faucet device and having a second portion running from the at least one faucet device to an inlet of the tankless heater device, and a circulatory pump arranged in the second portion of the hot water line, wherein the circulatory pump has a prefixed first performance level and a prefixed second performance level, wherein the first performance level causes a finite water flow in the hot water line which is below an operation threshold value of the tankless heater device, and wherein the second performance level is higher than the first performance level and is above the operation threshold value of the tankless heater device.