Storage Water Heater With Auxiliary Heating and By-Pass Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage water heaters face issues with electrical resistance deterioration due to limescale formation, leading to inefficiency and high maintenance costs, and they often have large dimensions that do not meet market preferences for compact designs with low maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A storage water heater equipped with a main heater and auxiliary heaters, including a pre-heater and/or post-heater, along with a by-pass duct and adjustable diverter valve, to manage water flow and temperature stratification, allowing for efficient heating and reduced dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If electrical resistance heating elements are used in water, then heating function is achieved, but limescale formation causes deterioration and loss of efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from direct water contact by using a heat pump system with heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser) that transfer thermal energy to water without the heating elements being immersed in water, thereby preventing limescale formation and maintaining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as a mediator in the heat pump cycle, where water circulates through the evaporator and condenser to transfer heat, allowing the heating system to function without electrical resistance elements directly contacting the heated water
2Power
If heat pumps with heat exchangers and compressors are used, then heating efficiency is improved, but overall dimensions and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the evaporator and condenser heat exchangers inside the storage tank, with the evaporator positioned in the lower portion and the condenser in the upper portion, allowing the heating components to be nested within the tank volume rather than requiring separate external space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical dimensionality within the tank by positioning the evaporator in the lower portion and the condenser in the upper portion, arranging components along the vertical axis to minimize horizontal footprint and overall dimensions
3Power
If multiple heating elements are installed to ensure adequate heating capacity, then heating performance is improved, but device complexity and management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the water circulation system multi-functional by using the same circulation pump and duct system for both heat pump operation (circulating water through evaporator and condenser) and auxiliary heater operation (distributing heated water), eliminating the need for separate circulation systems for each heating mode
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heat pump system and auxiliary heating system into a single integrated water heater unit with shared components including the storage tank, circulation pump, and control system, reducing overall complexity and management requirements compared to separate systems
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 solution maintains temperature stratification, reduces maintenance needs, and achieves faster heating while minimizing overall dimensions, thus addressing the inefficiencies and size concerns of current water heaters.
Implementation Method 1
the pre-heater (4) heats the water introduced into the tank (10)
Implementation Method 2
the post-heater (5) heats the water supplied exiting from the tank (10)
Implementation Method 3
heat pumps... have significant overall dimensions due to the presence of heat exchangers (evaporator/condenser) which require certain heat exchange surfaces
Implementation Method 4
the by-pass duct (13) is capable of deviating the water flow entering the tank (10) so as to guide it in a zone of the tank (10) placed at a height higher than the outlet section (110) of the inlet duct (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Storage water heater (1) comprising at least a heating device, at least a storage tank (10) wherein water is stored and heated, at least a control and management unit capable of controlling said at least a heating device, at least a inlet duct (11) through which water may be introduced into said tank (10), at least a outlet duct 12 through which water may be sent/withdrawn from the said tank (10), characterised in that it comprises at least two heating devices, of which at least a main heating device (2) and at least a second (4) auxiliary heating device adapted to act as a pre-heater (4), and in that said water heater (1) comprises a by-pass duct (13) capable of deviating, entirely or partially, the water flow entering said tank (10) so as to guide and convey it in a zone of the said tank (10) placed at a height higher than the outlet section (110) of the said inlet duct (11).