Water Heater Drainage Pipe Layout for Stable Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In water heaters using an exhaust suction and combustion system, drainage water tends to stay in the heat exchanger due to reverse airflow and bypass issues, leading to inefficient discharge and potential corrosion or flame extinguishment.
Innovation Solution
A water heater design with a pipe connection portion that merges the drainage water discharge pipe and air passage pipe, where the air passage pipe has a larger diameter than the drainage water discharge pipe, creating a stagnation region that suppresses airflow into the drainage water discharge pipe, facilitating drainage water discharge and reducing its likelihood of staying in the heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the exhaust tube diameter is decreased to fit in the existing exhaust pipe, then the exhaust tube can be installed in the existing exhaust pipe, but the combustion state becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drainage water discharge pipe and air passage pipe into a single integrated pipe structure. The air passage pipe has a larger diameter than the drainage water discharge pipe, creating a flow structure where air flows through the annular space between the two pipes. This merging allows the system to maintain stable combustion with a smaller effective exhaust diameter while still providing adequate air supply for the burners.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fan is arranged downstream of the latent heat recovery heat exchanger, then the exhaust suction and combustion system can be implemented, but drainage water stays in the heat exchanger due to reverse airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipe flow into distinct regions: the inner drainage water discharge pipe for water flow and the outer air passage pipe for air flow. This segmentation creates separate flow paths that prevent interference between drainage water and air currents, allowing the fan to be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger without causing drainage water to stagnate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different diameter qualities to different parts of the pipe structure. The air passage pipe has a larger diameter than the drainage water discharge pipe, creating a specific flow dynamic where air flows through the annular space. This local quality difference in diameter creates favorable flow conditions that prevent drainage water from staying in the heat exchanger while maintaining the exhaust suction system.
3Ease of operation
If a bypass is provided in the discharge path to reduce air flow rate during water-seal completion, then air intake can be controlled, but drainage water may flow into the bypass and cause further issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the flow control by creating an annular flow path between two concentric pipes. Instead of using a bypass that creates additional flow path complexity, the invention uses the radial dimension to separate air and drainage water flows. Air flows through the annular space while drainage water flows through the inner pipe, eliminating the risk of drainage water entering bypass paths.
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 effectively prevents drainage water from staying in the heat exchanger, ensuring efficient discharge and maintaining a stable combustion state, even with a smaller exhaust tube diameter.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (3), which serves to heat water, to be heated, which flows through the inside, through heat exchange with combustion gas produced in the burner (2)
Implementation Method 2
a fan (6), which serves to suction combustion gas, which has passed through the heat exchanger (3), and to emit combustion gas to the outside of the water heater (1)
Implementation Method 3
a water heater of a latent heat recovery type capable of heating water by recovering latent heat of combustion gas
Implementation Method 4
recovering latent heat of combustion gas
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage water discharge pipe is connected to a secondary heat exchanger for discharging drainage water to the outside of the secondary heat exchanger. An air passage pipe is connected to an exhaust box. A three-way pipe joint allows merging of a flow path on a side of the drainage water discharge pipe and a flow path on a side of the air passage pipe, and allows connection of the merged flow path to a drainage water tank connection pipe. In the three-way pipe joint, the flow path on the side of the air passage pipe is greater in diameter than the flow path on the side of the drainage water discharge pipe, and the flow path on the side of the drainage water tank connection pipe is decreased in diameter after merging of the drainage water discharge pipe and the air passage pipe.