Water Heater Flow Prioritization for Domestic and Hydronic Use

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water heaters face challenges in efficiently managing the allocation of heated water between domestic and hydronic/auxiliary uses, often resulting in reduced availability of heated water for one purpose when used for another, leading to a need for a solution that prioritizes and controls the usage effectively.

Innovation Solution

A water heater system with a flow detection device and a flow control valve that detects water flow through a domestic-use outlet and controls the flow through a hydronic-use outlet, allowing for prioritization of domestic use by stopping or reducing hydronic heating when domestic water is in use, and increasing hydronic heating when domestic use is not required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heated water is provided for hydronic heating, then hydronic heating availability is improved, but heated water availability for domestic use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydronic heating availabilityVSAvoidheated water availability for domestic use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the flow control valve based on real-time detection of domestic water usage conditions. When domestic water usage is detected, the valve restricts hydronic heating flow; when no domestic usage is detected, the valve opens to allow hydronic heating flow. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making hydronic heating availability conditional on domestic water availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a flow detection device that provides feedback about domestic water usage conditions to the controller, which then adjusts the flow control valve accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically respond to changing conditions and allocate heated water appropriately between domestic and hydronic uses, resolving the availability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If heated water is provided for domestic use, then domestic use availability is improved, but heated water availability for hydronic heating deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheated water availability for domestic useVSAvoidhydronic heating availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the flow control valve based on real-time detection of domestic water usage conditions. When domestic water usage is detected, the valve restricts hydronic heating flow; when no domestic usage is detected, the valve opens to allow hydronic heating flow. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making hydronic heating availability conditional on domestic water availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a flow detection device that provides feedback about domestic water usage conditions to the controller, which then adjusts the flow control valve accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically respond to changing conditions and allocate heated water appropriately between domestic and hydronic uses, resolving the availability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If flow control valve restricts hydronic heating flow, then heated water availability for domestic use is improved, but hydronic heating performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheated water availability for domestic useVSAvoidhydronic heating performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by detecting domestic water usage conditions before hydronic heating performance degradation occurs. The flow control valve proactively restricts hydronic heating flow when domestic usage is detected, preventing the contradiction from manifesting rather than reacting after performance degradation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the flow control valve based on real-time detection of domestic water usage conditions. When domestic water usage is detected, the valve restricts hydronic heating flow; when no domestic usage is detected, the valve opens to allow hydronic heating flow. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making hydronic heating availability conditional on domestic water availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11598533B2Heated water availability control

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 RHEEM MFG CO

AI summary

A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.