Instantaneous Water Heater Pre-Heat Control for Short-Draw Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heating systems, particularly combi boilers and instantaneous water heaters, face challenges in efficiently managing hot water delivery and operations, including excessive energy usage, inadequate storage capacity, and unreliable temperature control, leading to suboptimal performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control system that includes multiple heat exchangers and temperature sensors to monitor and adjust water flow, initiate pre-heat operations, and manage energy usage, enabling efficient hot water delivery and backup operations, even in the event of temperature sensor failures or low water mass conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If instantaneous water heaters are used to provide longer sustained draws, then the ability to meet continuous hot water demand is improved, but the storage capacity to satisfy low- or short-draw demands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating actions by pre-heating a portion of the incoming cold water before it reaches the heat exchanger. This creates a buffer of warmer water that can satisfy short-draw demands without requiring the main heating system to activate, thus resolving the contradiction between sustained draw capability and storage capacity for short draws.
2Temperature
If pre-heat operation is initiated to charge the boiler to a higher storage temperature, then the hot water delivery temperature is improved, but the frequency of boiler operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial pre-heat action by heating only a portion of the water flow to a higher temperature than the final delivery temperature. This partial heating creates a thermal buffer that reduces the need for frequent full boiler operations, thus improving delivery temperature while reducing operation frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-heat operation is implemented as a periodic rather than continuous function. The system alternates between pre-heat mode and normal operation mode, allowing the thermal energy to accumulate and then be utilized during demand periods, thereby reducing overall boiler operation frequency while maintaining temperature quality.
3Speed
If low water mass is used in instantaneous hot water appliances to quickly provide higher flow demands, then the response time is improved, but the storage capacity for initial surges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats a portion of the incoming water before it enters the main heat exchanger. This creates a buffer of pre-heated water that can immediately satisfy initial surge demands without requiring the main heating system to ramp up, thus maintaining quick response time while providing storage capacity for initial surges.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple boilers are used to accommodate large variations in heat demand, then the ability to meet varying demands is improved, but the space required to accommodate multiple boiler tanks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a single boiler that can operate in multiple modes: standard heating mode, pre-heat mode, and recovery mode. This multi-functionality allows one boiler to adapt to large variations in heat demand without requiring multiple separate boiler tanks, thus achieving demand adaptability while minimizing space requirements.
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
This solution enhances the efficiency and reliability of hot water delivery, reduces energy consumption, and ensures continuous operation by dynamically adjusting to usage patterns and demands, improving the overall performance of water heating systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat exchanger configured to heat water
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are directed to water heater systems, including combi boilers and instantaneous water heaters, for initiating pre-heat and energy savings operations. Embodiments of the present invention can include at least one heat exchanger configured to heat water; and a control system in communication with the at least one heat exchanger. The control system can be configured to at least determine an expected flow demand for hot water; sense water temperature at one or more locations, including at a domestic hot water outlet; determine an end to the expected flow demand for hot water; upon receiving an indication to end the flow of hot water, initiate a recovery demand determination; and initiate a pre-heat operation based on the recovery demand determination.