Water heater with generator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hot water heaters consume significant energy and require external power sources, leading to increased operational costs and inefficiencies, especially during power outages when hot water is lost.

Innovation Solution

A water heater system that harnesses the energy of moving water by using a turbine-driven generator to produce electricity, which is then used in a heat exchanger to heat water, eliminating the need for external energy sources and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a conventional water heater is used to heat water continuously, then hot water is always available, but energy consumption increases and operational costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehot water availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The water heater system uses itself to generate the energy it needs for operation. The turbine is driven by the water flow that passes through the system, and this same water flow is then heated by the heating element powered by the turbine-generated electricity. The system serves its own energy needs without external power input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the water flow serves dual purposes of driving the turbine for power generation and being heated by the heating element. The turbine, generator, and heat exchanger are merged into one system where the water flow is the common link between power generation and water heating functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Use of energy by moving object

If an instantaneous water heater is used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but a large amount of power is still required and electrical power connection is needed nearby

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidpower requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The instantaneous water heater generates its own power through the turbine driven by the water flow itself. This eliminates the need for external electrical power connections and reduces the power requirement from the grid to zero, as the system is self-powered by the kinetic energy of the water flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional electrical heating system with a hybrid system that uses mechanical energy conversion. Instead of directly converting electrical energy to heat, the system first converts the kinetic energy of water flow into mechanical rotation of the turbine, then into electrical energy, and finally into thermal energy. This mechanical intermediary allows the system to operate without external electrical power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a stored hot water system is used to ensure hot water availability, then hot water is always ready, but the system requires external energy sources and fails during power outages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehot water supply reliabilityVSAvoidexternal energy dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The water heater system generates its own power through the turbine driven by the water flow, eliminating dependency on external energy sources. This self-powered mechanism ensures continuous operation during power outages, as the system draws energy from the water flow itself rather than from the electrical grid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy source parameter from external electrical power to internal kinetic energy of water flow. By converting the kinetic energy parameter of the water flow into electrical energy through the turbine-generator system, the system achieves energy self-sufficiency and operational reliability during external power failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides a cost-effective and efficient method for generating heated water by leveraging kinetic energy from water flow, reducing energy consumption and ensuring continuous hot water supply without relying on external power.

Implementation Method 1

The generator is driven by a turbine that has a plurality of impellers, each of the impellers are impinged by a cool water flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbine: Turbine

Implementation Method 2

the turbine of the generator to generate electrical power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

The heat exchanger element may be a heating element that generates heat due to electrical resistance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 4

The inlet tubing is downstream of the impellers and travels into a heat exchanger section and is attached to and in fluid communication with a plurality of heat exchanger tubing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11585570B1Water heater with generator

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 GALLOWAY JESSE L

AI summary

Water heater with generator comprises a self-heating tankless water system comprising a length of tubing having a plurality of electrical heating cables secured about the piping. As cold water enters the system the flow of the water is diverted through an electrical generator which provides the electricity to heat the water.