Water heating system and determination method of tank capacity in water heating system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid-type water heating systems face challenges in downsizing the tank and heat pump due to the need for a large capacity to supply hot water, especially in households with limited space, leading to increased heat pump output and installation difficulties in narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine the tank capacity by analyzing hot water usage patterns in a four-person household, setting lower and upper limits based on typical usage, allowing the tank to be downsized while ensuring sufficient hot water supply without inconvenience, using a hybrid system with a heat pump and burner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the tank capacity is reduced to downsize the water heating system, then the system becomes more compact and easier to install in narrow spaces, but the ability to supply sufficient hot water for bath water filling is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water heating system into two functional segments: a heat pump unit for heating water during low-demand periods and a burner-type water heater for rapid heating during high-demand periods. This segmentation allows the tank to be downsized while maintaining hot water supply capability through coordinated operation of both heating devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating action by using the heat pump to heat water in advance during periods when hot water demand is low. This pre-heated water is stored in the tank and can be quickly supplemented by the burner-type water heater when demand increases, allowing for a smaller tank capacity
2Reliability
If the heat pump output is increased to heat up 100L of hot water for bath water filling, then the hot water supply capability is improved, but the size of the heat pump increases making installation difficult in narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented between two devices: the heat pump handles baseline heating during low-demand periods, while the burner-type water heater handles peak-demand heating. This allows the heat pump to be downsized since it no longer needs to handle the entire hot water heating load alone
Solution Approach 2:
The burner-type water heater acts as an intermediary device that supplements the heat pump during high-demand periods. It provides rapid heating capacity without requiring the heat pump to be oversized, thus keeping the heat pump compact while ensuring sufficient hot water supply capability
3Volume of moving object
If the tank capacity is reduced below 100L, then the system becomes more compact, but the conventional system cannot supply sufficient hot water during high-demand periods without increasing heat pump output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hot water production function between two devices with different operational characteristics: the heat pump for steady-state heating and the burner-type water heater for rapid heating. This enables the system to maintain high productivity during peak demand while using a smaller tank capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the two heating devices based on demand conditions. The burner-type water heater is activated during high-demand periods to provide rapid heating, while the heat pump operates during low-demand periods. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows for reduced tank capacity while maintaining productivity
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 method enables compactification of the water heating system by setting appropriate tank and heat pump sizes, ensuring consistent hot water supply and reducing energy consumption, thus facilitating installation in space-constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
a tank (1) that retains water, a heat pump (2) that heats the water in the tank (1)
Implementation Method 2
a water heater (3) that heats supplied water by combustion heat of fuel gas
Data Source
AI summary
A water heating system includes a tank that retains water, a heat pump that heats the water in the tank, and a water heater that heats supplied water by combustion heat of fuel gas. In the water heating system, a tank use mode in which the water in the tank is mixed with tap water and supplied to a plurality of using locations including a bathtub, and a hot water supply use mode in which water supplied from the tank or tap water is heated by the water heater and then supplied to the plurality of using locations are executable. The tank use mode is executable at least in a predetermined second time slot, and a capacity of the tank is set to be equal to or more than a first reference capacity and equal to or less than a second reference capacity.