EP0472276A2 - Hot loop water supply apparatus - Google Patents

Hot loop water supply apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0472276A2
EP0472276A2 EP91306042A EP91306042A EP0472276A2 EP 0472276 A2 EP0472276 A2 EP 0472276A2 EP 91306042 A EP91306042 A EP 91306042A EP 91306042 A EP91306042 A EP 91306042A EP 0472276 A2 EP0472276 A2 EP 0472276A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hot water
water
loop
hot
heating vessel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91306042A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0472276A3 (en
EP0472276B1 (en
Inventor
Frank Reid Stephen
George Derrick Braham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EA Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
EA Technology Ltd
Electricity Association Services Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=25640066&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0472276(A2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by EA Technology Ltd, Electricity Association Services Ltd filed Critical EA Technology Ltd
Publication of EP0472276A2 publication Critical patent/EP0472276A2/en
Publication of EP0472276A3 publication Critical patent/EP0472276A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0472276B1 publication Critical patent/EP0472276B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0073—Arrangements for preventing the occurrence or proliferation of microorganisms in the water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0078—Recirculation systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to hot loop water supply apparatus to provide hot water to hot water outlet taps.
  • the invention provides hot loop water supply apparatus including at least one hot water supply outlet tap and comprising a heating vessel; an electric heater to heat the water in said heating vessel; a pressurised cold water supply inlet to said heating vessel; a hot water outlet from near the top of said vessel; a hot water return inlet to return hot water to near the bottom of said heating vessel; a hot water loop interconnecting said hot water outlet and said hot water return inlet and arranged to feed hot water to the or each hot water supply outlet tap and recirculate hot water from said hot water outlet to said hot water return inlet; a thermostat in said heating vessel controlling said electric heater and set at a predetermined temperature to maintain the water in said heating vessel and said hot water loop at a pasteurisation temperature.
  • the water may be heated to between 45 o and 85 o C and preferably the water is heated to a temperature above the maximum viable temperature of legionella bacteria.
  • the or each said hot water supply outlet tap may comprise a single lever mixer tap set to limit the maximum proportion of hot water flow to cold water flow so as to limit the maximum temperature of mixed water from the tap.
  • the heating vessel 1 is provided with a hot water outlet 6 near the top, and a hot water return inlet 7 near the bottom and these are connected together by a hot water loop 9.
  • the heating vessel 1 is also provided with a drain cock 10 near the bottom to facilitate draining and flushing of the hot loop water supply system when necessary.
  • heating vessel 1 there is an electric heater 5, the element of which is sheathed in a dezincification resistant material such as Incalloy. Also within the heating vessel 1 is a thermostat 11 which is used to control the electric heater 5 and maintain the water within the heating vessel 1 at a constant preset temperature within the range 45 o to 85 o C: 85 o being the maximum temperature for compliance with British Standard Number 3456.
  • a pressurised cold water inlet 2 is connected to the top of the heating vessel 1, and provides a supply of cold water to replace the water drawn from the heating vessel 1 when hot water outlet taps 8 are opened.
  • the pressurised supply also provides the pressure to the system necessary to facilitate the flow of hot water out of the taps 8, when they are opened.
  • the entire loop 9 is kept hot and the system is designed so that the water throughout the loop is maintained above that which is fatal to water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria.
  • the loop 9 provides water at this temperature right up to the outlet taps 8 so that hot water is available substantially immediately the taps 8 are turned on. In this way the wastage of hot water is minimised.
  • the pipe of the loop 9 as well as the vessel 1 is well lagged.
  • the vessel 1 is provided with a jacket 3 having insulating material 4.
  • the pressurised cold water supply will replenish the heating vessel 1 via the pressurised cold water inlet 2.
  • the thermostat 11 within the heating vessel 1 will then cause the electric heater 5 to be switched on to keep the temperature of the water in the vessel 1 at the predetermined value.
  • the temperature 11 is set to control the electric heater 5 to maintain the water temperature at a temperature that is above the maximum viable temperature of water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria, there should be no localised areas within the heating vessel 1 which provide favourable conditions for growth of the bacteria. Thus the risks of infection by water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria within the water heater installation are greatly reduced
  • the hot water outlet taps 8 are integrated into single lever mixer taps provided also with cold water supplies (not shown). These mixer taps can be provided for hand wash basins for example and the taps are set such that the maximum temperature of mixed water from the mixer taps is restricted to below that at which scalding occurs. The risk of scalding is otherwise high due to the high temperature of the hot water necessary to prevent the growth of legionella bacteria.
  • connections 6 and 7 to the heater vessel 1 are shown in the diagram, any arrangement can be used that provides for hot water to flow out from near the top of the heating vessel and cooler water to be returned to near the bottom of the heating vessel 1.
  • the circulation of the water has been described hereinbefore as being facilitated by thermal syphoning.
  • This provides a simple system with no moving parts, but the heating vessel 1 must be provided either lower than or at a level with the hot water loop 9.
  • the heating vessel 1 can be provided at any elevation relative to the hot water loop 9 and a pump can be provided in the hot water loop 9 to provide the circulating force.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
  • Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Water, Waste Water Or Sewage (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)

Abstract

A hot loop water supply apparatus comprises a heating vessel (1), an electric heater (5) to heat the water in the heating vessel, a hot water outlet (6) from near the top of the vessel, a hot water return inlet (7) to return hot water to near the bottom of the heating vessel, a hot water loop (9) interconnecting the hot water outlet and the hot water return inlet and arranged to feed hot water to single lever mixer taps (8) provided around the loop and recirculate hot water from the hot water outlet to the hot water return inlet, a thermostat (11) in the heating vessel controlling the electric heater and set at a predetermined temperature to maintain the water in the heating vessel and the hot water loop at a pasteurisation temperature, which is preferably above the maximum viable temperature of legionella bacteria.

Description

  • This invention relates to hot loop water supply apparatus to provide hot water to hot water outlet taps.
  • When hot water is required from conventional hot water systems, once the tap is opened, it will usually take some time for hot water to reach the tap since the water in the pipe between the tap and the hot water storage vessel has cooled during non use. The time delay can be substantial when the length of pipe is long. This is wasteful of hot water and the pipe run from the storage vessel to the tap can be breeding ground for water-borne bacteria such as legionella. Thus it would be advantageous if the water in the pipes could be maintained at a pasteurisation temperature where pasteurisation is defined in this specification as being the heating of water to a temperature sufficient to kill water-borne pathogens.
  • The invention provides hot loop water supply apparatus including at least one hot water supply outlet tap and comprising a heating vessel; an electric heater to heat the water in said heating vessel; a pressurised cold water supply inlet to said heating vessel; a hot water outlet from near the top of said vessel; a hot water return inlet to return hot water to near the bottom of said heating vessel; a hot water loop interconnecting said hot water outlet and said hot water return inlet and arranged to feed hot water to the or each hot water supply outlet tap and recirculate hot water from said hot water outlet to said hot water return inlet; a thermostat in said heating vessel controlling said electric heater and set at a predetermined temperature to maintain the water in said heating vessel and said hot water loop at a pasteurisation temperature. The water may be heated to between 45o and 85oC and preferably the water is heated to a temperature above the maximum viable temperature of legionella bacteria.
  • In order to reduce the risk of a scalding injury due to the high temperature of the hot water, the or each said hot water supply outlet tap may comprise a single lever mixer tap set to limit the maximum proportion of hot water flow to cold water flow so as to limit the maximum temperature of mixed water from the tap.
  • This invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the drawing.
  • The heating vessel 1 is provided with a hot water outlet 6 near the top, and a hot water return inlet 7 near the bottom and these are connected together by a hot water loop 9. The heating vessel 1 is also provided with a drain cock 10 near the bottom to facilitate draining and flushing of the hot loop water supply system when necessary.
  • Within the heating vessel 1 there is an electric heater 5, the element of which is sheathed in a dezincification resistant material such as Incalloy. Also within the heating vessel 1 is a thermostat 11 which is used to control the electric heater 5 and maintain the water within the heating vessel 1 at a constant preset temperature within the range 45o to 85oC: 85o being the maximum temperature for compliance with British Standard Number 3456.
  • A pressurised cold water inlet 2 is connected to the top of the heating vessel 1, and provides a supply of cold water to replace the water drawn from the heating vessel 1 when hot water outlet taps 8 are opened. The pressurised supply also provides the pressure to the system necessary to facilitate the flow of hot water out of the taps 8, when they are opened.
  • When in use water is heated within the heating vessel 1 by the electric heater 5 under the control of the thermostat 11. As the water is heated within the heating vessel 1, the hotter water will tend to rise and thus exit from the heating vessel 1 via the hot water outlet 6. This water will be replaced within the heating vessel 1 by cooler water through the hot water return inlet 7 which has travelled through the hot water loop 9. This is the process of thermal syphoning.
  • As a result, the entire loop 9 is kept hot and the system is designed so that the water throughout the loop is maintained above that which is fatal to water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria. The loop 9 provides water at this temperature right up to the outlet taps 8 so that hot water is available substantially immediately the taps 8 are turned on. In this way the wastage of hot water is minimised. It will be understood that the pipe of the loop 9 as well as the vessel 1 is well lagged. The vessel 1 is provided with a jacket 3 having insulating material 4.
  • If any of the taps 8 are opened and hot water drawn from the system, then the pressurised cold water supply, will replenish the heating vessel 1 via the pressurised cold water inlet 2. The thermostat 11 within the heating vessel 1 will then cause the electric heater 5 to be switched on to keep the temperature of the water in the vessel 1 at the predetermined value.
  • Since the cold water is input into the heating vessel 1 near the top and cool water is input near the bottom via the hot water return input, then there is little stratification within the heating vessel 1 since the flow of water into and out of the tank will tend to mix the water. Therefore, if the temperature 11 is set to control the electric heater 5 to maintain the water temperature at a temperature that is above the maximum viable temperature of water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria, there should be no localised areas within the heating vessel 1 which provide favourable conditions for growth of the bacteria. Thus the risks of infection by water-borne pathogens such as the legionella bacteria within the water heater installation are greatly reduced
  • Preferably the hot water outlet taps 8 are integrated into single lever mixer taps provided also with cold water supplies (not shown). These mixer taps can be provided for hand wash basins for example and the taps are set such that the maximum temperature of mixed water from the mixer taps is restricted to below that at which scalding occurs. The risk of scalding is otherwise high due to the high temperature of the hot water necessary to prevent the growth of legionella bacteria.
  • In the diagram three hot water supply outlet taps 8 are shown. There may of course be any number of these taps according to the present invention.
  • Also, although two connections 6 and 7 to the heater vessel 1 are shown in the diagram, any arrangement can be used that provides for hot water to flow out from near the top of the heating vessel and cooler water to be returned to near the bottom of the heating vessel 1.
  • Further, the circulation of the water has been described hereinbefore as being facilitated by thermal syphoning. This provides a simple system with no moving parts, but the heating vessel 1 must be provided either lower than or at a level with the hot water loop 9. In another arrangement the heating vessel 1 can be provided at any elevation relative to the hot water loop 9 and a pump can be provided in the hot water loop 9 to provide the circulating force.

Claims (9)

  1. Hot loop water supply apparatus including at least one hot water supply outlet tap and comprising a heating vessel; an electric heater to heat the water in said heating vessel; a pressurised cold water supply inlet to said heating vessel; a hot water outlet from near the top of said vessel; a hot water return inlet to return hot water to near the bottom of said heating vessel; a hot water loop interconnecting said hot water outlet and said hot water return inlet and arranged to feed hot water to the or each hot water supply outlet tap and recirculate hot water from said hot water outlet to said hot water return inlet; a thermostat in said heating vessel controlling said electric heater and set at a predetermined temperature to maintain the water in said heating vessel and said hot water loop at a pasteurisation temperature.
  2. Hot water supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the temperature of the water in said heating vessel and said hot water loop is maintained between 45o and 85oC.
  3. Hot water supply apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the temperature of the water in said heating vessel and said hot water loop is maintained above the maximum viable temperature of legionella bacteria.
  4. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the or each said hot water supply outlet tap comprises a single lever mixer tap provided with separate cold water supply and set to limit the maximum proportion of hot water flow to cold water flow so as to limit the maximum temperature of mixed water from the taps.
  5. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any Claims 1 to 4 wherein said heating vessel is thermally insulated.
  6. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hot water loop is thermally insulated.
  7. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hot water is circulated through said hot water loop by thermal syphoning.
  8. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the hot water is circulated through said hot water loop by means of a pump.
  9. Hot loop water supply apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said heating vessel is provided with a drain cock to facilitate draining and flushing of the water in said heating vessel.
EP91306042A 1990-07-27 1991-07-03 Hot loop water supply apparatus Expired - Lifetime EP0472276B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9016547A GB2246421A (en) 1990-07-27 1990-07-27 Hot loop water supply apparatus
GB9016547 1990-07-27
AU82610/91A AU646281B2 (en) 1990-07-27 1991-08-21 Hot loop water supply apparatus

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0472276A2 true EP0472276A2 (en) 1992-02-26
EP0472276A3 EP0472276A3 (en) 1992-03-04
EP0472276B1 EP0472276B1 (en) 1993-08-25

Family

ID=25640066

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91306042A Expired - Lifetime EP0472276B1 (en) 1990-07-27 1991-07-03 Hot loop water supply apparatus

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0472276B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0599509A (en)
AU (1) AU646281B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2047987A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69100304T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2046015T3 (en)
GB (1) GB2246421A (en)
NZ (1) NZ239664A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1024796C2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-05-18 Kalsbeek Assen Holding B V A Device and method for pasteurizing water withdrawn from a storage container.
WO2007017185A1 (en) * 2005-08-04 2007-02-15 Airbus Deutschland Gmbh Device for providing a cooled or heated liquid onboard an aircraft
US20160107874A1 (en) * 2012-04-12 2016-04-21 Mtn Products, Inc. Liquid dispenser with ozonating, recirculating and improved temperature control functions
US20170326472A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2017-11-16 David McGhee Solvent Extraction Apparatus and Methods

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPM884494A0 (en) * 1994-10-17 1994-11-10 Birko Australia Pty. Ltd. Water heater
JPH10300191A (en) * 1997-04-21 1998-11-13 Noritz Corp Hot-water supplier provided with sterilizing function
SE512938C2 (en) * 1998-10-09 2000-06-12 L L Water Control Hb Method to prevent the occurrence and growth of disease-producing microorganisms, in particular Legionella bacteria, in water management systems
NL1027625C2 (en) * 2004-11-30 2006-05-31 Johannes Christianus Korstanje Water supply system adapted for killing pathogens, operating device and method for killing pathogens in a water supply system.

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2330963A1 (en) * 1975-11-04 1977-06-03 Saunier Duval Domestic hot water recycling system - has small capacity hot water tank with circuit pump automatically operated by temperature sensor
FR2486212A1 (en) * 1980-05-16 1982-01-08 Hebert Jean Paul Central heating system using off-peak electricity - stores water at high temp. for subsequent utilisation at lower temp. via stratification within water tank
DE3334103A1 (en) * 1983-09-21 1985-04-04 Deutsche Vortex GmbH, 4050 Mönchengladbach Hot water supply apparatus
DE3419304A1 (en) * 1984-05-24 1985-11-28 Spiro Research B.V., Helmond LINE PIPE FOR INSTALLATION PURPOSES
DE3542374A1 (en) * 1985-11-07 1987-05-21 Gerd Fehlings Water pipe for hot service water
US4620667A (en) * 1986-02-10 1986-11-04 Fluidmaster, Inc. Hot water heating system having minimum hot water use based on minimum water temperatures and time of heating
US4682581A (en) * 1986-02-13 1987-07-28 Karsten Laing Secondary circulation system
DE3723089A1 (en) * 1987-07-13 1989-01-26 Stiebel Eltron Gmbh & Co Kg Service-water tapping arrangement
DE3727442A1 (en) * 1987-08-17 1989-03-02 Gerhard Urban METHOD FOR PRODUCING HOT WATER AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD
GB2226388B (en) * 1988-12-21 1992-12-23 Ludwig Ludin Hot water distribution system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1024796C2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-05-18 Kalsbeek Assen Holding B V A Device and method for pasteurizing water withdrawn from a storage container.
WO2007017185A1 (en) * 2005-08-04 2007-02-15 Airbus Deutschland Gmbh Device for providing a cooled or heated liquid onboard an aircraft
US8011536B2 (en) 2005-08-04 2011-09-06 Airbus Deutschland Gmbh Device for providing a cooled or heated liquid onboard an aircraft
CN101238334B (en) * 2005-08-04 2012-06-27 空中客车德国运营有限责任公司 Device for providing a cooled or heated liquid onboard an aircraft
US20170326472A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2017-11-16 David McGhee Solvent Extraction Apparatus and Methods
US10835838B2 (en) * 2009-06-05 2020-11-17 Gene Pool Technologies, Inc. Solvent extraction apparatus and methods
US20160107874A1 (en) * 2012-04-12 2016-04-21 Mtn Products, Inc. Liquid dispenser with ozonating, recirculating and improved temperature control functions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU646281B2 (en) 1994-02-17
GB2246421A (en) 1992-01-29
EP0472276A3 (en) 1992-03-04
JPH0599509A (en) 1993-04-20
DE69100304T2 (en) 1993-12-23
ES2046015T3 (en) 1994-01-16
EP0472276B1 (en) 1993-08-25
DE69100304D1 (en) 1993-09-30
CA2047987A1 (en) 1992-01-28
NZ239664A (en) 1994-05-26
GB9016547D0 (en) 1990-09-12
AU8261091A (en) 1993-03-04

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