EP0809079A1 - Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe - Google Patents

Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0809079A1
EP0809079A1 EP96303555A EP96303555A EP0809079A1 EP 0809079 A1 EP0809079 A1 EP 0809079A1 EP 96303555 A EP96303555 A EP 96303555A EP 96303555 A EP96303555 A EP 96303555A EP 0809079 A1 EP0809079 A1 EP 0809079A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
cold water
hot water
check valve
aspirator
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96303555A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Raymond G. Ziehm
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP96303555A priority Critical patent/EP0809079A1/de
Publication of EP0809079A1 publication Critical patent/EP0809079A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • F24D17/0078—Recirculation systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to quickly providing and maintaining hot water to remote faucets in residential and small commercial buildings.
  • Auxiliary heaters as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,236,548 to Howard, 2 December, 1980 can be used to provide instant hot water to remote outlets, however the cost of initial procurement and installation is a significant drawback. They require connection to gas (and necessary vent stack) or electricity for their energy source. Operational costs will also be incurred. Heaters made for installation under the counter are designed to serve extremely hot water (approximately 80 to 85 degrees C.) for direct use in coffee, tea or soups without further heating. These heaters usually contain only a small volume of hot water (3 to 5 litres), and constitute a potential safety hazard due to their extreme temperature.
  • the recently patented Dual Mode Hot Water Circulation Apparatus uses a cold water heat exchanger to induce a low rate convective circulation flow, plus an aspirator to supplement the convective flow with a higher rate circulation flow in response to water use in the building.
  • This system yields excellent results, with hot water immediately available at any time, day or night.
  • the length of the heat exchanger requires a space l to 1.5 meters long at an angle to the horizontal where the unit can be installed in the water supply pipe. This space may not always be available.
  • the Dual Mode Hot Water Circulation Apparatus performs extremely well, material and manufacturing costs for it will be higher than for the present invention.
  • the object of this invention is to provide instantly available hot water to remote faucets in residential or small commercial buildings. Additional objects and advantages of the present invention are as follows:
  • a water circulation unit consists of an aspirator and a check valve in a housing (body), and fittings for installation into the building cold water pipe and connection to a small water return line.
  • the water circulation unit 21 is installed in the building water supply pipe 22 downstream of the takeoff 23 for outside water outlets and lawn sprinkler systems.
  • the water return line 24 leads from a tee 25 installed in the hot water pipe 26 (insulated for best performance) at the remote faucet 27, to a fitting on the circulation unit.
  • the unit is capable of withstanding domestic water supply pressures.
  • the water return line 24 is a small tube, nominally 1.0 cm outside diameter, of a length determined by each installation. It will typically be installed with flare or compression fittings.
  • the body 29 is a cylindrical or similar shaped structure constructed of non-corrosive metal or plastic compatible with use in potable water systems, and may be cast, machined, or injection molded.
  • the aspirator 30 and check valve 31 are integral to the body 29, each having a separate bore.
  • the unit has inlet and outlet pipe nipples 32 and 33 respectively, compatible with installation in the cold water pipe in most domestic or small commercial buildings according to standard plumbing practices.
  • An internal passageway 34 leads from the outlet end of the check valve bore 35 to the aspirator bore 36. This passageway is closed from the exterior by a plug 37 installed in the body 29.
  • the following elements are located in or attached to the body 29:
  • the unit establishes a hot water circulation flow any time that a faucet is open and water is flowing in the building.
  • the circulation flow is caused by the aspirator 30 located internal to the circulation unit 21.
  • the reduced cross section of the aspirator nozzle 38 causes a high velocity in the water passing through the nozzle.
  • the high velocity water reduces the pressure in the low pressure chamber 39 of the aspirator bore 36.
  • the opening of the internal passageway 34 into the aspirator bore 36 is located in this chamber.
  • the low pressure causes water to be drawn through the return line 24, through the check valve 31, and into the main stream flowing to the water heater 40. This water is replaced by water from the heater 40 flowing through the hot water pipe 26 to the tee 25 at the remote faucet 27, thereby establishing the circulation loop, and providing hot water to the remote faucet.
  • the unit produces a circulation flow rate sufficient to quickly provide hot water at the remote faucet with the use of a relatively small return line that makes for simple installation.
  • the unit will maintain hot water at the remote faucet whenever there is normal frequency of water use in the building. With the return line tee installed on the most remote faucet on any hot water branch, the system will service all faucets on that branch. It is possible to install multiple units in series in the cold water supply pipe with their respective return pipes connected near the remotest faucet of multiple hot water branches. Tests conducted with the unit installed in a typical residential water system have revealed no objectionable reduction in flow capacity or other undesirable effects.
  • the unit is self regulating since aspirator-induced circulation flow occurs only when water is being used in the building, thereby conserving heat when hot water is not required.
  • the aspirator water circulation unit Upon opening the remote faucet, heater temperature water is quickly available since the water pipe is already heated, and heater temperature water has progressed part of the distance due to the return line flow resulting from other water use in the building. Test results have shown that following periods of no water use in the building, the aspirator water circulation unit will reduce the time required to bring useful hot water to the remote faucet by approximately 80 % from the as-built water system configuration. The unit is noiseless, except for a minor click as the check valve closes when the remote water faucet is opened.
  • This invention provides a passive, self-regulating water circulation apparatus, that will circulate water from the heater, to the remote faucet, through a small return circulation line and the circulation unit, and back to the heater, for the purpose of keeping hot water at remote faucets when water use in the building signals a potential need for hot water.
  • the circulation is induced by an aspirator installed in the water supply line to the building water heater and cold water outlets.
  • the aspirator operates at any time that water is being used in the building, and replenishes the hot water in the pipe leading to the remote faucets.
  • the unit also includes a neutral buoyancy check valve to prevent reverse flow in the water return line. It is primarily intended for use in residential and/or small commercial buildings.
  • the aspirator water circulation unit offers the following unique and novel features:

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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)
  • Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
EP96303555A 1996-05-20 1996-05-20 Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe Withdrawn EP0809079A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96303555A EP0809079A1 (de) 1996-05-20 1996-05-20 Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96303555A EP0809079A1 (de) 1996-05-20 1996-05-20 Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0809079A1 true EP0809079A1 (de) 1997-11-26

Family

ID=8224943

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96303555A Withdrawn EP0809079A1 (de) 1996-05-20 1996-05-20 Wasserumwälzanlage mit Wasserstrahlpumpe

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0809079A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1887150B1 (de) 2006-04-13 2016-09-14 Gebr. Kemper GmbH + Co. KG Metallwerke Trink- und Brauchwassersystem sowie Verfahren zum Betrieb eines solchen Systems

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2605994A1 (de) * 1976-02-14 1977-08-25 Baelz Gmbh Helmut Warmwasserbereitungsanlage
US4197446A (en) * 1976-06-29 1980-04-08 Energal Limited Energy-saving device for domestic water heaters
DE9407915U1 (de) * 1993-05-13 1994-06-23 Joh. Vaillant Gmbh U. Co, 42859 Remscheid Brauchwasserbereiter
US5331996A (en) * 1993-10-08 1994-07-26 Ziehm Raymond G Dual mode hot water circulation apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2605994A1 (de) * 1976-02-14 1977-08-25 Baelz Gmbh Helmut Warmwasserbereitungsanlage
US4197446A (en) * 1976-06-29 1980-04-08 Energal Limited Energy-saving device for domestic water heaters
DE9407915U1 (de) * 1993-05-13 1994-06-23 Joh. Vaillant Gmbh U. Co, 42859 Remscheid Brauchwasserbereiter
US5331996A (en) * 1993-10-08 1994-07-26 Ziehm Raymond G Dual mode hot water circulation apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1887150B1 (de) 2006-04-13 2016-09-14 Gebr. Kemper GmbH + Co. KG Metallwerke Trink- und Brauchwassersystem sowie Verfahren zum Betrieb eines solchen Systems

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