EP2174066A2 - Systèmes et/ou procédés d'économie d'eau - Google Patents

Systèmes et/ou procédés d'économie d'eau

Info

Publication number
EP2174066A2
EP2174066A2 EP08762503A EP08762503A EP2174066A2 EP 2174066 A2 EP2174066 A2 EP 2174066A2 EP 08762503 A EP08762503 A EP 08762503A EP 08762503 A EP08762503 A EP 08762503A EP 2174066 A2 EP2174066 A2 EP 2174066A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
hot water
pump
line
hot
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Withdrawn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
EP08762503A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Anthony James Ward
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.)
Wardersaver Ltd
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
Publication of EP2174066A2 publication Critical patent/EP2174066A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • 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 water saving systems and/or methods.
  • circulation pump technology, which, as the name suggests, circulates the water around a predetermined hot water system, bringing all water in the system periodically into contact with heating means. Examples of this technology may be found in patent specification numbers US 493 6289 PETERSON and US 494 5942 LUND, and in the products of Bell and Gossett, amongst others.
  • Circulation pumping systems are, however, exceedingly energy inefficient. Continuous or even timed circulation systems have only an inductive relationship with the usage pattern of a given present. As such, they waste a lot of energy circulating water in order to keep it hot, when no water is being demanded at all. The energy that is wasted is the electricity used to power the pump and to keep the water heated. This is costly to the person paying for electricity bill, and more importantly is damaging to the environment, as waste is effectively traded for greater waste.
  • US 5105846 BRITT discloses means of removing a "slug" of cooled water from the hot water line, prior to the supply of hot water. This specification is problematic and possibly dangerous, because it prescribes that the cooled hot water be pumped into the cold water line.
  • Any system, method or apparatus for saving water should be easy to install and operate, and be cost effective. Ideally it should come in a single, relatively small container, be made of easily locatable parts and require a minimum number of connections.
  • the invention provides a water saving system comprising a pump operatively connected to a water line leading to a hot water outlet; means for detecting a demand of hot water at said hot water outlet; means for triggering the operation of said pump in response to the detection of said hot water demand; whereby said pump draws water in said water line towards a cold water storage tank such that the water line is purged; means for detecting the arrival of air at a point of said water line; means for switching off said pump in response to said arrival; said pump or an additional pump being operatively connected to said water line leading to a hot water outlet; and means for switching on said pump or an additional pump following said arrival in order to refill said water line with hot water; whereby hot water is delivered at said hot water outlet.
  • said means for detecting a demand for hot water incorporate a pressure switch.
  • said means for detecting a demand for hot water incorporate a flow meter.
  • said means for detecting the arrival of air incorporates a pressure switch.
  • said means for detecting the arrival of air incorporates a flow meter.
  • a thermostatic mixing valve is provided in association with said additional pump.
  • the invention provides a water saving system comprising: a pump operatively connected to a water line leading to a hot water outlet, which when energised pumps water from said water line; a controller for triggering the operation of said pump dependent on a predicted or sensed temperature level; characterised in that said system further incorporates a purge line which interconnects said water line and a cold water storage tank.
  • the header tank connected to the hot water line may open into the atmosphere, leading to a risk that the water becomes tainted with animal droppings and even carcasses.
  • the invention avoids the risks of introducing these undesirable foreign bodies into the cold water line, which is generally the line from which people drink.
  • the system is arranged in such a manner that said pump or an additional pump is operatively connected to a water line leading to a hot water outlet to deliver hot water to said hot water outlet following purging of said line.
  • embodiments with this feature have a means of ensuring that a purged line is replenished relatively quickly. The operator does not therefore have to wait for the hot water to flow from the tank at its usual speed - it is positively pumped to him. It also allows potential air locks to be overcome.
  • system further comprises means for permitting flow through said purge line from said hot water line only toward said cold water tank.
  • system further comprises means for detecting a demand for hot water.
  • system further comprises means for detecting the absence of cooled water in said water line.
  • said means for detecting the absence of cooled water in said water line is an air detector.
  • this refinement allows for precision in switching from purging to pumping, in that it enables the system to detect when all cooled water has been removed from the pipe, which is when the pipe is empty.
  • system further comprises a thermostat placed in said water line and means for interpreting said thermostatic signal, so that if the temperature of the water present in said water line is above a defined threshold, the system supplies water from the hot water tank in a known manner.
  • system further incorporates a timer placed in said water line and means for interpreting said timer signal, so that if the duration that water is present in said water line is below a defined threshold, the system supplies water from the hot water tank in a known manner.
  • the incorporation of the above feature ensures that the purging and pumping system does not operate when it is not needed - i.e. when the water is hot enough already. Here, it is predicted, rather than actual temperature which is relied upon. Such an operation is advantageous, not only because it stops any time delay which might occur between a demand signal and the provision of hot water precipitated by the employment of the system, but also because it saves energy.
  • the system further incorporates one or more manifolds into which a plurality of hot water lines run.
  • manifolds allows for the system to govern a multiplicity of lines - for example, the entire hot water system in a house or office.
  • the invention comprises a method of saving water comprising the steps of: detecting a demand for hot water from a water line; pumping water to the cold water tank; then when an absence of water is detected in said water line pumping water from the hot water tank in order to meet the demand.
  • Figure 1 is a two - part flow chart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a water saving system, with a pump in the first position.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a water saving system, with a pump in a second position.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of a water saving system, with a manifold.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of a water saving system.
  • Figure 6 shows a plan of a further embodiment of a water saving system.
  • Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is illustrative of the elements which may comprise a preferred embodiment or embodiments of the invention.
  • This system of figure 1 incorporates two separate pumps A and B. Pump B is considerably less powerful than pump A. Pump B is selected to be able to drive hot water to a tap and to overcome any obstacle such as an air bubble. Pump A is selected to be able to draw cooled hot water up to the cold water header tank and overcome cavitation problems which may arise in the suction process.
  • the system optionally incorporates one or more by-passes allowing the ordinary water distribution system to by- pass the system.
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a water saving system 10, with a pump 12 in the first position.
  • the water saver comprises a hot water tank such as hot water cylinder 14, connected to a hot water outlet 16, which in this case is a tap (or "faucet") by a water line 18.
  • the outlet need not be a tap - it could be a domestic appliance such as a clothes or dish-washer, or any known water demand source.
  • the hot water line 18 features gating means 124, temperature sensing means 110, which is a thermostat, temperature predicting means 112, which is a timer, a sensor for detecting air 114, a pump 12 and a demand sensor 116.
  • the pump 12 is bi-directional or incorporates two separate pumps and as such is placed of necessity at the junction between the hot water line 18 and the purge line 118.
  • a bi-directional pump is formed by providing means to reverse the polarity of the pump which may be part of the system controller.
  • the pump purges the existing hot water line or lines and draws the cooled hot water through a purge line to the cold water header tank.
  • the purge line 118 runs from the hot water line 18 to a cold water tank 120.
  • the cold water tank 120 is a header tank feeding the hot water tank 14 via a connecting line 122.
  • demand sensor 116 is alerted upon the opening of hot water outlet 16. All alerts, communications and signals are made and received using technology known to the skilled reader and appropriate to the task.
  • the demand sensor 116 is in communication with thermostat 1 10 and timer 112. If the thermostat 110 indicates that the temperature of the water already in line 18 is too low, or if the timer 112 indicates that the water has been in the line 18 for too long a time, and therefore is likely to be cold and/or stagnant, an actuation signal will be sent to the pump 12. Upon reception of this signal, the pump 12 is actuated, pumping in a purging direction 12a, that is so as to direct water down the purging line 118.
  • thermostat and timer conditions are satisfied - i.e. the water is of a sufficient temperature and has not been standing in the line 18 for a sufficiently long time, then the pump 12 will not be actuated and the water flow will proceed as normal.
  • the pump 12 removes the cooled water from the water line 18 and up the purge line to the cold water tank 120.
  • gating means 124 is employed.
  • the air detector 114 when the cooled water is removed from water line 18, the air detector 114 will sense this. It will communicate a signal to the pump 12 to stop pumping in a purging direction 12a and change configuration so that it pumps in a hot water supplying direction 12b, as shown at figure 3.
  • the demand sensor 116 has means to detect the reaching of water to the demand site 16. On detecting the flow of water, pumping will cease, and normal flow will proceed. In other embodiments, pumping may continue until demand ceases, which in this case would be indicated by the closing of the hot water outlet 16 and sensed by the demand sensor 16. In embodiments featuring a timer 112, as here, this lack of the demand will be communicated to it by the demand sensor 16 and will serve to reset it.
  • Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention. This version is available in a single box 32 for fitting into domestic or commercial premises. It has a manifold 34 in order that a multiplicity of demand sites may be served with fast, fresh and hot water.
  • the pump 12 may be a single pump. Alternatively it may be two pumps, one to perform the purging function and one to perform the hot water supplying function, governed by switching means to switch between the two pumps.
  • the relative sizes of the pumps and the calibre of their pumping ability may also vary.
  • the hot water line 18 is pressurised, it need only fulfil the purging function, and can simply let hot water run from the tank to the demand site, without having to pump it at speed.
  • the pump or pumps may be connected to energising means, such as a fuel cell, or mains electricity.
  • the cold water tank 120 to which the purge line 118 runs, need not be a hot water header tank. It could be the cold water tank of a water system. Filtration means (not shown) could ensure that the water is of a suitable purity before being introduced into the cold water system. These could advantageously be placed in the purge line 118, the cold water tank 120, or the cold water line itself, (not shown)
  • the air detector 114 can be any device for detecting the absence of water known to the man skilled in the art.
  • FIG. 5 shows the invention in a further broad independent aspect.
  • This version would be used in any system where a hand basin and toilet is fitted, such as in a cloakroom or a bathroom. It saves a cistern - full of water at each usage by replacing a toilet's mains cold water supply with cooled water lying in existing hot water lines.
  • a hot water line 52 supplies a hand basin 54 via a tap 56, although clearly the basin 54 and tap 56 combination could be any well known demand source.
  • a purge line 58 runs from the hot water line 52 to a toilet cistern 510, which has a stopcock 518, although this also may be any known demand source. This is also served by a cold water line 512.
  • a demand is satiated at hand basin 54. This leaves a quantity of water in the hot water line 52. When the hot water's temperature drops below a pre-defined level, this is made available to the toilet cistern 510. This availability will be facilitated by closure of a first thermostatically responsive valve 514 at the cold water line 512 and the opening of a second thermostatically responsive valve 516 at the hot water line 52.
  • the toilet cistern 510 communicates a demand to the system, the cooled hot water will flow from the hot water line 52 down the purge line 58 to the toilet cistern 510.
  • FIG. 6 shows a water saving system generally referenced 60. This kind of system may be boxed and fitted into existing systems with minimal modifications.
  • a pressure switch 64 in communication with the water lines reacts to fluctuations in pressure. For example, if a tap of water line 61 is opened, a pressure drop would be detected by pressure switch 64.
  • a controller is provided so that when a pressure drop is detected by pressure switch 64 as a consequence of the opening of a tap of water line 61, the controller would cause the suction pump 65 to draw cooled hot water present in the water line up through water line sections 66, 67 and 68 back to a header tank 69.
  • the controller following the detection of a drop of pressure corresponding to the opening of water line 61, would cause the pressure switch to close solenoid valve 70 and to open solenoid valve 71. Furthermore, the controller would cause the closure of electronic flow switch 72 and would open electronic flow switch 73. Thereby, the controller may instruct the operation of pump 65 in order to purge the cooled hot water back to the header tank.
  • the controller When pump A has fully purged the cooled hot water in the water line and air has replaced the water, the controller causes the electronic flow switch 73 to close.
  • the normally closed solenoid valve 71 switches off and the solenoid valve 64 is switched to its open configuration.
  • the controller organises the switching off of pump 65 and the switching on thereafter of pump 74 in order to send hot water direct from the hot water cylinder (or other appropriate source) via a thermostatic mixer valve 75 and the manifold 76 to the above mentioned opened hot water tap located on water line 61.
  • a hot supply 78 in communication with the hot water cylinder and a cold supply 79 in communication with the header tanks by a cold supply line 80.
  • a typical overflow/return/expansion pipe is provided between the cylinder and the header tank 69.
  • an S-flange 82 is fitted to the top of a hot water cylinder in order to ensure that hot water is drawn from the cylinder and not from the overflow/return/expansion pipe which extends from the cylinder to the header tank.
  • Filters 83 and 84 are provided.
  • a water meter 85 is provided to inform a user of the system of the amount of water saved by the system.
  • the invention envisages employing a flow meter or any other appropriate means of detecting flow.
  • Two on/off valves may be provided such as those referenced 86 and 87.
  • a gate valve 88 may be provided in the cold supply as indicated in the figure.
  • a separate part of the system may also allow for toilet cisterns to save several litres of water per usage by employing the system to replenish the cistern with the cooled hot water that is lying in an adjacent hot water pipe which would otherwise be wasted down the plughole of the basin when washing the user's hands.
  • the system may be readily retrofitted by installing a box housing each of the components discussed above with only external snap-on fittings to be connected to plumbing. There would therefore be applications for both new and old houses.
  • a water pump to lift cooled hot water 10 to 15 feet through hot water pipelines, and then put it up a further 10 to 15 feet.
  • This pump may be operated by a pressure switch activated when a hot water tap is opened.
  • Two flow meters i.e. one for each pump. These may be fitted "in-line” or incorporated within the two pumps. Wireless thermo-temperature sensors may also be fitted at appropriate locations.
  • the above pressure switch starts the suction pump when a first hot water tap is opened. The pump then purges the cooled hot water from that line.
  • the system may incorporate a control system which detects when all cooled hot water has been purged from the line (i.e. air has arrived at it). The system then stops the suction pump and starts the hot water returning pump to send only hot water to the line. The system may also sense when a second tap is opened whilst the hot water returning pump is already in use. In this mode of operation the pump is temporarily switched off for a few seconds in order to allow the suction pump to purge the cooled hot water lying in the pipeline to the second tap and then the hot water returning pump is instantly re-started.
  • a thermostatic mixing valve may be set at an appropriate temperature such as 47° Celsius in association with the hot water returning pump to eliminate scalding water being sent to hot water taps. This feature may be particularly attractive in installations employing so-called ACA boilers. • One or two manifolds may be used.
  • a header tank with a ball-cock may be needed where existing "flow-return” or “gas/electric instant water heaters” are fitted.
  • a ventilated toughened plastic box may be employed to house the main parts of the system.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système d'économie d'eau comprenant une pompe reliée de façon fonctionnelle à une conduite d'eau conduisant à une sortie d'eau chaude; des moyens pour détecter une demande en eau chaude au niveau de ladite sortie d'eau chaude; des moyens pour déclencher le fonctionnement de ladite pompe en réponse à la détection de ladite demande en eau chaude; grâce à quoi ladite pompe aspire de l'eau dans ladite conduite d'eau en direction d'un réservoir de stockage d'eau froide de telle sorte que la conduite d'eau est purgée; des moyens pour détecter l'arrivée d'air à un point de ladite conduite d'eau; des moyens pour arrêter ladite pompe en réponse à ladite arrivée; ladite pompe ou une pompe supplémentaire étant reliée de façon fonctionnelle à ladite conduite d'eau conduisant à une sortie d'eau chaude; et des moyens pour mettre en marche ladite pompe ou une pompe supplémentaire à la suite de ladite arrivée afin de remplir d'eau chaude ladite conduite d'eau; grâce à quoi de l'eau chaude est distribuée au niveau de ladite sortie d'eau chaude.
EP08762503A 2007-06-27 2008-06-26 Systèmes et/ou procédés d'économie d'eau Withdrawn EP2174066A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0712480A GB2441025B (en) 2007-06-27 2007-06-27 Water saving systems and/or methods
PCT/GB2008/002200 WO2009001093A2 (fr) 2007-06-27 2008-06-26 Systèmes et/ou procédés d'économie d'eau

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2174066A2 true EP2174066A2 (fr) 2010-04-14

Family

ID=38420814

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08762503A Withdrawn EP2174066A2 (fr) 2007-06-27 2008-06-26 Systèmes et/ou procédés d'économie d'eau

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2174066A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2441025B (fr)
WO (1) WO2009001093A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2946767A1 (fr) * 2009-06-10 2010-12-17 Marc Roccamatisi Melangeur instantane d'eau chaude

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5105846A (en) * 1991-03-18 1992-04-21 Britt Paul E Water conserving purge system for hot water lines
GB2290857B (en) * 1994-06-28 1998-03-04 Robin Twine Hot water control apparatus
US5564462A (en) * 1994-10-19 1996-10-15 Storch; Paul Water conservation delivery system using temperature-controlled by-pass circuit
US5829467A (en) * 1995-12-19 1998-11-03 Spicher; Vincent M. Residential hot water circulation system and associated method
US6032687A (en) * 1997-06-07 2000-03-07 Linn; Mark S. Water conservation system
US6164307A (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-12-26 Nibco Inc. Non-circulating, rapid, hot tap water apparatus and method
ITPN20010053A1 (it) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-10 Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodome Metodo per controllare la velocita' di rotazione del cesto di una lavatrice per la centrifugazione della biancheria.
US6962162B2 (en) * 2001-11-09 2005-11-08 Act, Inc. Method for operating a multi family/commercial plumbing system
GB2418725B (en) * 2004-08-11 2009-01-14 Derek Smith Liquid storage apparatus
GB0512051D0 (en) * 2005-06-14 2005-07-20 Sinclair Derick J Dual heat valve

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2009001093A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009001093A3 (fr) 2009-04-09
GB2441025A (en) 2008-02-20
WO2009001093A2 (fr) 2008-12-31
GB2441025B (en) 2010-01-06
GB0712480D0 (en) 2007-08-08

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