EP3321594A1 - Water system with a flow heater and a rinsing station - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water system with a hot water pipe (3) for supplying at least a first consumer connected thereto (4, 4a, 4b) with warm water, and a flow heater (1) connected to the hot water pipe (3), in which introduced cold water is heated. If heated water remains in the flow heater, as only a portion of it is consumed, lime precipitation can reduce the performance and life of the flow heater. Lime precipitation occurs preferably with stagnant warm water. The present invention seeks to remedy this problem by providing a flushing station (2) connected to the hot water pipe (3), by means of which water standing in the hot water pipe can be drained in time sequence until the water contained in the throughflow heater (1) is below a predetermined target temperature is.

Description

The present invention relates to a water system with the preamble features of claim 1. A generic system is well known.

Such water systems, in which water flowing in a hot water line is heated via a flow heater, have long been known in the art. Such water systems may be installed in family homes or even large multi-housing buildings, administrative buildings, industrial buildings, hospitals and the like.

When hot water is withdrawn via a consumer, it is previously heated in the flow heater. Cold water flows into the flow heater via a supply line, is heated through its path through the flow heater and flows as warm water from the flow heater into the hot water line. As soon as warm water is no longer removed from the hot water pipe, the water that has just warmed up in the throughflow heater stagnates in it. Even if the flow heater is turned off immediately after removal, so that no more water is heated, it can not be prevented that very warm water in the flow heater stagnates. At high water temperature occurs especially in such standing water often lime precipitation, which reduces the performance and life of the flow heater and therefore undesirable.

Based on the problem described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water system that is less prone to the problem of lime precipitation.

To solve the problem, the present invention proposes a water system according to claim 1. This is characterized in particular by the fact that a rinsing station connected to the hot water pipe is provided, by means of which water standing in the hot water pipe can be drained in time sequence and which is configured such that, caused by removal of warm water from the water pipe via the consumer , the hot water pipe is flushed by means of the rinsing station until the water contained in the flow heater is below a predetermined target temperature.

The inventors of the present invention have found that, when coupling a flushing station to the flow heater, it may be purged, caused by the hot water extraction, until the temperature of the water in the flow heater falls below the predetermined set temperature, so that the Problem of precipitation of lime is prevented. Such a cause for purging can be given by the fact that it has been determined that a hot water withdrawal has been completed at a consumer, or an end of a hot water withdrawal at a consumer imminent. In any case, it can be decided by flushing a hot water, to decide whether a rinse is performed. It can e.g. be that flushing is carried out in connection with the removal, in particular once it has been determined that no more warm water is removed from the consumer.

Such rinsing stations in conjunction with water systems are well known. For example, such a rinse station in the European patent application EP 1 845 207 A1 described, whose design and the embodiment of the system described therein by this reference to the disclosure content of the present application is made. In the prior art, however, such rinsing stations are only used to reduce the risk of contamination by standing in the pipes water. Therefore, a forced flush is performed when the water in the corresponding pipe stagnates for a long time or only a little water was taken over a longer period. This flushing is controlled by a flushing plan, which is stored in a control device of the flushing station.

The inventors have found that the fastest possible cooling of the water in the heat exchanger is achieved by coupling a control device, by means of which the flow heater is controlled, with the rinsing station, in particular with its control device, so that the rinsing station contains a further function and always then a purge takes place when the removal of warm water is completed or it is determined that a termination of the withdrawal is expected in the near future and the risk of stagnation of the warm water in the flow heater occurs. Namely, when rinsing takes place, as soon as the consumption of warm water is stopped, cold water enters the hot water via a supply line of the flow heater and displaces the stagnant warm water there, so that a cooling takes place in the flow heater. Thus, lime precipitation in the flow heater can be effectively prevented. It is not necessary that a rinsing schedule for rinses with water stagnation be deposited in the rinsing station in order to prevent contamination. For the invention is enough it is that the rinsing station is controlled so that, as soon as a removal of hot water from the hot water line is completed via the consumer, is purged until the water contained in the flow heater is below the intended target temperature.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a control device for switching on or off of a heating operation of the flow heater can be provided, and the rinsing station can be configured such that when the control device switches off the heating operation of the flow heater, the hot water pipe is purged until that in the Flow heater contained water is below the specified setpoint temperature. In particular, a flushing through the flushing station takes place when the flow heater has been turned off. Because the flow heater is always turned off by the control device of the same when no more warm water is needed, d. H. a user closes the consumer and no hot water is removed from the hot water pipe more.

In order that no additional evaluation routine in the control device, which controls the rinsing station, must be deposited, can be used as a cause for a control of the rinsing the on or off of the flow heater.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rinsing station can be configured such that the hot water pipe is purged until the water contained in the flow heater is below a temperature of 40 ° C. Lime precipitation occurs in stagnant water, especially at water temperatures above 40 ° C instead. Such lime precipitation takes place all the more, the higher the temperature of the stagnant water. Since the water system is a hot water pipe, the water is often heated up to temperatures of 45 ° C to 75 ° C. The actual conditions for lime precipitation also depend on the hardness of the water. The harder the water, the lower the temperature at which lime precipitation takes place. It has been shown that preferably rinsing takes place until the temperature is at least below 40 ° C. Further preferred ranges may have the following limit temperatures: less than 60 ° C, less than 50 ° C, less than 35 ° C, from room temperature. By the above-described control for cooling the water in the flow heater to the aforementioned temperature, lime precipitation is effectively prevented.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, a temperature sensor assigned to the throughflow heater can be provided, via which the control unit measures the temperature. Based on the measured value, the control unit decides whether the predetermined setpoint temperature has been reached. In order to measure the temperature of the water contained in the flow heater, it is advantageous to provide a temperature sensor. This can for example be provided on the output side to a hot water outlet of the flow heater, which is connected to the hot water pipe. Such a temperature sensor can be any temperature sensing element. This temperature sensor is connected in terms of data to the control device and the measured data are evaluated in the control device to forward signals from there to the rinsing station, so that a forced flushing is performed in dependence on the temperature: the measured temperature falls below the predetermined temperature, closes the control device the rinse station again.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the control device can control the flow heater and the rinsing station. The controller may be formed of a combination of a first microcomputer and a first controller provided in the flow heater, respectively, and a second microcomputer and a second controller provided in the rinse station, respectively. Both control devices communicate with each other, wherein in the control device of the flow heater advantageously the relevant control routines are stored with which the flow heater is controlled. In the control device of the rinsing station, the control routines are advantageously stored, which control the rinsing station.

The control device of the flow heater is in this case coupled to the control unit of the rinsing station and instructs them to control the rinsing station according to the operation of the flow heater (to open or close). The connection can be made by means of a wired system or via a wireless network (WLAN). Alternatively, a common control module, which controls the flow heater and the rinse station as a module, may also be provided. Through the communication between the flow heater and rinsing station, the process control according to the invention is further improved.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rinsing station can be configured so that the hot water pipe is always flushed when after a predetermined period of time no or little water was removed from the hot water pipe. additionally to the flushing according to the invention, as soon as a removal of warm water from the water pipe is completed via the consumer, the rinsing station contain the already known in the prior art functionalities of a forced flushing from a hygiene point of view. In the rinsing station or in one or both of the control units can then be deposited a program for forced flushing, so that with little or no withdrawal of water over a period of time a forced flush takes place, so that a water exchange can take place to prevent bacterial contamination. A corresponding flushing is for example in the EP 1 845 207 whose disclosure content is incorporated by this reference in the present application. The described combination of forced flushing for sanitation and forced flushing for lime precipitation reasons provides a simple system which utilizes the elements already existing in the art, such as a flush station and a flow heater, and provides functionality that ensures operation of the system over a longer period is possible.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a flow meter may be provided, by means of which the control unit decides whether the hot water pipe is flushed. The flow meter is preferably to be provided in the hot water line in order to better determine to what extent a consumer consumes water or not. This flow meter may be coupled to the controller. This allows conclusions to be drawn as to whether or not water is consumed and whether water in the flow heater is stagnant. By providing the flow meter, the functionality of the system can be further improved.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, a cold water line for supplying at least one second consumer connected thereto with cold water can be provided in the water system and the rinsing station can be connected to the cold water line. In addition to the hot water pipe, a cold water pipe is often provided in such water systems in buildings, because often mixer valves are connected to this line, which mix the water from the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe to provide water at a comfortable temperature.

Even in such a cold water line there is the problem of poor hygiene with prolonged stagnation of the water. It is advantageous if the cold water line is also connected to the rinsing station. Such a rinsing station has in this case, for example have common housing, in which two valves are provided, via which the water from the corresponding cold water or hot water pipe can be discharged into the sewer system. In the simplest case can be seen as a rinsing an actuated, in particular motor-actuated valve. Thus, two such valves are provided in combination of cold and hot water pipe. The combination of a valve for the cold water pipe and a valve for the hot water pipe in a common rinsing station further reduces the components required to build a water system.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow heater can be formed by a plate heat exchanger having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit and provided between the circuits heat exchanger plate, wherein the fluid flowing in the primary circuit fluid heats the water flowing through the secondary circuit before it is supplied to the hot water pipe. Such a heat plate exchanger, for example, in the European patent application with the application number 16 170 441.6 and the German utility model with the registration file symbol 20 2015 003 756 whose disclosure content is to be included in the present application by the present reference. In a heat plate exchanger, a secondary fluid in the present case is heated via a primary fluid, for example warm water from a heater, the water to be heated, which is discharged into the hot water line and consumed by the consumer. The heat is transferred between the two fluids through the heat plate. Such a heat exchanger plate may have corrugated or otherwise deformed portions, so that such a plate does not have to form a completely flat surface. In particular, the plane in which the plate lies is to be understood as that plane in the space which contains the main surface sections of the plate which were not deformed during the provision process of the plate.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the primary circuit can be connected to a heating unit for heating a building and the Sekundärkreisauf can be part of a drinking or domestic water pipe of a building. If the primary circuit used is the fluid circuit of a heating unit of a building's heating system, it is easily possible to use the systems already existing in the building to heat the water.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the plate heat exchanger may be arranged such that the heat exchanger plate is arranged obliquely to the direction of gravity. If the plate heat exchanger is installed at an angle, in the secondary circuit stagnant water can be better mixed and lime precipitation is prevented. In particular, is formed by the inclination of the heat exchanger plate microcirculation between cold and hot water in the appropriate compartment, which leads to faster cooling and thus reduced lime precipitation. This obliquely set plate heat exchanger and advantages thereof are in the European patent application with the application number 16 170 441.6 and the German utility model with the registration file symbol 20 2015 003 756 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present application.

An angle of such an inclined plane can be between greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °. Preferred values are 9 ° to 50 °, 10 ° to 30 °, and especially 15 ° to 35 °.

According to one embodiment of the invention can be provided on the input side to the flow heater a Zuwasserleitung for supplying cold water and from the Zuwasserleitung the cold water line can go out. A particularly compact design of the system can be provided if the cold water line is connected directly to the Zuwasserleitung the Durchflußerwärmers.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the plate heat exchanger may be provided in a housing module, provided therewith connections for a heating inlet and a heating sequence, for connecting the primary circuit of the plate heat exchanger with the heating unit, a connection for the Zuwasserleitung, a connection for the hot water pipe and a connection for the cold water pipe. If such a housing module is provided, it may be integral with the corresponding terminals provided thereon at a transfer location, e.g. be installed at the entrance of the apartment or the building, for example, under plaster. Such a housing module may be, for example, a sheet metal or plastic box in which appropriate connections, the control device and the Druchflusswärmetauscher are provided.

Also, the rinsing station can be formed by such a module, which is then provided separately from the module of the plate heat exchanger. Alternatively, however, everything can also be integrated in one module and designed in the manner of a flush-mounting box.

Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Wassersystems;

Fig. 2

ein Beispiel eines als Plattenwärmetauscher ausgeführten Durchflusserwärmers, welches hilfreich zum Verständnis der vorliegenden Erfindung ist;

Fig. 3

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines Wassersystems der vorliegenden Erfindung;und

Fig. 4

ein Beispiel eines Spülventils, das in einer Spülstation enthalten ist, über welche eine Vielzahl von Stockwerk- und Steigrohrsträngen gespült wird.

In this shows

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a water system according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an example of a designed as a plate heat exchanger Durchflußwärmerers, which is helpful for understanding the present invention;

Fig. 3

A second embodiment of a water system of the present invention;

Fig. 4

an example of a purge valve contained in a purge station over which a plurality of storey and riser strands are purged.

In Fig. 1 an example of a water system according to the invention is shown. This contains a flow heater 1, a rinsing station 2 and a hot water pipe 3, which connects the flow heater 1 with the rinsing station 2. To the hot water pipe 3 are connected as a consumer 4 a washbasin faucet 4a and a shower fitting 4b.

To the hot water pipe 3 between the flow heater 1 and the rinsing station 2, any number of consumers 4, or even a consumer 4 may be connected. The hot water pipe 3 is in this case a floor of a floor apartment. The hot water line 3 can be any hot water line, for example a line or a line section in a water system of single-family homes or large buildings such as hospitals. The hot water pipe 3 may be a floor and / or riser pipe.

The hot water pipe 3 is connected to a hot water outlet 5 of the flow heater 1. Through a Zuwasserleitung 6, which is connected to a water inlet 7 of the flow heater 1, cold water flows into the flow heater 1, is heated in this and flows as warm water through the hot water outlet 5 in the hot water pipe 3. The hot water outlet 5 and the inlet 7 can be provided as a pipe section or connecting piece.

According to the embodiment Fig. 1 the corresponding connecting pieces for the hot water outlet 5 and the water inlet 7 are arranged parallel to each other in parallel, in order to establish a simple connection to the pipes.

The flow heater is in this case a so-called plate heat exchanger 1. In a plate heat exchanger 1 is a heat exchanger plate 8, which in the figures as Stroke is shown to transfer heat from a fluid flowing in a primary circuit to a fluid flowing in a Sekundärlcircuit. In the present case, the fluid flowing in the so-called secondary circuit is the water to be heated by the plate heat exchanger. The fluid flowing in the primary circuit is warm water flowing through a heating circuit of a heating system in the present example. This flowing in the primary circuit heating water is therefore not consumed and again and again recirculated and heated by a heating system, not shown. The water flowing in the secondary circuit is consumed. Thus, the conceptuality of the cycle in this regard is purely formal because it is not in the strict sense a cycle, since the water is consumed.

Such a plate heat exchanger is for example from the DE 20 2008 003 349 U1 , of the DE 10 2010 018 086 A1 and the European patent application with the application number 16 170 441.6 and the German utility model with the registration file symbol 20 2015 003 756 known. The plate heat exchangers described in these documents are incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

The plate heat exchanger is operated in countercurrent, that is, in the in Fig. 1 shown right upper side of the plate heat exchanger flows through the Zuwasserleitung 6 to be heated cold water is heated in this, while it flows substantially obliquely to the bottom left and flows out of the hot water outlet 5 again.

About one in Fig. 1 described heating flow inlet 9 flows from the in Fig. 1 Heated water, not shown, enters the throughflow heater 1 (see left lower side of the flow heater 1 in FIG Fig. 1 ), flows along the heat exchanger plate 8 in countercurrent flow through the heater 1 and is supplied in the upper right area of the flow heater 1 through the heating return outlet 10 of the heat exchanger 1 back to the heater.

The heating flow inlet 9 and the heating return outlet 10 may be provided as well as the hot water outlet 5 and the water inlet 7 as pipe sections or connecting pieces, all in particular with parallel alignment to each other, but side by side in the in Fig. 1 schematically illustrated heat exchanger housing module 11 are arranged. It is not necessary that the primary circuit is actually connected to a heating unit in a building, it may also be connected to a district heating or any other possible source of warm fluid.

The heat exchanger housing module 11 can, as in a second embodiment, which in Fig. 3 is shown and described later, be designed as a kind of flush mounting box, which is mounted, for example, at a (water) supply input of a dwelling and / or a building under plaster. By this configuration, a simple connection option is created. The heat exchanger housing module 11 may, as in Fig. 3 can be seen, designed as a kind of metal box, in which in addition to the flow heater and the individual connection piece and a control device 12 is provided for controlling the flow heater 1.

In addition to the control device 12 is in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in the heat exchanger housing module 11 on the output side of the flow heater 1, specifically at the hot water outlet 5, a temperature sensor 13 is provided. In addition, a flow sensor 14 is provided on the input side of the inlet 7. Both sensors 13, 14 are connected to the control device 12. By means of the flow sensor 14 is determined in the control device 12, whether the flow heater 1 is in operation, so whether water flows through it and is heated, or if the water stagnates in this, because no consumer 4 warm water is removed.

Such a flow sensor 14 may additionally also be provided in the primary circuit, for example at the heating flow inlet 9. The heat transfer is controlled in particular by the flow rate in the primary circuit, as in particular in the German utility model application DE 20 2015 103 940.9 is described, the disclosure of which is incorporated in this regard by this reference in the present application. Via the valve 15, which is provided in the present case at the heating return outlet 10, the flow rate is controlled by the primary circuit by means of the control unit 12. When this is completely closed, no water flows through the primary circuit and there is no further heating of water in the secondary circuit. Such control of the heat exchanger is also in the German utility model application DE 20 2015 103 940.9 whose disclosure content is incorporated by this reference in the present application.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the control device 12 of the flow heater is connected to a further control device 16 in the rinsing station 2 by means of a line indicated as a dotted line. The control device 12 of the flow heater 1, which is provided in the heat exchanger housing module 11, forms together with the another control device 16, which is provided in the Spülgehäusemodul 17 of the rinsing station 2, the control device of in Fig. 1 illustrated combined system.

The essential functions of the inventive control of the rinsing station 2 in accordance with a state of the flow heater 1, explained below, are described e.g. stored in the control device 12 of the flow heater 1, and the control device 16 of the rinse station 2 is controlled in a slave operation of this.

An example of a rinsing station 2 is, for example, in the European patent application EP 1 845 207 A1 described, whose disclosure content is integrated with regard to the rinsing station by this reference in the present application. The rinsing station 2 has a flushing valve 25 and can be formed in the simplest case of a controlled flushing valve. The purge valve 25 is over in Fig.1 Directed by dotted line line controlled by the controller 16 of the rinse station 2. In the open state, the flush valve 25 between the hot water pipe 3 and a waste water connection 17 is closed, so that no water can be drained through this. When the control device 16 of the rinsing station 2 opens the flushing valve 25, a flow causing a so-called flushing flow is generated in the hot water pipe 3, and the water of the hot water pipe 3 is fed, for example, via a sewage connection 26 into the public sewage network. The sewage port 26 may be of any configuration.

Rinsing via the rinsing station is described for example in the European patent application EP 1 845 207 A1 known system performed to reduce the risk of contamination, since in the absence of removal of water to the consumer, the water in the line stagnates. By flushing, ie actuation of the purge valve 25 in response to the use of consumers, the risk of such contamination is reduced. For this purpose, a predetermined rinsing plan can be stored in the control device 16 of the rinsing station 2. Alternatively, in the present example, the functions stored in the control device of the rinsing station 2 can also be stored in the control device 12 of the flow heater 1, since these two elements communicate with one another and together form a control device.

Conveniently, the new functions of the flow heater 1 provided by the present invention as well as other functions of the flow heater 1 as program codes in the control device 12 of Flow heater 1 deposited. The control parameters of the rinsing station 2 are expedient, for example in the control device 16 of the rinsing station 2, deposited.

The control device 12 of the flow heater 1, as soon as a condition is met or detected in the flow heater, that a purge is necessary to reduce the tendency to calcification, the control device 16 of the purge station 2, the purge valve open to 25.

The purge station 2, similar to the flow heater 1, which may be provided in a heat exchanger housing module 11, is provided in a purge station housing module 17, which may be formed as a flush mounting box as previously described for the heat exchanger housing module 11. This rinsing station housing module 17 may be provided as a separate element in the building. However, one can also combine the heat exchanger and the rinsing station in a common housing and this at the transfer point or the discharge point to the public water supply network, for. in the entrance / exit area.

In the present case, the rinsing station is connected downstream of an end portion 18 of the hot water pipe 3 and the consumers 4a, 4b. The rinsing station 2 can also be connected to any other arbitrary point or between the consumers 4a, 4b.

The present invention proposes, in particular, a combination of the rinsing station 2 with the flow heater 1 and a control of the rinsing station 2 by the control device 12 of the flow heater 1 in order to prevent, for example, lime settling in the secondary circuit.

In the present case, the flow heater 1 designed as a plate heat exchanger is installed in the heat exchanger housing module 11 in such a way that a plane in which the heat exchanger plate 8 lies is arranged obliquely to the direction of gravity. This inclination of the flow heater 1 allows a reduction in the risk of calcification. The advantages of skew are in the European patent application with the application number 16 170 441.6 and in the German utility model with the registration file symbol 20 2015 003 756 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present application.

At high water temperatures, the outgassing of CO _{2 takes place} , as a result of which the pH of the water rises and lime precipitation occurs. Especially at water temperatures of over 40 ° C, it can lead to unwanted calcium precipitation with stagnant water.

By the in Fig. 1 shown inclination of the flow heater 1 takes place a faster mixing with supplied cold water, which passes through the Zuwasserleitung 6 in the flow heater 1.

Because the cold water flows in on the Fig. 1 shown upper right side in the flow heater 1 and drops along the inclined heat exchanger plate 8 to the bottom left, which comes to a mixing with the output side warm water. This mixing leads to a cooling of standing in the flow heater 1 water, whereby the lime precipitation is reduced.

However, it has now been shown that this lime precipitation can not always be prevented by the gravitational mixing. Therefore, the present invention proposes, as soon as a removal of warm water from the water pipe is completed via the consumer, the hot water pipe 3 is purged until the water contained in the flow heater 1 is below a predetermined target temperature.

If e.g. the flow heater 1 is turned off via the control device 12, for example by closing the valve 15, because just no hot water is removed and no hot water is needed, a forced flushing can be performed on the rinsing station 2. Thus, the warm water is drawn from the primary circuit of the flow heater 1 via the rinsing station 2 and there is a cooling.

The rinsing station 2 may preferably be instructed by the control device 12 of the flow heater 1 to remain in the open state until the temperature is below the critical temperature for the lime precipitation. This is preferably a temperature of below 40 ° C. However, it is not necessary to choose the temperature below 40 ° C. It suffices for the present invention that the control device controls the flushing station 2 in such a way that the hot water pipe 3 is purged until the water contained in the throughflow heater 1 is below a predetermined desired temperature.

Thus, the present invention prevents or reduces the calcification in the flow heater 1.

It is also not necessarily the case that the rinsing station 2 is set so that forced flushing is carried out at stagnation because of the danger of germination. For the invention it is sufficient that at least one rinse is carried out to prevent or reduce the calcification.

In the embodiment Fig. 1 If no cold water line is shown, the consumers 4 are usually also connected to the cold water line. This is for example schematically in the second embodiment according to Fig. 3 the case. In the second embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the embodiment Fig. 1 designated. In the following, only the differences from the exemplary embodiment will become apparent Fig. 1 explained.

Instead of provided in the hot water pipe 3 consumers, (washbasin fitting 4a and the shower fitting 4b) is provided in the second embodiment, only a shower fitting 4b as a consumer.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 In addition, one of the Zuwasserleitung 6 outgoing cold water line 19 is shown, to which the same shower fitting 4b is connected, which is also connected to the hot water pipe 3.

At an end portion 20 of the cold water pipe 19, the rinsing station 2 is connected. Thus, this rinse station 2 contains two in Figure 3 Unrecognizable flushing valves 16, which can be operated separately and independently of the control device 16 of the rinsing station 2, to force-flush the cold water line 19 and the hot water line 20.

The cold water pipe 19 is connected to the water inlet 7 such that a cold water pipe outlet 21 are provided in the same way as the other connecting pieces arranged in parallel in the heat exchanger housing module 11, resulting in easier connectivity with pipe sections.

Both at the heating flow inlet 9 and at the heating return outlet 10, a further pipe section 20, 22 is connected, which ensures a closed circulation or only partially open valve 15 circulation in the circulation of the heater.

Thus, the pipe section 21 which is connected to the heating flow inlet 9 leads, for example, to heating ribs or heat-consuming elements and through the pipe section 22, the return flows from these heating ribs or heat-consuming elements.

The in Fig. 3 provided with reference numeral 13 temperature sensor is coupled to the controller 12 of the flow heater 1 and measures the temperature at the outlet of the flow heater in the primary circuit. This makes it easier to determine whether a predetermined temperature is reached after forced flushing.

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective side view of an exemplary plate heat exchanger 110 with an inlet 111 and an outlet 112 of a primary circuit 113, an inlet 114 and an outlet 115 of a secondary circuit 116 and as a dash-dot line indicated plate 117, which separates the two circuits 113, 116 from each other.

The plate 117 separates the interior of a designated by reference numeral 118 housing the plate heat exchanger 110 in two compartments 119, 120. The Gefach 119 is the flow area for the flowing fluid in the primary circuit. In the compartment 120, the fluid of the secondary circuit 116 flows through the housing 118. As can be seen, the inlet 111 of the primary circuit and the outlet 115 of the secondary circuit located at the bottom of the housing 118 near an edge which is defined by a front end of the housing 118. The outlet 112 of the primary circuit and the inlet 114 of the secondary circuit are located at the opposite end of a bottom surface of the housing 118. This bottom surface is defined by a sidewall 121 of the housing 118. The Gefach 119 for the primary circuit 113 is bounded on the upper side by an upper side wall 122 of the housing. This upper side wall 122 of the housing is provided at its upper end near the end face by two vent valves 123, 124. It is understood that a plurality of compartments of the type described above in the plate heat exchanger one above the other and alternately arranged. Only one Gefach was shown enlarged, in order to express the essence of the invention more clearly. The respective compartments communicate at the ends with the inlets 111, 114 and outlets 112, 115.

In Fig. 2 the horizontal is marked by a line H. The inclination of the housing, that is, the parallel walls 121, 122 relative to this horizontal H is marked with the angle α. In the present case α = 35 °. With a corresponding angle and the plate 117 is inclined relative to the horizontal H. At right angles to this is the G with the Gravity field of the earth drawn. The partition plate 117 has a surface normal N which is at the same angle α to the vector G of the earth's gravity field.

The Fig. 2 shows the installation situation with the connecting lines, which are provided with corresponding lines for hot drinking water (DHW), for cold drinking water (TWK), which is provided via the house connection (TWK HA), for heating water (Hzg.), where VL the flow and RL the Return indicates that are connected. The heating pipes with the further index Whg. Are connected to the apartment and are flow and return for the residential unit. The corresponding line strands are numbered by the reference numerals 201 to 207. A wiring harness 208 connects the inlet 114 of the secondary circuit for drinking water of the plate heat exchanger 110 with a branch, to which the lines 202 and 203 are also connected. The outlet of the secondary circuit 115 is connected to the line 201. The inlet of the primary circuit 111 is connected via a tee with the line 204 for the heating flow. The outlet 112 of the primary circuit communicates via the line 209 and a three-way valve with the line 205 for the heating return, which can also be connected via the three-way valve with the coming out of the apartment return line 207 of the heater. The lines 205 and 204 lead the heating water through a boiler, not shown, in which the heating water is heated.

Thus, the conceivable installation situation of the plate heat exchanger in the in Fig. 2 illustrated plate heat exchanger system exemplified. This installation situation corresponds to that in Fig. 3 illustrated situation of the second embodiment.

In the Fig. 2 Plotted flow arrows show the circulation due to free convection after switching off any flow due to forced convection, which leads to a rapid temperature compensation within the heat exchanger, due to the inclined orientation of the individual compartments 119, 120 bounding walls. The relatively high up, very cold fluid of the primary circuit 113 has a higher density than the underlying, slightly warmer fluid of the same circuit 113. The same applies to the located in the region of the inlet 114, relatively cold fluid of the secondary circuit 116 in relation to the Near the outlet 115 arranged fluid of the same circuit. Due to the higher density, the colder fluid has a greater tendency to sink. When descending it presses the relatively warm fluid of the same Gefaches 119 and 120 upwards. This results in a microcirculation due to the different densities, which only comes to a halt when the temperature within the compartment is essentially unified. Thus results in the solution according to the invention a faster temperature compensation and thus a lower calcification.

In Fig. 2 is entered at the height of the plate 117 whose length L and the width B in the form of direction vectors. In this case, the direction vector L indicates the direction of the greatest extension, that is to say the longitudinal extent, of the plate 117, and the vector B the direction of the extent of the plate in the second largest direction, that is to say the width direction. In the present case, the vectors L and B span a plane E to which the surface normal N is oriented orthogonally. In this case, the present flat plate 117 lies completely within this plane E and defines this plane E itself.

In Fig. 4 an example of a system of floor and riser strands is shown, at the ends of a purge valve 330 is connected. The purge valve 330 of the example Fig. 4 may be integrated in the rinsing station 2, not shown in this figure, or form this. This in Fig. 4 Example shown illustrates a drinking and service water installation on the example of a hotel or hospital. In this case, a plurality of riser strands 302.1, 302.2, 302.3, which are laid in the vertical direction, are provided, from which ring lines 310 leave in the individual floors.

Branch 314 and mouth 316 of the respective ring line 310 are provided on a unitary Ringleitungsspülarmatur 344, which is designed as a branch and connection fitting. By means of the Ringleitungsspülarmatur 344, the ring line can be flushed due to a prevailing in the riser pressure difference. Further details of in Fig. 4 shown system are in the European patent application EP 1 845 207 A1 whose disclosure content is incorporated by this reference in the present application.

For example, in the case of Fig. 4 illustrated system, caused by the removal of hot water, the rinse station 2, are controlled by the controller 12 of the flow heater 1, not shown in this example.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

water heaters 1 rinsing station 2 Hot water pipe 3 consumer 4 Basin Mixer 4a shower Faucets 4b Hot water output 5 Zuwasserleitung 6 Zuwassereingang 7 heat exchanger plate 8th Heating flow input 9 Heating return output 10 Heat exchanger housing module 11 Control device of the heat exchanger 12 temperature sensor 13 Flow Sensor 14 Valve 15 Control device of the rinsing station 16 Spülstationgehäusemodul 17 end 18 Kaltwasserabzweigung 19 end 20 pipe section 21, 22 flush valve 25, 330 Waste water connection 26 Plate heat exchanger 110 Inlet of the primary circuit 111 Outlet of the primary circuit 112 Primary circuit 113 Inlet of the secondary circuit 114 Outlet of the secondary circuit 115 Secondary circuit 116 plate 117 casing 118 partitions 119, 120 lower side wall of the housing 121 upper side wall of the housing 122 vent valves 123, 124 loop 310 junction 314 muzzle 316 Ringleitungsspülarmatur 344 Conductor strings 302.1, 302.2, 302.3

Claims (14)

Water system with a hot water pipe (3) for supplying at least a first consumer (4, 4a, 4b) connected to it with warm water, a flow heater (1) connected to the hot water pipe (3), in which cold water introduced therein can be heated,
characterized in that
a flushing station (2) connected to the hot water pipe (3) is provided, by means of which water standing in the hot water pipe (3) can be discharged in time sequence until the water contained in the throughflow heater (1) is below a predetermined desired temperature. Water system according to claim 1, characterized in that the rinsing station (2) is configured such that a removal of hot water from the hot water pipe (3) via the consumer (4, 4a, 4b) causes flushing of the hot water pipe (3). Water system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control device (12, 16) for switching on or off a heating operation of the flow heater (1) is provided and the rinsing station (2) is configured such that when the control device (12 ) switches off the heating operation of the flow heater (1), the hot water line (3) is purged until the water contained in the flow heater (1) is below the predetermined target temperature. Water system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rinsing station (2) is configured so that the hot water pipe (3) is purged until the water contained in the flow heater (1) below a temperature of 40 ° C. lies. Water system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the flow heater (1) associated with temperature sensor (13) is provided, via which the control unit (12, 16) measures the temperature and the control unit (12, 16) due to the with the temperature sensor (13) measured value decides whether the predetermined target temperature is reached. Water system according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the control device (12) controls the flow heater (1) and the rinsing station (2). Water system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rinsing station (2) is configured such that the hot water pipe (3) is always flushed if after a predetermined period of time no or little water was removed from the hot water pipe (3) , Water system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flow meter (14) is provided, by means of which the control unit (12, 16) decides whether the hot water pipe (3) is flushed. Water system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the water system, a cold water line (19) for supplying at least a second consumers connected thereto with cold water is provided and that the rinsing station (2) is connected to the cold water line (19). Water system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow heater (1) by a plate heat exchanger having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit and a provided between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit heat exchanger plate (8) is formed, wherein the fluid flowing in the primary circuit the heated by the secondary circuit running water before it is supplied to the hot water pipe (3). A water system according to claim 10, characterized in that the primary circuit is connected to a heating unit for heating a building and the secondary circuit is part of a drinking or service water pipe of a building. Water system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the plate heat exchanger is arranged such that the heat exchanger plate (8) is arranged obliquely to the direction of gravity. Water system according to at least one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that on the input side to the Druchlauferwärmer (1) a Zuwasserleitung (6) for supplying cold water to this is provided and that of the Zuwasserleitung (6) the cold water line (19) goes off. A water system according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the plate heat exchanger is provided in a housing module (11) with connections for a heating inlet (9) provided thereon and a heating outlet (10) for connecting the primary circuit of the plate heat exchanger to the heating unit a connection (7) for the supply line (6), a connection (5) for the hot water line (3) and a connection for the cold water line (19).

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