EP3598009A1 - Water distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

A water distribution for a building comprises a circulation line (1) for drinking water, a water distributor (11) for a part of the building and a supply line (4) branching off from the circulation line (1) in a connection area, which connects the circulation line (1) with the water distributor (11 ) connects. A heat conduction device (40) which is independent of the supply line (4) runs between the circulation line (1) or the connection area and the water distributor (11) in order to conduct heat. The heat-conducting device (40) is advantageously designed as a heat pipe. By keeping the water distributor (11) warm or cold, the temperature in the water distributor (11) can be kept in a desired range. In terms of time, there are also lower temperature fluctuations in the water distributor (11), which in particular also reduces fluctuations in the water temperature at the reference points.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a water distribution for a building with a circulation line for drinking water, a water distributor for a part of the building and a supply line branching off from the circulation line in a connection area, which connects the circulation line to the water distributor.

State of the art

With a central hot water supply system, the domestic hot water is heated at one point in the building, from where it reaches the consumers via a common pipeline network. The heating system usually provides water with a temperature of approx. 60 ° C. So that the water inside the pipes does not cool down too far to the consumer, they are insulated. If hot water is not required for a longer period of time, it will cool down anyway. Especially with large distances between the heating system and the consumer, it then takes a long time for the pipes to be flushed and for the consumer to have hot water. For this reason, in multi-storey buildings, the pipe network is often equipped with a circulation pipe with flow and return. Branch from the circulation line, e.g. B. on floors, supply lines leading to hot water distributors. With these in turn, the reference locations, for. B. the taps connected. The supply lines have no circulation.

The distance between the branch point on the circulation line and the hot water distributor of the building part or the floor is often approx. 1 - 3 m, but in some cases also 3 - 5 m or even more. Since the hot water does not circulate in the corresponding supply line, the temperature of the hot water continuously decreases from the circulation line to the hot water distributor, despite convective flows in the supply line. With energy-efficient hot water provision using a heat pump, the water temperature in the circulation line is approx. 60 ° C. The temperature in the hot water distributor can drop significantly below 50 ° C, especially after long dispensing breaks. This leads to hygiene problems and the water temperature at the reference locations can be too low for certain uses. There is also a delay in hot water supply because the relatively cool water in the supply line and in the hot water distributor must first flow out.

The distribution of cold water can also be carried out analogously, but circulation is often omitted here. With the cold water pipe with circulation there are effects with of different signs: The cold water cannot be obtained at the originally provided temperature, but is partially preheated due to the higher temperature in the vicinity of the supply line and the water distributor.

Solutions have already been proposed to address these problems, particularly with regard to hot water distribution. In this way, the circulation line can be routed to the hot water distributor. However, this requires considerable space, is structurally complex, correspondingly expensive and leads to pressure losses.

The electrical heating of the hot water distributor or the supply line is also known, in particular by means of so-called heating tapes. However, this requires a power supply line, entails increased installation costs and increases the total energy requirement.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a water distribution belonging to the technical field mentioned at the outset, which is easy to install and energy-efficient and avoids excessive cooling or heating of the water in the sections branching off from the circulation line.

The solution to the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the water distribution comprises a heat conduction device, which is independent of the supply line, for conducting heat between the circulation line or the connection area and the water distributor. Depending on whether the temperature of the water distributor is lower or higher than the temperature of the circulation line, heat is transported from the circulation line to the water distributor (for hot water) or from the water distributor to the circulation line (for cold water). As a result, the heat transport between the circulation line and the water distributor, which otherwise only takes place through convective flows in the supply line, is considerably supported.

With regard to the heat conduction device, "independent of the supply line" means that in addition to the supply line (in which heat conduction also takes place due to the temperature differences present), an additional heat conductor is present, which is independent of the water-carrying element of the supply line (e.g. a pipe or a hose) and of the medium carried in the supply line. The heat conducting device can be mechanically coupled to the supply line, and a certain thermal exchange is also possible.

The connection area comprises the fitting with which the supply line is coupled to the circulation line and the immediately adjacent area of the supply line. It is crucial for the invention that the heat conduction device is coupled in a region which has a temperature which essentially corresponds to the local temperature in the circulation line, preferably the temperature at the coupling point of the heat conduction device should be at most 4 ° C. in particular a maximum of 2 ° C, lower or a maximum of 4 ° C, in particular a maximum of 2 ° C, higher than in the circulation line when connecting the supply line.

Water distributors generally have a relatively large mass, so that keeping them warm or keeping them cold has a significant influence on the temperature profile in the line sections between the circulation line and the reference points. With the help of the heat conduction device, the power loss that occurs between the circulation line and the water distributor is fed back (hot water) or discharged (cold water), so that the temperature in the water distributor can be kept in a desired range. Generally there is a much flatter temperature curve between the circulation line and the water distributor. In terms of time, there are also lower temperature fluctuations in the water distributor, which in particular also reduces fluctuations in the water temperature at the reference points.

The solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous in connection with the hot water supply. In this case, the circulation pipe transports hot water and the heat conduction device conducts heat from the circulation line or the connection area to the water distributor.

Tests have shown that with a feed temperature of 60 ° C in the supply line to the water distributor and in the supply line between the circulation line and the water distributor, a temperature of at least 50 ° C can be reliably maintained. If hot water is heated in an energy-efficient manner with a heat pump that has a coefficient of performance (COP) of approx. 4, this results in a power saving of approx. 75% compared to direct electrical heating of the water distributor. Calculations have shown that compared to a solution with heating tapes, up to 90 kWh of electrical energy can be saved per floor and year.

A temperature of at least 50 ° C is of great advantage because Legionella bacteria found in drinking water multiply particularly well at temperatures between 25 ° C and 45 ° C, while at least 50 ° C no longer occurs and the bacteria from 55 ° C can be killed.

Alternatively or additionally, the solution can also be used to keep a cold water distributor cold. In this case, the circulation line transports cold water and the heat conduction device conducts heat from the water distributor or the connection area to the circulation line. If both a circulating cold and a circulating hot water supply are available, heat-conducting devices for cooling the cold water distributor and for heating the hot water distributor can be present in parallel. If a combined cold / hot water distributor is available, the hot water section can be heated and the cold water section cooled accordingly.

In this case and also in the one-sided application for cold or hot water distribution, it is advantageous if a combined water distributor, which is designed for the distribution of both hot water and cold water, comprises a housing which isolates between a hot water part and a cold water part having. This minimizes the heat transfer between the (optionally tempered) hot water part and (optionally tempered) cold water part.

In a preferred embodiment of the water distribution there is a circulation line for hot water, but not one for cold water. The heat conduction device is arranged between the circulation line and the hot water part of the water distributor in order to temper it and to minimize the temperature drop in the hot water supply between the circulation line and the water distributor. The cold water part of the water distributor, which is supplied directly from a cold water pipe, is thermally insulated from the hot water section.

In all cases, it is advantageous to insulate the water distributor or the temperature-controlled part or the temperature-controlled parts of the water distributor from the outside in order to minimize heat losses or undesired heat input.

The heat conducting device advantageously comprises a heat pipe. It is an elongated tubular structure with a hermetically sealed interior, in which a certain amount of a working medium is contained. The pressure inside the heat pipe is typically lower than the ambient pressure and adapted to the working temperature of the specific heat pipe. Areas for heat transfer are formed at the beginning and at the end of the structure. When heat is input to the heat source, a portion of the working medium evaporates, and the steam flows to the opposite end, the heat sink, due to the pressure drop that arises. The steam condenses there, so that heat of condensation is released and the previously absorbed latent heat can be released via the heat transfer area. The heat transfer is passive, i. H. there is no pumping device and no additional external energy input is required.

The heat pipe is particularly preferably a so-called heat pipe. This uses the wick principle or capillarity to bring the condensed working medium back to the heat source. Compared to the alternative design of the heat pipe as a gravitational heat pipe or two-phase thermosiphon, the heat pipe has the advantage that it works regardless of the position and that the risk of the source drying out is minimized and that the achievable heat flow is increased. Due to a vertical or inclined arrangement, the gravitational force can also be used to return the medium even with a heat pipe. It has been shown that in the present application, a slight inclination of the heat pipe by, for example, 1-5 ° (increasing from the warmer to the cooler end) improves the properties of the heat pipe.

Water is preferably used as the working medium. The pressure in the closed interior is selected so that the resulting boiling point of the working medium is matched to the temperatures to be expected.

Particularly when there are larger distances between the circulation line and the water distributor, when using heat pipes as a heat pipe, it is advantageous if the heat pipe comprises at least two heat pipes and a connecting piece for the mechanical and thermal connection of an end of a first of the heat pipes to a start of a second of the heat pipes. The heat given off by one heat pipe is transferred to the other heat pipe via the connecting piece or a heat-conducting part thereof. This ensures efficient heat transfer, and the heat pipe can also be modular. Tests have shown that it makes sense to use a connecting piece with a total length of approx. 2 m or more.

The connector is, for example, a profile made of a metal with good heat conduction (e.g. aluminum or copper), which has receiving openings for the two heat pipes. The latter are then recorded with their end or beginning in these receiving openings. Conductive paste is advantageously applied between the outer jacket of the heat pipes and the inner jacket of the receiving openings, so that unhindered heat transfer can take place.

The supply line can also be mechanically coupled to the connecting piece; this creates a simple and safe (additional) fastening for the heat pipe in the area of the connecting piece. Additionally or alternatively, thermal coupling can also take place between the connecting piece and the supply line. Depending on the expected temperature profile in the supply line, this results in local heat emission or absorption, which leads to a more uniform temperature profile lead in the supply line or support the heat transport through the heat pipe.

Also when using a connecting piece (or several connecting pieces) it has been shown that an inclined arrangement (for example 1-5 °) of the entire heat pipe can significantly improve the efficiency of heat transfer between several heat pipes.

Instead of a connector, two or more heat pipes can each be connected in a different way, e.g. B. by a braze joint.

The heat-conducting device advantageously interacts with a region of a return of the circulation line. Compared to an arrangement at the flow, this avoids that a heat supply from a hot water circulation line or a heat supply to a cold water circulation line leads to an unwanted cooling or heating of the circulated service water for consumers connected to downstream supply lines. In addition, the line cross-sections of the return are generally significantly smaller than those of the flow / riser. Accordingly, the complexity and the cost of materials for the connection of the heat conduction device are considerably reduced. Finally, any pressure losses due to additional components in the riser are avoided.

When the heat conduction device is connected to the return, it is advantageous if the return temperature is checked and a circulation flow is adjusted in such a way that a minimum return temperature is maintained or exceeded. This can be done by a circulation regulating valve which is known per se and which increases the flow when the return temperature drops. As an alternative or in addition, pumps with adjustable output can be used, which are controlled using data from a temperature sensor.

The water distribution advantageously comprises a transmission piece which can be mechanically attached to the circulation line and / or in the connection area on the supply line and can be connected to the heat-conducting device and comprises a connecting element made of heat-conducting material, which in the assembled state of the Transfer piece contacted both the circulation line and / or the supply line and the heat conduction device. This transition piece enables efficient heat transfer between the circulation line and the heat conduction device, and it can also be designed such that it can be easily mounted on the circulation line and / or the adjoining section of the supply line.

The heat-conducting device is preferably attached by a clamp connection. For example, the transmission piece comprises two half-shell-like elements, which together form an elongated, e.g. B. cylindrical, end portion of the heat conduction device. The two half-shell-like elements are braced against each other and the end section, so that a secure mechanical fastening with good heat transfer results.

Alternatively, the heat conduction device is coupled directly to the circulation line and / or the connection area of the supply line, e.g. B. via a braze joint.

In a preferred embodiment, the transfer piece comprises a T-piece section, which is built into the circulation line, and a heat transfer section connected to the T-piece section, in which the connecting element is arranged. The T-piece section is designed in such a way that drinking water is conducted from the circulation line into the heat transfer section and from there back again downstream into the circulation line. This enables an increase in the contact area available for heat exchange and thus a greater heat transfer.

It has been shown that with typical circulation volume flows of approx. 0.5 l / min in typical applications, a direct flow area of at least approx. 100 cm ^{2 is} required for sufficient heat transfer in order to be able to maintain the required temperatures. This can be achieved by diverting the circulating drinking water. Depending on the length of the supply line, the temperature of the drinking water in the supply line and the thermal insulation of those involved Components can also be sufficient for smaller flow areas. In certain application situations, the area flowed through must be dimensioned larger.

In particular, if the heat conducting device interacts with a region of a flow of the circulation line, the water distribution advantageously comprises a bypass line to bypass the transfer piece and a valve for selective activation of the bypass line when a minimum volume flow is exceeded. If the minimum circulation volume flow is exceeded, in particular because water is being drawn off, the bypass line is activated and the portion exceeding the minimum volume flow is led directly through the bypass line. As a result, the flow loss through the diversion in the transfer piece can be reduced. The minimum volume flow can correspond to the minimum circulation volume flow or it can be selected to be somewhat higher, so that the bypassing of the transfer piece is triggered only with larger tapping quantities.

Suitable valves are known per se, for example based on the Venturi principle or dynamic differential pressure elements.

With an arrangement of the transfer piece in the flow of the circulation line, it is advantageous if the transfer piece has an output for connecting the supply line. The transmission piece can then be used instead of the usual fitting for connecting the supply line. Retrofitting is simplified and new buildings result in a lower number of required components and thus lower costs, a reduced space requirement and less assembly effort.

If the transfer piece is arranged in the return of the circulation line, no outlet for the supply line is required in the transfer piece. However, it is still possible to constructively combine the transfer piece for the return with a branch from the flow into the supply line. In this way, the individual fluid-conducting and thermal connections to and from the circulation line can be created with a single component for a building part.

The heat-conducting device is preferably arranged adjacent to the supply line. This ensures that the space required is minimized, and the supply line can also be used for fastening and / or mechanical stabilization of the heat conducting device if necessary.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the heat-conducting device comprises a transfer piece, in which a section of the return of the circulation line is guided, and a heat pipe as a heat-conducting device, which is thermally and mechanically coupled to the transfer piece. The heat pipe is essentially parallel to the water supply line at a short distance from the water distributor; it advantageously rises slightly from the transfer piece. Finally, the heat pipe is thermally coupled to the hot water distributor or the hot water part of the water distributor.

From the following detailed description and the entirety of the claims, further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention result.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Eine schematische Darstellung einer Wasserverteilung für ein Gebäude gemäss dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer Wasserverteilung für ein Gebäude gemäss einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

die Anbindung der Heatpipe der erfindungsgemässen Wasserverteilung;

Fig. 4

ein Schrägbild einer ersten Ausführungsform eines Übertragungsstücks der Wasserverteilung;

Fig. 5

eine Querschnittsdarstellung des Übertragungsstücks;

Fig. 6A-C

einen ersten Querschnitt, eine Draufsicht und einen zweiten Querschnitt eines Übertragungsstücks gemäss einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 7A-C

einen ersten Querschnitt, eine Draufsicht und einen zweiten Querschnitt eines Übertragungsstücks gemäss einer dritten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht der Anbindung eines Wasserverteilers mit Hilfe des Übertragungsstücks gemäss der dritten Ausführungsform; und

Fig. 9

einen Vergleich des Temperaturverlaufs in einer Versorgungsleitung mit und ohne Temperierung des Wasserverteilers durch eine Heatpipe.

The drawings used to explain the exemplary embodiment show:

Fig. 1

A schematic representation of a water distribution for a building according to the prior art;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a water distribution for a building according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

the connection of the heat pipe of the water distribution according to the invention;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a first embodiment of a transfer piece of water distribution;

Fig. 5

a cross-sectional view of the transfer piece;

6A-C

a first cross section, a plan view and a second cross section of a transfer piece according to a second embodiment;

7A-C

a first cross section, a plan view and a second cross section of a transfer piece according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 8

a side view of the connection of a water distributor using the transfer piece according to the third embodiment; and

Fig. 9

a comparison of the temperature profile in a supply line with and without temperature control of the water distributor through a heat pipe.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a water distribution for a building according to the prior art. Only individual parts of the water distribution are shown which are relevant for the explanation of the invention. The water distribution comprises a circulation line 1 with a flow 1a and a return 1b, in which water heated by a boiler 3 is circulated by a pump 2. A plurality of supply lines are connected to the feed line 1a of the circulation line 1, including a supply line 4 which leads to a water distributor 10. A shut-off device 5 and a hot water meter 6 are arranged in the supply line 4. The latter measures the volume flow and thus enables the measurement of the hot water consumption of individual building units (e.g. apartments). Ejection lines 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 lead from the water distributor 10 to four consumers 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, which in the example shown are a washstand (consumer 8.1), a shower (consumer 8.2), a sink (consumer 8.3) and a bathtub (consumer 8.4). The other supply lines are in the Figure 1 shown only hint, but designed analogous to the supply line 4.

So while the hot water circulates in the circulation line and is fed into the boiler at a temperature of approx. 60 ° C and returned at approx. 55 ° C, there is no actual circulation in the supply line 4. Due to thermal effects, there is only a microcirculation, which leads to a certain heat exchange along the supply line 4.

Due to the temperature difference between the circulation line (almost 60 ° C) and the environment of the water distributor (approx. 20 ° C), the temperature drops. If no hot water is drawn for a long time, the temperature of the hot water distributor (and the water in it) drops to 35 - 40 ° C. This can lead to hygienic problems, there is also a delay when hot water is drawn again, and the temperature initially rises over a considerable period of time until the stationary delivery temperature is reached. This can lead to the unwanted drawing of too hot water, which can be particularly unpleasant when using a shower or bathtub.

The Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a water distribution for a building according to an embodiment of the invention. The basic elements of the water distribution, the circulation line 1 with flow 1a and return 1b, the pump 2, the boiler 3, the supply line 4 with shut-off element 5 and hot water meter 6 as well as the discharge lines 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and the consumers 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 , 8.4, correspond to the components in the previously known water distribution.

According to the invention, however, a heat conduction device 20 which is independent of the supply line 4 is now arranged between an area in the return 1b of the circulation line 1 and a correspondingly adapted water distributor 11. The heat conduction device 20 comprises a transfer piece 30, a heat pipe 40 and a connecting part 50 for the water distributor 11. The transfer piece 30 comprises a line section for installation in the return line 1b of the circulation line 1 and a receptacle for the start of the heat pipe 40, between the line section and the heat pipe 40 is created a thermally conductive connection, in particular by the thermally conductive material of the transfer piece and a conductive paste introduced into the receptacle for the thermal connection of the received heat pipe 40.

With the help of the heat conduction device, heat can be transferred from the circulation line 1 to the water distributor 11 and the latter can be tempered. Correspondingly, the water distributor 11 has a higher temperature and thus a reduced temperature drop starting from the circulation line 1. The arrangement in the return line 1b of the circulation line 1 avoids negative effects on supply lines which are connected to the flow line 1a after the heat supply. Furthermore, due to the smaller cross section of the return 1b, the transfer piece can be made with smaller cross sections and thus more compact and less expensive.

A circulation regulating valve 9 is also arranged in the circulation line 1. This increases its passage when the temperature drops and thus ensures that the circulation flow is kept in a range with which a minimum temperature in the circulation line 1 (e.g. 55 ° C.) is maintained. Corresponding circulation regulating valves are known and z. T. already installed in circulation lines. In the context of the water distribution according to the invention, such a valve is particularly advantageous because, even when there is temporarily a large amount of heat for the temperature control of the water distributors, it ensures that a safe minimum temperature can be maintained.

After the installation of the transfer piece, the heat pipe and the connection of the other end of the heat pipe to the water distributor, all connection points, i.e. in particular the transfer piece and, if applicable, the water distributor, are provided with thermal insulation. This also applies to the pipe area of the heat pipe, if this is not already provided with thermal insulation.

The Figure 3 shows the connection of the heat pipe of the water distribution according to the invention in a schematic manner. For the sake of simplicity, the shut-off element and the water meter are not shown in the supply line 4, which leads from the circulation line 1 to the water distributor 11. In addition, a direct connection is shown, whereas a transmission piece is used in the context of the exemplary embodiment.

The detailed representation in the Figure 3 shows the area in which heat is transferred from the circulation line 1 into the heat pipe 40. There, the metallic sheathing 41 of the heat pipe 40 and the metallic tube wall 1a of the circulation line 1 are guided in parallel and thermally coupled to one another via a thermal paste 15. Heat conduction fluid 45 (demineralized water) located in the closed interior 43 of the heat pipe 40 is evaporated due to the heat input from the circulation line 1 and rises or flows to the opposite end of the heat pipe 40, where the temperature is lower. There, the heat conduction fluid 45 condenses, gives off its latent heat and, due to the capillary action of the sintered inner surface 42 of the casing 41 and in the vertical region, is also guided back to the starting point due to the gravitation.

The curve 61 qualitatively represents the temperature profile from the center of the circulation line 1 to the interior 43 of the heat pipe 40.

The Figure 4 shows an oblique image, the Figure 5 a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a transfer piece 30 of the water distribution, for coupling to the flow of the circulation line. The transfer piece 30 is T-shaped, the circulation line being connected on the one hand to a first end of the horizontal leg and on the other hand to the vertical leg of the transfer piece 30, so that the circulation line in the transfer piece 30 has an L-shaped course 31. The second end of the horizontal leg opens into the supply line. One end of the heat pipe 40 is received in a receptacle 32 running parallel to the horizontal leg of the line section 31. The receptacle 32 is formed between a fastening piece 33 and the base body 34 of the transmission piece 30. The fastening piece 33 can be fastened to the base body 34 by inserting the heat pipe 40 using a series of screws. Due to the solid design of both the base body 34 and the fastening piece 33, good heat transfer results.

The Figures 6A-C show a second embodiment of a transfer piece according to the invention, for connection to the flow of the circulation line. The Figure 6A shows a first cross section in a vertical plane, the Figure 6B a top view and the Figure 6C a second cross section, along the line A - A in Figure 6A , The transfer piece 130 is T-shaped, one leg of the transfer piece 130 having a first end forming a feed connection 135 for the riser and with its other end forming a drain connection 136 for the riser. The other leg of the transfer piece 130 has a first area in which two line sections 138, 139 run parallel to one another, a second section in which the two line sections 138, 139 are connected to one another, and a supply connection 137 for connection to that for water distribution of the Part of the building's leading supply line. A flow divider valve 70 is arranged in the first leg between the inlet end 135 and the outlet end 136.

At high flow, e.g. B. due to a water supply in a downstream supply line, the flow divider valve 70 opens, so that a large part of the flow passes through it, ie the water flows in a straight line from the supply connection 135 to the discharge connection 136. At low flow, e.g. B. if only the minimal circulation takes place, the water flows from the supply connection 135 first along the line section 138 with a sector ring-like cross section, then after a deflection by 180 ° in the second region of the corresponding leg along the line section 139 with a circular cross section to the discharge connection 136. When water is drawn in the connected supply line, the water flows from the first line section 138 directly through the supply connection 137 into the supply line.

The beginning of the heat pipe 40 is received in a receptacle 132, with a conductive paste being applied between the heat pipe 40 and the transfer piece 130 before assembly. The heat pipe 40 extends in a straight line from the transfer piece 130, it being arranged such that it has an inclination of approximately 3 ° to the horizontal, rising from the transfer piece 130. The supply connection 137 is arranged laterally offset from the heat pipe 40.

The Figures 7A-C show a third embodiment of a transfer piece according to the invention, for connection to the return of the circulation line. The Figure 7A shows a first cross section in a vertical plane, the Figure 7B a top view and the Figure 7C a second cross section, along the line B - B in Figure 7A , The transfer piece 230 is T-shaped, wherein one leg of the transfer piece 230 forms a feed connection 235 for the return line with a first end and a discharge connection 236 for the return line with its other end. The other leg of the transfer piece 230 has a first area in which two line sections 238, 239 run parallel to one another and a second section in which the two line sections 238, 239 are connected to one another via a 180 ° bend.

The beginning of the heat pipe 40 is received in a receptacle 232 on the upper side of the transfer piece 230, with a conductive paste being applied between the heat pipe 40 and the transfer piece 230 before assembly. The receptacle 232 is partially surrounded by the kidney-shaped upper line section 238. The heat pipe 40 extends in a straight line from the transfer piece 230. Because of the axial symmetry in the longitudinal direction with the heat pipe 40 being connected at the top, the same transfer piece 230 can be used both for right and left branching supply lines.

The Figure 8 shows a side view of the connection of a water distributor using the transfer piece according to the third embodiment. The water distributor 11 is connected via a supply line 4 and a connector 12 to the flow line 1a of the circulation line 1 for hot water. A shut-off element 5 and a hot water meter 6 are arranged in the supply line. The return 1b of the circulation line 1 runs parallel to the flow 1a. The transfer piece 230 according to the third embodiment described above is installed in the return 1b. A first section 47 of the heat pipe 40 is held in the corresponding receptacle. This first section 47 leads to a connecting piece 49, which has receptacles for the end sections of two heat pipes and the supply line 4. Both the end of the first section 47 and the beginning of the second section 48 and a section of the supply line 4 can thus be received in the connecting piece 49. The two sections 47, 48 are arranged so that an efficient heat transfer from the first section 47 to the second section 48 is made possible. Both sections 47, 48 are independent heat pipes.

The end of the second section 48 is guided into a corresponding receptacle of the water distributor 11 for heat emission. Starting from the transfer piece 230, the heat pipe 40 with the two sections 47, 48 runs horizontally to the water distributor 11. Alternatively, it is also possible to guide the heat pipe 40 at an angle of 3 ° upwards to the water distributor 11. In this case, the transfer piece and the water distributor have correspondingly inclined receptacles for the end regions of the heat pipe.

The Figure 9 shows a comparison of the temperature profile in a supply line with and without temperature control of the water distributor through a heat pipe. It represents comparative measurements based on a realistic functional pattern.

The heat conductor used was made up of three heat pipes, each with a length of 500 mm, each of which was brought into a flat shape at their ends by more than 10 mm, arranged in an overlapping manner and thermally connected to one another by means of hard solder. The total length of the heat conductor was 1300 mm. The heat pipes came from the company Elinter AG, Cham, Switzerland and included a copper tube with a diameter of 10 mm, which is sintered on the inside and which contains a certain amount of demineralized water. The entire supply line from the circulation line to the water distributor was insulated with a rubber material with a wall thickness of 50 mm.

The temperature was measured at the following points, among others: place Distance from the circulation line [mm] circulation line 0 Start of supply line 102 in front of shut-off valve 516 in front of water distributor 930 Middle water distributor 1213

Curve 62 shows the temperature profile without using the heat conductor. Curve 63 shows the temperature profile when the heat pipe is used according to the invention. The vertical axis indicates the temperature in ° C, the horizontal axis the distance from the circulation line in mm. As can be seen from the curves 62, 63 shown, the temperature steadily decreased from the circulation line to the center of the distributor without a heat conductor. In the distributor it was still approx. 39 ° C. A different picture emerged from the use of the heat pipe: The temperature dropped less strongly, especially in an area of the supply line that was remote from the circulation line, and then rose again to approx. 54.5 ° C due to the localized heat input in the water distributor. The minimum temperature was always above 50 ° C, in the present case it was measured shortly before the water distributor. In the course of the experiment, an average heat output of over 20 W could be reliably transferred.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, the dimensioning of the heat-conducting device can be chosen differently, and the connection to the circulation line and / or the water distributor can be made in a different way.

In order to optimize the heat transfer between the transfer piece and the heat pipe, the line sections in the transfer piece with inward profiles, z. B. rib-like profiles.

In summary, it can be stated that the invention creates a water distribution which is easy to install and energy-efficient and avoids excessive cooling or heating of the water in the sections branching off from the circulation line.

Claims (13)

Water distribution for a building, comprehensive a) a circulation pipe for drinking water; b) a water distributor for a part of the building; c) a supply line branching off from the circulation line in a connection area and connecting the circulation line to the water distributor;
marked by d) a heat conduction device which is independent of the supply line and is used to conduct heat between the circulation line or the connection area and the water distributor. Water distribution according to claim 1, characterized in that the circulation line transports hot water and the heat conduction device conducts heat from the circulation line or the connection area to the water distributor. Water distribution according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the circulation line transports cold water and the heat conduction device conducts heat from the water distributor or the connection area to the circulation line. Water distribution according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heat conduction device comprises a heat pipe. Water distribution according to claim 4, characterized in that the heat pipe is designed as a heat pipe. Water distribution according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat pipe comprises at least two heat pipes and a connector for mechanical and thermal connection of an end of a first of the heat pipes to a beginning of a second of the heat pipes. Water distribution according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heat conduction device cooperates with a region of a return of the circulation line. Water distribution according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a transfer piece, which can be mechanically attached to the circulation line and / or in the connection area on the supply line and can be connected to the heat-conducting device, and comprises a connecting element made of heat-conducting material, which in the assembled state of the transfer piece comprises both the Circulation line and / or the supply line and the heat conduction device contacted. Water distribution according to claim 8, characterized in that the transfer piece comprises a T-section, which is built into the circulation line, and a heat transfer section connected to the T-section, in which the connecting element is arranged, the T-piece, Section is designed such that drinking water from the circulation line is conducted into the heat transfer section and from there back again downstream into the circulation line. Water distribution according to claim 9, characterized by a bypass line for bypassing the transfer piece and by a valve for selective activation of the bypass line when a minimum volume flow is exceeded. Water distribution according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the transmission piece has an output for connecting the supply line. Water distribution according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heat conduction device is arranged adjacent to the supply line. Water distribution according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the water distributor is designed to distribute both hot water and cold water, wherein a hot water part is thermally connected to the heat conduction device and the water distributor comprises a housing which isolating agent between a hot water part and a Has cold water part.

Images