FR3106878A1 - Heat exchanger especially for shower tray - Google Patents

Abstract

Heat exchanger especially for shower tray. Device (1) heat exchanger intended to heat cold water by means of the heat of waste water, in particular gray water coming from a device, in particular a shower, said device (1) comprising a water collection tank (2) used, the device (1) also comprising at least one heat exchange member (3) arranged in the collection tank (2) comprising connection means (200), on the one hand to a supply network cold water, and on the other hand connection means (201) to means for supplying cold water to said device, said device (1) further comprising segmentation means (4) of the collection tank (2) in at least two zones, a first zone (Z1) receiving the waste water and discharging into the second zone (Z2), the heat exchange member (3) comprising successive sections, at least a first section (300 ) proximal to the cold water supply network and a second section (301) proximal to the means for supplying water to said device, since ctérized by the fact that the first zone (Z1) of the collection tank (2) accommodates the second section (301) of the heat exchange member (3) and by the fact that the second zone (Z2) accommodates the first section (300) of the heat exchange member (3). Shower comprising a tray equipped with such a heat exchanger device. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Heat exchanger especially for shower tray

The technical field concerns that of heat exchangers between two fluids, in particular two liquids.

The technical field relates more particularly to that of heat exchangers for domestic use for recovering the heat contained in waste water, and even more particularly gray water.

But the technical field may also relate to that of heat exchangers for industrial use for recovering the heat contained in slightly dirty waste water, in particular washing or rinsing water.

Gray water refers to gray water, that is to say commonly waste water that comes from domestic use, such as washing utensils and clothes, as well as the toilet of people. According to the NF EN 16323 standard of May 2014, gray water is domestic waste water excluding water from toilets and urinals. They include water from bathrooms (showers, baths, sinks), washing machines and those from the kitchen (sinks, dishwashers).

These gray waters are known to be not very dirty, they contain few particles or chemicals such as surfactants, food waste, dead skin, hair, etc.

It is known to recycle this gray water to have a lower ecological impact. This is true in the case of a residential building, or an industrial building.

In the same logic of reducing the ecological impact, it is known to equip the means of collection and/or disposal of gray water with a heat recovery device. Indeed, this gray water can still be hot. In return, clean water from a supply network must be heated to the desired temperature, which is close to the temperature of gray water.

In the case of water use over a relatively long period, i.e. several minutes, several tens of minutes or more, this results in a significant loss of heat energy.

This is particularly true in the case of showers, but it is also true for dishwashers, or during continuous washing operations in industry.

Heat recovery in industry is done in known manner by large, bulky, heavy heat transfer devices.

The transposition of these heat recovery devices to a more compact device, a shower for example, comes up against several problems.

Such an industrial device has significant dimensions and bulk. However, there is little free space in or near a shower.

Such an industrial device has an interesting yield for continuous use. However, a shower only takes a few minutes. The device must be adapted to transfer calories as soon as possible and the greatest possible quantity over a short period of time.

Such an industrial device comprises filtration and maintenance means. However, in the context of a shower, it is already difficult to find a space to place the device there, the need to fit out a hatch or an access manhole makes the integration of said device more difficult. This access is all the more important since the heat exchange requires the widest possible exchange surface, and any residue or film on the exchange surface compromises the efficiency of the device. It is therefore important to be able to clean or carry out regular maintenance of the inside of the device.

The installation of such an industrial device can be planned from the design of the factory where it will be installed, with the reservation of a dedicated location. However, in the context of a shower, the dimensions of the shower tray, the cabin and the supply and evacuation networks are predetermined by construction practice and almost imposed. This is all the more the case in the context of a renovation, of a bathroom for example.

To remedy these problems, devices are known for transferring heat between waste water and water supplied by a supply network installed at the level of the receiver.

Document EP3094937 teaches a heat exchanger intended to heat cold water by means of the heat of waste water from a shower. This heat exchanger has a rectangular drain tank, a metal coil placed in the drain tank and designed to be connected to the shower's clean cold water supply network. The tank has a waste water distributor from the shower tray. The coil has horizontal tubes placed one above the other in the tank, so as to be sprayed and/or licked successively by the waste water dripping or draining from the shower.

This device is advantageously compact and easy to set up near a shower, but it nevertheless has drawbacks.

First, the coils are licked and/sprayed with waste water. As a result, the heat transfer is limited due to a reduced contact time. This is the reason why the tubes of the coil are stacked. This therefore requires a minimum height corresponding to at least two tube heights.

In addition, this device must be placed below the shower tray. It is therefore necessary to dig the ground to provide sufficient space to accommodate the device. The installation of such a device therefore brings constraints and/or additional manipulations for its installation.

In addition, the configuration of the device means that waste water residues, such as hair, sand, dust, can settle in hard-to-reach places, especially under the coil or between the tubes. These hard-to-reach places cannot be cleaned satisfactorily. These residues can then accumulate and come to block the device or obstruct the heat transfer by forming a gangue around portion of the coil, ruining the interest in time of such a device.

The objective of the invention is to propose an alternative solution to the existing one, and responding to the drawbacks mentioned above.

The object of the invention is to propose a heat exchanger device intended to heat fresh water by means of the heat of waste water from washing equipment, in particular a shower, allowing efficient and rapid transfer heat from the waste water to the fresh water.

Another objective is to provide a device that is easy to clean and to manufacture a device that is economical, robust and simple to install.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device allowing great aesthetic freedom.

Finally, an object of the invention is to provide a shower incorporating such a device, which simplifies assembly.

To this end, the invention relates to a heat exchanger device intended to heat cold water by means of the heat of waste water, in particular gray water, from an appliance, in particular a shower, comprising a waste water collection tank, the device also comprising at least one heat exchange member arranged in the collection tank comprising means of connection, on the one hand to a cold water supply network, and on the other hand to means of supplying d cold water to said device, said device further comprising means for segmenting the collection tank into at least two zones, a first zone receiving the waste water and flowing into the second zone, the heat exchange member comprising successive sections, at least a first section proximal to the cold water supply network and a second section proximal to the means of supplying water to said device, characterized in that the first zone of the collection tank accommodates the second section of the heat exchange member and by the fact that the second zone accommodates the first section of the heat exchange member.

This configuration of the device allows, when the device such as the shower is used, that the waste water collected and therefore still hot is brought into contact with the second section of the heat exchange member to heat the cold water supplying the apparatus, the second section of the heat exchange member bathing in the hot waste water of the first zone. After much of the heat is transferred, the waste water flows from the first zone into the second zone, but retains some heat. The first section of the heat exchanger present in the second zone then bathes in the still hot waste water and recovers a little heat. In this way, the cold water from the cold water supply network first passes through the first section of the heat exchanger, where it initially heats up. Then it passes into the second section of the heat exchanger where it heats up again. This cold water, reheated several times, is then fed to the device. In the case of a shower, the water is redistributed in the shower mixer. The fact of having several successive zones makes it possible to increase the contact time between the waste water and the heat exchanger, to improve the yield over a reduced time. This device also allows the hottest wastewater to be used to heat the cold water already heated by the less hot wastewater because it has been used to heat the cold water upstream.

Thus, this device makes it possible to effectively heat the cold water brought to the device thanks to the heat coming from the waste water.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the collection tank is capped with a plate comprising means for passing and guiding the waste water in the device, more particularly in the collection tank, and even more particularly in the first zone .

This protects the collection bin if a user stands above it. Holes in the plate help direct the flow of waste water into the first area of the collection tray. The plate can also be decorated to simply modify the aesthetics of the device.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the means for segmenting the collection tank divide the collection tank into at least three zones, the second zone flowing into the third zone, the third zone comprising a water evacuation orifice sewage, which can be continued by a sewage disposal channel. This evacuation channel may include an elbow or a part forming a siphon, in order to stop the rise of bad odors from the pipes.

This ensures that the first section bathes in the wastewater filling the second zone.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the means for segmenting the collection tank comprise a crenellated upper part forming at least one weir.

This makes it possible to simply form overflows at the top of the wall allowing the sections of the heat exchangers to be immersed in the waste water. This also makes it possible to form one or more weirs simply from one area to the next area while remaining compact. The device thus remains of reduced height and easier to integrate under the device. In addition, heavy tailings settle to the bottom of the zones and floating tailings are evacuated through the spillway(s).

This also makes it possible to simply create rigid walls rising over the entire surface of the collection bin. The plate covering the collection tray is thus better supported, and can support a greater weight, for example the weight of a person.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the means for segmenting the collection container are integral with the collection container.

This makes it possible to simplify the manufacture of the device.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the segmentation means of the collection tray are removable.

This makes cleaning easier. This also makes it possible to simply modify the height of water in which the sections of the heat exchanger are immersed, by modifying the crenellation of the walls. This also makes it possible to add options, such as filters on the weir(s), or baffles to limit the speed of flow through the weir(s).

This also makes it possible to use the same collection tray to produce devices with two, three or four zones, which rationalizes manufacturing costs and mold investments.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the collection tray of the device comprises a pivoting arm forming means for holding the heat exchange member.

This makes it possible to be able to lift the heat exchanger in one go, in a secure manner, without the risk of accidentally drilling, deforming or unscrewing the elements of the heat exchanger. This facilitates cleaning and maintenance of the device.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the arm comprises the means for connection to a cold water supply network and the means for connection to the means for supplying cold water to the device equipped with the device.

This makes it possible to form the heat exchange organ simply, by connecting pipes from the organ directly to the arm.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the heat exchange member is formed of concentric pipes.

This makes it possible to offer a component that is simple to produce, robust and has a large exchange surface.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises means for evacuating the residual waste water from the collection tank.

These means of evacuating residual waste water stagnating in the collection tank make it possible to prevent waste water from remaining in the areas of the device at the end of washing. Indeed, this waste water cools and obstructs the proper functioning of the device during the next use, because the hot waste water during the next use will come into contact with the cold residual waste water.

The invention also relates to a shower comprising a receiver, said receiver being equipped with a heat exchanger device comprising one or more of the characteristics of the heat exchanger device described above.

Other aims and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which will follow, referring to the attached drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments and in which:

is a front perspective exploded schematic view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention;

is a front perspective view of part of the collection tray of the device of Figure 1.

The invention relates to a device 1 heat exchanger. This device 1 heat exchanger can equip a device supplied with cold water and which uses hot water or cold water heating means. This device 1 heat exchanger heats the cold water using the heat of the waste water from the device. In the following example, the device is a shower with a shower tray. Device 1 is housed in the shower tray and can replace the usual drain of a shower tray.

The device 1 here comprises, essentially, a collection tank 2 making it possible to recover the waste water which evacuates from the shower tray and a heat exchange member 3. Of course, the device 1 can comprise several members heat exchanger, for example connected in parallel.

The heat exchange member 3 can be formed from a metal pipe, for example copper or corrugated stainless steel, having an incoming open end 30 and an outgoing open end 31. The heat exchange member 3 is described in more detail below.

The device 1 is here considered in space in the position of use. Thus, Figure 1 shows an exploded view upwards of the device 1, with the collection container 2 at the bottom and the other elements of the device 1 above, and the device 1, more particularly the collection container 2, is carried by a horizontal master plan.

The collection tray 2 is here of substantially cylindrical shape around a virtual axis OO 'extending vertically and has a bottom 20 and substantially vertical peripheral walls 21. The collection container 2 is segmented into several zones by segmentation means 4 of the device 1. The segmentation means 4 are here formed by walls 40 coming from the bottom 20 of the collection container 2 in the direction of the top and forming two walls at the less partially annular 41, 42 around the same virtual axis coinciding with the virtual axis OO' of the collection container 2. A first low wall 41, close to the center of the collection container 2, surrounds an orifice 22 of the collection container 2 evacuation of waste water from the device 1. A second low wall 42 in an arc of a circle is placed between the peripheral walls 21 of the collection tank 2 and between the first low wall 41. This second low wall 42 comprises a clearance which will be described later .

These first and second low walls 41, 42 delimit a first zone Z1 in the space comprised between the peripheral walls 21 of the collection container 2 and the second low wall 42, a second zone Z2 in the space comprised between the second low wall 42 and the first low wall 41, and a third zone Z3 in the circular space surrounded by the first low wall 41. The waste water in one or the other of the zones cannot bypass the low walls 41, 42 in particular laterally. In fact, to pass from one area to another, wastewater can pass over low walls 41,42 by overflow.

To facilitate the management of this or these overflows, the low walls 41, 42 each comprise, on their upper part, hooks forming slots. Each slot forms a weir 43. Device 1 is designed so that the waste water flows into zone Z1 and fills zone Z1. Once the zone Z1 has been filled, the waste water passes over the second low wall 42, in particular via the weirs 43 arranged in this low wall, to fill the zone Z2. Once this zone Z2 has been filled, the waste water passes over the first low wall 41, in particular via the weirs 43 arranged in this low wall, to reach the zone Z3 and flow via the orifice 22 out of the device 1.

The collection tank 2 comprises means of connection to a cold water supply network, in the form for example of a flexible welded or screwed at one end to a cold water supply source. The other end of the hose opens into the collection tank 2 and may include connection means 200 such as a threaded ring allowing this end to be connected to the incoming end 30 of the heat exchanger 3, said incoming end 30 being equipped with a pierced nut with which the threaded ring cooperates by screwing.

The collection tank 2 also comprises means of connection to means of supplying cold water to the device to which the device is attached. The means of supplying cold water can be in the form, for example, of another flexible welded or screwed at one end to a tube of the device allowing the supply of the device with cold water. The other end of this other hose opens into the collection tank 2 and may include connection means 201 such as a threaded ring allowing this end to be connected to the outgoing end 31 of the heat exchanger 3 , said outgoing end 31 being equipped with a pierced nut with which the threaded ring cooperates by screwing.

Alternatively, the connection means described previously may comprise a welding operation, or comprise so-called quick connectors commonly used in plumbing.

The heat exchange member 3 is here in the form of a metal pipe, for example copper or corrugated stainless steel, which extends from the incoming open end 30 in spirals to end at the open end outgoing 31, as illustrated in Figure 1. The spirals of the pipe are concentric and carried by the same plane parallel to the master plane of the device 1. The spirals of the pipe can be divided into successive sections. A first section 300 is located close to the incoming end 30, and a second section 301 is located close to the outgoing end 31, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each section here consists of three turns. Even if it is of course also possible to provide two heat exchange members 3 stacked vertically and mounted in parallel so as to increase the quantity of heat transmitted, the embodiment as illustrated here has a size/efficiency ratio advantageous for equipping a shower.

The heat exchange member 3, and more particularly these first and second sections 300, 301, is placed in the collection tank 2.

In fact, the first zone Z1 of the collection tank 2 accommodates the second section 301 of the heat exchanger 3, and the second zone Z2 of the collection tank 2 accommodates the first section 300 of the heat exchanger. heat 3.

This allows for improved heat exchanges between the wastewater from the different zones and the water passing through the heat exchanger.

The collection tank 2 can be covered with a plate 5 which caps the tank 2 and the heat exchanger 3. This plate 5 can comprise means for passing and guiding the waste water in the device 1 and more particularly in the collection tank 2. Here, these passage and guide means are formed through windows 50 allowing the waste water to flow into the device 1 only in the first zone Z1. The waste water then passes by overflow into the second zone Z2, then into the third zone Z3. The collection tray 2 may include a peripheral hook corresponding to the dimensions of the plate 5, to accommodate this plate and hold it in position so that the plate is flush with the floor of the receiver equipped with the device 1 according to the invention. Alternatively, the plate 5 rests on the top of the collection container 2, as illustrated in figure 1.

The windows 50 of the plate 5 can be replaced in an alternative way, for example by hooks on the periphery of the plate 5 forming, in cooperation with the peripheral walls 21 of the collection tank 2, the means for passing and guiding the waste water in the device 1 and more particularly in the collection container 2.

This plate 5 can come to rest not only on the peripheral walls 21 and/on the top of the collection container 2, but also come to rest on the wall(s) 41, 42.

To facilitate the manufacture of the device 1, the collection container 2 can be made of plastic which can be shaped by thermoforming. Of course, the collection container 2 can also be made of another material, for example of metal and more particularly of stainless steel, and shaped by another technology, for example by stamping or stamping. In addition, one and/or the other of the low walls 41, 42 can form part of the collection container 2 and be made in one piece with the bottom 20 of the collection container 2. It is thus possible to manufacture the collection container 2 by thermoforming and walls 41, 42 economically in a single operation.

But one and/or the other of the low walls 41, 42 can also be made independently of the collection container 2, and be added to the bottom 20 of the collection container 2 in a reversible manner. Thus, the bottom 20 of the collection container 2 may comprise annular grooves, continuous or not, intended to accommodate the bases of the wall(s) 41, 42. The walls 41, 42 can also be screwed to the bottom 20 of the collection container 2 .

The fact of having the walls 41, 42 made independently of the collection tank 2 allows in particular, according to an embodiment not illustrated here, that the device 1 comprises means for evacuating residual waste water stagnating in the collection tank 2 , for evacuation through port 22.

These evacuation means can for example be formed by openings in the base of the low walls 41, 42 near the collection tank 2. The low walls 41, 42 can include, on their edge, resting against the bottom 20 of the collection tank. collection 2, elastic return means in the form of leaf springs. The bases of the low walls 41, 42 overcome grooves made in the bottom 20 of the collection container 2. The plate 5 is supported on the low walls 41, 42. Thus, when a user climbs on the plate 5 of the device 1 or the plate 5 of the device 1 is loaded with objects to be washed, the spring blades bend due to the weight of the user or of the objects, and the base of the low walls 41, 42 sinks into the grooves. The lights are then blocked. Once the objects or the user are no longer on the plate 5 of the device 1, the spring blades return to a so-called rest position, and in doing so the walls 41, 42 rise and the lights are no longer blocked. The waste water baths present in the different zones can then flow through the openings of the low walls 41, 42 towards the third zone Z3 and more particularly the orifice 22 for the evacuation of the waste water.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the collection container 2 comprises an arm 6 which is housed in a housing of the collection container 2, as illustrated in the figures. This arm 6 comprises a body 60. It is oriented radially to the collection tank 2 and to the low walls 41, 42. The body 60 of the arm 6 comprises a shaft 61 extending on either side laterally and able to engage in holes in the housing of the collection container 2, to form a pivot connection around this shaft 61. The arm 6 can then have a so-called engaged position in which the arm 6 is housed in the collection container 2 and is parallel to the master plane of device 1, and a so-called disengaged position in which arm 6 makes a non-zero angle with the master plane of device 1, preferably an angle of 45°.

In the disengaged position, the arm 6 is housed in the clearance of the second low wall 42 without play, so as to close this clearance and to prevent the waste water from the first zone Z1 from accessing the second zone Z2 through this clearance.

The body 60 of the arm 6 has grooves 62 whose dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the pipe of the heat exchange member 3. In fact, these grooves 62 are configured to receive the coils of the pipe, as illustrated in the figures.

The arm 6 here comprises a cover 63 which covers the body 60 of the arm 6 to cap the grooves 62, the cover 63 being able to be clipped onto the body 60. The cover 63 and the grooves 62 thus form means for holding the organ heat exchanger 3 to arm 6.

The arm 6 here also carries the connection means 200 of the cold water supply network and the connection means 201 of the means for supplying cold water to the device to which the device 1 is attached. The cold water supply network and the means for supplying cold water to the device to which the device 1 is attached pass through longitudinal channels arranged in the body 60 of the arm 6. According to an embodiment not illustrated here , the cold water inlet and outlet can be made via the then tubular ends of the shaft 61.

Thus, by removing the plate 5 and placing the arm 6 in the disengaged position, one can easily access the collection tray 2 for cleaning or maintenance of the device 1, without being hindered by the heat exchanger 3.

Such a device 1 being compact and economical, it can come to equip an evacuation of an appliance, such as for example a dishwasher or a kitchen sink, in particular in a restaurant or a community. This device 1 can advantageously replace the bung system usually fitted to a washing appliance. This device 1 can be installed under the equipped device.

A shower tray can also comprise a space for housing a device comprising all or part of the characteristics of a device 1 as described above. Of course, the collection tray 2 of the device 1 can also come from material with the receiver of this shower.

Claims (10)

Heat exchanger device (1) intended to heat cold water by means of the heat of waste water, in particular gray water, from an appliance, in particular a shower, said device (1) comprising a water collection tank (2) used, the device (1) also comprising at least one heat exchange member (3) arranged in the collection tank (2) comprising connection means (200), on the one hand to a power supply network cold water, and on the other hand means for connection (201) to means for supplying cold water to said device, said device (1) further comprising means for segmenting (4) the collection tank (2) into at least two zones, a first zone (Z1) receiving the waste water and flowing into the second zone (Z2), the heat exchange member (3) comprising successive sections, at least a first section (300 ) proximal to the cold water supply network and a second section (301) proximal to the means of supplying water to said device, characterized in that the first zone (Z1) of the collection tank (2) accommodates the second section (301) of the heat exchange member (3) and by the fact that the second zone (Z2) accommodates the first section (300) of the heat exchange member (3). Device (1) heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the collection tank (2) is capped with a plate (5) comprising means for passing and guiding the waste water in the device (1) , and more particularly in the collection tray (2). Device (1) heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the segmentation means (4) of the collection tank (2) segment the collection tank (2) into at least three zones, the second zone (Z2) flowing into the third zone (Z3), the third zone (Z3) comprising an orifice (22) for discharging the waste water. Device (1) heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the segmentation means (4) of the collection tank (2) comprise a crenellated upper part forming at least one weir (43). Device (1) heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the segmentation means (4) of the collection tank (2) are integral with the collection tank (2). Device (1) heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the segmentation means (4) of the collection tank (2) are removable. Device (1) heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a pivoting arm (6), forming means for holding the heat exchange member (3). Device (1) heat exchanger according to claim 7, characterized in that the arm (6) includes the means of connection (200) to a cold water supply network, and in that it includes the means connection (201) to the means for supplying cold water to the device equipped with said device (1). Heat exchanger device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device (1) comprises means for discharging residual waste water from the collection tank (2). Shower comprising a receiver, characterized in that the said receiver is equipped with a heat exchanger device according to one of Claims 1 to 9.