GB2304875A - Instantaneous water heater and mixing valve - Google Patents
Instantaneous water heater and mixing valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2304875A GB2304875A GB9518170A GB9518170A GB2304875A GB 2304875 A GB2304875 A GB 2304875A GB 9518170 A GB9518170 A GB 9518170A GB 9518170 A GB9518170 A GB 9518170A GB 2304875 A GB2304875 A GB 2304875A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- water
- mixing valve
- relatively
- cold water
- temperature
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 103
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D23/00—Control of temperature
- G05D23/01—Control of temperature without auxiliary power
- G05D23/13—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures
- G05D23/1306—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures for liquids
- G05D23/132—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures for liquids with temperature sensing element
- G05D23/134—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures for liquids with temperature sensing element measuring the temperature of mixed fluid
- G05D23/1346—Control of temperature without auxiliary power by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures for liquids with temperature sensing element measuring the temperature of mixed fluid with manual temperature setting means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Bathtubs, Showers, And Their Attachments (AREA)
- Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
Abstract
An instantaneous water heater 1, especially for an electric shower, is supplied with relatively cold water C to be heated therein, and has a mixing valve 2 for mixing the relatively hot water H supplied by the heater 1 with more relatively cold water C for affording a mixed water output M at a required temperature. The mixing valve 2 is designed to increase or decrease the flows of both the relatively hot water H and relatively cold water C in order to maintain the temperature of the mixed water M. If the mixed water is too hot, the mixing valve is adjusted to increase the flows of both hot and cold water. This will reduce the temperature of the mixed water directly, and also indirectly because the temperature of the hot water from the heater will be reduced. Conversely, if the mixed water is too cool, the mixing valve can be adjusted to decrease the flows of both hot and cold water. The mixing valve 2 may be controlled manually, or automatically by means of wax capsule 4.
Description
Water Heaters
This invention relates to water heaters and more specifically to so-called electric instantaneous water heaters, especially for electric showers.
Existing instantaneous water heaters for electric showers comprise a heat exchanger which includes one or more electric heater elements, the heat exchanger being supplied with a flow of cold water which is heated in the heat exchanger, the hot water being supplied to a shower head, or alternatively to a mixer valve where it is mixed with cold water before being fed to a shower head. In a mixer type system it is known to incorporate a thermostatic control to maintain the mixed water temperature at a required value by controlling the relative flows of hot and cold water such that as the hot water flow is increased the cold water flow is decreased, and vice versa.It has been found that such a system dos not adequately maintain the mixed water temperature constant under normal operating conditions, and more sophisticated e.g. electronic control systems have been proposed in an effort to maintain the mixed water temperature constant. Such systems inevitably add to the complexity and therefore cost of electric showers incorporating them.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of electric instantaneous water heater, especially suitable for an electric shower.
According to the present invention there is provided an electric instantaneous water heater comprising an electrically powered heat exchanger, a supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger to be heated therein, and a mixing valve for mixing the relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger with a supply of relatively cold water for affording a mixed water output at a required temperature, said mixing valve being controllable for increasing the flows of both the relatively hot water and relatively cold water or for decreasing the flows of both the relatively hot water and relatively cold water to maintain said mixed water output at said required temperature.
By arranging that both the relatively hot water and the relatively cold water are increased or decreased together in order to maintain the mixed water output at a required temperature, two stage control is effected in that if, for example, a lower mixed water output temperature is required, the mixing valve is operated to increase the flow of relatively cold water which reduces the mixed water output temperature, and is also operated to increase the flow of relatively hot water through the heat exchanger which has the effect of lowering the temperature of the relatively hot water and therefore the temperature of the mixed water output. Similar two stage control is effected if a higher mixed water temperature is required.
In carrying out the invention it may be arranged that said mixing valve is operated manually.
However, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is arranged that said mixing valve is a thermostatically controlled valve, conveniently comprising a shuttle valve for controlling the flows of relatively hot water and relatively cold water.
Advantageously, said thermostatically controlled valve comprises a wax capsule for operating said shuttle valve.
The electric instantaneous water heater in accordance with the invention is especially applicable to electric showers.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an electric instantaneous water heater for use as an electric shower, and
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a thermostatic mixing valve for use in the water heater of Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention.
The water heater shown in Fig. 1 comprises an electrically powered heat exchanger 1 to which is fed an unregulated supply of relatively cold water C supplied typically from a rising mains supply (not shown). The water supplied to the heat exchanger 1 is heated therein and the relatively hot water H produced therein is fed to a mixing valve 2 in which it is mixed with further relatively cold water C from the rising mains supply. The mixing valve 2, which may be manually or thermostatically controlled, controls the flow rates of the relatively hot water H and relatively cold water C supplied to it in order to afford a mixed water output M at a required temperature.
In Fig. 2 of the drawings the mixing valve 2 of Fig. 1 is shown in greater detail, and is in the form of a thermostatic mixing valve.
The mixing valve 2 of Fig. 2 comprises a hot water input H and a cold water input C, the flow rates of both of which are controlled by a valve shuttle 3 such that the respective flows of relatively hot water H and relatively cold water C are both increased or decreased together to afford a mixed water output
M at the required water temperature. The valve shuttle 3 is controlled by a thermostatic unit, typically a wax capsule 4, which is responsive to the temperature of the mixed water M. The wax capsule 4 is provided with a setting mechanism 5 in the normal way.
By arranging that the valve shuttle 3 increases or decreases both the relatively hot water H supplied to the mixing valve 2 and the relatively cold water C supplied to the mixing valve 2, two stage control of the temperature of the mixed water output M is effected.
If, for example, a lower mixed water temperature is required, this is sensed by the wax capsule 4 which controls the valve shuttle 3 so as to increase the flows of both the relatively hot water H and the relatively cold water C. The increase in flow of the relatively cold water C will reduce the temperature of the mixed water M and the increase in flow of the hot water H will result in an increase in flow through the heat exchanger 1 which will result in a decrease in the temperature of the relatively hot water H supplied to the mixing valve 2.
This again will reduce the temperature of the mixed water M.
Similar two stage control of the temperature of the mixed water M is achieved if a higher mixed water temperature is required.
In this way rapid control of the temperature of the mixed water M is achieved and obviates the need for more elaborate and expensive control systems.
It will be appreciated that the electric instantaneous water heater which has been described has been given by way of example only and may be adapted to suit any particular application. Although the mixing valve 2 of Fig. 2 is of thermostatic form it may be manually controlled, and although the water heater
described is particularly adapted for an electric shower it may have other uses
such as for supplying hot water to a wash basin.
Claims (6)
1. An electric instantaneous water heater comprising an electrically powered heat exchanger, a supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger to be heated therein, and a mixing valve for mixing the relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger with a supply of relatively cold water for affording a mixed water output at a required temperature, said mixing valve being controllable for increasing the flows of both the relatively hot water and relatively cold water or for decreasing the flows of both the relatively hot water and relatively cold water to maintain said mixed water output at said required temperature.
2. A water heater as claimed in claim 1, in which said mixing valve is manually controllable.
3. A water heater as claimed in claim 1, in which said mixing valve is a thermostatically controlled valve.
4. A water heater as claimed in claim 3, in which said mixing valve comprises a shuttle valve for controlling the flows of relatively hot water and relatively cold water.
5. A water heater as claimed in claim 4, in which said thermostatically controlled valve comprises a wax capsule for operating said shuttle valve.
6. An electric instantaneous water heater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9518170A GB2304875B (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1995-08-24 | Water heaters |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9518170A GB2304875B (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1995-08-24 | Water heaters |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9518170D0 GB9518170D0 (en) | 1995-11-08 |
| GB2304875A true GB2304875A (en) | 1997-03-26 |
| GB2304875B GB2304875B (en) | 1999-08-11 |
Family
ID=10780270
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9518170A Expired - Lifetime GB2304875B (en) | 1995-08-24 | 1995-08-24 | Water heaters |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2304875B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2331578A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 1999-05-26 | Triton Plc | Water Heaters |
| WO1999066270A1 (en) * | 1998-06-15 | 1999-12-23 | Aos Pty. Ltd. | Water heater solenoid pilot operated temperature and/or pressure control valve |
| GB2390139A (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2003-12-31 | Aqualisa Products Ltd | Instantaneous water heater flow regulation |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104833101B (en) * | 2015-05-22 | 2018-02-23 | 金陵科技学院 | A kind of implementation method of the constant thermostat of water heater |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2180323A (en) * | 1985-09-17 | 1987-03-25 | Yang Tai Her | Faucet with spherical valve member |
| GB2192043A (en) * | 1986-06-25 | 1987-12-31 | Chao Chun Yu | A faucet |
-
1995
- 1995-08-24 GB GB9518170A patent/GB2304875B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2331578A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 1999-05-26 | Triton Plc | Water Heaters |
| GB2331578B (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-05-02 | Triton Plc | Water heaters |
| WO1999066270A1 (en) * | 1998-06-15 | 1999-12-23 | Aos Pty. Ltd. | Water heater solenoid pilot operated temperature and/or pressure control valve |
| GB2390139A (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2003-12-31 | Aqualisa Products Ltd | Instantaneous water heater flow regulation |
| GB2390136A (en) * | 2002-06-24 | 2003-12-31 | Aqualisa Products Ltd | Instantaneous water heater flow regulation |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2304875B (en) | 1999-08-11 |
| GB9518170D0 (en) | 1995-11-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20150823 |