GB2322929A - Domestic hot and cold water supply - Google Patents
Domestic hot and cold water supply Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2322929A GB2322929A GB9704355A GB9704355A GB2322929A GB 2322929 A GB2322929 A GB 2322929A GB 9704355 A GB9704355 A GB 9704355A GB 9704355 A GB9704355 A GB 9704355A GB 2322929 A GB2322929 A GB 2322929A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- unit according
- pump
- water
- heat exchanger
- flow
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 105
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012432 intermediate storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
- E03B7/00—Water main or service pipe systems
- E03B7/04—Domestic or like local pipe systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- 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
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
- Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
- Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
Abstract
A domestic hot and cold water supply has 2 pumps 11, 41 controlled by flow switches 17, 27. When a cold water outlet 23 such as a mixer shower or cold water tap is opened, flow switch 17 senses water flow and actuates the pump 11 to boost the mains pressure. When a hot water tap 33 or mixer shower is turned on, flow switch 17 actuates pump 11 as before and in addition flow switch 27 senses water flow and starts up pump 41. This circulates primary water from a hot water store 35 though a heat exchanger 31 to heat the water flowing to the hot tap. The temperature of the secondary water may be controlled by regulating the flow of the primary water through the heat exchanger in response to a temperature sensor. This may be done by throttling the flow, bypassing some of the flow, or varying the speed of the pump.
Description
A UNIT FOR A HOT AND COLD WATER INSTALLATION,
AND AN INSTALLATION INCORPORATING THE SAME
The present invention relates to a unit for a hot and cold water installation which is fed by a low-pressure cold water supply, and to an installation incorporating the same.
Traditionally, installations have been used which are gravity fed from a cold water storage tank and which include a separate hot water storage tank of the kind which has an internal heat-exchanger coil. These installations have however two principal disadvantages. Firstly, the pressure of the water from the cold water storage tank is often very low. Secondly, the transfer efficiency of tanks having an internal heat-exchanger coil is poor.
Recently, the trend has been to design installations which draw water directly from the mains without an intermediate storage tank to supply both the cold water outlets and the heating system which feeds the hot water outlets. In this way, the water supplied by the hot and cold water outlets is at a desirably high pressure as compared to low-pressure installations fed from a storage tank, such as gravity fed systems. Drawing water directly from the mains does, however, have a significant disadvantage in that a consumer is reliant upon the mains being maintained at a relatively high and uniform pressure.
This cannot be guaranteed as the pressure will depend upon the demand from other consumers, and this problem will only become worse with the continued introduction of such installations.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a unit for an installation which at least partially overcomes the above-mentioned problems of known installations and achieves both a high pressure at the hot and cold water outlets and heating of the cold water with an improved transfer efficiency.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a unit for a hot and cold water installation, comprising: a heat exchanger, the primary side of which is in use connected to a hot water supply; a first pump for pumping water through the primary side of the heat exchanger; a second pump, the inlet of which is in use connected to a low-pressure cold water supply and being adapted to boost the pressure of the incoming water; a line connecting the outlet of the second pump and the inlet of the secondary side of the heat exchanger and including means for connecting the line to a cold water outlet; a first flow switch provided upstream of the connection means, the first flow switch being arranged to activate the second pump on sensing water flow; and a second flow switch provided downstream of the connection means, the second flow switch being arranged to activate the first pump on sensing water flow.
Preferably, the unit further comprises a non-return valve upstream of the connection means for preventing backflow of water.
More preferably, the first flow switch and the nonreturn valve are provided by an integral element.
Preferably, the unit further comprises a connector which includes a valve in the line downstream of the second pump and upstream of the connection means, the connector being in use connected via the valve to the low-pressure cold water supply.
Preferably, the unit further comprises a control device which includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heated water leaving the secondary side of the heat exchanger and means for regulating the flow of hot water through the primary side of the heat exchanger in response to the sensed temperature and thereby controlling the temperature of the heated water.
In one embodiment, the regulating means comprises a throttled valve.
In another embodiment, the regulating means comprises a bypass element for selectively diverting an amount of the flow of water to the primary side of the heat exchanger so as to bypass the heat exchanger.
In a further embodiment, the regulating means is provided by the first pump being a variable speed pump, the control device being adapted to regulate the speed of the first pump so as to control the temperature of the heated water.
The present invention also extends to a hot and cold water installation which incorporates the above-described unit.
A unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing schematically illustrates a hot and cold water installation which incorporates the unit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing the principal components of the unit are highlighted. It will be understood that the unit is intended both to be included as part of new installations and retro-fitted in already existing installations.
The installation comprises a cold water storage tank 1 which is fed by a mains pressure water supply 3. The outlet of the storage tank 1 is connected by a line 5 to a filter ball valve 7. The filter ball valve 7 is provided to remove any particles which may damage the downstream components. The filter ball valve 7 is connected by a line 9 to a booster pump 11 which is adapted to increase the pressure of the low-pressure cold water supplied from the storage tank 1 to a predetermined level, typically in the range of from 2.0 to 4.9 bar. The booster pump 11 is connected by a line 15 to a combined flow switch and nonreturn valve 17. The combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 is arranged both to activate the booster pump 11 on sensing water flow and to ensure that the boosted pressure is maintained downstream when the booster pump 11 is deactivated. The combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 is also preferably configured to deactivate the booster pump 11 when the installation runs dry. The combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 is connected to a line 19, a first branch 21 of which is connected to cold water outlets 23, such as a mixer shower and cold water taps, and a second branch 25 of which is connected to a flow switch 27. The flow switch 27 is connected by a line 29 to the inlet 31a of the secondary side of a heat exchanger 31. The heat exchanger 31 is preferably a counter-flow plate-type heat exchanger. The outlet 31b of the secondary side of the heat exchanger 31 is connected to hot water outlets 33, such as a mixer shower and hot water taps.
The installation further comprises a hot water storage tank 35. The storage tank 35 includes a first inlet 35a and a first outlet 35b which are connected to a hot water supply (not shown) that maintains the hot water in the storage tank 35 at a predetermined temperature, typically in the range of from 50 to 600C. The storage tank 35 further includes a second inlet 35c and a second outlet 35d. The second outlet 35d is connected by a line 37 to the inlet 31c of the primary side of the heat exchanger 31.
The second inlet 35c is connected by a line 39 to a circulating pump 41. The circulating pump 41 is connected by a line 43 to the outlet 31d of the primary side of the heat exchanger 31. The circulating pump 41 is arranged to circulate hot water between the storage tank 35 and the primary side of the heat exchanger 31. The circulating pump 41 is controlled by the flow switch 27, such that on sensing water flow the flow switch 27 activates the circulating pump 41 to pass water through the heat exchanger 31.
When the unit in accordance with the present invention is retro-fitted in an existing hot and cold water installation which includes a hot water storage tank of the kind that incorporates an internal heat-exchanger coil, the storage tank can be converted for use with the unit of the present invention by punching two further holes in the wall of the storage tank. These two further holes provide the first inlet 35a and first outlet 35b for connection to a hot water supply.
The installation further comprises a valve 45 connected by a line 47 to the line 9 and by a line 49 to the line 19 upstream of the first branch 21 to the cold water outlets 23. The provision of the valve 45, which is usually closed, allows a water supply to be maintained in the event of failure of the booster pump 11.
The operation of the hot and cold water installation will now be described below.
When a cold water outlet 23, such as a mixer shower or a cold water tap, is opened, the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 senses water flow and activates the booster pump 11. Cold water at boosted pressure is then fed to the opened cold water outlet 23. When the cold water outlet 23 is closed, the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 no longer senses water flow and deactivates the booster pump 11. The water downstream of the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 is maintained at the boosted pressure after deactivation of the booster pump 11. In this way, the desired boosted pressure is always provided on opening a cold water outlet 23.
When a hot water outlet 33, such as a mixer shower or a hot water tap, is opened, the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 senses water flow and activates the booster pump 11 and the flow switch 27 senses water flow and activates the circulating pump 41. Cold water at boosted pressure is fed into the secondary side of heat exchanger 31 and heated by the hot water which is circulated through the primary side of heat exchanger 31 by the circulating pump 41. The heated water at boosted pressure is then fed to the opened hot water outlet 33.
When the hot water outlet 33 is closed the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 and the flow switch 27 no longer sense water flow and deactivate respectively the booster pump 11 and the circulating pump 41. The water downstream of the combined flow switch and non-return valve 17 is maintained at the boosted pressure after deactivation of the booster pump 11.
It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but can be modified in many different ways within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (21)
1. A unit for a hot and cold water installation, comprising:
a heat exchanger, the primary side of which is in use connected to a hot water supply;
a first pump for pumping water through the primary side of the heat exchanger;
a second pump, the inlet of which is in use connected to a low-pressure cold water supply and being adapted to increase the pressure of the incoming water;
a line connecting the outlet of the second pump and the inlet of the secondary side of the heat exchanger and including means for connecting the line to a cold water outlet;
a first flow switch provided upstream of the connection means, the first flow switch being arranged to activate the second pump on sensing water flow; and
a second flow switch provided downstream of the connection means, the second flow switch being arranged to activate the first pump on sensing water flow.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the first flow switch is provided in the line.
3. A unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second flow switch is provided in the line.
4. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a non-return valve upstream of the connection means for preventing backflow of water.
5. A unit according to claim 4, wherein the non-return valve is provided in the line.
6. A unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first flow switch and the non-return valve are provided by an integral element.
7. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first pump is connected to the outlet of the primary side of the heat exchanger.
8. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a connector which includes a valve in the line downstream of the second pump and upstream of the connection means, the connector being in use connected via the valve to the low-pressure cold water supply.
9. A unit according to claim 8, wherein the connector includes a manual valve.
10. A unit according to claim 8, wherein the connector includes an automatic valve which is opened on failure of the second pump.
11. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a filter upstream of the inlet to the second pump.
12. A unit according to claim 11 when appendant upon any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the filter is provided upstream of the inlet to the connector.
13. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a hot water storage tank connected to the primary side of the heat exchanger, the hot water supply being in use connected to the hot water storage tank.
14. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-type heat exchanger.
15. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a control device which includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heated water leaving the secondary side of the heat exchanger and means for regulating the flow of hot water through the primary side of the heat exchanger in response to the detected temperature and thereby controlling the temperature of the heated water.
16. A unit according to claim 15, wherein the regulating means comprises a throttled valve.
17. A unit according to claim 15, wherein the regulating means comprises a bypass element for selectively diverting an amount of the flow of water to the primary side of the heat exchanger so as to bypass the heat exchanger.
18. A unit according to claim 15, wherein the regulating means is provided by the first pump being a variable speed pump, the control device being adapted to regulate the speed of the first pump so as to control the temperature of the heated water.
19. A hot and cold water installation incorporating the unit according to any of claims 1 to 18.
20. A unit for a hot and cold water installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
21. A hot and cold water installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9704355A GB2322929A (en) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-03-03 | Domestic hot and cold water supply |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9704355A GB2322929A (en) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-03-03 | Domestic hot and cold water supply |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9704355D0 GB9704355D0 (en) | 1997-04-23 |
| GB2322929A true GB2322929A (en) | 1998-09-09 |
Family
ID=10808605
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9704355A Withdrawn GB2322929A (en) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-03-03 | Domestic hot and cold water supply |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2322929A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2343694A (en) * | 1998-11-12 | 2000-05-17 | Baker Hughes Inc | Unlocking packer setting method and device |
| GB2382646A (en) * | 2001-11-28 | 2003-06-04 | Gledhill Water Storage | Water heating apparatus with temperature control |
| AU763394B2 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-07-24 | Pump & Electrical Engineering Services Pty Ltd | Hot water system |
| SG98063A1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2003-08-20 | Yokogawa Electric Corp | Pump control system |
| EP2138774A3 (en) * | 2008-05-26 | 2010-10-20 | Sogoba | Domestic hot water network with low rate of pathogens |
| GB2605923A (en) * | 2018-07-11 | 2022-10-19 | Caroma Industries Ltd | Water flow management system |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1264070A (en) * | 1969-09-12 | 1972-02-16 | ||
| EP0094989A1 (en) * | 1982-05-25 | 1983-11-30 | Agpo B.V. | Device for supplying hot water, heat-supplying system and built-in unit comprising such a device |
| GB2235966A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1991-03-20 | Worcester Heat Systems Ltd | Water heating systems |
| GB2250334A (en) * | 1990-11-21 | 1992-06-03 | Imi Range Ltd | Waterheating apparatus |
| GB2293438A (en) * | 1994-09-20 | 1996-03-27 | Gledhill Water Storage | The control of water heating apparatus to prevent scalding |
| GB2306631A (en) * | 1995-10-28 | 1997-05-07 | Gledhill Water Storage | Domestic water heating apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-03-03 GB GB9704355A patent/GB2322929A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1264070A (en) * | 1969-09-12 | 1972-02-16 | ||
| EP0094989A1 (en) * | 1982-05-25 | 1983-11-30 | Agpo B.V. | Device for supplying hot water, heat-supplying system and built-in unit comprising such a device |
| GB2235966A (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1991-03-20 | Worcester Heat Systems Ltd | Water heating systems |
| GB2250334A (en) * | 1990-11-21 | 1992-06-03 | Imi Range Ltd | Waterheating apparatus |
| GB2293438A (en) * | 1994-09-20 | 1996-03-27 | Gledhill Water Storage | The control of water heating apparatus to prevent scalding |
| GB2306631A (en) * | 1995-10-28 | 1997-05-07 | Gledhill Water Storage | Domestic water heating apparatus |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2343694A (en) * | 1998-11-12 | 2000-05-17 | Baker Hughes Inc | Unlocking packer setting method and device |
| GB2343694B (en) * | 1998-11-12 | 2001-01-24 | Baker Hughes Inc | Unlocking packer setting method and device |
| AU763394B2 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-07-24 | Pump & Electrical Engineering Services Pty Ltd | Hot water system |
| SG98063A1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2003-08-20 | Yokogawa Electric Corp | Pump control system |
| GB2382646A (en) * | 2001-11-28 | 2003-06-04 | Gledhill Water Storage | Water heating apparatus with temperature control |
| GB2382646B (en) * | 2001-11-28 | 2005-06-08 | Gledhill Water Storage | Improvements relating to heating apparatus |
| EP2138774A3 (en) * | 2008-05-26 | 2010-10-20 | Sogoba | Domestic hot water network with low rate of pathogens |
| GB2605923A (en) * | 2018-07-11 | 2022-10-19 | Caroma Industries Ltd | Water flow management system |
| GB2605923B (en) * | 2018-07-11 | 2023-02-15 | Caroma Industries Ltd | Water flow management system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9704355D0 (en) | 1997-04-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |