GB2516953A - A device for the passage of water - Google Patents
A device for the passage of water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2516953A GB2516953A GB1314203.9A GB201314203A GB2516953A GB 2516953 A GB2516953 A GB 2516953A GB 201314203 A GB201314203 A GB 201314203A GB 2516953 A GB2516953 A GB 2516953A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- thermally conductive
- water
- pcm
- conductive extension
- 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
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
- F24H1/10—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium
- F24H1/101—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium using electric energy supply
- F24H1/102—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium using electric energy supply with resistance
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- 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
- F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
- F24D17/0089—Additional heating means, e.g. electric heated buffer tanks or electric continuous flow heaters, located close to the consumer, e.g. directly before the water taps in bathrooms, in domestic hot water lines
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/0005—Details for water heaters
- F24H9/001—Guiding means
- F24H9/0015—Guiding means in water channels
- F24H9/0021—Sleeves surrounding heating elements or heating pipes, e.g. pipes filled with heat transfer fluid, for guiding heated liquid
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D20/00—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
- F28D20/02—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat
- F28D20/021—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D21/0001—Recuperative heat exchangers
- F28D21/0012—Recuperative heat exchangers the heat being recuperated from waste water or from condensates
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D7/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being helically coiled
- F28D7/024—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being helically coiled the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled tubes, the coils having a cylindrical configuration
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/124—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and being formed of pins
-
- 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
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/10—Heat storage materials, e.g. phase change materials or static water enclosed in a space
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H2250/00—Electrical heat generating means
- F24H2250/02—Resistances
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F21/00—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials
- F28F21/06—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of plastics material
- F28F21/061—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of plastics material for domestic or space-heating systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F21/00—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials
- F28F21/08—Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials of metal
- F28F21/081—Heat exchange elements made from metals or metal alloys
- F28F21/085—Heat exchange elements made from metals or metal alloys from copper or copper alloys
-
- 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]
- Y02B30/56—Heat recovery units
-
- 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
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Geometry (AREA)
- Bathtubs, Showers, And Their Attachments (AREA)
- Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
An instantaneous water heater 10 has a housing 12 defining a chamber 16, a water inlet 24 and outlet 26 and a phase change material 30 (PCM) such as paraffin wax to transfer heat to/from water contained in or passing through the chamber. Water passing through the chamber can be heated by a heating element 32b before leaving the chamber through a tubular outlet 28 that leads to the water outlet. Ideally, a thermally conductive member 14 made of copper may be placed so as to enclose the PCM between a peripheral side wall 22 of the housing and the member. The member can include thermally conductive extension members (134, figure 2) such as annular fins to improve heat transfer between the PCM and the water. The extension members may also be cylindrical or rectangular parallelepiped in shape (figures 3-4) and be evenly spaced about the chamber. The water heater is preferably used in a shower whereby the PCM has a phase transition temperature equal to a safe maximum user showering temperature. This means that overheating of stationary water in the chamber by the element is prevented by the PCM, thereby protecting subsequent shower users from scalding.
Description
Title: A device for the passage of water Descrirtion of Invention The invention relates to a device for the passage of a volume of fluid. In particular, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a device for the passage of water for use as a component part of an instantaneous water heater.
An electric shower is an example of an instantaneous water heater and typically includes a housing having a chamber in which the water is heated by an electrically operated element. Typically such an electrically operated heating element is in the form of a coil. Often two or more of said heating elements are provided within the chamber in order to provide the user with a selectable level of heating.
During shut down of an electric shower, after the user has finished showering, the flow of water into the chamber and the heating element(s) must be turned off. Once the flow of water into the chamber had stopped, the heating elements(s) will continue to heat the water therein. This can result in the volume of water in the chamber reaching unsafe temperatures (i.e. water temperatures which could potentially harm a user who next uses the electric shower). This is because, if the electric shower is turned on before the water in the chamber has had time to cool, the super-heated volume of hot water will be outputted immediately through the shower rose onto the user.
Prior art electric showers have addressed this issue by providing for a staged shutdown of the electric shower. In other words, when the user presses the "off" button, the electric shower firstly turns off the electrical power supply to the heating element(s) and then, after a short period of time (a few seconds) closes the water inlet to the shower. The time delay ensures that any latent heat in the heating element(s) is dissipated to the water which continues to exit the shower. By the time the inlet has been closed, there is little or no latent heat in the heating element(s) so the water remaining in the chamber will be at the user-selected showering temperature (and then gradually cool). One problem with such prior art showers, however, is that in order to provide for a staged shutdown, relatively complex electric circuitry (e.g. a printed circuit board, or the like) is required which leads to increased manufacturing costs.
According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a device for the passage of a volume of fluid including: a housing having a chamber for receiving fluid; an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and a phase change material (FCM) material for permitting the transfer of heat away from or to fluid contained in or passing through the chamber.
According to a second aspect of the invention we provide an instantaneous water heater including a device according to the first aspect of the invention.
According to a third aspect of the invention we provide an electric shower including an instantaneous water heater according to the second aspect of the invention.
Further features of the first, second and third aspects of the invention are set out in the dependent claims appended hereto.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a cross-section view of a first embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section view of a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a component part for use with the device of figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a component part for use with the device of figure 1.
Referring to the figure 1, this shows a first embodiment of a device 10 for the passage of a volume of fluid according to the present invention. The device 10 is for use in an instantaneous water heater, such as a shower. The other component parts of the water heater/shower are not shown herein, but it will be obvious to one skilled in the art how the device 10 can be incorporated into such a water heater/shower.
The device 10 includes a housing 12 which in the present example is injection moulded from a suitable plastics material. The housing 12 is substantially tubular in shape and includes a thermally conductive member 14 that provides therein a cylindrical chamber 16. The housing 12 has first 18 and second 20 generally opposed end walls and a peripheral side wall 22 extending therebetween. In the present example the side wall 22 and end wall 20 are formed as a single component, with the second end wall 18 being removably connectable to the peripheral side wall 22. This is so that access can be gained to an interior of the chamber 16 for installing the internal components.
The thermally conductive member 14 is, in this example, made of copper and forms a cylindrical tube with open ends which are closed by the end walls 18 and 20. A tube-shaped phase change material (ACM) 30 is provided between the side wall 22 of the housing 12 and the thermally conductive member 14.
The ACM 30 thus surrounds the chamber 16 and is in thermal contact with the chamber 16 via the thermally conductive member 14. The chamber 16 is thus tubular and the ACM 30 is substantially contained with the tubular space between the thermally conductive member 14 and the housing 12.
It will be understood that, in alternative embodiments, any number of intermediate thermally conductive layers may be provided between the ACM 30 and the chamber 16 whilst retaining thermal contact between the PCM and the chamber 16.
The ACM 30 used in this embodiment is a paraffin wax compound having a molecular structure C H 2n+2. Alternative PCMs may also be used which have a suitable activation temperature which is around or slightly above a generally maximal user showering temperature.
The device 10 includes an inlet 24, which provides for an inlet flow of fluid to the chamber 16. The device 10 includes an outlet 26 which is connected to an outlet fluid flow path member 28, which is generally tubular, and which extends into the chamber 16 through the wall 20 and towards the wall 18 where it terminates a short distance therefrom. Alternative forms of inlet and outlet may be provided without departing from the present invention.
As can be seen in figure 1, within the chamber 16 are a pair of heating elements 32a, 32b which are positioned end to end and substantially coaxially with an axis of the chamber 16. The heating elements 32a, 32b define a generally axially extending passage through which the outlet flow path member 28 extends.
During use, water flows through the inlet 24 and into the chamber 16. The water is heated as it comes into contact with the heating elements 32a, 32b and travels through the chamber 16 towards the free end of the member 28.
The water eventually reaches the top of the chamber 16 and passes through the outlet fluid flow path member 28 to the outlet 26 for use downstream by the user.
Operation of the device 10 during shutdown of the shower will now be described. The flow of water through the inlet 24 is controlled by a user operable member, e.g. a rotatable knob / dial (not shown in the drawings, but well known in the art). The user can therefore control whether the shower is on / off and how much water is flowing therethrough. The latter directly affects the temperature of the water exiting the shower. The heating elements 32a and 32b are switched on also by rotation of the user operable member, but the shower is also provided with a pressure switch which ensures that electrical supply to the heating elements 32a, 32b only occurs when water is flowing through the shower.
When a user has finished showering, he/she rotates the knob so as to stop the flow of water through the inlet 24, which also cuts of the electrical power supply to the heating elements 32a, 32b. However, it will be appreciated that the volume of water within the chamber 16 will continue to be heated by the latent heat in the heating elements 32a, 32b (even though they have been switched "off"). The temperature of the water will begin to rise (from the user-selected temperature) and this will, in turn, increase the temperature of the thermally conductive member 14. Advantageously, heat is conducted away from the water, through the thermally conductive member 14, and to the ACM 30. The temperature of the ACM 30 rises as it absorbs heat from the water.
The ACM of the present invention is advantageous as it is configured to have an activation temperature which is around or slightly above a generally maximal user showering temperature. ACMs with a slightly higher or lower activation temperature may also be used depending on the anticipated user requirements. A phase change material has the property that it absorbs heat at a relatively constant rate until it reaches its activation temperature. At the activation temperature the phase change material will undergo a phase change and absorb heat at an increased rate whilst remaining at a substantially constant temperature. The heat energy being absorbed is used for breaking chemical bonds within the phase change material but does not cause any substantial release of heat energy; in other words the process is endothermic.
Thus by configuring the ACM 30 to have an activation temperature at around or slightly above the generally maximal user showering temperature, the ACM will absorb a large amount of heat away from the water when the water temperature rises by virtue of the latent heat in the heating elements 32a, 32b.
The water therefore stays below a safe threshold temperature. This stops the water becoming super-heated, and removes the requirement for a phased shut down having additional circuitry and mechanical components which are more costly and complex.
When a subsequent user switches the shower on, the water immediately leaving the outlet 26 would be at or below the activation temperature of the ACM 30 and so would be safe immediately for use in showering until the new user-selected temperature is reached.
Over an extended period of time after the shower has been switched off, the water in the chamber 16 will gradually cool down to atmospheric temperature.
The water and ACM 30 will reach thermal equilibrium at the ambient temperature of the environment and stay in this state.
If the shower is switched on before the water and ACM 30 have reached thermal equilibrium with the environment, then the invention provides a further advantageous effect. During a period after the shower is switched off, the ACM 30 will be in thermal equilibrium with the water within the chamber 16 at around the activation temperature of the ACM 30. The length of this period will be dependant upon the insulation provided by the device 10 with respect to the environment. If the shower were used within this period, cold water will enter the chamber 16 via the inlet 24. The heat energy stored within the ACM 30 will then flow from the ACM 30 to the water via the thermally conductive member 14. The flow of heat energy causes the temperature of the water to increase and eventually a new thermal equilibrium temperature will be reached between the water contained or flowing through the container and the ACM 30.
The ACM 30 thus permits the cold water to reach the user-selected operating temperature quicker than prior art showers, due to this pre-heating effect. The arrangement of the ACM thus optimizes the energy efficiency of the device 10 in bringing the water to the temperature required for showering more quickly allowing the user to commence and finish showering faster than with prior art showers, thus using less water.
It will be appreciated that the phase change material permits both a transfer of heat energy away from water contained in or passing through the chamber as well as a transfer of heat energy to any water contained in or passing through the chamber. Alternative designs of the arrangement between the ACM, chamber and thermally conductive member may be employed that retain this functionality. For example, a solid ACM may be used to form all or a substantial part of the housing without requiring the use of a separate thermally conductive member. In this case, the surface of the ACM will then provide part or substantially all of an interior surface of the chamber for contact with the water contained in or passing through the chamber.
The preferred choice and configuration of phase change material is dependent on a number of factors. One such factor is the amount of latent heat present within the heating element(s) within the chamber 16. If the heating elements retain a large amount of latent heat, due to the volume of the elements, for example, then the preferred phase change material must have a correspondingly large energy storage density to accommodate that latent heat.
Another factor is the rate at which heat energy can be transferred towards (absorbed) or away (released) from the phase change material. If the rate of heat energy transfer is too slow then the water may not be cooled to the generally maximal user showering temperature in time for the next user of the shower. Similarly, the efficiency of the shower on restart will not be optimal if the phase change material does not release heat energy into the cold water quickly enough to sufficiently heat the water.
Referring to figure 2, this shows a second embodiment of a device 110 according to the present invention. Features in common with those of the first embodiment have been given the same reference number but with the addition of 100. The difference between the two embodiments is that the thermally conductive member 114 includes a plurality of thermally conductive extension members 134 formed on an outwardly facing surface of the thermally conductive member 114. Each of the thermally conductive extension members is in thermal contact with the PCM 130. The thermally conductive extension members 134 are annular in axial view and extend radially away from the elongate axis of the chamber 116 and into the PCM 130. The thermally conductive extension members 134 are substantially evenly spaced along the elongate axis of the chamber 116. In this embodiment the thermally conductive extension members 134 are formed as part of the thermally conductive member 114 but they could be made separately and connected thereto.
The provision of the thermally conductive extension members 134 increases the surface area of the thermally conductive member 114 in thermal contact with the PCM 130. This increases the rate of transfer of heat energy away from or to the PCM 130 from or to any water contained in or passing through the chamber 116. The thermally conductive extension members 134 thus act to distribute thermal energy away from or to the PCM 130.
Figures 3 and 4 show alternative embodiments of a thermally conductive member for use with the device 10. Common features of the thermally conductive member of the first embodiment have been given the same reference number but with the addition of 200 (figure 3) and 300 (figure 4).
Each of the thermally conductive extension members 234 is generally cylindrical in shape and the members 234 are substantially evenly distributed over the outwardly facing surface of the thermally conductive member 234.
The ends of the thermally conductive extension members 234 have a relatively small area compared to the outwardly facing surface area of the thermally conductive member 214 to ensure a large number of members 234 can be accommodated. The configuration of thermally conductive extension members 216 increases the exterior surface of the thermally conductive member 214 to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the water and the FCM 230. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of the thermally conductive extension members 234 within the PCM 230 ensures that heat energy is transferred substantially homogeneously to the PCM 230.
Referring to figure 4, the thermally conductive member 314 has thermally conductive extension members 334 which are substantially cuboidal, e.g. a rectangular parallelipiped. The thermally conductive extension members 334 are substantially evenly spaced along an elongate axis of the chamber 316 and the circumference of the chamber 316. Other shapes and configurations of thermally conductive extension members could be employed. The thermally conductive extension members may be arranged to be curved as they extend away from the thermally conductive member and form a generally spiral arrangement.
It will be appreciated that the second (figure 2), third (figure 3) and fourth (figure 4) embodiments relate to optimizing the use of the phase change material within the device 10 by configuring the thermally conductive member 14 to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between it and the phase change material. This has been achieved by increasing the surface area of the thermally conductive member 114, 214, 314 in thermal contact with the phase change material. The thermally conductive member 114, 214, 314 has also been configured so that the thermal contact with the phase change material is substantially uniform. This prevents or at least reduces local hot or cold spots occurring and thus assists in ensuring the rate of heat energy transfer is optimal and efficient. A wide variety of configurations of the thermally conductive member, the thermally conductive extension members and phase change material may be used to provide this effect.
When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
Claims (22)
- CLAIMS1. A device for the passage of a volume of fluid including: a housing having a chamber for receiving fluid; an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber; an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and a phase change material (FCM) material for permitting the transfer of heat away from or to fluid contained in or passing through the chamber.
- 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein all or a substantial part of the housing is formed from the PCM.
- 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the PCM surrounds the whole or a part of the chamber.
- 4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the chamber is substantially tubular.
- 5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the PCM is substantially tubular or contained within a tubular body.
- 6. A device according to any preceding wherein a surface of the PCM provides part or substantially all of an interior surface of the chamber.
- 7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein a thermally conductive member is positioned in between the chamber and the ACM.
- 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the thermally conductive member includes a plurality of thermally conductive extension members, each of which is in thermal contact with the ACM.
- 9. A device according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the thermally conductive extension members extend into the PCM or are surrounded by the PCM.
- 10. A device according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the thermally conductive extension members extend outwardly away from the chamber.
- 11. A device according to claim 8, 9, or 10 wherein each thermally conductive extension member extends circumferentially around the chamber.
- 12. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein each thermally conductive extension member is annular.
- 13. A device according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein each thermally conductive extension member is cylindrical.
- 14. A device according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein each thermally conductive extension member is a parallelepiped.
- 15. A device according to claim 14 wherein each thermally conductive extension member is a rectangular parallelipiped.
- 16. A device according to claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the thermally conductive extension members are substantially evenly spaced around the circumference of the chamber.
- 17. A device according to any one of claims 10 to 16 wherein the thermally conductive extension members are substantially evenly spaced along an elongate axis of the chamber.
- 18. A device according to any one of claims 10 to 17 wherein the thermally conductive extension members are substantially evenly distributed over an outwardly facing surface of the thermally conductive member.
- 19. An instantaneous water heater including a device according to any one of the preceding claims and heating element positioned within the chamber.
- 20. An electric shower including an instantaneous water heater of claim 19.
- 21. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
- 22. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1314203.9A GB2516953B8 (en) | 2013-08-08 | 2013-08-08 | A device for the passage of water |
IE20140194A IE86771B1 (en) | 2013-08-08 | 2014-08-06 | A device for the passage of water |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1314203.9A GB2516953B8 (en) | 2013-08-08 | 2013-08-08 | A device for the passage of water |
Publications (5)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB201314203D0 GB201314203D0 (en) | 2013-09-25 |
GB2516953A true GB2516953A (en) | 2015-02-11 |
GB2516953B GB2516953B (en) | 2015-12-16 |
GB2516953A8 GB2516953A8 (en) | 2016-02-10 |
GB2516953B8 GB2516953B8 (en) | 2016-02-10 |
Family
ID=49261882
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB1314203.9A Expired - Fee Related GB2516953B8 (en) | 2013-08-08 | 2013-08-08 | A device for the passage of water |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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GB (1) | GB2516953B8 (en) |
IE (1) | IE86771B1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3072765A1 (en) * | 2017-10-24 | 2019-04-26 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives | DEVICE FOR HEATING A CIRCULATING FLUID IN A PIPING AND THERMAL INSTALLATION COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE |
US10704451B2 (en) | 2015-12-23 | 2020-07-07 | Castrol Limited | Heat exchanger for an apparatus |
WO2021245401A1 (en) * | 2020-06-01 | 2021-12-09 | Sunamp Limited | Sanitary stations with phase change materials |
WO2024099813A1 (en) * | 2022-11-10 | 2024-05-16 | Envola GmbH | Hot water system |
WO2024099814A1 (en) * | 2022-11-10 | 2024-05-16 | Envola GmbH | Hot water station |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPS61173085A (en) * | 1985-01-25 | 1986-08-04 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Latent heat storage device |
US5560541A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1996-10-01 | I.W. Industries, Inc. | Anti-scald valve for bathroom showers |
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JP2009284964A (en) * | 2008-05-27 | 2009-12-10 | Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd | Shower device |
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JPS61173085A (en) * | 1985-01-25 | 1986-08-04 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Latent heat storage device |
US5687706A (en) * | 1995-04-25 | 1997-11-18 | University Of Florida | Phase change material storage heater |
US5560541A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1996-10-01 | I.W. Industries, Inc. | Anti-scald valve for bathroom showers |
US20090205590A1 (en) * | 2008-02-19 | 2009-08-20 | Jan Vetrovec | Engine cooling system with overload handling capability |
JP2009284964A (en) * | 2008-05-27 | 2009-12-10 | Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd | Shower device |
CN201443848U (en) * | 2009-01-14 | 2010-04-28 | 田海金 | Efficient superconducting and energy storing electric water heater |
DE102011004202A1 (en) * | 2010-02-22 | 2011-08-25 | Hochschule Karlsruhe-Technik und Wirtschaft, 76133 | Latent heat storage element in form of an encapsulated bulk or stacked goods for an energy storage device fillable with a heat transfer fluid, comprises a hollow body and a latent heat storage medium arranged in the hollow body |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10704451B2 (en) | 2015-12-23 | 2020-07-07 | Castrol Limited | Heat exchanger for an apparatus |
FR3072765A1 (en) * | 2017-10-24 | 2019-04-26 | Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives | DEVICE FOR HEATING A CIRCULATING FLUID IN A PIPING AND THERMAL INSTALLATION COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE |
EP3477211A1 (en) * | 2017-10-24 | 2019-05-01 | Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives | Device for heating a fluid flowing in a pipe and thermal installation comprising such a device |
WO2021245401A1 (en) * | 2020-06-01 | 2021-12-09 | Sunamp Limited | Sanitary stations with phase change materials |
WO2024099813A1 (en) * | 2022-11-10 | 2024-05-16 | Envola GmbH | Hot water system |
WO2024099814A1 (en) * | 2022-11-10 | 2024-05-16 | Envola GmbH | Hot water station |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2516953A8 (en) | 2016-02-10 |
IE20140194A1 (en) | 2015-12-16 |
GB2516953B (en) | 2015-12-16 |
GB2516953B8 (en) | 2016-02-10 |
IE86771B1 (en) | 2016-12-14 |
GB201314203D0 (en) | 2013-09-25 |
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S117 | Correction of errors in patents and applications (sect. 117/patents act 1977) |
Free format text: CORRECTIONS ALLOWED; REQUEST FOR CORRECTION UNDER SECTION 117 FILED ON 18 JANUARY 2016, ALLOWED ON 01 FEBRUARY 2016. |
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Effective date: 20180808 |