KR20120050997A - Device comprising a boiler for containing and heating a liquid and a system for containing the liquid at a lower temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus of the present invention includes a boiler for storing and heating a liquid, and a low temperature liquid system for the purpose of storing a relatively low temperature liquid in liquid communication with the boiler. During operation of the apparatus, the boiler is operated to heat a predetermined amount of liquid received from the low temperature liquid system. In order to avoid heating of the liquid present inside the cold liquid system and cooling of the liquid present in the boiler, measures are taken to prevent backflow of the liquid. These measures include the application of some kind of component 9 located upstream of the boiler, and further measures to realize an insulation effect at the location upstream of the boiler, in order to avoid heat transfer through this component 9. Is taken.

Description

DEVICE COMPRISING A BOILER FOR CONTAINING AND HEATING A LIQUID AND A SYSTEM FOR CONTAINING THE LIQUID AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE

The present invention

A boiler for storing and heating liquids such as water,

A device comprising a low temperature liquid system for the purpose of containing a liquid in communication with the boiler while at a lower temperature than the hot liquid from the boiler.

Devices as mentioned at the outset are well known. By way of example, the device may be a water purification device. In many cases, such a device is a gravity based device, where water flows only under the influence of gravity through the device and a filter that is part of the device, and no pumps or the like are used. Thus, in such a device, the boiler is arranged at a lower level than the cold liquid system, which in many instances comprises a storage tank. Also in such a device, a conduit system is provided for interconnecting the storage tank and the boiler. The function of the various elements of the device is adapted to the fact that there are only very low pressures in the device, since only the pressure due to the height of the water column extending between the storage tank and the boiler can be applied.

Conventional gravity based water purification devices have the problem that the water present in the storage tank is likewise heated when the boiler is operated to heat a certain amount of water. The storage tank is for storing water at room temperature, but due to the presence of the connection between the storage tank and the boiler, the temperature of the water in the storage tank rises when the boiler is operated. In this regard, it should be noted that there is always a thermal flow between the quantities of water having various temperatures, regardless of the shape and size of the conduits and other elements for receiving and / or transporting the water. Due to the fact that only low pressures are present in the device, the bay in the storage tank applies complex valves, for example valves comprising spring preload valves or movable parts, to separate the hot water in the boiler from the cold water. It is impossible to do.

The hot water in the boiler has a lower density than the water in the storage tank and the conduit system interconnecting the storage tank and the boiler. Due to the difference in density, hot water tends to rise to a higher height in the apparatus and moves towards the storage tank, while cold water tends to flow downward in the apparatus. As a result, the water in the storage tank gets hotter over time, while the boiler needs to use energy to heat the cold water flowing down.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem in which the temperature of the water in the storage tank is unintentionally increased due to the flow of relative hot water from the boiler to the storage tank. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem concerning the unintentional increase in energy required to heat water in a boiler due to the flow of relatively low temperature water from the storage tank to the boiler.

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a boiler as described above and a low temperature liquid system, the apparatus further comprising means for preventing backflow from the boiler to the low temperature liquid system and for realizing heat insulation upstream of the boiler. Equipped.

It should be noted that the means for preventing backflow from the boiler to the low temperature liquid system and for realizing insulation at an upstream location of the boiler include a single structure incorporating both functions as described above. By way of example, for the purpose of preventing backflow, the device according to the invention may comprise a one-way valve for allowing liquid to flow in the direction from the cold liquid system to the boiler and for blocking flow in the other direction. In gravity based devices, the valve may be a low pressure actuated valve, such as an umbrella valve or a duckbill valve. However, such valves are generally very thin and as a result there is significant heat transfer through these valves. Thus, in the case of applying the above-mentioned thin valve, even if the direct flow of liquid can be interrupted by the valve, the cooling of the hot liquid is avoided under the influence of the presence of the low temperature liquid, and the cooling of the low temperature liquid under the influence of the high temperature liquid In order to avoid heating, a configuration for realizing the thermal insulation function is likewise provided. As an example, space for capturing air can be provided in the vicinity of the valve.

In any case, when the present invention is applied, no flow of liquid occurs in the direction from the boiler to the cold liquid system, and the effect that the hot liquid is insulated from the cold liquid is achieved. As an advantageous result, it is expected that liquid at room temperature will exist in the cold liquid system, but the inconvenience of the user of the device discovering that a certain amount of warm water is present no longer occurs. In addition, the energy consumption by the boiler is reduced because the temperature on the boiler side of the device is no longer continuously reduced under the influence of the interaction with the liquid from the cold liquid system. Another advantageous result of improved sequestration of hot and cold liquids is that conditions known as bio fouling in the cold liquid system are difficult to occur or at least some health hazards during general use of the device according to the invention. It also slows down to a degree that does not occur.

With regard to the possibility of having a one-way valve in the apparatus to prevent backflow, it should be noted that such a valve may be of a type configured to open under the influence of liquid pressure. This option is particularly advantageous where it is necessary to design the device according to the invention as simply as possible, and there is a need for a valve with movable parts that need to be actively placed in an open or closed position by a micro-controller or the like. It does not exist.

For the device according to the invention, it is preferred to include an air capture space located at a position upstream of the boiler. In this way, an airlock is created, which can be positioned to insulate the hot liquid in the boiler from the cold liquid in the cold liquid system. Preferably, the design of the air capture space is such that air is automatically captured when the device is filled with liquid. In this case, a predetermined amount of air remains in the device as long as the device is filled with liquid. In addition, the aerolock is regenerated each time a device comprising a boiler is drained and recharged.

Within the scope of the present invention, the low temperature liquid system and the boiler may be directly connected to each other, but it is also possible according to the invention to include a conduit system for interconnecting the boiler and the low temperature liquid system, the conduit system being a low temperature. A conduit extending between the liquid system and the boiler, wherein the air capture space is present in the portion of the conduit having a larger cross-sectional area than the adjacent portions. In this configuration, various kinds of practical measures can be taken to ensure that air remains in the defined portion of the conduit, where the portion of the conduit with the larger cross sectional area is connected to the portions with the smaller cross sectional area. It may be possible to use a configuration in which barriers exist.

In a practical embodiment, the apparatus may comprise means for preventing liquid from filling the air capture space from the side of the cold liquid system in the form of a wall that blocks access to the air capture space. Having a physical barrier to limit at least a portion of the air capture space in the device is a suitable way to ensure that air is retained in the air capture space based on the fact that the space cannot be reached by the liquid.

According to a first possibility, there is a conduit system comprising a conduit extending between the low temperature liquid system and the boiler, the tube member being arranged inside the conduit and located at least at the end portion of the tube member, in particular at the side of the boiler. The cross-sectional area of the end portion is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the conduit at the position where the end portion of the tube member is present. In this case, the wall of the end portion of the tube member is a liquid comprising an air trapping space present in the region in which the flow of liquid exists during operation, ie between the inside of the tube member and the wall of the conduit and the end portion of the tube member. It constitutes a physical barrier between areas that cannot be reached by.

Preferably, the wall of the tube member is a thin wall and comprises a flexible material, so that the end portion of the tube member is opened and closed under the influence of very low pressures, for example pressures present in the gravity based device. Can be used as a one-way valve. Embodiments that include a tube member extending inside the conduit have the advantages of a compact and simple design and at the same time have a useful valve function and air trapping function to prevent backflow of liquid from the boiler to the cold liquid system and The transfer of heat through is likewise prevented.

According to a second possibility existing within the concept of having a wall for blocking access to the air capture space, the air capture space is defined by the interior space of the hollow member for receiving the air. In this case, the hollow member constitutes a wall which prevents the liquid from filling the air trapping space. The hollow member may be freely arranged in the portion of the conduit of the conduit system having a larger cross-sectional area than the adjacent portions, the cross-sectional area of the hollow member being greater than the cross-sectional area of the adjacent portions of the conduit. Based on the deviations in the sizes of the cross-sectional areas, it is impossible for the hollow member and the air contained therein to escape from the defined portion of the conduit. Also, due to the free arrangement of the hollow member, the hollow member can perform a valve function. In particular, when the hollow member blocks an opening existing between a portion of the conduit with a smaller cross-sectional area and a portion of the conduit with a larger cross-sectional area, backflow from the boiler to the cold liquid system is prevented, while the hollow member is a cold liquid from the boiler. By floating at a location inside the portion of the conduit with a larger cross-sectional area under the influence of the presence of the flow of liquid from the system, the above-described opening may no longer be blocked.

The hollow member may have any suitable shape to hold a predetermined amount of air. By way of example, the hollow member may be ball-shaped, completely closed or dome shaped, and one side of the hollow member, in particular the bottom side of the hollow member, is open.

According to other options applicable when the device comprises a separate valve in addition to the hollow member, the hollow member may be connected to the valve. In this configuration, heat transfer through the valve is minimized because the insulating effect of the presence of air occurs directly at the position of the valve.

It should be noted that when the hollow member is applied, in particular when the hollow member is completely closed, the member may be filled with a suitable insulating material other than air.

When the device has an air trapping space, another advantageous possibility to create a one-way valve function and improve the thermal insulation of the space is to apply means for converting the flow of liquid from the cold liquid system into the boiler into a shower of droplets. It is. In particular, by the means described above, there is never a physical contact between the liquid on one side of the air trapping space and the liquid on the other side of the air trapping space, so that maximum insulation is achieved. In addition, no liquid flow from the boiler to the cold liquid system can be achieved because the air blocks the return of the liquid.

Application of the means for converting the flow of liquid into the shower of droplets is particularly useful in configurations where the means are arranged above the air capture space while the cold liquid system is arranged at a higher height than the boiler. The droplets then simply fall from this means toward the conduit leading to the boiler and cross the air capture space. In a practical embodiment, the means for converting the flow of liquid into the shower of droplets comprises a plurality of thin plates, straws, fibers, etc., which extend adjacent to each other with a small space therebetween. The advantage of applying the fibers is that this means can also have the function of purifying the liquid.

For practical reasons, it is desirable for the apparatus to have a pipe for the purpose of being arranged between the low temperature liquid system and the boiler and used for degassing the liquid filled portion of the apparatus. In general, degassing pipes as described above have a relatively small diameter. When the air capture space is present in the system according to the invention, it may be possible for this space to be present in the cold liquid system, with the end portion of the degassing pipe extending into the air capture space. Also in this case, the apparatus may comprise two one-way valves, which one-way valves are arranged at a position inside the conduit to function to allow liquid to flow through the conduit from the cold liquid system to the boiler and in the other direction. And a one-way valve arranged at the end of the degassing pipe present inside the cold liquid system, allowing liquid from the boiler to flow through the degassing pipe into the cold liquid system, Flow in the other direction functions to block. In this arrangement, the interface between the hot and cold liquids is at the end of the degassing pipe. In particular, this prevents the user of the device from clearly observing sections of the device where the hot and cold liquids are separated from each other, since sanitary contaminants such as fungi, limescale, etc. are expected to be mainly present in this section. With respect to the user can contribute to the user satisfaction with the device.

In the apparatus according to the invention, at least part of the boiler can be located at a lower height than the low temperature liquid system. In this regard, it should be noted that the device may be a gravity based device in which the displacement of the liquid is made only under the influence of gravity. A particular aspect of gravity based devices is that such devices can operate without a pump or the like, so that energy and space can be saved, which can be advantageous for various intended applications of the device. In gravity based devices, where the one-way valve is present in the conduit of the conduit system, the air capture space is preferably located between the valve and the boiler. When an air capture space is present on the boiler side of the valve, the liquid inside the boiler is maintained at a higher possible temperature, which means that the elements of the device arranged beyond the valve and the heat transfer process to the valve have an insulating effect of the air capture space. This is because it is inhibited on the basis of.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent and clearly understood from the following detailed description of a number of embodiments of the device according to the present invention focused on the part of the device in which the air trapping space is present.

Water heating and dispensing systems are disclosed in WO 98/51970. The system includes a distributor body having a water reservoir that can be replenished by an inverted water bottle. This bottle is mounted on top of the dispenser body. The system further includes a low temperature water tank, a high temperature water tank and a non-return valve located in the pipe. The pipe supplies water from the water reservoir to the hot water tank and prevents the return of the heated water in the hot water tank to the cold water tank. An expansion chamber is connected to the hot water tank to enable expansion of the heated water. The cold water tank is insulated from the expansion chamber and the hot water tank.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like or like parts are designated by like reference numerals.
1 schematically shows a number of components of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention comprising a storage tank, a boiler and a conduit extending from the storage tank to the boiler.
2 schematically shows a portion of a conduit in which an air trapping space exists.
3 through 9 illustrate a number of alternative options that exist within the inventive concept for the design of the portion of the conduit in which the air trapping space is present.
10 schematically shows a number of components of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention comprising a low temperature conduit and a boiler.
11 schematically shows a number of components of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention.
In the figures, the direction of flow of water is shown by the arrow.

1 schematically shows a number of components of a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. In this example, the device 1 is a device for purifying water, but the fact that the present invention is also applicable to the field of other types of devices does not change.

The apparatus 1 comprises a storage tank 2 for receiving water and a boiler 3 for receiving and heating water. 1 shows the location of the storage tank 2 and the boiler 3 in relation to the normal orientation of the apparatus 1, showing that the boiler 3 is located at a lower level than the storage tank 2. The storage tank 2 and the boiler 3 communicate via a conduit 4 extending from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3 and have a substantially vertical orientation in the example shown. Furthermore, in the example shown, a degassing pipe 5 is arranged between the storage tank 2 and the boiler 3.

The filling process of the boiler 3 is carried out by gravity, in which water flows from the storage tank 2 through the conduit 4 to the boiler 3. The boiler 3 has heating means suitable for heating water and / or boiling water.

The device 1 is coupled to the two faucets 6, 7, namely the faucet 6, which serves to supply water from the storage tank 2, and the boiler 3, which is coupled to the boiler 3. And a faucet 7 which serves to supply water from (3). The user of the device 1 uses the first faucet 6 if he / she wants to take water at room temperature from the device 1, while the user wants to take the second faucet 7 if he wants to take hot water from the device 1. I use it.

The present invention prevents unwanted displacement of hot water to the storage tank 2 through the conduit 4 and unwanted displacement of cold water to the boiler 3, which occurs when the conduit 4 is simply opened in all situations. It's about the actions that help to do that. Specifically, according to the invention, it prevents the backflow of water through the conduit 4, ie the flow from the boiler 3 to the storage tank 2 and creates an insulation at the point between the storage tank 2 and the boiler 3. Action is taken to do so.

FIG. 2 shows the detail 8 of FIG. 1, that is, the portion 8 of the conduit 4 having a larger cross-sectional area than the adjacent portion, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, to prevent backflow of water and A first example of how to implement the function of isolation from water) is illustrated. In the example shown, a thin flexible tube member 9 is arranged inside a portion 8 of the conduit 4 (hereinafter referred to as an expanded conduit portion 8) having a relatively large cross-sectional area. One end of the tube member 9 is arranged on the storage tank side of the expansion conduit portion 8, and the other end of the tube member 9 is arranged on the boiler side of the expansion conduit portion 8. On the boiler side, the tube member 9 is tapered and the end 10 of the tube member 9 is always closed. Only under the influence of the pressure difference between one side of the normally closed end 10 and the other side, the tube member 9 is opened to allow water to pass through.

In the apparatus 1 for purifying water, pressure is applied from the storage tank 2 side under the influence of gravity. When the tube member 9 opens under the influence of this pressure, water flows from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3. As soon as the pressure is relieved, the tube member 9 is brought to its end 10 by a predetermined amount of air which functions to surround the end 10 of the tube member 9 and / or in its original closed position as described below. It is closed again under the influence of the inclination of the material of the tube member 9 to estimate the pressure exerted on it. In any case, in the closed state of the tube member 9, no backflow of the flow from the boiler 3 to the storage tank 2 can occur. Thus, the tube member 9 acts like a one-way valve adapted to allow only the flow of water from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3 while blocking the passage in the opposite direction. Specifically, the tube member 9 acts like a so-called duckbill valve.

Moreover, due to the tapered shape of the tube member 9, the air trapping space 11 is formed in the expanded conduit portion 8, ie at the point where there is a space between the outer wall of the tubular member 9 and the inner wall of the conduit 4. Obtained. This air capture space 11 cannot be filled by water flowing from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3 because water is guided through the expansion conduit portion 8 by the tube member 9, and once When the device 1 is filled, the air remaining inside the expanded conduit portion 8 is trapped in the air capture space 11, which is surrounded by the wall of the conduit 4, the wall of the tube member 9, and the boiler. No water can escape from the side.

On the basis of the presence of air in the air capture space 11, a thermal insulation effect is produced, and the thermal insulation is present between the relatively cold water at the storage tank side and the relatively hot water at the boiler side. In this way, the temperature of the water in the storage tank 2 is not actually affected by the temperature of the water in the boiler 3, and the temperature of the water in the boiler 3 is actually not affected by the temperature of the water in the storage tank 2. Do not.

In particular, the device 1 according to the invention can provide the same water purification function and water storage function as the conventional water purification device. Since the tube member 9 can be opened at low pressure, the flow of water from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3 is not actually affected. The advantageous effects of the design with the tube member 9 include a valve function in which backflow of water is prevented and a thermal insulation function in which heat transfer between water at the storage tank side and water at the boiler side is minimized.

There are many alternatives to implement the valve function and the thermal insulation function described in the above examples within the scope of the present invention. 3-9 illustrate a number of such alternatives.

In figure 3 a first alternative is shown. According to this alternative, the tube member 9 is rigid, not tapered and unable to perform the valve function. Thus, a separate valve 13 is provided on the storage tank side of the tube member 9, which can be a relatively simple valve that can be opened under the influence of low pressure, such as an umbrella valve. As in the embodiment described on the basis of FIG. 2, an air trapping space 11 between the outer wall of the tube member 9 and the inner wall of the conduit 4 in order to realize a thermal insulation function at the point of the expansion conduit portion 8. This exists.

4 shows a second alternative. According to this alternative, no tube member 9 is present and the air trapping space 11 is simply constituted by the top of the expansion conduit portion 8. At the point from the expanded conduit portion 8 to the adjacent conduit portion 12 on the storage tank side, a valve 13 is provided so that water flows from the storage tank 2 through the air capture space 11 to the boiler 3. And block passages in the opposite direction to prevent air from escaping the air capture space 11. For example, the valve 13 is an electrically operated solenoid valve. In this case, the function of the valve 13 does not depend directly on the pressure established on the two sides of the valve 13, but the proper operation of the valve 13 in a situation where the pressure is higher than the gravity based device 1. This is also guaranteed.

In figure 5 a third alternative is shown. According to this alternative, an umbrella valve 13 is arranged on the storage tank side of the expansion conduit part 8 and an air capture space 11 is arranged on the lower right side of the valve 13 when going from the storage tank side to the boiler side. do.

In figure 6 a fourth alternative is shown. According to this alternative, there is an umbrella valve 13 as in the third alternative. However, the air capture space 11 is provided in the form of a hollow member 14 for receiving air or other insulating material and connected to the valve 13.

In FIG. 7, a fifth alternative is shown. According to this alternative, an apparatus 15 for converting the flow of water into droplets of water is applied. In the example shown, this device 15 comprises a plurality of sheets, straws, fibers, etc., which extend a relatively small distance with respect to each other. Application of the fibers in the droplet device 15 is preferred because it is also possible to use the droplet device 15 to purify water based on this application.

The droplet device 15 is arranged near the storage tank of the expansion conduit portion 8, and the air capture space 11 is present in the upper portion of the expansion conduit portion 8. Under the influence of the pressure acting from the side of the storage tank 2, a flow of water is supplied to the droplet device 15, and droplets of water are produced as the water passes through the device 15, which droplets are expanded conduit portions. It falls toward the boiler side of (8). By supplying water to the boiler 3 in the form of droplets, no direct contact is achieved between the water at the storage tank side and the water at the boiler side, so that the thermal insulation function of the air capture space 11 is further improved. Based on the fact that the droplet device 15 provides a specific flow resistance, the droplet device 15 has a valve function. However, if desired, it is possible to have additional valves 13, such as umbrella valves, as shown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 8, a sixth alternative is shown. According to this alternative, a hollow member 14 comprising air or other insulating material is arranged inside the expanding conduit portion 8, which freely floats inside the expanding conduit portion 8. In the example shown, the hollow member 14 is ball shaped and the cross-sectional area of the hollow member 14 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the expanded conduit portion 8 and larger than the cross-sectional areas of the adjacent conduit portions 12, 16. In this way it is ensured that the hollow member 14 does not escape from the expansion conduit portion 8. At the storage tank side of the expansion conduit portion 8, the conduit 4 is tapered, so that the hollow member 14 is adjacent to the conduit portion 8 from the expansion conduit portion 8 at the storage tank side when no pressure is applied. It is guided smoothly into a position to block the passage to 12). However, when pressure is applied, the hollow member 14 is slightly displaced, so that water can pass between the hollow member 14 and the inner wall of the conduit 4. This is in accordance with the above description that the hollow member 14 has a valve function. However, if desired, it is also possible to have additional valves 13, such as umbrella valves as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, a seventh alternative is shown. According to this alternative, another type of hollow member is applied, ie a domed hollow member 17 which is open at the bottom side. Since the air rises in the water, there is no risk of air escaping from the hollow member 17 even when the open side is present.

Although the alternatives described above are different from each other, there are two important points they have in common: the means for preventing backflow of water, and the insulation function at the location between the boiler 3 and the storage tank 2. There exists a means to realize this. These means may be arranged in a single structure, such as a thin flexible tube member 9 arranged inside a portion of the conduit 4 as shown in FIG. 2 or hollow members 14 and 17 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Can be realized on the basis of Also, a structure with more elements, such as a combination of umbrella valve 13 and rigid tube member 9 as shown in FIG. 3, may be applied. In any case, a very practical way to realize the thermal insulation function is to have a certain amount of air at a position that separates the water at the storage tank side from the water at the boiler side.

By only allowing the flow of water from the storage tank 2 to the boiler 3, by preventing backflow, and by providing a thermal insulation function, it is achieved that the water present inside the storage tank 2 remains at room temperature, while , The relatively high temperature of the water present inside the boiler 3 is substantially unaffected by the much lower temperature of the water present in the storage tank 2.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples described above, and that many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail with reference to the drawings and detailed description, such examples and description are to be considered illustrative or explanatory only and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and practiced by those skilled in the art having practiced the claimed invention from a review of the appended claims and drawings and detailed description. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps and elements, and the indefinite article "work" does not exclude a plurality. The fact that certain measures are described in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

For the device 1 according to the invention, it is not necessary to include a storage tank 2 for storing cold water and for supplying cold water at the user's request. In general, the device 1 according to the invention comprises a system for receiving a liquid external to the boiler 3, which may likewise be shaped like a conduit system, for example. For illustration of this situation, an embodiment of the device 18 according to the invention, which does not include a storage tank 2 and which comprises only low temperature water conduits 19 in liquid communication with the boiler 3, is shown in FIG. 10. It is shown schematically.

In addition, if the devices 1, 18 according to the invention comprise an air trapping space 11, this space 11 does not need to be present in the conduit 4. 11 shows one embodiment of a device 20 in which the air trapping space 11 has a different position. In particular, an alternative position is the position inside the bottom portion 21 of the storage tank 2, where the end portion of the degassing pipe 5 is inside the bottom portion 21 of the storage tank 2 as described above. And an air trapping space 11 is arranged to surround this end portion. For the purpose of limiting the air capture space 11 only to the extent that the bottom part is left open, the wall part 22 is arranged inside the storage tank 2.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, for the purpose of preventing backflow from the boiler 3 to the storage tank 2, a suitable one-way valve 13 is arranged at a position inside the conduit 4. Another one-way valve 23 is also provided, which is located in the bottom portion 21 of the storage tank 2 in the air capture space 11 at the end of the degassing pipe 5.

When there is air inside the air capture space 11, the hot water is separated from the cold water at the position of the end of the degassing pipe 5. In addition, the air can function as a backup unit when the valve 23 has a predetermined leak. An important advantage of the construction of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is recognized when considering the fact that the degassing pipe 5 has a relatively small diameter. If any contaminants are present in the water, it is true that these contaminants generally tend to be present at the interface between hot water and cold water. In this case, the interface as described above is small, so that it is difficult or even impossible for the user to observe any contaminants, which may contribute to the customer's confidence in the device 20.

For the sake of completeness, the present invention has a low temperature liquid system (2, 19) and a boiler (3), the low temperature liquid system (2, 19) and the boiler (3) is in liquid communication with each other, and maintains heat at the boiler side It should be noted that keeping the low temperature on the cold liquid system side can be applied in any situation where it is desirable. Thus, the apparatus 1, 18, 20 according to the invention need not necessarily be a gravity based apparatus and may comprise additional components, in particular a pump, for realizing the desired displacement of the liquid through the apparatus. In addition, the present invention can be applied to the field of any type of liquid, where water is only one practical example. With regard to the boiler 3, it should be noted that this component of the apparatus 1, 18, 20 according to the invention can be of any suitable type. The construction of the boiler 3 with heating means for heating the contents of the boiler 3 is well known and no further explanation is required herein.

The present invention can be summarized as follows. The apparatus 1, 18, 20 may comprise a boiler 3 for receiving and heating a liquid, such as water, and a cryogenic liquid system 2, 19 in liquid communication with the boiler 3, the cryogenic liquid system. Is a system for the purpose of containing a liquid at a lower temperature than the hot liquid from the boiler 3, ie a relatively cold liquid. During operation of the apparatus 1, 18, 20, the boiler 3 is operated to heat a predetermined amount of liquid received from the low temperature liquid system 2, 19. Avoid the heating of the liquid present inside the low temperature liquid system 2, 19 under the influence of the natural displacement of the relative hot liquid and the relative low temperature liquid in the apparatus 1, 18, 20, and cooling the liquid present in the boiler 3. To avoid this, measures are taken to prevent the backflow of the liquid. These measures apply the application of some kind of component located upstream of the boiler 3 and at a location upstream of the boiler 3 that may be in the vicinity of the component to avoid heat transfer through the component. Further measures are taken to realize the insulation effect. The actual way to realize the adiabatic effect is to provide the air capture space 11 at a suitable location.

Claims (15)

A boiler (3) for storing and heating liquids, such as water,
A low temperature liquid system (2, 19) in liquid communication with said boiler (3), said low temperature liquid system (2, 19) configured to receive a liquid at a lower temperature than the hot liquid from said boiler (3);
A device (1, 18, 20) comprising means for preventing backflow from the boiler (3) to the cold liquid system (2, 19) and for realizing heat insulation upstream of the boiler (3). To
Means for preventing backflow from the boiler to the cold liquid system and for realizing insulation at a location upstream of the boiler comprise a unitary structure incorporating both of the functions mentioned. 18, 20). 2. Device (1, 28, 20) according to claim 1, comprising a space (11) for trapping air in the device (1, 18, 20), located upstream of the boiler (3). 3. A conduit system according to claim 2 comprising a conduit system interconnecting said boiler (3) and said low temperature liquid system (2), said conduit system extending between said low temperature liquid system (2) and said boiler (3). A device (1, 18) comprising a conduit (4), said air trapping space (11) being in a portion (8) of the conduit (4) having a larger cross-sectional area than adjacent portions (12, 16). 3. The method of claim 2, wherein liquid from the sides of the cryogenic liquid system (2, 19) is prevented from filling the air capture space (11) in the form of a wall that blocks access to the air capture space (11). Apparatus (1, 18, 20) comprising means for. 5. The conduit system according to claim 4, further comprising a conduit system interconnecting the cold liquid system 2 and the boiler 3, wherein the conduit system extends between the cold liquid system 2 and the boiler 3. A conduit (4), wherein a tube member (9) is arranged inside the conduit (4) and at least an end portion of the tube member (9), in particular an end portion located on the side of the boiler (3). The device (1) in which the cross-sectional area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the conduit (4) at the position where the end portion of the tube member (9) is present. 6. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the wall of the tube member (9) is a thin wall and comprises a flexible material. The device (1) according to claim 2, comprising a hollow member (14, 17) for receiving the heat insulating material. 8. The system according to claim 7, comprising a conduit system interconnecting said cold liquid system (2) and said boiler (3), said conduit system extending between said cold liquid system (2) and said boiler (3). A conduit (4), wherein the hollow members (14, 17) are freely arranged within the portion (8) of the conduit (4) having a larger cross-sectional area than the adjacent portions (12, 16), and the hollow member Apparatus (1), wherein the cross-sectional area of (14, 17) is greater than the cross-sectional area of adjacent portions (12, 16) of the conduit (4). 8. Device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the hollow member (17) is domed in shape with an open side. A valve (13) according to claim 7, comprising a valve (13) to allow liquid to flow in the direction from the cold liquid system (2, 19) to the boiler (3) and to block flow in the other direction; The hollow member (14) is connected to the valve (13). 3. A plurality of thin plates according to claim 2, extending adjacent to each other with a small space therebetween to convert the flow of liquid from the cold liquid system (2, 19) to the boiler (3) into a shower of droplets. Device (1) comprising means (15) such as straws or fibers. 3. The conduit system according to claim 2, comprising a conduit system interconnecting said cold liquid system (2) and said boiler (3), said conduit system extending between said cold liquid system (2) and said boiler (4). ) And a degassing pipe (5) having a relatively small diameter, the degassing pipe being arranged between the cryogenic liquid system (2) and the boiler (3), the air trapping space (11) being the cryogenic liquid Apparatus (20) present in the system (2), wherein an end portion of the degassing pipe (5) extends inside the air capture space (11). 13. The boiler (3) according to claim 12, comprising two one-way valves (13, 23), wherein the one-way valve (13) is arranged in a position inside the conduit (4) from the low temperature liquid system (2) to the boiler (3). It functions to block flow in the other direction while allowing liquid flow in the direction through the conduit 4 of the furnace, and another one-way valve 23 is present inside the cold liquid system 2. Arrangement 20 which is arranged at the end of the valve and functions to allow liquid flow in the direction from the boiler 3 to the cold liquid system 2 through the degassing pipe 5 and to block flow in the other direction. ) 15. Apparatus (1, 18) according to claim 14, wherein the displacement of the liquid is only a gravity-based device in which it is under the influence of gravity, and at least part of the boiler (3) is located at a lower level than the low temperature liquid system (2, 19). , 20). The valve (13) according to claim 14, wherein the valve (13) for allowing liquid flow in the direction from the cold liquid system (2) to the boiler (3) and blocking flow in the other direction, and air in the apparatus (1). And a space (11) for capturing the air capture space (11), wherein the air capture space (11) is located at a position between the valve (13) and the boiler (3).

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