KR20220123630A - Uv lamp and anti-scale water treatment water heater apparatus with sanitation loop - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a UV lamp with a sanitation loop and an anti-scale water heater. In a water system for households, a water heating and treating system including a UV lamp and an anti-scale water treatment sanitation equipment for suppressing the pathogens including a content of undesirable bacteria includes a water heater. A cool water supply line for supplying water to the water heater includes: an anti-scale device, and a UV sanitation lamp. The water heater sanitation loop includes a sanitation loop pump for circulating hot water in the water heater. A water heater control unit activates the water heater sanitation loop, and instantaneously increases the temperature of the water heater up to a sanitation temperature of 151℉ or higher for one or more segments of at least 2 minutes in a sanitation loop mode. Also described is a method for treating hot water for suppressing pathogens including the population of undesirable bacteria in a water system for households.

Description

UV LAMP AND ANTI-SCALE WATER TREATMENT WATER HEATER APPARATUS WITH SANITATION LOOP

This application relates to the sanitization of water and in particular to the sanitization of water in water heaters and treatment systems.

Legionella pneumonia from bacteria evaporated by vaporization from contaminated water contaminated with Legionella bacteria is a well-known risk factor. For example, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the non-patent literature of https://wwwcdcgov/vitalsigns/pdf/2016-06-vitalsigns.pdf, issued June 2016 of Vitalsigns™ , Legionella grows best in poorly maintained building water systems. Building owners and managers must adopt newly published standards encouraging Legionella water management programs, which are ways to reduce the risk of these bacteria in building water systems.

According to one aspect, a water heating and treatment system with a UV lamp and anti-scale water treatment sanitation for suppression of pathogens and undesirable bacteria inclusion in a domestic water supply system comprises a water heater. The cold water supply line for supplying water to the water heater includes a blue tube device, and a UV sanitary lamp. A single or multiple mixing station supplies heated water to one or multiple temperature zones. Single or multiple mixing stations are fluidly coupled from the water heater to the cold water supply line and to the hot water outlet line. A single or multiple mixing station supplies water heated to a first hot water temperature to at least a first temperature zone. The water heater sanitary loop includes a sanitary loop pump for circulating hot water within the water heater. The water heater controller activates the water heater sanitary loop and causes the water temperature of the water heater to rapidly increase to a sanitary temperature above 151° F. for one or more periods in the sanitary loop mode. The mixing station maintains at least the first temperature zone at approximately the first hot water temperature during operation of the sanitary loop mode. Here, the period may be at least 2 minutes.

In one embodiment, the water heater controller activates the water heater sanitary loop on a predetermined schedule.

In another embodiment, the water heater controller is communicatively coupled to at least one of: a UV sanitary lamp or a sanitary duct device, the water heater controller responsive to detecting at least one of: a sanitary lamp fault indication or a sanitary lamp fault indication, the water heater Activate the sanitary loop.

In another embodiment, the cold water supply line includes a sediment filter.

In another embodiment, the water heating and treatment system further comprises a hot water recirculation line.

In another embodiment, the water heating and treatment system further comprises a one-way check valve disposed in the hot water recirculation line.

In another embodiment, the hot water recirculation line includes a settling filter.

In another embodiment, the hot water recirculation line comprises an additional UV lamp sanitation device.

In another embodiment, the hot water recirculation line comprises an additional purging device.

In another embodiment, the water heater comprises an automatic blow down device comprising a blow down valve controlled by a water heater controller, said automatic blow down device to dislodge scale formed in the water heater.

In another embodiment, the water heater comprises a gas heated heater with an adjustable burner.

In another embodiment, the water heater comprises an indirectly heated heat exchanger.

In another embodiment, the indirectly heated heat exchanger is selected from the group consisting of: a plate and frame heat exchanger, a welded plate heat exchanger, and a shell and tube heat exchanger.

In another embodiment, the water heater comprises an indirectly heated steam heated heat exchanger.

In another embodiment, the indirectly heated steam heated heat exchanger is selected from the group consisting of: a welded plate heat exchanger, and a shell and tube heat exchanger.

In another embodiment, the water heater comprises an electric heater.

In another embodiment, the water heating and treatment system further comprises at least one chemical injector below the hot water outlet of the water heater.

In another embodiment, a water heating and treatment system includes a hot water distribution fluidly coupled to an outlet line of a water heater without active water temperature tempering and hot temperature distribution water maintained at an approximate setpoint temperature by a mixing station.

In another embodiment, the water heating and treatment system further includes a one-way check valve at the hot water outlet of the water heater.

According to another aspect, a method for treating hot water to inhibit pathogens and undesirable bacteria inclusion in a domestic water supply system comprises: cold water for supplying water to a water heater comprising a water heater, a cleaning tube device, and a UV sanitary lamp. A supply line, a single or multiple mixing station for supplying heated water to one or multiple temperature zones, the single or multiple mixing stations being fluidly coupled from a water heater to a cold water supply line and to a hot water outlet line; A single or multiple mixing stations may include a water heater sanitary loop including a sanitary loop pump for circulating hot water within the single or multiple mixing stations, water heater, for supplying water heated to a first hot water temperature to at least a first temperature zone. providing; flowing the cold water to the water heater or sanitizing the cold water prior to pumping; and operating the sanitary loop pump to circulate hot water in the water heater to an elevated temperature in excess of 151°F (66°C) and maintaining the elevated temperature in the water heater for at least two minutes as controlled by the water heater controller. and sanitizing the hot water in the heater.

In one embodiment, sanitizing the hot water in the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop includes periodically sanitizing the hot water in the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop.

In another embodiment, sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop comprises sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop in response to a fault alarm of the UV sanitary lamp. .

The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.

The features of the present application may be better understood with reference to the drawings and claims described below. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed on illustrating the principles described herein. In the drawings, like numbers are used to refer to like parts throughout the various views.
1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary UV lamp and blue tube water treatment water heater device with a sanitary loop in accordance with the present application;
2 is a diagram showing recommended sanitary temperatures and times; and
3 shows a diagram of an exemplary self-closing, single cabinet embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 ;

As explained above, Legionella pneumonia from bacteria evaporated by vaporization from contaminated water contaminated with Legionella bacteria is a well-known risk factor. Water heaters, including low-volume flash heaters, pose a significant risk if mitigation techniques are not in place. Associated cold water supply lines and hot water distribution systems are also at risk of contamination by pathogens such as Legionella, bacteria, and other undesirable microorganisms in the domestic water supply system.

One way to significantly eliminate Legionella and other pathogens is to heat the water at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient amount of time. One method in the prior art is to heat the water in the system to about 50° C. to 60° C. for about 1 hour. However, these hygiene methods can also cause several problems. Mass heating of water in the system for sanitary reasons uses significantly more energy consumption that could otherwise be used. Also, the entire system or parts of the system may need to be removed from service during periods of elevated water temperatures used for system sanitation cycles. More recently, it has been discovered that further elevated water temperatures above about 151° F. (66° C.) can be effective in at least about 2 minute sanitary cycles. However, compared to the usual lower hot water temperatures, energy costs still have to be considered.

Recently, sanitation by ultraviolet light is more effective and more widely used. One advantage of UV sanitation is that it can be operated to treat water continuously at one or more key points in a domestic water supply system, such as, for example, in a cold water supply line, and also in a recirculation water return line.

Pathogens also accumulate when they scale in various places in domestic water systems and heaters. Efforts have been made with respect to water hardness to mitigate scale formation to prevent premature aging and failure of various water supply system components. Scaling has also been found to be a significant vector for pathogens such as Legionella. Scale deposits provide a place for pathogens such as biofilms to attach. Efforts should also be made to mitigate scale formation to largely prevent habitats for pathogens.

For example, blue tube technologies, such as the OneFlow® cleaning tube system, available from Watts Water Technologies, Inc. of North Andover, Massachusetts, may be used as part of a pathogen control program. Clearance systems are distinct from water softening devices and systems that are less effective or ineffective in preventing scale build-up as part of a pathogen containment or mitigation program. U.S. Pat. No. 9,879,120 B2, assigned to Watts Water Technologies Inc., Resins for Precipitation of Minerals and Salts, Methods of Preparation and Uses thereof, describes polyvalent cations to allow ion exchange between the resin and polyvalent cations. A method for producing a scale-controlling resin comprising an aqueous solution of a weak acid anionic mineral or salt and a cation-exchange resin with The cation-exchange resin may be a weak acid ion exchange resin. The method may further comprise adding to the aqueous solution a weak acid anionic mineral or a strong acid salt having the same polyvalent cation as the salt. US Patent Application Serial No. 62/675,898, QCM Measurement of Scale Formation, describes a representative water hardness mitigation or treatment evaluation system for evaluating the effectiveness of a water hardness mitigation or treatment evaluation system. These representative techniques can be used to generate a fault indication for a blue tube device that can be accommodated by a controller, such as a water heater controller, similar to a fault from a UV lamp device. The '120 patent and the '898 application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

The addition of UV sanitation and/or water treatment products, such as OneFlow® products, in a domestic water supply system can alone provide sufficient treatment and pathogen mitigation. Because the energy consumption of these systems is relatively small (eg, power to drive one or more UV lamps, or power to monitor negligible operation of a water treatment system), domestic water sanitation is now subject to elevated water temperatures. This can be achieved without higher costs for the additional energy consumption used to increase the temperature of the water for sanitation. Exemplary suitable UV sanitization systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,738,547 B2, Ultraviolet Light Sanitization Assembly with Flow Switch and Keyed Lamp, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,932,245 B2, UV Sanitation Treatment Assemblies with High Dose Features and Controlling The Same. methods have been described, both of which are assigned to Watts Water Technologies, Inc. The '547 and '245 patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

More advanced UV sanitary systems typically also communicate with a building controller, such as, for example, a system programmable logic controller, and/or can communicate directly with a water heater controller (eg, a processor or microcomputer based controller). Through the local component controller, fault indications are provided. Faults, such as UV lamp failure, can be displayed or alerted locally and/or through the building control system. Unfortunately, many of these domestic water systems have sinks and sinks, sometimes for relatively long periods of time, before a defective UV lamp or other sanitary device is recognized as defective and/or there can be a delay until the failed device is repaired. It is common to continue to provide water to end users, including showers. Failure to timely maintenance and repair of water sanitation components can be caused by lack of routine system and maintenance inspections, delays in calling for repairs, lack of obtainable spare parts, or negligence by the building owner. can be caused After some period of time without device maintenance or replacement, the domestic water supply system can become vulnerable to contamination by pathogens, just as if a failed calibration facility was never installed.

Water heating and treatment, systems and systems that can effectively contain pathogens, including undesirable bacterial inclusion, in domestic water supply systems with some degree of certainty, even if one or more sanitary devices fail or otherwise fail. There is a demand for a method.

By incorporating advanced pathogen mitigation devices as part of a water heating system, the elevated temperature water heater sanitary loop is programmatically operated on schedule, and/or such as a UV lamp or blue tube device communicatively coupled to a controller of the water heater; It has been recognized that it can be operated according to a fault indication from a sanitary device. If the controller of the water heater has such fault information, the controller may include a process for automatically invoking a backup or failsafe sanitation routine upon notification of the fault by one or more of the system sanitation devices. .

Scheduled Operation of Sanitation Loop: On a predetermined schedule, the controller of the water heater may command the water heater to an elevated temperature for a desired period of time as a scheduled backup or failsafe sanitary operation (eg, as controlled by the water heater controller). , as by regulating the burner heat output of gas-heated water heaters).

Operation of the sanitary loop in response to fault detection: Upon notification from one or more sanitary devices that the sanitary device has failed (eg, a failed UV lamp), the controller of the water heater can command the water heater to raise the temperature for a desired period of time. (eg, by regulating the burner heat output of a gas heated water heater, as controlled by a water heater controller). For example, two minute temperature rises of hot water in a water heater above 151° F. may be scheduled at predetermined intervals or intervals. The sanitary effectiveness of periods of elevated hot water temperature may be enhanced by water flow through a water heater, such as a water flow caused by an adjacent bypass loop comprising a sanitary pump.

In one exemplary embodiment, the water heater includes a sanitary bypass sanitary loop with a sanitary loop pump. On a pre-programmed schedule and/or upon notification of a sanitary device failure from a failed device, the water heater controller drives a sanitary process, wherein the sanitary loop is activated (including activation of the sanitary loop pump) and The temperature of the water is raised to the elevated temperature by the water heater for an appropriate time for the elevated temperature, in order to kill pathogens. For example, using currently best understood sanitary techniques, a water heater can increase the temperature in a water heater to more than 151° F. in one or periodic cycles lasting at least two minutes. These water heater cycles are performed any suitable number of times during the day and may be repeated as required until the fault indication from the sanitary device is cleared or otherwise reset. As described above, as a backup or failsafe mode of operation for more specific pathogen control, there may also be hygiene cycles driven on a predetermined schedule, even in the absence of hygiene device fault indications. The entire sanitary cycle involves heating water above 151°F with a relatively high water velocity (high flow rate) of at least 2 minutes through the sanitary loop at an elevated temperature above 151°F.

Some hot water distribution lines may continue to operate normally during times of elevated hot water temperature without any additional manual or automatic operations. For example, some hot water users, such as some industrial washing machines and dishwashers, for example, experience elevated hot water temperatures as may result from the operation of the sanitary loop (where there is no mixing valve in the hot water distribution line). It can run normally even with periods. Other hot water distribution systems cannot tolerate elevated hot water supply at sanitary temperatures, such as, for example, hot water to building sinks and showers. However, the water to these “cold” hot water distribution lines may be supplied via a mixing system, such as, for example, a digital mixing system, where the cold water is supplied from the water heater as well as the hot water in the water heater outlet line. Despite any short-term operation of the sanitary loop in the water heater causing the hot water to be higher than the normal water temperature, it is automatically injected into the distribution line to ensure that the desired hot water temperature, typically around 120° F., is provided.

There may also be single or multiple mixing stations supplying heated water to one or multiple temperature zones. Single or multiple mixing stations are fluidly coupled from the water heater to the cold water supply line and to the hot water outlet line. A single or multiple mixing station supplies water heated to a first hot water temperature to at least a first temperature zone.

1 is an exemplary UV lamp and purifier with a sanitary loop for suppression of pathogens including undesirable bacterial inclusion (ie, mitigation of pathogens such as Legionella in potable water systems) in a domestic water supply system according to the present application; A schematic diagram of a water treatment water heater device 100 is shown. The cold or cool water 181 is provided with a settling filter (A) 171 , a blue tube system 141 and UV light to ensure that substantially no waterborne pathogens are introduced into the water heater 110 from the city supply. A UV lamp and blue tube water treatment water heater device with a sanitary loop from a source of cold drinkable water 181 (eg, a municipal household water utility source as dispensed within a building) passing through a water treatment lamp (A) 137 . (100) is entered. The blue tube system 141 is positioned in front of the UV lamp 137 to significantly prevent scale formation or buildup in the UV lamp. The duct system 141 also prevents scale build-up in the water heater 110 . An optional booster pump 153 may provide the desired water pressure and flow rate for the cold water inlet supply line. Cold water 181 flows through cold water line 196, one-way valve 163 (which prevents hot water from the sanitary loop from flowing into the cold water lines), and surrogate line 193 for the cold water supply, and through the sanitary loop. Hot water 110 (of any suitable domestic water heater, not shown in detail in FIG. 1 for clarity of illustration) to provide a return line to 101 .

Any suitable clear pipe system is the OneFlow® clear pipe system available from Watts Water Technologies, Inc., of North Andover, Massachusetts. The water heater 110 may be part of a water heater device, such as, for example, any suitable water heater available from PVi™ of Fort Worth, TX, or from AERCO International, Inc. of Blobelt, NY.

The water is heated to a desired setpoint and delivered to an integral mixing valve, such as a digital mixing station 160 . Suitable digital mixing stations include, for example, the IntelliStation™ available from Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (POWERS™) of North Andover, Massachusetts. The principles of mixing are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,122,284 B2, assigned to PVI Industries Inc. (Watts Water Technologies, Inc.), Electromechanical Temperature Control System for Providing a Tumbled Mixture come. Hot water from water heater 110 is provided to mixing station 160 via one-way valve 161 and hot water lines 191 and 194 to provide a “first temperature” hot water 131 supply. Digital mixing station 160 is used to temper water with a controlled temperature hot water supply, shown in FIG. 1 as LT supply 131 . Hot water is supplied directly to the hot water supply system, shown in FIG. 1 as HT supply 133 .

Any suitable water heater 110 may be used. Whether the source of heat heats water directly in the water heater (eg some types of electrical heating elements), or whether there is a heat exchanger in which, for example, hot combustion gases flow through tubes moving through the water heater to heat the water. It doesn't matter. It also doesn't matter what type of fuel is used. In commercial water heaters, gas fired burners are common, but the same systems and processes described by this application can be implemented with electric, oil, direct, or indirect heat exchangers, including steam or non-drinkable boiler water heaters. have.

Representative suitable heat exchanger units include plate and frame heat exchanger heaters used with boiler water on one side and domestic water heaters on the other side. The higher temperature boiler water heats household water to the desired hot water temperature. Steam heating may also be used, such as where steam moves through the pipe with water flowing around the pipe in the shell. For example, water heaters may include plate and frame heat exchangers, welded plate heat exchangers, or indirectly heated heat exchangers such as shell and tube heat exchangers. Alternatively, the water heater may comprise a welded plate heat exchanger, or an indirectly heated steam heated heat exchanger, such as a shell and tube heat exchanger.

Other suitable water heaters include gas heated water heaters, such as those with adjustable burners. Electrical elements, such as, for example, coiled electric heating elements, may also be used to more directly heat water in an instantaneous water heater. It is understood that water heaters, as described above, typically include any suitable water heater controller (eg, controller 201 , FIG. 1 ).

The controller 201 is typically, but not necessarily, the same as the controller of the water heater 110 via a communication line 203 . The controller 201 is optionally connected to the UV water treatment lamp (A) 131 via the communication line 205 , to the Cheonggwan system 141 via the communication line 209 , and/or via the communication line 207 . communicatively coupled to a UV water treatment lamp (B) 135 . Similarly, controller 201 may optionally connect via communication line 211 , for example, one or more displays or indicators (not shown in FIG. 1 ) and/or any suitable wired or wireless connections ( may be communicatively coupled to any suitable communication lines to peripheral devices, such as, for example, Bluetooth, WIFI, etc. to any other suitable computers or controllers. Communication lines 203 , 205 , 207 , 209 and/or 211 may include any suitable wired or wireless connections of any suitable hardwired control wires, a hardwired communication bus or protocol, any suitable wireless connection and/or thereof may be any combination of

Precipitation filters 171 , 173 may remove undesirable particulate matter prior to entering parts of the UV lamp and blue tube water treatment water heater device 100 with a sanitary loop at the cold water inlet or recirculation water inlet. Any suitable settling filter may be used.

Recirculated water exits the building hot water distribution system but is not used in any of the fixtures, or devices, and returns through the UV lamp and duct water treatment water heater apparatus 100 with a sanitary loop as "unused" hot water. water that can In the exemplary system of Figure 1, the building recycle water is treated with a settling filter (B) 173 and UV water to ensure that substantially no waterborne pathogens are introduced into the system from the building hot water distribution lines and fixtures. Return to UV lamp with sanitary loop and blue tube water treatment water heater device 100 via lamp (B) 135 . Recirculated hot water 183 is distributed directly to the water heater via line 195 for reheating and reuse, and back to mixing valve 160 via one-way check valve 165 and line 199 .

Chemical injection ports (eg, for chlorine dioxide) may optionally be used to further treat the effluent hot water from the water heater. Chemicals such as chlorine dioxide are preferably introduced at the bottom of the heat exchanger so that they do not degrade the heat exchanger structure.

2 is a diagram illustrating a recommended sanitary temperature and time sanitary loop sequence of operation. The diagram shows how several Legionella species, including Legionella pneumophila, respond to water temperatures in a laboratory environment. In real hot water systems, Legronella can grow at temperatures well above 122°F due to scale, biofilm and other compounds (white paper developed by ASSE International Scald Awareness Task Group, May 2013, Potential Water As reprinted in Understanding Heater Burn Risks, HC Info, Matthew Freije, Legionella Control in Medical Facilities: A Guide to Minimizing Risks).

Sanitary Loop - When enabled, UV lamp and duct water treatment water heater device 100 with a sanitary loop can be used in a normal operating environment (eg, typically between about 120°F and 140°F), up to about 160°F, of the water heater. Reset the setpoint temperature. As part of the sanitary or sanitary loop 101 , the circulation pump 151 pumps water from the supply connection 191 through the pipe 192 to the cold inlet connection 193 per the water treatment recommendations of FIG. 2 . Continue until the water temperature in heater 110 exceeds 151° F. (66° C.) and is maintained for at least 2 minutes.

Appropriate water flow rates for the sanitary loop range as caused by the sanitary pump in the sanitary bypass loop are generally at least about GPM flow rates of the water heater in normal operation. The sanitary loop is completely different from the prior art bypass loops used for temperature control and other applications, such as continuous water circulation or condensation reduction in a water heater. These bypass loops use relatively small diameter pipes, and much lower flow rates, which are not suitable for the new sanitary loop described above.

Example: A water heater includes a sanitary loop as described above using a 2" pipe diameter and 1/3 hp pump to achieve a sanitary loop flow rate of about 80 GPM. Typically, the pump and sanitary loop pipe It must be large enough to support a higher than normal flow of heated water from the heater (ie as related to the heat capacity of the water heater).

When complete, the setpoint may return to the pre-sanitation loop normal operating temperature and the heated water will be delivered to the mixing valve 160 and, if used, to the hot system water 133 supply. The sanitary loop function is scheduled for periodic operation (eg at regular or irregular time intervals) and/or with fault indications from water quality or water treatment devices, such as UV lamp fault or blue pipe fault indications, for example. In the same way, it may be operated based on a maintenance alarm.

Automated Blowdown Sequence of Operation—In some embodiments, the auto-blowdown feature may automatically drain any sediment that may settle to the bottom of the heater by operation of the auto-blowdown valve 121 . Once complete, the drain valve is closed and the unit can be returned back to the standard sequence of operation. The automatic blowdown sequence may be programmed to be performed on a regular or irregular schedule and/or on a more frequent schedule of operations, such as in response to a fault condition, eg, a fault indication from a hearing system. These blueprint system fault indications are being developed for commercialization, eg, the QCM system described in the '898 application reference thereto.

Controller—The water heater may comprise any suitable controller, typically a processor-based controller. The controller may be based on any suitable embedded processor or embedded computer. The water heater control can perform standard water heater operating functions as well as monitor and report UV proficiency and mixing valve conditions and faults.

The UV lamp and blue tube water treatment water heater device with sanitary loop of FIG. 1 is a compact, self-sealing device that can be built into a single enclosure. 3 shows a diagram of an exemplary self-sealing, single cabinet embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 ;

Applications of the UV lamp with sanitary loop of FIG. 1 and the blue pipe water treatment water heater device are for critical medical facilities such as hospitals and household use in hospitality areas including, for example, restaurants, resorts, and hotels. hot water facilities.

Flash water heaters have relatively small volumes of heated water, and hot water tanks are obsolete or at least less common in modern water heating applications and facilities. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the same techniques of a UV lamp with a sanitary loop and a water treatment water heater device with a sanitary loop as described by this application can be applied to the hot water tanks of a hot water system. Current trends are towards water heaters that heat water on demand (eg, instantaneous water heaters as used in the exemplary systems described above), but those skilled in the art will also It will be appreciated that the same techniques of UV lamp with sanitary loop and blue tube water treatment water heater arrangement with sanitary loop can also be applied to tank type water heaters.

The software or firmware of the processors, controllers, and computers that may be used to implement the water heater, digital mixing station, UV lamp with sanitary loop of FIG. - May be provided on a temporary storage medium. Computer-readable non-transitory storage media as non-transitory data storage devices include any data stored on any suitable media in a non-transitory manner. Such data storage includes any suitable computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, including, but not limited to, hard drives, non-volatile RAM, SSD devices, CDs, DVDs, and the like.

It will be understood that variations of the disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unexpected alternatives, modifications, changes, or improvements may be made by those skilled in the art, which are also intended to be covered by the following claims.

Claims (21)

A water heating and treatment system with UV lamp water treatment sanitation for the control of pathogens and undesirable bacteria inclusion in a domestic water supply system, the water heating and treatment system comprising:
water heater;
a cold water supply line for supplying water to the water heater, the cold water supply line comprising a UV sanitary lamp;
single or multiple temperature regulating mixing station for supplying temperature controlled heated water to one or multiple temperature zones, said single or multiple temperature regulating mixing station comprising: said cold water supply line from said water heater and fluidly coupled to a hot water outlet line, wherein the single or multiple temperature controlled mixing station distributes the temperature controlled heated water of a first hot water temperature to at least a first temperature zone of the one or multiple temperature zones. - It is intended to supply; and
a water heater sanitary loop comprising a sanitary loop pump for circulating hot water within the water heater, the water heater sanitary loop connected from the water heater to the hot water outlet line;
including, and
a water heater controller activates the water heater sanitary loop and causes the water temperature of the water heater to instantaneously increase to a sanitary temperature above 151° F. (66° C.) for one or more periods in sanitary loop mode;
the period is at least 2 minutes,
wherein the single or multiple temperature controlled mixing station maintains at least the first one of the one or more temperature zones at the first hot water temperature during operation of the sanitary loop mode.
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
wherein the water heater controller activates the water heater sanitary loop on a predetermined schedule;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
the water heater controller is communicatively coupled to the at least one UV sanitary lamp, and
wherein the water heater controller is configured to: activate the water heater sanitary loop in response to detection of a UV sanitary lamp failure indication;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
The cold water supply line comprises a sedimentation filter,
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
Further comprising a hot water recirculation line,
Water heating and treatment system.
6. The method of claim 5,
a one-way check valve disposed in the hot water recirculation line;
Water heating and treatment system.
6. The method of claim 5,
wherein the hot water recirculation line comprises a settling filter,
Water heating and treatment system.
6. The method of claim 5,
wherein the hot water recirculation line comprises an additional UV lamp sanitary device;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
The water heater,
an automatic blow down device comprising a blow down valve controlled by the water heater controller;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
wherein the water heater comprises a gas fired heater with an adjustable burner;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
wherein the water heater comprises an indirectly heated heat exchanger;
Water heating and treatment system.
12. The method of claim 11,
The indirect heated heat exchanger is selected from the group consisting of: a plate and frame heat exchanger, a brazed plate heat exchanger, and a shell and tube heat exchanger. felled,
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
wherein the water heater comprises an indirectly heated steam heated heat exchanger;
Water heating and treatment system.
14. The method of claim 13,
wherein the indirectly heated steam heated heat exchanger is selected from the group consisting of: a welded plate heat exchanger, and a shell and tube heat exchanger;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
wherein the water heater comprises an electric heater;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
further comprising at least one chemical injector below the hot water outlet of the water heater;
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
a hot temperature water distribution maintained at a setpoint temperature by said single or multiple temperature controlled mixing stations; and
a high temperature water distribution fluidly coupled to the outlet line of the water heater without active water temperature tempering;
containing,
Water heating and treatment system.
The method of claim 1,
Further comprising a one-way check valve at the hot water outlet of the water heater,
Water heating and treatment system.
A method for treating hot water to contain pathogens and undesirable bacteria in a domestic water supply system, the method comprising:
providing a water heater, a cold water supply line for supplying water to the water heater, and a single or multiple mixing station for supplying temperature controlled heated water to one or multiple temperature zones;
sanitizing the cold water prior to flowing or pumping the cold water to the water heater; and
Operate a sanitary loop pump to circulate the hot water in the water heater to an elevated temperature in excess of 151°F (66°C) and to circulate the elevated temperature in the water heater for at least two minutes as controlled by a water heater controller. sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by maintaining a;
including, and
The cold water supply line includes a UV sanitary lamp,
wherein the single or multiple temperature controlled mixing station is fluidly coupled to the cold water supply line and the hot water outlet line from the water heater;
wherein said single or multiple temperature controlled mixing station is for supplying said temperature controlled heated water to a first hot water temperature to at least a first temperature zone of said one or more temperature zones;
a water heater sanitary loop comprising the sanitary loop pump for circulating the hot water within the water heater, the sanitary loop pump being connected from the water heater to the hot water outlet line;
A method for treating hot water.
20. The method of claim 19,
The step of sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop comprises:
sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by periodically operating the water heater sanitation loop;
A method for treating hot water.
20. The method of claim 19,
The step of sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop comprises:
sanitizing the hot water of the water heater by operating the water heater sanitary loop in response to a fault alarm of the UV sanitary lamp.
A method for treating hot water.

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