EP2333432A1

EP2333432A1 - Water and energy economiser

Info

Publication number: EP2333432A1
Application number: EP09815709A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pedro AGUIRRE GONZÁLEZ; Víctor GORROCHATEGUI ZANGUITU
Original assignee: Vaxer Teknik SL
Current assignee: Vaxer Teknik SL
Priority date: 2008-09-24
Filing date: 2009-09-23
Publication date: 2011-06-15
Also published as: ES1068770U; WO2010034866A1; ES1068770Y

Abstract

In proximity to each tap, or element to which the economizer wants to be applied, a circuit (10) is sandwiched into its water intakes, presenting: a cold water inlet (2) of the system connected with a cold water outlet (4) to the tap through a cold water electrovalve (9); a hot water Inlet (1) coming from the boiler or similar, connected with a hot water outlet (3) to the tap through a flowrate detector (6), a temperature detector (7), and a hot water electrovalve (8) that has an outlet to the return circuit (5) connected with a return water pipeline joined in proximity to the boiler or similar to its cold water intake. In proximity to the connection between these last intake and pipeline are respective non-return valves, said pipeline being further provided with an impulse pump.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as this specification states in its title, relates to a water and energy economizer which purpose is to provide a device that installed in the water system just before any type of tap and being connected to water intakes thereof, allows saving the amount of water that is normally wasted since the hot water is demanded from a tap until this reaches the desired temperature, also avoiding the energy used to heat the water until reaching the programmed temperature from being wasted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, it can be seen in our homes, hotels, sports facilities, etc., that every time hot water is demanded, either in the bathroom, kitchen or where the corresponding installation is placed, a time elapses since the corresponding tap is opened until the water reaches the desired temperature. All the water still not hot enough coming out since the tap is opened until obtaining the water with the desired temperature is wasted through the corresponding drain, wherewith drawbacks relating to waste of water and energy used for heating it are raised. The amount of water wasted at each aperture, depends on the distance from the heating element, either a boiler, heater, or other to the tap from which the water is demanded, also depends on the time that the corresponding boiler or similar takes to heat the water.
The patent ES 2299337 addresses the aforementioned problems, detailing a water saving intelligent management system characterized in that when detecting the aperture of the corresponding tap, a sensor controls the water temperature that reaches it, so that if said temperature is below certain temperature, the water is recirculated toward a boiler drum wherein is stored until the sensor detects an optimum temperature. Said patent presents drawbacks regarding to require an auxiliary tank or boiler drum wherein the water is going to be stored until reaching the optimum temperature, determining a greater complexity in the installation and an increasing on Its cost.
On the other hand, in the utility model ES 1065941 a sanitary installation for water saving is detailed, characterized in that the taps have three conduits, one for cold water, other for hot water and another for returning, so that a chamber with a thermostatic valve is therein, which does not open if not receives the certain temperature, causing the hot water but not with the desired temperature yet be sent back to the boiler through the return conduit. Once the water reaches the corresponding temperature, the valve opens allowing hot water to flow to another chamber wherein can be mixed with cold water and comes out through the tap. This utility model of the state art presents drawbacks relating to make conditional the water saving on using a specific tap, whereby the system requires a special tap, not allowing the use of other types of taps for achieving the corresponding water and energy saving, so that the corresponding system presents poor adaptability to conventional installations and a high cost.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the invention consists of a water and energy economizer applied to taps, showers and in general to elements with hot water outlet and cold water outlet; coming the hot water from a hot water outlet of a boiler, heater or similar, and the cold water from a pipeline system that also feeds the boiler or similar.
Novelty, according to the invention, In proximity to each tap, shower or similar element to which the economizer is desired to be applied, an economizer system is sandwiched into its water intakes, presenting:

A cold water inlet of the system connected with a cold water outlet to the tap or the like through a cold water electrovalve;
a hot water inlet coming from the boiler or similar connected with a hot water outlet to the tap or the like through a flowrate detector, a temperature detector and a hot water electrovalve, connected in series;
further presenting the referred hot water electrovalve an outlet to the return circuit that connects with a return water pipeline joined in proximity to the boiler or similar to its cold water intake;
existing in proximity to the connection of the return water pipeline with the cold water intake of the boiler or similar respective non-return valves, and said return water pipeline being provided with an impulse pump,

With the structure described above, the invention presents advantages relating to provide a water and energy economizer that allows all the water not hot enough yet and unwanted returns to the system by means of a closed loop circuit instead of being wasted. Water saving can be obtained with the invention, by applying statistical data of water consumption in Spain, it would be between 20 and 30 L of water per person per day, and considering that the per capita water consumption in Spain is 170 L/day, it supposes a saving between 12% and 17%. The water and energy economizer of the present invention further presents the advantage of not requiring additional storage device, since the water return to the desired temperature Is made directly to the system. Furthermore, the invention does not require a special tap for its operation, being able to be installed in a conventional water system and being compatible with any type of tap currently available in the market, such as, single lever, mixer, or other taps.
Next, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this specification and being and integral part thereof, figures wherein the object of the invention has been represented with an illustrative and not limitative manner are attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1. - Schematically represents through a functional block diagram a water and energy economizer circuit made according to the present invention.
Figure 2. - Schematically represents a water installation that uses two water and energy economizer circuits, being each of them as the one represented in the previous figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A description of an example of the invention with reference to the numbering adopted in the figures is made bellow.
Thus, the economizer circuit 10 of the present example is applied to taps 11, showers 12 and in general to elements with hot water outlet 3 and cold water outlet 4, as can be seen from figure 2.
In the corresponding installation, such as represented in said figure 2, the hot water comes from a hot water outlet of a boiler, heater or similar 15, and the cold water from a pipeline system that also feeds that boiler or similar 15.
In proximity to each tap 11, shower 12 or similar element to which the economizer wants to be applied, the economizer circuit is sandwiched into its water intakes 10, which includes, as can be seen In figure 1, the following elements:
A cold water inlet 2 of the system connected with a cold water outlet 4 to the tap or the like 11,12 through a cold water electrovalve 9.
A hot water inlet 1 coming from the boiler or similar 15 connected with a hot water outlet 3 to the tap or the like 11, 12, through a flowrate detector 6, a temperature detector 7, and a hot water electrovalve 8, connected in series
In addition, the referred hot water electrovalve 8 has an outlet to return circuit 5 that connects with a return water pipeline joined in proximity to the boiler or similar 15 to its cold water intake.
In proximity to the connection of the return water pipeline with the cold water intake of the boiler or similar 15, and such as shown In figure 2, there are respective non-return valves 14, while the referred return water pipeline is provided with an impulse pump 13, as can also be seen in figure 2.
With the described structure, the circuit 10 of the present example presents the following operation:
When from any point of water consumption provided with the device, such as the tap 11 or shower 12, hot water Is demanded; the corresponding flowrate detector 6 detects the water flow and activates the temperature detector 7. Immediately, the temperature detector 7 reads the water temperature and if this does not reach the desired temperature sends a signal to the electrovalves 8 and 9, which cuts off the water flow to outlets 3 and 4, corresponding to hot and cold water intakes, respectively, of the tap 11 or the like, simultaneously driving the impulse pump 13. Said impulse pump 13 causes the water not hot enough yet comes out through outlet 5 corresponding to the return circuit outlet and reaches the system just before the cold water inlet of the boiler 15 in order to be reused by it, such as can be seen in figure 2.
At the time in that the temperature detector 7 detects that the temperature of hot water is the desired one drives the electrovalve 8 to allow the hot water to flow through the outlet 3, and the electrovalve 9 to enable cold water to flow through the outlet 4, while disconnecting the impulse pump 13.
In the case that only cold water is demanded, no water circulates through the flowrate detector 6 and therefore the temperature detector 7 is not activated, wherewith the electrovalves 8 and 9 are not closed, thus allowing the water to come out through the outlet to the cold water intake 4.
In the hypothetical case that the flowrate detector 6 would damage, the temperature detector 7 would not be activated and therefore the electrovalves 8 and 9 would remain open allowing the water to flow through them and thus avoiding running out of water.

Claims

WATER AND ENERGY ECONOMIZER, being applied to taps (11), showers (12) and in general to elements with hot water outlet (3) and cold water outlet (4); hot water coming from a hot water outlet of a boiler, heater or similar (15) and cold water form a pipeline system that also feeds the boiler or similar (15), characterized in that in proximity to each tap, shower or similar element (11, 12) to which the economizer wants to be applied, a economizer circuit (10) is sandwiched into its water intakes, presenting:
- a cold water inlet (2) of the system connected with a cold water outlet (4) to the tap or the like (11,12) through a cold water electrovalve (9);

- a hot water inlet (1) coming from the boiler or similar (15) connected with a hot water outlet (3) to the tap or the like (11, 12) through a flowrate detector (6), a temperature detector (7), and a hot water electrovalve (8) connected in series;

- further presenting the referred hot water electrovalve (8) an outlet to the return circuit (5) that connects with a return water pipeline joined in proximity to the boiler or similar (15) to its cold water intake;

- existing in proximity to the connection of the return water pipeline with the cold water intake of the boiler or similar (15) respective non-return valves (14), and said return water pipeline being provided with an impulse pump (13), so that when hot water is demanded from the tap or the like (11, 12) the flowrate detector (6) detects the water flow by activating the temperature detector (7) for reading the water temperature and if this is not hot enough closes the electrovalves (8, 9) sending the water through the return outlet (5) toward the boiler or similar (15), and so that at the time in that the temperature detector (7) detects that the temperature of hot water is the desired one drives the hot water electrovalve (8) to allow the hot water to flow through the hot water outlet (3), and the cold water electrovalve (9) to enable the cold water to flow through the cold water outlet (4), while disconnecting the impulse pump (13).