WO2021019531A1

WO2021019531A1 - Consumption of domestic boiler water during a water shortage

Info

Publication number: WO2021019531A1
Application number: PCT/IL2020/050828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amiel GUIVOL; Shoolamit GUIVOL
Original assignee: Guivol Amiel; Guivol Shoolamit
Priority date: 2019-07-30
Filing date: 2020-07-26
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: IL268372A

Abstract

Water shortage could occur due to maintenance needs, electricity shortage, war damages, natural disasters, etc. During a water shortage, we usually can't use the water contained in a domestic boiler, unless the water tank was designed for this case. This document discusses methods and means to consume this water in case of a water shortage resulting from a failure to supply water from the municipality, or a high building water network. The methods suggest ways to discharge this water without changing the water tank structure, also included means for purifying some of this water for drinking and cooking without the need for electricity nor the external water system pressure. The suggested invention deals with a domestic electrical boiler, with or without a solar heat exchanger (Thermosiphon water heater).

Description

CONSUMPTION OF DOMESTIC BOILER WATER DURING A

WATER SHORTAGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The suggested patent relates to the field of water supply for domestic use

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water shortage could occur due to maintenance needs, electricity shortage, war damages, natural disasters, etc.

During a water shortage, usually, we can't use the water contained in a domestic boiler unless the water tank is equipped with a designated discharge tube.

This document discusses methods to consume this water during a water shortage due to a failure of the municipality or a high building water network.

This approach enables the water boiler discharge by changing the peripheral installation and accessories, without changing the boiler construction, hence allowing an affordable retrofit.

The boiler may constitute a solar heat exchanger (Thermosiphon water heater).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

State-of-the-art: Many houses comprise a boiler intended for water heating, such a vessel contains quite a lot of water in terms of domestic use, but this water wouldn't usually arrive at the apartment taps during a water shortage due to two reasons:

A. Water supply to the domestic network is based on a continuous connection to the external water network, failure to provide this, leaves the internal water network under pressure allowing the use of only a few of the stored water; this is mainly because the incompressibility of water leads to a quick pressure decrease as water is consumed.

Fig. 1 depicts a schematic of an electric boiler (1 ), combined with a solar system heat exchanger (12). Though the boiler is seemingly installed high enough to enable a gravitational water discharge, in many cases, this wouldn't happen because tubes (6) and (8) are very long and filled with water, this situation prevents un upstream flow of air into the boiler while the flow initiation reduces the pressure inside the water tank and halts the discharge process.

B. The presence of a one-way valve (15) commonly installed on the water supply tube to the boiler (8). The primary function of the one-way valve (15), is to avoid unintentional water discharge during an unaware water shortage, though, as explained earlier, such a downstream flow wouldn't usually happen without allowing air to replace the water running out of the boiler.

Boiler water discharge would cause a burn-up of the heating element, as the presence of air rather than water, would prevent the thermostat from reaching its threshold temperature. Another function of the one-way valve could be avoiding possible contamination of the unheated branch of the domestic water or even the supplying water network. For the last case, better protection could be achieved by installing a one-way valve (25), at the entry point to the domestic water network. Fig. 2 describes a state-of-the-art domestic water network; the boiler is installed at or even below the apartment level. In this situation, the discharge of all of the boiler water could not be achieved by gravity only, because the water level difference between the boiler and the apartment's taps is not large enough or even in the opposite direction. In this case, usually, a one-way valve (15) would not be installed in the first place.

As long as the boiler water level (2) is higher than the highest water tube of the domestic network (22), and air is allowed in, it is possible to consume the potentially accessible water (3).

One more reason not to consume the boiler water could be its quality, elevated temperature cycles increase scale and dangerous materials amount in this water compared with water supplied directly from the unheated branch of the domestic water system, to overcome this risk an Air Pressure Activated Water Purifier (APAWaP), is presented later on.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the location of the boiler, it is suggested to consume the water contained in the boiler by two methods, in both cases, the water is discharged through the cold water taps only.

- Gravitational discharge, where the boiler is installed well above the domestic water system level

- Pressurized discharge, where the water tank is located at or below the apartment level, not high enough to discharge most of its water.

Tempering valve (1 1 ) is installed in some cases to avoid burns resulting from elevated temperature; the presence of this valve doesn't disturb the process of gravitational or pressurizing discharge. Still, one should note that during the two discharge processes, the temperature of the water is not controlled, though this water is not as warm as water arriving from the upper water tank level.

Gravitational discharge - Fig 3

To allow for the gravitational water discharge, the one-way valve (15) is removed, and a preferably springless one-way valve (13) is installed close to the boiler bottom to allow airflow into the boiler. As long as the height difference allows, water is accessible through the cold water taps.

Pressurized or gravitational discharge, Fig. 4

Discharge by gravity force or by pressurizing the domestic water system suits cases where a gravitational release is marginal or not possible. For these cases, it would be possible do get some of the water by gravity flow using taps at a lower level. As gravity flow ends, a pressurizing device (24) is used. This device could be a manual pump, an electric pump, or a pressure vessel. Where a one-way valve (25) doesn't exist, it would be needed to close the main supply valve (26) and reopened as the water shortage ends.

In any case, all of the other apartment taps should be closed to assure pressure buildup.

For a one-level apartment, the differential pressure to allow for the pressurized discharge would be some 0.1 bar only.

A relief valve (7), is mandatorily installed with any domestic water boiler; this also covers cases where an over-pressure is accidentally applied to the system during the pressurizing process.

Also, no harm is expected to a possibly installed heat exchanger (12), as it is subjected to the external system pressure as a routine.

Pressurized discharge considering water quality and heating element burn- up hazards, Fig. 5

Applying the water scheme of Fig. 3 would result in an unaware gravitational boiler water discharge; this could lead to two undesired consequences:

A. Consumption of a degraded quality boiler water

To avoid this problem, the novel use of a novel one-way, scale resists flow reducer (14) is introduced in Fig. 6B - (closed) and 6C (opened).

This item consists of a state-of-the-art shutter check-valve (Fig. 6 A). The upgraded item allows free flow toward the water tank on one hand while dramatically limits the current in the opposite direction. Under this situation, unaware gravitational discharge is eliminated, since getting the water out requires a pressurizing process.

As the flow from the bottom of the water tank could include scale pieces, the small downstream orifice could be clogged; to prevent that, this small size opening is designed as a filtering stem (142), allowing scale fragments to accumulate around it while letting water through. Also, cover (144) now equipped with hand grippers to allow for manual removal and the cleaning of this passage as needed.

B. Burning of the boiler heating element

As mentioned earlier, a low water lever within the water tank may cause the burn- up of the heating element; preventing the unaware discharge process dramatically reduces this risk - one still has to shut-down the boiler heating-element.

Automatic burn-up prevention of the boiler heating-element - Fig. 7

Automatic burn-up prevention is achieved by adding a pressure switch (10), on the heating element electrical line, a significant pressure drop in the domestic water system (say to 1 bar) cuts-off the electrical power to the heating element.

This item may be added to any of the previously described schemes. Accessories and a process for pressurizing the domestic water system

Fig. 8 depicts two main mixing tap configurations (23a, 23b), the first one has a female spout thread, while the second one has a male spout thread, for each case, a list of the relevant common thread sizes is included.

A setup for pressurizing the domestic water system. Fig. 9

A manual air pump (24a), or an electric air pump with a rechargeable battery, or a pressure vessel is used to pressurize the domestic water system. It is

recommended that a pressure gauge be attached to any of these. If an electrical air pump is used, it should be equipped with an overpressure discharge valve for cases where it was accidentally operated while tap (23) is closed.

Two cases are shown:

A- Connection to a washing machine tap (23c) with accessorize 19c described later.

B- Connection to a mixing tap with a female thread spout (23a), or a mixing tap with a male thread spout (23b) with accessories 19a and 19b described later.

Novel piping accessories

Three versions of a novel two-way pressurizing connector (19), depicted in Fig. 10, are used to connect a pressure source to a washing machine tap, or to a mixing tap, in all cases, one side is a one-way vehicle tire air valve (Schrader / Presta / Dunlop, etc. ) (192); the other side varies as below:

19a - 14 different male threads to connect to a female thread mixing tap

19b - 12 different female threads to connect to a male thread mixing tap

19c - 3/4" BSPP thread to connect to a washing machine tap

Fig. 1 1 shows two novel two-way pressurizing adapters (20a) and (20b), these adapters are used to connect a female mixing tap (23a) or male mixing tap (23b) to a two-way pressurizing connector (19c), these items are alternatives to connectors (19a) or (19b).

Air Pressure Activated Water Purifier- APAWaP (21 ), Fig. 12

The operating lower inlet threshold pressure of an "off the shelf" water

filters/purifiers cartridges is usually 1.5 bars and above. In most cases, a

gravitational discharge would yield a lower pressure than this; pressurizing the domestic water system to this threshold pressure level during a water shortage is not necessary and would not be easy, to solve this problem, a novel APAWaP is suggested.

The APAWaP operates by air pressure, such as the manual air pump that was used to pressurize the domestic water system.

In order to get purified water, cup (212) is removed, vessel (211 ) is filled with water, and the cup is reinstalled, an air pressure source is connected to the inlet (214) while valve (216) is closed, the device is pressurized until relieve valve (213) breaks at around 2.5 bars, then, valve (216) is opened to allow the water to flow through filter capsule (215) and out through spout (217). Water consumption by a pressurizing process Fig. 4,5 and 9

1. Closing of all of the apartment taps.

2. Connecting a pressurizing device such as (24a), to water tap (23), with an accessory (19) depicted in Fig.10.

3. Opening tap (23), and pumping to reach some 0.1 bars differential pressure (one level apartment).

4. In case pressure doesn't buildup and a one-way valve (26) is not installed, the closure of the valve (26) is needed.

5. Consuming water from the cold-water taps (water might be hot from

previous heating).

6. Applying additional pressure to consume extra water as needed.

7. As water shortage ends, the opening of the valve (26) is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts a state-of-the-art domestic water network piping scheme with a combined solar and electric boiler and one-way valve (15), the water tank (1 ), is installed higher than the apartment level

Figure 2 depicts a state-of-the-art domestic water network piping scheme with a combined solar and electric boiler, one-way valve (15) doesn't exist in this case, as the water tank (1 ), is installed at or below the apartment level

Figure 3 depicts water ready to consume, domestic boiler water scheme.

The boiler is mounted above the apartment level; the one-way valve (15) is removed while a one-way valve (13) is added on the outlet tube (6) to allow air into the water tank and thus gravitational discharge.

Figure 4 depicts water ready to consume, domestic boiler water piping scheme. The boiler is mounted at the apartment level; the one-way valve (15) is removed,

A one-way valve (13) is installed on the outlet tube (6) to allow air into the water tank and thus gravitational discharge. As the gravitational release ends, a pressurizing device (24) is connected to tap (23), with an accessory (19).

Figure 5 depicts water ready to consume, domestic boiler water piping scheme. A novel one-way scale resist flow reducer (14) is installed instead of the one-way valve (15) while a pressurizing device (24) is connected to tap (23), with an accessory (19).

This configuration prevents unintended water discharge during a water shortage situation.

Figure 6 describes a novel One-Way Scale Resist Flow Reducer (OWSRFR).

This item consists of an a-state-of-the-art one-way valve (6A) with the following changes:

A. Backflow is enabled by a small diameter stem also uses as a scale filter.

B. The cover of the technological opening may be manually opened to clean scale. Figure 7 describes the installation of a pressure switch (10) to a domestic water system (any of the previously depicted schemes).

10 Figure 8 describes two main configurations of a state-of-the-art mixing tap.

Arrangement (23a) comprises 14 female thread versions, while (23b) includes 12 male thread versions.

Figure 9 shows two connection options to attach a pressurizing device to a domestic water tap:

15 A- to a washing machine tap, with a novel two-way adapter (19c).

B- to two types of mixing tap with a novel two-way adapter (19a) or (19b).

Figure 10 depicts three configurations of a novel two-way pressurizing connector (19a, 19b, 19c); this item allows for the connection of a pressurizing device to 20 various types of mixing taps and one configuration of washing machine tap.

Figure 1 1 depicts two novel piping adapters to allow for the connection of a pressuring device to various types of mixing taps, together with a two-way connector (19c), intended for a washing machine tap.

Figure 12 depicts an Air Pressure Activated Water Purifier - APAWaP (21 ).

25

LEGEND / REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

Claims

1. Method A - Enabling gravitational or pressurized discharge of domestic boiler water during a water shortage through its inlet water tube. Water flow is enabled by the removal of the existing one-way valve installed on the water inlet tube to the boiler. Avoiding possible contamination of the supplying water network by installing a one-way valve at the entry point to the domestic water system.

2. Method A1 - The method of claim 1 , wherein the gravitational flow is ensured by adding a low-force one-way valve on the outlet boiler tube close to the boiler bottom, with its exit turns to the atmosphere.

3. Method A2- The method of claim 1 , wherein gravitational discharge is impossible or marginal; thus, an air-pump or an electric pump or a pressure vessel is connected to one of the apartment taps to pressurize the domestic water system and force the boiled water out.

4. Method A3- The method of claim 1 , wherein an unaware gravitational discharge should be avoided; thus, an air-pump or an electric pump or a pressure vessel is connected to one of the apartment taps to pressurize the domestic water system and force the boiled water out. A novel one-way scale resist flow reducer is mounted on the water tank inlet tube.

5. Method A4-The method of claims 1 - 4, wherein preventing potential damage to the boiler heating element, is achieved by adding a pressure switch to cut-off the power to the heating element, as the water system pressure falls to a value representing a water shortage.

6. A novel One-Way Scale Resist Flow Reducer consists of a-state-of-the-art one-way shutter valve with the following changes:

A. Mild backflow is enabled by a small diameter hollow stem also uses as a scale filter.

B. The cover of the technological opening could easily be opened by the user to enable the cleaning of a possible accumulated scale.

7. A novel Air-Pressure Activated Water Purifying device.

The device comprises a water reservoir vessel connected to a replaceable "off the shelf" water filtering cartridge, a relief valve, and a tap. Pressurizing the device forces the water to flow through the filtering cartridge.

8. A novel two-way pressurizing connector, comprising a one-way air valve used for vehicle tires (Schrader / Presta / Dunlop, etc.) on one side, and a 3/4" BSPP female thread, fixed or swivel nut, on the other side.

9. The two-way pressurizing connector of claim 8, comprising fixed or swivel nut, and alternative 14 male threads: M16, M18, M20, M22, M24, M28, M30, M32 all with a 1 mm pitch, 1/2" NPT, 13/16" NPT, 15/16" NPT, 55/64" NPT, 3/4" NPT and 1/2" BSPP.

10. The two-way pressurizing connector of claim 8, comprising fixed or swivel nut, and alternative 12 female threads: M16, M18, M20, M22, M24, M26, M28- all with a 1 mm pitch, 1/2" NPT,13/16" NPT, 15/16 NPT, 55/64" NP, 1/2" BSPP.

1 1. A two-way adapter intended to connect the item of claim 8 to a domestic water tap. This adapter comprises two configurations, both having a 3/4" BSPP male thread on one side. One configuration has 13 male threads: M16, M18,

M20, M22, M24, M28, M30, M32 all with a 1 mm pitch, 1/2" NPT, 13/16" NPT, 15/16" NPT, 55/64" NPT, and 1/2" BSPP, while the other has 12 female threads: M16, M18, M20, M22, M24, M26, M28- all with a 1 mm pitch, 1/2" NPT,13/16" NPT, 15/16 NPT, 55/64" NP, 1/2" BSPP.

12. A pressuring kit comprising any of the novel two-way pressurizing connectors of claims 8-11.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein any of the following is added: The One-Way Scale Resist Flow Reducer of claim 6, the Air-Pressure Activated Water Purifying device of claim 7, a manual, or a rechargeable electric air pump, A pressure switch.