Method and apparatus for providing hot or cold water

Abstract

The method of providing hot or cold water can be performed using equipment (1), which includes a heating device and a cooling device. The cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side thermally connected to a water supply channel. During heating, water supplied from a water tank is heated to a preset hot water temperature by the heating device and then distributed from the equipment as hot water. During cooling, the previously heated water is cooled to a preset cold water temperature by the cooling device before being distributed as cold water. During cooling, the hot water is cooled by the Peltier cold side, and at the same time, the water supplied from the water tank is preheated by the Peltier hot side to reduce the energy consumption of the heating device. After the water is preheated by the Peltier element arrangement (11) and before the water is heated by the heating device (6), during heat exchange, the heat energy from the hot water is transferred from the hot water to the water supplied from the water tank before the hot water is cooled by the Peltier element arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for providing hot or cold water, using an apparatus comprising a heating device for heating water supplied from a water storage tank via a water supply channel, and a cooling device for cooling the previously heated water. The cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side. The Peltier cold side is used to cool the previously heated water, and the Peltier hot side is thermally connected to the water supply channel for preheating the water supplied from the water storage tank. In the heating step, the water supplied from the water storage tank is heated to a preset hot water temperature by the heating device and can then be distributed as hot water from the device. In the cooling step, the heated water is cooled to a preset cold water temperature by the cooling device before being distributed as cold water. In the cooling step, the heated water is cooled by the Peltier cold side of the Peltier element arrangement while simultaneously preheating the water supplied from the water storage tank by the Peltier hot side of the Peltier element arrangement, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the heating device for heating the water supplied from the water storage tank.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for providing hot or cold water, comprising a water supply channel, a heating device, a temperature valve unit, and a cooling device. The water supply channel is connectable to a water storage tank. The heating device is arranged within a heating section of the water supply channel for heating the water supplied by the water supply channel. The temperature valve unit is arranged after the heating device, allowing the heated water to be distributed to an output channel or for guiding water from the water supply channel to a cooling channel. The cooling device is arranged along the cooling channel for cooling the heated water before distributing previously heated and subsequently cooled water to the output channel. The cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side. The Peltier cold side is thermally connected to the cooling channel within the cooling section for cooling the heated water, and the Peltier hot side is thermally connected to the water supply channel within a preheating section for preheating the water supplied by the water storage tank before entering the heating device. Therefore, this apparatus is suitable for performing the above-described method. Background Technology

[0003] Many different devices and methods are known in the prior art to enable users to receive hot or cold water from a water storage tank. The water storage tank can be a water tank or container inside a user's home, or it can be a large water storage tank used in a public water supply system, with outlets and water supply channels accessible to users. The temperature of the water inside the water storage tank is usually equal to the temperature around the tank, because in most cases, there is no temperature control for the tank. Therefore, the temperature of the water from the water storage tank and supplied to the user's water supply channel for subsequent use or consumption is equal to or at least similar to the temperature of the water storage tank, sometimes only slightly different due to variations in the ambient temperature at the user's home. Therefore, to obtain hot or cold water, the user must heat or cool the water received from the water storage tank.

[0004] Traditionally, water from a water reservoir can be filled into a pot or heating device to heat the water to a desired or preset hot water temperature, or it can be filled into a drinking vessel for subsequent consumption, which is placed in a cooling device such as a refrigerator to cool the water to a desired cold water temperature. Small immersion heaters or ice cubes can also be inserted into the vessel or drinking vessel to heat or cool the water inside.

[0005] A device arranged along a water supply channel is also known from the prior art. This device includes a heating element for heating water flowing through the water supply channel to a preset hot water temperature before directing heated water to a hot water output channel, which can be used by a user to receive heated water from a water storage tank. A cooling element also exists, arranged along the water supply channel, for cooling water flowing through the water supply channel to a preset cold water temperature before directing heated water to a cold water output channel. By adding both, and by arranging a heating element connected to the hot water output channel, a cooling element connected to the cold water output channel, and suitable valves for directing water from the water supply channel to the heating or cooling element, a user can draw hot or cold water from a water storage tank.

[0006] Sometimes, or in certain areas, contamination of water storage tanks or any fluid connection between the water storage tank and the user's home can pose health risks to humans or animals consuming such water. Therefore, it is well known to provide a filtration device for removing any unwanted contaminants from water before it is subsequently consumed. Typically, such a filtration device is installed at the user's home, drawing water from a storage tank. However, filtration devices capable of removing, for example, germs and bacteria from water are expensive and require regular replacement of the filter cartridges. Furthermore, filtration efficiency decreases over the lifespan of each filter cartridge, leading to varying risks for the user that increase with continued use of the cartridges until replacement.

[0007] Therefore, to reduce health risks, all water consumed from the water tank can be heated to a preset hot water temperature, which will reduce or eliminate any germs or bacteria before the heated water is subsequently drawn from the water supply channel. If the user wants to consume cold water, a cooling device can be installed after the heating device to cool the previously heated water to the desired drinking temperature. However, heating water to a temperature sufficient to reduce unwanted contamination and then cooling the heated water increases energy consumption.

[0008] In beverage brewing systems, such as the one disclosed in WO 2016 / 187335, it is known to utilize a heat exchanger arranged before a cooling device. This heat exchanger transfers the heat energy from the heated water into a water supply channel before the heated water is directed to the cooling device, thereby preheating the water from the reservoir before it enters the heating device. Therefore, at least some of the heat energy removed during the cooling of the heated water can be used to preheat the water from the reservoir before this preheated water is directed to the heating device, reducing the energy consumption required by the heating device to heat the preheated water to a preset hot water temperature. However, if the user wants to draw cold water from the reservoir, the heat exchanger cannot reduce the temperature of the heated water to the desired cold water temperature, and an additional cooling device is required, as disclosed in WO 2016 / 187335.

[0009] EP 2 268 175 B1 discloses another beverage brewing system. Heated water is directed to a brewing unit to prepare a brewed beverage. If the user selects and desires a cold beverage, a cooling device can be used to cool the hot brewed beverage dispensed from the brewing unit. This cooling unit can be thermally connected to a cooling channel that receives the hot brewed beverage from the brewing unit. Furthermore, the cooling unit can also be thermally connected to a preheating section of a water supply channel upstream of the heating device to preheat water from a water reservoir before it enters the heating device. According to another embodiment disclosed in EP 2 268175 B1, the hot brewed beverage is directed to a cooling device comprising a Peltier element arrangement that cools the hot brewed beverage to a desired cold beverage temperature. The cold side of the Peltier element is thermally connected to the cooling channel that receives the hot brewed beverage from the brewing unit. The hot side of the Peltier element is thermally connected to the preheating section of the water supply channel upstream of the heating device. Therefore, before the heated water is directed into the brewing unit, at least some of the energy used to cool the hot brewed beverage dispensed from the brewing unit is also used to preheat the water supplied to the heating device.

[0010] The demand for cold beverages, and more specifically, for cold water, is constantly growing, where, for hygiene reasons, cold water has previously been heated to a preset high temperature to reduce any unwanted water contamination. However, to provide cold drinking water, suitable methods or equipment for providing hot or cold water do not require brewing units for brewing beverages, but rather energy-efficient methods for heating and subsequently cooling water.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for an energy-efficient method that allows for the heating and subsequent cooling of drinking water. Summary of the Invention

[0012] This invention relates to a method having a heating step and a cooling step, the cooling step utilizing a Peltier element arrangement as described above, wherein, after water is preheated by the Peltier element arrangement and before water is heated by a heating device, in a heat exchange step, heat energy from the heated water is transferred from the heated water to water supplied from a reservoir before the heated water is cooled by the Peltier element arrangement. By adding an additional heat exchange step, the energy efficiency of the combination of water heating and subsequent cooling is significantly improved, but only when the additional heat exchange step is performed according to the invention, i.e., for each heat transfer at a corresponding temperature level. The previously described heat energy transfer from the heated water to the water supplied from the reservoir is performed by a cooling device at the cooling device temperature level of the water, during which heat energy is removed from the cooling device and transferred to the cold water. An additional heat energy transfer from the heated water to the water supplied from the reservoir is performed by a heat exchanger at the heat exchange temperature level of the previously heated water. According to the invention, the heat exchange temperature level is higher than the cooling device temperature level, i.e., the heated water from the heating device first undergoes the heat exchange step and only subsequently undergoes the cooling step. Therefore, regarding energy efficiency performance, the corresponding temperature difference associated with the heat exchange step and the subsequent cooling step is more advantageous compared to the corresponding temperature difference when the heat exchange step is performed after the cooling step.

[0013] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the Peltier hot side is thermally connected to a Peltier heat exchanger that preheats water supplied by a water reservoir, and excess heat supplied by the Peltier heat exchanger that is not transferred from the Peltier hot side to the water supplied from the water reservoir is removed from the Peltier heat exchanger. The Peltier hot side transfers heat energy to the water flowing from the water reservoir toward the heating device. Even though a significant amount of heat is transferred from the Peltier cold side to the unheated water, some excess heat is not transferred to the water. If this excess heat were retained at the Peltier hot side, the temperature of the Peltier hot side would increase, but more importantly, the energy required to transfer heat from the Peltier cold side to the Peltier hot side would also increase significantly. Removing excess heat by appropriate heat removal means will reduce the heat content and temperature of the Peltier hot side, resulting in lower energy consumption during operation of the Peltier heat exchanger. It has been found that even if the temperature difference between the Peltier hot side and the unheated water decreases and additional energy is required to remove excess heat from the Peltier hot side, the overall energy efficiency can still be improved by removing excess heat from the Peltier hot side of the Peltier heat exchanger.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, a first quantity of heated water and a second quantity of subsequently cooled water are mixed and distributed as warm water, the warm water having a temperature between hot and cold water temperatures. Therefore, this mixing allows heated and subsequently cooled water to be provided at a warm temperature between the temperatures of the heated and cooled water, where the warm temperature can be individually selected and preset by the user. However, regarding the lowest possible energy consumption, it is considered advantageous to fully perform and complete the heat exchange and cooling steps, rather than interrupting the heat exchange or cooling steps after cooling the heated water to the preset warm temperature. Therefore, the first quantity of heated water is not cooled at all, which requires no additional energy. Only the second quantity of heated water is cooled and added to the first quantity of hot water. Since the combination of the heat exchange and cooling steps is considered the most energy-efficient procedure for cooling hot water, the second quantity of heated water is cooled to cold water temperature in a very energy-efficient procedure and then mixed with the first quantity of heated water to provide a combined quantity of water with a preset warm temperature.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, water supplied from a water storage tank is irradiated with ultraviolet light to reduce contamination by pathogens and bacteria. By irradiating the water with ultraviolet light, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa may be additionally inactivated. It can also be used to generate ozone for additional water disinfection. The combination of heating the water before drinking and additionally irradiating it with ultraviolet light results in a significant reduction in health risks to humans from drinking such water.

[0016] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for providing hot or cold water, comprising a water supply channel, a heating device, a valve unit, and a cooling device. The water supply channel is connectable to a water storage tank. The heating device is arranged within a heating section of the water supply channel for heating the water supplied by the water supply channel. A temperature valve unit is arranged after the heating device, allowing the heated water to be distributed to a hot water output channel or guided from the water supply channel to a cooling channel. The cooling device is arranged along the cooling channel for cooling the heated water before distributing previously heated and subsequently cooled water to a cold water output channel. The cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side. The Peltier cold side is thermally connected to the cooling channel within the cooling section for cooling the heated water, and the Peltier hot side is thermally connected to the water supply channel within a preheating section for preheating the water supplied by the water storage tank before entering the heating device. Such a device is known in the prior art and can be used to perform a heating step in which water flowing from a water reservoir is heated to a hot water temperature by a heating device, and a subsequent cooling step in which the heated water from the heating device is cooled to a preset cold water temperature by a cooling device. As described above, the use of Peltier elements allows for reduced energy consumption during operation of the device.

[0017] However, there is a need for equipment that allows the heating and subsequent cooling of drinking water to be operated with reduced energy consumption, i.e., to perform the heating and subsequent cooling steps in an energy-efficient manner.

[0018] Therefore, the present invention also relates to the apparatus described above, wherein the apparatus further includes a heat exchange device arranged along a cooling channel between a heating section and a cooling section having a heating device, and the heat exchange device is thermally connected in the heat exchange heating section to a water supply channel arranged between a preheating section and a heating section, wherein the heat transfer of the heat exchange device provides heat transfer from heated water generated by the heating device to preheated water in the water supply channel immediately preceding its inflow into the heating device. Such an apparatus is suitable and appropriate for performing the method according to the invention previously described. Therefore, all aspects and benefits described with respect to the method also apply to this apparatus, and further details of the apparatus are presented below. When compared to a cooling device, the heat exchange device operates at an elevated temperature level, which results in a reduced total energy consumption.

[0019] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the Peltier hot side is thermally connected to a Peltier heat exchanger for preheating water supplied by a reservoir, and the Peltier heat exchanger includes a heat removal device for removing excess heat supplied by the Peltier heat exchanger that is not transferred from the Peltier hot side to the water supplied from the reservoir. Arranging and operating the heat removal device to remove excess heat from the Peltier hot side results in a significant reduction in the energy consumption required to operate the Peltier element arrangement that transfers heat from the heated water to the water supplied by the reservoir. Therefore, even though operating the heat removal device requires some energy, under less advantageous conditions, the total energy required to operate the Peltier element arrangement and the heat removal device is less than the total energy required to operate only the Peltier element arrangement.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention, the heat removal device includes a fan for generating an airflow that removes excess heat from the Peltier heat exchanger. The fan can operate with low energy consumption. Furthermore, the fan is cost-effective and requires virtually no maintenance. During operation of the device, the fan's operation is easily controlled, and its cooling capacity can be easily adapted to corresponding requirements. Depending on the design and capacity of the device and the arrangement of the Peltier elements, commercially available fans and fan control units (e.g., those commonly used in personal computers) can also be utilized. Of course, it is also possible to utilize other types of heat removal devices, such as another Peltier element or cooling device that can operate via liquid cooling or evaporative cooling.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cold water output channel of the cooling channel extends into the hot water output channel for hot water. Therefore, only a hot water output channel exists for dispensing hot or cold water from the device, which facilitates proper use of the device. Furthermore, only one output channel exists for dispensing both hot and cold water, as well as warm water, which is an appropriate amount of mixture of hot and cold water, the temperature of which can be pre-selected by the user. The respective amounts of hot and cold water can be controlled by a valve unit.

[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, the valve unit includes an input port and two output ports, which allow a first quantity of incoming heated water to be directed to the cooling channel and a second quantity of incoming heated water to be directed to the hot water output channel simultaneously. The valve unit with two output ports allows for easy control of the amount of corresponding heated water to be distributed according to a user-preset drinking water temperature; the two output ports can be used simultaneously to distribute the incoming heated water into two different outflow channels. A first valve with one input port and two output ports may also be included upstream of the heating device, and a second valve with two input ports and one output port may be included downstream of the heating device and the cooling channel, which will allow for the mixing of appropriate amounts of hot water from the heating device and cold water from the cooling channel.

[0023] To further reduce any unwanted contamination of the water dispensed from the device, the device may optionally include an irradiation device for irradiating the water supplied from the storage tank with ultraviolet light. By irradiating the water with ultraviolet light, this will result in the additional inactivation of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, thereby further improving the drinking water dispensed from the device.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the device includes a cleaning valve unit that enables fluid connection between the cooling passage and the water supply passage, allowing water to return from the cooling passage to the water supply passage. By opening the cleaning valve, water that has been heated by the heating device returns to the water supply passage before being cooled to cold water temperature. Thus, heated water is supplied to the water supply passage, and the water supply passage is provided with a thermal antibacterial treatment.

[0025] It is also considered advantageous to optionally add a pathogen barrier device arranged along the combined output channel or cold water output channel, which enables heating of the corresponding output channel to reduce pathogens. The additional cost of adding and operating such a pathogen barrier device is low, but it can allow for a significant reduction in pathogen contamination that might penetrate into the equipment via the output channel. Such a pathogen barrier device may include an electric heating device, such as heating cables, arranged at or around the corresponding output channel and configured to heat the output channel up to a known temperature that significantly reduces or kills pathogens. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention will be more fully understood upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, and other features will become apparent. The drawings are merely representative and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In fact, those skilled in the art will understand upon reading the following specification and reviewing the drawings that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the innovative spirit of the invention. Similar portions depicted in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a device for providing hot or cold water is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 The hot water distribution configuration is shown. Figure 1 Operation of the device shown;

[0029] Figure 3 The configuration for distributing cold water is shown. Figure 1 Operation of the device shown;

[0030] Figure 4 The configuration for distributing warm water is shown. Figure 1 The operation of the device shown; and

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another device for providing hot or cold water is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of device 1 is shown, which is suitable for providing hot or cold water that has been heated to a preset hot water temperature and subsequently cooled to a cold water temperature. Device 1 includes a water supply channel 2 that can be connected to a water storage tank 3, which may be a container or filter for drinking water. The water storage tank 3 may also be a municipal drinking water supply system that can be connected to the water supply channel 2. A pump 4 delivers a predetermined amount of water from the water storage tank 3 to a heating device 6, and the pump 4 is controlled by a control unit 5 of device 1. After the heating device 6, the water supply channel 2 branches into a hot water output channel 7 and a cooling channel 8, which extends into a cold water output channel 9. In a preheating section 10, the water supply channel 2 is thermally connected to the Peltier hot side of a Peltier element arrangement 11, which may include a plurality of Peltier elements. In a heat exchange heating section 12 that follows upstream of the preheating section 10 in the water supply channel 2, a heat exchange device 13 is thermally connected to the water supply channel 2. In the heat exchange cooling section 14 of the cooling channel 8, the heat exchange device 13 is also thermally connected to the cooling channel 8. The heat exchange device 13 provides heat transfer between the heat exchange cooling section 14 of the cooling channel 8 and the heat exchange heating section 12 of the water supply channel 2. The heat energy of the heated water flowing through the heat exchange device 13 is transferred within the heat exchange heating section 12 of the cooling channel 8 to the water flowing through the water supply channel 2 before entering the heating device 6.

[0033] After being heated by the heating device 6, the heated water, at an elevated temperature, is transferred to the heat exchange cooling section 14 of the cooling channel 8. The heated water is then guided along the cooling channel 8 to the Peltier element arrangement 11, which is located downstream of the heat exchange cooling section 14 within the cooling section 15 of the cooling channel 8. The heat exchange cooling section 14 has a heat exchange device 13. Using the Peltier element arrangement 11, heat energy is transferred at the cooling section 15 from the heated water in the cooling channel 8 towards the preheating section 10 of the water supply channel 2. The heat exchange heating section 12 is downstream of the preheating section 10 but upstream of the heating section 16, which includes the heating device 6. Therefore, the Peltier element arrangement 11 operates at a lower heat energy level than the heat exchange device 13. The operation of the Peltier element arrangement 11 is controlled in such a way that, after passing through the Peltier element arrangement 11, the heated water from the heating device 6 is cooled to a preset cold water temperature and supplied to the cold water output channel 9.

[0034] In this embodiment, the cold water output channel 9 extends into the hot water output channel 7. Therefore, there is only one combined output channel 17 for either hot water from the hot water output channel 7 or cold water from the cooling path 8 and the cold water output channel 9.

[0035] Following the heating device 6, the water supply channel 2 branches into a hot water output channel 7 and a cooling channel 8. During operation of the device 1, the valve unit 18 controls the appropriate amount of heated water directed through the hot water output channel 7 or the cooling channel 8. The valve unit 18 includes a three-way valve with one inlet port and two outlet ports. Each port can be opened or closed independently of the other ports of the valve unit 18.

[0036] The Peltier hot side 10 is thermally connected to the Peltier heat exchanger 19 for preheating water supplied by the water reservoir 3. Furthermore, a heat removal device 20 is arranged at the Peltier heat exchanger 19 in such a manner that excess heat transferred to the Peltier hot side 10 and the Peltier heat exchanger 19 during operation of the heat removal device 20 can be removed from the Peltier heat exchanger 19 by the heat removal device 20. The heat removal device 20 is a fan, which is operated and controlled by the control unit 5.

[0037] Control unit 5 operates pump 4, heating device 6, valve unit 18, Peltier element arrangement 11, and heat removal device 20. Control unit 5 is connected to two thermocouples 21, which allow measurement of the temperature of the heated water at heating device 6 and the temperature of the output water distributed through combined output channel 17.

[0038] Figure 2 The operation of the device 1 for distributing hot water through the combined output channel 17 is shown. Water is pumped from the water storage tank 3 to the heating unit 6 through the water supply channel 2. The valve unit 18 is controlled by the control unit 5 to direct the hot water, which has been heated by the heating unit 6, toward the hot water output channel 7. The hot water is then distributed through the combined output channel 17.

[0039] Figure 3The operation of the apparatus 1 for distributing cold water through the combined output channel 17 is illustrated. Water is pumped from the water reservoir 3 to the heating device 6 through the water supply channel 2. The valve unit 18 is controlled by the control unit 5 to guide the heated water, already heated by the heating device 6, into the cooling channel 8. This heated water flows through the heat exchange device 13, and heat is transferred from this heated water to the water flowing through the water supply channel 2, thereby cooling the heated water in the cooling channel 8 and adding heat to the water flowing through the water supply channel 2. The water in the cooling channel 8, which has been heated and subsequently cooled, then flows through the Peltier element arrangement 11 and is further cooled to a preset cold water temperature by the Peltier element arrangement 11. The Peltier hot side transfers heat to the Peltier heat exchanger 19, adding heat to the water flowing through the water supply channel 2. Compared to the heat transfer performed by the Peltier hot arrangement 11 and the Peltier heat exchanger 19, the heat transfer by the heat exchange device 13 occurs at an elevated temperature level.

[0040] Figure 4 The operation of device 1 for distributing warm water at a preset temperature is shown. Valve unit 18, controlled by control unit 5, directs a first quantity of water toward hot water output channel 7 and simultaneously directs a second quantity of water into cooling channel 8. The hot water from hot water output channel 7 and the previously heated and subsequently cooled water from cooling channel 8 are mixed and distributed through combined output channel 17.

[0041] Figure 5 A second embodiment of the device 1 according to other aspects of the present invention is shown. Many aspects and features of this embodiment are related to those of... Figures 1 to 4 The first embodiment shown and described is the same as or similar to the first embodiment, and this will not be repeated in the description of the second embodiment. Along the water supply channel 2, there is an irradiation device 22 that irradiates the water flowing through the water supply channel 2 with ultraviolet light, resulting in the additional inactivation of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Valve unit 18 is arranged upstream of the hot water output channel 7 and the cold water output channel 9, but downstream of the combined output channel 17.

[0042] A cleaning channel section 23 exists within the cleaning channel 24, branching off from the cooling channel 2 upstream of the Peltier element arrangement 11. The cleaning channel 24 also includes a cleaning channel bypass section 25, which provides a bypass to the preheating section 10 of the water supply channel 2 and to the heat exchange heating section 12 within the water supply channel 2. The cleaning channel bypass section 25 is connected to the water supply channel 2 via two cleaning channel valve units 26. During cleaning mode operation, water is directly directed to the heating device 6 via the cleaning channel bypass section 25. The heated water is then directed through the cooling channel 8 to the branch of the cleaning channel section 23, and then redirected back into the water supply channel 2. Thus, heated water flows through the cooling channel 8 and the water supply channel 2. The water is then distributed via the combined output channel 17.

[0043] By way of examples Figure 5 The illustrated embodiment also includes a pathogen barrier device 27 arranged along the combined output channel 17. The pathogen barrier device 27 includes a heating device, such as an electrically heated cable, which allows heating of the combined output channel 17 to reduce and ideally kill any pathogens that may enter the device 1 via the combined output channel 17. The pathogen barrier device 27 can be manually activated, for example, when needed or at predetermined service intervals. For example, the pathogen barrier device 27 can also be automatically activated by the control unit 5 at predetermined intervals (e.g., weekly or monthly). Activation of the pathogen barrier device 27 will result in heating the combined output channel 17 to a temperature sufficient to significantly reduce or preferably kill all pathogens within the combined output channel 17. Typically, only a short heating period (e.g., a few minutes) is required to reduce pathogens. This pathogen barrier device 27 can be added to all embodiments of the device 1. The pathogen barrier device 27 can be arranged along the combined output channel 17 or along the cold water output channel 9, or both, for example, if there is a high risk of pathogen contamination.

Claims

1. A method for providing hot or cold water, using an apparatus (1) comprising a heating device (6) for heating water supplied from a water reservoir (3) via a water supply channel (2), and further comprising a cooling device for cooling previously heated water, wherein the cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement (11) having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side, the Peltier cold side for cooling previously heated water, the Peltier hot side being thermally connected to the water supply channel (2) for preheating water supplied from the water reservoir (3), wherein during heating... In the steps, water supplied from the water storage tank (3) is heated to a preset hot water temperature by the heating device (6), and can then be distributed as hot water from the device (1). In the cooling step, the heated water is cooled to a preset cold water temperature by the cooling device before being distributed as cold water. In the cooling step, the heated water is cooled by the Peltier cold side of the Peltier element arrangement (11), and simultaneously preheated by the Peltier hot side of the Peltier element arrangement (11) to reduce the energy consumption of the heating device (6) for heating the water supplied from the water storage tank (3). After the water is preheated by the Peltier element arrangement (11) and before it is heated by the heating device (6), in the heat exchange step, the heat energy from the heated water is transferred from the heated water to the water supplied from the water storage tank (3) before the heated water is cooled by the Peltier element arrangement (11).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Peltier hot side is thermally connected to the Peltier heat exchanger (19), which preheats the water supplied by the water reservoir (3) and removes excess heat supplied by the Peltier heat exchanger (19) that is not transferred from the Peltier hot side to the water supplied by the water reservoir (3).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A first quantity of heated water and a second quantity of subsequently cooled water are mixed and distributed as warm water, which has a temperature between that of hot water and cold water.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Water supplied from the water tank (3) is irradiated with ultraviolet light to reduce contamination by germs and bacteria.

5. An apparatus (1) for providing hot or cold water, comprising a water supply channel (2), a heating device (6), a valve unit (18), and a cooling device, wherein the water supply channel (2) is connectable to a water storage tank (3), the heating device (6) is arranged within a heating section (16) of the water supply channel (2) for heating water supplied by the water supply channel (2), and the valve unit (18) is arranged after the heating device (6) for allowing heated water to be distributed to a hot water output channel (7) or for guiding water from the water supply channel (2) to a cooling channel (8), and the cooling device is provided by the water supply channel (2). The cooling device is arranged along the cooling channel for cooling heated water before distributing previously heated and subsequently cooled water to the cold water output channel (9), wherein the cooling device is a Peltier element arrangement (11) having a Peltier cold side and a Peltier hot side, the Peltier cold side being thermally connected to the cooling channel (8) within the cooling section (15) for cooling the heated water, and the Peltier hot side being thermally connected to the water supply channel (2) within the preheating section (10) for preheating the water supplied by the water reservoir (3) before entering the heating device (6), characterized in that, The device (1) further includes a heat exchange device (13) arranged along a cooling channel (8) in a heat exchange cooling section (14) between the heating device (6) and the cooling section (15), and the heat exchange device (13) is thermally connected to a water supply channel (2) in a heat exchange heating section (12) arranged between a preheating section (10) and the heating device (6), wherein the heat transfer of the heat exchange device (13) provides heat transfer from heated water generated by the heating device (6) to preheated water in the water supply channel (2) before flowing into the heating device (6).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The Peltier hot side is thermally connected to the Peltier heat exchanger (19) for preheating the water supplied by the water reservoir (3), and the Peltier heat exchanger (19) includes a heat removal device (20) for removing excess heat supplied by the Peltier heat exchanger (19) that is not transferred from the Peltier hot side to the water supplied from the water reservoir (3).

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heat removal device (20) includes a fan for generating an airflow to remove excess heat from the Peltier heat exchanger (19).

8. The device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The cold water output channel (9) of the cooling channel (8) extends into the hot water output channel (7) for hot water.

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The valve unit (18) includes an input port and two output ports, which allow a first amount of incoming heated water to be directed to the cooling channel (8) and a second amount of incoming heated water to be directed to the hot water output channel (7) for hot water.

10. The device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The device (1) includes an irradiation device (22) for irradiating water supplied from a water storage tank with ultraviolet light.

11. The device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The device (1) includes a cleaning valve unit (26) that enables the cooling passage (8) to be fluidly connected to the water supply passage (2), allowing water to return from the cooling passage (8) to the water supply passage (2).

12. The device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The device (1) includes a pathogen barrier device (27) arranged along a combined output channel (17) or a cold water output channel (9), which enables the corresponding output channel (17, 9) to be heated to reduce pathogens.

Images