ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RECYCLING SYSTEM FOR SHOWER WATER

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of water recycling. More particularly, the present invention concerns an electric water-recycling shower system.Description of the Related Art

[0002] Water recycling, being the reusing of treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenishing a ground water basin (referred to as ground water recharge) is well-known due to both resource and financial savings. Treatment of such water can be tailored to meet the water quality requirements of the planned reuse, for example, recycled water for landscape irrigation requires less treatment than recycled water for drinking water.

[0003] Personal hygiene regimes are one of the greatest generators of waste water in a residential environment. As such, recently there has been a focus on optimizing personal use of fresh water, with an emphasis on developing showering technology. A commonly-used solution is a closed-loop, or semi-closed loop system of water recycling that uses high-grade purification filters to clean the water being recycled for the duration of a shower. The Oas shower system offered by Orbital Systems uses a 5 litre intake of water for a single shower. Once the system is shut-off, a 'fresh' 5 litre amount of water is taken into the system for the next shower. However, due to the large amount of recycling occurring, the filters require replacement 3-4 times a year and this can become expensive.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the problems of the prior art as discussed herein or otherwise.

[0005] Therefore, it is now desired to provide an improved arrangement for a water-recycling shower that is more financially sustainable.

[0006] US2017145669A1 discloses a system that recycles shower water to promote water conservation. US2016319522A1 discloses a hybrid device allowing purification and either recycling of water or discarding of water, wherein said hybrid device comprises a recirculation loop, a filter system and multiple sensors, wherein the multiple sensors are conductivity sensors, wherein the hybrid device also comprises a micro processor and wherein the multiple sensors are connected to the micro processor. US2009300839A1 discloses a base structure for a shower, the shower having a water recirculation circuit, the base including a substantially planar floor and a reservoir, the reservoir including a first outlet for admitting water to be used by the recirculation circuit, and a second outlet for admitting water to be sent to waste, wherein in use where the passage of water to waste is obstructed, water contacting the floor runs into the reservoir to form a pool of sufficient depth to substantially cover the first outlet. US2014053909A1 discloses a water recirculation system for a shower unit comprises a plurality of reservoirs and switching means for selecting from which of the reservoirs the shower unit receives water. CN101579198A discloses a water-saving circulating device for shower, wherein the lower side of a shower spraying head is provided with a water-returning base that is provided with a drain pipe therein; the drain pipe is provided with a sensor that is provided with a water quality detector; an electric control board of the sensor is connected with a relay via control wire; the outlet end of the drain pipe is provided with a drain valve; a water pump is arranged beside the upper side of the drain pipe at the back of the sensor; the contact of the relay is electrically connected with both the drain valve and the water pump; and the outlet of the water pump is connected with a disinfecting and purifying water tank and then the outlet is communicated with a hot water tank via the water-returning pipeSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] There is provided an electric water-recycling shower system as recited in claim 1.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how exemplary embodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a water-recycling electric shower system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, the invention comprises an electric water-recycling shower system 1 comprising a first heating element (not shown), a fresh water intake 10 arranged to pass the first heating element, an intake valve 12 to control the flow of water through the fresh water intake 10, a water output 42, and a shower waste 44, wherein during a normal mode of operation, the fresh water intake valve 12 is configured to allow a flow of water from the fresh water intake 10 to pass by the first heating element and out of the water output 42, characterised in that the system 1 is adapted to switch between the normal mode and a recycle mode of operation, the recycle mode comprising a waste water intake 22 connected to a waste water tank 24, and a waste valve 26 connected to the shower waste 44, wherein the waste valve 26 is configured to close in order to allow collection of waste water in the tank 24 for diversion through the waste water intake 22, past a heating element (not shown) and out of the water output 42.

[0010] The fresh water intake 10 comprises the standard plumbed cold water pipe provided in a bathroom / wet room and the intake valve 12 comprises a solenoid valve installed on said pipe. The fresh water intake is plumbed into a control unit 32. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control unit 32 comprises a housing separated into two modules: a first normal module 34; and a second recycle module 36.

[0011] The first module 34 houses a first heating element that is of a suitably high wattage, ideally 10 - 12 KW, to allow heating of cold water on demand to an appropriate temperature. The fresh water intake is plumbed into the first module 34 of the control unit 32 and is arranged to pass by the first heating element to heat the water appropriately. The newly heated fresh water 28a is exited from the control unit 32 via a dedicated pipe 14 to the water output 42, being a shower head. The first module 34 provides a number of indicators 34a, 34b configured to show the different modes of use provided by the first module 34.

[0012] The second module 36 houses a second heating element (not shown) that is of significantly lower wattage than the first, ideally 1 - 2 KW, to allow re-heating / top-up heating of already heated waste water 22a to the required temperature. The waste water intake 22, in the form of a syphon tube, is plumbed into the second module 36 of the control unit 32 and is arranged to pass by the second heating element to re-heat the water appropriately. The re-heated waste water 14a is exited from the control unit 32 via a dedicated pipe 28 to the water output 42. The location of the two pipes 14, 28 are adjacent one another for ease. The second module 36 provides an indicator 36a configured to show the recycle mode in operation provided by the second module 36.

[0013] A power switch (not shown) and a heating control (not shown) is provided on the control unit 32 to allow a user to switch on the system when having a shower and control the temperature respectively. However, it is to be appreciated that there may be additional user-operated buttons can be provided for additional user-control, e.g. selection of the switching between modes of use.

[0014] The system 1 comprises a shower tray 50, which may be relatively standard in design. The waste water tank 24 is concealed under the shower tray 50, either in the sub-floor, or sitting within a purpose-built, floor-standing unit. The shower tray 50 comprises a recess 52 for the waste water before being exited down a waste hole 54. In this respect, the shower tray 50 differs from a standard installation, in that the waste hole 54 connects the recess 52 of the shower tray 50 with the waste water tank 24, into which water exiting down the waste hole 54 is diverted.

[0015] The waste water tank 24 comprises closed container with the connection to the waste hole 54 and a connection to the shower waste 44 at a lowest point thereof. Appropriately, although not shown, the tank 24 is shaped at a base to provide a slight slope towards the shower waste 44. Disposed within the shower waste 44 is the waste valve 26 in the form of a solenoid valve.

[0016] The waste water tank 24 also comprises a connection to the waste water intake 22 in the form of a syphon tube. The waste water intake 22 is disposed at the base proximal to the shower waste 44 in order to take advantage of the slope and divert water from the tank 24 when the tank contains a reservoir of waste water 27.

[0017] A pump 62 is disposed along the waste water intake 22, between the tank 24 and the second module 36 of the control unit 32. The pump is arranged to assist the drawing of waste water 22a from the tank 24 to the control unit 32.

[0018] The control unit 32 comprises a controller 38 that is electronically connected thereto. The controller 38 is electronically connected to the first and second modules 34, 36 via connections 38a and 38b, respectively, which control the heating elements and the user buttons and indicators. The controller provides further electronic connections: 38c to the intake valve 12; 38d to the pump 62; and 38e to the waste (solenoid) valve 26.

[0019] The controller 38 is ideally housed within the casing of the control unit 32.

[0020] In use, in an exemplary embodiment, the controller 38 is pre-programmed to initiate a schedule of phased electronic signals to accurately control the modes of operation during a shower once an on-switch has been depressed by a user.

[0021] First of all, the controller 38 sends a signal via 38c to open the water intake valve 12, via 38a to the first module 34 of the control unit 32 to allow heating of the first heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode is in operation, and via 38e to open the waste water valve 26. This process allows fresh water to enter via the valve 12 to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output 42 where it is exited. The controller 38 provides this normal mode for a predetermined first period of time of 2 minutes.

[0022] Once the first predetermined period of time is finished, the controller 38 sends a signal via 38a to the first module 34 of the control unit 32 to provide the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode has switched to an intermediate mode of operation, and via 38e to close the waste water valve 26. This process allows fresh water to continue to enter via the valve 12 and to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output 42 where it is exited. However, as the waste valve 26 is closed, the tank 24 is allowed to fill with the heated (now) waste water 27. The controller 38 provides this intermediate mode for a predetermined second period of time of 1 minute.

[0023] Following the expiration of the second predetermined period of time, the controller 38 sends a signal via 38c to close the water intake valve 12, via 38b to the second module 36 of the control unit 32 to allow heating of the second heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that recycle mode is in operation, and via 38e to close the waste water valve 26. The first heating element is now off. This process allows waste water to be drawn through the syphon tube 22 from the waste water tank 24 and be re-heated by the second heating element and then go on to the water output 42 where it is exited. The controller 38 provides this recycle mode for a predetermined third period of time of 5 minutes.

[0024] After the recycle mode is complete, the controller 38 sends a signal via 38c to open the water intake valve 12, via 38a to the first module 34 of the control unit 32 to allow heating of the first heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode is in operation again, and via 38e to open the waste water valve 26. This process allows fresh water to once again enter via the valve 12 to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output 42 where it is exited. The controller 38 provides this normal mode for a predetermined fourth period of time of 2 minutes.

[0025] It is to be appreciated that alternative programs with predetermined periods may be provided, or that the process may be entirely user-operated, with an intermediate mode built-in between the normal to recycle mode switch.

[0026] With the invention, the system can deliver a shower with pre-wash, waste water collection, recycle shower and rinse phases that correspond with the stages described above. This allows for saving of electricity as the waste water need not be heated from cold, and saving of water since the recycle mode re-uses a proportion of the water. However, due to pre-wash and rinse phases, the issue of initial grime being recycled and water becoming too dirty to finish a shower are avoided.

Claims

1. An electric water-recycling shower system (1) comprising: a first heating element, a fresh water intake (10) comprising a standard plumbed cold water pipe, arranged to pass the first heating element, an intake valve (12) comprising a solenoid valve installed on the fresh water intake (10), to control the flow of water through the fresh water intake (10), a water output (42) being a shower head, a shower waste (44), a waste water intake (22) in the form of a syphon tube, a waste valve (26) connected to the shower waste (44) and disposed therein, the waste valve (26) comprising a solenoid valve, a shower tray (50) comprising the shower waste (44) and the waste valve (26), and further comprising a recess (52) for waste water to occupy before being exited down a waste hole (54), the waste hole (54) connecting the recess (52) of the shower tray (50) with a waste water tank (24), the waste water tank (24) concealed under the shower tray (50) and comprising a closed container shaped at a base thereof to provide a slight slope towards the shower waste (44), with the connection to the waste hole (54) and a connection to the shower waste (44) at a lowest point thereof, and comprising a connection to the waste water intake (22), the waste water intake (22) being disposed at the base of the waste water tank (24) the proximal to the shower waste (44), in order to take advantage of the slope and divert water from the tank (24) when the tank (24) contains a reservoir of waste water, a control unit (32) into which the fresh water intake (10) is plumbed, and comprising a power switch and a heating control thereon to allow a user to switch on the system (1) when having a shower and control the temperature respectively, the control unit (32) comprising a controller (38) electronically connected thereto, for switching the system (1) between a normal mode and a recycle mode of operation via an intermediate mode according to a pre-programmed schedule of phased electronic signals to control the modes of operation during a shower once an on-switch thereof has been depressed by a user, the control unit (32) comprising a housing separated into two modules: a first normal module (34); and a second recycle module (36), the first, normal, module (34) having the fresh water intake (22) plumbed thereinto, and housing the first heating element, the first heading element being of a suitably high wattage to allow heating of cold water on demand to an appropriate temperature, the first module (34) comprising a number of indicators (34a, 34b) configured to show different modes of use provided by the first module (34). and the second, recycle, module (36) housing a second heating element, the second heating element being of significantly lower wattage than the first heating element, to allow re-heating / top-up heating of already heated waste water to a required temperature, wherein the waste water intake (22) is plumbed into the second module (36) and is arranged to pass by the second heating element to re-heat the water appropriately, the second module (36) comprising an indicator (36a) configured to show the recycle mode in operation provided by the second module (36), a pump (62) disposed along the waste water intake (22) between the tank (24) and the second module (36) of the control unit (32), arranged to assist the drawing of waste water from the tank (24) to the control unit (32), and the controller (38) being electronically connected to the first and second modules (34, 36) via first and second connections (38a,38b) respectively, which are operable to control the heating elements and the user buttons and indicators, and providing further electronic connections (38c, 38d, 38e): to the intake valve (12), to the pump (62), and to the waste valve (26), wherein during the normal mode of operation: the intake valve (12) is configured to allow a flow of cold water from the fresh water intake (10) to pass by the first heating element and out of the water output (42) and the waste valve (26) is configured allow all water passing through the shower waste (44) to exit the system (1); and wherein in the recycle mode of operation: the intake valve (12) is closed, and the waste valve (26) is closed in order to allow collection of waste water in the waste water storage reservoir (27) for diversion of the waste water through the waste water intake (22), past the second heating element and out of the water output (42), and wherein in the intermediate mode of operation the waste valve (26) is closed and the intake valve (12) is open; and wherein the control unit (32) is arranged to control the modes of operation under the control of the controller (38) as follows: first of all, the controller (38) sends: a signal via its connection (38c) the intake valve (12) to open the intake valve 12; a signal via its connection (38a) to the first module (34) of the control unit (32) to allow heating of the first heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode is in operation, and via its connection (38e) to the waste water valve (26) to open the waste water valve (26); whereby fresh water is allowed to enter via the intake valve (12) to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output (42) where it is exited, the controller (38) provides this normal mode for a predetermined first period of time; once the first predetermined period of time is finished, the controller (38) sends a signal via its first connection (38a) to the first module (34) of the control unit (32) to provide the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode has switched to an intermediate mode of operation, and via its connection (38e) to the waste water valve (26) to close the waste water valve (26), whereby fresh water is allowed to continue to enter via the intake valve (12) and to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output (42) via a dedicated pipe (14) from the control unit (32) to the water output (42) where it is exited, with the waste valve (26) being closed, the tank (24) is allowed to fill with the heated waste water, the controller (38) providing this intermediate mode for a predetermined second period of time; and following the expiration of the second predetermined period of time, the controller (38) sends a signal via its connection (38c) to the intake valve (12) to close the intake valve 12, and via its connection (38b) to the second module (36) of the control unit (32) to allow heating of the second heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that recycle mode is in operation, and via its connection (38e) to the waste water valve (26) to close the waste water valve (26), and now to turn off the first heating element is turned off, whereby waste water is drawn through the waste water intake (22) from the waste water tank (24) and be re-heated by the second heating element, to and then go on to the water output (42) via a dedicated pipe (28) from the control unit (32) to the water output (42) where it is exited, the dedicated pipes (14, 28) from the control unit (32) being adjacent one another, the controller (38) providing this recycle mode for a predetermined third period of time; and after the third predetermined period of time, the recycle mode is complete and the controller (38) sends a signal via its connection (38c) to the intake valve (12) to open the water intake valve (12), and via its first connection (38a)0 to the first module (34) of the control unit (32) to allow heating of the first heating element at the same time as providing the appropriate indicator showing that normal mode is in operation again, and via its connection (38e) ot the waste water valve (26) to open the waste water valve (26) whereby fresh water is allowed once again to enter via the inlet valve (12) to be heated to by the first heating element and then go on to the water output (42) where it is exited, the controller (38) providing this normal mode for a predetermined fourth period.