A water recirculating device having operation rules

Abstract

The present invention describes a water recirculating device comprising a fresh water inflow connection unit, a recirculation loop, a user outflow unit, a heating providing unit, a water treatment unit, a sensor system for at least water quality measurement, a drain unit or other position in the water recirculating device involving a separation point for either recirculation of water or discarding of water, a pump enabling pumping of water in at least part of the water recirculating device, a regulation unit for regulation of functions of the water recirculating device, the water recirculating device is arranged to be set with operation priority rules driving different operation modes during use.

Description

[0001] A WATER RECIRCULATING DEVICE HAVING OPERATION RULES

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a water recirculating device having operation rules.

[0004] Technical Background

[0005] One aim of the present invention is to provide a water recirculating device having different operation rules.

[0006] Summary of the invention

[0007] The latter stated purpose above is achieved by a water recirculating device comprising

[0008] - a fresh water inflow connection unit;

[0009] - a recirculation loop;

[0010] - a user outflow unit;

[0011] - a heating providing unit;

[0012] - a water treatment unit;

[0013] - a sensor system for at least water quality measurement;

[0014] - a drain unit or other position in the water recirculating device involving a separation point for either recirculation of water or discarding of water;

[0015] - a pump enabling pumping of water in at least part of the water recirculating device;

[0016] - a regulation unit for regulation of functions of the water recirculating device, said regulation unit being arranged for making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on at least water quality, said regulation unit being arranged to be regulated at least partly via a user control unit; wherein the water recirculating device is arranged to be set with operation priority rules driving different operation modes during use.

[0017] Short description of the drawing

[0018] In fig. 1 there is shown one embodiment of a system according to the present invention. Specific embodiments of the invention

[0019] Below there is provided some specific embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] The different units may be provided in different configurations according to the present invention. In one such configuration, shown in fig. 1 , the following may apply.

[0021] A fresh water inflow connection unit, mentioned with cold water inlet and hot water inlet, ensures that fresh water may be fed into the system 1 , in this case a recirculating shower. This water is then fed into the system 1 . As may be seen, a valve is used to enable fresh water to be fed into the system or by recirculation. A pump is used to pump water into a water treatment unit 2, which in this case is a UV unit, depicted with a UV lamp. A heating providing unit 3 then heats the water to the intended temperature, and the water is then fed further to the user outflow unit, in this case a shower outlet. Water used is then collected in a drain unit 5 in the water recirculating device involving a separation point 6 for either recirculation 7 of water or discarding 8 of water. In this case, the drain unit 5 comprises at least one or more sensors of the sensor system 4, which is arranged for at least water quality measurement. The sensor system is connected to a regulation unit 9 for regulation of functions of the water recirculating device, such as recirculation mode or not, temperature control, etc. Moreover, in the case of recirculation 7 then water is fed via the recirculation loop back and up through the system and back to the water treatment unit 2 via the valve and pump.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the heating providing unit is an internal heating unit. An alternative to this is to have connection provided to external heating. Nevertheless, the water recirculating device should have some form of heating capability regardless of where the heating source is arranged.

[0023] Different types of water recirculating devices are possible, but the general focus is for domestic and / or commercial use, e.g. at home, offices, buildings, hotels, sport facilities etc., and not for industrial water processing. According to one embodiment, the user outflow unit is a shower nozzle or a tap for a sink / washbasin. According to one specific application of interest, then the water recirculating device according to the present invention is a recirculating shower.

[0024] Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the operation modes differ in terms of water consumption and / or energy management. These two aspects are drivers for water and energy usage and may act as important parameters for the operation of a water recirculating device according to the present invention.

[0025] Moreover, according to yet another embodiment, the operation priority rules are at least water quality as priority 1 and set user temperature as priority 2. The operation priority rules are set as rules for the operation of the shower. Water quality is normally a starting point, i.e. this is set with a minimum requirement if any form of recirculation of water should be performed. Temperature is also a key property as this affects the energy management efficiency of the water recirculation device.

[0026] It should be noted that a user may set certain default rules to affect the operation modes. As an example, if a “comfort” operation is set, then also the minimum user temperature requirement should be met regardless of the water temperature in a water flow possible to recirculate based on met water quality requirement. This is something the user can decide on meaning that also an operation mode where a certain temperature decrease from the set user temperature value may be allowed, intended to save energy. The same is applicable on water quality, however the default mode here is always to meet a set minimum water quality level. For certain water recirculating devices exceptions may be made, e.g. for applications where the water supply is very limited.

[0027] According to yet another embodiment, the different operation modes are at least a) no recirculation b) recirculation mode c) recirculation mode with further rules on water consumption and / or energy management.

[0028] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the operation mode c) includes at least one of the following rules:

[0029] - when a user calls for a desired water temperature being lower than existing water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit sets the water recirculating device in recirculation with natural water cooling instead of fresh cold water inlet mode;

[0030] - during a heat-up phase of water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit allows for a slower heating up of water in the water recirculating device during a first time range, preferably during maximum 2 minutes;

[0031] - that the regulation unit allows for a decrease in a flow level for the user outflow unit when a desired temperature for the user outflow unit is increased by a user and the internal heating unit cannot reach a set flow level and the desired temperature for the user outflow unit.

[0032] Moreover, according to yet another embodiment, the water recirculating device is arranged to include the possibility to set all of the following rules:

[0033] - when a user calls for a desired water temperature being lower than existing water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit sets the water recirculating device in recirculation with natural water cooling instead of fresh cold water inlet mode;

[0034] - during a heat-up phase of water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit allows for a slower heating up of water in the water recirculating device during a first time range, preferably during maximum 4 minutes;

[0035] - that the regulation unit allows for a decrease in a flow level for the user outflow unit when a desired temperature for the user outflow unit is increased by a user and the internal heating unit cannot reach a set flow level and the desired temperature for the user outflow unit.

[0036] Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the water recirculating device is also arranged to enable an operation mode d) recirculation mode with further rules on water quality, such as expansion of clean water range for the water quality measurement.

[0037] Moreover, according to one embodiment, the regulation unit is arranged for making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on water quality and energy management. Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the different operation modes may be set by a user via the control unit and / or via a user app, such as via a connected smart phone or the like, preferably the operation mode of a next or active user session may be set directly in the control unit and wherein at least a default operation mode or rules for operation modes may be set in said user app.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one operation mode implies disabling of recirculation per se.

[0039] As hinted above, according to one embodiment, the water recirculating device is a recirculating shower.

[0040] It should also be noted that the present invention refers to a system for operating a water recirculating device according to above, said system comprising a control unit as mentioned above. Moreover, the present invention also refers to a method for operating a water recirculating device according to above based on parameters I operation modes I operation rules set in the control unit. In line with this, according to one specific embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a water recirculating device according to the present invention, wherein the method comprises making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on at least water quality, and optionally (and preferably) set user temperature, and wherein the water recirculating device is arranged to be set with operation priority rules driving different operation modes during use.

Claims

Claims1 . A water recirculating device comprising- a fresh water inflow connection unit;- a recirculation loop;- a user outflow unit;- a heating providing unit;- a water treatment unit;- a sensor system for at least water quality measurement;- a drain unit or other position in the water recirculating device involving a separation point for either recirculation of water or discarding of water;- a pump enabling pumping of water in at least part of the water recirculating device;- a regulation unit for regulation of functions of the water recirculating device, said regulation unit being arranged for making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on at least water quality, said regulation unit being arranged to be regulated at least partly via a user control unit; wherein the water recirculating device is arranged to be set with operation priority rules driving different operation modes during use.

2. The water recirculating device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating providing unit is an internal heating unit.

3. The water recirculating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user outflow unit is a shower nozzle or a tap for a sink / washbasin.

4. The water recirculating device according to any of claims 1 -3, wherein the operation modes differ in terms of water consumption and / or energy management.

5. The water recirculating device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the operation priority rules are at least water quality as priority 1 and set user temperature as priority 2.

6. The water recirculating device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the different operation modes are at least a) no recirculation b) recirculation mode c) recirculation mode with further rules on water consumption and / or energy management.

7. The water recirculating device according to claim 6, wherein the operation mode c) includes at least one of the following rules:- when a user calls for a desired water temperature being lower than existing water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit sets the water recirculating device in recirculation with natural water cooling instead of fresh cold water inlet mode;- during a heat-up phase of water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit allows for a slower heating up of water in the water recirculating device during a first time range, preferably during maximum 2 minutes;- that the regulation unit allows for a decrease in a flow level for the user outflow unit when a desired temperature for the user outflow unit is increased by a user and the internal heating unit cannot reach a set flow level and the desired temperature for the user outflow unit.

8. The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water recirculating device is arranged to include the possibility to set all of the following rules:- when a user calls for a desired water temperature being lower than existing water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit sets the water recirculating device in recirculation with natural water cooling instead of fresh cold water inlet mode;- during a heat-up phase of water in the water recirculating device, then the regulation unit allows for a slower heating up of water in the waterrecirculating device during a first time range, preferably during maximum 4 minutes;- that the regulation unit allows for a decrease in a flow level for the user outflow unit when a desired temperature for the user outflow unit is increased by a user and the internal heating unit cannot reach a set flow level and the desired temperature for the user outflow unit.

9. The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water recirculating device is also arranged to enable an operation mode d) recirculation mode with further rules on water quality, such as expansion of clean water range for the water quality measurement.

10. The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the regulation unit is arranged for making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on water quality and energy management.11 . The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the different operation modes may be set by a user via the control unit and / or via a user app, such as via a connected smart phone or the like, preferably the operation mode of a next or active user session may be set directly in the control unit and wherein at least a default operation mode or rules for operation modes may be set in said user app.

12. The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one operation mode implies disabling of recirculation per se.

13. The water recirculating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water recirculating device is a recirculating shower.

14. A method for operating a water recirculating device according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the method comprises making a decision of either recirculation of water or discarding of water based on at least water quality,and optionally set user temperature, and wherein the water recirculating device is arranged to be set with operation priority rules driving different operation modes during use.

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