Hot and cold drinking water dispenser with disinfection circuit

Abstract

A drinking water dispenser (1), comprising: an inlet line (2) for connection to an external water source (25); an inlet solenoid valve (3) installed in the inlet pipe (2); a cold water tank (6) equipped with a cooling device (9); a hot water tank (8) equipped with a heater (10) and installed below the cold water tank (6); a cold water outlet pipe (11) connecting the cold water tank (6) to a cold water outlet (13); a hot water outlet pipe (14) connecting the hot water tank (8) and a hot water outlet (16); a first pipe (5) connecting the inlet pipe (2) and the cold water tank (6); a circulation pump (24) for ensuring circulation of hot water in the disinfection mode; The first pipeline (5) is connected to the cold water tank (6) through a vertical pipe (26) having an open upper end (27) installed in the cold water tank (6) and a lower end (28) of the vertical pipe (26) connected to the first pipeline (5), and the dispenser (1) is a second pipe (7) connecting the inlet pipe (2) to a hot water tank (8); a circulation pipe (19) connecting the hot water outlet pipe (14) to the cold water outlet pipe (11); The drinking water dispenser (1) further comprises a check valve (20) installed in the circulation pipe (19) to allow water to flow from the hot water outlet pipe (14) to the cold water outlet pipe (11) and prevent water from flowing in the reverse direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drinking water dispenser, and in particular to a drinking water dispenser that is connected to an external water source and is equipped with a dispenser sanitizer that uses hot water. [Background technology]

[0002] Drinking water dispensers connected to an external water source are known. If the external water source is a public water main, these dispensers may include an additional tap water purification system, for example a charcoal filter. These dispensers usually also include a water cooling device and a water heating device.

[0003] Typically, water from an external source is fed into a cold or hot tank, which then feeds the hot tank, located below the cold tank. This scheme is convenient in that the water flows out of the dispenser by gravity, and the pressure in the hot and cold taps is the same.

[0004] Drinking water dispensers connected to an external source require regular disinfection to remove naturally occurring microbial contamination inside the dispenser, especially if a water purification system removes chlorine from the water supply. Disinfection can be done using chemicals, ozone or high temperature. It is known to use hot water to disinfect the dispenser, where the hot water is pumped from a hot tank to a cold tank to disinfect it.

[0005] The hot / cold water dispenser (Patent Document 1) includes a cold water tank, a hot water tank located below the cold water tank, a pipeline connecting the cold water tank to the hot water tank, a pump disposed in the connecting pipeline for pumping water from the hot water tank to the cold water tank, a drain pipeline for draining water from the cold water tank to a sewer, and a control device for discharging hot water from the cold water tank at the end of the cold water tank disinfection process.

[0006] During disinfection, hot water is supplied from the hot water tank through the connecting pipe to the cold water tank by means of a pump installed in the connecting pipe, and returns to the hot water tank through the same pipe by gravity after the pump is switched off. A disadvantage of this dispenser is that only the cold water tank is treated with hot water, while the inlet pipe through which tap water is supplied to the cold water tank and the outlet pipe through which cold water is distributed to consumers remain untreated. Another disadvantage is that before the start of disinfection and after the end of disinfection, drainage of the hot and cold tanks to sewer is required.

[0007] The dispenser (Patent Document 2) includes a cold water tank, a hot water tank located below the cold water tank, a pipeline connecting the cold water tank to the hot water tank, a drain pipeline for draining water from the cold water tank to a sewer, an outlet pipeline through which cold water is distributed to consumers via a first solenoid valve installed in the outlet pipeline, and an additional pipeline connecting the hot water tank to the first solenoid valve, the additional pipeline being equipped with a circulation pump and a second solenoid valve for connecting to the first solenoid valve.

[0008] During disinfection, hot water is supplied from the hot water tank through an additional pipe, the first and second solenoid valves, the cold water outlet pipe to the cold water tank using a circulation pump, and returns to the hot water tank through the connecting pipe by gravity. The disadvantage of this dispenser is that only the cold water tank and the cold water outlet pipe are treated, while the inlet pipe through which tap water is supplied to the cold water tank remains untreated. Another disadvantage is the complexity of the dispenser design due to the introduction of an additional pipe and an additional solenoid valve for circulating hot water in the dispenser disinfection mode.

[0009] Yet another disadvantage is that the hot water outlet pipes and the hot water outlet are left untreated, and microbial contamination may also occur at these locations during long interruptions in the operation of the dispenser, which may lead to undesirable consequences.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to improve the operation of a dispenser sterilization system, to provide more complete treatment of the dispensers with hot water, and to simplify the dispenser design and improve its reliability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 101358073 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent No. 101818711 Summary of the Invention

[0012] The technical result is achieved in a drinking water dispenser comprising an inlet pipe for connection to an external water source, an inlet solenoid valve installed in the inlet pipe, a cold water tank with a cooling device, a hot water tank with a heater installed below the cold water tank, a cold water outlet pipe connecting the cold water tank to the cold water outlet, a hot water outlet pipe connecting the hot water tank to the hot water outlet, a first pipe connecting the inlet pipe to the cold water tank, and a circulation pump for circulating hot water in disinfection mode. The first pipe is connected to the cold water tank via a vertical pipe with an open upper end installed in the cold water tank and its lower end is connected to the first pipe, the dispenser additionally comprises a second pipe connecting the inlet pipe to the hot water tank, a circulation pipe connecting the hot water outlet pipe to the cold water outlet pipe, and a check valve installed in the circulation pipe allowing the flow of water from the hot water outlet pipe to the cold water outlet pipe and not in the opposite direction.

[0013] This design of the dispenser, and in particular this method of supplying water to the cold and hot water tanks, allows to provide simplicity of dispenser design and ease of switching the dispenser to disinfection mode: to switch the dispenser from standby mode to disinfection mode, it is only necessary to switch off the cooling device and switch on the circulation pump, without the need for additional switching of lines.

[0014] The circulation pump is preferably installed in the second line. By installing the circulation pump in the second line at the hot water tank inlet, it is possible to improve the thermal operation of the pump in the disinfection mode (water temperature 70°C) compared to the configuration in which the pump is located at the hot tank outlet (water temperature 95-100°C). It is not desirable to install the pump in the first line, since a pump placed in the first line may generate microbiological contamination during the operation of the dispenser.

[0015] The dispenser preferably includes a cold water outlet solenoid valve installed in the cold water outlet line and a hot water outlet solenoid valve installed in the hot water outlet line. The presence of the outlet solenoid valves makes it easy to control the operation of the dispenser using an internal controller.

[0016] It is convenient to equip the dispenser with a steam pipe connecting the top of the hot water tank with the top of the cold water tank, which removes excess steam generated when heating water in the hot water tank. At the same time, it is desirable to install an additional solenoid valve on the steam pipe in order to close the steam pipe in the disinfection mode of the dispenser. Closing the steam pipe allows to increase the pressure in the hot water tank, thereby increasing the flow of hot water through the check valve, without allowing hot water to flow through the steam pipe to the cold water tank.

[0017] A method for disinfecting the dispenser is also proposed. When disinfecting the dispenser, the cold water tank cooling device is first switched off, and then the circulation pump is switched on to provide circulation of hot water from the hot water tank through the hot water outlet pipe, through the check valve, through the cold water outlet pipe to the cold water tank, from the cold water tank through the vertical pipe installed in the cold water tank, through the first inlet pipe, the second inlet pipe, and the circulation pump back to the hot water tank. This ensures that all circulating water is heated to a set temperature for disinfection. The circulation of hot water through the pipes and the cold water tank purifies both the cold water tank and the pipes from microbial contamination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a dispenser. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of a dispenser. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 shows the connection of the circulation line to the cold water outlet line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic image of a drinking water dispenser. The dispenser 1 is connected to an external water source 25, for example a public water pipe, via a main inlet pipe 2. The external source can be any source from which water is supplied under pressure, it can be a water pipe, a reservoir with a pump, a pump for pumping water from a well, a water purification system, etc. An inlet solenoid valve 3 is installed in the inlet pipe 2. If necessary, a filter 4 can be installed in the inlet pipe 2 for further purification of the water supplied to the dispenser 1. The filter 4 is installed before the inlet solenoid valve 3. After the inlet solenoid valve 3, the inlet pipe 2 is connected to a cold water tank 6 via a first pipe 5 and to a hot water tank 8 via a second pipe 7, in which a circulation pump 24 is installed. The cold water tank 6 is connected to the first pipe 5 via a vertical pipe 26 located in the cold water tank 6, the lower end 28 of the vertical pipe is connected to the first pipe 5, and the open upper end 27 is located at a certain height from the bottom of the tank 6, below the water level in the tank 6.

[0020] Supplying water to the cold water tank 6 from the bottom simplifies the design of the dispenser and makes it possible to ensure hot water disinfection of the pipes supplying water to the tank 6. Firstly, the water supply through the vertical pipe 26 ensures the supply of uncooled water from the water pipe to the top of the tank 6. Secondly, in the hot water distribution mode with weak water pressure in the inlet pipe 2, the water entering the hot water tank 8 from the cold water tank 5 is taken from the top of the tank 6, where the water is not so cold. Thirdly, in the disinfection mode, the hot water flowing in through the outlet pipe 11 and flowing out through the open top end 27 of the vertical pipe 26 ensures the mixing of the hot water in the tank 6, which improves its disinfection.

[0021] The cold water tank 6 is provided with a cooling device 9, and the hot water tank 8 is provided with a heater 10. The cold water tank 6 is connected to the cold water outlet 13 via the cold water outlet pipe 11 and the cold water outlet solenoid valve 12. The hot water tank 8 is connected to the hot water outlet 16 via the hot water outlet pipe 14 and the hot water outlet solenoid valve 15, respectively. The hot water tank 8 is also connected to the cold water tank 6 via a steam pipe 17. The hot water outlet pipe 14 is connected to the cold water outlet pipe 11 via a circulation pipe 19. A check valve 20 is installed in the circulation pipe 19, which allows water to flow from the hot water outlet pipe 14 to the cold water outlet pipe 11 at a constant pressure, but does not allow water to flow in the opposite direction, i.e., from the cold water pipe 11 to the hot water pipe 14. To ensure hot water circulation in the disinfection mode of the dispenser, a circulation pump 24 is installed in the second pipe 7 in front of the hot water tank 8.

[0022] The cold water tank 6 is connected to the surrounding air space via an air duct 21. An air filter 22 is installed in the air duct 21. The filter 22 may further comprise a device for sterilizing the outside air entering the dispenser. The cold water tank 6 is also equipped with a water level sensor 23.

[0023] The hot water tank 8 is installed under the cold water tank 6. The hot water tank 8 is connected to the cold water tank 6 through a steam pipe 17. During the operation of the dispenser, the hot water tank 8 is completely filled with water, while in the cold water tank 6, the lower part of the tank 6 is filled with water, and air is present in the upper part of the tank 6. Therefore, the excess steam generated when the water in the hot water tank 8 is heated is discharged through the steam pipe 17 to the air space of the cold water tank 6. And the resulting excess air pressure in the cold water tank 6 is discharged to the outside air through the air duct 21.

[0024] The inlet solenoid valve 3, the cold water outlet solenoid valve 12 and the hot water outlet solenoid valve 15 are normally closed. The dispenser works as follows: the dispenser 1 is connected to a water source 25 through the inlet line 2, and after switching on the dispenser 1, the inlet solenoid valve 3 is opened, and the cold water outlet solenoid valve 12 and the hot water outlet solenoid valve 15 are closed. Water from the external source 25 enters the dispenser 1, and after the inlet solenoid valve 3, it enters the hot water tank 8 through the second conduit 7, and then enters the cold water tank 6 through the first conduit 5 and the vertical pipe 26. Air displaced by water pressure from the hot water tank 8 through the steam pipe 17 enters the air space of the cold water tank 6, from where it leaves through the air duct 21 to the outside. Water from the external source 25 enters both tanks 6 and 8 simultaneously, but since the hot water tank 8 is located below the cold water tank 6, the hot water tank is filled first. When the water level in the cold water tank 6 reaches the set water level of the water level sensor 23, the inlet solenoid valve 3 closes. The water in the cold water tank 6 is then cooled to the set temperature using the chiller 9, and the water in the hot water tank 8 is heated to the set temperature using the heater 10. Once the set cold and hot water temperatures are reached, the dispenser is ready for operation and goes into standby mode.

[0025] When chilled water is dispensed, the chilled water outlet solenoid valve 12 opens, allowing water to flow from the chilled water tank 6 through the chilled water outlet line 11 to the chilled water outlet 13. When the water level in the chilled water tank 6 falls below a set value determined by the water level sensor 23, the inlet solenoid valve 3 opens, allowing water from an external source 25 to enter the chilled water tank 6 through the first line 5 and the vertical pipe 26, filling the chilled water tank to the set water level.

[0026] When hot water is dispensed, the outlet solenoid valve 15 opens, and at the same time the inlet solenoid valve 3 also opens, allowing water from the external source 25 to enter the hot water tank 8 through the second pipe 7 and, under the pressure of the incoming water, water from the hot water tank 8 enters the hot water outlet 16 through the hot water outlet pipe 14. If the water pressure from the external source 25 is insufficient to ensure the flow of hot water out of the dispenser 1, water from the cold water tank 6 also enters the hot water tank 8 through the vertical pipe 26, the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 7, thereby ensuring the required flow of outgoing hot water.

[0027] In case of a drop in water pressure from the external supply 25, the cold water tank 6 located above the hot water tank 8 acts as a water reservoir and maintains the necessary pressure in the hot water tank 8. This makes it possible to ensure the necessary water flow at the hot water outlet 16.

[0028] The diameter of the first line 5 is slightly smaller than that of the second line 7 to ensure that in the hot water dispensing mode at normal pressure of the water coming from the external source 25, no water enters the cold water tank 6. It is also possible to provide an additional normally open solenoid valve 29 in the first line 5, as shown in the dispenser configuration of FIG. It closes in hot water dispensing mode at normal pressure from external source 25 and opens in this mode only when pressure from external source 25 is reduced.

[0029] Disinfection mode. In this mode, the normally closed solenoid valves, i.e. the inlet solenoid valve 3, the cold water outlet solenoid valve 12 and the hot water outlet solenoid valve 14, remain closed. The cooling device 9 is switched off. The circulation pump 24 arranged in the hot water inlet line 7 is switched on and pumps water from the cold water tank 6 to the hot water tank 8, from where the water enters the hot water outlet line 14 under pressure from the pump 24, then through the circulation line 19 equipped with a non-return valve 20 into the cold water outlet line 11, then into the cold water tank 6, through the vertical pipe 26, the first line 5 and the second line 7 the water returns to the pump 24. The water flowing through the hot water tank 8 and circulating in the dispenser 1 is heated by the heater 10. After heating the water to the set temperature, the hot water circulation continues for a set time. The circulation time and the water temperature are determined depending on the operating conditions of the dispenser 1. For example, a circulation of water heated to 67-80 ° C for 1 or 2 hours can be carried out weekly to maintain microbiological purity in a continuously operating dispenser 1. The disinfection mode may additionally be switched on after long interruptions in the dispenser operation.

[0030] To control the sterilization process, the dispenser may be equipped with one or more temperature sensors.

[0031] Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the dispenser. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 1, firstly, by the presence of an additional normally open solenoid valve 18 in the steam pipe 17, which closes in the disinfection mode of the dispenser. Closing the steam pipe 17 in the disinfection mode of the dispenser makes it possible to increase the pressure in the hot water tank 8 and prevent the flow of hot water through the steam pipe 17, while allowing the flow of hot water through the non-return valve 20 to be increased. The increase in water pressure in the disinfection mode also makes it possible to reduce the requirements for the accuracy of the operation of the non-return valve 20.

[0032] Another difference of the dispenser shown in Figure 2 is the presence of an additional solenoid valve 29 in the first line 5. The solenoid valve 29 is normally open and may be closed in the hot water dispensing mode of the dispenser, which may be useful if the water pressure in the inlet line is excessively high. The presence of this valve makes it possible to prevent water from entering the cold water tank during hot water dispensing from the dispenser, even if there is no means for regulating the inlet pressure.

[0033] In the embodiment of the dispenser shown in Figures 1 and 2, the check valve 20 is installed in the circulation line 19 connecting the hot water outlet line 11 and the cold water outlet line 14. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that if the outlet lines 11 and 14 are placed close to each other, the circulation line 19 may be very short, or the flange of the check valve may act in that way.

[0034] 3 shows a form of implementation in which the circulation line 19 is connected to one of the outlet lines, in this case the cold water outlet line 11. The circulation line 19 is preferably connected to the outlet line 11 as close as possible to the outlet valve 12. Hot water from the hot water tank 8 then flows through the outlet line 11 in disinfecting mode, heating the water in the inlet duct 31 of the solenoid valve 12 and, through it, also heating the water in the internal chamber 30 of the outlet solenoid valve 12, thus also disinfecting the internal space of the solenoid valve 12. Also, if the water outlet 13 and the solenoid valve body are made of a material with high thermal conductivity, for example metal, then the water outlet 13 will also be disinfected.

[0035] Thus, in the proposed dispenser, a complete disinfection of the water lines of the dispenser is carried out. Disinfection of the entire water line from the inlet solenoid valve 3 to the outlet solenoid valves 12 and 15 is carried out without significantly complicating the design of the dispenser. In this configuration of the dispenser 1, only two elements are introduced for disinfection: the check valve 20 and the circulation pump 24, and, if necessary, an additional solenoid valve 18 in the steam pipe 17. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Dispenser 2 Inlet pipe 3 Inlet solenoid valve 4. Filters 5. First Pipeline 6. Cold Water Tank 7 Second Pipeline 8. Hot Water Tank 9 Cooling device 10 Heater 11 Chilled water outlet pipe 12 Cold water outlet solenoid valve 13 Cold water outlet 14 Hot water outlet pipe 15 Hot water outlet solenoid valve 16 Hot water outlet 17 Steam Pipe 18 Solenoid valve in steam pipe 19 Circulation pipeline 20. Check valve 21 Air Duct 22 Air Filter 23 Water level sensor 24 Circulation Pump 25 External water source 26 vertical tube 27 Open top end 28 Bottom end 29 Solenoid valve in first pipeline 30 Outlet solenoid valve inner chamber 31 Input duct of outlet solenoid valve

Claims

1. A drinking water dispenser (1), comprising: An inlet pipeline (2) for connecting to an external water source (25); An inlet solenoid valve (3) installed in the inlet pipeline (2); A cold water tank (6) equipped with a cooling device (9); A hot water tank (8) equipped with a heater (10) and installed under the cold water tank (6); A cold water outlet pipeline (11) connecting the cold water tank (6) to a cold water outlet (13); A hot water outlet pipeline (14) connecting the hot water tank (8) to a hot water outlet (16); A first pipeline (5) connecting the inlet pipeline (2) to the cold water tank (6); A circulation pump (24) for ensuring the circulation of hot water in the disinfection mode; The first pipeline (5) is connected to the cold water tank (6) via a vertical pipe (26) having an open upper end (27) installed in the cold water tank (6), and its lower end (28) is connected to the first pipeline (5). The dispenser (1) further comprises: A second pipeline (7) connecting the inlet pipeline (2) to the hot water tank (8); A circulation pipeline (19) connecting the hot water outlet pipeline (14) to the cold water outlet pipeline (11); A check valve (20) installed in the circulation pipeline (19) to allow the flow of water from the hot water outlet pipeline (14) to the cold water outlet pipeline (11) and prevent water from flowing in the reverse direction. The drinking water dispenser (1) is characterized by the above features.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the circulation pump (24) is installed in the second pipeline (7).

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a steam pipe (17) connecting the upper part of the hot water tank (8) to the upper part of the cold water tank (6).

4. The dispenser according to claim 3, further comprising a solenoid valve (18) installed in the steam pipe (17).

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, which is adapted to be connected to a water pipe.

6. The dispenser according to claim 5, further comprising a water filter (4) installed in the inlet pipeline (2) before the inlet solenoid valve (3).

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an additional solenoid valve (29) installed in the first pipeline (5).

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a cold water outlet solenoid valve (12) installed in the cold water outlet pipeline (11) and a hot water outlet solenoid valve (15) installed in the hot water outlet pipeline (14).

9. The dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the circulation pipeline (19) with the check valve (2) is in front of the cold water outlet solenoid valve (12) and is installed in front of the hot water outlet solenoid valve (15).

10. The following steps a) switching off the cooling device (9); b) switching on the circulation pump (24); c) switching off the circulation pump (24); d) A method for disinfecting the dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising switching on the cooling device (9).

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising controlling the hot water temperature and switching off the heater (10) when the hot water temperature reaches a set value.

Images