A water chiller

Abstract

The invention relates to a water chiller comprising: - a reservoir for storing a water mass; - a heat pump device for extracting heat from the water mass and relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium, wherein the heat pump device comprises: - an evaporator for extracting heat from the water mass; - a condenser for relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium; - a compressor for circulating the refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator, wherein the evaporator is arranged in the reservoir and is in direct heat-exchanging contact with the water mass for the purpose of chilling it.

Description

[0001] A water chiller

[0002] The invention relates to a water chiller comprising :

[0003] - a reservoir for storing a water mass ;

[0004] - a heat pump device for extracting heat from the water mass and relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium, wherein the heat pump device comprises :

[0005] - an evaporator for extracting heat from the water mass ;

[0006] - a condenser for relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium;

[0007] - a compressor for circulating the refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator .

[0008] Such water chillers are known, for instance for tapping of chilled drinking water .

[0009] A drawback of the known water chillers is that the tap flow rate is usually very limited . Although this is not or need not be a drawback for tapping of chilled drinking water, it is for instance not possible to take a cold shower or ice cold shower, since the temperature will increase rapidly at such a tap flow rate . Strict hygiene rules must also be taken into consideration when chilling water for consumption purposes .

[0010] It is now an obj ect of the invention to provide a water chiller whereby the above stated drawbacks can be reduced or even obviated .

[0011] This obj ect is achieved according to the invention with a water chiller according to the preamble , characteri zed in that the evaporator is arranged in the reservoir and is in direct heat-exchanging contact with the water mass for the purpose of chilling it .

[0012] In contrast to the normally applied cooling spirals for chilling the water mass , the evaporator is arranged in the reservoir, whereby direct heat-exchanging contact with the water mass is created for the purpose of chilling the water mass . The water mass can thus be chilled very ef ficiently, without an active circulation by for instance a plate exchanger being required .

[0013] The reservoir can here be dimensioned suitably for the flow rate required for a cold shower . With a volume of 45- 55L, preferably of 50L, it is possible to shower for over 4 minutes with at a tap flow rate of HL / min .

[0014] In an embodiment of a water chiller according to the invention the evaporator is arranged close to the upper side of the reservoir .

[0015] By arranging the evaporator at the top of the reservoir a greater temperature di f ference between the evaporator and the nearby water mass is maintained for as long as possible , whereby the energy trans fer takes place more quickly and there is less chance of local freezing of the evaporator . This is because the natural convection in the reservoir will cause the chilled water to sink down .

[0016] Another embodiment of a water chiller according to the invention is a water chiller wherein the reservoir is provided with a first connection for a filling conduit and a second connection for a conduit for use of the chilled water .

[0017] The first connection is preferably situated above the second connection, and preferably also substantially at the top of the reservoir .

[0018] By positioning the first connection, to which the filling conduit is connected, above the second connection use is made as far as possible of the normal layering in the reservoir, since the warm water then flows in closer to the upper side .

[0019] Also according to the invention is an embodiment of a water chiller wherein the second connection is situated substantially at the bottom of the reservoir .

[0020] By arranging the second connection, to which the conduit for use of the chilled water is connected, substantially at the bottom of the reservoir the coldest water is always tapped first . This obviates the need for the whole reservoir to be chilled before chilled water can be tapped .

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of a water chiller according to the invention the water chiller is provided with an agitator for agitating the water mass in the reservoir, at least close to the evaporator .

[0022] Providing an agitator, such as for instance a propeller, pump or aerator, in the reservoir makes it possible to prevent the water around the evaporator from freezing . The agitator is preferably switched on by a controller when a preset temperature is reached or is fallen below . The temperature can then be chosen such that freezing around the evaporator is out of the question . This preserves the layering of the water mass in the reservoir as long as possible . It is only when the water mass has already cooled down greatly that the water mass is then actively set into motion . The temperature for controlling the agitator is here preferably measured close to the evaporator . By applying an agitator it is possible to chill to a point close to the freezing point , for instance to 3 ° C .

[0023] In an alternative embodiment of the water chiller according to the invention the agitator is here a liquid pump . This is preferably arranged outside the reservoir and connected hydraulically thereto for the purpose of recirculating the water mass .

[0024] Applying a liquid pump enables a strong circulation of the water mass to be set into motion in highly ef ficient manner . Arranging the liquid pump outside the reservoir results here in a great deal of freedom of choice in the hydraulic coupling locations for the feed and discharge conduit of the pump, so that the flow in water mass can be controlled optimally .

[0025] Also according to the invention is an embodiment of a water chiller wherein the reservoir is arranged under the heat pump device .

[0026] By arranging the reservoir under the heat pump device a water chiller having only a small footprint is obtained . This prevents the heat relinquished by the condenser from immediately warming up the reservoir again through convection .

[0027] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures .

[0028] Figure 1 shows a front view of a water chiller according to the invention .

[0029] Figure 2 shows a view with exploded parts of a water chiller according to the invention .

[0030] Figure 3 shows a working diagram of a water chiller according to the invention .

[0031] Figure 1 shows a front view of a water chiller 1 according to the invention . An operating interface 3 is provided on the housing 2 . A reservoir 4 is arranged under the heat pump device 5 situated housing 2 . A liquid pump 6 is arranged outside the reservoir 4 and is connected hydraulically to reservoir 4 by means of pipes 7 .

[0032] Figure 2 shows a view with exploded parts of a water chiller 11 according to the invention . Visible above housing 12 is fan 18 , which discharges the heat from the condenser, and operating interface 13 is shown adj acently of housing 12 . Visible above reservoir 14 is the heat pump device 15 , which is situated in housing 12 during use . The reservoir 14 , on which are arranged the liquid pump 16 with the pipes 17 connecting liquid pump 16 to reservoir 14 , functions as base for the water chiller 11 .

[0033] Figure 3 shows a working diagram 21 of a water chiller 22 according to the invention . The evaporator 23 is arranged in the reservoir 24 , so that it is in direct heat- exchanging contact with the water mass 25 located in reservoir 24 . Condenser 26 provides for the capacity of relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium . Condenser 26 can be provided here with a fan to increase the heat exchange with the ambient air . A compressor 27 circulates the refrigerant between condenser 26 and evaporator 23 via an expansion valve 28 or capillary tube 28 . A liquid pump 29 provides for optional agitation of the water mass 25 in reservoir 24 to prevent freezing of evaporator 23 . A filling conduit 30 is connected to first connection 31 . The conduit 32 for use of the chilled water is connected to the second connection 33 on reservoir 24 . These two conduits 30 , 32 can optionally also be switched when it is undesirable for the most chilled water to be tapped first .

Claims

Claims1 . A water chiller comprising :- a reservoir for storing a water mass ;- a heat pump device for extracting heat from the water mass and relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium, wherein the heat pump device comprises :- an evaporator for extracting heat from the water mass ;- a condenser for relinquishing the absorbed heat to an external medium;- a compressor for circulating the refrigerant between the condenser and the evaporator, characteri zed in that the evaporator is arranged in the reservoir and is in direct heat-exchanging contact with the water mass for the purpose of chilling it .2 . Water chiller according to claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is arranged close to the upper side of the reservoir .3 . Water chiller according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the reservoir is provided with a first connection for a filling conduit and a second connection for a conduit for use of the chilled water .4 . Water chiller according to claim 3 , wherein the first connection is situated above the second connection, and is preferably also situated substantially at the top of the reservoir .5 . Water chiller according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the second connection is situated substantially at the bottom of the reservoir .6 . Water chiller according to any one of the foregoing claims , which water chiller is provided with an agitator for agitating the water mass in the reservoir, atleast close to the evaporator.

7. Water chiller according to claim 6, wherein the agitator is a liquid pump.

8. Water chiller according to claim 7, wherein the liquid pump is arranged outside the reservoir and connected hydraulically thereto for the purpose of recirculating the water mass.

9. Water chiller according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the reservoir is arranged under the heat pump device.

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