GB2280014A - Electric instantaneous water heater - Google Patents
Electric instantaneous water heater Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2280014A GB2280014A GB9314731A GB9314731A GB2280014A GB 2280014 A GB2280014 A GB 2280014A GB 9314731 A GB9314731 A GB 9314731A GB 9314731 A GB9314731 A GB 9314731A GB 2280014 A GB2280014 A GB 2280014A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- water
- relatively
- hot water
- cold water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 71
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008236 heating water Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/20—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24H9/2007—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters
- F24H9/2014—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters using electrical energy supply
- F24H9/2028—Continuous-flow heaters
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems And Details Of Heating Systems (AREA)
- Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)
- Bathtubs, Showers, And Their Attachments (AREA)
Abstract
An electric instantaneous water heater, especially suitable for a shower, comprises an electric heat exchanger 1 which is supplied with substantially constant flow rate of cold water from a regulating valve 3, the hot water from the heat exchanger 1 being mixed in a mixing chamber or valve 6 with cold water from valve 3 to afford a mixed water supply at a required temperature at an outlet 8. Valve 3 may be replaced by a valve which replaces or is associated with mixing chamber 6. <IMAGE>
Description
Water Heaters
This invention relates to water heaters and more specifically to so-called instantaneous electric water heaters, especially for electric showers.
Existing instantaneous water heaters for electric showers comprise a heat exchanger which includes one or more electric heater elements, the heat exchanger being supplied with a flow of cold water which is heated in the heat exchanger, the hot water being supplied to a shower head. The temperature of the water at the outlet of the heat exchanger is dependent upon the rate of flow of water through it and the electrical power input to the heat exchanger.Such a system is disadvantageous in that the initial heating time to achieve the desired output temperature is high because of the relatively high flow rates; there is a large hysteresis between the setting of a flow rate to afford a required temperature and the actual achievement of that temperature; there are flow restrictions imposed by the heat exchanger; poor heat exchange can occur in the heat exchanger due to flow problems and turbulence, causing local hot spots on heater elements, and reduced heater element life; every change in flow rate causes a change in the mass temperature of the heat exchanger, resulting in reduced heat exchanger life; and because of the large hysteresis there is a delay in reaction by sensors and safety thermal cut-outs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of electric instantaneous water heater, especially suitable for an electric shower.
According to the present invention there is provided an electric instantaneous water heater comprising an electrically powered heat exchanger, means for affording a substantially fixed supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger to be heated therein, and means for mixing the relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger with a supply of relatively cold water for affording a hot water output at a required temperature.
In a preferred arrangement according to the invention, a regulating valve will be provided for affording the supply of relatively cold water which is mixed with said relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger.
Advantageously, said regulating valve affords said substantially fixed supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger.
In one arrangement according to the invention, a mixing chamber may be provided for mixing said relatively hot water and said supply of relatively cold water and for affording said hot water output.
In another arrangement according to the invention, regulating means may be provided for regulating the mixed relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger and the supply of relatively cold water and for affording said hot water output.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying single figure drawing which is a diagrammatic block diagram of an electric instantaneous water heater in accordance with the present invention for use in a shower.
The electric instantaneous water heater shown in the drawing comprises a heat exchanger 1 in which is contained one or more electrical heating elements (not shown) for heating water which is passed through the heat exchanger 1.
The heat exchanger 1 is supplied with a substantially constant flow of relatively cold water via a coupling 2 from a regulating valve 3 which has a cold water inlet 4 to which a cold water supply (not shown) is connected. The constant flow of relatively cold water supplied to the heat exchanger 1 is heated therein and relatively hot water, at a substantially fixed flow rate, is afforded by an outlet 5 thereof. The relatively hot water from the heat exchanger outlet 5 is fed to a mixing chamber 6, which may alternatively be a valve, to which is supplied a regulated flow of cold water from the regulating valve 3, via a coupling 7. The relatively hot water supplied from outlet 5 and the cold water from the regulating valve 3 are mixed in the mixing chamber 6, and the mixed water is output via a mixed water outlet 8, typically to a shower head.
The electric instantaneous water heater described with reference to the drawing is advantageous in that the flow rate through the heat exchanger 1 is substantially constant and the heat exchanger 1 can be designed for maximum efficiency at this flow rate so as to reduce flow problems and turbulence, to eliminate hot spots, etc., and therefore to increase heater element life. Because of the known and relatively low flow rate through the heat exchanger 1, the heat exchanger 1 may be designed to operate at a relatively high temperature, thereby reducing the initial heating time of the water. The heat exchanger 1 operates at a substantially constant temperature, which minimises hysteresis affects, and enables a more positive response to be obtained from thermal cut-outs/sensors which are normally provided for safety purposes. The overall flow rate of the water heater is relatively unaffected by restrictions in the heat exchanger 1 because at high flow rates the majority of the water bypasses the heat exchanger
1.
Although in the water heater which has been described, the regulating valve 3 is provided on the cold water inlet 4, it is envisaged that in some applications the regulating valve 3 may be dispensed with, water flow through the water heater being regulated by a suitable valve or other means which replaces or acts in association with the mixing chamber 6.
The electric instantaneous water heater which has been described is ideally suited for shower applications, but may have more general application, e.g. in providing hot water to a hand basin, etc.
Claims (6)
1. An electric instantaneous water heater comprising an electrically powered heat exchanger, means for affording a substantially fixed supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger to be heated therein, and means for mixing the relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger with a supply of relatively cold water for affording a hot water output at a required temperature.
2. A water heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising a regulating valve for affording the supply of relatively cold water which is mixed with said relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger.
3. A water heater as claimed in claim 2, in which said regulating valve affords said substantially fixed supply of relatively cold water to said heat exchanger.
4. A water heater as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a mixing chamber for mixing said relatively hot water and said supply of relatively cold water and for affording said hot water output.
5. A water heater as claimed in claim 1, comprising regulating means for regulating the mixed relatively hot water supplied by said heat exchanger and the supply of relatively cold water and for affording said hot water output.
6. An electric instantaneous water heater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9314731A GB2280014B (en) | 1993-07-16 | 1993-07-16 | Water heaters |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9314731A GB2280014B (en) | 1993-07-16 | 1993-07-16 | Water heaters |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9314731D0 GB9314731D0 (en) | 1993-08-25 |
| GB2280014A true GB2280014A (en) | 1995-01-18 |
| GB2280014B GB2280014B (en) | 1997-04-30 |
Family
ID=10738922
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9314731A Expired - Lifetime GB2280014B (en) | 1993-07-16 | 1993-07-16 | Water heaters |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2280014B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2317944A (en) * | 1996-10-04 | 1998-04-08 | Andrew Boulton Renfrew | Electrical water heating appliance |
| GB2331578A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 1999-05-26 | Triton Plc | Water Heaters |
| CN106152521A (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2016-11-23 | 广东万家乐燃气具有限公司 | A kind of capable of self-circulating circulating device and there is the water heater of this circulating device |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1149806A (en) * | 1966-08-11 | 1969-04-23 | W App Nfabriek N V As | Hot-water system for domestic use coupled to a district heating system through heat exchangers |
| GB1235849A (en) * | 1967-12-22 | 1971-06-16 | Dolphin Showers Ltd | Apparatus for heating water by means of electricity |
| GB2194317A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-03-02 | Redring Electric Ltd | Instantaneous water heaters |
-
1993
- 1993-07-16 GB GB9314731A patent/GB2280014B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1149806A (en) * | 1966-08-11 | 1969-04-23 | W App Nfabriek N V As | Hot-water system for domestic use coupled to a district heating system through heat exchangers |
| GB1235849A (en) * | 1967-12-22 | 1971-06-16 | Dolphin Showers Ltd | Apparatus for heating water by means of electricity |
| GB2194317A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1988-03-02 | Redring Electric Ltd | Instantaneous water heaters |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2317944A (en) * | 1996-10-04 | 1998-04-08 | Andrew Boulton Renfrew | Electrical water heating appliance |
| GB2331578A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 1999-05-26 | Triton Plc | Water Heaters |
| GB2331578B (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-05-02 | Triton Plc | Water heaters |
| GB2356445A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | Triton Plc | Instantaneous water heater |
| GB2356445B (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-11-21 | Triton Plc | Water heaters |
| CN106152521A (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2016-11-23 | 广东万家乐燃气具有限公司 | A kind of capable of self-circulating circulating device and there is the water heater of this circulating device |
| CN106152521B (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2022-03-22 | 广东万家乐燃气具有限公司 | A self-circulating circulation device and a water heater with the same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2280014B (en) | 1997-04-30 |
| GB9314731D0 (en) | 1993-08-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Expiry date: 20130715 |