GB2560364A - A method of operating a domestic hot water installation - Google Patents
A method of operating a domestic hot water installation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2560364A GB2560364A GB1703803.5A GB201703803A GB2560364A GB 2560364 A GB2560364 A GB 2560364A GB 201703803 A GB201703803 A GB 201703803A GB 2560364 A GB2560364 A GB 2560364A
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- hot water
- cylinder
- temperature
- controller
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- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 333
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 47
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 42
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 9
- 208000007764 Legionnaires' Disease Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 241000589248 Legionella Species 0.000 description 3
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000004023 Legionellosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000035353 Legionnaires disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010035718 Pneumonia legionella Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000589516 Pseudomonas Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000032536 Pseudomonas Infections Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 102220638341 Spartin_F24D_mutation Human genes 0.000 description 1
- LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfurous acid Chemical compound OS(O)=O LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000010730 Ulex europaeus Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000003864 Ulex europaeus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000009395 breeding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001488 breeding effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004069 differentiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003546 flue gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013517 stratification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003442 weekly effect Effects 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
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
- F24D17/0026—Domestic hot-water supply systems with conventional heating means
- F24D17/0031—Domestic hot-water supply systems with conventional heating means with accumulation of the heated water
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- 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)
- Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
Abstract
A method of operating a domestic hot water installation 1 comprising a hot water cylinder 3, a controller 35 and a heating circuit 5 for the hot water cylinder. The controller monitors the temperature and volume of hot water in the cylinder, periodically calculates the temperature and volume of hot water cylinder taking into account a hot water loss profile of the cylinder. If the temperature or volume of hot water in the cylinder drops below a predetermined desired level, the controller operates the heating circuit to bring the temperature or volume of hot water in the cylinder up to a desired level. In this way, the desired amount of water will be available and the temperature of the water will be kept to a level that is unlikely to promote spread of bacteria. An operator may enter a hot water loss profile constant. The temperature and volume of the water may be monitored being delivered and drawn from the cylinder and / or the time between the two events. The profile may be generated over time.
Description
(71) Applicant(s):
Systemlink Aquaeco Ltd (Incorporated in Ireland)
Greenhills Business Park, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland (72) Inventor(s):
Terence William Madigan Terence Gerard Madigan (56) Documents Cited:
GB 2132791 A WO 2015/097694 A1 WO 2011/033449 A2 US 20150226460 A1 (58) Field of Search:
INT CL F24D Other: WPI, EPODOC
EP 2017550 A2 WO 2012/162763 A1 US 8461493 B1 US 20070005190 A1 (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
O'Connor Intellectual Property
Suite 207 Q House, Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18,
Ireland (54) Title of the Invention: A method of operating a domestic hot water installation Abstract Title: A method of operating a domestic hot water installation (57) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation 1 comprising a hot water cylinder 3, a controller 35 and a heating circuit 5 for the hot water cylinder. The controller monitors the temperature and volume of hot water in the cylinder, periodically calculates the temperature and volume of hot water cylinder taking into account a hot water loss profile of the cylinder. If the temperature or volume of hot water in the cylinder drops below a predetermined desired level, the controller operates the heating circuit to bring the temperature or volume of hot water in the cylinder up to a desired level. In this way, the desired amount of water will be available and the temperature of the water will be kept to a level that is unlikely to promote spread of bacteria. An operator may enter a hot water loss profile constant. The temperature and volume of the water may be monitored being delivered and drawn from the cylinder and / or the time between the two events. The profile may be generated over time.
Fig.l
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11(d) ) 31 27 \ 21 5 <—O_L
37(b) 37(d)
41 43^35 37(f)
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LD 'll.
101 “A method of operating a domestic hot water installation”
Introduction
This invention relates to a method of operating a domestic hot water installation. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of operating a domestic hot water installation of the type comprising a hot water cylinder, a controller and a heating circuit for the hot water cylinder.
In many domestic hot water installations, it is not uncommon for hot water to be heated and then left in the hot water cylinder for a significant period of time before it is used. During this time, the hot water cools from its original temperature. Generally speaking, the longer that the hot water is left standing, the cooler it will get. This poses a number of problems. First of all, even after the water has been left to stand for a significant period of time, the operator of the hot water installation may expect that there is still sufficient hot water in the hot water cylinder for their needs, for example for them to take a shower, when in actual fact there is insufficient water for that purpose. This may lead to loss of hot water supply during their shower which is inconvenient and can be uncomfortable if there is a sudden loss of hot water temperature during their shower. Secondly, it can be dangerous to use hot water that has been sitting in a tank and allowed to cool. If water in a hot water tank is stored at a temperature below 55°C, this water can become a breeding ground for bacteria including Legionella and Pseudomonas bacteria. If inhaled or ingested, these can in turn lead to Legionnaires disease and Pseudomonas infections which, in the worst case scenarios, can cause death. The growing popularity of showers has exacerbated this problem due to the fact that the heated water is directed towards the face where the bacteria may easily be inhaled or ingested.
Various controllers and hot water installations have been proposed that control the hot water supply in a household. These controllers vary from the very simplistic that are effectively a timer clock connected to an immersion heater to the more complex that allow for temperature as well as the supply times to be selected. One advanced controller and hot water installation that goes some way to addressing some of the problems is described in the applicants own PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO2015/082708. WO2015/082708 discloses a controller and a hot water installation
-2that periodically, i.e. weekly, heats the entire volume of water in the hot water cylinder up to a temperature of 60°C in an attempt to avoid legionella contamination. However, none of the controllers, domestic hot water installations or methods of operating those domestic hot water installations comprehensively address the problems outlined above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a domestic hot water installation that overcomes at least some of the above-identified problems and that provides a useful alternative choice for the consumer.
Statements of Invention
According to the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation of the type comprising a hot water cylinder, a controller and a heating circuit for the hot water cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
the controller monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder;
the controller periodically calculating the temperature and volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder taking into account a hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder; and on either of the temperature or the volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder dropping below a predetermined desired level, the controller operating the heating circuit to heat the water in the hot water cylinder to bring the temperature or the volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder up to the desired level.
By having such a method, the controller will take into account the hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder. If the amount of hot water falls below a desired level, the controller will operate the heating circuit to replenish the hot water supply. This will ensure that the user of the hot water will have sufficient hot water at their disposal when they need it. Furthermore, if the temperature of the hot water should drop below a predetermined level, the method according to the invention will cause the heating circuit to heat the water back to useable, safe levels.
- 3In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation in which the method comprises the initial step of an operator entering a hot water loss profile constant for the hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder. This is seen as a simple way of setting the hot water loss profile. It will be known (approximately) from the level of insulation and the piping to the hot water cylinder what the loss of the hot water cylinder is likely to be. For example, it may be expected that at an ambient temperature of 18°C, the hot water cylinder containing 50 litres of hot water at 60°C will lose approximately 2 litres of hot water per hour. This amount can be input into the controller for use in the controllers calculations.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation in which the method comprises the step of the controller:
monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water delivered to the hot water cylinder;
monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water drawn from the hot water cylinder.
This is seen as an important aspect of the present invention. By monitoring the amount of hot water delivered and drawn from the hot water cylinder, the controller will have an accurate assessment of the volume of hot water still available in the hot water cylinder. However, by also knowing the temperature of the hot water being drawn from the hot water cylinder, the method according to the invention will be able to determine by how much the water has cooled inside the hot water cylinder before being delivered to an end user.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided amethod of operating a domestic hot water installation in which the method further comprises the step of:
monitoring the time between the water being delivered to the hot water cylinder and the water being drawn from the hot water cylinder.
-4Again, this is seen as an important aspect of the present invention as it will be possible to determine by how much the temperature and/or the volume of hot water decreased in the time it was sitting in the hot water cylinder from the time it was delivered to the hot water cylinder. This will provide a useful indication of the hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation in which the method comprises the step of: generating, over time, the hot water loss profile for the hot water cylinder. This is seen as a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is envisaged that the operator may initially set a hot water loss profile constant based on the estimated likely losses of the hot water cylinder. However, these will change based on the actual configuration of hot water cylinder in the household. There are numerous factors that will affect the loss profile including the insulation of the tank and pipework, the configuration of the pipework (i.e. whether or not the system is an open vented system), the temperature of the water delivered into the tank and from the tank to the heating circuit, the ambient temperature to name a few. As these change over time, so too will the actual loss profile of the hot water cylinder. By generating the hot water loss profile over time, a more accurate determination of the hot water loss profile may be achieved.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation in which the method comprises the step of monitoring the temperature of cold water drawn from the hot water cylinder for heating in an external heating circuit.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of operating a domestic hot water installation in which on the controller detecting that the temperature of the water in the hot water cylinder has dropped below a certain temperature, the controller will update the value of the available volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder to zero. In some instances, particularly if there is a risk to health, it will be preferable to effectively discard all of the previously stored hot water. There is no method of actually discarding or running off the water. The “zeroing” of the water by the controller (i.e. the updating of the value of the available volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder to zero) allows the cylinder to do two things. Firstly, it allows the cylinder to be filled again
- 5with the correct temperature water (say 60°C). For example, if there was 100 litres of stored water which was normally used daily at 7am but remained unused for 24 hours and had degraded in temperature to say 30°C, this temperature of stored water in the cylinder would be too cold to use for a shower. By “zeroing” the available volume of hot water it allows the 30°C water to be re-used again as pre-heated “feed water” to be reheated through the domestic hot water installation to the required 60°C and made available for use at the programmed time of 7am daily by the user. The heat-up time is much faster as this unused water only needs to be raised from 30°C to 60°C instead of typically from 10°C to 60°C.
Furthermore without this ability/facility to “zero” the available volume of hot water, the user would be given a false notification in the first place that there was 100 litres of hot water at 60°C available for use and the user would have an unacceptable experience using this cooled, unused water. This is a very valuable facet of the invention. Finally, the “zeroing” of the available hot water by the controller ensures that the harmful bacteria do not get a chance to develop.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided amethod of operating a domestic hot water installation in which upon updating the value of the available volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder to zero, the method comprises the step of the controller operating the heating circuit to provide a volume of water at a desired temperature in accordance with a domestic hot water profile. Again, once the amount of water has been set to zero, a full amount of the desired hot water can be provided fresh from scratch, thereby obviating the likelihood of a risk to health of the user.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a hot water installation in which the method according to the invention may be performed; and
-6Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a second embodiment of hot water installation in which the method according to the invention may be performed.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a domestic hot water installation in which the method according to the invention may be performed, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprising a hot water cylinder 3, an external heating circuit 5 comprising a boiler 7 and a heat exchanger 9, and a network of pipes 11(a)-11(d) connecting the hot water cylinder 3 to the heat exchanger 9 and the boiler 7 to the heat exchanger 9. The boiler 7 is connected to the primary side 13 of the heat exchanger 9 and the hot water cylinder is connected to the secondary side 15 of the heat exchanger.
A first pump 17 is provided to deliver heating fluid from the boiler 7 along a flow pipe 11(c) to a flow port 19 of the primary side 13 of the heat exchanger 9. The heating fluid passes through the primary side 13 of the heat exchanger before exiting through a return port 21 of the primary side of the heat exchanger, along the return pipe 11(d) and back to the boiler 7. The first pump 17 is a variable speed pump.
A second pump 23 is provided to deliver water from a point adjacent the base of the hot water cylinder 3 along a flow pipe 11(a) to a flow port 25 of the secondary side 15 of the heat exchanger 9. The water passes through the secondary side 15 of the heat exchanger before exiting through a return port 27 of the secondary side of the heat exchanger, along a return pipe 11(b) and back to the hot water cylinder 3 to a point adjacent the top of the hot water cylinder. The second pump 23 is also a variable speed pump.
In the embodiment shown, there are provided four temperature sensors including a first temperature sensor 29 located adjacent the flow port 25 of the secondary side of the heat exchanger, a second temperature sensor 31 located adjacent to the return port 27 of the secondary side of the heat exchanger, a third temperature sensor 33 located adjacent to the flow port 19 of the primary side of the heat exchanger, and a fourth temperature sensor 34 located on a hot water outlet pipe 45 that is used to deliver hot water from the cylinder to one or more outlets in the household.
- 7In addition to the foregoing, there is provided a controller 35 in communication with each of the first pump 17, the second pump 23, the four temperature sensors 29, 31, 33, 34 and the boiler 7. The communication links between the controller 35 and the pumps 17, 23 and the controller 35 and the temperature sensors 29, 31, 33, 34 are illustrated by way of dashed lines 37(a)-37(g). The temperature sensors 29, 31, 33, 34 communicate the temperature of the fluid or water passing thereby back to the controller 35 over communication links 37(c), 37(d), 37(e) and 37(g) and the controller sends control instructions to operate the pumps 17, 23 over communication links 37(a), 37(b) and control instructions to the boiler 7 over communication link 37(f). The communication links 37(a)-37(g) could be provided by wired and/or wireless links. The controller 35 comprises a processor 39 for processing the data received from the temperature sensors, an accessible memory 41 for storage of a domestic hot water installation operating program/hot water profile, and means 43 to operate the first and second pumps 17, 23 and the boiler 7 in accordance with the domestic hot water installation operating program.
In use, in order to heat water in the heating circuit and provide the heated water to the hot water cylinder, pump 23 is initially turned off. The boiler 7 and pump 17 are turned on and the temperature of the heating fluid from the boiler is monitored by temperature sensor 33. Once the temperature of the heating fluid from the boiler 7 gets “up to temperature”, typically in the region of 70°C or above, the second pump 23 is turned on and the first pump 17 circulates heating fluid through the primary side 13 of the heat exchanger 9 and the second pump 23 circulates water from the hot water cylinder 3 through the secondary side 15 of the heat exchanger 9. The heating fluid circulating in the primary side 13 of the heat exchanger 9 heats the water in the secondary side 15 of the heat exchanger 9 and the heated water in the secondary side 15 returns to the hot water cylinder 3.
The speed of the pump 23 is controlled to ensure that the water remains in the secondary side 13 for a period of time sufficient to heat the water to the desired set temperature, which may, for example, be of the order of 60°C. In this way, cooler water is gradually fed from the bottom of the hot water cylinder through the heat exchanger where it is heated and then returned to the top of the hot water cylinder from where it may be drawn through pipework 45 for use in a shower, bath, sink or the like.
- 8Advantageously, the temperature of the water entering and exiting the secondary side of the heat exchanger is known and the temperature of the heating fluid is known. This allows for a very accurate and controlled method of heating the hot water and delivering water at a known temperature to the hot water cylinder. The speed of the pump 17 may also be regulated to ensure that the heating fluid does not remain in the heat exchanger for too long, which may result in too great a drop in the temperature of the heating fluid before it is returned to the boiler. If the temperature of the returning heating fluid is too low, this may lead to the creation of sulphurous acid in the flue gases which can damage the boiler and the flue exhaust. If desired, a further temperature sensor in communication with the controller 35 may be provided at the return port 21 to monitor the temperature of the heating fluid returning to the boiler and the controller may operate the pump 17 according, in part, to the output of this additional temperature sensor.
The controller 35 operates the pump 23 in accordance with a domestic hot water profile. For example, the domestic hot water profile may call for 50 litres of water at approximately 60°C for a shower. The controller 35 will operate the pump 23 to provide 50 litres of water at 60°C before shutting the pump 23 off. Due to the stratification of water in the hot water cylinder, there will effectively be a cool layer at the bottom of the tank and a hot layer of 50 litres of hot water at 60°C at the top of the tank (there will in fact be a boundary layer of mixed temperature water therebetween but for the purposes of this specification, we will describe the invention as though there is an abrupt differentiation between the two layers). As hot water is drawn out of the tank along pipe 45 to the shower, the water is replaced in the hot water cylinder by cold water entering in through inlet pipe 47 at the bottom of the hot water cylinder. When all the hot water at 60°C has been drained from the hot water cylinder, there will only be cold water left in the tank which will be drawn once the hot water has been drained.
In use, a hot water loss profile constant will be set by the operator (it may also have been preset in a factory mode setting) based on the configuration of the hot water cylinder and or the domestic hot water installation. The hot water loss profile constant will form part of the hot water loss profile that the controller will use to determine the amount of hot water in the cylinder at a given time. For example, the hot water loss constant may indicate that the hot water cylinder will lose 2 litres of hot water per hour. After the boiler 7 and the pumps 17, 23 have been operated to fill the hot water cylinder
- 9with a predetermined amount of water, for example, 50 liters, the controller will know that at that moment in time, there is 50 litres of hot water at 60°C in the hot water cylinder. The controller will periodically calculate the temperature and volume of water in the hot water cylinder. If the water is left to cool in the hot water cylinder for an hour, the controller will calculate that there is 48 litres of hot water remaining. If the water is left to cool for three hours, the controller will calculate that there is 44 litres of hot water remaining in the hot water cylinder 3. If the controller detects that a person has started to draw water from the hot water cylinder, the controller will turn the boiler 7 and pumps 17, 23 on to provide sufficient water to bring the volume of hot water back up to 50 litres originally ordered.
As water is drawn from the hot water cylinder, the temperature sensor 34 will be able to measure the actual temperature of the water being drawn from the hot water cylinder. A flow sensor or a pump in communication with the controller may be provided to let the controller know the amount of water that is being drawn from the hot water cylinder. In this way, the controller will know with a good degree of certainty the amount of hot water available in the hot water cylinder.
It will be understood that the hot water will start to cool down and will not remain at the 60°C initially provided. The hot water profile may also determine the length of time that it will take for the hot water delivered into the hot water cylinder to cool down to a temperature that may present a danger to the user. In that case, the controller, upon detecting that the temperature of the water has cooled to a dangerous level, may indicate that there is no water available in the hot water cylinder and the entire volume of water required (i.e. 50 litres at 60°C) may be provided from scratch. The controller may, in any event, order that the entire volume of water should be “zeroed” periodically to protect against legionella contamination and the like.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the controller can use information from past measurements to refine the calculations. For example, the controller may determine that during the summer months, when the ambient temperature is higher, the losses are lower and the hot water loss profile should in fact be closer to 1.5 litres per hour. Similarly, during the winter months, when the ambient temperatures are lower, the losses are higher and the hot water loss profile should in fact be closer to 2.5 litres per
- 10hour. The controller can use this information to refine the amount of water that it calculates is still in the hot water cylinder and can use the information to determine how long the pumps and the boiler will have to be run to top up the hot water cylinder.
It is envisaged that the controller could have a temperature sensor to gauge the ambient temperature or indeed the temperature sensor may use the temperature of the water passing into the heat exchanger from the hot water cylinder through port 25 or the temperature of the water passing into the hot water cylinder through pipe 47 (using an additional temperature sensor not illustrated in the drawings) to provide an indication of the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the information of the temperature of the water passing into the heat exchanger from the hot water cylinder may be useful as it can have a bearing on the heat loss profile of the hot water cylinder. For example, if the cold water in the hot water cylinder is at 10°C, this will cool the hot water above it in the cylinder faster than if there was cool water at 20°C in the hot water cylinder. This information can be used to accurately predict the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water cylinder. Importantly, if desired, the controller can iteratively improve the monitoring and calculation of the amount of hot water available in the hot water cylinder through past measurements.
It will be understood that although a number of temperature sensors have been provided to enhance control, only the temperature sensor 31 measuring the temperature of the hot water returning to the hot water cylinder and, in some cases, the temperature sensor 34 measuring temperature of water leaving the hot water cylinder are necessary for performing many of the aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the configuration of external heating circuit is not intended necessarily to be limiting and other configurations of external heating circuits may be provided to good effect. Other sensors may be provided including, for example, a flow sensor on the outlet pipe 34 and this flow sensor (or a pump pumping water from the tank) may be in communication with the controller so that the controller 35 knows how much water is being taken from the hot water cylinder.
Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an alternative configuration of domestic hot water installation, indicated generally by the reference numeral 101, where like parts have been given the same reference numeral as before. The domestic hot water installation 101 differs from the installation 1 in that there is provided an alternative external heating
- 11 circuit 103 that may be used to perform the method according to the invention. The external heating circuit comprises an electrical heater, such as a Willis-type heater having a flow port 25 and a return port 27. Water enters the flow port and is heated by an electrical element before passing out the return port and returning to the hot water cylinder. The amount of hot water and the temperature of the hot water transferred back to the hot water cylinder will be controlled in main part by the controller 35, the pump 23 and the temperature sensor 31. The controller 35 is capable of operating the heater 103.
It will be understood that various modifications could be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, alternative heating arrangements could be provided. The hot water cylinder may have a coil including, but not limited to, a solar coil therein or a heating coil from the boiler. One or more additional temperature sensors and/or flow meters may be provided to monitor the flow and temperature of the liquids in the system to carefully monitor the temperature of the water and accurately predict the temperature of the hot water in the hot water cylinder at a given moment in time.
In this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” and the terms “include, includes, included and including” are all deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widest possible interpretation.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (8)
- Claims:(1) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation of the type comprising a hot water cylinder, a controller and a heating circuit for the hot water cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:the controller monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder;the controller periodically calculating the temperature and volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder taking into account a hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder; and on either of the temperature or the volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder dropping below a predetermined desired level, the controller operating the heating circuit to heat the water in the hot water cylinder to bring the temperature or the volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder up to the desired level.
- (2) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in claim 1 in which the method comprises the initial step of an operator entering a hot water loss profile constant for the hot water loss profile of the hot water cylinder.
- (3) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the method comprises the step of the controller:monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water delivered to the hot water cylinder;monitoring the temperature and volume of hot water drawn from the hot water cylinder.
- (4) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in claim 3 in which the method further comprises the step of:- 13monitoring the time between the water being delivered to the hot water cylinder and the water being drawn from the hot water cylinder.5
- (5) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in any preceding claim in which the method comprises the step of: generating, over time, the hot water loss profile for the hot water cylinder.
- (6) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in claim 5 in10 which the method comprises the step of monitoring the temperature of cold water drawn from the hot water cylinder for heating in an external heating circuit.
- (7) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in any preceding claim in which on the controller detecting that the temperature of the15 water in the hot water cylinder has dropped below a certain temperature, the controller will update the value of the available volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder to zero.
- (8) A method of operating a domestic hot water installation as claimed in claim 7 in20 which upon updating the value of the available volume of hot water in the hot water cylinder to zero, the method comprises the step of the controller operating the heating circuit to provide a volume of water at a desired temperature in accordance with a domestic hot water profile.IntellectualPropertyOfficeApplication No: GB1703803.5 Examiner: Mr Mat Smith
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1703803.5A GB2560364A (en) | 2017-03-09 | 2017-03-09 | A method of operating a domestic hot water installation |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1703803.5A GB2560364A (en) | 2017-03-09 | 2017-03-09 | A method of operating a domestic hot water installation |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201703803D0 GB201703803D0 (en) | 2017-04-26 |
| GB2560364A true GB2560364A (en) | 2018-09-12 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1703803.5A Withdrawn GB2560364A (en) | 2017-03-09 | 2017-03-09 | A method of operating a domestic hot water installation |
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| GB (1) | GB2560364A (en) |
Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2132791A (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1984-07-11 | Colin Baker | Apparatus for and a method of controlling a hot water system |
| US20070005190A1 (en) * | 2004-05-22 | 2007-01-04 | Feinleib David A | Method, apparatus, and system for projecting hot water availability for showering and bathing |
| EP2017550A2 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-21 | Cotherm | Control device for saving energy in a water heater |
| WO2011033449A2 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2011-03-24 | Israel Maoz | Water heating system |
| WO2012162763A1 (en) * | 2011-06-03 | 2012-12-06 | Rheem Australia Pty Limited | A water heater controller or system |
| US8461493B1 (en) * | 2009-12-16 | 2013-06-11 | Christopher Cantolino | Energy conservation system |
| WO2015097694A1 (en) * | 2013-12-24 | 2015-07-02 | Elad Cohen | Programmable controller for water heater |
| US20150226460A1 (en) * | 2014-02-12 | 2015-08-13 | Shai ZEMACH | Real-time boiler forecast system and method |
-
2017
- 2017-03-09 GB GB1703803.5A patent/GB2560364A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2132791A (en) * | 1982-12-23 | 1984-07-11 | Colin Baker | Apparatus for and a method of controlling a hot water system |
| US20070005190A1 (en) * | 2004-05-22 | 2007-01-04 | Feinleib David A | Method, apparatus, and system for projecting hot water availability for showering and bathing |
| EP2017550A2 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-21 | Cotherm | Control device for saving energy in a water heater |
| WO2011033449A2 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2011-03-24 | Israel Maoz | Water heating system |
| US8461493B1 (en) * | 2009-12-16 | 2013-06-11 | Christopher Cantolino | Energy conservation system |
| WO2012162763A1 (en) * | 2011-06-03 | 2012-12-06 | Rheem Australia Pty Limited | A water heater controller or system |
| WO2015097694A1 (en) * | 2013-12-24 | 2015-07-02 | Elad Cohen | Programmable controller for water heater |
| US20150226460A1 (en) * | 2014-02-12 | 2015-08-13 | Shai ZEMACH | Real-time boiler forecast system and method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201703803D0 (en) | 2017-04-26 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |