Energy conservation in shower bathing
OwnerCharles A. Berginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for decreasing the energy consumed by shower baths. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger used to preheat incoming cold water with hot drain water and a local hot water heater used to elevate the temperature of the hot water feed to levels above about 170.degree. F. The local heater and heat exchanger cooperate to result in energy savings of approximately 50% or more.
Claims22
An apparatus for bathing comprising a bathing enclosure having a base, a nozzle for passing bathing water through said enclosure, a mixing valve having a hot water inlet, cold water inlet, and bathing water outlet in communication with said nozzle, and a drain in said base, wherein the improvement comprises
- a heat exchanger having
- a flow-through drain water compartment in communication with said drain,
- a drain water outlet below said drain and above at least a substantial portion of the volume of said drain water flow-through compartment, and
- a flow-through cold water compartment in communication with the cold water inlet of said mixing valve,
- said heat exchanger being operable to cool the drain water and to heat the cold water passing therethrough.
An energy conserving apparatus for use with a shower bath having a mixing valve and a drain, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a countercurrent flow heat exchanger having a fresh water inlet, a fresh water flow-through compartment, and a fresh water outlet for connection with a cold water inlet in the mixing valve, a drain water inlet for connection with the drain, a drain water flow-through compartment in heat exchange relation with said fresh water compartment, a drain water outlet disposed above at least a substantial portion of the volume of said drain water compartment, and means for gaining access to said drain water compartment for cleaning purposes;
- and
- a hot water heater comprising a heating element disposed within means defining a feed water flow path having a feed water inlet and a hot water outlet for connection with a hot water inlet in the mixing valve, said heater being capable of continuously providing water at a temperature of at least about 170.degree. F. to said mixing valve
- whereby the ratio of hot water to cold water entering said mixing valve to attain a selected bath water temperature is no greater than 1.0.
An apparatus for bathing comprising a bathing enclosure having a base, a nozzle for passing bathing water through said enclosure, a mixing valve having a hot water inlet, cold water inlet, and bathing water outlet in communication with said nozzle, and a drain in said base, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:
- a heat exchanger having a flow-through drain water compartment in communication with said drain and a flow-through cold water compartment in communication with the cold water inlet of said mixing valve, said compartments being separated by a heat conducting material;
- and
- a hot water heater in communication with said hot water input, said heater comprising a heating element disposed within means defining a feed water flow path, said heater being capable of continuously providing water at a temperature of at least about 170.degree. F. to said mixing valve whereby the ratio of hot water to cold water entering said mixing valve to attain a selected bath water temperature is no greater than 1.0.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.