Water circulation unit
OwnerMikael Nutsosinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water circulation unit (120) for reducing bacteria growth in a water supply system includes elements for controlling temperature and flow (133) which is arranged to provide a dynamically controlled flow of water from both a hot water pipe (140) and a cold water pipe (150) to at least one return water pipe (160) such that the water from the hot water pipe is above the temperature region in which dangerous bacteria growth may occur, and the water from the cold water pipe (150).
Claims17
A water circulation unit for reducing bacteria growth in a water supply system adapted for installation in proximity to a tapping point and in connection to a hot water pipe, a cold water pipe and a return water pipe, the water circulation unit comprising:
- a hot water channel leading from the hot water pipe to the tapping point;
- a hot water passage which branches off from the hot water channel and connects to the return water pipe;
- a cold water channel leading from the cold water pipe to the tapping point;
- a cold water passage which branches off from the cold water channel and connects to the return water pipe the hot and cold water passages configured to provide continuous circulation of water from the hot and cold water pipes to the return water pipe;
- and
- means for dynamically controlling water temperature and flow,
- the means for controlling temperature and flow configured to automatically control a flow of water from the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe to the return water pipe, and
- the means for controlling temperature and flow configured to be dependent at least on a water temperature in the return water pipe.
A method in a water supply system for reducing bacteria growth in the water supply system, the method comprising the steps of:
- leading a portion of hot water passing in a hot water channel leading from a hot water pipe to a tapping point, via a hot water passage to a return water pipe;
- leading a portion of cold water passing in a cold water channel from a cold water pipe to the tapping point, via a cold water passage to the return water pipe;
- providing for continuous circulation of the hot water from the hot water pipe and of the cold water from the cold water pipe to the return water pipe;
- and
- dynamically controlling a flow of water from the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe to the return water pipe such that a temperature of water in the return water pipe is above a predefined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.