Tap liquid savings in a liquid distribution system
Assignee3Eflow AB
InventorErik Abbing
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid distribution system having at least one liquid conduit extending from a liquid source to a liquid tap and a method for substantially retaining the temperature of a liquid in the liquid distribution system. When a tapping operation is finished, the liquid is evacuated from the liquid conduit, and a gas is brought into the liquid conduit in order to replace the liquid therein and cause the liquid to flow backwards to the liquid source. When liquid is to be tapped from the liquid tap, the gas is evacuated from the liquid conduit.
Claims20
A method for substantially retaining a temperature of a liquid in a liquid distribution system having a liquid source, a liquid feed line fluidly coupled to the liquid source, a liquid distribution conduit extending from a first end next to said liquid feed line to a second end at a liquid tap, and a feed control valve located at said first end between the liquid feed line and the liquid distribution conduit comprising the steps of:
- evacuating the liquid from the liquid distribution conduit when a tapping operation is finished, by generating a backward pressure gradient in the liquid distribution conduit, causing the liquid to flow backwards from said second end towards said first end and the liquid feed line, while letting a gas flow into the liquid distribution conduit and replace the backwardly flowing liquid therein,
- stopping the backward flow of liquid when the liquid distribution conduit is evacuated, and
- evacuating the gas from the liquid distribution conduit when liquid is to be tapped from the liquid tap, by generating a forward pressure gradient in the liquid distribution conduit causing the liquid to flow from said first end at said feed control valve via the liquid distribution conduit to the second end at said liquid tap,
- wherein the step of evacuating the liquid from the liquid distribution conduit is initiated by sensing, via a sensor, a physical variable in the liquid distribution conduit, at a location at said first end adjacent to said feed control valve, the physical variable being caused to change at said second end by an activation of said liquid tap and to propagate along the liquid distribution conduit back to said location at said first end adjacent to said feed control valve, and indicating whether or not there is a flow of the liquid in the liquid distribution conduit, and after sensing a change indicating that the flow of liquid has stopped, activating a pressure controlling device, to generate the backward pressure gradient in the liquid distribution conduit.
A liquid distribution system for substantially retaining a temperature of a liquid being distributed and having a liquid source, a liquid feed line with a feed control valve fluidly coupled to the liquid source, and at least one liquid distribution conduit extending from a first end at said feed control valve to a second end at a liquid tap, characterized in that the system comprises:
- the liquid feed line fluidly coupled to said liquid source,
- said feed control valve located at said first end between the liquid feed line and the at least one liquid distribution conduit,
- at least one sensor for sensing a physical variable indicating whether or not there is a flow of liquid in the at least one liquid distribution conduit, said at least one sensor being located at said first end of said liquid distribution conduit adjacent to said feed control valve, and being adapted to sense a change of said physical variable occurring at said second end at said liquid distribution conduit, as a consequence of said liquid tap being activated, said change propagating back from said liquid tap at said second end along said liquid distribution conduit to said at least one sensor located at said first end adjacent to said feed control valve, and
- a pressure controlling device being activated by said at least one sensor for generating a backward pressure gradient in the at least one liquid distribution conduit causing, when a tapping operation is finished, the liquid to flow backwards towards said first end and said feed control valve.
A liquid distribution system fluidly coupling a liquid source to a plurality of liquid taps, comprising:
- a liquid feed line fluidly coupled to the liquid source;
- a plurality of liquid distribution conduits, each liquid distribution conduit extending from a respective first end next to the liquid feed line to a respective second end at a respective liquid tap;
- a plurality of feed control valves, each feed control valve located its respective first end between the liquid feed line and a respective liquid distribution conduit;
- and
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor being associated with a respective liquid distribution conduit and being located at its respective first end adjacent its respective feed control valve,
- wherein each said sensor is configured to, in response to finishing of a corresponding tapping operation at its respective liquid tap, activate a device configured to generate a pressure that causes liquid in its respective liquid distribution conduit to flow from its respective second end at its respective liquid tap to its respective first end adjacent its respective feed control valve;
- and
- wherein the liquid distribution system is configured to, in response to an activation of a liquid tap, cause liquid to move from the liquid feed line to its respective first end at its respective liquid tap and via its respective feed control valve and its respective liquid distribution conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.