GB2625440A - Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater - Google Patents
Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2625440A GB2625440A GB2317310.7A GB202317310A GB2625440A GB 2625440 A GB2625440 A GB 2625440A GB 202317310 A GB202317310 A GB 202317310A GB 2625440 A GB2625440 A GB 2625440A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cold water
- boiler
- outlet
- control valve
- valve
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 235000020188 drinking water Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 148
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010079 rubber tapping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
-
- 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
- F24H9/12—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes
- F24H9/13—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes for water heaters
- F24H9/133—Storage heaters
- F24H9/136—Arrangement of inlet valves used therewith
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)
- Temperature-Responsive Valves (AREA)
Abstract
An assembly 10 for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater comprises a housing, cold water inlet 14, cold water outlet 18 for connection to the boiler to refill the boiler with cold water, and a relief outlet 22. A control valve (32, figure 6) commands hot water outflow from the boiler to the relief outlet according to the prevailing temperature in the boiler. Cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the cold water outlet is completely separated from the hot water discharged through the control valve and the cold water flow is guided past the control valve and/or hot water flow through the housing 26, so that heat from the hot water flowing through the control valve is transferred/dissipated to the cold water flow. The cold water flow is at least sectionwise separated by a partition 70 only, that ideally defines an annular channel 68 for the cold water flow. The assembly can prevent melting of plastic pipe relief drains attached to the relief outlet without having to mix cold water into the hot water outflow.
Description
Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater
Technical Field
The present invention relates to assemblies for restricting the temperature in a heatable boiler of a drinking water heater, and more particularly to such assemblies comprising a cold water inlet; a cold water outlet for refilling the boiler with cold water, adapted to be connected to the boiler, an outlet; and a control valve assembled between a boiler outlet and the outlet for control of the hot water outflow from the boiler over the outlet according to the prevailing temperature in the boiler.
Drinking water heaters are used to provide hot water in buildings. They include a container (boiler) in which a suitable amount of drinking water is heated and made available for use. When hot water is withdrawn at a tapping point, fresh, cold drinking water is returned to the boiler and heated there. To secure the closed container, a pressure and temperature control is provided. When the pressure rises above a predetermined threshold, water is drained. This reduces the pressure.
The temperature in such a vessel may rise to near the vaporization temperature at 100 ° C. This is dangerous because of the pressure development. When the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold, hot water is drained through a relief drain and cold water is supplied. By feeding the cold water, the temperature drops.
In some countries, pipes made of non-temperature-resistant plastic are used. If hot water is drained through these pipes, there is a risk that the plastic will melt. This is to be avoided.
In known assemblies, cold water is mixed with the hot water. Depending on the temperature in the boiler, more or less cold water is required to cool the drained water. The control can take place via a suitable, temperature-controlled valve.
Assemblies in which cold water is mixed with the overflow water are known from DE 20 2012 100 069 Ul and DE 20 2012 104 167 Ul In these assemblies, a connection is provided between the cold water inlet and the relief outlet, and a control valve in the area of the connection between the cold water inlet and the relief outlet controls the inflow of cold water into the relief outlet according to the temperature prevailing in the boiler. In the known assembly, fresh drinking water is discharged directly into the wastewater. This is a waste of drinking water. Furthermore, the thermal energy of the discharged hot water remains unused.
Disclosure of the invention
It is an object of the invention to provide a more resource-efficient assembly of the type mentioned at the outset.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that (e) the cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the cold water outlet is completely separated from the hot water discharged through the control valve; and the cold water flow is guided past the control valve and/or the hot water flow through the housing, so that heat from the hot water flowing through the control valve is transferred to the water in the cold water flow, (g) wherein the cold water flow is at least sectionwise separated by a partition only.
Hot water that flows to the relief outlet in the event of boiler overheating is cooled, but no fresh and clean cold water flows directly into the wastewater. Instead, the cold water is fed back into the boiler after heat exchange and further utilized there. The heat exchange is designed in such a way that enough heat is extracted from the overflowing hot water to prevent the pipes from melting. The heat is transferred to the cold water from the fresh water supply and thus returned to the system.
In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cold water flows through an annular channel, which is assembled around a central channel or cavity and is separated from it by the partition. Preferably, the partition is made of a highly heat-conductive material. Such an assembly is very compact and enables efficient heat transfer through a relatively large contact area.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control valve comprises a valve closing body that interacts with a housing-fixed valve seat, wherein the valve closing body is movable by a sensor with temperature-dependent length. In the installed state, the control valve has a sensor protruding into the interior of the boiler, which opens or closes the control valve due to its temperature-dependent change in length. Such a sensor can, for example, be formed by a wax sensor. The valve operates without additional electronics and is therefore not very prone to errors.
A particularly compact assembly is achieved when it is provided that the sensor is elongated; the longitudinal axis of the sensor extends in the direction of movement of the valve closing body, and the longitudinal axis of the sensor extends transversely to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet and the cold water outlet. In this case, the longitudinal axis of the sensor and the connecting axis between the cold water inlet and the cold water outlet can be assembled offset to each other and do not necessarily have to lie in the same plane.
A combination fitting provides that a pressure reducer is assembled in the flow path upstream of the cold water outlet. Such an assembly has a shorter overall length compared to using a pressure reducer which needs to be installed separately.
Particularly preferred is that a safety valve is provided, which opens upon an increase in pressure in the boiler above a threshold value. The safety valve can open earlier than the control valve A particularly compact assembly provides that the safety valve is assembled in a nozzle that is formed on the housing parallel to the opening direction of the control valve and transversely to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet and the cold water outlet.
It is understood that the housing can also be designed in multiple parts, and the nozzle is not necessarily molded on but inserted or screwed in, for example.
Preferably a central channel with a backflow preventer is provided in the nozzle. Water can flow in the central channel through the backflow preventer to the safety valve and, when the safety valve is open, can drain through an annular channel around it or another channel.
In particular the safety valve can have an outlet connected to the same funnel as the outlet of the control valve. Then only one funnel and only one connection, for example, to the wastewater, is required.
In a further embodiment of the invention, an odour trap is provided in the connection to the wastewater. The odour trap can be formed by a valve or a siphon Embodiments of the invention are subject to the dependent claims. Embodiments are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
Fig.] is a perspective view of an assembly for controlling pressure and temperature in the boiler of a hot water heater with a shut-off valve, an integrated pressure reducer, and a safety valve; Fig.2 shows the assembly from Figure 1 from a different perspective; Fig.3 is a side view of the assembly from Figure 1; Fig.4 is a top view of the assembly from Figure 1; Fig.5 is a vertical section through the assembly from Figure 1 along a section axis A-A illustrated in Figure 4; Fig.G is a vertical section through the assembly from Figure 1 along a section axis C-C illustrated in Figure 4; Fig.7 is a vertical section through the assembly from Figure 1 along a section axis E-E illustrated in Figure 4; Fig.8 is a front view of the assembly from Figure 1; Fig.9 is a vertical section through the assembly from Figure 1 along a section axis F-F illustrated in Figure 8; Fig.10 is a cutout X from section A-A in Figure 5 which details the control valve; and Fig. 11 is a cutout from section E-E with an exploded view of the safety valve
Description of the embodiments
The figures show an assembly, generally designated 10, for controlling pressure and temperature in the boiler of a hot water heater. The assembly has a cold water inlet 14 for cold drinking water. The cold water inlet 14 is connected to a drinking water supply (not shown) via an inlet pipeline.
The assembly 10 further has a cold water outlet 18. In the present embodiment, the cold water inlet 14 is aligned with the cold water outlet 18. It is understood that other geometries can also be used. The cold water outlet 18 is connected to a cold water inlet connection in the lower region of the boiler via a connecting line. The boiler can be filled and refilled with the water emerging at the cold water outlet 18. Hot water can be drawn from the hot water outlet in the upper area of the hot water heater in the usual manner.
A pressure reducer 16, detailed below, is integrated in assembly 10. This is clearly visible in Figure 5. By means of the pressure reducer 16, the pressure is regulated to a constant value. Furthermore, assembly 10 provides a shut-off valve 20 and a safety valve 12. A temperature sensor, here designed as a wax sensor 34, is connected to a control valve 32 described in more detail below. The control valve 32 is depicted in detail in Figure 6. The control valve 32 is used to drain water when a temperature threshold is exceeded. An outlet funnel 22 is provided for this purpose, through which water escaping from the safety valve 12 can also be discharged.
All functionalities of assembly 10 are realised within a common housing 26. On the housing 26, the cold water inlet 14 and cold water outlet 18 are mounted by means of lateral nozzles. The housing 26 extends primarily cylindrically around a horizontal connecting axis between the cold water inlet 14 and the cold water outlet 18. The housing 26 is made of a cost-effective material, in the present embodiment, plastic. A ring of metallic reinforcement ribs 24, provided around the housing and extending parallel to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet 14 and the cold water outlet 18, serves to stabilise the housing 26.
Generally, any control valve 32 at this point is suitable for releasing water based on the temperature. In the present embodiment, a control valve 32 with a wax sensor 34 is used. The wax sensor 34 extends into the hot water contained in the boiler. The length of the wax sensor is temperature-dependent. At high temperatures, the wax expands. Then, the wax sensor 34 on the side opposite to the boiler presses onto a spring-loaded valve closing body 36 via a spindle 30. This is clearly visible in Figure 6. The spring-loaded valve closing body 36, acted upon by a spring force, interacts with a housing-fixed valve seat 38. An adjusting handle 48 is used to vent the assembly.
The wax sensor 34 is dimensioned and positioned away from the valve closing body 36 in such a way that it just touches the spindle 30 at a temperature threshold. If the water temperature in the boiler continues to rise, the spindle 30, along with the pressure from the wax sensor 34, will open the control valve 32, formed by the valve closing body 36 and valve seat 38, towards the adjusting handle 48. Hot water can flow through the connection nozzle 40 past the wax sensor 34 through the open control valve 32. In case of overpressure, the valve 32 also opens.
The path of the discharged hot water from the boiler is illustrated by arrows 42 in Figure 6. The connection nozzle 40 is fitted onto the housing 26 with a seal. The wax sensor 34 is guided into the housing 26 through a connection nozzle 40, with the housing 26 providing guidance in the form of ribs 44. A ring 46 is mounted onto the outer side of the wax sensor 34, which, when in the assembled state, is located on the side of the ribs 44 facing the control valve 32. The ring 46 prevents the wax sensor 34 from being displaced from the housing 26.
The end 52 of the wax sensor 34, located inside the housing 26, presses against one end of the spindle 30. The housing 26 forms a spindle guide in the form of guide ribs 56. A ring 54 is externally mounted onto the spindle 30 on the side of the guide ribs 56 facing the control valve 32. The ring 54 prevents the spindle 30 from being displaced from the housing 26.
The housing 26 forms a wide cavity 50 around the wax sensor 34 and the spindle 30, extending from the connection nozzle 40, through the space between the ribs 40 and the guide ribs 56, to the area in front of the control valve 32. Hot water collects in this cavity 50. When the temperature in the boiler rises, the wax sensor 34 expands, causing the control valve 32 to open. The water from the cavity 50 can flow downward through a housing bore 58, through an outlet nozzle 60 and the outlet funnel 22. This is illustrated by an arrow 62.
In addition to the hot water from the boiler, cold water also flows from the cold water inlet 14 to the cold water outlet 18 through the housing 26. The path of the cold water is illustrated by arrows 64 in the cross-section A-A in Figure 5. Behind the cold water inlet 14, a shut-off valve 20 is assembled in the form of a manually operated ball valve. The control valve 32 and the wax sensor 34 are located behind the shut-off valve 20. Figure 1 clearly shows that the longitudinal axis of the wax sensor 34 and the opening direction of the control valve 32 extend perpendicular to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet 14 and the cold water outlet 18 of the housing 26.
The flow guided along the connecting axis is directed through a passage channel 66 below the spindle 30. The passage channel 66 is connected to an annular channel 68. The annular channel 68 is clearly visible in Figures 5 and 6. The annular channel 68 extends around the cavity 50 and is separated from it by a partition 70. The partition 70 is made of a highly thermally conductive material. Heat transfer occurs between the initially hot water in the cavity 50 and the cold water in the annular channel 68. This means that the hot water in the cavity 50 is cooled by the water in the annular channel 68.
When the control valve 32 opens and hot water flows out, water initially flows out of the cavity 50, whose temperature is already significantly lower due to this cooling, compared to the water coming directly from the boiler. In this way, water with lower temperatures flows through the outlet funnel 22 and the plastic does not melt. The cooled water can flow out of the control valve 32 without the need for mixing in cold water.
The pressure reducer 16 is assembled in the flow path downstream of the control valve 32, behind the passage channel 66. This is clearly visible in Figure 5 and Figure 7. The water flows through gaps between ribs 72 towards the pressure reducer valve 74. If the pressure at the cold water outlet 18 drops below the set threshold, the pressure reducer valve 74 opens, and water flows in direction of the arrows 76 towards the cold water outlet 18. With the remainder of the pressure reducer 16, known from prior art, the outlet pressure is regulated to a constant value.
The safety valve 12 is assembled in a nozzle 78, which is mounted on the housing 26 parallel to the opening direction of the control valve 32 and transversely to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet 14 and the cold water outlet 18. The nozzle 78 is clearly visible in Figure 5 and Figure 7. A central channel 80 is provided in the nozzle 78. An annular channel 82 is assembled around the central channel 80. The annular channel 82 is separated from the central channel 80 by a partition 84.
A backflow preventer 86 is assembled within the central channel 80. The backflow preventer 86 opens in the horizontal direction of the free end of the nozzle 78. The safety valve 12 is situated in the extension of the backflow preventer 86. This is clearly visible in Figure 7. When the pressure in the boiler and thus in the cold water outlet 18 increases, the safety valve 12 opens. Water can flow out downwards through an outlet line 88 to the funnel 22 until the pressure in the boiler reaches the desired value again. In the present embodiment, the outlet line 88 is connected to the same funnel 22 as the outlet line at the outlet nozzle 58 of the control valve 32. It is understood that a separate funnel can also be provided.
The described assembly operates as follows: As long as the temperature of the water in the boiler remains below a threshold, the control valve 32 remains closed. No water flows down into the outlet 58. When the temperature of the water in the boiler rises above the threshold, the control valve opens, and water flows through the control valve 32. The hot water flows into the outlet funnel 22, which is connected to the wastewater via a known odour seal.
Cold water flows through the cold water inlet 14 into the interior of the housing 26. Along this flow path, the cold water flushes the surrounding area of the control valve. In this process, the hot water transfers some of its heat to the cold water. In this way, assembly 10 forms a heat exchanger that extracts heat from the hot water before it enters the outlet pipes and transfers it to the cold water.
In the present embodiment, specific components and flow paths have been described. It is understood that any other heat exchanger may also be suitable, and the scope of protection of the present patent is not limited by the description of the specific heat exchanger in this embodiment. The scope of protection is defined by the subject matter of the attached claims. A skilled person is aware of suitable heat exchangers that also fulfil the purpose described here.
Claims (10)
- Claims I. An Assembly for restricting the temperature in a heatable boiler of a drinking water heater comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a cold water inlet; (c) a cold water outlet for refilling the boiler with cold water, adapted to be connected to the boiler; and (d) a control valve assembled between a boiler outlet and a relief outlet for control of the hot water outflow from the boiler through the relief outlet according to the prevailing temperature in the boiler; wherein (e) the cold water flow from the cold water inlet to the cold water outlet is completely separated from the hot water discharged through the control valve; (f) the cold water flow is guided past the control valve and/or the hot water flow through the housing, so that heat from the hot water flowing through the control valve is transferred to the water in the cold water flow; and (g) wherein the cold water flow is at least sectionwi se separated by a partition only.
- 2. An Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cold water flows through an annular channel, which is assembled around a central channel or cavity and is separated from it by the partition
- 3. An Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control valve comprises a valve closing body that interacts with a housing-fixed valve seat, wherein the valve closing body is movable by a sensor with temperature-dependent length.
- 4. An Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is formed by a wax sensor.
- An Assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein (a) the sensor is elongated, (b) the longitudinal axis of the sensor extends in the direction of movement of the valve closing body; and (c) the longitudinal axis of the sensor extends transversely to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet and the cold water outlet.
- 6. An Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure reducer is arranged in the flow path upstream of the cold water outlet.
- 7. An Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a safety valve is provided, which opens upon an increase in pressure in the boiler above a threshold value.
- 8. An Assembly according to claim 7, wherein the safety valve is assembled in a nozzle that is formed on the housing parallel to the opening direction of the control valve and transversely to the connecting axis between the cold water inlet and the cold water outlet.
- 9 An Assembly according to claim 8, wherein a central channel with a backflow preventer is provided in the nozzle.
- 10. An Assembly according to any of the claims 7 to 9, wherein in that the safety valve has an outlet connected to the same funnel as the outlet of the control valve.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2317310.7A GB2625440A (en) | 2023-11-10 | 2023-11-10 | Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2317310.7A GB2625440A (en) | 2023-11-10 | 2023-11-10 | Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202317310D0 GB202317310D0 (en) | 2023-12-27 |
| GB2625440A true GB2625440A (en) | 2024-06-19 |
Family
ID=89225249
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2317310.7A Pending GB2625440A (en) | 2023-11-10 | 2023-11-10 | Assembly for restricting the temperature in a boiler of a drinking water heater |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2625440A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002081978A1 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-17 | Braathen Thor F | Device for a hot water tank of the pressure heater type and a fitting for a hot water tank of the pressure heater type |
| GB2488395A (en) * | 2011-02-22 | 2012-08-29 | Sasserath & Co Kg H | Assembly for controlling the temperature of a drinking water heater |
-
2023
- 2023-11-10 GB GB2317310.7A patent/GB2625440A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002081978A1 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-17 | Braathen Thor F | Device for a hot water tank of the pressure heater type and a fitting for a hot water tank of the pressure heater type |
| GB2488395A (en) * | 2011-02-22 | 2012-08-29 | Sasserath & Co Kg H | Assembly for controlling the temperature of a drinking water heater |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB202317310D0 (en) | 2023-12-27 |
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