DEVICE FOR TREATING AND HEATING WATER IN TANK STYLE WATER HEATERS

Abstract

A system containing a device mounted to the flange of a tank style water heater while being connected to a AC power-source and thereby treating and heating the water, within a passage between electrodes in a core, simultaneously delivering bacteria free warm or hot improved water without limescale issues and being 20% to 30% more energy efficient. Furthermore, a method is describe using a pump to deliver the water to the device in connection with a control solution.

Claims

1. A system (4) for use within a tank style water heater; said system consisting of a pump and a device (6) for electrifying the water via AC powered electrodes; said system further comprises an electrically non-conducting outlet (16).

2. A system (4) according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for being fitted to the flange (12) of a tank style water heater.

3. The system (4) according to claim 1, wherein the device and pump is being encapsulated in a non conducting material.

4. The system (4) according to claim 1, wherein no anode is fitted or configured to come into use.

5. The system (4) according to claim 1, wherein a valve is fitted to the tanks top to release any unwanted hydrogen.

6. A system (4) according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured for being supplied with power from an AC power source, based on a normal 110 V, 230 V or 400V.

7. A method for heating or treating water in a tank style water heater, so as to disinfect the water, run the tank safely at a lower temperature, by using AC powered electrode technology without electrifying the tank or the water inside the tank itself; and optionally further being able to achieve a anti rust environment without using an anode; said method comprises the steps of: fitting a pump and a device (6) on the flange (12) of a tank style water heater in an electrically non-conducting material; running the device and pump (6) on an AC power source e.g. 110V to 400V; controlling the process based on temperature of the tank water, the tank outlet water or a disinfection level.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said method involves removing rust and corrosion in said tank style water heater.

9. A device consisting of pump, a flow sensor and a core; said core comprises electrodes configured to be connected to an AC power source and being encapsulated in an electrically non-conducting material; wherein said device thereby creates a passage for water to pass through said pump and sensor and between said electrodes in order to treat or heat said water.

Description

THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing, of which

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a flange with the system consisting of a device and a pump and non conduction outlet.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a tank with the device inside

[0031] FIG. 3 Shows results from treating raw river water from Beijing with the device

[0032] FIG. 4 Shows efficiency using TC-08 USB thermocouple data equipment in relation with type kexposed wire thermocouple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] A new system for achieving better energy efficiency, better user comfort with faster and cleaner water and avoid many of the traditionally issues in electric tank style water heaters is presented.

[0034] The many current risks of traditionally electric tank style water heater among other 1) having to heat the water to scalding temperature to avoid Legionella or other bacteria 2) low energy efficiency, 3) high maintenance due to limescale issues and consequently broken immersion heater/heat element 4) a long waiting time for heating the water after a shut off period or when the tanks volume of hot water is used are being solved with the present invention which makes use of a new type of heating and treating of water using AC power to directly electrify water. The new type of heating and treating as a technology has been used within the tank less segment of water heating but not within the tank style segment. This latter due to the fact that it has been considered that a traditionally heat element inside a tank is very efficient as the heat or watts used can only go into the water but mostly because of the problem of electrifying the tank and water leaving the tank itself.

[0035] The system presented consists of a small pump in connection with the inlet of a device which leads water in between electrodes of graphite in such a way that the water flow passing the electrodes sees no water being held back which would otherwise cause a build-up of dust like lime scale on the area of the electrodes with still like water. The water leaves the device via an outlet that is of non-conducting material. This has shown the unexpected option namely to use this technology and described device to heat and treat water in a traditionally electric tank style water heater where the heat element has been replaced due to fault or because of a request of better comfort or higher energy efficiency and not electrifying the tank or water itself.

[0036] The outlet and inlet is made via a pushin solution using 6-14 mm lldpe tubing. The outlet can be adjusted to deliver the water close to the tank outlet and thus the solution would increase the comfort for the user in bringing down the waiting time for hot water.

[0037] The system is mounted on a flange that fits the current tanks from different manufactures in a way that the device and pump is encapsulated so that the AC power which is connected to 1) the one side of the device holding the phase electrodes and 2) the other side of the device holding the neutral electrode. Furthermore, multiple wires connecting to a thermocouple or thermostat and power for the small pump delivering the water to the device. The wires have no contact with the water in the tank thus not triggering the circuit breaker.

[0038] To encapsulate the device and pump a pom material is used to design a rocket take off like platform where 4 legs creates room between the system and the flange and where the inlet water is sucked up through the pump and in to the device and then to finally leave the device through the special outlet.

[0039] The solution makes it possible to run the water at a lower temperature and not run into issues with built up of bacteria or Legionella because the electric field within the device kills all bacteria at a minimum from 3000 watts and up at 230 V. This ability to disinfect has been described by being a result of electrons set in motion from when the electrodes shift from to + with increased speed at higher amps and higher volts. This feature furthermore has the ability to kill spore like Cryptosporidium which are chlorine resistant.

[0040] Testing the system has shown a huge increase in efficiency and improved comfort. In a test setup using a Metrotherm electric tank with a capacity of 60 liters, Kamstrup measuring equipment and secondary a TC-08 pico data logger using USB/pc with Type K exposed thermocouple wires results describe in the present invention was reached. First test run was done with the traditionally heat element in the tank at 230 V 1000 Watts. with a outlet temperature 170 of 50 degrees C. Having noted the time, the tank was disassembled and the device was retrofitted and a new test with same temperature cold water and output water was started. The result was approx. a 30% improvement in efficiency as the watts was kept at the same level but the new invention delivered the 50 degrees C. hot water much faster approx. 15 min. compared to approx. 1 hour using the traditionally heat element. Same result was reached at 3000 Watt level using 400 V to power the traditionally heat element but still only 230 V to power the device hence the scalability of the new technology.

[0041] During the test it became clear that the system has to be able to fit different flange sizes and that the device would not have the same output when run without a pump supplying the water thus is was determined that a system without a pump would not work in real life use.

[0042] The current flange normally features an anode with keeps the tank from deteriorating or corrode. Normally this anode is made of magnesium, aluminum or zinc. Highly unexpected is was discovered that the system could run without the anode and still no signs of deterioration or corrosion was seen inspecting the tank after extensive tests. The results could be due to the fact that the water changes when being electrified in an abundance of hydrogen H+ that could create a defense against the oxidation process of rust.

[0043] The normal process can be explained as such:

Iron+water+oxygen.fwdarw.rust

4Fe(s)+6H2O(l)+3O2(g).fwdarw.4Fe(OH)3(s)4Fe(s)+6HX2O(l)+3OX2(g).fwdarw.4Fe(OH)X3(s)

[0044] Iron(III) hydroxide, Fe(OH)3Fe(OH)X3 then dehydrates to produce Fe2O3.nH2O(s)FeX2OX3.nHX2O(s) or rust

[0045] This anti rust solution could be especially important in water tanks where they normally lead to leaks and finally replacement of the tank damaging the environment and the water until final fail.

[0046] The controls needed to set the temperature or to make sure no bacteria is present in the water is connected to the system via wires running from the outside of the flange, through it, and through canals in the pom structure which holds the pump and the device. A light is turned on when the necessary watts to disinfect the water is reached making it possible for the user to feel safer using the water for bathing or other use.

[0047] The present invention has shown the unexpected effect of being much more efficient in heating the water with approx. 30% improvement compared to traditionally heat elements.

[0048] The present invention has also shown the unexpected effect of treating the water to a disinfection level thus enabling the user to turn the temperature down to ex. 40 degrees C. and not having bacteria built up inside.

[0049] The present invention has furthermore shown the unexpected effect of being able to electrify the water in the tank without electrifying the tank or the volume it holds itself, thereby erasing any risks of using the technology inside a tank style water heater instead of a traditionally heat element.

[0050] The present invention has even further shown the unexpected effect of limiting or fully remove the anode in the tank as the hydrogen production when electrifying the water in the device H+ defends the tank metal of the oxidations process of rust, thus delivering a much longer life expectancy of the tank compared to normal tanks with anodes. Also, the taste of the water is improved compared to traditionally tank style water heaters where rust and the anodes material is present in the water and water taste.

[0051] The present invention has even shown the unexpected effect of not being able to run without a pump supplying water to the device with holds electrodes that electrifies the water. This is surprising as the water would normally create a moving process due to the heating of the water itself as it happens in traditionally electric style water heaters.

[0052] The present invention has also shown the unexpected effect of being able to be turned on even without water in the tank, whereas a normal heat element would burn over.

[0053] The present invention has also shown the unexpected effect of being able to deliver hot water close to the tank outlet which is a wanted feature when the tanks it turned on from cold status e.g. secondary home but at the same time the invention has shown that it is not necessary with more than one heat source even if the tank is large in size as the water is moved around by the pump.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0054] 2 Tank [0055] 4 System fitted to a flange in a tank [0056] 6 Device and pump [0057] 8 Inlet [0058] 10 Outlet [0059] 12 Flange [0060] 14 Tank inlet [0061] 16 Tank outlet