WATER DISTRIBUTION AND WATER TREATING ARCHITECTURE SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention describes a water distribution and water treating architecture system comprising a light grey water tank, said light grey water tank being connected to a fresh water inlet, said light grey water tank further being connected to a heater so that both cold and hot water may be fed to a water treating and distributing unit from the light grey water tank, said water treating and distributing unit comprising a water treating unit, wherein the water distribution and water treating architecture system also comprises a user unit with a user outlet and a sensor unit tank, which sensor unit tank comprises at least one sensor directed to measuring water quality and sending information to a control unit, wherein the water distribution and water treating architecture system comprises a user water recirculation loop enabling recirculation of water from the sensor unit tank 9 into the water treating and distributing unit and water treating unit and further to the user outlet, said sensor unit tank also being connected to a grey water outlet unit; and wherein the water distribution and water treating architecture system also comprises a water feeding recirculation loop enabling recirculation of water from the light grey water tank into the water treating and distributing unit and water treating unit and back to the light grey water tank.

Claims

1. A water distribution and water treating architecture system comprising a light grey water tank, said light grey water tank being connected to a fresh water inlet, said light grey water tank further being connected to a heater so that both cold and hot water may be fed to a water treating and distributing unit from the light grey water tank, said water treating and distributing unit comprising a water treating unit, wherein the water distribution and water treating architecture system also comprises a user unit with a user outlet and a sensor unit tank, which sensor unit tank comprises at least one sensor directed to measuring water quality and sending information to a control unit, characterized by that the water distribution and water treating architecture system comprises a user water recirculation loop enabling recirculation of water from the sensor unit tank into the water treating and distributing unit and water treating unit and further to the user outlet, said sensor unit tank also being connected to a grey water outlet unit; and wherein the water distribution and water treating architecture system also comprises a water feeding recirculation loop enabling recirculation of water from the light grey water tank into the water treating and distributing unit and water treating unit and back to the light grey water tank.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fresh water inlet is in the form of a fresh water tank.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises two pumps of which one pump enables pumping water from the sensor unit tank and another pump enables pumping of water from the light grey water tank and into the water treating and distributing unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit tank is connected to a grey water tank via the grey water outlet unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the water treating unit comprises a heater.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the water treating unit comprises a light treating unit, preferably a UV treating unit.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the water treating unit comprises at least one filter.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein an overflow gap is arranged between the fresh water tank and the light grey water tank.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises an additional recirculation loop for recirculation of water from the user unit and to the light grey water tank.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a feeding tube is arranged on a float body unit arranged to be positioned in a middle height section of the water volume contained inside of the light grey water tank.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0024] In FIG. 1 there is shown one specific embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the water distribution and water treating architecture system 1 comprises a light grey water tank 2 which is connected to a fresh water inlet 3. In this case the fresh water inlet 3 is in the form of a tank 3. Water may be flown from the fresh water tank 3 to user units not shown, e.g. sinks or other kitchen units. From the fresh water tank 3 drinkable water may be obtained.

[0025] This system is suitable for e.g. RVs or ships/boats. The tank 3 may then be filled when there is access to fresh water. The connection between the fresh water tank 3 and the light grey water tank 2 may e.g. be provided by an overflow gap 60 as is shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, according to one specific embodiment of the present invention, an overflow gap 60 is arranged between the fresh water tank 3 and the light grey water tank 2. Other solutions are also possible, such as e.g, valve connections. This may also be valid for a connection between the light grey water tank 2 and the grey water tank 30, and also between all tanks 2, 3, 30 if needed.

[0026] From the light grey water tank 2 water may be fed through a heater 4 so that also hot water may be provided into the water treating and distributing unit 5. This water treating and distributing unit 5 comprises a water treating unit 6, e.g. in the form of a light treating unit, such as a UV treating unit. Also one or more filters may be components inside of the water treating unit 6. The water streams fed into the water treating unit 6 may then be treated in the water treating unit 6 to increase the water quality when this is needed. This is of course also valid and possible for a water stream being fed from the senor tank 9 (see explanation below).

[0027] The water distribution and water treating architecture system 1 further comprises a user unit 7, in this case in the form of a shower, with a user outlet 8, in this case in the form of a shower head. Furthermore, the water distribution and water treating architecture system 1 also comprises a sensor unit tank 9 which comprises at least one sensor directed to measuring water quality and sending information to a control unit. In this specific case, the sensor tank is provided in a drain unit in the shower. The drain unit or sensor unit tank 9 suitable also comprises a rough filter for filtering off hair or material of larger sizes/diameters.

[0028] The water distribution and water treating architecture system 1 further comprises a user water recirculation loop 10 enabling recirculation of water from the sensor unit tank 9 into the water treating and distributing unit 5 and water treating unit 6, for purification when needed, and further to the user outlet 8. As such there is provided a recirculation loop 10 over the user unit 7, in this case the shower unit. Moreover, the sensor unit tank 9 is also connected to a grey water outlet unit 20 to enable to send contaminated water to waste. As notable, in an application like the embodiment shown, i.e. for RVs or the like, then the grey water outlet unit 20 suitably is led to a grey water tank 30 in which grey water may be stored until it is possible to drain off at a station or the like.

[0029] Moreover, according to yet another specific embodiment of the present invention, the water treating unit comprises a heater 40. This heater enables to heat water being recirculated in the recirculation loop 10 of the user unit 7, without the need of using the heater unit 4, so that the shower water may be kept at the right temperature. The heater unit 40 suitably is smaller and has a lower capacity in comparison to the heater unit 4. The heater unit 40 is intended to be used only for heating of recirculation water and not to heat cold water to a shower temperature, which is the case when using the heater unit 4.

[0030] Moreover, the water being recirculated here may also be treated in the water treating unit via filtration and UV treatment before being recirculated. In this regard it should also be noted that the floor unit, that is the sensor tank 9, suitably also comprises a rough filter unit.

[0031] As notable in FIG. 1, it is also possible to flow water from the water treating and distributing unit 5 and down to the sensor tank 9. This is of interest to enable to perform a heat cycle/hygienisation operation of also the floor unit of a shower, i.e. the sensor unit tank 9. Moreover, it may also be of interest with reference to the possibility to measure the water quality of the water from the light grey water tank 2 without the need of having extra sensors in this tank 2. In relation to the above it should, however, be noted that a sensor system implemented in a system 1 according to the present invention may comprise several other sensors, such as sensors in the light grey water tank, directed to measuring water quality and/or level etc., and also e.g. a sensor indicating the functionality of the water treating unit 6, such as a UV sensor, etc. etc. If the water quality inside of the light grey water tank 2 is poor, then this volume may be sent directly to the grey water tank 30. As said, the communication between these two tanks may be enabled via a valve or the like.

[0032] In relation to the above and FIG. 1 it should be noted that the sensor unit tank 9 only is not connected to a drain or waste directly, but only to a grey water tank 30. This implies that the system 1 is a closed system where a certain water amount is fixed and used and recycled as long as possible until fresh water has to be filled into the system 1 (and grey water in grey water tank 30 has to be emptied).

[0033] The water distribution and water treating architecture system 1 also comprises a water feeding recirculation loop 11 enabling recirculation of water from the light grey water tank 2 into the water treating and distributing unit 5 and water treating unit 6 and back to the light grey water tank 2. This second recirculation loop provides the possibility to treat and purify water continuously and not only in the user unit 7. This is important to ensure a water quality level in the light grey water tank 2. If this is not possible then growth of microorganisms and bacteria is unavoidable, i.e. if not chemically treated continuously. This is also true for the fresh water tank 3 some time after this fresh water has been filled into that tank. The system 1 according to the present invention provides a solution to overcome this issue as a whole.

[0034] The system 1 according to the present invention also provides the possibility of really purifying water having what may be called a semi-quality, Therefore, the system 1 provides the capability of fractionating water making sure that only the lowest quality is sent to the grey water tank 30. As mentioned, suitably the cost profile should decide when to treat and recirculate water vs sending the water to the grey water tank 30. The system 1 according to the present invention enables to keep a higher quality of water inside of the system 1 a longer time. This also implies that the actual time point when water has to be fed to the grey water tank 30 via the grey water outlet unit 20 may be delayed by the architecture of the system 1 according to the present invention.

[0035] As seen in FIG. 1, in this case the system 1 also comprises an additional recirculation loop 12 for recirculation of water from the user unit 7 and to the light grey water tank 2, This may also be used when the user unit 7 is not in ordinary operation, such as during a cleaning procedure, e.g. when hot water is fed through parts of the system 1.

[0036] Furthermore, in this case the system 1 comprises two pumps of which one pump enables pumping water from the sensor unit tank 9 and another pump enables pumping of water from the light grey water tank 2 and into the water treating and distributing unit 5.

[0037] The control unit connected to the sensor in the sensor tank 9 provides a decision if to recirculate water or send it into the grey water outlet unit 20 over the user unit 7, Suitably, the control unit also controls the water feeding recirculation loop 11, that is when to recirculate and not. Moreover, also the water treating unit 6 suitably is controlled by the control unit.

[0038] In relation to the above it should be said that the system according to the present invention may provide the possibility for the user to change the needed water quality level, Such a changed requirement suitably is set by the user for the water quality in the user unit 7, e.g. at times when there is no supply of fresh water for an extended time period. When such changed requirement is set, then this may enable to use water of less quality from the light grey water tank. At such times, the user may shower in water having a lower quality also in the shower instead of sending this water to the grey water tank. This may be of interest for the user as the alternative is to not shower at all.

[0039] Fact is that the entire operation of the system 1 may be set by the control unit. This also implies that the control unit sets where water should be fed with regards to one of or several of the recirculation loops 10, 11, 12. This may in turn be decided by sensors connected to the control unit. It should be noted that the system 1 may comprise several sensors. As mentioned, one sensor may be provided in the sensor unit 9, but also other sensors may be provided in the system 1. For instance, one or more inside of the water treating and distributing unit 5. Also other sensor places are fully possible according to the present invention. The control unit suitably decides the entire operation of the system 1, i.e. when certain operations should be performed, e.g. a cleaning procedure. This may be set by values indicated from sensors but may also be performed according to certain schedules, e.g. where certain procedures are more suitable during night time etc. To summarize, the system 1 may be operated continuously and/or according to certain set schedules.

[0040] It should be noted that also chemical treatment may be used in a system 1 according to the present invention. One possible alternative is chlorine tablets. Moreover, also cleaning procedures of the system is possible to use as a combination with the above. For instance, heating procedures when very hot water is fed through the system may be used. Another alternative is to use citric acid contained in tablet form. Also combinations of different cleaning or decontaminating procedures are possible.