Drinking water supply system with groupwise control, method for controlling the same, and computer program

Abstract

The invention relates to a drinking water supply system including a drinking water line system, a plurality of drinking water withdrawal points connected to the drinking water line system, at least one sensor which is designed to determine measuring values, a central control device which is designed to receive and evaluate the measuring values determined by the at least one sensor, a plurality of decentralized control elements which are designed to influence at different locations in the drinking water supply system one or more properties of the water guided in the drinking water supply system, wherein the central control device is designed to control the control elements for influencing the one or more properties of the water guided in the drinking water supply system, and wherein a plurality of control elements are or can be combined to form a virtual group.

Claims

1. A drinking water supply system comprising: a drinking water piping system, a plurality of drinking water tapping points connected to the drinking water piping system, at least one sensor configured to determine measurement values, a central control device configured to receive and evaluate the measurement values determined by the at least one sensor, a plurality of decentralised control elements configured to influence one or a plurality of properties of water carried in the drinking water supply system at different portions of the drinking water supply system, and a plurality of decentralised control devices, wherein each of the plurality of decentralised control devices are connected to one or more of the plurality of decentralised control elements for control thereof, wherein the central control device is configured to actuate the plurality of decentralised control elements to influence the one or the plurality of properties of the water carried in the drinking water supply system, wherein the central control device is configured to (i) receive a user input assigning at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements to a virtual group, (ii) combine the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements to form the virtual group comprising the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements based on the received user input, and (iii) actuate the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements that form the virtual group when a virtual group actuation command is received to actuate the virtual group, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements are connected to different decentralised control devices of the plurality of decentralised control devices.

2. The drinking water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the central control device is configured to actuate the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements of the virtual group, according to an actuation plan comprising the virtual group actuation command predefined for the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements that form the virtual group when the virtual group actuation command is received to actuate the virtual group.

3. The drinking water supply system according to claim 2, wherein the actuation plan contains a plurality of the virtual group actuation command for different control elements of the plurality of decentralised control elements, and the central control device is configured to actuate one or more of the plurality of decentralised control elements according to the actuation plan when the virtual group actuation command is received to carry out the actuation plan.

4. The drinking water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the drinking water piping system has a drinking water line, a group of the plurality of drinking water tapping points is provided which are connected to the drinking water line, a plurality of decentralised sensors is provided which are configured to determine information about a performance of flushing operations at drinking water tapping points of the group of the plurality of drinking water tapping points, and the central control device is configured to control the performance of flushing operations at individual drinking water tapping points of the group of the plurality of drinking water tapping points as a function of the information about the performance of the flushing operations at drinking water tapping points of the group of the plurality of drinking water tapping points.

5. The drinking water supply system according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of decentralised sensors are provided which are configured to determine information about a performance of flushing operations in a predefined section of the drinking water piping system, and the central control device is configured to monitor a time since a last flush in the predefined section of the drinking water piping system and to cause a flush in the predefined section of the drinking water piping system when a predefined maximum time is exceeded.

6. The drinking water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the central control device is configured to control the plurality of decentralised control elements as a function of the received measurement values.

7. A method for controlling the drinking water supply system according to claim 1, comprising: receiving the measurement values, in particular the measurement values for one or different properties of water carried in the drinking water supply system, and controlling the drinking water supply system as a function of the received measurement values, wherein the virtual group actuation command to actuate the virtual group is received and the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements of the virtual group are actuated, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements are connected to different decentralised control devices of the plurality of decentralised control devices.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by at least one processor of a control device of the drinking water supply system cause the at least one processor to initiate a performance of the method according to claim 7.

9. The drinking water supply system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of decentralised control elements comprise flushing units that, when actuated, flush and/or drain water from the different portions of the drinking water supply system.

10. The drinking water supply system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of decentralised control elements comprise at least one of an actuable pump or an actuable flow control valve configured to influence water flow through the different portions of the drinking water supply system.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual group actuation command to actuate the virtual group comprises a command to actuate the virtual group according to an actuation plan comprising actuation commands predefined for the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements that form the virtual group, wherein the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements that form the virtual group are actuated according to the actuation commands.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising initiating control of the drinking water supply system with the central control device.

13. The drinking water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the central control device is further configured to: receive the measurement values, in particular the measurement values for one or different properties of water carried in the drinking water supply system, and control the drinking water supply system as a function of the received measurement values, wherein the virtual group actuation command for actuating the virtual group is received and the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements of the virtual group are actuated, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of decentralised control elements are connected to different decentralised control devices of the plurality of decentralised control devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawing,

(2) FIGS. 1a-b show a section of a first exemplary embodiment of the drinking water supply system,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the central control device of the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(4) FIG. 3a-d show four exemplary embodiments for cooling segments for the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further section of the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a heat pump for the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(7) FIG. 6a-b show two exemplary embodiments for control elements for the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a further section of the drinking water supply system from FIG. 1a,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the drinking water supply system,

(10) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the cold water temperature,

(11) FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the hot water temperature,

(12) FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the minimum throughput,

(13) FIG. 12 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating as a function of usage,

(14) FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the pipeline pressure and

(15) FIG. 14 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the pipeline pressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) FIG. 1a shows a first exemplary embodiment of the drinking water supply system 2 in a schematic representation. FIG. 1b shows the section of the drinking water supply system 2, bordered in FIG. 1a with a dashed line, in enlarged representation.

(17) The drinking water supply system 2 comprises a drinking water piping system 4 with a main supply line 6 and a plurality of subordinate supply lines, of which a subordinate supply line 8 is represented in FIG. 1. The main supply line 6 has a hot water supply line 10 (“W” in FIG. 1a) and a cold water supply line 12 (“K” in FIG. 1a) to which a respective hot water line 14 and cold water line 16 of the subordinate supply line 8 are connected.

(18) Different drinking water tapping points are connected to the hot and cold water line 14, 16 of the subordinate supply line 8. FIG. 1 shows by way of example three drinking water tapping points of an individual wet cell with a first drinking water tapping point 18 as a shower mounting with hot and cold water connection, a second drinking water tapping point 20 as the wash basin mounting with cold and hot water connection and a third drinking water tapping point 22 as the WC flushing system with cold water connection. A plurality of further drinking water tapping points can be connected to the subordinate supply line 8, for example all wet cells of a hospital ward, a large shower or toilet system or also the drinking water tapping points of an operating theatre.

(19) A plurality of further drinking water tapping points can be connected to the drinking water piping system 4. For example, the drinking water piping system 4 may be the drinking water piping system of a hospital with a plurality of structural sections or floors, with the individual floors, structural sections or wards of the hospital being supplied in each case by one or a plurality of subordinate supply lines which, in turn, are fed via the main supply line 6. If required, a plurality of main supply lines can also be provided which supply for example individual structural sections of the hospital.

(20) For example, all wet cells of a hospital ward, a WC or shower block or also different drinking water tapping points of an operating theatre can be connected to a subordinate supply line 8.

(21) As a whole, FIG. 1a therefore shows only a part of an entire drinking water supply system 2 which can have one or a plurality of main supply lines and a plurality of subordinate supply lines with a plurality of drinking water tapping points.

(22) In the case of such a complex system with a plurality of pipelines and drinking water tapping points, there is the problem that a defect in the drinking water supply system, under certain circumstances, passes unnoticed or cannot be readily located. This can result in partial or complete failures of the drinking water supply and even contamination of germs of the drinking water. In particular, a lack of monitoring or maintenance of the drinking water supply system may lead to the desired drinking water quality not being continually achieved at the individual drinking water tapping points.

(23) In order to overcome this problem, a plurality of sensors are provided in the drinking water supply system 2, which determine measurement values at different locations in the drinking water supply system 2, in particular for the water temperature, the water pressure, the water flow and/or for the drinking water quality of the water carried in the drinking water supply system 2.

(24) FIG. 1a shows by way of example a first sensor 24 in the hot water line 14 of the subordinate supply line 8 and a sensor 26 in the cold water line 16 of the subordinate supply line 8. The sensors 24, 26 may for example be volume flow sensors which measure the water volume flowing through the respective pipeline per unit of time, they may be temperature sensors which measure the water temperature in the respective pipeline, or pressure sensors which measure the water pressure inside the respective pipeline. A plurality of these sensors can also be integrated into the drinking water lines 14, 16, for example in each case a volume flow sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor. Furthermore, corresponding sensors can also be provided at a plurality of positions of the drinking water lines 14, 16 in order to measure the water volume flowing through the pipelines, the water temperature and/or the water pressure at different positions of the drinking water lines 14, 16.

(25) Sensors can also be integrated into the drinking water piping system 4 which determine measurement values for the drinking water quality, for example the pH value, the degree of hardness or the concentration of suspended solids or bacteria in the water. For example, the sensors 24, 26 may be corresponding sensors. Furthermore, such sensors can for example be provided in the cold water supply line 12 or the hot water supply line 10 of the main line 6 or directly behind the central feed point of the local water supplier into the drinking water supply system 2.

(26) Furthermore, sensors are provided at the respective drinking water tapping points. For example, the shower mounting 18 for hot and cold water, as shown in FIG. 1b, is in each case equipped with a temperature sensor 28 and with a volume flow sensor 30 which measures the volume flow of the hot or cold water drained at the shower mounting 18. The wash basin mounting 20 also in each case has a temperature sensor 28 and a volume flow sensor 30 which measures the volume flow of the water drained at the wash basin mounting 20. Lastly, the WC flushing system 22 also has a temperature sensor 28 and a volume flow sensor 30 for the cold water drained at the WC flushing system.

(27) In addition to the individual sensors, the drinking water supply system 2 has a central control device 40 which can receive and evaluate the measurement values recorded by the sensors. In order to transmit the measurement values from the sensors to the central control device 40, a field bus 42 is provided in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1a-b, to which the individual sensors and the central control device 40 are connected. Alternatively to this, a star-shaped connection of the sensors to the central control device 40 can also be provided. Furthermore, wireless communication connections between individual sensors and the central control device are also conceivable, for example via radio, WLAN, Bluetooth or the like.

(28) FIG. 2 shows a possible structure of the central control device 40 from FIG. 1a. The central control device 40 comprises a controller 50 which can receive the measurement values of the sensors connected to the field bus via the field bus 42. The controller may for example be an electronic circuit with at least one programmable microcontroller.

(29) Furthermore, the central control device 40 comprises one or a plurality of user interfaces 52 on which data received and/or evaluated by the controller 50 can be displayed. For example, the controller 50 can display the measurement values of the temperature sensors in a subordinate supply line 8 via the user interface 52 such that a user at the user interface 52 immediately obtains an overview of the water temperatures in the entire subordinate supply line.

(30) In addition to the user interface 52, an electronic interface 54 is provided via which the data received or evaluated by the controller 50 can be transferred for further processing or storage to an external computer. In this manner, the measurement data is for example further evaluated or archived with the aid of the external computer.

(31) The central control device 40 can also have a front end 56 which is supplied with data received and/or evaluated by the controller 50. Further evaluations can then take place in the front end 56 or user-controlled evaluations can be carried out. The entire evaluation can also be transferred to the front end 56 such that the measurement data received by the sensors has to be forwarded by the controller 50 only to the front end 56.

(32) The front end 56 may for example be the front end of an existing building automation system, for example of a building ventilation or heating system. In this manner, a plurality of subsections of a building or a facility can be monitored and/or controlled from a central point. The front end 56 preferably has at least one microprocessor and a memory on which a computer program is stored with commands to illustrate and/or evaluate the measurement data transmitted by the sensors.

(33) The front end 56 can, if required, also initiate outputs via the user interface 52 and via the interface 54, in particular when the measurement data is evaluated on the front end 56. The controller 50 or even the front end 56 can for example also be connected to a computer network or a cloud 58, for example in order to store measurement data or variables calculated therefrom or to retrieve control commands.

(34) Providing the central control device 40 enables a central evaluation of the measurement values measured by the individual sensors, so that the state of the drinking water supply system 2 can be evaluated and optionally assessed at a central point.

(35) Furthermore, it can be provided that the drinking water supply system 2 can be controlled by the central control device 40.

(36) For this purpose, the drinking water supply system 2 comprises a plurality of decentralised control elements by means of which the water flow and the water temperature can be influenced at different points in the drinking water piping system 4.

(37) In FIGS. 1a-b, the following control elements are shown by way of example and are explained below: a control element 70 on the WC flushing system 22, a respective actuatable separate flushing unit 72, 74 on the hot and cold water line 14, 16, a respective actuatable pump 76, 78 in the hot water supply line 10 and the cold water supply line 12 of the main supply line 6, a respective actuatable flow control valve 82, 84 on the respective end of the hot and cold water line 14, 16 and an actuatable cooling segment 86.

(38) Providing the respective control elements and the central control device 40 for actuating these control elements makes it possible to control and optionally regulate the drinking water supply system 2 from a central point. For example, a user can actuate one or a plurality of the decentralised control elements from a central point by inputting a corresponding command via the user interface 52 or the front end 56.

(39) The function of the individual control elements is explained below:

(40) A flushing operation can be initiated with the control element 70 on the WC flushing system 22 so that water from the cold water line 16 is drained from the drinking water piping system 4. The control element 70 and the WC flushing system therefore constitute an actuatable flushing unit.

(41) If a user determines for example on the basis of information output via the user interface 52 that the region of the cold water line 16 in which the WC flushing system 22 is located has not been flushed for a long time period and the water has been in the cold water line 16 for a long time, then he can initiate a flush via the central control device 40 and the control element 70 actuated thereby. As a result, a flushing operation is performed and water is drained from the corresponding piping section of the cold water line 16 such that fresh water can subsequently flow into the corresponding section of the cold water line 16. Similar control elements 70 can also be provided at other drinking water tapping points, for example at the shower mounting 18 or the wash basin mounting 20. In particular, a flush of the hot water line 14 can also be performed via the shower mounting 18 or the wash basin mounting 20.

(42) The user can then for example also initiate such a flushing operation when he determines via the information displayed on the user interface 52 that the water temperature is too high in a certain piping section of the cold water line 16 or is too low in a certain piping section of the hot water line 14.

(43) In the same manner, a flushing operation of the hot or cold water line can also be performed at a respective separate flushing unit 72, 74. Using such a flushing unit, water can be drained from the respective line independently of the drinking water tapping points. Such a flushing unit can for example have a pipeline outlet integrated into the respective line with an actuatable valve, such that by opening the valve water can be drained through the pipeline outlet from the line and for example channeled into an outflow provided therebelow.

(44) The quantity of water carried in the respective drinking water line or the water pressure inside the respective drinking water line can also be influenced by a centrally initiated flushing operation at a drinking water tapping point or a flushing unit.

(45) The drinking water supply system 2 further has presence detectors 88 in the form of motion sensors. The central control device 40 obtains information via the presence detectors 88 about whether a person is in the region of one of the drinking water tapping points 18, 20. The central control device is preferably configured to interrupt or prevent the performance of a centrally initiated flushing operation at one of the drinking water tapping points 18, 20 if the corresponding presence detector 88 detects the presence of a person. In this manner, a person in the region of the drinking water tapping points 18, 20 can be prevented from getting wet by being sprayed by an automatically initiated flushing operation, or from being scalded in the case of a hot water flushing operation.

(46) Furthermore, a presence detector such as the presence detector 88 can also be used to automatically switch the control of the drinking water supply system 2 by the central control device 40 between a normal mode and an absence mode, for example a holiday mode. For this purpose, the control device 40 can be configured to automatically switch from a normal mode to an absence mode if no person has been detected for a predefined time period by the presence detector 88 or by further provided presence detectors. Furthermore, the control device 40 can be configured to automatically switch back to a normal mode if a person is detected by a presence detector during the absence mode. Different control programs can for example be stored for the normal mode and the absence mode in the central control device 40, which contain different commands to control the drinking water supply system 2 in the normal or absence mode.

(47) The water pressure inside the hot and/or cold water supply line 10, 12 or the quantity of water flowing through the hot and/or cold water supply line 10, 12 can be influenced via the pumps 76, 78. If the user determines for example on the basis of the user interface 52 that the quantity of water or the water pressure available for the individual drinking water tapping points is too low, he can initiate an increase in the output of the pumps 76, 78 via the central control device 40.

(48) Additionally or alternatively to the pumps 76, 78, pumps can also be provided in subordinate supply lines, for example in the subordinate supply line 8 in order to locally control the water flow or the pressure.

(49) The hot water line 14 and the cold water line 16 are in each case connected via a flow control valve 82, 84 to a respective circulation line 90, 92 via which water can be circulated inside the drinking water piping system 4. In this manner, the water can be discharged from the hot water line 14 or the cold water line 16 without water having to be output from the drinking water supply system 2. The circulation lines 90, 92 are in the present exemplary embodiment connected to a corresponding central hot water circulation line 94 (“ZW” in FIG. 1a) and cold water circulation line 96 (“KW” in FIG. 1a) in the main supply line 6 via which the water inside the drinking water piping system 4 can be made available again for extraction. For example, the hot water circulation line 94 can channel the water to a unit in which it is heated before it is then fed back into the hot water supply line 10. The cold water circulation line 96 can for example channel the water to the actuatable cooling segment 86, in which the water is cooled before it is then fed back into the cold water supply line 12.

(50) If a user for example determines via the user interface 52 that the water is in the hot water line 14 or the cold water line 16 for too long or is outside of the desired temperature range, he can discharge the water from the hot water line 14 or the cold water line 16 via the corresponding circulation line 90, 92 by actuating the corresponding flow control valve 82 or 84 such that fresh water subsequently flows in.

(51) Since the circulation lines 90, 92 allow water to be discharged from the hot or cold water line 14, 16 without having to be drained from the drinking water supply system 2, water can be exchanged in the drinking water supply system without water being unnecessarily wasted. In particular, the water discharged through the circulation lines 90, 92 can be reused in the drinking water supply system 2.

(52) Providing a circulation line is particularly advantageous in a cold water line since the water can be discharged in this manner when it has been heated above a predefined maximum temperature due to being in the cold water line for too long. The water can in this case be cooled down again to the desired temperature by the actuatable cooling segment 86.

(53) FIG. 3a shows a possible structure of the cooling segment 86. The cooling segment 86 is connected via two actuatable junction valves 104 and 106 to the cold water circulation line 94. The water flowing through the cold water circulation line 94 can be redirected into the cooling segment 86 by actuating the junction valves 104 and 106. A heat exchanger 108 is arranged in the cooling segment 86 with a coolant feed-in 110 and a coolant feed-out 112, by which the water flowing through the heat exchanger 108 can be cooled in order to achieve the desired water temperature for the cold water supply line 12.

(54) FIG. 3b shows an alternative cooling segment 86′. The cooling segment 86′ differs from the cooling segment 86 in that instead of an active cooling via a heat exchanger 108 operated with a coolant, a passive cooling takes place by virtue of the cooling segment 86′ comprising a piping section 114 which is guided through a cold environment such as for example a cellar region or, as indicated in FIG. 3b, the soil 116.

(55) FIG. 3c shows a further alternative cooling segment. The cooling segment 86″ has, like the cooling segment 86, a heat exchanger 108 with a coolant feed-in 110 and a coolant feed-out 112. Unlike the cooling segment 86, the heat exchanger 108 is, however, directly connected to the cold water circulation line 94. By activating or deactivating the coolant feed-in 110, the water flowing through the heat exchanger 108 can be cooled based on the time or requirements in order to achieve the desired water temperature for the cold water supply line 12. Alternatively, permanent cooling is also possible.

(56) Like the heat exchanger 108, the piping region 114 of the cooling segment 86′ can also be connected directly to the cold water circulation line 94; this is illustrated for the cooling segment 86″′ in FIG. 3d.

(57) Connecting the heat exchanger 108 or the piping region 114 directly to the cold water circulation line 94 has the advantage of avoiding dead water, as can arise in the case of the cooling segments 86 and 86′ in the respectively unused piping section between the two junction valves 104 and 106.

(58) FIG. 4 shows a further section of the drinking water supply system 2 from FIG. 1a. For the sake of clarity, some components from FIG. 1a have been omitted in FIG. 4 and other components, which are not represented in FIG. 1a, have been portrayed. As FIG. 4 shows, not only can the drinking water tapping points 18, 20 and 22 shown in FIG. 1a be connected to the subordinate supply line 8, but rather further drinking water tapping points can also be connected, for example all drinking water tapping points of a hospital ward. Further WC flushing systems 22′ and 22″ are represented by way of example in FIG. 4 in addition to the WC flushing system 22. All WC flushing systems 22, 22′ and 22″ are, similar to the WC flushing system 22, provided with respective temperature sensors 28, volume flow sensors 30 and control elements 70 to initiate a flush.

(59) The control device 40 enables a groupwise actuation of the control elements integrated into the drinking water supply system 2. All WC flushing systems 22, 22′ and 22″ of the subordinate supply line 8 are for example combined in FIG. 4 into a virtual group 100 and the control device 40 is configured to actuate the control elements 70 of the respective WC flushing systems together. For example, the controller 50 can be configured to receive via the user interface 52 a command to flush all WC flushing systems in the subordinate supply line 8 and, as a response thereto, to actuate the individual control elements 70 of the WC flushing systems from the group 100, such that a flushing operation is performed at all WC flushing systems of the group 100. A larger, preferably more turbulent volume flow is hereby achieved in the piping system, in particular in the subordinate supply line 8. The pipe walls can in particular be cleaned of impurities, such as for example a biofilm, by a turbulent volume flow.

(60) Control elements of the cooling segment 86 can also be combined into a group. For example, the two actuatable junction valves 104 and 106 can be combined into a virtual group such that they are switched by a single command into a position in which the water is channeled through the cooling segment 86 or alternatively switched into a position in which the water is channeled past the cooling segment 86. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 108 can also be integrated into the virtual group such that for example a compressor and a pump for the coolant medium are started with the activation of the cooling segment 86 via the junction valves 104 and 106.

(61) The central control device 40 can be further configured to determine by means of corresponding sensors at the WC flushing systems 22, 22′, 22″ in the subordinate supply line 8 whether the subordinate supply line 8 has been flushed at least once by a flush at one of the WC flushing systems 22, 22′, 22″ within a predefined time period and, if this is not the case, automatically cause a corresponding flush at some of the WC flushing systems 22, 22′, 22″. Such central monitoring of the flushing systems in the subordinate supply line 8 saves water compared to an autonomous and individual monitoring at each individual WC flushing system since flushing has to be performed less often and with less water.

(62) A flushing operation initiated by the central control device 40, in particular at a plurality of WC flushing systems 22, 22′, 22″ at the same time, may lead to significant noise pollution. For this reason, the central control device 40 is preferably configured to perform the automatic flushing operations as a function of the time of the day. For this purpose, the controller 50 can for example have a system clock or be connected to such a system clock which provides a piece of information about the current time of the day. In this manner, automatic flushes in a hospital ward can for example be suppressed during the night. In an office building, flushes can also be performed in a specific manner at night when work is not in progress in the office building.

(63) In order to further reduce noise pollution due to automatic flushing operations, the drinking water supply system 2 also has an acoustic sensor 118 in the form of a microphone which provides the central control device 40 with a measurement value for the volume level in a region to be monitored, for example in a hospital ward. The central control device 40 is preferably configured to automatically initiate flushing operations only if the volume level determined by the acoustic sensor 118 is below a predefined maximum volume level. Furthermore, the central control device 40 is configured to interrupt an automatically initiated flushing operation if said flushing operation causes the volume level to rise above a predefined maximum volume level. In this manner, a gain in convenience is achieved.

(64) In the case of a further exemplary embodiment, the sensors 24, 26 can be configured to identify measurement values for the speed distribution of the water in the hot or cold water line. In this manner, it can be determined whether the water is flowing in a turbulent or laminar manner. If, for example in the case of a flush of the cold water line by an automatically initiated flush, it is determined at a plurality of the drinking water tapping points 22, 22′, 22″ that the water current in the cold water line 16 is laminar, the control device 40 can be configured to initiate further flushes in order to achieve higher flow speeds and as a result a turbulent current since a more reliable flush of the cold water line 16 can be effected by a turbulent current than by a laminar current, in particular in regards to the cleaning of the pipe wall. In the case of a laminar current, the current speed at the pipe wall approaches zero, while in the case of a turbulent current there, high current speeds occur due to the vortex.

(65) FIG. 5 shows a heat pump 130 which is provided between the hot water supply line 10 and the cold water supply line 12 of the main supply line 6 of the drinking water supply system 2. The heat pump 130 comprises an evaporator 132 coupled to the cold water supply line 12, in which a heat transport medium evaporates, a compressor 134 to compress the evaporated heat transport medium, a condenser 136 coupled to the hot water supply line 10 to condense the compressed heat transport medium and an expansion valve 138 to expand the condensed heat transport medium. Through the energy expended to operate the compressor 134, a heat flow from the cold water supply line 12 to the hot water supply line 10 is achieved with the heat pump 130 such that the water in the cold water supply line 12 is cooled and the water in the hot water supply line 10 is heated. In this manner, simultaneous cooling of the cold water and heating of the hot water can be achieved in a resource-saving manner.

(66) A heat pump corresponding to the heat pump 130 can for example also be provided between the hot and cold water line 14, 16 of the subordinate supply line 8.

(67) FIGS. 6a-b show two exemplary embodiments for further control elements of the drinking water supply system 2 from FIG. 1a. FIG. 6a shows an actuatable filter element 150 and FIG. 6b shows a sterilisation element 160. The filter element 150 or the sterilisation element 160 can for example be integrated into the cold water supply line 12 and/or into the hot water supply line 10. It is similarly possible to integrate a corresponding filter element or sterilisation element directly behind the central feed point of the local water supplier into the drinking water supply system 2.

(68) The filter element 150 in FIG. 6a comprises a filter 152, for example a plate filter, and two actuatable junction valves 154, 156 by means of which the water can be channeled out of the cold water line 12 through the filter 152. Suspended solids or bacteria from the water can for example be filtered through the filter 152.

(69) For the regulated actuation of the filter element 150, the drinking water supply system 2 can have a sensor 158 which measures the concentration of suspended solids or bacteria in the water channeled through the filter element 150. The central control device 40 can for example be configured to carry out an automatic actuation of the junction valves 154, 156 when the measured suspended solid or bacteria concentration exceeds a predefined maximum concentration such that the water is channeled through the filter 152.

(70) The sterilisation element 160 in FIG. 6b comprises a sterilisation segment 162 and two actuatable valves 164, 166 by means of which the water can be channeled out of the hot water supply line 10 through the sterilisation segment 162. The water is sterilised in the sterilisation segment 162, for example by application of heat (as illustrated in FIG. 6b) or also by irradiation with intense UV light.

(71) For the regulated actuation of the sterilisation element 160, the drinking water supply system can have a sensor 168 which measures the concentration of bacteria in the water channeled through the filter element 160. The central control device 40 can for example be configured to carry out an automatic actuation of the valves 164, 166 when the measured bacteria concentration exceeds a predefined maximum concentration such that the water is channeled through the sterilisation segment 162.

(72) FIG. 7 shows a further section of the drinking water supply system 2 from FIG. 1a. For the sake of clarity, some components from FIG. 1a or 4 have been omitted in FIG. 7 and other components, which are not represented in FIG. 1a or 4, have been portrayed. FIG. 7 shows the hot water supply line 10 and the hot water circulation line 96 of the main supply line 6. The cold water supply line 12 and the cold water circulation line 94 are omitted in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity.

(73) A plurality of subordinate supply lines 8, 8′ are connected to the main supply line 6 which are fed by the main supply line 6 and for example supply different floors of a larger building complex such as for example a hospital. A plurality of different drinking water tapping points 170 are integrated into the subordinate supply lines 8, 8′, some of which are represented in FIG. 7.

(74) A central hot water unit 172 is provided in the drinking water supply system 2 by means of which water made available, inter alia, by a central feed point 174 of the local water supplier can be heated to the desired water temperature for the hot water supply. Furthermore, the hot water circulation line 96 can also return the water circulated in the piping system to the hot water unit 172 in order to be reheated there.

(75) The central hot water unit 172 is designed to heat water from room temperature to the desired temperature of for example 65° C. Furthermore, the throughput of the central hot water unit 172 is designed to supply the entire hot water portion of the drinking water supply system 2 and in particular all drinking water tapping points 170 integrated therein with hot water.

(76) In the case of larger building complexes such as for example a hospital, partially large piping segments can be located between the central hot water unit 172 and the individual subordinate supply lines 8, 8′. In spite of pipeline insulation, the water can already be cooled down to such an extent that after quite a short time it has to be drained or transported via the hot water circulation line 96 back to the central hot water unit 172.

(77) In order to enable a more economical operation of the drinking water piping system 2, decentralised hot water units 176 are integrated into individual subordinate supply lines 8, 8′ by means of which the water in the hot water line of the respective subordinate supply line 8, 8′ can be reheated to the desired temperature without having to be transported via the long hot water circulation line 96 back to the central hot water unit 172.

(78) Since the water is already preheated by the central hot water unit 172, the decentralised hot water units 176 only have to be designed for a lower temperature difference, for example in order to heat water from 50° C. to 65° C. Furthermore, the throughput of the decentralised hot water units 176 only has to be adapted to the throughput of the respective subordinate supply line 8, 8′. In this manner, devices compactly dimensioned for the decentralised hot water units 176 can be used. In addition, a higher modularity and scalability of buildings is achieved. For example, individual decentralised hot water units can be put into or out of operation without influencing the entire system.

(79) FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the system 2′. The structure and the functioning of the system 2′ substantially correspond to the structure and the functioning of the system 2 such that reference is made to the description above. In particular, the same components are provided with the same reference signs.

(80) In the system 2, the circulation line 92 for the cold water line 16 is connected to an actuatable three-way valve 180 such that the water can selectively be channeled from the circulation line 92 into the central cold water circulation line 94 or into the central hot water circulation line 96. The control device 40 is configured to actuate the three-way valve 180 such that water is channeled out of the circulation line 92 into the central hot water circulation line 94 when the water temperature measured using a temperature sensor for determining the water temperature in the cold water line 16, for example the sensor 26, or for determining the water temperature in the circulation line 92, exceeds a predefined limit value.

(81) In this manner, water which could be contaminated by germs due to heating in the cold water line 16 can be reused inside the system 2′ by being guided via the central hot water circulation line 94 to the hot water unit 172, in which it is heated, and as a result germs can be killed.

(82) Instead of a three-way valve 180, it can also be provided that the water is essentially channeled from the circulation line 92 to the central hot water circulation line 94.

(83) Different exemplary embodiments of the method for controlling the drinking water supply system 2 are described below on the basis of FIGS. 9 to 14. In particular, the control device 40 can be configured to control the drinking water supply system 2 according to the method. For this purpose, the controller 50 can for example have a memory on which a computer program is stored with commands the execution of which on at least one processor of the controller 50 initiates the performance of the respective method.

(84) FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the cold water temperature.

(85) In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in the first step 200, temperature measurement values of temperature sensors 28, 26 from the cold water line, for example from the cold water line 16 of the subordinate supply line 8. In the second step 202, it is checked whether the measured temperature is above a predefined maximum temperature Tmax. As long as this is not the case, the process goes back to step 200. If the temperature exceeds the predefined maximum temperature Tmax, the central control device 40 causes the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 204a-d.

(86) In step 204a, the drinking water from the cold water line 16 is cooled via the cooling segment 86. To this end, the control device 40 can for example actuate the control elements of the group 102, i.e. the junction valves 104, 106 and the heat exchanger 108 such that the water is channeled through the cooling segment 86 and is cooled there.

(87) In step 204b, water is drained from the cold water line 16 by virtue of the control element 70 of a WC flushing system 22, 22′, 22″ or the separate flushing unit 74 being actuated.

(88) In step 204c, the flow control valve 84 is actuated such that the water is discharged from the cold water line 16 of the subordinate supply line 8 via the circulation line 92, but remains inside the drinking water supply system 2.

(89) In step 204d, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification. For example, a person in charge of the safe operation of the drinking water supply system 2 can be informed of an increased risk of contamination of germs due to the excessively high cold water temperature.

(90) FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the hot water temperature.

(91) In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in the first step 220, temperature values from sensors in a hot water line, for example from the sensor 24 or the temperature sensors 28 in the hot water line 14. In the second step 222, it is checked whether the temperature of the water in the hot water line has dropped below a predefined minimum temperature Tmin. If this is not the case, the process goes back to step 220. If the water temperature drops below the minimum temperature Tmin, the central control device 40 causes the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 224a-d.

(92) In step 224a, a provided heating device, for example the decentralised hot water unit 176, is actuated in order to heat up the water from the hot water line.

(93) In step 224b, the flushing unit 72 is actuated in order to drain water from the hot water line. In step 224c, the flow control valve 82 is actuated in order to discharge the water from the hot water line 14 via the circulation line 90. In this manner, the water in the piping section in question can be replaced before it is cooled further.

(94) In step 224d, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification, for example in order to indicate an increased risk of contamination of germs due to the excessively low hot water temperature.

(95) FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the minimum throughput through a drinking water line.

(96) In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in a first step, the volume flow value from a volume flow sensor 24, 26, 30. The control device then calculates from the measurement values the volume of water flowing for a predefined time period through a certain piping section of a drinking water line.

(97) In the second step 242, it is checked whether the calculated water volume value is below a minimum volume value Vmin. If this is not the case, the process goes back to step 240. Otherwise, the control device 40 causes the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 244a-c.

(98) In step 244a, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification. For example, an excessively low flow value through the drinking water line can indicate that a drinking water tapping point is defective and needs maintenance. The output of a user notification can then prompt a caretaker to perform a corresponding check.

(99) In step 244b, the control device 40, by actuating the control elements 70 or the separate flushing unit 72 or 74, causes flushing and therefore draining of the water from the corresponding piping section of the drinking water line such that the volume flow in the corresponding drinking water line is increased by an artificially induced flush. In this manner, water is prevented from remaining for too long in the drinking water line and therefore contamination of germs of the water is prevented.

(100) In step 244c, the control device 40, by actuating the flow control valves 82 and 84, causes water to be discharged from the drinking water lines 14, 16 via the circulation lines 90, 92 and therefore also artificially increases the volume flow.

(101) FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and user dependent regulation. In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in a first step 260, measurement values for the volume flow, for example from the sensors 24, 26 and 30.

(102) In step 262, it is checked whether the measured volume flow is above a maximum predefined volume flow ΔVmax. If this is not the case, the process goes back to step 260. If the maximally permissible volume flow is exceeded, this can indicate that the corresponding drinking water line is temporarily overloaded since water is being removed at too many points at the same time. As a countermeasure, the control device can then cause the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 264a-d.

(103) In step 264a, the control device initiates a water pressure increase, for example by increasing the output of the pump 76 or 78 or by opening a provided supply line valve in order to provide more water or increased pressure for the drinking water line in question.

(104) In step 264b, the control device causes the end of an operation which may be performed automatically, in which water is drained for example via the flushing unit 72, 74 or discharged via the circulation line 90, 92. In this manner, the otherwise automatically drained water is available for the other drinking water tapping points.

(105) In step 264c, the control device 40 causes an automatic draining or circulating of the water to be prevented for a certain time period or while the permitted volume flow is exceeded. In this manner, the reliability of the supply is ensured at the individual drinking water tapping points.

(106) In step 264d, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification. For example, a person in charge can be informed of a possible supply bottleneck in the corresponding drinking water line.

(107) FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the pipeline pressure. In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in a first step 280, a measurement value for the water pressure in the drinking water line, for example from sensor 24 or 26.

(108) In the second step 282, the control device 40 checks whether the measured pressure is below a minimum pressure pmin. If this is not the case, the process goes back to the first step 280. Otherwise, the control device causes the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 284a-d.

(109) In step 284a, the control device 40 causes a water pressure increase, for example by increasing the output of the pumps 76 and 78 or by opening a supply line valve in order to increase the pressure in the pipelines.

(110) In the steps 284b-c, any ongoing flushing or circulation operation is ended or future flushing or circulation operations are prevented.

(111) In step 284d, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification, for example to indicate the possibility of a leak which may also be the cause of a pressure drop. For example, the control device 40 can be configured to monitor the pressure inside a piping section for a longer time period and, in the case of an unusual pressure drop or a pressure drop which goes beyond normal fluctuations, it can be configured to indicate the risk of a possible leak.

(112) FIG. 14 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method for monitoring and regulating the pipeline pressure. In the method, the central control device 40 receives, in the first step 300, a value for the water pressure in the drinking water line in question, for example from the sensor 24 or 26.

(113) In step 302, it is checked whether the measured pressure value is above a predefined maximum pressure pmax. If this is not the case, the process goes back to the first step 300. Otherwise, the control device initiates the performance of one or a plurality of the steps 304a-c.

(114) In step 304a, the water pressure is reduced, for example by reducing the pump output of the pump 76 or 78 or by closing a supply line valve in order to reduce the pressure in the drinking water line in question. Alternatively or additionally, the control device 40 can also cause a valve to open, for example at a flushing unit.

(115) In step 304b, for example by actuating the flushing unit 72 or 74, water is drained from the drinking water line in question in order to reduce the water pressure in the drinking water line in question.

(116) In step 304c, the control device 40 causes the output of a user notification, for example in order to indicate a critical overpressure in the piping system.

(117) Automatic pressure calibration can also be achieved by automatically monitoring and regulating the water pressure in the drinking water piping system 4 according to FIGS. 13 and 14. For example, a plurality of pressure sensors and a plurality of pumps and/or supply line valves can be provided on different floors of a building complex in which the drinking water piping system is installed. The water pressure on all floors can be regulated in a predefined pressure range by centrally monitoring the water pressure on the individual floors and automatically actuating the pumps and/or supply line valves as a function thereof.

(118) Furthermore, a user-dependent pressure calibration can also be achieved hereby since the water pressure is automatically readjusted for example in the case of increased demand at a plurality of drinking water tapping points on one floor.