Method and Apparatus for Water Distribution

Abstract

A water distribution apparatus comprises a water user outlet facility and a water re-circulation loop. The water re-circulation loop comprises a water supply, a water pump for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop, a water delivery path extending from the pump to a water user outlet facility, a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and a thermal disinfection apparatus disposed in the water delivery path for improving the potability of the water within the loop.

1 . A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port; and   (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
 (i) a water supply, 
 (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop, 
 (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility, 
 (iv) a first water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, 
 (v) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of the water within the loop, and 
 (vi) a second water return path extending from the water delivery path between the pump and the water supply. 
   
     
     
         2 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one water treatment device is positioned in the water delivery path. 
     
     
         3 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the water supply comprises a water storage tank. 
     
     
         4 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the water storage tank is positioned between the water user outlet facility and the pump and comprises a portion of the water return path. 
     
     
         5 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second water return path extends from the water delivery path between at least one water treatment device and the water user outlet facility to the water supply. 
     
     
         6 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the water re-circulation loop is self-contained. 
     
     
         7 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the water re-circulation loop comprises a portion of a water supply system carried on board a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, train bus, boat or recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the internal surfaces of the water re-circulation loop comprise biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         10 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the external surfaces of the water user outlet facility comprises biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         11 . A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port;   (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
 (i) a water supply, 
 (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop, 
 (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility, wherein the water inlet port is in water flow communication with the water delivery path, 
 (iv) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and 
 (v) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of the water within the loop; 
   (c) a tap valve disposed in the water outlet path and controllable by a water user to tap a portion of the flow from the water delivery path through the water outlet path while the water user outlet facility directs a remaining portion of the flow into the water return path; and   (d) a pressurized water storage device in water flow communication with the water outlet path.   
     
     
         12 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the water supply comprises a water storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the water storage tank is positioned between the water user outlet facility and the pump and comprises a portion of the water return path. 
     
     
         14 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the water re-circulation loop is self-contained. 
     
     
         15 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the water re-circulation loop comprises a portion of a water supply system carried on board a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, train, bus, boat or recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the internal surfaces of the water re-circulation loop comprise biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         18 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the external surfaces of the water user outlet facility comprises biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         19 . A water distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a water user outlet facility including a water inlet port, a water outlet port, and a water outlet path extending from the water inlet port to the water outlet port; and   (b) a water re-circulation loop, comprising
 (i) a water supply, 
 (ii) a water pump in water flow communication with the water supply for establishing and maintaining a flow of water in the loop, 
 (iii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility, 
 (iv) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the water supply, and 
 (v) at least one water treatment device comprises a magnet for reducing scale and corrosion on the wetted surfaces of the water distribution apparatus. 
   
     
     
         20 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the water supply comprises a water storage tank. 
     
     
         21 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the water storage tank is positioned between the water user outlet facility and the pump and comprises a portion of the water return path. 
     
     
         22 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the water re-circulation loop is self-contained. 
     
     
         23 . A water supplying method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one water treatment device comprises a magnet, and further comprising the step of exposing the flow of water to a magnetic field for reducing scale and corrosion on the wetted surfaces of the water distribution apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the water re-circulation loop comprises a portion of a water supply system carried on board a vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, train, bus, boat or recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the internal surfaces of the water re-circulation loop comprise biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         27 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the external surfaces of the water user outlet facility comprises biostatic or biocidal agents. 
     
     
         28 . A method of supplying water to a water user outlet facility, the water supplying method comprising:
 (a) directing a tappable flow of water in a water re-circulation loop, the loop including
 (i) a water pump for establishing and maintaining the flow of water in the loop, 
 (ii) a water delivery path extending from the pump to the water user outlet facility, 
 (iii) a water return path extending from the water user outlet facility to the pump, and 
 (iv) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of water within the loop; and 
   (b) heating the water in the water delivery path to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time sufficient to degrade targeted biomaterials for improving the potability of the water within the loop.   
     
     
         29 . A water supplying method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the step of directing a tappable flow of water in a water re-circulation loop comprises providing a tappable flow of water from an external water source. 
     
     
         30 . A water supplying method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the water return path comprises a water storage tank. 
     
     
         31 . A water supplying method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined temperature is at least about 150° F. 
     
     
         32 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a thermal disinfection apparatus comprising:
 (a) a compressor providing pressurized and heated supply of air to a heat exchanger hot air inlet port and outlet port;   (b) a source of ambient air;   (c) a heat exchanger having an heating portion including an air inlet port and an air outlet port, and a cooling portion including an air inlet port and an air outlet port;   (d) a first air delivery path from the source of the hot air to the heating portion of the heat exchanger, the air inlet port in the heating section of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first air delivery path;   (e) an expansion air turbine disposed in the air return path;   (f) a second air delivery path from the expansion air turbine to the cooling portion of the heat exchanger, the air inlet port in the cooling portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second air delivery path; and   (g) an air exit path from the cooling portion of the heat exchanger, the air outlet port in the cooling portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the air exit path.   
     
     
         33 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a thermal disinfection apparatus comprising:
 (a) a heat exchanger having a heating portion including an air inlet port and an air outlet port, and a cooling portion including an air inlet port and an air outlet port;   (b) a source of hot air;   (c) a first air delivery path from the source of hot air to the heating portion of the heat exchanger, the air inlet port in the heating portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first air delivery path;   (d) an air return path from the heating portion of the heat exchanger, the air outlet port in the heating portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the air return path;   (e) an expansion air turbine disposed in the air return path;   (f) a second air delivery path from the expansion air turbine to the cooling portion of the heat exchanger, the air inlet port in the cooling portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second air delivery path; and   (g) an air exit path from the cooling portion of the heat exchanger, the air outlet port in the cooling portion of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the air exit path.   
     
     
         34 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 33 , wherein a source of hot air comprises engine compressor bleed air. 
     
     
         35 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising an energy absorption device operatively connected to the expansion air turbine for powering the energy absorption device. 
     
     
         36 . A water distribution apparatus as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the energy absorption device is selected from an electric generator, a hydraulic motor, a pump, a mechanical power converter, or combinations thereof.