Water Recirculation System

Abstract

A water recirculation system for a shower unit comprises a plurality of reservoirs and switching means for selecting from which of the reservoirs the shower unit receives water. A pump recirculates water from a waste trap of the shower unit to the active reservoir. Each reservoir contains a heater. At the user's command, a system of valves is reconfigured so that the shower unit becomes supplied with fresh water circulated from a second reservoir. Meanwhile, the first reservoir is emptied, refilled and reheated to be ready for further use if required. Further pipes may be provided to allow preheating and circulation of the water in the system prior to use of the shower unit; and to allow the system to be flushed with water from a mains supply.

1 . A water recirculation system comprising a plurality of reservoirs supplied from a water source; a washing unit to receive water from the reservoirs; a pump connected to return water from the washing unit to the reservoirs; and switching means for selecting from which of the reservoirs the washing unit receives water. 
     
     
         2 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-return valve between the water source and the reservoirs. 
     
     
         3 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reservoir comprises a heater. 
     
     
         4 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing unit is a shower. 
     
     
         5 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing unit further comprises a waste trap incorporating a filter, to which the pump is connected. 
     
     
         6 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-way junction connected to an outlet of the pump to distribute water from the pump to the respective reservoirs. 
     
     
         7 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein each reservoir has an inlet valve to control the flow of water from the water source to the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein each reservoir has an inlet valve to control the flow of water from the pump to the reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein each reservoir has an outlet valve to control the flow of water from the reservoir to the washing unit. 
     
     
         10 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein each reservoir has an outlet valve to control the flow of water from the reservoir to a drain. 
     
     
         11 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the inlet valves are controlled by solenoids. 
     
     
         12 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 9 , wherein the outlet valves are controlled by solenoids. 
     
     
         13 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching means for selecting from which of the reservoirs the washing unit receives water is controlled by a user. 
     
     
         14 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a flow switch through which the water exiting the waste trap passes before entering the pump. 
     
     
         15 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supplementary tank located between the washing unit and the pump. 
     
     
         16 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a non-return valve between the washing unit and the supplementary tank. 
     
     
         17 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 15 , further comprising means to distribute water from the water source to the supplementary tank. 
     
     
         18 . A water recirculation system according to any of  claim 15 , further comprising means to distribute water from the first reservoir to the supplementary tank. 
     
     
         19 . A method of re-circulating water in a system according to  claim 1 ,
 the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying the plurality of reservoirs with water from a water source; 
 heating the water in a first reservoir; 
 supplying the washing unit with heated water from the first reservoir; and 
 operating the pump to return the water from the washing unit to the first reservoir. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the step of operating the pump further comprises:
 collecting water from the washing unit in a supplementary tank; and 
 supplying water from the supplementary tank to the pump. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 20 , the method further comprising the step of:
 operating the pump to circulate the heated water from the first reservoir to the supplementary tank before the step of supplying the washing unit.   
     
     
         22 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 , the method further comprising the step of:
 flushing the system with water from the water source.   
     
     
         23 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 , wherein the recirculation of water is a continuous process. 
     
     
         24 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of switching the water supply to the washing unit from the first reservoir to a second reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of, prior to switching the water supply from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, heating the water in the second reservoir to the same temperature as that of the water supply in the first reservoir. 
     
     
         26 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of, after switching the water supply from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, releasing the water in the first reservoir into a drain. 
     
     
         27 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 26 , further comprising re-filling the empty reservoir from the water source. 
     
     
         28 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 27 , wherein the step of re-filling comprises displacing the water in the reservoir to be emptied with pressurised water from the source. 
     
     
         29 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 24 , further comprising the step of switching the water supply to the washing unit from the second reservoir back to the first reservoir. 
     
     
         30 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 , wherein heat is applied to only one reservoir at a time. 
     
     
         31 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 19 , further comprising a self-cleaning step in which water in the reservoirs is heated to a high temperature. 
     
     
         32 . A method of re-circulating water according to  claim 31 , where the high temperature is sufficient to kill water borne pathogens. 
     
     
         33 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet valves are controlled by solenoids. 
     
     
         34 . A water recirculation system according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet valves are controlled by solenoids.