Domestic Hot Water Distribution Device

Abstract

A domestic hot water distribution device includes a supply water inlet, a waste water collector and means for heating the supply water in order to produce domestic hot water from the heat contained in the waste waters The heating means include thermo-electric modules laid out for operating heat transfer from the waste waters to the supply water to be heated.

1 . A device for distributing domestic hot water comprising:
 a supply water inlet,   a waste water collector and   a heater configured to heat the supply water to produce domestic hot water from the heat contained in the waste waters, the heater comprising at least a first heat exchanger configured to heat supply water from the supply water inlet to provide a temperature difference of less than a predetermined difference and a second heat exchanger disposed downstream from the first heat exchanger that includes thermo-electric modules to further heat the supply water.   
     
     
         2 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger configured to deliver to the second heat exchanger waste water and supply water having a temperature difference of a maximum of 20° C. 
     
     
         3 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermo-electric modules are defined with a maximum electric current of use and are configured to be powered with a rated power supply current of less than 20% of the maximum current of use. 
     
     
         4 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to deliver to the second heat exchanger waste water and supply water having a temperature difference of less than the predetermined difference for placing the thermo-electric modules in an operating range with a coefficient of performance (COP) greater than 1. 
     
     
         5 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is a water-water exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises:
 a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet connected through at least one waste water conduit,   a supply water inlet and a supply water outlet connected through at least one supply water conduit,   thermo-electric modules including a cold face and a hot face disposed between a wall of the waste water conduit and a wall of the supply water conduit, the cold face being disposed to capture heat of the waste waters and the hot face being disposed to deliver heat to the supply water,   wherein the waste water and the supply water conduits are are configured to minimize the temperature differences between the hot face and the cold face along the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         7 . The domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 6 , wherein the waste water and supply water conduits are configure to operate with counter-current circulation. 
     
     
         8 . A shower comprising a domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for distributing domestic hot water comprising:
 distributing domestic hot water,   recovering the domestic hot water for forming waste waters,   operating in a first heat exchanger simultaneously with the hot water distribution, a first heat transfer from the waste waters and to the supply water to provide a temperature difference of less than a predetermined difference, between the waste waters and the supply water at the outlet of the first heat exchanger,   operating, downstream from the first heat exchanger and in a second heat exchanger with thermo-electric modules, a second heat transfer from the wasted waters to the supply water simultaneously with the hot water distribution,   distributing the heated supply water as domestic hot water.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a preliminary step for initiating the system is carried out at the beginning of the distribution of hot water, includes heating the supply water with thermo-electric modules. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined difference is a maximum of 20° C. 
     
     
         12 . A shower comprising a domestic hot water distribution device according to  claim 7 .