Fluid supply system with temperature control for fluid conservation

Abstract

A fluid supply system provides fluid temperature control, and includes first and second main fluid supply lines adapted to receive a fluid and provide the fluid to a dispensing location, first and second thermal rejection fluid lines, and a valve system connected to a control system to control and direct the fluid flow to maintain or adjust the fluid temperature for fluid conservation. Temperature sensors detect the temperatures of the fluid near the dispensing location and the temperature of fluid flowing in the first or second main fluid lines and sends the detected temperatures to the control system which compares the detected temperature for the fluid near the dispensing location with a desired temperature or temperature range and, if the fluid temperature does not match the desired temperature or range, the control system controls the valve system directing the fluid back to be warmed or cooled to the desired temperature.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation, comprising:
 a first main fluid line adapted to communicate with a fluid source of a fluid;   a second main fluid line adapted to communicate with the fluid source of the fluid;   a heater positioned in communication with the first main fluid line to warm the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line;   a first thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid from the second main fluid line flowing back in a reverse direction through the first main fluid line to the fluid source;   a second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid from the first main fluid line flowing back in a reverse direction through the second main fluid line to the fluid source;   a first temperature sensor associated with the first main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line;   a second temperature sensor associated with the second main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the second main fluid line;   at least one dispensing temperature sensor adapted to be associated with a corresponding at least one dispensing location for a fluid adapted to detect a corresponding dispensing location temperature of the fluid flowing through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line proximate to the corresponding dispensing location;   a valve system to selectively control a flow of the fluid in the fluid supply system; and   a control system including a controller to control the valve system to selectively direct the flow of the fluid through the first and second main fluid lines to a dispensing location or to selectively direct the flow of the fluid to recirculate the fluid in at least one of the first or second main fluid lines back to the fluid source based upon a detected dispensing location temperature of a corresponding at least one dispensing temperature sensor,   wherein the first temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fluid at a location in the first main fluid line and the second temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fluid at a location in the second main fluid line, and the at least one dispensing temperature sensor detects a corresponding dispensing location temperature of fluid flowing through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line, the detected temperatures being provided to the control system, the control system comparing the at least one detected dispensing location temperature from at least one corresponding dispensing temperature sensor to a corresponding preselected desired temperature or to a corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the corresponding preselected desired temperature or the corresponding preselected desired temperature range based on the detected temperature of the fluid at the location in the first main fluid line or the detected temperature of the fluid at the location in the second main fluid line,   wherein, when the control system determines the at least one detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system to flow the fluid from at least one of the first or second main fluid lines to the dispensing location, and   wherein, when the control system determines the at least one detected dispensing location temperature is other than substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is other than substantially within the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system to recirculate the fluid from the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line corresponding to the detected dispensing location temperature back along the other of the first main fluid line and the first thermal rejection fluid line or the second main fluid line and the second thermal rejection fluid line until the corresponding at least one detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve system comprises:
 a first control valve in communication with the first main fluid line;   a second control valve in communication with the second main fluid line;   a third control valve in communication with the first thermal rejection fluid line; and   a fourth control valve in communication with the second thermal rejection fluid line,   wherein, when the corresponding at least one detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the fluid supply system operates in a normal mode, and the control system selectively opens the first and second control valves and closes the third and fourth control valves to flow the fluid from the fluid source through at least one of the first and second main fluid lines to the dispensing location,   wherein, when the corresponding at least one detected dispensing location temperature is substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the fluid supply system operates in a cooling mode, and the control system selectively opens the second and third control valves and closes the first and fourth control valves to flow the fluid from the fluid source through the second main fluid line to recirculate the fluid back through a part of the first main fluid line through the first thermal rejection fluid line to the fluid source to cool the fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range to operate the fluid supply system in the normal mode, and   wherein, when the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the fluid supply system operates in a warming mode, and the control system selectively opens the first and fourth control valves and closes the second and third control valves to flow the fluid from the fluid source through the first main fluid line to recirculate the fluid back through a part of the second main fluid line through the second thermal rejection fluid line to the fluid source to warm the fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or is substantially in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range to operate the fluid supply system in the normal mode.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid back from one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line to the other of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line when the fluid supply system operates in other than the normal mode; and   a central thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first thermal rejection fluid line and second thermal rejection fluid line to return fluid to the fluid source.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid back from one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line to the other of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line when the fluid supply system operates in other than the normal mode; and   a central thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first thermal rejection fluid line and second thermal rejection fluid line to return fluid to the fluid source.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid back from one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line to the other of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump in association with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to move the fluid from the fluid source through the fluid supply system.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a recirculation pump associated with at least one dispensing location to recirculate the fluid back through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line back to the fluid source based upon a corresponding detected dispensing location temperature detected by a corresponding at least one dispensing temperature sensor located proximate to a corresponding dispensing location.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of mixing fluid outlets associated with at least one dispensing location to provide a mixing stage to distribute the fluid from the corresponding dispensing location at one or more preselected temperatures; and   a thermal rejection line associated with a corresponding at least one dispensing location to recirculate the fluid back through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line based upon a dispensing location temperature detected by at least one corresponding dispensing temperature sensor located at a corresponding dispensing location,   wherein the thermal rejection line recirculates the fluid back through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line to adjust the temperature of the fluid flowing through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line until the corresponding dispensing location temperature of the fluid is substantially at a corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially falls in a corresponding preselected desired temperature range to substantially provide a corresponding temperature or temperature range of the fluid in one or more of the mixing fluid outlets.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of mixing fluid outlets associated with at least one dispensing location to provide a mixing stage to distribute the fluid from the corresponding dispensing location at one or more preselected temperatures,   wherein the fluid is distributed at different temperatures from the dispensing location.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 12 , wherein the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         14 . A fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation, comprising:
 a first main fluid line;   a second main fluid line;   at least one of a heater or a cooler, or a combination thereof, positioned along the first main fluid line, the heater to selectively warm a fluid flowing through the first main fluid line and the cooler to selectively cool the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line;   a common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid back through the second main fluid line when the fluid supply system operates in other than a normal mode;   a second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line to recirculate the fluid back to a fluid source;   a central thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the second thermal rejection fluid line to return fluid to the fluid source;   a valve system to selectively control a flow of the fluid in the fluid supply system;   at least one temperature sensor associated with at least one of the first main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line or associated with the second main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the second main fluid line;   at least one dispensing temperature sensor adapted to be associated with a corresponding at least one dispensing location for a fluid adapted to detect a corresponding dispensing location temperature of the fluid flowing through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line proximate to the corresponding dispensing location; and   a control system including a controller to control the valve system to selectively direct the flow of the fluid through the first and second main fluid lines to a dispensing location or to selectively direct the flow of the fluid to recirculate the fluid through the second main fluid line and the second thermal rejection fluid line and back to the fluid source based upon a corresponding detected dispensing location temperature,   wherein the at least one dispensing temperature sensor detects a dispensing location temperature of the fluid at a corresponding dispensing location and sends the control system a corresponding detected dispensing location temperature which is compared to a corresponding preselected desired temperature or to a corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the corresponding preselected desired temperature or the corresponding preselected desired temperature range being based on a corresponding temperature detected by a corresponding at least one temperature sensor of the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line or through the second main fluid line,   wherein, when the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system in a cooling mode to recirculate the fluid to flow through the common thermal rejection return fluid line, through a part of the second main fluid line through the second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line to the central thermal rejection return fluid line to return fluid to the fluid source and recirculate the fluid from the fluid source back through the first main fluid line and the cooler to cool the recirculated fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially falls in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, and   wherein, when the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system in a warming mode to recirculate the fluid to flow through the common thermal rejection return fluid line, through a part of the second main fluid line through the second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line to the central thermal rejection return fluid line to return fluid to the fluid source and recirculate the fluid from the fluid source back through the first main fluid line and the heater to warm the recirculated fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially falls in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 14 , wherein the valve system comprises a plurality of valves including a first valve to selectively control flow of the fluid through the first main fluid line, a second valve to selectively control flow of the fluid through the second main fluid line and the second thermal rejection fluid line and a third valve to selectively control flow of the fluid through the common thermal rejection return fluid line. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one dispensing location includes a motion sensor to detect the presence of a user such that upon detection of the user a fluid rejection determination process is initiated by the control system, the control system comparing a received corresponding detected dispensing location temperature of the fluid at a corresponding dispensing location with the corresponding preselected desired temperature or the corresponding preselected desired temperature range. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 14 , wherein the control system is activated by a user initiating activation manually on an interface located proximate to the dispensing location and, upon activation, a fluid rejection determination process is initiated by the control system, the control system comparing a received corresponding detected dispensing location temperature of the fluid at a corresponding dispensing location with the corresponding preselected desired temperature or the corresponding preselected desired temperature range. 
     
     
         18 . A fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation, comprising:
 a first main fluid line;   a second main fluid line;   at least one of a heater or a cooler, or a combination thereof, positioned along the first main fluid line, the heater to selectively warm a fluid flowing through the first main fluid line and the cooler to selectively cool the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line;   a first common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the first main fluid line and the second main fluid line to selectively recirculate the fluid back through the second main fluid line when the fluid supply system operates in other than a normal mode;   a second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line;   a second common thermal rejection return fluid line in communication with the second thermal rejection fluid line and the first main fluid line to recirculate fluid back through the first main fluid line when the fluid supply system operates in other than a normal mode;   a valve system to selectively control a flow of the fluid in the fluid supply system;   at least one temperature sensor associated with at least one of the first main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line or associated with the second main fluid line to detect a temperature of the fluid flowing through the second main fluid line;   at least one dispensing temperature sensor adapted to be associated with a corresponding at least one dispensing location for a fluid adapted to detect a corresponding dispensing location temperature of the fluid flowing through at least one of the first main fluid line or the second main fluid line proximate to the corresponding dispensing location; and   a control system including a controller to control the valve system to selectively direct the flow of the fluid through a fluid source line from a fluid source and through the first and second main fluid lines to a dispensing location or to selectively direct the flow of the fluid to recirculate the fluid through the second main fluid line through the second thermal rejection fluid line, through second common thermal rejection return fluid line and back through the first main fluid line based upon a corresponding detected dispensing location temperature,   wherein the at least one dispensing temperature sensor detects a dispensing location temperature of the fluid at a corresponding dispensing location and sends the control system a corresponding detected dispensing location temperature which is compared to a corresponding preselected desired temperature or to a corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the corresponding preselected desired temperature or the corresponding preselected desired temperature range being based on a corresponding temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor of the fluid flowing through the first main fluid line or through the second main fluid line,   wherein, when the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially greater than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system in a cooling mode to recirculate the fluid to flow through the first common thermal rejection return fluid line, through the second main fluid line, through the second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line, through the second common thermal rejection return fluid line and recirculate the fluid back through the first main fluid line and the cooler to cool the recirculated fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially falls in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, and   wherein, when the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially less than the corresponding preselected desired temperature range, the control system controls the valve system in a warming mode to recirculate the fluid to flow through the first common thermal rejection return fluid line, through the second main fluid line, through the second thermal rejection fluid line in communication with the second main fluid line, through the second common thermal rejection return fluid line and recirculate the fluid back through the first main fluid line and the heater to warm the recirculated fluid until the corresponding detected dispensing location temperature is substantially at the corresponding preselected desired temperature or substantially falls in the corresponding preselected desired temperature range.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 18 , wherein the fluid source is a tank-less fluid source. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid supply system to control a fluid temperature for fluid conservation according to  claim 18 , wherein the fluid comprises water.