Heated water delivery system

Abstract

A heated water delivery system comprising: a system inlet and a system outlet, with a primary flow path and a secondary flow path in a parallel configuration in between; the primary flow path comprising a primary source of heated water; the secondary flow path comprising a secondary source of heated water; the system further comprising switching means comprising a valve disposed within the primary flow path, the switching means being arranged to deliver heated water from the primary source when a temperature of the water from the primary source is greater than a threshold temperature, and being arranged to selectively deliver heated water from the at least one secondary source when the temperature of the water from the primary source is less than a threshold temperature. The switching from one source to another is determined by the relative change in pressure drop of the flow paths.

1 . A heated water delivery system comprising:
 a system inlet and a system outlet;   a primary flow path and a secondary flow path for communicating water between the system inlet and the system outlet, the primary and secondary flow paths being fluidly coupled in a parallel configuration;   the primary flow path comprising a primary source of heated water, the primary source comprising a water inlet and a heated water outlet;   the secondary flow path comprising a secondary source of heated water, the secondary source comprising a water inlet and a heated water outlet;   the system further comprising switching means comprising a valve disposed within the primary flow path, the switching means being arranged to deliver heated water from the primary source when a temperature of the water from the primary source is greater than a threshold temperature, and being arranged to selectively deliver heated water from the at least one secondary source when the temperature of the water from the primary source is less than a threshold temperature.   
     
     
         2 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 1  wherein the valve is disposed downstream of the primary source. 
     
     
         3 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises a thermo-restrictive valve which is reconfigurable between an open state and a restrictive state in dependence on the temperature of the water at from the primary source, the thermo-restrictive valve being configured in an open state when heated water from the primary source is above the threshold temperature, and in a restrictive state when the water from the primary source is below the threshold temperature. 
     
     
         4 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve is reconfigurable in dependence on the temperature of the water at the outlet of primary source. 
     
     
         5 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve is reconfigurable in dependence on heat conducted or transferred from the primary source. 
     
     
         6 . A heated water delivery system according to  any preceding claim , wherein the switching means further comprises a flow restrictor disposed within the secondary flow path. 
     
     
         7 . A heated water delivery system according to  any preceding claim , wherein the primary source comprises a hot water tank. 
     
     
         8 . A heated water delivery system according to  any preceding claim , wherein the secondary source comprises a hot water tank. 
     
     
         9 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 6 or claim 7-8  when dependent on  claim 6 , wherein the flow restrictor is valve. 
     
     
         10 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 9 , wherein the flow restrictor is a thermo-restrictive valve. 
     
     
         11 . A heated water delivery system according to any of  claims 1-7 , wherein the secondary source comprises a combi boiler. 
     
     
         12 . A heated water system according to  claim 11  when appended to  claim 6 , wherein the flow restrictor comprises the combi boiler. 
     
     
         13 . A heated water system according to  claim 12 , wherein switching means comprises a further flow restrictor within the secondary flow path. 
     
     
         14 . A heated water system according to  claim 13 , wherein the further flow restrictor is a thermo-restrictive valve. 
     
     
         15 . A heated water delivery system according to  any preceding claim  comprising at least one further flow path for communicating water between the system inlet and the system outlet, the at least one further flow path being fluidly coupled in a parallel configuration with the first and second flow paths, the further flow path comprising a further source of heated water, the further source comprising a water inlet and a heated water outlet, wherein the switching means further comprises a further valve disposed within the further flow path for delivering heated water from the further source when a temperature of the water from the further source is greater than a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         16 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 15 , wherein the further valve is disposed downstream of the further source. 
     
     
         17 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 15 or 16  wherein the further valve comprises a thermo-restrictive valve which is reconfigurable between an open and a restrictive state in dependence on the temperature of the water from the further source, the thermo-restrictive valve being configured in an open state when heated water from the further source is above the threshold temperature, and in a restrictive state when the water from the further source is below the threshold temperature. 
     
     
         18 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 17 , wherein the further valve is reconfigurable in dependence on the temperature of the water at the outlet of the further source. 
     
     
         19 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 17 , wherein the further valve is reconfigurable in dependence on heat conducted or transferred from the further source. 
     
     
         20 . A heated water delivery system according to any of  claims 15-19  wherein the switching means further comprises a flow restrictor within the further flow path. 
     
     
         21 . A heated water delivery system according to  claim 20  wherein the flow restrictor within the further flow path is a valve, optionally a thermo-restrictive valve. 
     
     
         22 . A heated water system according to any of  claims 15-21  wherein the further source comprises a hot water tank. 
     
     
         23 . A heated water system according to  any of the preceding claims , wherein heated water delivered to the system outlet is preferentially provided by the flow path with the lowest pressure drop of water passing along the flow path. 
     
     
         24 . A heated water system according to  claim 6, claims 7-11  when dependent on  claim 6, claims 13-14, claims 20-21, or claim 22  when dependent on any of  claims 20-21 , wherein the or each flow restrictor is arranged to set a pressure drop of water passing along the flow path within which the flow restrictor is disposed, relative to another flow path of the system, in order to control delivery of heated water to the system outlet. 
     
     
         25 . A heated water system according to  claim 24 , wherein heated water delivered to the system outlet is preferentially provided by the flow path with the lowest pressure drop of water passing along the flow path.