Fluid temperature modification apparatus

Abstract

In one aspect the invention provides a fluid temperature modification apparatus which includes at least one temperature modification element s associated with a fluid conduit. This temperature modification element or elements are located adjacent to an outlet of the fluid conduit. The apparatus also includes at least one energy storage capacitor, and at least one trigger switch which when operated connects one or more energy storage capacitors to a temperature modification element. The operation of a trigger switch at least partially discharges at least one energy storage capacitor to energise a temperature modification element which modifies the temperature of fluid in the conduit adjacent to the outlet port of the conduit.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus which includes
 at least one temperature modification element formed from an electrically energised heating element sited inside a fluid conduit associated with a fluid conduit, said temperature modification element being located adjacent to an outlet of said fluid conduit, and   two or more banks of energy storage capacitors, and   a plurality of trigger switches, two or more of said trigger switches each being connected to a separate bank of energy storage capacitors, wherein the operation of a trigger switch connects one or more energy storage capacitors to a temperature modification element,   wherein the operation of a trigger switch at least partially discharges at least one energy storage capacitor bank to energise a temperature modification element which modifies the temperature of fluid in the conduit adjacent to the outlet port of the conduit.   
     
     
         27 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  which includes a plurality of temperature modification elements, with one of the plurality of trigger switches being associated with each temperature modification element. 
     
     
         28 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  which includes an activation sensor adapted to issue a signal which indicates when the outlet of the conduit has been opened. 
     
     
         29 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  which includes an activation sensor formed from a flow rate sensor. 
     
     
         30 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  which includes a controller arranged to receive said indicative activation signal from the activation sensor and to issue at least one control signal to at least one trigger switch to operate said trigger switch or switches based on the received activation signal. 
     
     
         31 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said at least one temperature modification element is located in contact with a section of water plumbing conduit which terminates in a hot water outlet. 
     
     
         32 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the water plumbing conduit terminates in a hot water outlet tap. 
     
     
         33 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a temperature modification element is formed a thermo-electronic cooling device which incorporates at least one Peltier junction. 
     
     
         34 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  which includes a capacitor recharge circuit configured to recharge one or more at least partially discharged capacitors banks at the same time as one or more charged capacitor banks are being discharged. 
     
     
         35 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a temperature modification element is energised by two or more banks of capacitors. 
     
     
         36 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  which includes a fast discharge capacitor bank and a high storage capacitor bank, each of the fast discharge and high storage capacitor banks being connected to a separate trigger switch. 
     
     
         37 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the trigger switch connected to the fast discharge capacitor bank is closed to energise a temperature modification element once the opening of the outlet of the conduit has been detected. 
     
     
         38 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the trigger switch connected to the high storage capacitor bank is closed to energise a temperature modification element after the at least partial depletion of the fast discharge capacitor bank. 
     
     
         39 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein an energy storage capacitor is provided by electrical double layer capacitor. 
     
     
         40 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein a trigger switch is implemented using a solid state semiconductor switch submerged in the fluid held by a conduit. 
     
     
         41 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said at least one temperature modification element is energised by a transformer isolated power converter and associated electronic sub-systems providing a supply of DC electrical energy from an AC source. 
     
     
         42 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 41  wherein DC electrical energy supplied by the transformer isolated power converter is used to re-charge the one or more energy storage capacitors. 
     
     
         43 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the trigger switch associated with the transformer isolated power converter is closed to energise a temperature modification element at substantially the same time as said one or more energy storage capacitors are used to energise a temperature modification element. 
     
     
         44 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said at least one temperature modification element is energised by a battery providing a supply of DC electrical energy. 
     
     
         45 . A fluid temperature modification apparatus as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the trigger switch associated with the battery is closed to energise a temperature modification element at substantially the same time as said one or more energy storage capacitors are used to energise a temperature modification element.