Reduction of water/energy waste in a water provision system

Abstract

A heater arrangement system for a water provision system for controlling a water supply provided to a water outlet, the water outlet being arranged to provide heated water to a user, the heater arrangement system comprising: a water heating device disposed remotely from the water outlet; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the water heating device, the control unit being configured to a) set a timer to begin counting from an initial time value, upon detection that the water outlet has been opened, and b) initiate a warning if an elapsed time of the timer has passed a first threshold time value.

1 . A heater arrangement system for a water provision system for controlling a water supply provided to a water outlet, the water outlet being arranged to provide heated water to a user, the heater arrangement system comprising:
 a water heating device disposed remotely from the water outlet; and   a control unit communicatively coupled to the water heating device, the control unit being configured to:
 a) set a timer to begin counting from an initial time value, upon detection that the water outlet has been opened; 
 b) initiate a warning if an elapsed time of the timer has passed a first threshold time value; and 
 c) stop the flow of water being supplied to the water outlet if the elapsed time of the timer has passed a second threshold time value, which is higher than the first threshold time value; 
   
       wherein the first and second threshold time values are set by an artificial intelligence algorithm executed by the control unit; and 
       wherein the artificial intelligence algorithm predicts the values of the first and second threshold time values, based on past usage of the water provision system. 
     
     
         2 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the water heating device comprises a heat pump and a thermal energy storage device. 
     
     
         3 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal energy storage device is a phase change material device. 
     
     
         4 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 3 , wherein the phase change material is a paraffin wax. 
     
     
         5 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 4 , wherein the paraffin wax melts at a temperature of 40 degrees to 60 degrees C. 
     
     
         6 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 3 , wherein the latent heat capacity of the phase change material is between about 180 kJ/kg and 230 kJ/kg and a specific heat capacity of perhaps 2.27 Jg −1 K −1  in the liquid phase, and 2.1 Jg −1 K −1  in the solid phase. 
     
     
         7 . The heater arrangement system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is also configured to c) collect water usage data, and generate a usage report accordingly. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a water supply provided to a water outlet in a water provision system, the water outlet being arranged to provide heated water to a user from a water heating device, the method comprising steps of:
 a) setting a timer to begin counting from an initial time value, upon detection that the water outlet has been opened;   b) initiating a warning if an elapsed time of the timer has passed a first threshold time value, which is higher than the first threshold time value; and   c) stop the flow of water being supplied to the water outlet if the elapsed time of the timer has passed a second threshold time value, which is higher than the first threshold time value;   
       wherein the first and second threshold time values are set by an artificial intelligence algorithm executed by the control unit; and 
       wherein the artificial intelligence algorithm predicts the values of the first and second threshold time values, based on past usage of the water provision system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the water heating device comprises a heat pump and a thermal energy storage device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal energy storage is a phase change material device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the phase change material is a paraffin wax. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         13 . A control module configured to control operation of a water provision system over a communication channel, the water provision system comprising a heating system configured to heat water from the mains and controlled by the control module, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the heating system to a user at one or more water outlets, the control module comprising a processor having software executing thereon, or having pre-configured hardware logic components, configured for performing the method of  claim 8 .