System and Method for Enhanced Provision of Hot Water

Abstract

Point-of-use water heating systems, systems including such heating systems, and methods of operating such systems are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a point-of-use water heating system includes a thermostatic mixing valve and a hot water tank configured to heat a portion of input water received from the mixing valve to become heated water having an elevated temperature. The heating system includes an actuatable valve and a buffering chamber having an outlet configured to provide, at least indirectly, output water having an output temperature less than the elevated temperature. The mixing valve is configured to output mixed water, and buffering chamber is configured to retain a residual portion of the mixed water when the actuatable valve is switched to a closed status. When the actuatable valve is subsequently switched to an open status, an amount of water communicated from the mixing valve undergoes a mixing with the residual portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A point-of-use water heating system comprising:
 a thermostatic mixing valve configured to receive input water having a first temperature;   a hot water tank having a first inlet and a first outlet each coupled to the thermostatic mixing valve, wherein the hot water tank is configured to receive and heat a portion of the input water from the thermostatic mixing valve from the first temperature to a second temperature;   an actuatable valve having a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is coupled to the thermostatic mixing valve; and   a buffering chamber having a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet is coupled to the second outlet of the actuatable valve, and wherein the third outlet is configured to provide water at a third temperature that is greater than the first temperature and less than the second temperature,   wherein the thermostatic mixing valve is configured to output mixed water, the mixed water including a first portion of the input water at the first temperature and a second portion of the input water at the second temperature, the mixed water is delivered via the actuatable valve to the buffering chamber, the buffering chamber is configured to retain a residual portion of the mixed water when the actuatable valve is closed such that when the actuatable valve is subsequently opened additional water is delivered from the thermostatic mixing valve via the actuatable valve to the buffering chamber, the additional water having a fourth temperature that is greater than the third temperature due to a reaction time of the thermostatic mixing valve, and the additional water mixes with the residual portion such that a buffered water within the buffering chamber has a fifth temperature that is less than the fourth temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet terminal configured to receive the input water from a source and deliver the input water to the thermostatic mixing valve. 
     
     
         3 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fitting and a water hammer arrestor, wherein the inlet terminal and water hammer arrestor are connected to the fitting. 
     
     
         4 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a conduit connected to the fitting and fluidly connecting the inlet terminal to the thermostatic mixing valve. 
     
     
         5 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second conduit fluidly connecting the thermostatic mixing valve to the first inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 5 , wherein the first inlet is positioned below the first outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 5 , further comprising a third conduit fluidly connecting the first outlet to the thermostatic mixing valve. 
     
     
         8 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth conduit fluidly connecting the thermostatic mixing valve to the second inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable valve is a solenoid valve that is operable to receive control signals and to open and close based on the control signals. 
     
     
         10 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing containing the hot water tank, the actuatable valve, and the buffering chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the buffering chamber is disposed on the actuatable valve. 
     
     
         12 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the third inlet is positioned below the third outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The point-of-use water heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature and pressure relief valve coupled to the hot water tank. 
     
     
         14 . A method of providing heated water comprising:
 delivering input water having a first temperature to a thermostatic mixing valve;   delivering the input water from the thermostatic mixing valve to a hot water tank;   heating the input water within the hot water tank to generate heated water having a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature;   mixing the input water with the heated water within the thermostatic mixing valve to generate mixed water having a third temperature; and   flowing the mixed water from the thermostatic mixing valve to a buffering device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 retaining a residual amount of the mixed water within the buffering device;   flowing an additional water amount from the thermostatic mixing valve to the buffering device; and   mixing the additional water amount with the residual amount of the mixed water within the buffering device to produce further water.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the additional water amount is at the second temperature or a fourth temperature that is less than the second temperature, and wherein the further water is at a fifth temperature that is less than the second temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 flowing the additional water amount from the thermostatic mixing valve to the buffering device and then out of the buffering device, wherein the additional water amount is at the third temperature.   
     
     
         18 . A water heating system comprising:
 a thermostatic mixing valve configured to receive input water having an input water temperature;   a hot water tank having a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the thermostatic mixing valve, and wherein the first outlet is in fluid communication with the thermostatic mixing valve so as to allow for heated water having an elevated temperature to flow from the first outlet to the thermostatic mixing valve;   a secondary valve having a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the thermostatic mixing valve so as to allow for mixed water to flow from the thermostatic mixing valve to the secondary valve; and   a buffering chamber having a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet to receive the mixed water from the secondary valve, and the buffering chamber is configured to provide via the third outlet output water having a desired output temperature that is greater than the input water temperature and less than the elevated temperature of the heated water, and wherein the third outlet is configured to fluidly connect to a faucet such that the output water flows to and is dispensed by the faucet.   
     
     
         19 . The water heating system of  claim 18 , wherein the mixed water includes a first portion of the input water and a second portion of the heated water. 
     
     
         20 . The water heating system of  claim 19 , wherein the buffering chamber is configured to retain a residual portion of the mixed water when the secondary valve is closed such that the thermostatic mixing valve delivers a further water amount to the buffering chamber to mix with the residual portion when the secondary valve is subsequently opened.