Water dispensing system and recirculation system for same

Abstract

A water dispensing system includes an inlet for receiving water from a water supply; a spout for dispensing water; a heat exchanger for removing heat from the water before it is dispensed from the spout; a reservoir for storing water received from the water supply before it is dispensed from the spout; and a recirculation system for driving water stored in the reservoir through the heat exchanger and returning the water to the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water dispensing system comprising:
 an inlet for receiving water from a water supply;   a water dispense point;   a heat exchanger for removing heat from the water before it is dispensed;   a reservoir for storing water received from the water supply before it is dispensed from the water dispense point; and   a recirculation system for driving water stored in the reservoir through the heat exchanger and returning the water to the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the reservoir, such that the water flows through the heat exchanger before entering the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the reservoir, such that the water flows through the heat exchanger after leaving the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the reservoir, such that the water flows through the heat exchanger as the water enters the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the reservoir, such that the water flows through the heat exchanger as the water exits the reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed as a coil wrapped along a surface of the reservoir, such that the heat exchanger transfers heat directly from the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispense point is one of a plurality of water dispense points, such that the water may be directed to each of the plurality of water dispense points. 
     
     
         8 . The water dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispensing system further includes a filter, such that the recirculation system drives water stored in the reservoir through the filter. 
     
     
         9 . A recirculation system for a fluid dispensing system, the recirculation system comprising:
 a heat exchanger for removing heat from a fluid;   a reservoir for storing the fluid; and   at least one fluid dispense point;   wherein the recirculation system comprises:
 an auxiliary circuit in fluid communication with the reservoir; and 
 an auxiliary pump for drawing fluid from the reservoir, through the auxiliary circuit, and back to the reservoir. 
   
     
     
         10 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid flowing through the auxiliary circuit is directed from the reservoir, through the heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the reservoir, such that the fluid flows through the heat exchanger as the fluid re-enters the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the reservoir, such that the fluid flows through the heat exchanger as the fluid exits the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed as a coil wrapped along a surface of the reservoir, such that the heat exchanger transferring heat directly from the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid dispense point is one of a plurality of fluid dispense points, such that the fluid may be directed to each of the plurality of fluid dispense points. 
     
     
         15 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary pump is selectively activated based on an elapsed time that fluid has been stored in the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary pump is selectively activated based on a sensed temperature of fluid stored in the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the recirculation system further includes a valve, such that actuation of the valve selectively directs fluid toward the fluid dispense point or the auxiliary circuit. 
     
     
         18 . The recirculation system of  claim 9 , wherein the recirculation system further includes a filter positioned in the auxiliary circuit, such that the auxiliary pump draws fluid from the reservoir, through the filter, and back to the reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dispensing water, the method comprising:
 receiving water from an inlet of a water supply;   storing the water in a reservoir;   driving the water, by way of a recirculation system, from the reservoir through a heat exchanger;   removing heat from the water by way of the heat exchanger; and   dispensing the water at a water dispensing point.