초록 ▼

Water is supplied to a water user outlet facility by maintaining a tappable flow of water in a recirculating loop that includes a pump such as a centrifugal pump driven by a substantially constant speed motor to establish the flow, a water delivery path that extends from the pump to the outlet facil

Water is supplied to a water user outlet facility by maintaining a tappable flow of water in a recirculating loop that includes a pump such as a centrifugal pump driven by a substantially constant speed motor to establish the flow, a water delivery path that extends from the pump to the outlet facility, and a water return path that extends from the outlet facility back to the pump. The flow is permitted to be controllably tapped at the facility by a water user while directing any untapped portion of the flow into the water return path. Such recirculation avoids stagnation and thereby impedes deterioration in the potability of the water. Further such recirculation makes the recirculating loop and water within the loop less sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding environment. The recirculating loop may include a water purifier such as an ultra-violet lamp source to kill organic contaminants and, as well, may include a filter to remove inorganic material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of supplying water to a water user outlet facility while improving or impeding deterioration in the potability of such water, said method comprising:(a) directing a tappable flow of water in a water recirculation loop, said loop comprising: (i) a non-pressurized water tank; (ii) a water

1. A method of supplying water to a water user outlet facility while improving or impeding deterioration in the potability of such water, said method comprising:(a) directing a tappable flow of water in a water recirculation loop, said loop comprising: (i) a non-pressurized water tank; (ii) a water pump for establishing and maintaining said flow while imparting thermal energy to water within said loop, said pump being configured to provide a relatively constant discharge pressure over a broad range of water usage rates; (iii) a water delivery path extending from said pump to said outlet facility; (iv) a water return path extending from said facility to said pump; and, (v) at least one water treatment device for improving the potability of water within said loop, (b) operating said pump at a water flow rate which is sufficient to warm the water to the extent necessay to avoid the freezing of water within said loop while any one or more parts of said loop is exposed for an extended period of time to an ambient temperature substantially below the freezing temperature of water; and,(c) controllably tapping a portion of said flow through said outlet facility from a water inlet port in water flow communication with said loop to a water discharge port while directing any untapped portion of said flow into said water return path.