EP4650535A1

EP4650535A1 - Method and system for reducing water consumption in sanitary installations

Info

Publication number: EP4650535A1
Application number: EP25176936.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Silvia Aires; Qiyue Chu; Gabriel Fuentes; Robert Hartmann; Muhammad Irfan; Dat Le; Diogo Maia; Pasindu Padmathilaka; Stiina Salminen; Gaspar Vieira; Hasan Nazir
Original assignee: Oras Oy
Current assignee: Oras Oy
Priority date: 2024-05-16
Filing date: 2025-05-16
Publication date: 2025-11-19
Also published as: DE102024113807A1

Abstract

A method for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation (10), in particular a shower, comprises the following steps: Providing a controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) in a first water flow path (14; 14a, 14b); Providing a control unit (24) which drives the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b); Collecting information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation (10) via the control unit (24), wherein the control unit (24) summarizes the current water consumption to a total water consumption and compares the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit, wherein once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit the control unit (24) gives haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation (10) by driving the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) such that a water flow through the water flow path (14; 14a, 14b) is pulsed with one or more pulses having a pulse length between 10 msec and 5 seconds.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a method and a system for reducing water consumption in sanitary installations, and more particularly in sanitary installations.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

The provision of cold and hot water requires both on the part of the supply companies and on the companies as well as on the part of the end consumer use of natural resources. The operation of water treatment plants, pumping stations and sewage treatment plants and the preparation of hot water is particularly energy intensive. For example, a four-minute hot shower often requires more than 1.5 kWh of heat energy to be supplied, which is usually provided by fossil fuels or electrical energy. In developed countries, the overall water consumption accounts for a significant part of primary energy consumption and therefore is responsible for a considerable share of today's greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, daily routines, especially activities like showering, have a significant environmental impact.
However, users of sanitary installations are often unaware of the resources they consume during the use of the sanitary installations. E.g. when taking a shower, the water consumption depends on the time spent underneath the shower and can therefore be influenced by a proper user behaviour.
To enable a more sustainable bathroom experience, the applicant already commercialises a shower head which displays the water consumption and energy consumption during showering. The shower head has LED indicators on the front, which provide visual feedback through the concept of a "traffic light", and a rear display screen. The accompanying app extends the reach of psychological triggers, motivating users through self-consistency, the challenge of reducing water consumption, and the maintenance of self-esteem. More details are described in DE 10 2008 039 272 A1 and studies have shown that real-time feedback to the user can be an effective tool in reducing water consumption.
However, the concept of a shower head displaying the consumption is only convenient in certain showering situations. For example, the display arranged on the shower head is not visible when attached to a head shower or rain shower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to further address the problem of excessive water consumption in sanitary installations, particularly showers.
According to the invention this object is achieved by a method for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation, in particular a shower, comprising the following steps:

a) Providing a controllable flow limiter in a first water flow path;
b) Providing a control unit which drives the controllable flow limiter;
c) Collecting information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation via the control unit, wherein the control unit summarizes the current water consumption to a total water consumption and compares the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit;
wherein
d) once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit the control unit gives haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation by driving the controllable flow limiter such that a water flow through the water flow path is pulsed with one or more pulses, in particular having a pulse length between 10 msec and 5 seconds.

The invention helps to reduce water consumption by providing a haptic feedback mechanism that alerts the user when the consumption limit is reached. The provision of haptic feedback to the user upon reaching a predefined water consumption limit enhances user awareness of water usage, promoting conservation efforts. Pulsing the water flow creates a noticeable sensation that can alert users without relying on visual or auditory indicators, which may be less effective in a shower environment. For the user this immanent haptic feedback provides the advantage of real-time monitoring of his/her water usage and the user may then stop the usage of the sanitary installation, in particular stop showering.
In this sense, the provided method for reducing water consumption is in particular a method for alerting the user when a consumption limit is reached to allow the user reducing his/her water consumption.
Most importantly, with the haptic feedback the invention provides a feedback which is intrinsic to the water consumption process itself and it does not need further display elements or the like which could possibly contradict aesthetic design considerations of the sanitary components involved, e.g. shower heads.
The pulsing of the water flow can be implemented using a controllable flow limiter and a control unit that monitors the total water consumption from the beginning of the water withdrawal, e.g. from the beginning of a shower, and that compares this value with a definable consumption limit. When the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit, the control unit drives the controllable flow limiter such that the flow rate through the controllable flow limiter changes for a short time. This results in a pulse in the water flow leaving the outlet of the respective sanitary installation, e.g. the shower head.
Although the invention would already give haptic feedback with only one pulse, most probably a series of pulses would be used to get a kind of rattling effect in the water flow.
All sorts of varying pulse lengths and potential adjustments to flow rate and temperature could be used to implement the haptic feedback.
The specified pulse length range ensures that the feedback is noticeable without being too abrupt or disruptive to the user experience, balancing the need for alerting users with the comfort of using the sanitary installation.
The controllable flow limiter might be any kind of drivable, in particular electronically drivable, component which changes the rate of water flowing through.
The definable consumption limit is understood as any kind of limit set inside the control unit, e.g. a value set in a software component of the control unit, which might be pre-defined as a factory setting and/or might be individually set. The ability to set a definable consumption limit allows for customization based on individual or regulatory requirements, providing flexibility in managing water resources. In particular, it might be possible to set different consumption limits depending on the energy consumption involved to provide the water. E.g. the consumption limit could be set higher for a sanitary installation which uses renewable energy to heat the water.
The method may also include more than one definable consumption limit. Thereby, the control unit may provide a first feedback when a first limit is reached and a second feedback when a further limit is reached. The individual configuration of the feedback pulse could even be different in this case. This would allow for a staggered response to ongoing water consumption when higher and higher water consumption levels are reached. The control unit may even stop the water usage completely when a certain hard limit for total water consumption has been reached.
Preferably, at least one of the one or more pulses includes a reduction of the water flow to zero.
Reducing the water flow to zero during pulses serves as a strong and immediate signal to the user, prompting quicker response to excessive water consumption.
Preferably, at least one of the one or more pulses includes a reduction of the water flow to an intermediate value between zero and a normal flow rate.
Reducing the water flow to an intermediate value allows for a less abrupt interruption of the shower experience while still conveying the message of excessive water consumption. The reduction of the water flow to an intermediate value can serve as a more gentle reminder, which may be preferred in residential settings or where a complete cessation of water flow is not desirable.
The method may also be used to gradually increase the interruptive impact on the user when different definable consumption limits are reached, e.g. if the intermediate value gets lowered with each subsequently reached limit.
Preferably, at least of the one or more pulses including an increase of the water flow beyond a normal flow rate.
An increase of the water flow beyond the normal rate can also provide a surprising contrast to the usual shower experience, effectively drawing the user's attention to water usage.
Preferably, at least one of the one or more pulses includes a temperature drop.
Introducing a temperature drop as part of the haptic feedback provides an additional sensory cue that can be more immediately noticeable than changes in flow rate alone.
The temperature variation can be particularly effective in capturing the user's attention, as thermal changes are quickly perceived by the body, even in a distracted state.
This feature can be particularly useful in public or commercial settings where users may be less conscious of water usage, thus enforcing water conservation policies effectively.
In particular, the temperature may be reduced to the temperature of the incoming cold water, giving a strong indication to the user that using excessive warm water is energy consuming.
Combined with the idea of a staggered response with stepped definable consumption limits the temperature drop may be increased in each step. In a final state, the method could fully close the hot water.
A staggered response could also additionally or alternatively comprise longer pulse lengths for second and subsequent feedback pulses.
Preferably, the controllable flow limiter is a controllable valve, in particular a solenoid valve.
As already discussed above, the controllable flow limiter generally might be any kind of drivable component in the water path via which the rate of water flowing through can be changed.
The inclusion of a controllable valve, such as a simple on-off-valve, in particular a solenoid valve, provides such a functionality. Also, common bi-stable solenoid valves can be used. In particular, with electrically operated sanitary fittings an already present controllable valve could be used to implement the method of the invention.
Furthermore, a proportional valve could be used to precisely regulate the water flow, allowing for intermediate values of the water flow in the pulse. In this context, it is important to note that some proportional valves are pulse-width modulated (PWM) driven valves. However, the electric driving pulses provided to such valves operate on a timescale much faster than the pulse lengths of the haptic feedback pulses used for the present invention. The present invention uses pulse lengths between 10 milliseconds and 10 seconds, preferably 10 milliseconds and 5 seconds, more preferably 100 milliseconds and 3 seconds.
The controllable flow limiter may also be realized as controllable switch valve choosing between two water ways which comprise different static flow limits.
Preferably, the method further comprises a second water flow path which bypasses the controllable flow limiter arranged in the first water flow path.
The presence of a second water flow path that bypasses the controllable flow limiter ensures uninterrupted water supply and may enhancing system reliability.
Furthermore, the bypass water flow path can be used to provide a consistent base level of water flow, which can be critical for applications requiring a continuous water supply, thus improving the versatility of the system.
Preferably, the method further comprises a second controllable flow limiter being arranged in the second water flow path.
The arrangement of a second controllable flow limiter in the bypass path allows for independent control of both water flow paths, providing redundancy and the ability to fine-tune the haptic feedback as per specific needs.
Preferably, the method further comprises in the first water flow path a given flow rate limit being set, in particular using a fixed flow rate limiter.
Setting a fixed flow rate limit in the first water flow path ensures a consistent and predictable water flow.
The use of a fixed flow rate limiter can prevent excessive water consumption and reduce the risk of water wastage.
A predetermined flow rate limit simplifies the design and operation of the system, as it reduces the need for continuous monitoring and adjustment, thereby lowering operational complexity and costs.
Preferably, the method further comprises a second flow limiter being used to open and close a base water flow and the first flow limiter is used to open and close an additional water flow such that the additional water flow gets pulsed when the definable consumption limit is reached.
The second water flow path may for example provide a water flow with a rate of 8 I/s and the water flow path with the controlled flow limiter may provide another 4 I/s which during normal shower operation adds to 12 I/s. For pulsing the partial first water flow path gets closed via the controllable flow limiter, e.g. a simple on-off-valve, thereby reducing the water flow from 12 I/s to 8 I/s. Even if there is a problem with the control unit, like e.g. missing battery power or the like, such a second water flow path still allows normal use of the shower.
This dual-limiter approach enables the system to cater to both steady-state conditions and peak demand scenarios, ensuring that water supply is optimized for both everyday use and the exceptional pulse feedback situation.
Another possible arrangement is that a valve, like e.g. a normal shower mixing battery or an electrically actuated valve, is arranged upstream of both the first water flow path and the second bypass water flow path, and the control unit uses the controllable flow limiter in the first water flow path to pulse part of the water flow when the consumption limit is reached.
Preferably, the control unit resets the total water consumption when the current water consumption stays zero for a given time period.
Resetting the total water consumption after a period of inactivity allows to prepare the system for a subsequent use of the sanitary installation. Thereby, the haptic feedback pulse will be provided for each complete showering process again and again, leading to a habituation effect to stop showering when the pulse is provided.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation, in particular in a shower, is provided which comprises

a) a controllable flow limiter in a first water flow path,
b) a control unit which drives the controllable flow limiter,
c) wherein the control unit is configured to collect information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation, to summarize the current water consumption to a total water consumption and to compare the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit,
wherein
d) the control unit is configured to drive the controllable flow limiter such that a water flow through the water flow path is pulsed with at least one pulse having a pulse length between 10 msec and 3 seconds once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit, thereby giving a haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation.

Such a system allows to conveniently implement the inventive idea. In general, the system allows for pulsing the water flow with one or more pulses, which includes reducing the water flow to zero or an intermediate value, increasing the water flow beyond normal, or even introducing a temperature drop. This provides the advantage of flexibility in controlling the water flow to meet specific user preferences or conservation goals.
Preferably, the system further comprises a controllable flow limiter being part of a sanitary fitting, in particular of a shower mixer battery.
Integrating the controllable flow limiter within a sanitary fitting, such as a shower mixer battery, simplifies the installation process by reducing the need for additional components and potential points of failure in the water flow path.
This configuration can lead to a more aesthetically pleasing design, as the flow limiter is concealed within the fitting, maintaining the visual integrity of the bathroom or kitchen environment.
Preferably, the system further comprises a controllable flow limiter being arranged in a hot water connection line and/or a cold water connection line to a sanitary fitting, in particular to a shower mixer battery.
Positioning the controllable flow limiter in the hot and/or cold water connection lines to a sanitary fitting allows to use the system as an add-on for known and usual sanitary fittings. For example, the controllable flow limiter may be hided in the wall of a shower installation as a concealed sanitary component. The control unit may be provided together with the controllable flow limiter as one structural unit. However, the control unit may also be part of a more complex set-up with an electrically actuated sanitary fitting.
Providing a controllable flow limiter only in the hot water connection line allows to provided a pulse with a temperature drop as described above.
This arrangement can also facilitate easier maintenance and replacement of the flow limiter, as it is accessible from the connection lines without the need to dismantle the entire sanitary fitting.
Preferably, the system further comprises a controllable flow limiter being arranged downstream of a sanitary fitting, in particular in a shower hose, in a shower head, in a connection line of a head shower and/or as an adapter piece in between those components.
Locating the controllable flow limiter downstream of a sanitary fitting, such as in a shower hose or head, enables a more targeted approach to water flow control, allowing for customization of the water output at the point of use.
This placement can also provide the benefit of retrofitting existing installations with advanced water-saving technology without the need to replace the entire fitting, offering a cost-effective solution for users looking to upgrade their water consumption management.
The information on the current water consumption could be collected e.g. by measuring the water consumption measured through the water flow path or at an outlet of the sanitary installation. Any known method for measuring may be used and the inventive idea is independent of the way the information on the current water consumption is collected. This means even timing methods which time when the water consumption is started and when it is stopped, e.g. via electrically controlled valves, and thereby deduce the current water consumption are considered to belong to the invention.
The information on the current water consumption may also comprise information on the temperature of the water and the summarizing may take into account this temperature such that the definable consumption limit may also be interpreted as an equivalent for the energy consumption during the showering. Otherwise stated the haptic feedback pulse could be provided later when a user uses colder water for showering compared to a user which uses more warm water with the same system.
The control unit may comprise any known microcontroller and may also comprise connectivity options like wireless connections, e.g. Bluetooth. The connectivity options allow to integrate the control unit with other components like e.g. the smart shower head mentioned in the beginning which provides water consumption information, including the temperature of the water, via Bluetooth signaling.
Finally, the system may include an external display unit as an additional feedback means to the user to provide more detailed information. This might further increase the awareness for the environmental impact of the showering.
Furthermore, this display unit which can be designed as a LED puck, may also be used as an additional design element in a shower installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: shows a schematic drawing of a shower system with a shower, a solenoid valve, a control unit and a display unit;
Figure 2: shows a flow diagram of major programmatic steps of the control unit.
Figure 3: shows a schematic drawing of another system for reducing water consumption using two parallel solenoid valves.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a smart shower installation 10 comprising a hand shower head 12 which is connected via a water flow path 14 with a water supply 16. Here the water path 14 is a shower hose 18 connecting the hand shower head 12 to a sanitary fitting 20, but any other sanitary installation 10 having a water tapping point may be equally imaginable.
The shower installation 10 further comprises a solenoid valve 22 as a controllable flow limiter 22 arranged in the water flow path 14. In the present embodiment, the solenoid valve 22 is a bi-stable valve.
The controllable flow limiter 22 is driven by an electronic control unit 24 electrically connected to the solenoid valve 22 via cabling 26.
The control unit 24 contains multiple electronic components:

An microcontroller board 28 which could be an "ESP32 Feather" with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) capabilities for wireless communication and control.
A motor driver circuit 30 which could be a "MX1508 H-bridge" that allows for controlling the direction of current flow to operate the solenoid valve 22.
Two voltage regulators 32 that ensure stable operating voltages for the electronics.
A battery 34 which is the power source for the control unit 24.

The shower installation 10 further comprises user interaction interface 36 which is coupled to the control unit 24 via a communication channel 38. Here the communication channel 38 is a Bluetooth connection with the control unit 24.
The user interaction interface 36 comprises an LED strip 40 and a selector switch 42 for basic interaction with the user of the shower installation 10. However, the control unit 24 may also communicate with a mobile device like e.g. a smartphone not shown via Bluetooth wireless connection.
The selector switch 42 is used for example to choose from different pre-set consumption limit modes, like e.g. total water consumption, total energy consumption or a target consumption as an achievable goal.
The hand shower head 12 is smart in a sense that it comprises electronics for collection information on the current water consumption of the shower installation 10. This information is broadcasted via Bluetooth Low Energy datagrams as shown as a dashed line 44 to the control unit 24.
Referring to the flow diagram of Fig. 2 the shower installation 10 works as follows:
First, the user starts by choosing the desired pre-defined operation mode (S1) by rotating the selector switch 42. With corresponding LED signaling on the LED strip 40 the mode selection is visualized.
Then the user turns on the water (S2) as usual using the sanitary fitting 20. The control unit 10 then starts capturing BLE messages from the smart hand shower head 12 in a loop (L3).
When a BLE message is received, the control unit 24 extracts the information on current water consumption (S4).
If the water consumption has increased from one BLE message to the next, the control unit 24 signalizes the increase via the LED strip 40 (S5). Otherwise, if the water consumption stagnates for a certain time period, the control unit resets the accumulated water consumption, because the system assumes that the showering process had been ended by the user.
If a consumption limit has been reached (S6), namely a certain threshold is met, the control unit 24 drives the solenoid valve 22 to shortly close the water flow path 14, thereby generating a pulse (S7) in the shower jet leaving the shower head 12.
Thereby the user gets immediate haptic feedback when the water consumption has reached a certain limit.
Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 3, wherein equal or equivalent components have identical reference numerals as in Fig.1.
In this embodiment, a system 10 is provided which may be installed e.g. in a connection line of head shower, e.g. upstream of a rain head shower not shown.
Here, the water flow path comprises two parallel branches 14a and 14b which each include a solenoid valve 22a and 22b.
Again, a control unit 10 is provided which in this embodiment includes other particular electronic components which however provide an analog functionality as the components of the above-mentioned embodiment. Here, the microcontroller 28 is an "Arduino Nano" using a "HC 05 Blt module" for Bluetooth communication. Furthermore, the motor driver 26 is a "L298N H-bridge".
In this embodiment, the user interaction is using a Bluetooth remote controller 50 to set e.g. the definable consumption limit of the control unit 24 or to select modes of operation.
The second embodiment works as follows:
Here, an electrically actuated system is shown. The showering process is started by the user via the remote controller 50, e.g. via touchless sensors. The control unit 24 then opens both solenoid valves 22a and 22b in both water flow path branches 14a and 14b. Furthermore, the control unit 10 starts a timer and thereby collects information on the current water consumption.
When the definable consumption limit is reached, the control unit 24 closes one of the solenoid valves 22a for a pulse length, thereby reducing the water flow to the rate provided by the other water flow path branch 14b.
This allows to provide an intermediate level of the water flow during the feedback pulse which is a more gentle reminder for the user enjoying the wellness feeling below the rain head shower.

Claims

A method for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation (10), in particular a shower, comprising the following steps:
a) Providing a controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) in a first water flow path (14; 14a, 14b);

b) Providing a control unit (24) which drives the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b);

c) Collecting information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation (10) via the control unit (24), wherein the control unit (24) summarizes the current water consumption to a total water consumption and compares the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit;
characterized in that

d) once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit the control unit (24) gives haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation (10) by driving the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) such that a water flow through the water flow path (14; 14a, 14b) is pulsed with one or more pulses, in particular having a pulse length between 10 msec and 5 seconds.
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more pulses includes a reduction of the water flow to zero.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the one or more pulses includes a reduction of the water flow to an intermediate value between zero and a normal flow rate.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the one or more pulses includes an increase of the water flow beyond a normal flow rate.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the one or more pulses includes a temperature drop.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) is a controllable valve, in particular a solenoid valve.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a second water flow path (14b) exists which bypasses the controllable flow limiter (22a) arranged in the first water flow path (14a)
The method according to claim 7, wherein a second controllable flow limiter (22b) is arranged in the second water flow path (22b).
The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein in the first water flow path a given flow rate limit is set, in particular using a fixed flow rate limiter.
The method according to claim 9 in combination with claim 7 or 8, wherein the second flow limiter (22b) is used to open and close a base water flow, and the first flow limiter (22a) is used to open and close an additional water flow such that the additional water flow gets pulsed when the definable consumption limit is reached.
The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit resets the total water consumption when the current water consumption stays zero for a given time period.
System for reducing water consumption in a sanitary installation (10), in particular in a shower, comprising
a) a controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) in a first water flow path (14; 14a, 14b),

b) a control unit (24) which drives the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b),

c) wherein the control unit (24) is configured to collect information on the current water consumption of the sanitary installation (10), to summarize the current water consumption to a total water consumption and to compare the total water consumption with a definable consumption limit,
characterized in that,

d) the control unit (24) is configured to drive the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) such that a water flow through the water flow path is pulsed with one or more pulses, in particular having a pulse length between 10 msec and 3 seconds, once the total water consumption reaches the definable consumption limit, thereby giving a haptic feedback to a user of the sanitary installation (10).
The system according to claim 12, wherein the controllable flow limiter is part of a sanitary fitting (20), in particular of a shower mixer battery.
The system according to claim 12, wherein the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) is arranged in a hot water connection line and/or a cold water connection line to a sanitary fitting (20), in particular to a shower mixer battery.
The system according to claim 12, wherein the controllable flow limiter (22; 22a, 22b) is arranged downstream of a sanitary fitting (20), in particular in a shower hose (18), in a shower head (12), in a connection line of a head shower and/or as an adapter piece in between those components.