Brilliant shower idea!

[SpaceYeti]

Earlier, I took a shower. In this apartment complex, all the piping is interlinked. When someone else uses water, it effects the temperature of your water. I adjust the temperature of my water frequently. So I got an idea; Automatic water temperature regulators. The concept is simple, it measures the temperature of the water actually coming from the faucet, and adjusts the hot or cold water flow in order to keep the temperature at whatever you set it to. There would be a necessary lag in the adjustments, of course. Firstly, the water needs to change temperature before it starts adjusting the col/hot flows. Secondly, the altered flows wouldn't change the temperature right away. This means the actual adjustments would have to compensate for the lag and not cause temperature chaos by over-adjusting. But that's a simple problem to handle. Just have it adjust at a speed proportional to the difference in actual and targeted temperatures, and give it an acceptable margin within a few degrees of the target.

Either way, brilliant, yes?

 

[Architect]

It's been done. The servoing you talk about is standard engineering, but not my speciality.

I would have been a bit more impressed if you had said that the power for the unit would come from turbine type generator in the water flow that charged a cap or a battery. That way you don't need to run power to it, and no safety issues.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but you did title this as 'Brilliant'

 

[Melllvar]

I would have been a bit more impressed if you had said that the power for the unit would come from turbine type generator in the water flow that charged a cap or a battery. That way you don't need to run power to it, and no safety issues.

[bimgx=300]http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20101030.gif[/bimgx]​

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

Lately, I've seen myself wanting to add a thermal conductivity detector in everything. Your shower could use one of these, I guess.

 

[SpaceYeti]

It's been done. The servoing you talk about is standard engineering, but not my speciality.

I would have been a bit more impressed if you had said that the power for the unit would come from turbine type generator in the water flow that charged a cap or a battery. That way you don't need to run power to it, and no safety issues.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but you did title this as 'Brilliant'

It's been done? Where? Could you link me to the store? I don't care if it's standard engineering, I want one.

I didn't say anything about the power source of the unit, but why would we not have a little turbine in there if it wouldn't hinder the water flow too much?

 

[ApostateAbe]

I'll implement your idea in my next house, and you can pay for the services of someone who is both a plumber and an electrician.

 

[Architect]

It's been done? Where? Could you link me to the store? I don't care if it's standard engineering, I want one.

Don't know where you can buy them, but I've used them. Might have been overseas.

I didn't say anything about the power source of the unit, but why would we not have a little turbine in there if it wouldn't hinder the water flow too much?

No that's my point, that would be the best way to solve the problem. How do you think they do it with smart meters, on your water and gas lines? Obviously the electrical meter just taps the source.

 

[Architect]

[bimgx=300]http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20101030.gif[/bimgx]​

Love it.

 

[SpaceYeti]

It's a brilliant idea even if someone else thought of it first. A good idea is a good idea even when it's not unique.

 

[Architect]

I just invented a brilliant idea called ... The Wheel! Oh, it's been done before?

Just pulling your leg a little ...

 

[Cogwulf]

http://www.horne.co.uk/Products/Thermostatic-Mixing-Valves/

Doesn't even need electricity

 

[Melkor]

God, I haven't seen a twit this self impressed since Cognisant, and at least he had nice t-shirts!

 

[Kuu]

Yeah it's been done before, even with the turbine thing. Some fancy ones even come with a little waterproof display so you can actually see the exact temperature and water flow per minute. And some can block the water until it reaches the desired temperature so you don't waste 3 minutes of water while you wait for it to heat up...

 

[SpaceYeti]

If these valves have been around since the '20s, why aren't they standard shower parts?

 

[Cogwulf]

If these valves have been around since the '20s, why aren't they standard shower parts?

They're very common here.

The only problem with them is that when they wear out, you have to replace the entire unit rather than just the washers.
They cost more too, so a lot of hotels/apartments etc. just fit standard mixers to keep costs down.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Stupid apartments!

 

[Zensunni]

Newer apartments have tankless water heaters now. The system heats up the water as you use it. Very efficient and only a few hundred dollars more than a water heater. The landlord can put one in each apartment, under a sink since they are only about 12"x!5", and everyone pays for exactly what they use.

 

[Oblivious]

I am pleased to see that this thread is devoid of random discussion about curtain colours and the aesthetics of penis straws.

 

[Cogwulf]

Last year I lived in my universities halls of residence, the building was just a year old when I moved in. It had a state-of-the-art heating system where a boiler produced steam which is piped to the 3 buildings with about 800 rooms in total, and the hot water is produced on demand.
As well as being very reliable, it's very efficient too.

The showers had thermostatic mixer taps, but I think they might be required by building standards now.

 

[Kuu]

If these valves have been around since the '20s, why aren't they standard shower parts?

They cost more too, so a lot of hotels/apartments etc. just fit standard mixers to keep costs down.

The construction industry is ridiculously conservative and short-sighted. Everyone that's making a building wants to minimize the upfront costs... They'll gladly choose cheap equipment that lets them spend less in the beginning, but in most cases that translates to huge costs to the users during the 40-50 year lifetime of the building...

 

[Cognisant]

God, I haven't seen a twit this self impressed since Cognisant, and at least he had nice t-shirts!

All my shirts have collars. Why? Because I make this look good.