JP3117954B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater for selectively operating one or more of a plurality of water heater units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when hot water is supplied throughout a building at a hotel, a general hospital, or the like, a single hot water supply source is used.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a number of hot water supply locations a1,
A circulation pipe d composed of a hot water supply pipe b and a hot water return pipe c disposed at a2, a3,..., a boiler e, a hot water storage tank f, a circulation pump g, and the like. Boiler e
And hot water storage tank f, two sets are provided in parallel in order to prevent the hot water supply from being interrupted even during periodic inspections and failures,
One side is set as a backup side to enable the switching operation. Each hot water supply capacity is designed to have room to exceed the hot water demand.

[0003]

However, this hot water supply device has a large weight and a large installation area, such as having a hot water storage tank, and is difficult to be installed in a slight empty space on the roof of a building. To ensure a specially set space on the ground floor or basement floor. Further, even if a margin is provided for the capacity, the margin is limited, and it is not possible to immediately respond to hot water supply demand. In addition, since the equipment is large, it has been difficult to expand the facilities.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply apparatus that can respond to an increase or decrease in hot water demand.

[0005]

As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention has a circulation path (circulation pipe) composed of a single hot water supply pipe (11) and a hot water supply pipe (12). In contrast to 9), a plurality of water heater units (instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b,) comprising a heat exchanger (2), a burner (3), a valve (remote control valve 18) and individual control means (6).
1c) and a central control means (8) for opening and closing a valve (remotely operated valve 18) according to hot water supply demand and selectively controlling one or more of the water heater units to an operating state. The configuration is such that:

The hot water supply apparatus of the present invention does not have a hot water storage tank.
Water supply device, which is connected to a water supply source to supply water
Pipe (14) and hot water supply that guides hot water heated to the hot water supply point
The hot water is supplied from the outflow pipe (11) and the hot water supply pipe.
Connected to the hot water supply point,
Connected through a first valve (15) to supply hot water and water
And a hot water supply pipe for joining the hot water supply pipe and the hot water supply pipe
While feeding the hot water to the hot water supply side from
A circulation pump (13) for circulating to the hot water supply pipe side;
A pipe branching the hot water supply pipe and the hot water supply pipe and a second pipe;
And the hot water supply pipe via the valves (16, 17)
Heated water is connected in parallel with the hot water supply pipe
Units with multiple heat exchangers (2)
Water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c ...) and these water heater units
Bars provided for each unit for individually heating the heat exchanger
(3) and switching the water supply to the water heater unit
A third valve (remote control valve 18),
The hot water supply from the heat exchanger
Flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of the hot water flowing to the pipe side
(4) flows from the heat exchanger to the hot water supply pipe side
Temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the hot water (hot water temperature sensor 5)
And when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor exceeds a predetermined amount.
Start combustion of the burner, and according to the detected flow rate,
An individual control means (6) for controlling the combustion of the burner;
Via the individual control means according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor
Operate or pause by controlling the third valve
Select one or more water heater units to be
Increase the amount of hot water flowing from the water heater unit to the hot water supply pipe.
And a central control means (8) for reducing the number .

[0007] That is, the in each water heater unit provided separate control means for performing combustion <br/> control of the burner is provided with a central control unit that controls the opening and closing of the third valve through each individual control means . In the water heater unit with the valve open, water or return water branches off from the hot water supply return pipe, flows into the hot water path from the water input side, and flows through the hot water path to operate the burner. Therefore, the tap water or return water flowing through the boiling water path is heated through the heat exchanger heated by the fuel gas of the burner, and then joins the hot water supply pipe from the hot water output side. The merged hot water flows through a hot water supply pipe to reach a hot water supply point, and a part of the hot water is used. Then, the remainder is returned to the hot water return pipe, merges with the clean water supplied from the water supply pipe, and circulates again to the hot water path side of the water heater unit with the first valve open as described above.

Accordingly, if one or more of the plurality of water heater units are increased or decreased by opening and closing the third valve,
Hot water supply capacity can be easily changed according to the hot water supply load. In addition, if an appropriate number of water heater units are added to the existing water heater unit and their hot water output side is connected to the hot water supply pipe and the water input side to the hot water return pipe as in the existing water heater unit, Hot water supply capacity can be easily increased to meet hot water supply demand.

[0009]

When one of the water heater units fails, only the water heater unit needs to be repaired or replaced. The hot water output side and the hot water supply pipe and the water input side and the hot water return pipe of the water heater unit are If connected via the second valve, by closing this valve, repair or replacement can be easily performed even when the other water heater unit is operating, that is, while hot water is being supplied. .

[0011] Also, the hot water supply source side path with a water heater unit and the circulation path of the multiple is formed, whereas hot water pipe for guiding the hot water is formed in the hot water position, the circulating pump in this pipe To reduce the pressure of hot water from the hot water supply side.
It is possible to supply the hot water stably to the hot water supply point without any lowering.

[0012]

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention. 1a, 1b and 1c constitute instantaneous water heaters as a plurality of water heater units, and in this embodiment, three instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b and 1c are installed. The instant water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c are provided with a heat exchanger 2 and a burner 3 for heating the heat exchanger.

The instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b and 1c are provided with a flow rate sensor 4, a hot water temperature sensor 5 and individual control means 6 for controlling the combustion of the burner 3 based on these sensors 4,5. The combustion control of the burner 3 is performed by detecting the flowing water of a predetermined amount or more in the boiling water path 7 from the water input side to the hot water output side by the flow rate sensor 4 described above and starting the combustion of the burner 3 and the hot water temperature sensor. 5, a feedback control for controlling the temperature of the hot water downstream of the heat exchanger 2 to a temperature set in the individual control means 6 in advance, and a return hot water upstream of the heat exchanger 2 in addition to the hot water temperature sensor 5. Alternatively, an appropriate control method used in a normal individual-use instantaneous water heater, such as feedforward control performed by providing a water temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting water temperature or a combination thereof, can be applied. .

The central control means 8 controls the operation of the instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c and the opening and closing of a remote control valve to be described later via the individual control means 6. In addition, other components necessary for the actual operation of the instantaneous water heater, such as a burner safety device such as a fan motor, a spark plug, and a frame rod, a solenoid valve, a proportional control valve, a wind pressure switch, and an air-burn prevention switch. Elements are not shown.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a number of hot water supply points 10a, 10b, 1
0c..., And this circulation pipe 9 is composed of a hot water supply pipe 11 and a hot water return pipe 12,
A circulation pump 13 is provided at an appropriate position of the circulation pipe 9, for example, a hot water return pipe 12. In addition, this hot water return pipe 12
Is connected to a water supply pipe 14. The water supply pipe 14 is configured to be connected to the water supply through a first valve 15 or an atmosphere release tank (not shown), and may be directly connected to the water supply through a check valve or the like in some cases. Can also.

The instant water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c
The hot water output side o of each hot water path 7 is connected in parallel to a hot water supply pipe 11 and the water input side i is connected to a hot water return pipe 12. The hot water output side o and the hot water supply pipe 11 and the hot water input side i and the hot water return pipe 12 are connected via second valves 16 and 17 including a manual valve and the like . In addition, a remote control valve 18 is provided as a third valve at an appropriate position in the boiling water path 7, that is, on the upstream or downstream side of the heat exchanger 2 in the boiling water path 7. This remote control valve 18 can be constituted by, for example, an electric valve. In the illustrated configuration, reference numeral 19 denotes a fuel gas supply pipe.

In the above configuration, the central control means 8 sends a command to open or close the remote control valve 18 to the individual control means 6 of each instantaneous water heater 1a, 1b, 1c. Thus, the number of instantaneous water heaters for sending the opening command is set according to the hot water supply load. Such a hot water supply load can be detected by, for example, the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 11 as described later.

The return hot water flowing through the hot water return pipe 12 by the circulation pump 13 joins with the clean water supplied from the water supply pipe 14 and flows downstream of the hot water return pipe 12. Then, at the moment when the remote control valve 18 is opened, the water heater returns from the hot water return pipe 12 at the water heater to open the water path 7 from the water input side i.
Flows into. Since the flow sensor 4 detects the inflow of the return hot water or the tap water, the burner 3 starts combustion by the individual control means 6 and is controlled based on a preset control condition. The return hot water or clean water flowing into the water heating path 7 of the water heaters 1a, 1b and 1c at the moment when the remote control valve 18 is opened is heated when passing through the heat exchanger 2 and reaches the hot water output side o. And joins the hot water supply pipe 11. Then, the merged hot water flows through the hot water supply pipe 11 and passes through each hot water supply point 10a, 10
b, 10c, a part of which is used. Then, the remainder flows back through the hot water return pipe 12, merges with the clean water supplied from the water supply pipe 14 according to the amount of hot water used, flows downstream, and the circulation of the above operation is performed again.

When the amount of hot water used increases, that is, when the hot water supply load increases, the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 11 decreases. Is detected by the hot water temperature sensor (not shown), a command is sent to the individual control means 6 of the instantaneous water heater at the moment when the remote control valve 18 is closed and the operation is stopped, and the remote control valve 18 is opened. . Accordingly, the instantaneous water heater when the remote control valve 18 is opened by this command starts the same operation as described above, and operates simultaneously with the instantaneous water heater that is operating up to that time. And can cope with the increase in load described above.

In such an operation, for example, when the required hot water supply is greatly increased due to, for example, business expansion, and it is not possible to operate all the instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c, the existing equipment is required. , An appropriate number of other instantaneous water heaters are added, and their hot water output side is connected to the hot water supply pipe 11 and the water input side is connected to the hot water return pipe 12, so that they are connected in parallel with the existing instantaneous water heater. If they are operated simultaneously, the maximum hot water supply capacity can be easily increased.

In the above-mentioned use, the instant water heater 1
If any of a, 1b, 1c fails, it is only necessary to repair or replace it alone. As described above, the hot water output side o of the instantaneous water heaters 1a, 1b, 1c and the hot water supply pipe 1
1 and the water input side i and the hot water return pipe 12
If the connection is established via the valve 7, the valves 16 and 17 are closed, so that repair or replacement can be easily performed even when the other instantaneous water heater is operating, that is, while hot water is being supplied. .

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects are obtained. a. Multiple <br/> number of water heater unit is connected in parallel via a conduit to the hot water forward pipe and the hot water supply rings Ri tube constituting a circulation path, through separate control means for water heater unit in accordance with the hot-water demand Since the valve is opened and closed to selectively control one or more of the water heater units to the operating state, it is possible to immediately respond to hot water supply demand and efficiently cope with load fluctuations. b. Since one or two or more of the plurality of water heater units are selectively operated to meet the hot water supply demand, the conventionally required hot water storage tank becomes unnecessary. Only need to be repaired or replaced, it is possible to immediately respond to a failure and prevent interruption of hot water supply. c. It is not necessary to install two sets that can be switched in advance, and if the required hot water supply is greatly increased due to business expansion, etc., an appropriate number of other water heater units may be added to the existing one. Since it is good, it is not necessary to design the hot water supply capacity with a margin in advance in anticipation of the future. d. The weight and required space can be significantly reduced, and the construction can be facilitated by the ability to transport a plurality of water heater units, and it can be installed on the rooftop, which is an empty space in a building. Utilization rate can be reduced. e. Since a plurality of water heater units can be mass-produced, the cost can be significantly reduced. g. A single circulation pump may be used for a plurality of water heater units. Hot water can be circulated by the circulation pump and the hot water can be stably supplied to the hot water supply point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of a hot water supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a conventional hot water supply apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c Instantaneous water heater (water heater unit) 2 Heat exchanger 3 Burner 4 Flow rate sensor 5 Hot water temperature sensor (temperature sensor) 6 Individual control means 7 Hot water path 8 Central control means 9 Circulation pipe 10a, 10b 10c Hot water supply point 11 Hot water supply pipe 12 Hot water return pipe 13 Circulation pump 14 Water supply pipe 15 First valve 16, 17 Second valve 18 Remotely operated valve (third valve)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Osumi 926, Harajuku-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Nishi 201 Nishi-Kashiwara Shinda, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Invention Person Takao Takagi 201 Nishi-Kashiwara Nitta, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kimio Mochizuki 201 201 Nishi Kashiwara Shinda, Fuji City Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kozo Shinohara Shizuoka Shizuoka 201, Nishi-Kashiwara-Nitta, Fuji City, Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shunori Hashimoto 201, Nishi-Kashiwara, Nitta, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture Within Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Hidetada Takai Nishi-Kashiwabara, Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture 201 Nitta Takagi Sangyo Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-57-155050 (JP, A) JP-A-1-63748 (JP, A) JP-A-1-41844 (JP, U) (58) Key Field examined (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24D 17/00 F24H 1/10 301

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot water supply device having no hot water storage tank.
A water supply pipe connected to a water supply source for supplying water , a hot water supply pipe for guiding hot water heated to a hot water supply to a hot water supply point, and the hot water supply point where the hot water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe.
Connected to the water pipe via a first valve
Hot water supply pipe that is connected to and joins the hot water and the water supply
When, pumping the water to the hot water supply portion side from the hot water supply forward pipe
And a circulation pump for circulating to the hot water supply pipe side
If, conduit branched the hot water ring Ri pipe and the hot water supply forward pipe and
The hot water supply pipe and the hot water supply pipe via a second valve
Heat exchanger that is connected in parallel between and heats the feedwater
And a plurality of water heater units provided for each of the water heater units.
A third burner for separately switching between a burner for heating and a water supply for the water heater unit;
Lube and each of the water heater units are installed in front of the heat exchanger.
A flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of the hot water flowing to the hot water supply pipe side.
And capacitors, the temperature from the heat exchanger of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply forward pipe side
Temperature sensor to detect the temperature, when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor exceeds a predetermined amount,
Start combustion of the burner, and according to the detected flow rate,
Individual control means for controlling combustion of the fuel cell, and the individual control means in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
By controlling the third valve via
Selects one or more water heater units to be stopped
Hot water flowing from the water heater unit to the hot water supply pipe
A hot water supply device comprising: a central control means for increasing and decreasing the amount .