JP5912995B2 - Bath water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath hot water supply apparatus that performs hot water supply or bath boiling with hot water in a hot water storage tank.

  Conventionally, in this type, a heater that generates heat when energized in the middle of the piping of the water supply flow path and the hot water flow path is installed, and when the outside air temperature decreases, the heater is energized to generate heat to freeze the hot water in the piping. There was something to prevent. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2008-122032 A

  However, this conventional apparatus takes time and labor to install an anti-freezing heater, and increases the running cost due to power consumption and increases the cost due to heater installation.

In order to solve the above problems, in claim 1 of the present invention, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water stored in a housing , a water supply channel connected to the hot water storage tank and supplying city water to the hot water storage tank, A pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of city water installed in the middle of the water supply flow path, heating means for heating hot water in the hot water storage tank, and hot water connected to the hot water tank and heated by the heating means flow A bath circulation circuit composed of a hot water flow path, a bath return pipe through which bath water in the bathtub flows, and a bath outlet pipe, a bath circulation pump installed in the bath circulation circuit and circulating the bath water, A bath heat exchanger installed in the middle of the bath circulation circuit for heating the bath water, a freezing temperature detection means for detecting a predetermined temperature at which the bath water in the bath circulation circuit may freeze, and driving the bath circulation pump With a control unit In a bath water heater, the established the water supply path connecting the pipe that is external to the housing and the bath circulation pump near the end of the tapping channel, the bath circulation circuit so as to surround the pressure reducing valve Once installed, the controller starts an anti-freezing operation for driving the bath circulation pump for a predetermined time when a predetermined temperature at which the bath water may be frozen is detected by the freezing temperature detecting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the pressure reducing valve is enclosed such that the bath return pipe passes through the side in the front view and the upper side, and the bath outlet pipe passes through the lower side .

Further, in claim 3, wherein an end portion of the water supply flow path and the tapping channel, the functional components are fixed, provided with a mounting plate for fixing the external predetermined pipe, fixed on the mounting plate The bath circulation pump is installed between the water supply flow path and the end of the hot water flow path.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the bath circulation pump is installed near the ends of the water supply flow channel and the hot water flow channel connected to the pipe outside the housing, and the bath circulation circuit is installed so as to surround the pressure reducing valve. to, if it is detected temperature with a fear that the bath water is frozen at a freezing temperature sensing unit, since starting the antifreezing operation for driving the bath circulation pump a predetermined time, bath water bath circulation in the bathtub by freeze prevention operation Flowing through the circuit , heat from the bath water is radiated from the bath circulation pump and the bath circulation circuit , and the piping temperature of the water supply and outlet channels and the temperature around the pressure reducing valve rise, so no heater is used. Freezing of hot water in the water supply flow path, the hot water flow path , and the pressure reducing valve can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pressure reducing valve is enclosed so that the bath return pipe passes through the side in the front view and the upper side and the bath return pipe passes through the lower side. And since the heat of the bath water flowing in the bath outlet pipe can be transferred to the pressure reducing valve, it is possible to reliably prevent the water in the pressure reducing valve from freezing.

Further, according to claim 3, the end of the water supply channel and hot water flow passage, the functional components are fixed, provided with a mounting plate for fixing the external predetermined piping, which is fixed on a mounting plate water Having established the bath circulation pump during the end of the channel and the pouring channel, a is radiated from the bath circulation pump heat can without waste conveyed Rukoto the end of the water supply channel and hot water passage.

Schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention Control block diagram of the invention Flowchart for explaining anti-freezing operation of the invention Front view for explaining the internal structure of the hot water storage tank unit of the invention Top view for explaining the internal structure of the hot water storage tank unit of the invention

Next, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a hot water storage tank unit in which a hot water storage tank 3 is housed in a box-shaped housing 2, 4 is a hot water pipe that discharges high-temperature water at the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3, and 5 is a city water in the hot water storage tank 3. A water supply pipe 6 that constitutes the water supply flow path and 6 is a heat pump unit that is installed outside the room and serves as a heating means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a heat pump forward pipe connecting the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 and the heat pump unit 6 by piping, 8 denotes a heat pump return pipe connecting the heat pump unit 6 and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 by pipes, and 9 denotes a heat pump forward pipe 7 and the heat pump return pipe. 8 is a heat-pump circuit composed of eight.

  10 is a water supply bypass pipe that branches from the water supply pipe 5 and constitutes a water supply flow path, and 11 is a hot water supply that adjusts the hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 4 and the water supply bypass pipe 10 at a predetermined ratio to a set hot water supply temperature. A mixing valve 12 is a bath mixing valve for adjusting the bath temperature to be set by mixing hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 4 and the water supply bypass pipe 10 at a predetermined ratio.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a hot water supply pipe that forms a hot water flow path by flowing hot water mixed at a predetermined ratio by the hot water supply mixing valve 11, and 14 opens hot water adjusted to the hot water supply temperature by the hot water supply mixing valve 11 installed in a washroom or the like. A hot-water tap capable of discharging hot water, 15 is a hot water flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 13, and 16 is a hot water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe 13.

  17 is a bath heat exchanger that heats the bath water stored in the bathtub 18 by exchanging heat with hot water in the hot water storage tank 3, 19 is a bath return pipe that sends the bath water to the bath heat exchanger 17, and 20 is a bath. A bath-out pipe for returning bath water heated by the heat exchanger 17 into the bathtub 18, 21 is a bath circulation circuit formed by the bath-out pipe 20, the bath heat exchanger 17 and the bath return pipe 19, and 22 is a bath circulation. It is a bath circulation pump that circulates bathtub water in the circuit 21.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a running water switch as remaining hot water detecting means for detecting whether the bath water is flowing in the bath circulation circuit 21 by ON / OFF of the switch, and 24 is a bath temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the bath water in the bath circulation circuit 21. Each of them is installed in the middle of the bath return pipe 19.

  25 is a hot water pipe that conveys the hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 12 to the bath return pipe 19, and a hot water temperature sensor 26 that detects the temperature of the hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 12 in the middle of the piping. A hot water solenoid valve 27 that opens and closes the electric valve to start and stop hot water filling the bathtub 18, and a hot water flow rate sensor 28 that detects the amount of hot water flowing into the bathtub 18 from the flow rate of hot water flowing in the pipe. A check valve 29 for preventing the hot water in the bathtub 18 from flowing backward is installed.

  A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 30 are arranged in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank 3. In this embodiment, five hot water storage temperature sensors 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, and 30 e are installed, and the hot water storage temperature sensor 30 detects them. The residual heat amount in the hot water storage tank 3 and the vertical temperature distribution in the hot water storage tank 3 can be confirmed from the temperature information.

  31 is a relief valve that communicates with the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3, 32 is a water supply temperature sensor that is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 5 and detects the temperature of the water supply flowing in the pipe, and 33 is provided in the water supply pipe 5 and has a constant pressure of city water A depressurization valve 34 for depressurizing, a water faucet 34 for allowing city water to flow into the water supply pipe 5 by opening the plug, and a drain valve 35 connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 3 for draining hot water to the outside.

  Reference numeral 36 denotes an outside air temperature sensor as a freezing temperature detecting means installed at a predetermined position in the heat pump unit 6, and detects the outside air temperature around the heat pump unit 6 installed outside the room.

  Reference numeral 37 denotes a remote controller that is installed in the bathroom 38 and has an operation unit that can be set by the user to perform various settings. The amount of hot water set by a hot water amount setting switch (not shown) is stored in the bathtub 18. A bath automatic switch 39 that flows in and keeps the set temperature for a predetermined time, a temperature change switch 40 that changes the set temperature of the bath water, and a speaker 41 that notifies the set temperature of the hot water flowing into the bath 18 by voice are provided. Furthermore, the display unit 42 made of a dot matrix type fluorescent display tube is provided so that the user can check the setting status.

  Reference numeral 43 denotes a control unit that incorporates a microcomputer that receives the input of each sensor installed in the hot water storage tank unit 1 and controls the drive of each actuator, and compares the temperature detected by each temperature sensor with a predetermined value. Means 44 and time counting means 45 for counting the ON time and OFF time of the bath circulation pump 22 during the freeze prevention operation are provided.

  Reference numeral 46 denotes a front lower panel constituting the lower front of the housing 2, and reference numeral 47 denotes a bottom plate constituting the bottom of the housing 2. The housing 2 together with the front panel constituting the box-shaped front and the side panel constituting the side surface. Is configured. Reference numeral 48 denotes a leg that is installed on the bottom plate 47 and supports the hot water storage tank unit 1.

  Reference numeral 49 denotes a mounting plate that constitutes a part of the housing 2 and fixes predetermined pipes and functional parts. The pipe 20 is installed in communication with a hole at a predetermined position, and the bath circulation pump 22 is fixed with screws so as to be behind the pipes and between the water supply pipe 5 and the hot water supply pipe 13. Further, the mounting plate 49 is configured to protrude forward from the bottom plate 47 by a predetermined distance, and the piping inside the housing 2 is connected to the piping outside the housing 2 via the mounting plate 49. ing.

Next, a specific operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, the boiling operation at normal time will be described. When the unit price of the contracted power for each time zone reaches a low-night time zone, the control unit 43 heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 with the heat pump unit 6. Start the boiling operation.

  The control unit 43 determines the target temperature and amount of hot water to be stored in the hot water storage tank 3 based on the average amount of hot water used in the past week and the temperature detected by each hot water storage temperature sensor 30, and sets the target at the completion time of boiling. A boiling start time for starting a boiling operation is calculated for boiling hot water of a predetermined amount, and when it is determined that the boiling start time has been reached, a heat pump circulation pump (not shown) in the heat pump unit 6 is driven to drive Hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 flows in the heat pump circulation circuit 9 and is heated by the heat pump unit 6 to store hot water so that high temperature water is sequentially stacked from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3.

  When the controller 43 determines that the hot water at the target boiling temperature has been stored up to a predetermined amount from the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 30, the boiling operation is terminated.

Next, a hot water filling operation in which hot water of a bath set temperature flows into the bathtub 18 by the set hot water amount will be described.
When the bath automatic switch 39 of the remote control 37 is operated, the controller 43 opens the hot water solenoid valve 27 and adjusts the opening of the bath mixing valve 12 so that hot water at the bath set temperature flows into the bathtub 18. If it is determined that the set amount of hot water has flowed into the bathtub 18 from the flow rate detected by the tension flow sensor 28, the hot water solenoid valve 27 is closed to end the hot water filling.

Next, the freeze prevention operation of the bath circulation circuit 21 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
First, the control unit 43 confirms the outside air temperature T detected by the outside air temperature sensor 36, and compares the outside air temperature T with a comparison unit 44 to determine whether the outside air temperature T is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 3 ° C.) that may cause freezing (Step S101). ) If the outside air temperature T is less than 3 ° C., the bath circulation pump 22 is driven to prevent the bath water in the bath circulation circuit 21 from freezing, and the bath circulation pump 22 is driven by the timing means 45. The elapsed time count is started (step S102).

  When the bath circulation pump 22 is driven in step S102, the control unit 43 determines whether four minutes have elapsed since the start of the bath circulation pump 22 by counting the time in the time measuring means 45 (step S103).

  If it is determined in step S103 that 4 minutes have elapsed, the control unit 43 detects the bathtub water flowing in the bath circulation circuit 21 for 4 minutes counted by the time measuring means 45, and whether the running water switch 23 is turned on. Then, it is determined whether there is bathtub water in the bathtub 18 (step S104), and if it is determined that bathtub water exists, an intermittent operation is performed to turn on / off the bath circulation pump 22 in a predetermined time when there is bathtub water (step S104). S105) If it is determined that there is no bathtub water, an intermittent operation is performed to turn on / off the bath circulation pump 22 for a predetermined time when there is no bathtub water. (Step S106).

  After performing intermittent operation for turning on / off the bath circulation pump 22 for a predetermined time in step S105 and step S106, the control unit 43 confirms the elapsed time with the time measuring means 44 (step S107) and determines whether 20 minutes have elapsed. In step S108, if 20 minutes have passed, it is determined again in step S101 whether the outside air temperature T is less than 3 ° C. Note that the 20 minutes determined in step S108 is a period of one cycle of intermittent operation, and the ON time of the bath circulation pump 22 does not include the 4 minutes determined in step S103, and the time related to the operations in steps S105 and S106. Is explained.

Next, freezing prevention depending on the positions of piping and functional parts installed on the mounting plate 49 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A hot water supply pipe 13 is installed on the left side of the front view of the bath circulation pump 22 fixed on the mounting plate 49, and a water supply pipe 5 is installed on the right side of the front view, so that heat generated from the bath circulation pump 22 can be transferred. It is a range. Moreover, the bath return pipe 19 is installed so as to surround the pressure reducing valve 33 installed in the middle of the water supply pipe 5, and the heat of the bath water flowing in the bath return pipe 19 can be transferred.

  Thereby, when the outside air temperature decreases and the freeze prevention operation of the bath circulation circuit 21 is started, the heat of the bath water flowing into the bath circulation pump 22 and the heat generated from the bath circulation pump 22 itself are radiated, Freezing can be prevented by heating the hot water in the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5. Moreover, since the ambient temperature rises by the heat of the bath water radiated from the bath return pipe 19 and the pressure reducing valve 33 surrounded by the bath return pipe 19 is heated, the city water inside the appliance is prevented from freezing. be able to.

  Even if the outside air temperature is low, the temperature of the bathtub water existing in the bathtub 18 is slowed down by heat insulation of the bathroom and the bathtub. For example, when the outside air temperature is around 0 ° C., the temperature of the bath water is 20 ° C. or more. Therefore, when the bath water flows into the bath circulation circuit 21 or the bath circulation pump 22 when the freeze prevention operation is started, the ambient temperature can be increased by dissipating heat. 5. The pressure reducing valve 33 can be heated to prevent freezing of hot water inside.

Here, the arrangement place of the bath circulation pump 22 on the mounting plate 49 will be described.
There is a larger space between the left and right ends of the mounting plate 49 installed in front of the substantially rectangular housing 2 and the cylindrical hot water storage tank 3 than between the central portion of the mounting plate 49 and the hot water storage tank 3. Since the bath circulation pump 22 is arranged at the left end of the mounting plate 49 when viewed from the front and the bath circulation pump 22 is provided between the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5, the size of the casing 2 with respect to the front direction can be increased. It is possible to prevent freezing of the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5 by heat radiation from the bath circulation pump 22 while preventing it.

  In the present embodiment, the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5 are respectively installed on the left and right sides of the bath circulation pump 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the hot water supply pipe 13 or the water supply pipe 5 may be installed as long as the heat radiation from the bath circulation pump 22 can be transferred.

  The hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5 are installed on the left and right sides of the bath circulation pump 22, but the hot water supply pipe 4 constituting the hot water flow path and the water supply bypass pipe 10 constituting the water supply flow path are connected to the bath circulation pump 22. It may be configured to be installed in the vicinity of.

  Further, although the pressure reducing valve 33 is installed so as to be surrounded by the bath return pipe 19, the pressure reducing valve 33 may be installed so as to be surrounded by the bath return pipe 20. What is necessary is just to install the piping which comprises the bath circulation circuit 21 so that it may become possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the bath heat exchanger 17 is described as internal heat exchange in which the hot water storage tank 3 is installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, external heat exchange that exchanges heat with bathtub water outside the hot water storage tank 3 is also possible. It ’s good.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the freezing temperature detecting means has been described as the outside air temperature sensor 36 installed in the heat pump unit 6, but is not limited thereto, for example, an in-machine thermistor that detects the ambient temperature is installed in the hot water storage tank unit 1, When the temperature detected by the in-flight thermistor falls below a predetermined value, control for starting the freeze prevention operation may be performed. Further, the temperature of the bath water detected by the bath temperature sensor 24 or the temperature of city water detected by the feed water temperature sensor 32 may be used. Based on the above, control for starting the freeze prevention operation may be performed.

  As described above, the bath circulation pump 22 is fixed on the mounting plate 49 so as to be between the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5 to prevent the bath water in the bathtub 18 from freezing. When the driving of the pump 22 is started, the ambient temperature rises due to the heat of the bath water flowing in the bath circulation circuit 21 and the heat generated from the bath circulation pump 22 itself, and the hot water supply pipe 13 and the water supply near the bath circulation pump 22 are supplied. Since the pipe temperature of the pipe 5 rises, freezing of the hot water in the pipe can be prevented, and water supply to the hot water storage tank 3 and hot water from the hot water storage tank 3 can be normally performed.

  Further, by surrounding the pressure reducing valve 33 provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 5 with the bath return pipe 19, the pressure reducing valve 33 is heated by heat radiation from the bathtub water flowing in the bath return pipe 19 during the freeze prevention operation. Thus, the pressure reducing valve 33 can be prevented from freezing, and the city water can be normally decompressed.

  In the present embodiment, the heating means has been described as the heat pump unit 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a hot water heater using solar heat, gas, liquid fuel, an electric water heater using an electric heater, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage tank unit 3 Hot water storage tank 4 Outlet pipe 5 Water supply pipe 6 Heat pump unit 10 Water supply bypass pipe 13 Hot water supply pipe 17 Bath heat exchanger 19 Bath return pipe 20 Bath going pipe 21 Bath circulation circuit 22 Bath circulation pump 33 Pressure reducing valve 36 Outside temperature Sensor 49 Mounting plate

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water stored in the housing , a water supply passage connected to the hot water storage tank for supplying city water, and a pressure installed in the water supply passage to reduce the pressure of the city water baths and pressure reducing valve to a heating means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a hot water passage connected to said hot water storage tank hot water heated by the heating means flows, the bath water in the bathtub flows A bath circulation circuit composed of a return pipe and a bath outlet pipe, a bath circulation pump installed in the middle of the bath circulation circuit to circulate bathtub water, and bath heat installed in the middle of the bath circulation circuit to heat the bathtub water and exchanger, a freezing temperature sensing means for the bath water in the bath circulation circuit detects a predetermined temperature with a risk of freezing, in a bath water heater and a control unit for driving the bath circulation pump, the housing Arrangement outside The bath circulation pump in the vicinity of the water supply flow path and the hot water flow passage end portion of the connecting and installation and, the bath circulation circuit installed so as to surround the pressure reducing valve, wherein the control unit, the freezing temperature sensing A bath hot-water supply apparatus, wherein when a predetermined temperature at which the bath water is likely to freeze is detected by the means, an anti-freezing operation for driving the bath circulation pump for a predetermined time is started. The bath hot water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure reducing valve is enclosed so that the bath return pipe passes through the side and the upper side in front view, and the bath going pipe passes through the lower side . Wherein said water supply channel and the pouring channel of the end, the functional component is fixed, provided with a mounting plate for fixing the external predetermined piping, and the water supply channel which is fixed on said mounting plate tapping The bath water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bath circulation pump is installed between ends of the flow path.

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