JP6060025B2 - Bath water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath hot water supply apparatus that performs automatic hot water when the level of bath water falls below a target water level.

  Conventionally, this kind of bath water heater is provided with a bath circulation circuit that connects bath water to a bath heat exchanger so that the bath water can circulate as in Patent Document 1, and is provided in the bath circulation circuit to circulate bath water. A bath circulation pump, a water level sensor provided in the bath circulation circuit for monitoring the water level in the bath, and a hot water circuit connected to the bath circulation circuit for supplying hot water of a desired temperature to the bath Control means for performing bath replenishment operation for supplying hot water at a set temperature via the hot water circuit and the water circulation circuit to a certain amount or the target water level when the water level of the bath water monitored by the water level sensor falls below the target water level What is provided with is generally known.

JP 2010-169271 A (paragraph 0049)

  However, in this conventional type, when hot water is supplied to the bathtub to supply hot water of about 60 ° C., the water level sensor is exposed to the hot water and the temperature rises, and the output due to the temperature rise of the water level sensor. Due to voltage fluctuation, a water level lower than the actual water level may be erroneously detected.

  If it is erroneously detected that the water level is lower than the actual water level, the bath water replenishment operation is automatically performed and unnecessary hot water is supplied to the bathtub, and the bath water level is Was higher than the target water level, and in some cases hot water could overflow.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a bath circulation circuit for connecting bath water to a bath heat exchanger so that the bath water can circulate, a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit for circulating bath water, A bath water level sensor provided in the middle of the bath circulation circuit for monitoring the water level in the bathtub, a hot water circuit connected to the bath circulation circuit for supplying hot water of a desired temperature to the bath, and the bath water level sensor A bath provided with control means for performing bath replenishment operation for supplying hot water at a set temperature through the bath circulating circuit and the bath circulating circuit to a predetermined amount or the target water level when the water level to be monitored falls below the target water level. In the hot water supply apparatus, the control means interrupts the water level monitoring by the bath water level sensor when hot water for supplying hot water to the bathtub is started via the hot water circuit and the bath circulation circuit, High After the bath is finished, the bath circulation pump is temporarily driven to replace the hot bath water in the bath circuit with bath water, and then the bath water level sensor adjusts to the bath water temperature. When a certain amount of time required for the water has passed, the water level monitoring by the bath water level sensor is resumed , and for a certain time necessary for the bath water level sensor to adjust to the bath water temperature, The longer the temperature, the longer .

  According to the present invention, the water level monitoring is interrupted in a situation where the water level is erroneously detected low due to the temperature characteristics of the water level sensor during high temperature hot water, and the hot water in the bath circulation circuit is replaced with bath water after the high temperature hot water. After that, the water level monitoring is resumed at the timing when the water level sensor is no longer misdetected after a certain time required for the water level sensor to adjust to the bath water temperature. Driving can be reliably prevented.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bath water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. Time chart explaining the operation of the same embodiment

  Next, a heat pump hot water storage hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a stainless steel hot water storage tank for storing hot water, 2 is a water supply pipe for supplying city water to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, 3 is a hot water discharge pipe for discharging hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, and 4 is a water supply bypass branched from the water supply pipe 2 A hot water mixing valve for mixing hot water from the hot water discharge pipe 3 and water from the water supply bypass pipe 4 so as to reach a hot water supply set temperature, 6 is a hot water supply pipe through which hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve 5 flows, A hot water tap 7 supplies hot water from the hot water supply pipe 6.

  8 is a bath mixing valve that mixes hot water from the outlet hot water pipe 3 and water from the feed water bypass pipe 4 so as to reach the set temperature. 9 is hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 8 and flows into the bathtub. A hot water beam circuit 10 is used to open and close the hot water circuit 9.

  11 is a hot water supply temperature sensor that is provided in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 6 to detect the hot water supply temperature, 12 is a hot water supply flow rate sensor that is provided in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 6 to detect the flow rate of hot water supply, and 13 is provided in the middle of the hot water beam circuit 9. A hot water beam temperature sensor to be detected, and 14 is a hot water beam flow rate sensor which is provided in the middle of the hot water beam circuit 9 and detects the hot water flow rate.

  15 is a bathtub, 16 is a bath heat exchanger provided in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 for heating the bath water with the heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, and 17 is a bath water for bathing the bath 15 and the bath heat exchanger 16. A bath circulation circuit 18 is connected to the bath circulation circuit 17, 18 is a bath circulation pump for circulating bath water provided in the middle of the bath circulation circuit 17, and 19 is a bath bypass pipe that bypasses the bath heat exchanger 18 and connects the bath circulation circuit 17. , 20 is a bath three-way valve which is provided at a connection point between the bath bypass pipe 19 and the bath circulation circuit 17 and switches between bath water circulating through the bath heat exchanger 16 side or the bath bypass pipe 19 side. Here, the bath heat exchanger 16 has a configuration in which a stainless steel tube is spirally wound.

  21 is a bath temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the bath water flowing from the bath 15 to the bath heat exchanger 16 and 22 is a bath for detecting the water level in the bath 15. It is a water level sensor.

  23 is a hot water storage temperature sensor that is provided in the vertical direction of the side surface of the hot water storage tank 1 to detect the hot water storage temperature, 24 is a pressure reducing valve that is provided in the water supply pipe 2 and reduces the water supply water pressure to a constant pressure, and 25 is a hot water storage tank. 1 is an overpressure relief valve for releasing overpressure in 1.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a heat pump forward pipe for leading the hot water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 to the external heat pump type heating means 28, and reference numeral 27 denotes a heat pump return pipe for introducing the hot water passed through the heat pump type heating means 27 into the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1.

  28 is a heat pump type heating means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, a refrigerant 29 for compressing the refrigerant, and a heat pump forward pipe 26 and a heat pump return pipe 27 connected to the water side to exchange heat between the refrigerant and water. A water heat exchanger 30, a decompressor 31 for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant, an evaporator 32 for evaporating the liquid refrigerant, a blowing means 33 for supplying outside air as a heat source to the evaporator 32, and the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30 The heat circulating pump 34 for supplying hot water from the heat pump forward pipe 26 to the water side of the water, the incoming water temperature sensor 35 for detecting the temperature of the water flowing into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30, and the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30 A boiling temperature sensor 36 that detects the temperature of the hot water is provided, and the refrigerant that has absorbed heat by the evaporator 30 is compressed by the compressor 29 to heat the water through the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30. Carbon dioxide refrigerant is used as the refrigerant in the heat pump heating means 28, and water can be heated to a high temperature of 90 ° C. when the high pressure side is in a supercritical state.

  Reference numeral 37 denotes a remote controller provided in the vicinity of the kitchen, etc., which is a dot matrix liquid crystal display unit that displays various types of information related to the hot water supply device (hot water set temperature, bath set temperature, amount of remaining hot water in the tank, operating state of the water heater, date and time). 38, a cross key 39 for setting a hot water supply temperature, a bath temperature, and the like, a bath automatic key 40 for performing bath automatic operation, and a hot water key 41 for performing hot bath operation to the bathtub 15 Remote control means 42 for controlling the operation state of the water heater to be displayed on the display unit 38 and to display information corresponding to the operation of each operation key on the display unit 38.

  Reference numeral 43 denotes a hot water supply temperature sensor 11, a hot water flow rate sensor 12, a hot water temperature sensor 13, a hot water flow rate sensor 14, a bath temperature sensor 21, a bath water level sensor 22, and a hot water storage temperature sensor 23. In addition to controlling the operation of the bath mixing valve 8, the hot water on-off valve 10, the bath circulation pump 18, and the bath three-way valve 20, the hot water storage side control means is connected to the remote controller 37 and the heat pump heating means 28 in a communicable manner. is there. The hot water storage side control means 43 stores a program for controlling the operation of the hot water heater in advance and has a calculation, comparison, storage function, and calendar clock function.

  44, the detection values of the incoming water temperature sensor 35 and the boiling temperature sensor 36 are input to control the operation of the compressor 29, the decompressor 31, the blower means 33, the heating circulation pump 34, and the hot water storage side control means 43. It is the heating side control means connected so that communication was possible. The heating-side control means 43 stores a program for controlling the operation of the heat pump heating means 28 in advance.

<Boiling operation>
When the start time of a predetermined time zone (midnight time zone) at which the power rate unit price is inexpensive is reached, the hot water storage side control means 43 instructs the heating side control means 44 to start boiling up the amount of hot water corresponding to the hot water supply load amount so far. A boiling target temperature corresponding to the hot water supply load and an instruction to start boiling are transmitted, and the heating side control means 44 starts driving the compressor 29, the decompressor 31, the air blowing means 33, and the heating circulation pump 34, and the hot water storage tank 1 The hot water taken out from the lower part is heated to the boiling target temperature by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30 and returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, hot water at the set temperature is heated from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, and the hot water storage side control means When the bottom hot water storage temperature sensor 23 detects a predetermined boiling end determination temperature or reaches the end time of a predetermined time zone, 43 instructs the heating side control means 44 to stop the boiling, 44 terminates the heating operation stops driving the compressor 29 pressure reducer 31 and the blowing means 33 and the heating circulation pump 34.

<Hot water supply>
When the hot-water tap 7 is opened, city water flows into the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 from the water supply pipe 2 and hot water is discharged from the top of the hot water storage tank 1 through the hot water discharge pipe 3. It is mixed with water from the pipe 4 and passes through the hot water supply pipe 6. When the hot water flow rate sensor 12 detects a minimum working water amount or more, the hot water storage side control means 43 performs feedback control on the valve opening degree of the hot water mixing valve 5 so that the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 11 coincides with the set hot water temperature. Then, hot water supply at the hot water supply set temperature is performed. When the hot water supply flow rate sensor 12 detects that the amount of operating water is less than the minimum operating water amount, for example, when the hot water tap 7 is closed, the hot water storage side control means 43 stops the hot water supply by stopping the feedback control of the valve opening degree of the hot water supply mixing valve 5. I have to.

<Increased operation>
Next, when the hot water storage side control means 43 detects that the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 1 has decreased based on the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 23, such as when a large amount of hot water is supplied in a time zone other than the midnight time zone. The hot water storage side control means 43 transmits a boiling target temperature and an instruction to start boiling to the heating side control means 44, and the heating side control means 44 includes the compressor 29, the decompressor 31, the blower means 33, and the heating circulation. The pump 34 is started to drive, the hot water taken out from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 is heated up to the target temperature by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 30 and returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 and boiled at the upper part of the hot water that has been stored so far. The hot water at the target temperature to be raised is stored in a laminated form, and when the hot water storage side control means 43 has passed a certain period of time from the start of boiling, the heating side control means 44 instructs the heating side control means 44 to stop boiling, and the heating side control means 44 compresses. Machine 9 and decompressor 31 and the blowing means 33. The heating circulation pump 34 ends the reheating operation by driving stop.

<Automatic bathing>
Next, automatic bathing operation will be described. When the automatic bath key 40 of the remote controller 37 is operated, the hot water storage side control means 43 opens the hot water on / off valve 10 so that the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 13 matches the bath temperature. The valve opening degree of the mixing valve 8 is feedback-controlled, and the hot water operation at a desired bath set temperature is started.

  Then, when the accumulated value of the bath flow rate detected by the hot water flow rate sensor 14 reaches the set hot water amount, the hot water storage side control means 43 closes the hot water on / off valve 10 and stops the hot water operation, which is predetermined. The bath warming operation and bath replenishment operation are performed only during the bath automatic time.

<Bath insulation operation>
In the bath warming operation, the bath circulation pump 18 is driven while the bath three-way valve 20 is set to the bypass side every predetermined time, and the bath temperature sensor 21 checks the bath water temperature, which is lower than the bath set temperature. When this is detected, the bath three-way valve 20 is switched to the bath heat exchanger 16 side and the bath water is heated by the bath heat exchanger 16. When the bath temperature sensor 21 confirms that the temperature of the bath water has risen from the bath set temperature, the bath three-way valve 20 is returned to the bypass side and the driving of the bath circulating pump 18 is stopped. The same operation is repeated during the bath automatic time to keep the bath water at the bath set temperature.

<Bath replenishment operation>
In the bath refilling operation, the hot water storage side control means 43 stores the water level in the bathtub 15 at the end of the hot water operation as a target water level based on the detected value of the bath water level sensor 22, and constantly during the bath automatic operation. The water level of the bath water is monitored, and when the water level of the bath water falls below a predetermined value from the stored target water level, the hot water on / off valve 10 is opened and the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 13 is equal to the set temperature. The valve opening of the bath mixing valve 8 is feedback-controlled so as to match, and hot water having a desired bath set temperature is supplied until a predetermined amount up to the original target water level or until the target water level is detected by the bath water level sensor 22. The same operation is repeated during a predetermined automatic bath time so that the bath water is kept at a predetermined water level.

<High temperature hot water operation>
Next, the high temperature hot water operation will be described based on the time chart of FIG.
When the high-temperature hot water key 40 of the remote controller 37 is operated (time t1), the hot water storage side control means 43 opens the hot water on / off valve 10 while keeping the bath three-way valve 20 on the bypass side, and the hot water temperature sensor. The valve opening of the bath mixing valve 8 is feedback-controlled so that the temperature detected by 13 becomes a predetermined high temperature hot water temperature (60 ° C. in this case), and the high temperature hot water operation is started. At this time, the water level monitoring of the bath water level sensor 22 is temporarily interrupted.

  The hot water flowing out from the hot water circuit 9 is supplied to the bathtub 15 through both the return and return pipes of the bath circulation circuit 17, and the control means 43 determines that a predetermined amount of hot water has been heated. When detected by the hot water flow rate sensor 14 (time t2), the hot water on-off valve 10 is closed to end the hot water hot water operation.

  The hot water storage side control means 43 drives the bath circulating pump 18 at the time t3 slightly delayed from the time t2 (the time t2 and the time t3 can be the same time) while the bath three-way valve 20 remains on the bypass side. The hot hot water remaining in the bath circulation circuit 17 is replaced with the hot water in the bathtub 15 to prevent the supply of unexpected hot water accompanying the subsequent bathing operation and The waste of energy is suppressed by supplying all into the bathtub 15.

  When the bath circulating pump 18 is driven for a predetermined time (time t4), the hot water storage side control means 43 stops driving the bath circulating pump 18 and the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 adjusts to the bath water temperature. The counting of a certain time T necessary for the above is started. During the counting of the fixed time T, the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 that has risen due to the hot water is lowered by the bath water in the bath circulation circuit 17.

  When the count of the predetermined time T necessary for the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 to adjust to the bath water temperature ends (time t5), the hot water storage side control means 43 resumes the water level start of the bath water level sensor 22.

  Thus, in the situation where the water level is erroneously detected low due to the temperature characteristics of the bath water level sensor 22 at the time of the hot water, the water level monitoring is interrupted, and the hot water in the bath circuit 17 is bathed after the hot water. After the replacement, the water level monitoring is performed at a timing (time t5) at which a certain time T necessary for the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 to adjust to the temperature of the bath water elapses and there is no possibility of false detection of the water level. Since it is resumed, unnecessary water replenishment operation can be surely prevented.

  Further, since the bath circulation pump 18 is driven only for a time required for replacement of hot water in the bath circulation circuit 17, it is used to adjust the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 to the bath water temperature. Power consumption can be minimized.

  Here, since the fixed time T required for the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 to adjust to the temperature of the bath water mainly depends on the temperature of the hot water, the temperature of the hot water is 60 ° C. However, when the setting is changed to 80 ° C., which is higher than that, it is preferable to set the predetermined time T to a predetermined long time T ′ accordingly.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified without changing the gist of the invention. It is not a heat pump hot water storage type but a known oil or gas combustion instantaneous bath. It can also be used for water heaters and electric water heaters.

  In addition, the count start of a certain time T necessary for the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 to become familiar with the temperature of the bath water is set to the time when the bath circulating pump 18 is stopped. This is the time when the bath circulating pump 18 stops driving. This is because the time required for replacement of the hot water in the bath circulation circuit 17 has elapsed since the start of the driving of the bath circulation pump 18, and the driving stop of the bath circulation pump 18 is necessary for the replacement. If the time is longer than the required time, the temperature of the bath water level sensor 22 adjusts to the temperature of the bath water from the time when the hot water in the bath circulating circuit 17 has been replaced after the bath circulation pump 18 starts to be driven. It is also possible to start counting a certain time T necessary for the above.

9 Hot water circuit 15 Bath 16 Bath heat exchanger 17 Bath circulation circuit 18 Bath circulation pump 22 Bath water level sensor 43 Hot water storage side control means (control means)

Claims (1)

A bath circulation circuit for connecting bath water to the bath heat exchanger so that the bath water can circulate, a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit for circulating bath water, and provided in the bath circulation circuit in the bath A bath water level sensor that monitors the water level of the bath, a hot water beam circuit that is connected to the bath circulation circuit and supplies hot water of a desired temperature to the bathtub, and the bath water level monitored by the bath water level sensor is below the target water level And a hot water supply apparatus comprising: a hot water supply circuit for supplying hot water at a set temperature via the hot water circulation circuit and the hot water circulation circuit to a predetermined amount or a target water level; When hot water for supplying hot water to the bathtub is started via the beam circuit and the bath circulation circuit, the water level monitoring by the bath water level sensor is interrupted, and after the hot water is finished, the bath circulation pump is stopped. When a certain time required for the temperature of the bath water level sensor to adjust to the bath water temperature after the hot water of the bath circulation circuit is replaced with bath water by temporarily driving the The water level monitoring by the bath water level sensor is restarted, and the fixed time required for the bath water level sensor to adjust to the bath water temperature is increased as the temperature of the hot water is increased. A bath water heater characterized by

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