JPH05172425A - Cold/hot water feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable cold water and hot water to be fed simultaneously or selectively by providing a thermoelement, a heat exchanger and means for supplying a direct electric current to the thermoelement. CONSTITUTION:When a direct electric current is caused to flow from DC supply means 36, 38 to a thermoelement 24, one of acting surfaces of the thermoelement 24 absorbs heat (or generates heat) with the Peltier effect according to the flowing direction of the DC to cool (or heat) a heat exchanger 12. Water flowing from a water inlet port of the heat exchanger 12 to a water outlet port thereof exchanges heat with the thermoelement 24, and feed water is cooled (or heated). Accordingly, in the case where a current is supplied in one direction only, the title device is actuated as a cold water feed device or as a hot water feed device according to the flowing direction of the supplied current. Further, in the case where arrangements are so made that the direction of the supplied DC can be inverted by a double-throw switch, the heat exchanger 12 can be cooled or heated at user's option. As a result, cold water and hot water can be fed simultaneously or selectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cold / hot water supply device for converting uncontrolled temperature water such as tap water into cold water and / or hot water, particularly as a drinking water cooler and / or simple hot water. The present invention relates to a cold / hot water supply device that can be suitably used as a hot water supply source for a shower.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cooling of water or the like is generally performed by a refrigerator using a cooling medium such as Freon gas. A refrigerator using a cooling medium has a disadvantage that the structure is large. Further, due to the leakage of the Freon gas, the cooling efficiency is deteriorated with time, and the environment is destroyed.

In recent years, as a cooling method that does not use a cooling medium, the Peltier effect exhibited by thermoelectric elements
A cooler utilizing the is proposed. That is, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-125765 proposes a refrigerator having a thermoelectric element. However, this refrigerator is monofunctional in the sense that it can only refrigerate its contents.

On the other hand, in supplying hot water, a water heater is conventionally used, and the water is heated by the heat of combustion of fuel such as gas or oil. Such a water heater requires a combustor with a complicated structure. Further, there are environmental problems such as combustion noise and emission of exhaust gas.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a cold / hot water supply device (that is, a device for supplying cold water and / or hot water) having a simple structure and compact size. is there.

In another aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cold / hot water supply device having no moving parts and emitting no exhaust gas, noxious gas or noise. ..

In still another aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cold / hot water supply device capable of selectively supplying cold water and hot water according to a user's request. ..

In another aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cold / hot water supply device capable of simultaneously supplying cold water and hot water.

[0009]

[Constitution of the invention]

Means for Solving the Problems and Summary of Actions In one aspect of the present invention, a cold / hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention transfers heat to a thermoelectric element and one working surface (heat absorbing surface) of the thermoelectric element. It comprises one heat exchanger arranged in thermal relationship and means for supplying a direct current to the thermoelectric element.

A thermoelectric element is known as an element that consumes electric energy to transfer heat, and today's high-performance thermoelectric elements are generally made of compound semiconductors, such as p-type semiconductors and n-type semiconductors.
A thermocouple is formed by joining the semiconductor with a mold semiconductor. When a direct current is applied to the pn junction of the thermoelectric element, an endothermic and exothermic phenomenon occurs at both ends (a pair of working surfaces) of the thermoelectric element.
This phenomenon is called the Peltier effect.

Therefore, when a direct current is supplied from the direct current supply means to the thermoelectric element, one of the working surfaces of the thermoelectric element absorbs heat (or heat) due to the Peltier effect according to the direction of the direct current and cools the heat exchanger. (Or heat). The water flowing from the water inlet to the water outlet of the heat exchanger exchanges heat with the thermoelectric element, and the supplied water is cooled (or heated). Therefore, when the current is supplied in only one direction, the device of the present invention operates as a cold water supply device or a hot water supply device depending on the direction of the supply current.

When the direction of the supplied DC current can be reversed by the reversing switch, the heat exchanger can be cooled or heated at will, so that the cold / hot water supply device of the present invention can be used by the user. It is possible to selectively supply cold water and hot water depending on the situation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cold / hot water supply device of the present invention has a thermoelectric element having a pair of working surfaces that respectively absorb and generate heat by the Peltier effect upon energization, and the working surface of each of the thermoelectric elements. On the other hand, it is provided with two heat exchangers respectively arranged in a heat transfer relationship, and means for supplying a direct current to the thermoelectric element.

Due to the Peltier effect, one working surface of the thermoelectric element absorbs heat while the other working surface generates heat at the same time. As a result, the water flowing through the heat exchanger arranged on the heat absorption side of the thermoelectric element is cooled to be cold water, while the water flowing through the heat exchanger arranged on the heat generating side of the thermoelectric element is heated to become warm water. Therefore, in this embodiment, cold water and hot water can be supplied at the same time.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a part of the cold / hot water supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention arranged in a cold water supply mode. The cold / hot water supply apparatus 10 is designed to receive incoming tap water. Exchanger 12 as a heat exchange means for cooling water to cold water
Is equipped with. The heat exchanger 12 has a wide heat exchange section 14 capable of storing a certain amount of water therein.
And an inlet pipe 16 and an outlet pipe 18. The inlet pipe 16 can be connected to a water pipe 21 via a valve V, which is schematically indicated by reference numeral 20, and the outlet pipe 1
8 can be connected to the faucet 22.

The hot / cold water supply apparatus 10 further includes a thermoelectric element 24, which is arranged in a heat transfer relationship with the heat exchanger 12. In the illustrated first embodiment, in the thermoelectric element 24, a p-type semiconductor 26 and an n-type semiconductor 28 made of a Bi-Te compound semiconductor material are pn-joined by a metal plate 30, and electrodes are formed on the respective semiconductors 26 and 28. Plates 32 and 34 are provided. A minus lead wire 36 and a plus lead wire 38 as means for supplying a direct current to the thermoelectric element 24 are connected to the respective electrode plates 32 and 34, and these lead wires are connected via a switch 40 to a storage battery. It is connected to a DC power supply composed of 42. Instead of the storage battery 42, an AC / DC converter (not shown) supplied with power from a commercial AC power supply may be used.

The metal plate 30 of the thermoelectric element 24 is connected to the heat exchanger 12
Since they are electrically insulated from each other and perform heat transfer connection, they are connected to each other through the alumina ceramic layer 43 which is electrically insulating and excellent in thermal conductivity. In the illustrated embodiment, the alumina ceramic layer 43 includes a plurality of heat exchange fins 44.
Are joined together. These heat exchange fins 44 extend inside the heat exchange unit 14 across the inner space of the heat exchange unit 14, and the metal plate 30 of the thermoelectric element 24 and the heat exchange unit 1 are provided.
Heat exchange is efficiently performed with the water inside. In order that the water flowing from the inlet pipe 16 into the internal space of the heat exchange section 14 may flow to the outlet pipe 18,
Inside the heat exchange section 14, the heat exchange fin 44 is provided with a plurality of through holes (not shown).

The operation of the hot / cold water supply device 10 will be described. When the switch 40 is closed, a direct current flows from the n-type semiconductor 28 of the thermoelectric element 24 to the p-type semiconductor 26 via the metal plate 30. By energizing, the metal plate 30 forming the pn junction is cooled by the Peltier effect, and the electrode plates 32 and 34 are heated. The cooled metal plate 30 is the thermoelectric element 2
4 acts as a heat-absorption-side working surface for cooling the tap water in the heat exchange section 14. The cold water thus stored in the heat exchange section 14 is discharged from the faucet 22 when the valve 20 is opened, and can be used for drinking.

On the other hand, the electrode plates 32 and 34 act as the heat generating side working surface of the thermoelectric element 24, are air-cooled by the surrounding air, and dissipate the heat transferred from the metal plate 30 as the heat absorbing side working surface. If heat radiation fins (not shown) are installed on the electrode plates 32 and 34, heat radiation can be promoted.

The case where the device 10 is operated in the cold water supply mode by connecting the positive terminal of the storage battery 42 to the n-type semiconductor 28 and the negative terminal to the p-type semiconductor 26 has been described above. If the storage battery 42 is connected so that the direction of the direct current is reversed, the metal plate 30 will be the heat generating side working surface of the thermoelectric element 24.
Operates as a hot water supply.

FIG. 2 shows the cold / hot water supply device 10 shown in FIG.
Is arranged so that either cold water or hot water can be selectively supplied, and constituent elements common to those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. To explain only the differences, in the arrangement of FIG. 2, the storage battery 42 (which can be replaced by an AC / DC converter as described above) supplies the direct current to the thermoelectric element 24 in different arbitrary directions. Is connected to the thermoelectric element 24. Therefore, both terminals of the storage battery 42 are connected to the movable contacts of the two double throw switches 50 and 52 which are interlocked with each other, and the first fixed contact of the double throw switch 50 and the second fixed contact of the double throw switch 52 are connected to each other. The double throw switch 50 is connected to the electrode plate 32 of the p-type semiconductor 26 via the lead wire 54.
And the first fixed contact of the double throw switch 52 are connected to the electrode plate 34 of the n-type semiconductor 28 via the lead wire 56. Further, the outlet pipe 18 of the heat exchanger 12 is connected to the faucet 22 and the shower head 60 via the three-way valve 58.
The outlet pipe 18 can be selectively connected to either one of the faucet 22 and the shower head 60 by operating the three-way valve 58.

To explain the operation of the hot and cold water supply apparatus 10 in the arrangement of FIG. 2, when the movable contacts of the two double throw switches 50 and 52 interlocking with each other are rotated clockwise in FIG. 2, the direct current becomes p. Type semiconductor 26 to metal plate 30
Flow through to the n-type semiconductor 28, the metal plate 30 serves as the heat generating side working surface of the thermoelectric element, and the electrode plates 32 and 34 serve as the heat absorbing side working surface.
Heat is transferred to. As a result, the heat exchanger 12 is heated, and the water flowing from the inlet pipe 16 is heated to be hot water. When the outlet pipe 18 is connected to the shower head 60 by operating the three-way valve 58, hot water is supplied from the shower head 60.

On the contrary, when the movable contacts of the double throw switches 50 and 52 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the current flows from the n-type semiconductor 28 through the metal plate 30 to the p-type semiconductor 2.
6, the water in the heat exchanger 12 is cooled to be cold water as described above with reference to FIG. When the outlet pipe 18 is connected to the faucet 22 by operating the three-way valve 58,
Cold water is obtained at.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a part of the cold / hot water supply apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same components as those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Also in this embodiment, the cold / hot water supply device 7 is used.
0 has a pair of thermoelectric elements 24, and the thermoelectric elements 24 are composed of a p-type semiconductor 26, an n-type semiconductor 28, a metal plate 30, and electrode plates 32 and 34, as in the first embodiment. Since the connection relationship between the electrode plate and the storage battery 42 is the same as in the arrangement example of FIG. 1, the metal plate 30 functions as a heat-absorption-side working surface, and the electrode plates 32 and 34 function as a heat-generating-side working surface. The heat exchanger 12 for cooling is joined to the metal plate 30, which serves as the cooling-side working surface of the thermoelectric element 24, as in the first embodiment.

The cold / hot water supply device 70 of the second embodiment is further provided with a heat exchanger 72 for hot water, and the electrode plates 32 and 34 as the heat-generating side working surfaces are electrically insulating and thermally conductive. Are bonded in a heat transfer relationship through the alumina ceramic layer 73 of. The structure of the heat exchanger 72 for hot water is the same as that of the heat exchanger 12 for cold water, and the inlet pipe 74 and the outlet pipe 7 are
6 and. The outlet pipe 18 of the cold water heat exchanger 12 is connected to the faucet 22, and the outlet pipe 7 of the hot water heat exchanger 72 is connected.
6 can be connected to a shower head 60. The inlet pipes 16 and 74 of the heat exchangers 12 and 72 can be connected to the water pipe 21 via a three-way valve 78.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described. When the switch 40 is closed and the thermoelectric element 24 is energized, heat is transferred by the Peltier effect as described above, and the metal plate 30 causes the heat absorption side working surface. Therefore, the electrode plates 32 and 34 serve as the heat generating side working surface. Therefore, the water in the cold water heat exchanger 12 is cooled to be cold water, and the water in the hot water heat exchanger 72 is heated to be hot water. When tap water is supplied to both heat exchangers 12 and 72 by operating the three-way valve 78, cold water is obtained from the faucet 22 and hot water is supplied from the shower head 60.

If the three-way valve 78 is operated so that the water pipe 21 is connected only to the cold water heat exchanger 12, only cold water is discharged from the faucet 22. On the contrary, if the three-way valve 78 is operated so that the water pipe 21 is connected only to the hot water heat exchanger 72, only hot water flows out from the shower head 60.

As described above, in the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain cold water and hot water at the same time, or selectively obtain either one of them.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of a thermoelectric element module that can be suitably used in the above-described cold / hot water supply apparatus of the present invention. The thermoelectric element module shown in FIG. It can be used by replacing the pair of thermoelectric elements 24 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, this thermoelectric element module 80 is formed by joining a p-type semiconductor 82 and an n-type semiconductor 84 made of a Bi—Te based compound semiconductor in the form of a thermocouple via a metal plate 86. A plurality of pairs of thermoelectric elements 88, which are arranged in the form of an array. That is, adjacent thermoelectric elements 88 in the same row are electrically connected in series with each other by metal terminals 90, and thermoelectric elements 88 in the preceding and following rows are connected in series with each other by, for example, metal terminals 92 at the ends of the rows. In this way, one thermoelectric element module 80 can be constituted by 100 or more pairs of thermoelectric elements 88 connected in series with each other. Each thermoelectric element in the module is supported by electrically insulating and thermally conductive ceramic substrates 94 and 96. These ceramic substrates 94 and 96 act as an endothermic and exothermic action surface common to all the thermoelectric elements 88, and which is the endothermic side or the exothermic side is determined by the direction of the current passing through the pn junction.

In the above description of the embodiments, the heat exchangers 12 and 72 have been described as having the water storage space inside, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the meandering heat conductive pipes are used. May be brought into contact with the working surface of the thermoelectric element.

A thermistor for adjusting the water temperature to an arbitrary temperature and a valve mechanism for adjusting the amount of water and the mixing ratio of hot and cold water may be provided.

[0034]

According to the present invention, cold water and / or hot water can be easily supplied by a simple structure in which a heat exchanger cooled or heated by a thermoelectric element is provided in the middle of a water channel.

In another aspect, according to the present invention, both the endothermic action and the exothermic action of the thermoelectric element can be utilized at the same time, so that it is possible to supply cold water and hot water at the same time.

In still another aspect, the device of the present invention cools or heats water by the heat absorption / exothermic action of the thermoelectric element, so that it does not release a refrigerant such as freon gas or exhaust gas and contributes to environmental protection. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cold / hot water supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged in a cold water supply mode, and a part thereof is schematically shown.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cold / hot water supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged so as to selectively supply either cold water or hot water, and a part thereof is a schematic view. It is shown in the figure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of the cold / hot water supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a thermoelectric element module that can be suitably used in the cold / hot water supply device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 70: Cold / hot water supply device 12, 72: Heat exchanger 24: Thermoelectric element 30, 32, 34, 94, 96: Working surface of thermoelectric element 36, 38, 54, 56: Direct current supply means 80: Thermoelectric element module

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermoelectric element having a working surface that absorbs or heats due to the Peltier effect when a direct current is applied, a water inlet and a water outlet, and is arranged in a heat transfer relationship with the working surface of the thermoelectric element. A heat exchange means for exchanging heat between the water flowing from the water inlet to the water outlet and the working surface of the thermoelectric element, and means for supplying a direct current to the thermoelectric element so as to generate a Peltier effect in the thermoelectric element A cold / hot water supply device including, and. 2. A pair of working surfaces, each of which absorbs heat and generates heat by a Peltier effect when a direct current is applied, and one working surface absorbs heat when the direct current is supplied, and the other working surface also generates heat. And a water inlet and a water outlet, respectively, which are arranged in a heat transfer relationship with respect to each of the working surfaces of the thermoelectric element, and water flowing from each water inlet to the water outlet. And hot water supply including two heat exchanging means for exchanging heat between the thermoelectric element and each working surface of the thermoelectric element, and means for supplying a direct current to the thermoelectric element so as to generate a Peltier effect in the thermoelectric element. apparatus.