AU2020438508B2 - Hot water generating device - Google Patents

Hot water generating device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
AU2020438508B2
AU2020438508B2 AU2020438508A AU2020438508A AU2020438508B2 AU 2020438508 B2 AU2020438508 B2 AU 2020438508B2 AU 2020438508 A AU2020438508 A AU 2020438508A AU 2020438508 A AU2020438508 A AU 2020438508A AU 2020438508 B2 AU2020438508 B2 AU 2020438508B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
water
refrigerant
housing
hot water
expansion tank
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
AU2020438508A
Other versions
AU2020438508B9 (en
AU2020438508A1 (en
Inventor
Takahiro MORIZONO
Kazuhito Wakatsuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba Carrier Corp
Original Assignee
Toshiba Carrier Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toshiba Carrier Corp filed Critical Toshiba Carrier Corp
Publication of AU2020438508A1 publication Critical patent/AU2020438508A1/en
Publication of AU2020438508B2 publication Critical patent/AU2020438508B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2020438508B9 publication Critical patent/AU2020438508B9/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24HFLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H4/00Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
    • F24H4/02Water heaters
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24HFLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00Details
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24DDOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D2220/00Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
    • F24D2220/02Fluid distribution means
    • F24D2220/0278Expansion vessels

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
  • Devices For Medical Bathing And Washing (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Provided is a hot water generating device such that it is possible to efficiently accommodate a cylindrical expansion tank within a rectangular housing. This hot water generating device (1) comprises: a rectangular housing (51) that has a front surface (51f), a rear surface (51r), a top surface (51t), a bottom surface (51b), and a pair of side surfaces (51s); and an expansion tank (31) that is cylindrical in shape, that has a length dimension L in the direction of a central axis C which is greater than the diameter dimension D, and that is accommodated in the housing (51) such that the central axis (C) is oriented in the direction of the pair of side surfaces (51s) of the housing (51).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hot
water generator.
BACKGROUND
[0002]
A hot water supply system of a heat pump type is known
as a hot water generator. This conventional hot water supply
system includes an outdoor unit (i.e., heat source unit) and
a hydro unit (i.e., water/heat exchange unit). The hydro
unit includes: a housing; an expansion tank that is provided
inside the housing that alleviates pressure rise in piping
due to hot water having risen in temperature; and a water
heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and a high
temperature refrigerant supplied from the heat source unit.
PRIOR ART Document
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] WO 2007/142144 Al
[0004]
The hydro unit of the conventional hot water supply
system generally includes a rectangular housing that has a
front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of left and right side faces. The expansion tank provided in the housing may be a rectangular tank or a cylindrical tank.
[0005]
The rectangular tank can efficiently utilize the space
inside the housing. However, the rectangular tank requires
sufficient strength at the corners. Thus, the rectangular
tank may be heavier and/or more expensive than the
cylindrical tank that does not have a corner.
[0006]
The cylindrical tank has a larger internal volume per
unit weight than the rectangular tank. Thus, the cylindrical
tank is cheaper and lighter than the rectangular tank having
approximately the same internal volume. However, when the
cylindrical tank is housed in a rectangular housing, a gap is
generated between the cylindrical tank and the housing. That
is, it is difficult for the cylindrical tank to efficiently
utilize the space inside the housing as compared with the
rectangular tank.
[0007]
It is desired to overcome or alleviate one or more
difficulties of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful
alternative. At least some embodiments of the present
invention aim to provide a hot water generator that can
efficiently accommodate a cylindrical expansion tank in a
rectangular housing of its hydro unit.
SUMMARY
[0007a]
In accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention there is provided a hot water generator comprising:
an outdoor unit that includes therein a compressor and
a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being configured to
exchange heat between a refrigerant and air; and
a hydro unit including
a water heat exchanger that exchanges heat
between water and the refrigerant flowing in from the outdoor
unit,
a rectangular housing that has a front face, a
rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side
faces, and
an expansion tank that has a cylindrical shape,
the expansion tank having length dimension in a centerline
direction larger than diameter dimension, and being
accommodated in the housing with the centerline directed
toward the pair of side faces, wherein
the expansion tank includes a cylindrical body, and a
convex part that protrudes outward in a radial direction of the
cylindrical body and extends in a circumferential direction of
the cylindrical body, and
the hot water generator further comprises a fixing
band that has a hole configured to be interdigitated with the
convex part, and fixes the expansion tank to a rear plate that forms the rear face of the housing, in a manner that the fixing band extends on the cylindrical body from above to below the cylindrical body.
[0008]
A hot water generator according to one aspect of the
invention includes an outdoor unit that includes therein a
compressor and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat
between a refrigerant and air, a hydro unit including a water
heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and the
refrigerant flowing in from the outdoor unit. The hydro unit
includes a rectangular housing that has a front face, a rear
face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces,
and an expansion tank that has a cylindrical shape. The
expansion tank has length dimension in a centerline direction
larger than diameter dimension, and is accommodated in the
housing with the centerline directed toward the pair of side
faces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009]
One or more embodiments of the present invention are
hereinafter described, by way of example only, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot
water generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hydro unit of the
hot water generator according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hydro
unit of the hot water generator according to the present
embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure
of the hot water generator according to the present
embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the internal structure of
the hot water generator according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
hot water generator according to the present embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010]
Embodiments of a hot water generator according to the
present invention will be described by referring to Fig. 1 to
Fig. 6. The same reference signs are given to identical or
equivalent components in each figure.
[0011]
Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot
water generator 1 according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012]
As shown in Fig. 1, the hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment is a heat pump type. The hot water generator 1 includes: an outdoor unit 2 that is a heat source unit configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant; a hydro unit 3 (i.e., water/heat exchange unit) that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water supplied from the outside of the generator; a remote controller 4 that accepts operations by a user as an input device; and a controller 5 that controls the outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3 on the basis of the operations inputted to the remote controller 4.
[0013]
The hot water generator 1 circulates the refrigerant
between the outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3, and heats
water by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and water in
a water heat exchanger 15 in the hydro unit 3 so as to supply
hot water at the first temperature (for example, 40 degrees
Celsius) to the outside of the generator. The hot water at
the first temperature is returned to the hydro unit 3 through
an external heating device (not shown) such as a floor
heating system. In other words, water circulates between the
hydro unit 3 and the external heat radiating device such as a
heat radiator of the heating device.
[0014]
In addition, the hot water generator 1 can supply
high-temperature hot water at the second temperature (for
example, about 70 degrees Celsius) to the outside of the generator by applying both of heat exchange between the refrigerant and water as well as heating with the use of a backup heater 67 described below. When only the heat exchange between the refrigerant and water is applied, though it depends on the type of refrigerant to be used, the maximum temperature is about 55 degrees Celsius in the case of using the R410A refrigerant. The hot water at the second temperature is stored in a hot water storage device outside the generator and then is used. The hot water stored in the hot water storage device is supplied to, for example, a washroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Normally, the outdoor unit 2 is installed outdoors and the hydro unit 3 is installed indoors. The outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3 are interconnected by crossover pipes 21 and 22 of refrigerant piping 16 and a communication line (not shown).
In the hot water generator 1 as described above, the water
pipe is not laid outdoors, and thus, freezing of water in the
water pipe does not occur at low temperature in winter.
[0015]
The number of the included remote controller(s) 4 is
one or more. For example, one remote controller 4 is
installed in the hydro unit 3 and another remote controller
(not shown) is installed indoors (e.g., on a wall surface).
[0016]
The hot water generator 1 includes a refrigeration
circuit 10. The refrigeration circuit 10 transfers heat from a low temperature portion to a high temperature portion by using outdoor air as a heat source so as to heat water into hot water.
[0017]
The refrigeration circuit 10 includes: a compressor
11; an air heat exchanger 12 as an evaporator; an expansion
valve 13; the water heat exchanger 15 as a condenser; and
refrigerant piping 16 that connects the compressor 11, the
air heat exchanger 12, the expansion valve 13, and the water
heat exchanger 15 so as to circulate the refrigerant. The
refrigeration circuit 10 transfers heat from the air heat
exchanger 12 to the water heat exchanger 15 so as to heat the
water into hot water in the water heat exchanger 15.
[0018]
The refrigeration circuit 10 further includes: a four
way valve 17 that sends the refrigerant having discharged
from the compressor 11 to one of the air heat exchanger 12
and the water heat exchanger 15 and returns the refrigerant
having passed through the other of the air heat exchanger 12
and the water heat exchanger 15 back to the compressor 11;
and an accumulator 18 disposed in the refrigerant piping 16
between the four-way valve 17 and the compressor 11.
[0019]
The water heat exchanger 15 is housed in the hydro
unit 3, and the rest of the other components of the
refrigeration circuit 10 are housed in the outdoor unit 2.
[0020]
When the refrigeration circuit 10 heats water, the air
heat exchanger 12 functions as an evaporator (also called a
heat absorber) and the water heat exchanger 15 functions as a
condenser (also called a radiator).
[0021]
The compressor 11 compresses, boosts, and discharges
the refrigerant. The compressor 11 can change the operating
frequency by known inverter control. The amount of heat to
be transferred to the high temperature portion increases by
increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 11 and
decreases by decreasing the rotation speed of the compressor
11. In addition, the power consumption of the compressor 11
increases along with the increase in the rotation speed of
the compressor 11.
[0022]
The expansion valve 13 is, for example, an electronic
expansion valve (PMV: Pulse Motor Valve). The expansion
valve 13 can adjust the valve opening degree. Although it is
not shown, the expansion valve 13 includes: a valve body
having a through hole; a needle that can advance and retreat
with respect to the through hole; and a power source for
advancing and retreating the needle, for example. When the
through hole is closed with the needle, the expansion valve
13 stops, i.e., blocks the flow of the refrigerant in the
refrigeration circuit 10. At this time, the expansion valve
13 is in the closed state and the opening degree of the
expansion valve 13 is the smallest. When the needle is
farthest from the through hole, the flow rate of the
refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit 10 is maximized and
the opening degree of the expansion valve 13 is the largest.
[0023]
The power source of the expansion valve 13 is, for
example, a stepping motor. The rotation of the stepping
motor causes the needle to move forward and backward, which
changes the distance to the through hole and thereby changes
the opening degree.
[0024]
The refrigerant piping 16 connects the compressor 11,
the accumulator 18, the four-way valve 17, the air heat
exchanger 12, the expansion valve 13, and the water heat
exchanger 15. The refrigerant piping 16 includes: a first
refrigerant pipe 16a that connects the discharge side of the
compressor 11 and the four-way valve 17; a second refrigerant
pipe 16b that connects the suction side of the compressor 11
and the four-way valve 17; a third refrigerant pipe 16c that
connects the four-way valve 17 and the water heat exchanger
; a fourth refrigerant pipe 16d that connects the air heat
exchanger 12 and the water heat exchanger 15; and a fifth
refrigerant pipe 16e that connects the air heat exchanger 12
and the four-way valve 17.
[0025]
The accumulator 18 is provided on the second
refrigerant pipe 16b. The expansion valve 13 is provided on
the fourth refrigerant pipe 16d.
[0026]
The four-way valve 17 switches the direction of the
refrigerant flow in the refrigerant piping 16. When the
water is heated into hot water by the refrigeration circuit
, the four-way valve 17 circulates the refrigerant from the
first refrigerant pipe 16a to the third refrigerant pipe 16c
and circulates the refrigerant from the fifth refrigerant
pipe 16e to the second refrigerant pipe 16b (refrigerant flow
shown by the solid line in Fig. 1).
[0027]
When water is heated into hot water, the hot water
generator 1 discharges the compressed high-temperature and
high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 11 and then
sends the refrigerant to the water heat exchanger 15 via the
four-way valve 17. The water heat exchanger 15 exchanges
heat between the water passing through the water heat
exchanger 15 and the refrigerant passing through the water
heat exchanger 15. In this manner, the water is heated and
the refrigerant is cooled so as to be in a high-pressure
liquid state. That is, when water is heated into hot water,
the water heat exchanger 15 functions as a radiator. The
refrigerant having passed through the water heat exchanger 15
passes through the expansion valve 13 and is decompressed to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and then reaches the air heat exchanger 12. The air heat exchanger 12 cools the outdoor air by exchanging heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant passing through the air heat exchanger 12. At this time, the air heat exchanger 12 functions as a heat absorber that evaporates the refrigerant into a gaseous state. The refrigerant having passed through the air heat exchanger 12 is sucked into the compressor 11.
[0028]
The refrigeration circuit 10 can perform defrosting
operation by causing the four-way valve 17 to switch the
direction of the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant piping
16. When performing the defrosting operation, the hot water
generator 1 inverts the four-way valve 17 such that the flow
of the refrigerant is generated in the refrigeration circuit
in the direction opposite to the flow of the refrigerant
heating up the water into hot water. In the case of the
defrosting operation, the four-way valve 17 causes the
refrigerant to circulate from the first refrigerant pipe 16a
to the fifth refrigerant pipe 16e and from the third
refrigerant pipe 16c to the second refrigerant pipe 16b
(refrigerant flow indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1).
In the case of the defrosting operation, the air heat
exchanger 12 functions as a condenser and the water heat
exchanger 15 functions as an evaporator.
[0029]
Further, the refrigeration circuit 10 may be dedicated
to heating water without including the four-way valve 17. In
this case, the discharge side of the compressor 11 is
connected to the water heat exchanger 15 via the refrigerant
piping 16, and the suction side of the compressor 11 is
connected to the air heat exchanger 12 via the refrigerant
piping 16.
[0030]
The hydro unit 3 includes: the water heat exchanger 15
of the refrigeration circuit 10; an expansion tank 31 (i.e.,
expansion vessel); a water leading pipe 32 that leads the
water before being heated from the outside of the hydro unit
3 to the water heat exchanger 15; a hot-water leading pipe 33
that leads the hot water heated by the water heat exchanger
to the expansion tank 31; a hot-water supplying pipe 35
that supplies the hot water heated by the water heat
exchanger 15 to the outside of the hydro unit 3; a backup
heater 67 that is disposed in the hot-water supplying pipe 35
and heats the hot water to be sent from the expansion tank 31
to the outside of the hot-water supplying pipe 35 up to a
higher temperature; and a pump 36 that is disposed in the
hot-water supplying pipe 35 and sends the hot water from the
expansion tank 31 to the outside of the hydro unit 3.
[0031]
The hydro unit 3 may be used for circulating hot water
between the hydro unit 3 and a device outside the hydro unit
3 or may be used for heating water outside the hydro unit 3
into hot water and supplying the hot water to the outside of
the hydro unit 3. The device outside the hydro unit 3 is,
for example, a heating device (not shown) or a hot water
storage device (not shown) that heats water using the
circulating hot water and stores the water heated by the hot
water.
[0032]
The hydro unit 3 further includes: refrigerant pipe
connection joints 25 and 26 that connect the crossover pipes
21 and 22 of the refrigerant piping 16 to the refrigerant
piping 16 in the hydro unit 3; a water-leading-pipe
connection joint 46 that connects a water pipe 45 outside the
hydro unit 3 to the water leading pipe 32; and a hot-water
pipe connection joint 48 that connects a hot-water pipe 47
outside the hydro unit 3 to the hot-water supplying pipe 35.
These connection joints 25, 26, 46 and 48 are screw-in pipe
joints.
[0033]
The crossover pipes 21 and 22 of the refrigerant
piping 16 allow the refrigerant to flow between the outdoor
unit 2 and the hydro unit 3. The crossover pipe 21 is part
of the third refrigerant pipe 16c and is laid outside the
outdoor unit 2 and outside the hydro unit 3. The crossover
pipe 22 is part of the fourth refrigerant pipe 16d and is
laid outside the outdoor unit 2 and outside the hydro unit 3.
The portion provided in the hydro unit 3 as part of the third
refrigerant pipe 16c for connecting the refrigerator pipe
connection joint 25 to the water heat exchanger 15 is
referred to as a first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27.
The portion provided in the hydro unit 3 as part of the
fourth refrigerant pipe 16d for connecting the refrigerant
pipe connection joint 26 to the water heat exchanger 15 is
referred to as a second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28.
[0034]
The hot-water pipe 47 is a crossover pipe that
connects the hydro unit 3 and the hot water supply place, and
the water pipe 45 is a crossover pipe that connects the hydro
unit 3 and the water supply place. In the case of the
circulation type, the hot water supply place and the water
supply place are connected.
[0035]
The hot-water leading pipe 33 connects the upstream of
the pump 36 and the downstream of the backup heater 67 in the
hot-water supplying pipe 35 to the expansion tank 31. The
hot-water leading pipe 33 leads the warmed and expanded hot
water in the hot-water supplying pipe 35 to the expansion
tank 31. The expansion tank 31 has a function of absorbing
the expansion (increase in volume) of the warmed hot water.
[0036]
The hot water, which is heated in the water heat
exchanger 15 by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit 10, is sucked into the hot-water supplying pipe 35 by the driven pump 36 and then is supplied to the hot water supply place through the hot-water pipe 47 outside the hydro unit 3.
[0037]
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hydro unit 3 when
viewed from the diagonally right front and from below.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hydro
unit 3 when viewed from the diagonally right front and from
above.
[0038]
As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the hydro unit 3 of the
hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment
includes a longitudinally elongated rectangular housing 51.
[0039]
The housing 51 has a front face 51f, a rear face 51r,
a top face 51t, a bottom face 51b, and a pair of side faces
51s. The housing 51 includes: a front plate 52 that covers
the front face 51f; a rear plate 53 that covers the rear face
51r, a top plate 54 that covers the top face 51t; a bottom
plate 55 that covers the bottom face 51b; and a pair of side
plates 56 and 57 that cover the respective side faces 51s.
[0040]
The housing 51 accommodates the expansion tank 31, the
water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe 33, the
hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28.
[0041]
The housing 51 further accommodates: a controller
accommodation box 61 that houses the controller 5; and a
controller supporting plate 62 that supports the controller
accommodation box 61 inside the housing 51. The controller
accommodation box 61 is a box that opens toward the front of
the housing 51. In the controller accommodation box 61, a
board on which the controller 5 is mounted is supported.
[0042]
The front plate 52 has an operation window 63 for
disposing the remote controller 4. The back side of the
front plate 52 is provided with a controller supporting plate
that supports the remote controller 4 disposed in the
operation window 63. The controller supporting plate 65 has
a function of a lid that covers the controller accommodation
box 61.
[0043]
The front plate 52, the rear plate 53, the top plate
54, the bottom plate 55, the side plates 56 and 57, the
controller accommodation box 61, the controller supporting
plate 62, and the controller supporting plate 65 are
processed sheet metal products.
[0044]
The water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe
33, the hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water
heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first
intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra
hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 are disposed in the space that
is sandwiched between the rear plate 53 and the controller
supporting plate 62. The expansion tank 31 is disposed in
the space that is above the controller supporting plate 62
and sandwiched between the front plate 52 and the rear plate
53.
[0045]
As shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5, the rear plate 53 of the
housing 51 in the hot water generator 1 according to the
present embodiment supports the expansion tank 31 and the
water heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10.
[0046]
The expansion tank 31 has a cylindrical shape in which
the length L in the direction of the centerline C is larger
in dimension than the diameter D. The expansion tank 31 is
housed in the housing 51 such that the centerline C is
oriented in the direction toward the pair of side faces 51s.
In other words, the length L of the expansion tank 31 is
smaller in dimension than the width of the housing 51.
Further, the diameter D of the expansion tank 31 is smaller
in dimension than the height and the depth of the housing 51.
The expansion tank 31 is disposed at the uppermost part of the housing 51. The expansion tank 31 includes a cylindrical body 31a and a pair of end plates 31b and 31c that close both ends of the body 31a. The expansion tank 31 is fixed to the rear plate 53 by a saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66 extending on the body 31a. The tank fixing band 66 fixes the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 like a saddle band used for fixing pipes. That is, the tank fixing band 66 is bent along the body 31a from the upper part to the lower part of the body 31a so as to fix the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 of the housing 51.
[0047]
The water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe
33, the hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water
heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first
intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra
hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 are disposed below the
expansion tank 31.
[0048]
The water heat exchanger 15 is disposed directly under
the expansion tank 31 and near the side plate 56 on one of
the left and right sides of the housing 51 (on the left side,
in this case). The backup heater 67 is disposed directly
under the expansion tank 31 and near the side plate 57 on the
other of the left and right sides of the housing 51 (on the
right side, in this case). The backup heater 67 is fixed to
the rear plate 53. Under the circumstances where the outside temperature is so extremely low that heating the water into hot water by the refrigeration circuit 10 is difficult, the backup heater 67 is used for assisting the heating of water and for further heating the hot water that is already heated by the refrigeration circuit 10 into hotter water.
[0049]
The pump 36 is disposed below the expansion tank 31,
directly in front of the backup heater 67, and on the bottom
plate 55 of the housing 51. Directly below the pump 36, the
hot-water pipe connection joint 48 is provided. The hot
water pipe connection joint 48 protrudes toward the outside
of the housing 51. The hot-water pipe connection joint 48
protrudes downward from the bottom plate 55 so as to be
exposed to the outside of the housing 51.
[0050]
The water-leading-pipe connection joint 46 is provided
behind the obliquely left side of the hot-water pipe
connection joint 48. The water leading pipe 32 connected to
the water-leading-pipe connection joint 46 bends toward the
water heat exchanger 15 at the portion that enters the back
side of the housing 51 from the bottom plate 55 of the
housing 51, extends in the vicinity of the bottom plate 55 in
parallel to the bottom plate 55, and is connected to the back
side of the lower end of the right side-face of the water
heat exchanger 15. The hot-water supplying pipe 35 is
connected to the back side of the upper end of the right side-face of the water heat exchanger 15. The hot-water supplying pipe 35 extends from the water heat exchanger 15 toward the side plate 57 of the housing 51, bends at an intermediate position between the water heat exchanger 15 and the backup heater 67 toward the bottom plate 55 of the housing 51, hangs directly downward so as to extend in parallel to the bottom plate 55 at a portion reaching the lower end of the backup heater 67, and is connected to the lower end of the left side-face of the backup heater 67. The hot-water leading pipe 33 branches from the hot-water supplying pipe 35 via a cross-shaped branch at the upper end of the front face of the backup heater 67, rises toward the top face plate 54 of the housing 51, reaches substantially the same height as the centerline C of the expansion tank 31, and bypasses the front of the expansion tank 31 so as to be connected to the end plate 31b on the left side of the expansion tank 31.
[0051]
The hot-water supplying pipe 35 extends downward from
the cross-shaped branch so as to reach the pump 36. That is,
the pump 36 is connected to the outlet end of the hot-water
supplying pipe 35.
[0052]
The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 and the
second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 enter the housing
51 through a refrigerant-pipe insertion hole 71 provided on the bottom plate 55 of the housing 51.
[0053]
The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 extends
on the right side of the water heat exchanger 15 toward the
expansion tank 31, bends toward the water heat exchanger 15
near the front of the upper end of the right side-face of the
water heat exchanger 15, and is connected to the water heat
exchanger 15. The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27
rises and extends almost directly in front of the hanging
portion of the hot-water supplying pipe 35. The refrigerant
pipe connection joint 25 is provided at the end of the first
intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 disposed outside the
housing 51.
[0054]
The second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 rises
in parallel to the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27
in the vicinity closer to the water heat exchanger 15 than
the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, bends toward
the water heat exchanger 15 near the front of the lower end
of the right side-face of the water heat exchanger 15, and is
connected to the water heat exchanger 15. The refrigerant
pipe connection joint 26 is provided at the end of the second
intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 disposed outside the
housing 51.
[0055]
Next, the fixing structure of the expansion tank 31 will be described.
[0056]
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
hot water generator according to the present embodiment.
[0057]
As shown in Fig. 6 in addition to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5,
the expansion tank 31 of the hot water generator 1 according
to the present embodiment includes at least one convex part
81 that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the
cylindrical body 31a and extends in the circumferential
direction of the body 31a.
[0058]
The convex parts 81 annularly circle the body 31a and
are connected in a row. The number of the convex parts 81 is
two or more including the first convex part 81a and the
second convex part 81b. The convex parts 81 are, for
example, joint parts that join two members to form an
integrated body 31a or holding parts that hold diaphragms
(not shown) in the expansion tank 31 on the inner
circumferential face of the body 31a. The plurality of
convex parts 81a and 81b are separated from each other in the
direction of the centerline of the expansion tank 31 and are
arranged in parallel.
[0059]
The convex parts 81 may be provided in the body 31a
annularly and discretely (i.e., discontinuously or at intervals).
[0060]
The tank fixing band 66 may be in a shape of hexagonal
saddle as shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, may be in a shape of
polygonal saddle such as triangular, rectangular, and
pentagonal saddles, or may be in a shape of arc-shaped
saddle. The hexagonal saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66 has:
a first part 66a that is in contact with the top of the
expansion tank 31 and is fixed to the rear plate 53; a second
part 66b that is continuous with the first part 66a and
slopes down toward the front of the expansion tank 31 while
partially contacting the expansion tank 31; a third part 66c
that is continuous with the second part 66b and is located in
front of the expansion tank 31 while partially contacting the
expansion tank 31; a fourth part 66d that is continuous with
the third part 66c and slopes down toward the bottom of the
expansion tank 31 while partially contacting the expansion
tank 31; a fifth part 66e that is continuous with the fourth
66d and is fixed to the rear plate 53 so as to be in contact
with the bottom of the expansion tank 31.
[0061]
The tank fixing band 66 has at least one hole 82 that
is interdigitated with the convex part 81. The respective
holes 82 are provided at positions where the convex parts 81
can be fitted from one end to the other end of the tank
fixing band 66. The plurality of holes 82 are arranged and include: a first hole 82a into which the first convex part
81a is fitted; and a second hole 82b into which the second
convex part 81b is fitted. The plurality of holes 82a and
82b are separated from each other in the band width direction
of the tank fixing band 66 and are arranged in parallel.
[0062]
In the polygonal saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66,
the holes 82 are preferably provided discretely (i.e.,
discontinuously or at intervals) so as to avoid the vertices
as shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. In this case, the tank fixing
band 66 can readily obtain sufficient strength for supporting
the expansion tank 31. In the hexagonal saddle-shaped tank
fixing band 66, the holes 82 are discretely provided from the
first part 66a to the fifth part 66e of the tank fixing band
66 and are interrupted at the ridges connecting the
respective parts 66a to 66e.
[0063]
The rear plate 53 includes: a band fixing hole 85
provided above the expansion tank 31; a band fastening hole
86 provided below the expansion tank 31; and a pair of anti
rolling stoppers 87 that prevents the expansion tank 31 from
rolling against the rear plate 53.
[0064]
The band fastening hole 86 is provided in the flange
53a for fixing the top plate 54 to the rear plate 53.
[0065]
The pair of anti-rolling stoppers 87 are disposed
below the band fixing hole 85 and above the band fastening
hole 86 and have a convex shape extending in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the expansion tank
31. The expansion tank 31 is in contact with the rear plate
53 at the portion sandwiched between the pair of anti-rolling
stoppers 87. It is preferred that the expansion tank 31 is
also in contact with the pair of anti-rolling stoppers 87.
[0066]
The tank fixing band 66 has: a folded part 66f that is
inserted into the band fixing hole 85 of the rear plate 53;
and a flange 66g that is fixed to the band fastening hole 86
by a fastening member 89. The folded part 66f is provided at
the upper end part of the tank fixing band 66, i.e., at the
root part of the first part 66a. The folded part 66f is a
cut-up formed on the tank fixing band 66, which is a
processed sheet metal product, and is formed by bending a
material of this sheet product. The flange 66g is provided
at the lower end of the tank fixing band 66, i.e., at the
root part of the fifth part 66e.
[0067]
In addition to or instead of the folded part 66f, a
fastening member may be used for fixing the root part of the
first part 66a of the tank fixing band 66, which has the
folded part 66f, to the flange 53a of the rear plate 53.
[0068]
As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, when the
expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in such a
manner that the centerline C of the cylindrical expansion
tank 31 matches the up-and-down direction of the housing 51,
the height dimension of the housing 51 significantly
increases.
[0069]
The depth dimension of the housing 51 depends on the
diameter dimension D of the expansion tank 31 and does not
change substantially regardless of whether the accommodation
state of the expansion tank 31 in the housing 51 is an
upright state or a lying state. Since the width dimension of
the housing 51 depends on the size and disposition of devices
in the housing 51 excluding the expansion tank 31, when the
expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in the upright
state, a large-capacity space in which no device is placed,
i.e., so-called dead space is generated in the housing 51.
When the expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in the
state of being laid down, the width dimension of the housing
51 can be effectively utilized as shown in Fig. 5. That is,
when the expansion tank 31 is accommodated in the housing 51
in the lying state, the height dimension of the housing 51
can be suppressed and the hydro unit 3 can be miniaturized.
Further, when the expansion tank 31 is accommodated in the
housing 51 in the lying state, the length L of the expansion
tank 31 is extended to the extent that the expansion tank 31 fits within the width dimension of the housing 51, and thus, the internal volume of the expansion tank 31 is expanded.
[0070]
As described above, the hot water generator 1
according to the present embodiment includes the cylindrical
expansion tank 31 that has the length L in the direction of
the centerline C larger in dimension than the diameter D and
is housed in the housing 51 with its centerline C directed
toward the pair of side faces 51s of the housing 51. Hence,
the hot water generator 1 can accommodate the cylindrical
expansion tank 31, which is cheaper and lighter than a
rectangular tank having almost the same internal volume, and
can efficiently utilize the space in the housing 51. As a
result, the hydro unit 3 of the hot water generator 1 can be
small and lightweight that provides a satisfactory
appearance, high workability at the time of installation, and
small occupation space in the installed state.
[0071]
In addition, the hot water generator 1 according to
the present embodiment includes the expansion tank 31
disposed in the uppermost part of the housing 51. Thus, in
the hot water generator 1, the size of the hydro unit 3 can
be reduced while the expansion tank 31 and other devices to
be housed in the housing 51 can be efficiently disposed.
[0072]
Further, the hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment includes the tank fixing band 66 that has the holes 82 to be interdigitated with the convex parts 81 of the expansion tank 31 and fixes the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 of the housing 51 by extending on the body 31a of the expansion tank 31 from above to below the body 31a.
Hence, the hot water generator 1 can reliably fix the
expansion tank 31 at a predetermined position and prevent the
installation position of the expansion tank 31 from shifting.
[0073]
Moreover, the hot water generator 1 according to the
present embodiment includes: the pair of anti-rolling
stoppers 87 that prevents the expansion tank 31 from rolling
against the rear plate 53; and the tank fixing band 66 that
has the folded part 66f to be inserted into the band fixing
hole 85 of the rear plate 53 and the flange 66g to be fixed
to the band fastening hole 86 of the rear plate 53 by the
fastening member 89. Thus, the hot water generator 1 can
readily and firmly fix the expansion tank 31 to the rear
plate 53.
[0074]
According to the hot water generator 1 of the present
embodiment, the cylindrical expansion tank 31 can be
efficiently accommodated in the rectangular housing 51.
[0075]
While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.
Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the
embodiments described herein may be made without departing
from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims
are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would
fall within the scope of the inventions.
[0076]
Throughout this specification and claims which follow,
unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise",
and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be
understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step
or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any
other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
[0077]
The reference in this specification to any prior
publication (or information derived from it), or to any
matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an
acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that
that prior publication (or information derived from it) or
known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in
the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0078]
1 hot water generator
2 outdoor unit
3 hydro unit
water heat exchanger
27 first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe
28 second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe
31 expansion tank
31a body
31b, 31c end plate
51 housing
51f front face
51r rear face
51t top face
51b bottom face
51s side face
52 front plate
53 rear plate
53a flange
54 top plate
bottom plate
56, 57 side plate
66 tank fixing band
66a first part
66b second part
66c third part
66d fourth part
66e fifth part
66f folded part
66g flange
67 backup heater
81 convex part
82 hole
band fixing hole
86 band fastening hole
87 anti-rolling stopper
89 fastening member
IP Australia Cover Sheet: Response to Examination Report
Requested by Davies Collison Cave Pty Ltd
Request date 20-Nov-2023
Customer's service request 35582442/NNR
reference
Application numbers Customer's IP Right Reference
2020438508 35582442/NNR
Request supported by No physical media? Fee Unit Count 1
Fee Total Amount $0.00
Attachment(s)
response to 1st ER.pdf
Our ref. E1481WOAU1_TCCEnglish translation of PCT application + 1spa - clean.pdf
Our ref. E1481WOAU1TCCEnglish translation of PCT application + 1spa - marked up.pdf
1/6
47 45 supply Hot-water / Heating 48 46 Defrosting / Cooling
P 36
35
4 5 33 32
31 15 35 67
28 FIG. 1
27 25 26
3 22 21 1 2 16d
16 16c
13 X
12
16b
17 16a 18 16e
V 11
2/6 2/6
51f, 52 51t, 54
3 51
51r, 53
4
51s, 57
63
51s, 56
48
51b, 55
46
26 25
FIG. 2
3/6
FIG.3
4/6 4/6
31 66 82,82a 81,81a 81,81b 31b 82,82b
31a 33 31c
51r
53
15
35
67
0
35
28 71 O 27
32 76 36 55 FIG. 4 51b 75
5/6 5/6
C 81,81a 81, 81b 51 31 82, 82a 82,82b
31b 31 66 D L 31a 31c 31
53
C
33
+ 35 15 67
35 99 98 96 97 + 98 95 72
O 76 75 36
55,51r 28 27 32 73 48 46 47 26 FIG. 5 25
6/6 6/6
31,31a
81 82 81 82 66a
82 66f 53a
81 85 87 82 66b
82
81
82
66c 51r
82 87 81 53
82 -86 66d 66g 82 81 82 66e 89
FIG. 6
AU2020438508A 2020-03-23 2020-03-23 Hot water generating device Active AU2020438508B9 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2020/012672 WO2021191959A1 (en) 2020-03-23 2020-03-23 Hot water generating device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2020438508A1 AU2020438508A1 (en) 2022-10-13
AU2020438508B2 true AU2020438508B2 (en) 2023-12-21
AU2020438508B9 AU2020438508B9 (en) 2024-01-11

Family

ID=77889978

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2020438508A Active AU2020438508B9 (en) 2020-03-23 2020-03-23 Hot water generating device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4130600A4 (en)
AU (1) AU2020438508B9 (en)
WO (1) WO2021191959A1 (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS50134056U (en) * 1974-04-18 1975-11-05
JP2017067373A (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-04-06 ダイキン工業株式会社 Water heat exchanger housing unit

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1370458A (en) * 1970-10-08 1974-10-16 Junkers & Co Gas-fired circulation water heater
EP2034248A1 (en) 2006-06-02 2009-03-11 Toshiba Carrier Corporation Heat pump hot water supply system
KR101329509B1 (en) * 2008-08-04 2013-11-13 엘지전자 주식회사 Hot water circulation system associated with heat pump and method for controlling the same
JP6128331B2 (en) * 2014-02-26 2017-05-17 株式会社富士通ゼネラル Hot water heater
JP2016188732A (en) * 2015-03-30 2016-11-04 株式会社長府製作所 Expansion tank
JP6623649B2 (en) * 2015-09-30 2019-12-25 ダイキン工業株式会社 Water heat exchanger storage unit
JP6720492B2 (en) * 2015-09-30 2020-07-08 ダイキン工業株式会社 Water heat exchanger housing unit
US10180267B2 (en) * 2016-02-05 2019-01-15 James T. Bober Apparatus for supporting expansion tank
US10429097B1 (en) * 2017-02-27 2019-10-01 Rex A. Sexton Expansion tank wall mount bracket apparatus and method of use

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS50134056U (en) * 1974-04-18 1975-11-05
JP2017067373A (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-04-06 ダイキン工業株式会社 Water heat exchanger housing unit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4130600A1 (en) 2023-02-08
EP4130600A4 (en) 2023-12-13
WO2021191959A1 (en) 2021-09-30
AU2020438508B9 (en) 2024-01-11
AU2020438508A1 (en) 2022-10-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20100012293A1 (en) Heat Pump Liquid Heater
WO2001020232A1 (en) Improved heat pump water heater and method of making the same
JP6028221B2 (en) Heat exchanger unit and heat pump hot water heater equipped with the same
WO2008113121A1 (en) A thermal transfer, recovery and management system
US6050102A (en) Heat pump type air conditioning apparatus
EP2770278A1 (en) Water heater
JP5004645B2 (en) Refrigeration air conditioner
AU2020438508B2 (en) Hot water generating device
EP2495500A2 (en) Hot water supply system
JP5202726B2 (en) Load-side relay unit and combined air conditioning and hot water supply system
CN109458655A (en) Air source heat pump household heating system
EP3124890B1 (en) Heat-generating unit
CN107388532A (en) A kind of boiler of variable-volume suitable for air-conditioning system
JP5399327B2 (en) Hot water storage tank unit
JP2017207226A (en) Solar energy utilization unit
AU2020438326B2 (en) Hot water generation device
JP2011052850A (en) Heat pump type warm water heating device
EP3187811A1 (en) Heat storage apparatus and air conditioner having same
CN208312734U (en) A kind of solar heat pump all-in-one machine
JP2007333270A (en) Heat-pump heat source equipment
JP2004060906A (en) Heat exchanger, and heat pump type water heater equipped with the same
CN109640579A (en) Heat exchanger and equipment equipped with electronic device
JP2009257661A (en) Hot water heating device
US20200072526A1 (en) Refrigerator
JP6544517B2 (en) Heat generation unit

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
SREP Specification republished
FGA Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)