EP0309199B1 - Hot water boiling apparatus - Google Patents

Hot water boiling apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0309199B1
EP0309199B1 EP88308704A EP88308704A EP0309199B1 EP 0309199 B1 EP0309199 B1 EP 0309199B1 EP 88308704 A EP88308704 A EP 88308704A EP 88308704 A EP88308704 A EP 88308704A EP 0309199 B1 EP0309199 B1 EP 0309199B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
hot water
guide pipe
boiling chamber
pipe
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88308704A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0309199A2 (en
EP0309199A3 (en
Inventor
Yasuhiko Kurachi
Kazumi Mori
Hisao C/O Patent Division Koizumi
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 Corp
Chubu Electric Power Co Inc
Original Assignee
Toshiba Corp
Chubu Electric Power Co Inc
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 Corp, Chubu Electric Power Co Inc filed Critical Toshiba Corp
Publication of EP0309199A2 publication Critical patent/EP0309199A2/en
Publication of EP0309199A3 publication Critical patent/EP0309199A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0309199B1 publication Critical patent/EP0309199B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
    • F24H1/18—Water-storage heaters
    • F24H1/185—Water-storage heaters using electric energy supply
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00—Details
    • F24H9/12—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes
    • F24H9/13—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes for water heaters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hot water boiling apparatus of a storage type, using an electric heater as its heat source.
  • Hot water boiling apparatuses using an electric heater as their heat source are classified into two types; an instant type and a storage type.
  • the instant type is constructed so that water is instantaneously heated to a predetermined temperature by means of a large-capacity electric heater, to be supplied as hot water.
  • the storage type is designed so that hot water of a predetermined temperature is previously stored in a hot water tank, and is supplied as required.
  • the instant-type boiling apparatuses cannot produce hot water of a satisfactory temperature unless they use an electric heater with a large capacity of 5 to 20 kw. Therefore, the storage-type boiling apparatuses are exclusively put to household use.
  • the storage-type hot water boiling apparatuses comprise a hot water tank covered with a heat insulator.
  • the lower portion of the inside of the tank is connected to a water supply pipe, while the upper portion is connected to a tap by means of a hot water supply pipe.
  • a sheath-type electric heater is located in the lower portion of the hot water tank.
  • the heater is supplied with electric power to heat all the water in the tank to, for example, 80°C during a time zone in which hot water need not be used, e.g., at midnight.
  • There are two systems for supplying power to the heater an all-time power supply system and a late-night power supply system.
  • the power supply to the heater is started at any point of time, and is stopped when all the water in the tank attains a predetermined temperature.
  • the power supply to the heater is started at midnight during which the electric charges are relatively small, and is stopped when all the water in the tank attains a predetermined temperature. From the economical point of view, the late-night power supply system is used more widely.
  • This system is provided with a timer switch which starts operation when the predetermined time is reached every day, for example, whereby the power supply to the electric heater is controlled.
  • the timer switch is under the control of an electric power supplier, and is not accessible to users.
  • these hot water boiling apparatuses are subject to the following drawbacks, which will be described in connection with an apparatus using the all-time power supply system.
  • the electric heater When the electric heater is energized, the water in the hot water tank is gradually heated by a natural convection. At this time, the increasing speed of the water temperature depends on the capacities of the heater and the tank. It is hard, however, to incorporate a large-capacity electric heater in an apparatus for household use. In order to fulfill its function as a storage-type version, the apparatus must use a hot water tank with a capacity of at least several hundreds of liters. Accordingly, the increasing speed of the water temperature in the tank is not very high. When all the water in the tank is heated to 80°C, for example, the power supply to the heater is stopped.
  • the hot water boiling apparatus using the alltime power supply system it takes much time to heat the water in the tank to the proper temperature for use, i.e., 80°C. Moreover, all the water in the hot water tank would be heated to the set temperature of 80°C without regard to the quantity of hot water actually required. Therefore, if the necessary quantity of hot water on the day and the capacity of the tank are 100 l and 300 l, respectively, energy will be wastefully consumed to heat 200 l of excessive water to 80°C. This also applies to the case of the late-night power supply system. In a hot water boiling apparatus using the late-night power supply system, the power supply is allowed only during the limited time zone.
  • the hot water tank must have a large capacity.
  • the boiling apparatus requires a wider installation space, and may possibly waste electric power at a higher rate.
  • hot water of 80°C is stored in the hot water tank at midnight. During the daytime, therefore, the hot water can be used at once as long as it is in the tank. In case of shortage, however, no hot water can be used in the daytime.
  • a bubble pump having an electric heater as its heat source, is connected in parallel with a hot water tank, so that hot water at a predetermined temperature can be stored, in a layer of a certain thickness, in the tank, by selectively operating the bubble pump.
  • a necessary quantity of hot water at a proper temperature e.g. 80°C, can be stored in the hot water tank in a short time.
  • the hot water boiling apparatus with the bubble pump has many advantages over the ones which are based on the natural-convection heating system.
  • this improved boiling apparatus if the temperature of feed water varies according to the season, that of the hot water stored in the hot water tank varies correspondingly.
  • the hot water cannot be used with reliability.
  • the breaking sound of bubbles in the bubble pump is so noisy that the installation site for the apparatus is restricted.
  • AT-B-310316 discloses a hot water boiling apparatus having a hot water tank having an upper end formed with a hot water supply port and a lower end having a water supply port.
  • a hot water supply pipe is connected to the hot water supply port for discharging the hot water from the hot water tank to the outside.
  • a water supply is connected to the water supply port for feeding water into the hot water tank.
  • Water heating means are arranged externally of the hot water tank for drawing water from the lower portion of the inside of the tank, heating that water, and feeding the heated water into the upper portion of the hot water tank.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water boiling apparatus capable of stabilizing the temperature of stored hot water and reducing the noise level, without spoiling the features of a bubble pump, for use as a heater, arranged in parallel with a hot water tank.
  • a hot water boiling apparatus comprising a hot water tank having an upper end formed having a hot water supply port, and a lower end formed having a water supply port, said tank containing water therein; a hot water supply pipe connected to the hot water supply port, for discharging the hot water from the tank to the outside; water supply means connected to the water supply port, for feeding water into the hot water tank; and water heating means arranged external of said hot water tank, for drawing water from the lower portion of the inside of the tank, heating the water and feeding the heated water into the upper portion of the hot water tank; characterized in that the water heating means comprises bubble pump means including a body having a boiling chamber, heating means for heating water in the boiling chamber and generation bubbles in the water, a first connecting pipe for guiding the water from the lower portion in the hot water tank to the body, a guide pipe for feeding the water guided through the first connecting pipe into the boiling chamber and condensing the bubbles by the water fed through the guide pipe, a second connecting pipe for guiding the water
  • the hot water boiling apparatus comprises substantially cylindrical hot water tank 11 closed at both ends and extending substantially in the vertical direction.
  • Tank 11 is covered with heat-insulating structure 12.
  • Water supply port 13 is formed in the bottom wall of hot water tank 11, and one end of water supply pipe 14 is connected to port 13. The other end of pipe 14 is connected to a water source (not shown), e.g., tap water.
  • Pressure reducing valve 15 is provided in the middle of pipe 14. It serves to reduce the pressure of water introduced through pipe 14 into tank 11 to 1 kg/cm2 or less.
  • the top wall of tank 11 is formed with hot water supply port 16 through which hot water in the tank is discharged to the outside.
  • Port 16 is connected, by means of hot water supply pipe 17, to tap 18 in a kitchen, bathroom, or the like.
  • tank 11 is filled with water, and is subjected to the pressure of water fed through pipe 14. Thus, when tap 18 is turned on, the water in tank 11 is discharged to the outside through supply port 16 and supply pipe 17.
  • Bubble pump unit 20 is embedded in heat-insulating structure 12, extending parallel to hot water tank 11.
  • pump unit 20 includes pump body 27 which extends vertically.
  • the pump body which is made of copper or aluminum, is in the form of a cylinder having a thickness of 1.5 mm, inner diameter of 34 mm, and length of 70 mm, for example. Openings at the upper and lower ends of pump body 27 are closed by upper and lower closing walls 31 and 28, respectively.
  • Lower closing wall 28 is formed with inlet port 29, which is connected to suction port 21 in the bottom wall of tank 11 by means of first connecting pipe 30.
  • Upper closing wall 31 is formed with outlet port 32, which is connected to discharge port 22 in the top wall of tank 11 by means of second connecting pipe 33.
  • tank 11, pipe 30, pump body 27, and pipe 33 constitute a closed loop through which water flows.
  • first and second partition plates 34 and 37 are arranged facing lower and upper closing walls 28 and 31, respectively.
  • the inside of body 27 is divided into three chambers by plates 34 and 37. These chambers include lower valve chamber 23a defined between wall 28 and plate 34, upper valve chamber 23b defined between wall 31 and plate 37, and boiling chamber 67 defined between plates 34 and 37.
  • first guide pipe 36 which is formed of a stainless-steel pipe with an outer diameter of 14 mm, for example, is arranged coaxially with pump body 27.
  • the lower end of guide pipe 36 is connected, in a liquid-tight manner, to aperture 35 formed in first partition plate 34, while the upper end of pipe 36 extends close to second partition plate 37.
  • second guide pipe 39 which is formed of a stainless-steel pipe, is arranged coaxially with first guide pipe 36.
  • Pipe 39 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of pump body 27 and an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of pipe 36.
  • the upper end of pipe 39 is fixed to the lower surface of second partition plate 37, and communicates with aperture 38 in plate 37.
  • the lower end of pipe 39 extends to the position where it overlaps the upper end portion of pipe 36.
  • third partition plate 40 is fixed facing the upper end of pipe 36.
  • a plurality of communication holes 41 are bored through that portion of the peripheral wall of pipe 39 which is situated between second and third partition plates 37 and 40.
  • Valve 25 is composed of a valve seat, formed of the peripheral edge of aperture 29, and heat-resistant plastic ball 42 located in chamber 23a to cooperate with the value seat. Valve 25 allows the water to flow only from first connecting pipe 30 toward pump body 27.
  • valve 26 is composed of a valve seat, formed of the peripheral edge of aperture 38, and heat-resistant plastic ball 43 located in chamber 23b to cooperate with the valve seat. Valve 26 allows the water to flow only from body 27 toward second connecting pipe 33.
  • Bubble pump unit 20 is provided with first and second sheath-type electric heaters 24a and 24b which serve as heating means for heating the water in boiling chamber 67.
  • Heaters 24a and 24b which have outputs of, e.g., 2 kw and 4 kw, respectively, are wound around those regions of the outer peripheral surface of pump body 27 between first partition plate 34 and the lower end of second guide pipe 39, and are fixed by brazing.
  • Terminal box 44 is fixed to the outer surface of heat-insulating structure 12.
  • First and second heaters 24a and 24b are connected, respectively, to power supply systems 45 and 46 shown in Fig. 3 through the terminal box.
  • System 45 is designed so as to selectively excite heater 24a by using a commercial power source. More specifically, system 45 is constructed so that if push-button switch 50 is depressed after turning knob 49 of timer switch 48 for delayed action, with manual switch 47 on, heater 24a can be supplied with power for a period of time set by means of the timer switch.
  • System 46 is a late-night power supply system which allows a discount on electric charges.
  • system 46 is a combination of a timer and switches, and is adapted to start power supply to electric heater 24b at a scheduled time, e.g., at 11 p.m., every day. Further, system 46 is constructed so as to receive output S1 from temperature sensor 51, which is attached to the lower portion of hot water tank 11, and to stop the power supply to heater 24b when the temperature of the water in the lower portion of tank 11 increases to, e.g., 80°C.
  • numerals 52 and 53 designate a flow regulating valve and a conventional float-type vent valve, respectively.
  • hot water tank 11 is filled with low-temperature water, and that tap 18 is off. In this state, there is no water flow at all, so that both check valves 25 and 26 are closed, and bubble pump unit 20 is filled with low-temperature water.
  • knob 49 of timer switch 48 is operated to set a desired time limit. Then, switch 47 is turned on, and push-button switch 50 is depressed. Thereupon, power supply to electric heater 24a is started.
  • heater 24a starts to be supplied with power, that portion of the water in boiling chamber 67 which is in contact with the inner surface of pump body 27 inside heater 24a is heated quickly.
  • air bubbles 61 are produced as is shown in Fig. 4A. As a result, the water rapidly increases its volume, thereby raising the pressure inside boiling chamber 67.
  • check valve 26 is opened, so that boiling water is fed from pump body 27 into second connecting pipe 33, as indicated by solid-line arrows 62 in Fig. 4A.
  • bubbles 61 rise by buoyancy to reach the level of the lower end portion of second guide pipe 39, they are cooled and condensed by relatively cold water in the vicinity of the lower end portion of pipe 39.
  • the pressure inside chamber 67 is lowered.
  • check valves 26 and 25 are closed and opened, respectively, as is shown in Fig. 4B, so that the cold water in the lower portion of hot water tank 11 flows into boiling chamber 67 through first connecting pipe 30 and guide pipes 36 and 39. Accordingly, the temperature of the water in chamber 67 further lowers, so that bubbles 61 quickly disappear.
  • the discharged hot water is passed through second connecting pipe 33 to be fed into the upper portion of hot water tank 11 via discharge port 22.
  • 80°C hot water 64 is collected in a thermally stratified manner in tank 11, as is shown in Fig. 1.
  • the thickness of the thermal layer can be set freely by changing the conduction time of electric heater 24a, i.e., the time limit set by means of timer switch 48.
  • hot water is stored as required by the use of power supply system 45.
  • system 46 is provided as a late-night power supply system, which automatically supplies power to electric heater 24b at 11 p.m.
  • 80°C hot water is collected in hot water tank 11 in the same manner as aforesaid.
  • Fig. 5 simulatively shows the flows of water and heat in pump unit 20. While water of temperature Tw supplied from first connecting pipe 30 rises in first guide pipe 36, it exchanges heat with water 66 in boiling chamber 67 boiling at temperature Ts under heat from electric heater 65, thereby increasing its temperature to Tb.
  • the water preheated by heat exchange is fed into boiling chamber 67 of bubble pump unit 20, as mentioned before.
  • the cooling capacity of the preheated water is less than that of unheated water, and its bubble condensing capability is less. Accordingly, the bubbles produced in chamber 67 are condensed more slowly by the preheated water, so that the breaking sound of the bubbles is lower, that is, production of noises can be restrained.
  • the hot water boiling apparatus is improved in handling efficiency, and the degree of freedom of the installation site is upped.
  • Fig. 7 is an oscillogram showing a result of a test on a bubble pump with the same construction as the aforementioned embodiment, made on an experimental basis.
  • the axis of abscissa represents the time elapsed after the start of power supply to the electric heater.
  • the feed water temperature changes from 25°C to 45°C, the delivered hot water temperature hardly changes.
  • Fig. 8 shows the test result of Fig. 7 compared with that of another bubble pump.
  • Fig. 7 shows the test result of Fig. 7 compared with that of another bubble pump.
  • the full-line represents the delivered hot water characteristic of the bubble pump unit according to the present embodiment, while the dashed-line represents a delivered hot water characteristic obtained if first and second guide pipes 36 and 39 are removed from the pump of the embodiment, and when water is fed into boiling chamber 67 without being preheated.
  • the variation of the delivered hot water temperature can be made much smaller than that of the feed water temperature.
  • a pair of independent electric heaters are provided; one for an all-time power supply system, and the other for a late-night power supply system.
  • only one electric heater may be used so that electric power is supplied only from either the all-time power supply system or the late-night power supply system.
  • the power supply system is selected in consideration of the difference in electric charges according to time zone, conditions of domestic use of hot water, etc. Also, the arrangement of the bubble pump unit may be changed as required.
  • Figs. 9 and 10 show bubble pump unit 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • hollow aluminum block 71 is fixed on the outer peripheral surface of pump body 27, and sheath-type electric heaters 24a and 24b are embedded in the block so as to extend parallel to body 27.
  • check valves 25 and 26 are disposed in first and second connecting pipes 30 and 33, respectively.
  • the distal end portion of pipe 30 extends through lower closing wall 28 of pump body 27 into boiling chamber 67, thus constituting first guide pipe 36.
  • the second guide pipe (39) may be omitted.
  • the variation of the delivered hot water temperature, attributable to the change of the feed water temperature can be made smaller than in the case of an apparatus without first guide pipe 36.
  • flap valves may be used in place of ball valves.
  • a throttle pipe may be used in place of the flow regulating valve in the first connecting pipe. The flow regulating valve and throttle pipe may be omitted.
  • the material for first and second guide pipes 36 and 39 may be changed, depending on the variation of the target temperature of the delivered hot water or the like.

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  • 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)
  • Cookers (AREA)
EP88308704A 1987-09-21 1988-09-20 Hot water boiling apparatus Expired - Lifetime EP0309199B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP236859/87 1987-09-21
JP23685987A JPS6479542A (en) 1987-09-21 1987-09-21 Hot-water supplier

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0309199A2 EP0309199A2 (en) 1989-03-29
EP0309199A3 EP0309199A3 (en) 1990-08-08
EP0309199B1 true EP0309199B1 (en) 1993-02-03

Family

ID=17006858

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88308704A Expired - Lifetime EP0309199B1 (en) 1987-09-21 1988-09-20 Hot water boiling apparatus

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0309199B1 (zh)
JP (1) JPS6479542A (zh)
DE (1) DE3878118T2 (zh)
NO (1) NO167105C (zh)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2130561T3 (es) * 1994-06-09 1999-07-01 Ctc Ferro Fil A S Calentador de agua.
AT409791B (de) * 1999-02-16 2002-11-25 Vaillant Gmbh Warmwasserspeicher
CN104075433B (zh) * 2013-03-29 2018-02-06 三生国健药业（上海）股份有限公司 一种恒温循环水浴装置及其应用
WO2017110713A1 (en) * 2015-12-21 2017-06-29 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Vaporization device and method of vaporizing fluid
CN108731251A (zh) * 2018-05-31 2018-11-02 江苏雄义环保自动化设备有限公司 一种液体加热器
CN109269088A (zh) * 2018-10-25 2019-01-25 中国铁路设计集团有限公司 一种电磁加热供水设备
EP3754267A1 (de) * 2019-05-24 2020-12-23 Vaillant GmbH Rückstromsicherungsventil für ein heizgerät

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2369526A (en) * 1942-10-24 1945-02-13 Brandl Willi Water heater
US2519920A (en) * 1947-07-10 1950-08-22 Donald B Miner Electric resistance water heater
DE7115699U (de) * 1971-04-23 1971-09-23 Siemens Ag Elektrischer Warmwasserspeicher
DE3149351C2 (de) * 1981-12-12 1984-06-20 Hans Dr.h.c. 3559 Battenberg Vießmann Warmwasserbereiter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO884181D0 (no) 1988-09-20
DE3878118T2 (de) 1993-07-15
NO167105B (no) 1991-06-24
JPH0373792B2 (zh) 1991-11-22
JPS6479542A (en) 1989-03-24
EP0309199A2 (en) 1989-03-29
EP0309199A3 (en) 1990-08-08
DE3878118D1 (de) 1993-03-18
NO884181L (no) 1989-03-22
NO167105C (no) 1991-10-02

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