EP2980506A1 - Hot water supply device - Google Patents
Hot water supply device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2980506A1 EP2980506A1 EP14002702.0A EP14002702A EP2980506A1 EP 2980506 A1 EP2980506 A1 EP 2980506A1 EP 14002702 A EP14002702 A EP 14002702A EP 2980506 A1 EP2980506 A1 EP 2980506A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- water supply
- hot water
- heat exchange
- temperature
- heat exchanger
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 222
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 53
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 31
- 235000008733 Citrus aurantifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 19
- 235000011941 Tilia x europaea Nutrition 0.000 description 19
- 239000004571 lime Substances 0.000 description 19
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 5
- 101001135619 Homo sapiens Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 5 Proteins 0.000 description 4
- 102100033259 Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 5 Human genes 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acetic acid Chemical compound CC(O)=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium carbonate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-]C([O-])=O VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008033 biological extinction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910000019 calcium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- AXCZMVOFGPJBDE-UHFFFAOYSA-L calcium dihydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[OH-].[Ca+2] AXCZMVOFGPJBDE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000000920 calcium hydroxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001861 calcium hydroxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/0092—Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/212—Temperature of the water
- F24H15/219—Temperature of the water after heating
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/238—Flow rate
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/288—Accumulation of deposits, e.g. lime or scale
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/305—Control of valves
- F24H15/31—Control of valves of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/345—Control of fans, e.g. on-off control
- F24H15/35—Control of the speed of fans
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/355—Control of heat-generating means in heaters
- F24H15/36—Control of heat-generating means in heaters of burners
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/395—Information to users, e.g. alarms
-
- 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
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/40—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers
- F24H15/414—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
- F24H15/45—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based remotely accessible
-
- 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
- F24H9/20—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24H9/2007—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters
- F24H9/2035—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters using fluid fuel
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/04—Sensors
- F24D2220/042—Temperature sensors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/04—Sensors
- F24D2220/044—Flow sensors
-
- 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
- F24H1/10—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium
- F24H1/12—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium in which the water is kept separate from the heating medium
- F24H1/124—Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium in which the water is kept separate from the heating medium using fluid fuel
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a hot water supply device which heats water running in a heat exchanger by a burner to supply hot water.
- a hot water supply device which is provided with a heat exchanger connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe and a burner that heats the heat exchanger, and which is adapted to heat water running in the heat exchanger (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-138952 ).
- Water is supplied from waterworks through a hot water supply pipe to a heat exchanger installed in the hot water supply device.
- the water supplied from waterworks frequently contains dissolved impurities, such as calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide.
- the impurities that crystalize in a water path (heat transfer pipe) in the heat exchanger and turn into lime scale adhering to the heat transfer pipe interfere with the heat transfer in the heat exchanger, resulting in deteriorated performance of the hot water supply device.
- a cleaning pipe for removing the scale is connected to the water circulating path of the hot water supply device including the heat exchanger thereby to form a circulation circuit. Then, a cleaning liquid is circulated in the circulation circuit by a pump to remove the lime scale adhering to the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger.
- the present invention has been made in view of the foregoing background, and an object of the invention is to provide a hot water supply device that makes it possible to check that a heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned.
- a hot water supply device in accordance with the present invention includes:
- the clogging of the heat exchanger is notified when the heat exchanger clogging determination processing is carried out by the heat exchange state determiner.
- the notification of the clogging of the heat exchanger enables a user to recognize the clogging of the heat exchanger and ask a maintenance service or the like for cleaning the heat exchanger.
- an operator of a maintenance service or the like can carry out the heat exchange success determination processing through the heat exchange state determiner by giving an instruction for checking the heat exchange state.
- the post-boiling temperature is compared with the first threshold temperature, which is lower than the second threshold temperature used in the heat exchanger clogging determination processing, and the notification of heat exchange success is given when the post-boiling temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature. This enables the operator to confirm that the heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned by recognizing the notification of cleaning completion.
- the heat exchange state determiner causes the hot water supply controller to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor becomes a predefined determination temperature.
- the first threshold temperature is set according to the determination temperature.
- whether the heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned can be determined with higher accuracy by carrying out the heat exchange success determination processing on the basis of the post-boiling temperature from the state in which the temperature of the water in the vicinity of the outlet of the heat exchanger is maintained at the determination temperature.
- the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification that urges the cleaning of the heat exchanger.
- a hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment is constituted of a main unit 2 and a remote control 50 connected to the main unit 2 by a communication cable 60.
- the main unit 2 includes a heat exchanger 21 provided in a combustion chamber 20, a burner 22 which is disposed below the heat exchanger 21 to heat the heat exchanger 21, a combustion fan 23 which supplies combustion air to the burner 22, and a gas proportional valve 25 which is provided on a gas supply pipe 24 connected to the burner 22 and which changes the flow rate of a fuel gas supplied to the burner 22.
- the inlet end of the heat exchanger 21 is connected to a water supply pipe 30, while the outlet end of the heat exchanger 21 is connected to a hot water supply pipe 31. Further, a bypass pipe 32 is provided to set communication between the water supply pipe 30 and the hot water supply pipe 31, bypassing the heat exchanger 21.
- the water supply pipe 30 is connected to a water pipe 41 via a manual water supply switching valve 40, and the hot water supply pipe 31 is connected to a hot water supply piping 43 via a manual hot water supply switching valve 42.
- the locations of open valves of the water supply switching valve 40 and the hot water supply switching valve 42 are indicated by blank triangles, while the locations of closed valves thereof are indicated by black triangles.
- the lower valves of the water supply switching valve 40 and the hot water supply switching valve 42 are closed, the water pipe 41 and the water supply pipe 30 are set in communication at the water supply switching valve 40, and the hot water supply piping 43 and the hot water supply pipe 31 are set in communication at the hot water supply switching valve 42.
- the faucet 44 water is supplied from the water pipe 41 to the water supply pipe 30, the water that has been heated by the heat exchanger 21 and the water passing through the bypass pipe 32 are mixed to be supplied through the faucet 44 from the hot water supply pipe 31 via the hot water supply piping 43, as indicated by the arrows.
- a running water sensor 29 which detects the flow rate of water circulating through the water supply pipe 30 (corresponding to the running water sensor that detects for the presence of running water in the heat exchanger in the present invention), and a water supply variable valve 28, which changes the opening degree of the water supply pipe 30.
- a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 which detects the temperature of water in the hot water supply pipe 31, is provided in the vicinity of the point of the hot water supply pipe 31 at which the hot water supply pipe 31 is connected with heat exchanger 21.
- the main unit 2 is provided with a controller 10, which controls the whole operation of the hot water supply device 1.
- the controller 10 is an electronic circuit unit composed of a CPU, a memory, various interface circuits and the like, which are not illustrated.
- the controller 10 executes a control program for the hot water supply device 1 stored in the memory so as to function as a hot water supply control unit 11 and a heat exchange state determiner 12.
- the hot water supply control unit 11 sets the burner 22 to a combustion mode to carry out a hot water supply operation. Meanwhile, when the faucet 44 is turned off and the flow rate detected by the running water sensor 29 becomes less than the ignition flow rate, i.e. when the running water is no longer detected, the hot water supply control unit 11 sets the burner 22 to an extinction mode to stop the hot water supply operation.
- the hot water supply control unit 11 adjusts the opening degree of the gas proportional valve 25 and the rotational velocity of the combustion fan 23 to change the combustion amount of the burner 22 such that the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature sensor 27 becomes a desired hot water supply temperature set by the remote control 50.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out heat exchanger clogging determination processing for determining whether the heat exchanger 21 has been clogged due to the adhesion of lime scale.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchanger clogging determination processing when the faucet is turned on to start the hot water supply operation without an "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" given by operating the remote control 50, which will be discussed hereinafter (other than the case where an operator operates the "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" and turns on the faucet 44 according to an audio guidance).
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 measures a post-boiling temperature Tup, which denotes the rise width of the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 (hereinafter referred to as the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout) from the time point at which the hot water supply operation was stopped.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 compares the post-boiling temperature Tup with a second threshold temperature Bth, which is a threshold value for determining the clogging of the heat exchanger 21 attributable to the adhesion of lime scale. If the post-boiling temperature Tup is higher than the second threshold temperature Bth, then the heat exchange state determiner 12 displays an error on a display 51 of the remote control 50 and outputs an audio guidance "Clean the heat exchanger" through a speaker 56.
- a second threshold temperature Bth is a threshold value for determining the clogging of the heat exchanger 21 attributable to the adhesion of lime scale.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchange success determination processing for determining whether the water in the heat exchanger 21 is smoothly passing after the lime scale has been removed from the heat exchanger 21.
- the heat exchange success determination processing will be discussed hereinafter.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship of correspondence between the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and the post-boiling temperature Tup, the axis of abscissa indicating the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout at the time point when the hot water supply operation stops, and the axis of ordinate indicating the post-boiling temperature Tup.
- A denotes the correspondence relationship in a state in which there is no adhesion of lime scale in the heat exchanger 21 (at the time of, for example, starting the use of the hot water supply device 1 that is newly provided or at the time of delivery inspection at a plant).
- B denotes the correspondence relationship in a state in which lime scale has built up in the heat exchanger 21.
- the post-boiling temperature Tup increases as the lime scale builds up in the heat exchanger 21 (shifting from A to B). For example, when the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout is 69°C, at P2 when there is no adhesion of lime scale in the heat exchanger 21, the post-boiling temperature Tup is 11°C. At point P1 when the lime scale has built up in the heat exchanger 21, the post-boiling temperature Tup is 30°C.
- a second threshold temperature Bth for determining the clogging of the heat exchanger is decided on the basis of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout, as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- a first threshold temperature Ath for the heat exchange state determiner 12 to determine whether water is smoothly running in the heat exchanger 21 is decided on the basis of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout, as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the operation for cleaning the heat exchanger 21 will be described according to the flowchart given in FIG. 4 .
- the operation for cleaning the heat exchanger 21 is carried out by connecting a cleaning machine 70 to the hot water supply device 1.
- the cleaning machine 70 has a cleaning liquid tank 73 in which a cleaning liquid 74 (acetic acid or the like) for removing lime scale is stored, a cleaning forward pipe 71 having one end thereof disposed in the cleaning liquid tank 73, a cleaning backward pipe 72, a circulating pump 75 which is provided on the way of the cleaning forward pipe 71 to take up the cleaning liquid 74 from the cleaning liquid tank 73 into the cleaning forward pipe 71, and a timer 76 for checking cleaning execution time.
- a cleaning liquid 74 acetic acid or the like
- an operator who cleans the heat exchanger 21 first stops the operation of the hot water supply device 1 in STEP1, and drains the hot water supply device 1 in STEP2.
- the operator connects the cleaning forward pipe 71 to the water supply switching valve 40, connects the cleaning backward pipe 72 to the hot water supply switching valve 42, and attaches the cleaning machine 70 to the hot water supply device 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3 .
- the operator operates the water supply switching valve 40 to close the path from the water pipe 41 to the water supply pipe 30 and to open the path from the cleaning forward pipe 71 to the water supply pipe 30.
- the operator also operates the hot water supply switching valve 42 to close the path from the hot water supply pipe 31 to the hot water supply piping 43 and to open the path from the hot water supply pipe 31 to the cleaning backward pipe 72.
- the operator starts up the.circulating pump 75.
- This causes the cleaning liquid to circulate through the path of the cleaning liquid tank 73 ⁇ the cleaning forward pipe 71 ⁇ the water supply pipe 30 ⁇ the heat exchanger 21/the bypass pipe 32 ⁇ the hot water supply pipe 31 ⁇ the cleaning backward pipe 72 ⁇ the cleaning liquid tank 73, thus starting the removal of the lime scale in the heat exchanger 21.
- the operator starts the timer 76 and when the time set on the timer 76 is up in STEP7, the operator stops the circulating pump 75 in STEP8.
- the operator drains the cleaning liquid from the hot water supply device 1, and in STEP10, the operator operates the water supply switching valve 40 to close the path from the cleaning forward pipe 71 to the water supply pipe 30 and to open the path from the water pipe 41 to the water supply pipe 30.
- the operator operates the hot water supply switching valve 42 to close the path from the hot water supply pipe 31 to the cleaning backward pipe 72 and to open the path from the hot water supply pipe 31 to the hot water supply piping 43.
- an audio guidance "Clean again” will be output through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50.
- the output of the audio guidance "Clean again” corresponds to the notification urging the cleaning of a heat exchanger in the present invention.
- the notification of successful heat exchange and the notification urging the re-cleaning of the heat exchanger may be effected by a method other than the output of the audio guidance.
- the notification may be displayed on the display 51 of the remote control 50 or may be given by sounding a buzzer through the speaker 56.
- the operator recognizes the audio guidance ("Cleaned OK” or “Clean again") and determines whether the cleaning has been successfully performed. If the cleaning has been successfully performed, i.e. if the audio guidance "Cleaned OK” is given, then the operator proceeds to STEP 13 in which the operator disconnects the cleaning forward pipe 71 from the water supply switching valve 40, disconnects the cleaning backward pipe 72 from the hot water supply switching valve 42, and removes the cleaning machine 70 from the hot water supply device 1 to finish the cleaning operation.
- the procedure branches away from STEP 12 to STEP20.
- the operator drains the hot water supply device 1 and replaces or replenishes the cleaning liquid 74 in the cleaning liquid tank 73, as necessary, in the subsequent STEP21, and returns to STEP4. Then, the operator repeats the operation for cleaning the heat exchanger 21 by the processing from STEP4 and after.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchange success determination processing when the operator operates the remote control 50 as described above.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 reads the data on the first threshold temperature Ath retained in a memory (not illustrated) in STEP30 and outputs an audio guidance "Turn faucet on” through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50 in the next STEP31.
- an audio guidance "Turn faucet on” through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50 in the next STEP31.
- the hot water supply operation is started by the hot water supply control unit 11. Then, in the next STEP33, the heat exchange state determiner 12 causes the hot water supply control unit 11 to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout becomes a determination temperature Tj.
- the start of the hot water supply operation corresponds to the start of the hot water supply operation in response to the instruction for checking the heat exchange state in the present invention.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP35 to output an audio guidance "Turn faucet off" through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50.
- a predetermined time e.g. 10 minutes
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP37 to stop the hot water supply operation.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 detects the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and measures the post-boiling temperature Tup.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 compares the post-boiling temperature Tup and the first threshold temperature Ath to determine whether the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than the first threshold temperature Ath.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 proceeds from STEP39 to STEP40 wherein the heat exchange state determiner 12 outputs the audio guidance "Cleaned OK" through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50, and then proceeds to STEP41 to end the processing.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 branches away from STEP39 to STEP50 to output the audio guidance "Clean again" through the speaker 56 of the remote control 50, and proceeds to STEP41 to end the processing.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the processing in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 6 to decide the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 waits until the hot water supply operation is started by the hot water supply control unit 11 in STEP60, and proceeds to STEP61. Then, in the loop formed of the subsequent STEP61 and STEP70, the heat exchange state determiner 12 waits until a set time (e.g. 10 minutes) elapses in STEP61 or the hot water supply operation is stopped in STEP70.
- a set time e.g. 10 minutes
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP62 and waits for the hot water supply operation to stop.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP63 and decides the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout at the time point when the hot water supply operation stopped, i.e. when the circulation of water in the heat exchanger 21 stopped and the burner 22 was turned off, as the determination temperature Tj, which is then stored in the memory.
- the heat exchange state determiner 12 detects the degree of the rise in the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout from the time point when the hot water supply operation stopped, and measures the post-boiling temperature Tup. Then, the heat exchange state determiner 12 decides a temperature that is slightly higher than the post-boiling temperature Tup as the first threshold temperature Ath, and stores the data of the first threshold temperature Ath in the memory.
- the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath have been decided by the processing of the flowchart given in FIG. 6 on the basis of the actual measured values of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and the post-boiling temperature Tup obtained when the hot water supply operation is actually carried out.
- the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath may be decided by calculation based on experiments or design values.
- the present invention can be applied also to a hot water supply device provided with a burner that burns a different type of fuel, such as a burner using oil as the fuel.
- the audio guidance "Clean again" has been output if the post-boiling temperature Tup is equal to or higher than the first threshold temperature Ath in the flowchart given in FIG. 5 .
- the advantages of the present invention can be obtained even if the audio guidance is not output.
- the audio guidance "Turn faucet on” has been output in STEP31 and the audio guidance "Turn faucet off' has been output in STEP35 thereby to urge the operator to open and close the faucet 44.
- cleaning completion determination processing may be carried out by switching the on-off valve between an open valve state and a closed valve state without outputting the foregoing audio guidance.
- the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 has been provided on the hot water supply pipe 31 side in the vicinity of the place of connection between the heat exchanger 21 and the hot water supply pipe 31.
- the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 may be provided on the heat exchanger 21 side in the vicinity of the place of connection between the heat exchanger 21 and the hot water supply pipe 31.
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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)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a hot water supply device which heats water running in a heat exchanger by a burner to supply hot water.
- Hitherto, there has been known a hot water supply device which is provided with a heat exchanger connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe and a burner that heats the heat exchanger, and which is adapted to heat water running in the heat exchanger (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2008-138952 - Water is supplied from waterworks through a hot water supply pipe to a heat exchanger installed in the hot water supply device. The water supplied from waterworks frequently contains dissolved impurities, such as calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide. The impurities that crystalize in a water path (heat transfer pipe) in the heat exchanger and turn into lime scale adhering to the heat transfer pipe interfere with the heat transfer in the heat exchanger, resulting in deteriorated performance of the hot water supply device.
- In the hot water supply device described in the foregoing gazette, therefore, a failure of the heat exchanger caused by the adhesion of lime scale is detected by making use of the fact that, as the lime scale builds up in the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger, the temperature of the water in the heat exchanger increases due to residual heat (post-boiling temperature) when the supply of hot water is stopped.
- When a failure of the heat exchanger caused by the adhesion of lime scale is detected, a cleaning pipe for removing the scale is connected to the water circulating path of the hot water supply device including the heat exchanger thereby to form a circulation circuit. Then, a cleaning liquid is circulated in the circulation circuit by a pump to remove the lime scale adhering to the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger.
- However, incomplete removal of the lime scale by the cleaning leads to the detection of a failure of the heat exchanger caused by the adhesion of scale within a short period of time after the cleaning pipe is disconnected and the use of the hot water supply device is resumed, thus inconveniently resulting in the need for removing the scale again.
- The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing background, and an object of the invention is to provide a hot water supply device that makes it possible to check that a heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned.
- A hot water supply device in accordance with the present invention includes:
- a heat exchanger connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe;
- a burner that heats the heat exchanger;
- a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor that detects a temperature of water in the heat exchanger or the hot water supply pipe in the vicinity of a place where the heat exchanger and the hot water supply pipe are connected;
- a running water sensor that detects for a presence of running water in the heat exchanger;
- a hot water supply controller that carries out a hot water supply operation in which the burner is turned on to heat water circulating in the heat exchanger in a case where running water is detected by the running water sensor, and turns the burner off to stop the hot water supply operation in a case where the running water is not detected by the running water sensor; and
- a heat exchange state determiner which, in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started in response to a predetermined instruction for checking a heat exchange state, carries out heat exchange success determination processing in which a post-boiling temperature indicating a rise width of a temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor from a time point at which the hot water supply operation was stopped is measured and the post-boiling temperature and a first threshold temperature are compared, and performs a predetermined successful heat exchange notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature, and
- carries out, in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, heat exchanger clogging determination processing in which the post-boiling temperature is measured and the post-boiling temperature is compared with a second threshold temperature, which is higher than the first threshold temperature, and performs a predetermined heat exchanger clogging notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature.
- According to the present invention, if clogging of the heat exchanger caused by a lime scale worsens, then the clogging of the heat exchanger is notified when the heat exchanger clogging determination processing is carried out by the heat exchange state determiner. The notification of the clogging of the heat exchanger enables a user to recognize the clogging of the heat exchanger and ask a maintenance service or the like for cleaning the heat exchanger.
- Further, upon completion of the cleaning operation of the heat exchanger, an operator of a maintenance service or the like can carry out the heat exchange success determination processing through the heat exchange state determiner by giving an instruction for checking the heat exchange state. In the heat exchange success determination processing, the post-boiling temperature is compared with the first threshold temperature, which is lower than the second threshold temperature used in the heat exchanger clogging determination processing, and the notification of heat exchange success is given when the post-boiling temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature. This enables the operator to confirm that the heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned by recognizing the notification of cleaning completion.
- Further, in the present invention, in a case where the instruction for checking the heat exchange state is issued, the heat exchange state determiner causes the hot water supply controller to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor becomes a predefined determination temperature. The first threshold temperature is set according to the determination temperature.
- In this case, whether the heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned can be determined with higher accuracy by carrying out the heat exchange success determination processing on the basis of the post-boiling temperature from the state in which the temperature of the water in the vicinity of the outlet of the heat exchanger is maintained at the determination temperature.
- Further, according to the present invention, in a case where the post-boiling temperature is the first threshold temperature or higher in the heat exchange success determination processing, the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification that urges the cleaning of the heat exchanger.
- With this arrangement, it is possible to urge the operator to clean the heat exchanger again if the heat exchanger has been incompletely cleaned. This makes it possible to prevent the operator from finishing the cleaning of the heat exchanger even in a state the heat exchanger is inadequately cleaned.
-
-
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device; -
FIG. 2 is an explanatory chart illustrating a determination of whether a heat exchanger has been clogged by the adhesion of lime scale and a determination of whether the heat exchanger has been successfully cleaned; -
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a connected state of a cleaning machine is connected; -
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for cleaning the heat exchanger; -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a heat exchange success determination processing; and -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing for setting a determination temperature and a first threshold temperature. - An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 . Referring toFIG. 1 , a hotwater supply device 1 of the present embodiment is constituted of amain unit 2 and aremote control 50 connected to themain unit 2 by acommunication cable 60. - The
main unit 2 includes aheat exchanger 21 provided in acombustion chamber 20, aburner 22 which is disposed below theheat exchanger 21 to heat theheat exchanger 21, acombustion fan 23 which supplies combustion air to theburner 22, and a gasproportional valve 25 which is provided on agas supply pipe 24 connected to theburner 22 and which changes the flow rate of a fuel gas supplied to theburner 22. - The inlet end of the
heat exchanger 21 is connected to awater supply pipe 30, while the outlet end of theheat exchanger 21 is connected to a hotwater supply pipe 31. Further, abypass pipe 32 is provided to set communication between thewater supply pipe 30 and the hotwater supply pipe 31, bypassing theheat exchanger 21. - The
water supply pipe 30 is connected to awater pipe 41 via a manual watersupply switching valve 40, and the hotwater supply pipe 31 is connected to a hotwater supply piping 43 via a manual hot watersupply switching valve 42. InFIG. 1 andFIG. 3 , which will be discussed hereinafter, the locations of open valves of the watersupply switching valve 40 and the hot watersupply switching valve 42 are indicated by blank triangles, while the locations of closed valves thereof are indicated by black triangles. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , the lower valves of the watersupply switching valve 40 and the hot watersupply switching valve 42 are closed, thewater pipe 41 and thewater supply pipe 30 are set in communication at the watersupply switching valve 40, and the hotwater supply piping 43 and the hotwater supply pipe 31 are set in communication at the hot watersupply switching valve 42. Hence, when a user turns on afaucet 44, water is supplied from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30, the water that has been heated by theheat exchanger 21 and the water passing through thebypass pipe 32 are mixed to be supplied through thefaucet 44 from the hotwater supply pipe 31 via the hotwater supply piping 43, as indicated by the arrows. - Provided on the upstream side of the point of the
water supply pipe 30 at which thewater supply pipe 30 is connected with thebypass pipe 32 is a runningwater sensor 29, which detects the flow rate of water circulating through the water supply pipe 30 (corresponding to the running water sensor that detects for the presence of running water in the heat exchanger in the present invention), and a watersupply variable valve 28, which changes the opening degree of thewater supply pipe 30. - A heat exchange
outlet temperature sensor 26, which detects the temperature of water in the hotwater supply pipe 31, is provided in the vicinity of the point of the hotwater supply pipe 31 at which the hotwater supply pipe 31 is connected withheat exchanger 21. A hot watersupply temperature sensor 27, which detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the hotwater supply pipe 31 to the hotwater supply piping 43, is provided on the downstream side of the point of the hotwater supply pipe 31 at which the hotwater supply pipe 31 is connected with thebypass pipe 32. - Further, the
main unit 2 is provided with acontroller 10, which controls the whole operation of the hotwater supply device 1. Thecontroller 10 is an electronic circuit unit composed of a CPU, a memory, various interface circuits and the like, which are not illustrated. Thecontroller 10 executes a control program for the hotwater supply device 1 stored in the memory so as to function as a hot watersupply control unit 11 and a heat exchange state determiner 12. - When the
faucet 44 is turned on and the runningwater sensor 29 detects a flow rate that is an ignition flow rate or higher, i.e. when the running water is detected, the hot watersupply control unit 11 sets theburner 22 to a combustion mode to carry out a hot water supply operation. Meanwhile, when thefaucet 44 is turned off and the flow rate detected by the runningwater sensor 29 becomes less than the ignition flow rate, i.e. when the running water is no longer detected, the hot watersupply control unit 11 sets theburner 22 to an extinction mode to stop the hot water supply operation. - In the hot water supply operation, the hot water
supply control unit 11 adjusts the opening degree of the gasproportional valve 25 and the rotational velocity of thecombustion fan 23 to change the combustion amount of theburner 22 such that the temperature detected by the hot watersupply temperature sensor 27 becomes a desired hot water supply temperature set by theremote control 50. - The heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out heat exchanger clogging determination processing for determining whether the
heat exchanger 21 has been clogged due to the adhesion of lime scale. The heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchanger clogging determination processing when the faucet is turned on to start the hot water supply operation without an "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" given by operating theremote control 50, which will be discussed hereinafter (other than the case where an operator operates the "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" and turns on thefaucet 44 according to an audio guidance). - In the heat exchanger clogging determination processing, if the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation continues for a predetermined time (e.g. 10 minutes) or longer, the heat exchange state determiner 12 measures a post-boiling temperature Tup, which denotes the rise width of the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 (hereinafter referred to as the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout) from the time point at which the hot water supply operation was stopped.
- Then, the heat exchange state determiner 12 compares the post-boiling temperature Tup with a second threshold temperature Bth, which is a threshold value for determining the clogging of the
heat exchanger 21 attributable to the adhesion of lime scale. If the post-boiling temperature Tup is higher than the second threshold temperature Bth, then the heat exchange state determiner 12 displays an error on adisplay 51 of theremote control 50 and outputs an audio guidance "Clean the heat exchanger" through aspeaker 56. - Further, if the operator who has cleaned the
heat exchanger 21, as will be discussed hereinafter, gives an "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" by operating the remote control 50 (e.g. by a special operation, such as pressing anoperation switch 55 while holding anUP switch 53 and aDOWN switch 54 pressed at the same time), then the heat exchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchange success determination processing for determining whether the water in theheat exchanger 21 is smoothly passing after the lime scale has been removed from theheat exchanger 21. The heat exchange success determination processing will be discussed hereinafter. -
FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship of correspondence between the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and the post-boiling temperature Tup, the axis of abscissa indicating the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout at the time point when the hot water supply operation stops, and the axis of ordinate indicating the post-boiling temperature Tup. Referring toFIG. 2 , A denotes the correspondence relationship in a state in which there is no adhesion of lime scale in the heat exchanger 21 (at the time of, for example, starting the use of the hotwater supply device 1 that is newly provided or at the time of delivery inspection at a plant). Further, B denotes the correspondence relationship in a state in which lime scale has built up in theheat exchanger 21. - If the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout at the point when the hot water supply operation stops remains the same, then the post-boiling temperature Tup increases as the lime scale builds up in the heat exchanger 21 (shifting from A to B). For example, when the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout is 69°C, at P2 when there is no adhesion of lime scale in the
heat exchanger 21, the post-boiling temperature Tup is 11°C. At point P1 when the lime scale has built up in theheat exchanger 21, the post-boiling temperature Tup is 30°C. - Hence, according to the present embodiment, a second threshold temperature Bth for determining the clogging of the heat exchanger is decided on the basis of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout, as illustrated in
FIG. 2 . Further, a first threshold temperature Ath for the heatexchange state determiner 12 to determine whether water is smoothly running in theheat exchanger 21 is decided on the basis of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout, as illustrated inFIG. 2 . - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , the operation for cleaning theheat exchanger 21 will be described according to the flowchart given inFIG. 4 . As illustrated inFIG. 3 , the operation for cleaning theheat exchanger 21 is carried out by connecting a cleaningmachine 70 to the hotwater supply device 1. - The cleaning
machine 70 has a cleaningliquid tank 73 in which a cleaning liquid 74 (acetic acid or the like) for removing lime scale is stored, a cleaning forwardpipe 71 having one end thereof disposed in the cleaningliquid tank 73, a cleaningbackward pipe 72, a circulatingpump 75 which is provided on the way of the cleaning forwardpipe 71 to take up the cleaningliquid 74 from the cleaningliquid tank 73 into the cleaning forwardpipe 71, and atimer 76 for checking cleaning execution time. - According to the flowchart of
FIG. 4 , an operator who cleans theheat exchanger 21 first stops the operation of the hotwater supply device 1 in STEP1, and drains the hotwater supply device 1 in STEP2. In the subsequent STEP3, the operator connects the cleaning forwardpipe 71 to the watersupply switching valve 40, connects the cleaningbackward pipe 72 to the hot watersupply switching valve 42, and attaches the cleaningmachine 70 to the hotwater supply device 1, as illustrated inFIG. 3 . - Next, in STEP4, the operator operates the water
supply switching valve 40 to close the path from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30 and to open the path from the cleaning forwardpipe 71 to thewater supply pipe 30. The operator also operates the hot watersupply switching valve 42 to close the path from the hotwater supply pipe 31 to the hotwater supply piping 43 and to open the path from the hotwater supply pipe 31 to the cleaningbackward pipe 72. - Subsequently, in STEP5, the operator starts up
the.circulating pump 75. This causes the cleaning liquid to circulate through the path of the cleaningliquid tank 73 → the cleaning forwardpipe 71 → thewater supply pipe 30 → theheat exchanger 21/thebypass pipe 32 → the hotwater supply pipe 31 → the cleaningbackward pipe 72 → the cleaningliquid tank 73, thus starting the removal of the lime scale in theheat exchanger 21. - In the next STEP6, the operator starts the
timer 76 and when the time set on thetimer 76 is up in STEP7, the operator stops the circulatingpump 75 in STEP8. In the following STEP9, the operator drains the cleaning liquid from the hotwater supply device 1, and in STEP10, the operator operates the watersupply switching valve 40 to close the path from the cleaning forwardpipe 71 to thewater supply pipe 30 and to open the path from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30. - Further, the operator operates the hot water
supply switching valve 42 to close the path from the hotwater supply pipe 31 to the cleaningbackward pipe 72 and to open the path from the hotwater supply pipe 31 to the hotwater supply piping 43. - Operating the water
supply switching valve 40 and the hot watersupply switching valve 42 enables the hot water supply operation of the hotwater supply device 1. Then, in thesubsequent STEP 11, the operator gives the "instruction for checking the heat exchange state" by operating theremote control 50 so as to direct the heat exchange success determination processing to be carried out. In the heat exchange state determination processing, if it is determined that theheat exchanger 21 has been successfully cleaned, then an audio guidance "Cleaned OK" is output through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50. The output of the audio guidance "Cleaned OK" corresponds to the notification of successful heat exchange in the present invention. The heat exchange state determination processing will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. - If the
heat exchanger 21 has been inadequately cleaned, then an audio guidance "Clean again" will be output through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50. The output of the audio guidance "Clean again" corresponds to the notification urging the cleaning of a heat exchanger in the present invention. - The notification of successful heat exchange and the notification urging the re-cleaning of the heat exchanger may be effected by a method other than the output of the audio guidance. For example, the notification may be displayed on the
display 51 of theremote control 50 or may be given by sounding a buzzer through thespeaker 56. - Next, in
STEP 12, the operator recognizes the audio guidance ("Cleaned OK" or "Clean again") and determines whether the cleaning has been successfully performed. If the cleaning has been successfully performed, i.e. if the audio guidance "Cleaned OK" is given, then the operator proceeds to STEP 13 in which the operator disconnects the cleaning forwardpipe 71 from the watersupply switching valve 40, disconnects the cleaningbackward pipe 72 from the hot watersupply switching valve 42, and removes the cleaningmachine 70 from the hotwater supply device 1 to finish the cleaning operation. - Meanwhile, if the cleaning is inadequate, i.e. if the audio guidance "Clean again" is output, then the procedure branches away from
STEP 12 to STEP20. The operator drains the hotwater supply device 1 and replaces or replenishes the cleaningliquid 74 in the cleaningliquid tank 73, as necessary, in the subsequent STEP21, and returns to STEP4. Then, the operator repeats the operation for cleaning theheat exchanger 21 by the processing from STEP4 and after. - Referring now to the flowchart given in
FIG. 5 , the procedure for carrying out the heat exchange success determination processing will be described. The heatexchange state determiner 12 carries out the heat exchange success determination processing when the operator operates theremote control 50 as described above. - The heat
exchange state determiner 12 reads the data on the first threshold temperature Ath retained in a memory (not illustrated) in STEP30 and outputs an audio guidance "Turn faucet on" through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50 in the next STEP31. When the operator turns thefaucet 44 on in response to the audio guidance, the water supply from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30 is begun. - When the flow rate detected by the running
water sensor 29 reaches the ignition flow rate or more in the subsequent STEP32, the hot water supply operation is started by the hot watersupply control unit 11. Then, in the next STEP33, the heatexchange state determiner 12 causes the hot watersupply control unit 11 to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout becomes a determination temperature Tj. The start of the hot water supply operation corresponds to the start of the hot water supply operation in response to the instruction for checking the heat exchange state in the present invention. - Then, when a predetermined time (e.g. 10 minutes) elapses in the next STEP34, the heat
exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP35 to output an audio guidance "Turn faucet off" through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50. When the operator turns thefaucet 44 off in response to the audio guidance, the water supply from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30 is stopped. - When the flow rate detected by the running
water sensor 29 has reduced to less than the ignition flow rate in the subsequent STEP36 after the water supply from thewater pipe 41 to thewater supply pipe 30 is stopped, the heatexchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP37 to stop the hot water supply operation. - In the subsequent STEP38, the heat
exchange state determiner 12 detects the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and measures the post-boiling temperature Tup. In STEP39, the heatexchange state determiner 12 compares the post-boiling temperature Tup and the first threshold temperature Ath to determine whether the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than the first threshold temperature Ath. - If the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than the first threshold temperature Ath, then it is determined that the
heat exchanger 21 has been successfully cleaned. Hence, the heatexchange state determiner 12 proceeds from STEP39 to STEP40 wherein the heatexchange state determiner 12 outputs the audio guidance "Cleaned OK" through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50, and then proceeds to STEP41 to end the processing. - Meanwhile, if the post-boiling temperature Tup is the first threshold temperature Ath or higher, then it is determined that the
heat exchanger 21 has been inadequately cleaned. Hence, the heatexchange state determiner 12 branches away from STEP39 to STEP50 to output the audio guidance "Clean again" through thespeaker 56 of theremote control 50, and proceeds to STEP41 to end the processing. - Referring now to the flowchart given in
FIG. 6 , the processing for deciding the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath by the heatexchange state determiner 12 will be described. When the use of the hotwater supply device 1 is begun (e.g. when there is no buildup of lime scale in theheat exchanger 21 of the hotwater supply device 1 newly installed in a house or at the time of a delivery inspection at a plant or the like), the heatexchange state determiner 12 carries out the processing in accordance with the flowchart ofFIG. 6 to decide the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath. - The heat
exchange state determiner 12 waits until the hot water supply operation is started by the hot watersupply control unit 11 in STEP60, and proceeds to STEP61. Then, in the loop formed of the subsequent STEP61 and STEP70, the heatexchange state determiner 12 waits until a set time (e.g. 10 minutes) elapses in STEP61 or the hot water supply operation is stopped in STEP70. - When the set time has elapsed in STEP61 (when it is determined that the hot water supply operation has continued for a set time or longer and the temperature of the hot water supplied from the
heat exchanger 21 has stabilized), the heatexchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP62 and waits for the hot water supply operation to stop. - When the hot water supply operation stops in STEP62, the heat
exchange state determiner 12 proceeds to STEP63 and decides the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout at the time point when the hot water supply operation stopped, i.e. when the circulation of water in theheat exchanger 21 stopped and theburner 22 was turned off, as the determination temperature Tj, which is then stored in the memory. - In the subsequent STEP64, the heat
exchange state determiner 12 detects the degree of the rise in the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout from the time point when the hot water supply operation stopped, and measures the post-boiling temperature Tup. Then, the heatexchange state determiner 12 decides a temperature that is slightly higher than the post-boiling temperature Tup as the first threshold temperature Ath, and stores the data of the first threshold temperature Ath in the memory. - In the present embodiment, the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath have been decided by the processing of the flowchart given in
FIG. 6 on the basis of the actual measured values of the heat exchange outlet temperature Tout and the post-boiling temperature Tup obtained when the hot water supply operation is actually carried out. Alternatively, however, the determination temperature Tj and the first threshold temperature Ath may be decided by calculation based on experiments or design values. - Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given of the hot
water supply device 1 provided with theburner 22 using gas as the fuel. However, the present invention can be applied also to a hot water supply device provided with a burner that burns a different type of fuel, such as a burner using oil as the fuel. - Further, in the present embodiment, the audio guidance "Clean again" has been output if the post-boiling temperature Tup is equal to or higher than the first threshold temperature Ath in the flowchart given in
FIG. 5 . However, the advantages of the present invention can be obtained even if the audio guidance is not output. - Further, according to the present embodiment, in the flowchart given in
FIG. 5 , the audio guidance "Turn faucet on" has been output in STEP31 and the audio guidance "Turn faucet off' has been output in STEP35 thereby to urge the operator to open and close thefaucet 44. - However, if the supply and the supply stop of the water from the water pipe to the
water supply pipe 30 can be switched by controlling an on-off valve, as in the case where a hot water bathtub filling pipe (not illustrated), which is branched away from the hotwater supply pipe 31 and connected to a bathtub (not illustrated), and an on-off valve (not illustrated), which opens/closes the hot water bathtub filling pipe, are provided, then cleaning completion determination processing may be carried out by switching the on-off valve between an open valve state and a closed valve state without outputting the foregoing audio guidance. - Further, in the present embodiment, the heat exchange
outlet temperature sensor 26 has been provided on the hotwater supply pipe 31 side in the vicinity of the place of connection between theheat exchanger 21 and the hotwater supply pipe 31. Alternatively, however, the heat exchangeoutlet temperature sensor 26 may be provided on theheat exchanger 21 side in the vicinity of the place of connection between theheat exchanger 21 and the hotwater supply pipe 31.
Claims (4)
- A hot water supply device comprising:a heat exchanger connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe;a burner that heats the heat exchanger;a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor that detects a temperature of water in the heat exchanger or the hot water supply pipe in a vicinity of a place where the heat exchanger and the hot water supply pipe are connected;a running water sensor that detects for a presence of running water in the heat exchanger;a hot water supply controller that carries out a hot water supply operation in which the burner is turned on to heat water circulating in the heat exchanger in a case where running water is detected by the running water sensor, and turns the burner off to stop the hot water supply operation in a case where the running water is not detected by the running water sensor; anda heat exchange state determiner which, in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started in response to a predetermined instruction for checking a heat exchange state, carries out heat exchange success determination processing in which a post-boiling temperature indicating a rise width of a temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor from a time point at which the hot water supply operation stopped is measured, and the post-boiling temperature and a first threshold temperature are compared, and performs a predetermined successful heat exchange notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature, andcarries out, in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, heat exchanger clogging determination processing in which the post-boiling temperature is measured and the post-boiling temperature is compared with a second threshold temperature, which is higher than the first threshold temperature, and performs a predetermined heat exchanger clogging notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature.
- The hot water supply device according to claim 1,
wherein the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification for urging the cleaning of the heat exchanger in a case where the post-boiling temperature is the first threshold temperature or higher in the heat exchange success determination processing. - The hot water supply device according to claim 1,
wherein, in a case where the instruction for checking a heat exchange state is performed, the heat exchange state determiner causes the hot water supply controller to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor becomes a predefined determination temperature, and
the first threshold temperature is set according to the determination temperature. - The hot water supply device according to claim 3,
wherein, in a case where the post-boiling temperature is the first threshold temperature or higher in the heat exchange success determination processing, the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification for urging the cleaning of the heat exchanger.
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EP14002702.0A EP2980506B1 (en) | 2014-08-01 | 2014-08-01 | Hot water supply device |
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EP14002702.0A EP2980506B1 (en) | 2014-08-01 | 2014-08-01 | Hot water supply device |
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EP2980506B1 EP2980506B1 (en) | 2016-06-29 |
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CN109237793A (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2019-01-18 | 青岛海高设计制造有限公司 | Remote control module for water heater |
CN114893936A (en) * | 2022-07-12 | 2022-08-12 | 深圳市兄弟制冰系统有限公司 | Water inlet and outlet control system and control method for ice making system |
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JP2003254615A (en) * | 2002-03-04 | 2003-09-10 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Hot water supply system |
US20070257122A1 (en) * | 2006-03-27 | 2007-11-08 | Rinnai Corporation | Circulation type hot water supply device |
JP2008138952A (en) | 2006-12-04 | 2008-06-19 | Chofu Seisakusho Co Ltd | Malfunction detection device for heat exchanger, and malfunction detection method for heat exchanger |
US20130214053A1 (en) * | 2012-02-22 | 2013-08-22 | Paloma Co., Ltd. | Water heater |
US20140060458A1 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2014-03-06 | Nortiz Corporation | Latent heat recovery type water heater |
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2014
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JP2003254615A (en) * | 2002-03-04 | 2003-09-10 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Hot water supply system |
US20070257122A1 (en) * | 2006-03-27 | 2007-11-08 | Rinnai Corporation | Circulation type hot water supply device |
JP2008138952A (en) | 2006-12-04 | 2008-06-19 | Chofu Seisakusho Co Ltd | Malfunction detection device for heat exchanger, and malfunction detection method for heat exchanger |
US20130214053A1 (en) * | 2012-02-22 | 2013-08-22 | Paloma Co., Ltd. | Water heater |
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CN109237793A (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2019-01-18 | 青岛海高设计制造有限公司 | Remote control module for water heater |
CN114893936A (en) * | 2022-07-12 | 2022-08-12 | 深圳市兄弟制冰系统有限公司 | Water inlet and outlet control system and control method for ice making system |
CN114893936B (en) * | 2022-07-12 | 2022-09-16 | 深圳市兄弟制冰系统有限公司 | Water inlet and outlet control system and control method for ice making system |
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