JP2006118753A - Storage type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage type water heater capable of dispensing with an air-bleeding operation by an air-bleeding valve, and performing air bleeding in a heat pump circulation circuit in an early period. <P>SOLUTION: Connecting means 143, 144 are mounted to connect a discharge-side of a second circulation pump 141 of a second circulation circuit 140 with a first circulation circuit 120, and a controller 150 connects the second circulation circuit 140 with the first circulation circuit 120 by the connecting means 143, 144, and operates the second circulation pump 141 to control and perform air-bleeding in the first circulation circuit 120 after the first water supply to a hot water storage tank 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage hot water supply device that stores hot hot water heated using a heat pump as a heating means, and supplies the hot water to a faucet, a bath or the like, or a heating source such as a heating device. is there.

As a conventional hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 100 is replenished with hot water from the lower side, and a hot water storage tank 110 for storing hot water on the upper side, a heat pump 130 as a heating means, and a hot water storage tank 110 An annular heat pump circulation circuit 120 connected to the upper side of the hot water storage tank 110 through the heat pump 130 from the lower side. The hot water circulating through the heat pump circulation circuit 120 is heated (boiling) by the heat pump 130 and stored in the hot water storage tank 110 as high temperature hot water. The stored high temperature hot water is fed from the outlet pipe 110b to the faucet, Hot water is supplied to baths.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-114053

  However, since the heat pump 130 absorbs heat from the outside air and heats the hot water supply, it is usually installed outdoors. In many cases, the heat pump circulation circuit 120 that connects the hot water storage tank 110 and the heat pump 130 is set as a long pipe, and the following air stagnation occurs.

  That is, when the hot water storage hot water supply apparatus 100 is constructed, when the hot water storage tank 110 and the heat pump circulation circuit 120 are filled with hot water after piping, the relief valve 121 provided on the upper side of the hot water storage tank 110 of the normal heat pump circulation circuit 120 is opened. However, the hot water storage tank 110 is faster than the heat pump circulation circuit 120 in filling the hot water, so that the air stagnates in the heat pump circulation circuit 120. In this situation, even if the circulation pump 131a in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 is operated, hot water cannot be sucked, and therefore the heat pump circulation circuit 120 cannot be filled with the hot water by the circulation pump 131a.

  Therefore, an air vent valve 122 (also serving as a discharge valve for discharging hot water) is provided in advance in the vicinity of the connection portion between the heat pump circulation circuit 120 and the heat pump 130 in order to extract the air, and the hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 110 and the heat pump circulation circuit 120. The air vent valve 122 is opened while operating the circulation pump 131a during the water supply, and the air release valve 122 is closed after confirming that the air has escaped, and the heat pump circulation circuit 120 is filled with hot water. Thus, a lot of time and labor are required for air bleeding.

  If the heat pump 130 is operated and the hot water is heated (boiling) while air is stagnant in the heat pump circulation circuit 120, the circulation flow rate in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 becomes unstable, and the boiling temperature is not stable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that eliminates the need for an air bleeding operation with an air bleeding valve and enables the air to be discharged from the initial heat pump circulation circuit. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  In invention of Claim 1, while storing hot water and hot water to be replenished, hot water storage tank (110) for discharging hot water and hot water in the hot water storage tank (110) are discharged to the outside, Hot water is circulated by a first circulation circuit (120) returning to the hot water side in the hot water storage tank (110) and a first circulation pump (131) disposed in the first circulation circuit (120). And a second circulation circuit for causing the hot water in the hot water storage tank (110) to flow out to the outside for heating a predetermined fluid and returning it to the hot water supply side in the hot water storage tank (110). (140), a second circulation pump (141) for circulating hot water in the second circulation circuit (140), hot water from the hot water storage tank (110), a heat pump (130), a second circulation pump (141) Control equipment to control (150), the connecting means (143, 143) that enables connection from the discharge side of the second circulation pump (141) of the second circulation circuit (140) to the first circulation circuit (120). 144), and the control device (150) is connected to the connection means (143, 144) in order to perform air bleeding control in the first circulation circuit (120) after the initial water supply is performed in the hot water storage tank (110). ), The second circulation circuit (140) is connected to the first circulation circuit (120), and the second circulation pump (141) is operated.

  As a result, hot water in the hot water storage tank (110) by the initial water supply can flow from the second circulation circuit (140) to the first circulation circuit (120), so that the air stagnating in the first circulation circuit (120). The air venting operation by the air vent valve (122) as in the prior art can be made unnecessary. And the circulating flow rate of the hot water circulating through the first circulation circuit (120) can be stabilized, and the boiling temperature can be stabilized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control device (150) executes the air bleeding control when the initial power is turned on or when the initial signal is input from the control signal input operation unit (151). It is characterized by that.

  As a result, the air bleeding control is automatically executed without requiring a special operation for air bleeding, so that forgetting the air bleeding control can be prevented.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the control device (150) stops the air bleeding control after a predetermined time has elapsed or when the hot water flowing through the first circulation circuit (120) reaches a predetermined flow rate. It is characterized by doing.

  As a result, air bleeding can be completed without wasting time and energy.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis attached | subjected to each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means of embodiment description later mentioned.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a hot water supply apparatus) 100 according to the first embodiment, and FIG.

  The hot water supply apparatus 100 includes a hot water storage tank 110 that stores high-temperature hot water heated by the heat pump 130, and supplies hot water to a faucet, a shower, a bath, and the like, and floor heating using high-temperature hot water in the hot water storage tank 110. It is assumed to have a bathing function.

  The hot water storage tank 110 is a metal tank (for example, made of stainless steel) having excellent corrosion resistance, and a heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged on the outer periphery so that hot water can be kept warm for a long time. ing. The hot water storage tank 110 has a vertically long shape, and an introduction port 111 is provided on the bottom surface thereof, and an introduction pipe 110 a for introducing hot water (tap water) is connected to the lower side of the hot water storage tank 110. ing.

  On the other hand, a lead-out port 112 is provided on the upper surface of the hot water storage tank 110, and a lead-out pipe 110 b for leading out hot water in the hot water storage tank 110 is connected to the lead-out port 112. The outlet side of the outlet pipe 110b is connected to a faucet, a shower, a bath, and the like.

  A pipe 110c branched from the introduction pipe 110a is connected to the outlet pipe 110b, and a mixing valve 110d is disposed at the junction of the outlet pipe 110b and the pipe 110c. The mixing valve 110d adjusts the opening area ratio between the outlet pipe 110b and the pipe 110c at the junction, thereby adjusting the mixing ratio of hot water from the outlet pipe 110b and hot water supplied from the pipe 110c. .

  The mixing valve 110d is an electric valve that adjusts the opening degree of the outlet pipe 110b and the pipe 110c by driving the valve body by a drive source such as a servo motor, and is operated by a control signal from the control device 150 described later. The operating state is output to the control device 150.

  The bottom surface of the hot water storage tank 110 is provided with a low temperature discharge port 113 for discharging hot water from the lower side of the hot water storage tank 110, and the upper surface of the hot water storage tank 110 has hot water on the upper side of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 110. Is provided with a high-temperature suction port 114. The low temperature discharge port 113 and the high temperature suction port 114 are connected by a heat pump circulation circuit (corresponding to the first circulation circuit in the present invention) 120. A relief valve 121 that is opened and closed by a manual operation is provided at the uppermost position of the hot water storage tank 110 in the heat pump circulation circuit 120.

  In the heat pump 130, a first pump (first circulation pump) 131 disposed in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 and a well-known heat pump cycle (compressor, refrigerant water heat exchanger 132, expansion valve, and evaporator are connected in an annular shape. And a detailed circuit (not shown). And the heat pump circulation circuit 120 distribute | circulates the water side of the refrigerant | coolant water heat exchanger 132 of a heat pump cycle. Therefore, the hot water flowing through the heat pump circulation circuit 120 by the first pump 131 is heated by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 132 to become high-temperature hot water (boiling), and enters the hot water storage tank 110 from the high-temperature suction port 114. Stored.

  The first pump 131 and the compressor of the heat pump 130 are variable in number of rotations, and operate according to a control signal from the control device 150 to be described later, and output the operating state to the control device 150. .

  Incidentally, in the heat pump cycle, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant here, and the refrigerant is compressed to a critical pressure or more. Therefore, by using this supercritical region, the refrigerant discharge temperature from the compressor can be increased, and hot water (for example, 90 ° C.) can be efficiently boiled up when using chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant or the like. .

  A hot discharge port 115 and a low temperature suction port 116 are further provided on the upper surface and the bottom surface of the hot water storage tank 110, respectively. The high temperature discharge port 115 and the low temperature suction port 116 are connected to a heating circuit (second circulation in the present invention). (Corresponding to the circuit) 140. The heating circulation circuit 140 is provided with a second pump (second circulation pump) 141, and by the operation of the second pump 141, hot water is discharged from the high temperature discharge port 115, and the low temperature suction port 116 (hot water supply). It is set back to the water side.

  Note that the second pump 141 is a variable speed pump and operates so that the circulating flow rate in the heating circulation circuit 140 can be changed by a control signal from the control device 150 described later, and the operation state is changed to the control device 150. I am trying to output.

  A heat exchanger 142 is disposed in the middle of the heating circuit 140. The heat exchanger 142 is a counter-flow heat exchanger, and hot water flowing in the heating circuit 140 and floor heating water or remaining bath water flowing in the circuit 145 by the third pump 146 (predetermined in the present invention). Heat exchange with the fluid) to heat floor heating water or remaining hot water.

  The third pump 146 is a variable speed pump similar to the second pump 141 and operates so that the circulation flow rate in the circulation circuit 145 can be changed by a control signal from the control device 150 described later. The operating state is output to the control device 150.

  In the present invention, connection means is provided that enables connection to the heat pump circuit 120 from the discharge side of the second pump 141 of the heating circuit 140. Here, the connection means is composed of a branch flow path 143 and a switching valve 144.

  That is, the branch flow path 143 is a flow path branched from the discharge side of the second pump 141 of the heating circuit 140 and connected to the low temperature discharge port 113 side of the heat pump circuit 120. A switching valve 144 is disposed at the branch point of the branch flow path 143. The switching valve 144 adjusts the opening area ratio (opening degree) between the hot water storage tank 110 side and the heat pump circulation circuit 120 side, so that the hot water hot water storage tank 110 or the heat pump circulation circuit 120 that has passed through the heat exchanger 142 is supplied. The flow rate ratio can be adjusted.

  The control device 150 has a remote control (corresponding to the operation unit in the present invention) 151 that is normally operated by a user. When the power switch 152 is turned on, power is supplied from the power supply 160 and the user operates the remote control 151. On the basis of the hot water supply set temperature signal, floor heating set temperature signal, reheating set temperature signal, etc., the hot water supply, floor heating, bath reheating, boiling, etc. are controlled.

  Specifically, at the time of hot water supply, the opening area ratio of the mixing valve 110d is adjusted, and the mixing ratio of hot water and hot water is adjusted, so that the temperature of hot water discharged from the tip of the outlet pipe 110b becomes the hot water supply set temperature. To be.

  When the floor heating operation is performed or when the bath is replenished, the hot water storage tank 110 side of the switching valve 144 is opened (the heat pump circulation circuit 120 side is closed), the second pump 141 is activated, and the heating circulation circuit 140 (heat exchanger) 142) circulating hot water. Then, the third pump 146 is operated to heat the floor heating water or the remaining hot water in the circulation circuit 145.

  While the hot water in the hot water storage tank 110 is used as described above (the hot water is replenished from the introduction pipe 110a by the amount of hot water used), the control device 150 boils the hot water. Do. That is, the heat pump 130 (the first pump 131, the compressor) is operated and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 110 is mainly operated in the late-night time (for example, from 23:00 on the current day to 7:00 on the next day) when the electricity rate is low. It is heated and stored in hot water storage tank 110 as hot water (boiling water is heated). Note that when the amount of heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 110 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount of heat even outside the midnight time zone, the heat pump 130 is operated in the same manner as described above to increase boiling water.

  In the present invention, at the time of construction of the hot water supply apparatus 100 formed as described above, the air venting control is performed when the initial water supply is performed in the hot water storage tank 110, the heat pump circulation circuit 120, and the heating circulation circuit 140. It has a characteristic. Hereinafter, the contents of the air bleeding control will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in the construction of the hot water supply apparatus 100, the hot water storage tank 110, the heat pump 130, the heat exchanger 142, etc. are installed by the installer, and the heat pump circulation circuit 120, the heating circulation circuit 140, the circulation circuit 145, etc. are piped, and then escaped. The valve 121 is opened, and water is supplied for the first time into the hot water storage tank 110 from the introduction pipe 110a. When the hot water supply overflows from the relief valve 121, the relief valve is closed. At this time, the hot water storage tank 110 and the heating circulation circuit 140 adjacent to the hot water storage tank 110 are filled with hot water, but the heat pump circulation circuit 120 has the air as described in the above section. Stagnation occurs.

  When the power switch 151 of the control device 150 is turned on for the first time by the installer, the control flow shown in FIG. 2 starts, and at the same time, the power-on signal corresponds to the air bleeding instruction signal in step S100. It determines with YES and progresses to step S110.

  In step S110, the heat pump circulation circuit 120 side of the switching valve 144 is opened (the hot water storage tank 110 side is closed), and the first pump 131 and the second pump 141 are operated. As for the operation timing of each pump 131, 141, the first and second pumps 131, 141 are operated simultaneously, the second pump 141 is operated after the first pump 131 is operated, and the first pump is operated after the second pump 141 is operated. Any of 131 may be operated. Alternatively, only the second pump 141 may be operated.

  Then, when a predetermined time predetermined in step S120 (a time necessary for the air in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 to escape from the relief valve 121 by the operation of the pumps 131 and 141) elapses, the switching valve 144 is switched in step S130. The hot water storage tank 110 side is opened (the heat pump circulation circuit 120 side is closed), and the first pump 131 and the pump 141 are stopped (air venting control is stopped).

  As a result, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 110 by the initial water supply can flow from the heating circuit 140 to the heat pump circuit 120, so that the air stagnating in the heat pump circuit 120 is released and pushed to the valve 121 side to be removed. Thus, the air bleeding operation by the air bleeding valve 122 as in the prior art can be made unnecessary. And the circulating flow rate of the hot water circulating through the heat pump circuit 120 can be stabilized, and the boiling temperature can be stabilized.

  In addition, since the determination signal at the time of starting the air bleeding control is the initial power-on signal to the control device 150 itself, the air bleeding control is automatically executed without requiring any special operation for air bleeding. Therefore, forgetting to remove air can be prevented.

  Further, since the determination is made with the passage of a predetermined time when stopping the air bleeding control, the air bleeding can be completed without wasting time and energy.

  It should be noted that the signal corresponding to the air bleeding instruction in step S100 is an initial signal input from the remote control 151 (for example, a test run execution signal input by the installer or for heating control) instead of the signal at the time of turning on the power. A time setting signal or the like).

  Furthermore, in step S120, the stop determination of the air bleeding control is performed instead of the determination of the elapse of a predetermined time. The hot water flowing through the heat pump circulation circuit 120 has a predetermined flow rate (air in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 is released from the valve 121). It may be determined that the flow rate is considered to be necessary for removal. Note that the flow rate of the hot water can be calculated from the pump characteristics corresponding to the rotational speeds of the pumps 131 and 141 and the water flow resistance of the heat pump circulation circuit 120. Alternatively, a flow rate counter can be provided in the heat pump circulation circuit 120 to directly detect the flow rate.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the connection means is changed with respect to the first embodiment.

  Here, the low temperature suction port 116 in the first embodiment is abolished, and the downstream side of the second pump 141 of the heating circulation circuit 140 is connected to the low temperature discharge port 113 side of the heat pump circulation circuit 120, and the heat pump circulation circuit 120 A switching valve 144 a is provided at a connection point with the heating circulation circuit 140. In the second embodiment, the switching valve 144a corresponds to the connecting means.

  The switching valve 144a operates as follows. That is, when each part of each circulation circuit 120, 140 in FIG. 3 is a part, b part, c part, when the heat pump 130 is operated, the switching valve 144a opens the a part, b part side, and c part side. It closes and enables boiling of hot water by the heat pump 130. When the heating circulation circuit 140 is operated, the switching valve 144a opens the a and c portions and closes the b portion, thereby enabling heating of the floor heating water or replenishment of remaining hot water in the bath. When the heat pump 130 and the heating circulation circuit 140 are simultaneously operated, the switching valve 144a operates to open the three members on the a, b, and c side, and arbitrarily adjust the opening area ratio of each part.

  At the time of air venting control, the switching valve 144a opens the parts b and c and closes the part a (or opens the three parts a, b and c, and arbitrarily adjusts the opening area ratio of each part. To operate). That is, the heating circuit 140 is operated so as to be connected to the heat pump circuit 120.

  Thereby, the hot water of the circulation circuit 140 for heating can be poured into the heat pump circulation circuit 120 at the time of air bleeding control, and the same effect as the said 1st Embodiment can be acquired. Further, the piping from the switching valve 144 to the low temperature suction port 116 in the first embodiment can be eliminated and simplified.

(Other embodiments)
In contrast to the first and second embodiments, the hot water circulating in the heating circuit 140 may be used as a heating source for a bathroom dryer or the like instead of floor heating or bathing. .

  Further, although carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant of the heat pump 130, the invention is not limited to this, and a CFC refrigerant (such as R410) may be used.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing at the time of air bleeding control. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the hot water storage type hot-water supply apparatus in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 110 Hot water storage tank 120 Heat pump circulation circuit (1st circulation circuit)
130 heat pump 131 first pump (first circulation pump)
140 Circulation circuit for heating (second circulation circuit)
141 Second pump (second circulation pump)
143 Branch channel (connecting means)
144 Switching valve (connecting means)
150 Control Device 151 Remote Controller (Operation Unit)

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank (110) for storing hot water and hot water to be replenished and for discharging the hot water;
A first circulation circuit (120) for flowing out the hot water in the hot water storage tank (110) to the outside and returning it to the hot water side in the hot water storage tank (110);
A heat pump (130) that heats the hot water circulated by a first circulation pump (131) disposed in the first circulation circuit (120) to produce the hot water;
A second circulation circuit (140) for letting hot water in the hot water storage tank (110) flow out to the outside for heating a predetermined fluid and returning it to the hot water supply side in the hot water storage tank (110);
A second circulation pump (141) for circulating the hot water in the second circulation circuit (140);
A hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus comprising a hot water supply from the hot water storage tank (110), the heat pump (130), and a control device (150) for controlling the second circulation pump (141),
Connecting means (143, 144) that enables connection from the discharge side of the second circulation pump (141) of the second circulation circuit (140) to the first circulation circuit (120);
The control device (150) is configured to connect the connection means (143, 144) to execute air bleeding control in the first circulation circuit (120) after the initial water supply is performed in the hot water storage tank (110). To connect the second circulation circuit (140) to the first circulation circuit (120) to operate the second circulation pump (141).   The said control apparatus (150) performs the said air bleeding control, when an initial power supply is turned on, or when an initial signal is input from the operation part (151) for control signal input. The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to 1.   The control device (150) stops the air bleeding control after elapse of a predetermined time, or when the hot water flowing through the first circulation circuit (120) reaches a predetermined flow rate. The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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