JP2006226557A - Open type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an open type water heater capable of easily detecting abnormality of a water level detecting means without mounting a special water level sensor or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In this open type water heater, a hot water storing can body 1 is mounted to store the hot water heated by a heating means 2, a water supply pipe 7 comprising a water supply solenoid valve 11 is communicated with the hot water storing can body 1, the water supply solenoid valve 11 is opened and closed in accordance with a water level of the water level detecting means 14 detecting a water level in the hot water storing can body 1 to keep a constant water level at all time, an atmospheric air opening chamber 16 is formed at an upper portion of the hot water storing can body 1, and further the hot water supply pipe 17 is provided with a hot water supply pressure pump 20 started and stopped in accordance with the presence and absence of necessity of hot water supply. An abnormality detecting means 47 is mounted to determine the abnormality of the water level detecting means 14 when the water supply solenoid valve 11 is opened for more than a prescribed time in a state of stopping the hot water supply pressure pump 20, and stopping the water supply, thus the abnormality of the water level detecting means 14 can be easily detected by using an existing component without adding another component such as the water level sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus in which a hot water supply pressure is not applied to a hot water storage can and the atmosphere is opened.

Conventionally, in this type of open-type hot water supply device, the water level is detected by a water level detection means that is a level sensor in the hot water storage can, and the water supply solenoid valve is controlled to open and close to maintain a constant water level. It was pumped with a pressure pump. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent Publication No.7-117293

  By the way, with this conventional one, if the water level detection means or the water supply solenoid valve breaks down, the water supply will not stop and will be drained as it is from the overflow pipe, which is uneconomical and the user will not get hot water. At last, it was a problem to know, and until then, it was impossible to know anything and it was very bad to use.

  The present invention pays attention to this point, and in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, in particular, according to claim 1, in claim 1, a hot water storage can body for storing hot water heated by a heating means, and a hot water storage can body includes a water supply electromagnetic valve. A water supply pipe equipped with this is connected, and this water supply electromagnetic valve is opened and closed according to the water level of the water level detection means for detecting the water level in the hot water storage can body, always maintaining a constant water level, and forming an open air chamber above the hot water storage can body Further, the hot water supply pipe is provided with a hot water pressurizing pump that is started and stopped depending on the necessity of hot water supply, and when the hot water pressurizing pump is stopped and the water supply solenoid valve is opened for a predetermined time or more, the water level The detection means is provided with an abnormality detection means that determines that there is an abnormality and stops water supply.

  In claim 2, a hot water storage can body for storing hot water heated by the heating means, and a water supply pipe provided with a water supply electromagnetic valve and a flow sensor communicate with the hot water storage can body, and the water supply electromagnetic valve is provided in the hot water storage can body. It opens and closes according to the water level of the water level detection means that detects the water level, always maintains a constant water level, forms an open air chamber at the top of the hot water storage can body, and hot water supply pipes that start and stop when hot water is not needed. An apparatus having a pressure pump, wherein when the hot water supply pressurizing pump is in a stopped state and the flow sensor detects flowing water, the water level detecting means or the water supply electromagnetic valve is determined to be abnormal and an abnormality detecting means for stopping the water supply is provided. It is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the abnormality detecting means stops the water supply and notifies that it is in an abnormal state by an alarm or display or both.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily detect an abnormality of the water level detection means using existing parts without adding another part such as a water level sensor, and to supply water when an abnormality is detected. Since it stops, water is not drained unnecessarily, and it is economical and can be used with confidence.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the failure of the water supply electromagnetic valve can be detected together with the water level detection means, and it is effective particularly when the water supply electromagnetic valve cannot be closed due to dust and is economical without draining water wastefully. It can be used with confidence.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the abnormal state is notified to the user, the user can quickly take necessary measures such as requesting inspection or repair, and can always be used with peace of mind. It is.

Next, an embodiment of the open type hot water supply apparatus of the present invention will be described.
1 is a hot water storage can body for storing hot water, 2 is a heat pump unit as a heating means for heating hot water, and 3 is a bathtub.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a heating circulation circuit that connects the hot water storage can 1 and the heat pump unit 2 so as to be circulated. The heating circulation circuit 5 has a heating circulation pump 5 and is connected to the lower portion of the hot water storage can 1 and the upper portion of the hot water storage can 4. The heat pump return pipe 4b is used to heat the cold water in the lower part of the hot water storage can body 1 by the heat pump unit 2 through the heat pump forward pipe 4a, and the heated hot water is heated to the upper part of the hot water storage can body 1 by the heat pump return pipe 4b. The hot water is heated and stored in the hot water storage can body 1 by returning. The hot water storage can body 1 has a plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g vertically on the outer peripheral surface, and this hot water storage temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature or more. This is to detect the amount of hot water stored.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage can body 1, and in the middle of the hot water storage can body 1, two check valves 8 and 9 are closed by the water supply pressure and the backflow water release is opened to the atmosphere by the negative pressure due to the water cut off. A valve 10 and a water supply electromagnetic valve 11 for controlling the start and stop of water supply are provided as one set. An electromagnetic valve 12 for abnormal shutoff and a pressure reducing check valve 13 are provided on the water supply side of the water supply electromagnetic valve 11. Is provided.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a water level detecting means comprising two electrodes suspended inward from the upper end of the hot water storage can body 1. In order to store 370 L, when the amount of hot water decreases, this is detected and the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is opened. Water is replenished, and when it reaches a predetermined amount, this is detected and the water supply solenoid valve 11 is closed to stop water replenishment. Between the uppermost surface of the hot water and the upper end surface of the hot water storage can 1, An air release chamber 16 that is open to the atmosphere via an air vent pipe 15 is formed.

  A hot water supply pipe 17 communicates with the upper part of the hot water storage can body 1 and includes a hot water pressurizing pump 20 that starts driving when the flow switch 19 detects the flow of water caused by opening the faucet 18 and supplies hot water in the hot water storage can body 1. Hot water is supplied at a set temperature from the faucet 18 via a check valve 21, a hot water mixing valve 22, a hot water thermistor 23, and a flow rate counter 24, and this is a water supply bypass pipe 25 branched from the water supply pipe 7 by the hot water mixing valve 22. This is because the water supply and hot water are mixed and supplied so as to reach the set temperature, and when the hot water supply is stopped, the water supply side is opened to create a water flow when the faucet 18 is opened.

  A bath heat exchanger 26 is located in the hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage can body 1 and communicates with the bathtub 3 through the bath outlet pipe 27 and the bath return pipe 28 to keep the bath warm and recharge. A circuit 29 is formed. In the bath circulation circuit 29, a water level sensor 30, a bath electric valve 31, a bath circulation pump 32, a circulation temperature thermistor 33, a bath flow switch 34, and a bypass path for the bath heat exchanger 26 are formed. A bath heat-retaining three-way valve 35 and a chasing detection thermistor 36 are provided.

  37 is a hot water filling circuit that connects between the check valve 21 and the hot water mixing valve 22 of the hot water supply pipe 17 and the bath circulation circuit 29. The hot water filling water 38 is mixed with hot water to set the bath set temperature, and the hot water filling. An electromagnetic valve 39, a bath flow counter 40, a bath backflow opening valve 41, and two check valves 42 and 43 are provided.

A hot water three-way valve 44 is provided in the hot water supply pipe 17 behind the hot water supply pressurizing pump 20. The hot water storage body 1 is connected to a hot water take-out pipe 45 connected to a position immediately below the bath heat exchanger 26, thereby The intermediate temperature water that has been kept warm or chased by the exchanger 26 is taken out and used for hot water supply.
An overflow pipe 46 communicates with the atmosphere opening chamber 16 at a position above a certain water level held by the water level detection means 14 of the hot water storage can body 1.

  Next, the block diagram of the main electric circuit shown in FIG. 2 will be described. On the input side of the microcomputer 47 which is an abnormality detection means constituting a part of the control circuit (not shown), the water level detection means 14 and the flow A flow switch 19 including a switch and a flow rate counter is connected, and a water supply solenoid valve 11, an abnormal cutoff solenoid valve 12, and a hot water pressurizing pump 20 are connected to the output side, and a buzzer 48 for generating an alarm, a liquid crystal, etc. A display unit 49 is also connected.

Next, the characteristic operation of the open type hot water supply apparatus will be described below.
The hot water in the hot water storage can 1 is 90 ° C. in the next morning by using an inexpensive electric power contract such as hourly lamp contracts and late-night power, and circulating the heat pump unit 2 through the heating circuit 4 sequentially. 370L of hot water is stored.

  Then, when the faucet 18 is opened, a water supply flow through the water supply bypass pipe 25 is made, and when the flow switch 19 detects this, the hot water supply pressure pump 20 starts to drive and the hot water in the hot water storage can 1 is Is supplied from the faucet 18 as hot water of a set temperature by mixing with the hot water at the hot water mixing valve 22, and the flow switch 19 detects the stop of running water due to the closing of the faucet 18. The driving is stopped and hot water supply ends.

  On the other hand, in the hot water storage can body 1 during hot water supply, the hot water storage water decreases, so that the water level detection means 14 detects this and opens the water supply electromagnetic valve 11, thereby supplying the water supply pressure from the water supply pipe 7 to the bottom of the hot water storage can body 1. When the water is replenished and the stored hot water level rises and reaches a predetermined water level, the water level detection means 14 detects this and closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 to stop the water supply.

  The water supply pipe 7 has two check valves 8 and 9, and a water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is provided on the upstream side of the water supply pipe 7, so that back flow of hot water in the hot water storage can 1 is reliably prevented. In addition, the negative pressure due to water shutoff is shut off by the water supply solenoid valve 11, but when water is supplied, the backflow water release valve 10 is opened when the water supply pressure disappears, and the negative pressure is eliminated. As a result, back flow is reliably prevented, and hot water supply that does not apply water supply pressure to the hot water storage can body 1 by controlling the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 while observing the water level of the hot water storage can body 1 by the water level detection means 14. Because it has been realized with a highly reliable configuration by eliminating the use of mechanical parts, the shape and material of the hot water storage can 1 can be easily changed and provided at low cost without worrying too much about the strength. It can be used safely without worry.

  Next, the case where the water level detecting means 14 has failed will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3. Hot water is now supplied, the hot water in the hot water storage can 1 is reduced, and the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is turned on in step 50 to open the water supply. Starts.

  In step 51, the microcomputer 47 determines whether the water level detection means 14 has detected a constant water level. If YES, the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is turned off in step 52 and water supply is stopped. If NO, the process advances to step 53 and pressurizes hot water. When the pump 20 is in a stopped state, if it is being driven, the process returns NO to step 51. If YES, the process proceeds to step 54, and after confirming that the water supply solenoid valve 11 is kept open for a certain period of time, If YES, it is determined that the water level detection means 14 is in failure, and in step 55, the abnormal shut-off solenoid valve 12 is forcibly closed to stop water supply and the buzzer 48 is sounded to display “E0” on the display unit 49. Thus, the water level detection means 14 is informed that it is in an abnormal state.

  That is, in the state where hot water is not being supplied, the hot water in the hot water storage can body 1 does not decrease. Therefore, it is abnormal that the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is opened in this state, and the water level detection means 14 is broken. Therefore, the drive state of the hot water supply pressurizing pump 20 and the open state of the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 are confirmed.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those of the above-described embodiments, and the description will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.
A flow sensor 56 is provided between the two check valves 8 and 9 of the water supply pipe 7 and the hot water storage can 1 and is connected to the input side of the microcomputer 47 in terms of the electric circuit shown in FIG. Is detected and a signal is output.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, step 57 for confirming whether or not the closing signal is output to the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 between steps 53 and 54 of the flowchart, and if this is YES, the process proceeds to step 58 and the flow sensor 56 detects the water flow. YES, the process proceeds to step 59 to forcibly close the solenoid valve 12 for shutting off the abnormality to stop the water supply, sound the buzzer 48 and display “E1” on the display unit 49 to display the water supply electromagnetic It notifies that the valve 11 is in an abnormal state.

  If NO in step 57 for checking whether or not the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 has been closed, the process proceeds to step 54 as it is, and after confirming that the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 has been kept open for a certain period of time, YES. In step 55, it is determined that the water level detection means 14 is in failure, and the abnormal shut-off solenoid valve 12 is forcibly closed to stop water supply and the buzzer 48 is sounded to display “E0” on the display unit 49. It notifies that the water level detection means 14 is in an abnormal state.

  That is, in the state where hot water is not supplied, the hot water in the hot water storage can body 1 does not decrease. Therefore, it is abnormal that the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is opened in this state, and the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 has a closing signal. The flow sensor 56 detects the water flow even though the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 cannot be closed due to dust clogging or the like, and it is determined that the flow sensor 56 is malfunctioning. The signal level of the electromagnetic valve 11 is confirmed, and if the closing signal is not output to the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 and the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is kept open for a predetermined time or more, the water level detecting means 14 is It is determined that a failure has occurred.

  In this embodiment, the heating means is the heat pump unit 2, but is not limited thereto, and may be an electric heater, for example.

The schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the principal part electric circuit. The principal part flowchart. The schematic block diagram of other embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the principal part electric circuit of the other. The other principal part flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

1 Hot water storage can body 2 Heat pump unit (heating means)
7 Water supply pipe 11 Water supply solenoid valve 14 Water level detection means 16 Air release chamber 17 Hot water supply pipe 20 Hot water supply pressure pump 46 Overflow pipe 47 Microcomputer (abnormality detection means)
48 Buzzer 49 Display 56 Flow sensor

Claims (3)

  A hot water storage can body for storing hot water heated by the heating means, and a water supply pipe having a water supply electromagnetic valve communicated with the hot water storage can body, and this water supply electromagnetic valve is a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the hot water storage can body. It opens and closes according to the water level, always maintains a constant water level, forms an open air chamber at the top of the hot water storage can body, and further has a hot water supply pressure pump that starts and stops depending on whether hot water is needed. An open type hot water supply apparatus comprising: an abnormality detecting means for stopping the water supply by determining that the water level detecting means is abnormal when the hot water pressurizing pump is stopped and the water supply electromagnetic valve is opened for a predetermined time or more. .   A hot water storage can body for storing hot water heated by the heating means, and a water supply pipe having a water supply electromagnetic valve and a flow sensor communicated with the hot water storage can body, and this water supply electromagnetic valve detects the water level in the hot water storage can body. It opens and closes according to the water level of the detection means, always maintains a constant water level, forms an open air chamber at the top of the hot water storage can body, and further includes a hot water pressurizing pump that starts and stops depending on whether or not hot water is needed. In the apparatus, when the hot water supply pressurizing pump is in a stopped state and the flow sensor detects flowing water, the water level detecting means or the water supply electromagnetic valve is determined to be abnormal, and an abnormality detecting means for stopping the water supply is provided. An open-type hot water supply device.   The open-type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abnormality detection means stops water supply and notifies an abnormal state by an alarm or a display or both.

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