JP2006263157A - Mist sauna device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mist sauna device which is equipped with a heat source device 5, a spraying head 2 placed in a bathroom 1, a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 installed in a spraying flow passage 11 continuing to the spraying head, heats water supplied to the spraying head by a heat medium supplied to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger through a heat medium circulating passage 13 from the heat source device, and achieves a reduction in the cost by accurately determining the time when the preheating of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is completed without using a temperature sensor for the heat medium for detecting the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger. <P>SOLUTION: A spraying valve 16 is installed in a part of the spraying flow passage 11 on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 12, and the water remaining in the spraying flow passage 11 from the spraying head 2 to at least the inside of the heat exchanger 12 is discharged by opening a drain valve 18 when the spraying valve is closed. The time when the preheating of the heat exchanger 12 is completed is determined from a temperature detected by a spraying temperature sensor 19 provided in a part of the spraying flow passage 11 on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mist sauna apparatus in which hot water is ejected in a mist form from a spray head arranged in a bathroom so as to obtain a sauna effect.

  Conventionally, as this type of mist sauna device, a liquid medium heat exchanger is provided in a spraying channel connected to the spray head, and the heat medium is supplied from the heat source unit to the liquid heat exchanger via the heat medium circuit. Thus, there is known one that heats water supplied to the spray head (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this device, a spray valve that shuts off the water supply to the spray head by closing the valve is provided in the portion of the spray channel downstream of the liquid heat exchanger, and the spray head and the spray are closed when the spray valve is closed. Equipped with a drainage mechanism that drains the remaining water in the part of the flow path for spraying with the valve to prevent low temperature residual water from being ejected from the spraying head at the start of mist operation for spraying from the spraying head is doing. Further, in this device, a spray temperature sensor is provided to detect the temperature of the spray channel downstream of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, and temperature control is performed to keep the temperature of hot water ejected from the spray head constant. ing.

  By the way, in the above conventional example, when the mist operation is stopped, the residual water in the portion of the spray channel between the spray valve and the spray head is drained, but the portion of the spray channel in the liquid heat exchanger The remaining water remains without being drained. Therefore, in the above conventional example, a heat medium temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the portion of the heat medium circuit near the liquid heat exchanger is provided, and a heat medium is transferred from the heat source device to the liquid heat exchanger in response to a mist operation start command. The spray valve is opened when the temperature detected by the heat medium temperature sensor rises to a predetermined set temperature, that is, when the preheating of the liquid heat exchanger is completed. According to this, even when water cooled in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger remains when the start of mist operation is commanded, the water is heated to an appropriate temperature with the heat medium supplied to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger. After that, the spray head can be supplied, and low temperature water can be prevented from being ejected at the beginning of spraying from the spray head.

  However, this requires a heat medium temperature sensor in order to determine the preheating completion time of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, which increases the cost. In this case, it may be possible to determine the preheating completion timing of the liquid heat exchanger based on the elapsed time from the mist operation start command, but the residual water and heat medium at the time when the mist operation start command is issued. Therefore, the time required to complete the preheating of the liquid heat exchanger also changes, and the preheating completion time cannot be correctly determined based on the elapsed time.

  In addition, it is conceivable to determine the preheating completion time of the liquid heat exchanger based on the temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor, but the portion of the spray channel in the liquid heat exchanger is filled with residual water. For this reason, the heat capacity of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger increases, and a considerable time delay occurs until the temperature of the portion of the spray channel downstream of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger provided with the spray temperature sensor rises. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor rises, the preheating of the liquid heat exchanger has already been completed and the residual water is heated to an appropriate temperature or more, resulting in wasted energy.

After all, in the above-mentioned conventional example in which water remains in the portion of the spray flow path in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger when the mist operation is stopped, in order to determine the preheating completion timing of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger, a heat medium temperature sensor is used. Become indispensable. Furthermore, in order to prevent damage to the liquid heat exchanger due to freezing of residual water in the liquid heat exchanger, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the liquid heat exchanger from freezing, which increases the cost.
JP 2003-334230 A (0035-0042, FIG. 3, FIG. 5)

  In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mist sauna device that can reduce the cost by eliminating the need to prevent freezing of the heat medium temperature sensor and the liquid-liquid heat exchanger. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a heat source device, a spray head disposed in a bathroom, and a liquid-to-heat exchanger interposed in a spray flow channel connected to the spray head. A mist sauna device configured to heat water supplied to a spray head by a heat medium supplied to a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger via a circulation path, and is provided at the time of valve closing provided in a spray channel. A spray valve that shuts off water supply to the spray head and a spray temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the spray flow path downstream of the liquid heat exchanger are provided. The spray valve is a liquid heat exchanger. A drainage mechanism that is interposed in a portion of the spray flow path upstream of the water and can drain water remaining in the spray flow passage from the spray head over at least a portion in the liquid heat exchanger when the spray valve is closed Is provided.

  According to the present invention, when the mist operation for spraying from the spray head is stopped by closing the spray valve, the water remaining in the spray channel portion in the liquid heat exchanger is also drained by the drainage mechanism. Accordingly, it is not necessary to take measures to prevent the liquid-liquid heat exchanger from freezing.

  Further, when the mist operation is stopped, the portion of the spray channel in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is emptied by the residual water drainage, and the heat capacity of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is reduced. Therefore, when the supply of the heat medium from the heat source unit to the liquid heat exchanger is started by the start instruction of the mist operation, as the temperature of the heat medium rises, the portion of the spray channel in the liquid heat exchanger The temperature rises with good responsiveness, and the temperature of the spray channel on the downstream side of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger also rises in a short time due to heat transfer from this part. Therefore, the preheating completion timing of the liquid heat exchanger can be correctly determined by the spray temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the spray channel downstream of the liquid heat exchanger. Thus, the spray control means for opening the spray valve when the temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature after starting the supply of the heat medium from the heat source device to the liquid heat exchanger in response to the mist operation start command. By providing this, it is possible to prevent the cold water from being ejected from the spray head at the start of spraying, and to prevent waste of energy due to excessive preheating. As a result, the heat medium temperature sensor is not necessary, and the cost reduction can be achieved in combination with the need for preventing the liquid-liquid heat exchanger from freezing.

  In addition, after the installation work of the mist sauna apparatus is completed, a test run is performed to confirm whether the apparatus operates normally. In this case, control is performed to supply the heat medium from the heat source device to the liquid heat exchanger with the spray valve closed in the trial operation so that it is ok before the construction of the bathroom and related sewage is completed. . Conventionally, the trial operation control means is configured to perform pass / fail determination based on the temperature detected by the heat medium temperature sensor during the trial operation. Here, in the present invention, as described above, the spray channel in the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is emptied, and the detection temperature of the spray temperature sensor is improved in response to the supply of the heat medium to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger. I try to rise. Therefore, even if the test operation control means is configured to perform the pass / fail determination based on the temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor during the test operation, the pass / fail determination can be made appropriately in a short time, and there is no problem even if there is no heat medium temperature sensor. There is no.

  In the embodiment described later, the spray control shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the spray control means, and the trial run control shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the trial run control means.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bathroom. In the bathroom 1, a spray head 2 and a bathroom heater 3 are arranged. The bathroom heater 3 includes a circulation fan (not shown) that circulates the air in the bathroom 1 and a radiator 4. The radiator 4 is connected to a heat source device 5 disposed outside the bathroom 1 (outdoors or the like) via a heat medium circulation path 6. Then, by the operation of the heat source device 5, the heat medium (water, antifreeze liquid, etc.) heated by the heat source device 5 is supplied to the radiator 4 through the heat medium circulation path 6, and the air heated by the radiator 4 circulates. The fan 1 circulates in the bathroom 1 and the bathroom 1 is heated.

  The bathroom heater 3 is provided with a heat medium temperature sensor 7 composed of a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the radiator 4, and a detection signal from the temperature sensor 7 is used as a controller 8 for the bathroom heater. The operation of the circulation fan is delayed until the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the radiator 4 rises to a predetermined temperature at the start of heating operation, thereby preventing cold air from being blown into the bathroom 1. Note that a heating terminal other than the bathroom heater 3 is also connected to the heat source unit 5 via a separate heat medium circulation path as necessary.

  Water is supplied to the spray head 2 via a spray channel 11 connected to the water pipe 9 via a check valve 10. A liquid heat exchanger 12 is interposed in the spraying channel 11. Then, the heat medium heated by the heat source device 5 is supplied to the liquid heat exchanger 12 via the heat medium circulation path 13 for the liquid heat exchanger 12 branched from the heat medium circulation path 6 for the bathroom heater 3. In addition, the water supplied to the spray head 2 can be heated by the heat medium in the liquid heat exchanger 12. A heat medium valve 14 capable of adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium is interposed in the heat medium circulation path 13.

  The liquid heat exchanger 12 is arranged in an upright posture so that the upstream side of the spraying channel 11 is located below and the downstream side is located above. Then, a pressure reducing valve 15 and a spray valve 16 on the downstream side thereof are interposed in the portion of the spray channel 11 on the downstream side of the liquid heat exchanger 12, and the spray valve 16 is closed to the spray head 2. The water supply is cut off. Furthermore, a drainage channel 17 is branched from the portion of the spraying channel 11 between the spray valve 16 and the liquid heat exchanger 12, and a drainage valve 18 is provided in the drainage channel 17, so that the drainage channel 17 and the drainage channel 17 are drained. A drainage mechanism is constituted by the valve 18. Thus, if the drain valve 18 is opened with the spray valve 16 closed, it remains in the spray channel 11 from the spray head 2 to the branch of the drain channel 17 upstream of the liquid heat exchanger 12. The water to be drained is drained, and the portion of the spray channel 11 in the liquid heat exchanger 12 is emptied. Further, a spray temperature sensor 19 made of a thermistor is provided in a portion of the spray channel 11 on the downstream side of the liquid heat exchanger 12 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the liquid heat exchanger 12. A drain plug 20 is connected to the portion of the spray channel 11 between the check valve 10 and the pressure reducing valve 15.

  The liquid heat exchanger 12, the heat medium valve 14, the pressure reducing valve 15, the spray valve 16, the drain valve 18 and the spray temperature sensor 19 are built in a spray unit 21 separately from the heat source unit 5. The detection signal of the spray temperature sensor 19 is input to the spray controller 22 provided in the spray unit 21, and the heat medium valve 14, the spray valve 16 and the drain valve 18 are controlled by the spray controller 22. The spray controller 22 is communicably connected to a controller (not shown) for the heat source unit 5. A remote controller (not shown) is communicably connected to the spray controller 22, and spray control by the spray controller 22 is performed in accordance with an operation of a spray switch provided on the remote controller.

  Details of the spray control are as shown in FIG. 2. First, it is determined whether or not the spray switch is turned on in step S1, that is, whether or not a mist operation start command is issued. When the spray switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, where the heat medium valve 14 is opened and an operation command is transmitted to the controller for the heat source unit 5. Thereby, the operation of the heat source device 5 is started, and the heat medium heated by the heat source device 5 is supplied to the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 12 through the circulation path 13. Next, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19 has become equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature YTf. When Tf ≧ YTf, the spray valve 16 is opened in step S4. Then, spraying from the spray head 2 is started.

  Here, the portion of the spray channel 11 in the liquid heat exchanger 12 is emptied due to drainage in step S8 described later at the end of the previous mist operation. Therefore, when the heat capacity of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 is reduced and supply of the heat medium to the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 is started, the temperature of the heat medium increases as the temperature of the heat medium increases. The temperature of the part of the flow path 11 rises with good responsiveness, and the temperature of the part of the flow path 11 for spraying downstream of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 12 by heat transfer from this part, that is, the detection temperature of the spray temperature sensor 19 Tf also rises in a short time. The temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor 19 is measured in advance when the water flowing through the spray channel 11 can be heated to a temperature suitable for spraying by the liquid heat exchanger 12 (when preheating is completed). And by setting the said predetermined temperature YTf according to this, warm water of appropriate temperature can be sprayed from the beginning of spraying. In addition, it is possible to prevent the liquid heat exchanger 12 from being preheated excessively before the start of spraying, resulting in energy waste.

  After spraying starts, the process proceeds to step S5, and temperature control based on the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19 is performed so that the temperature of the hot water ejected from the spray head 2 is maintained at the set temperature. In the temperature control, the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the liquid heat exchanger 12 is varied by the heat medium valve 14 in accordance with the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19. Further, the spray valve 16 may be configured as a valve whose flow rate can be adjusted, and the temperature control can be performed by varying the amount of water flowing through the spray channel 11 according to the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the spray switch is turned off in step S6, and when it is turned off, the spray valve 16 and the heat transfer valve 14 are closed in step S7, and the drain valve in step S8. 18 is opened. As a result, the water remaining in the portion of the spray channel 11 from the spray head 2 to the branch portion of the drainage channel 17 upstream of the liquid heat exchanger 12 is drained, and the spray flow in the liquid heat exchanger 12 is discharged. The part of the road 11 becomes empty. Then, the drain valve 18 is kept open for a certain time and then closed, and a series of spray control is finished.

  Thus, when the mist operation is stopped, the portion of the spray channel 11 in the liquid-heat exchanger 12 is emptied, so that the liquid-liquid heat exchange is performed based on the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19 when the next mist operation starts. The preheat completion time of the vessel 12 can be correctly determined. Accordingly, the heat medium temperature sensor for the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 12 that has been conventionally required is no longer necessary, and further, the countermeasure for preventing freezing of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 12 is not necessary, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the step of S7, although not shown, if a signal indicating the end of the mist operation is transmitted to the controller for the heat source device and the operation of all the heating terminals including the bathroom heater 3 is stopped, the heat source device 5 Operation is stopped.

  By the way, when a mist sauna apparatus including the heat source device 5 is newly installed, an automatic test operation is performed by operating a test operation switch attached to the heat source device controller. In the automatic test operation, a heat medium is sequentially supplied from the heat source device 5 to each heating terminal including the bathroom heater 3, and the controller for the heat source device determines the temperature detected by the heat medium temperature sensor provided in each heating terminal. When the detected temperature of the heat medium temperature sensor rises to a predetermined temperature within a predetermined time, it is determined that the test is acceptable. In the automatic test operation, the controller of the spray unit 21 that sends a valve opening command of the heat medium valve 14 from the controller for the heat source device to the spray controller 22 and supplies the heat medium to the liquid heat exchanger 12 through the heat medium circulation path 13. A test run is also performed. It should be noted that the spray valve 16 is kept closed during the trial operation so that the trial operation can be performed before the construction of the bathroom 1 and sewage related thereto is completed.

  Here, in this embodiment, the heat medium temperature sensor is not provided in the spray unit 21, and the pass / fail determination cannot be performed based on the detected temperature of the heat medium temperature sensor as in the heating terminal. Therefore, in the trial operation control of the spray unit 21, the pass / fail determination is performed based on the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19, as shown in FIG. More specifically, after transmitting a valve opening command for the heat transfer valve 14 to the spray controller 22 in step S101, it is determined in step S102 whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the time when the valve opening command was transmitted. Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined in step S103 whether or not the detected temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature YT that is a criterion for pass / fail determination. If Tf ≧ YT, S104 is determined. The process proceeds to step S105, where it is determined as acceptable, and if Tf <YT, the process proceeds to step S105, where it is determined as unacceptable.

  In general, prior to the automatic test operation, a water flow test is performed to check whether or not water is ejected from the spray head 2 when the spray valve 16 is opened. By closing the spray valve 16 and opening the drain valve 18 after the test, the portion of the spray channel 11 in the liquid heat exchanger 12 is emptied. Therefore, during the test operation, the detection temperature Tf of the spray temperature sensor 19 is increased in a short time by supplying the heat medium to the liquid heat exchanger 12, and the time required for the test operation is not prolonged.

  As described above, the embodiment in which the liquid heat exchanger 12 is disposed in the standing posture has been described. However, the liquid heat exchanger 12 may be disposed in the horizontal posture. In this case, even if the drainage channel 17 is branched from the portion of the spray channel 11 on the downstream side of the liquid heat exchanger 12, the liquid from the spray head 2 is opened by opening the drain valve 18 interposed in the drainage channel 17. Water remaining in the spraying channel 11 can be drained over a portion in the heat exchanger 12. Therefore, the drainage channel 17 may be branched from any portion of the spray channel 11 on the upstream side or the downstream side of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 12.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the heat-medium circulation path 13 for the liquid heat exchanger 12 is branched from the heat-medium circulation path 6 for the bathroom heater 3, the heat-medium circulation for the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 is carried out. It is also possible to directly connect the path 13 to the heat source unit 5. Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the spray unit 21 is set separately from the heat source machine 5 and the bathroom heater 3, the spray unit 21 can also be incorporated in the heat source machine 5 or the bathroom heater 3.

Explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the mist sauna apparatus of embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the content of the spray control performed with the mist sauna apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the trial run control performed with the mist sauna apparatus of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bathroom, 2 ... Spray head, 5 ... Heat source machine, 11 ... Spray channel, 12 ... Liquid heat exchanger, 13 ... Heat-medium circulation path, 16 ... Spray valve, 17 ... Drainage path (drainage mechanism), 18 ... Drain valve (drainage mechanism), 19 ... Spray temperature sensor.

Claims (3)

Equipped with a heat source unit, a spray head placed in the bathroom, and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger interposed in a spray channel connected to the spray head, and supplied from the heat source unit to the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger via the heat medium circuit A mist sauna device configured to heat water supplied to the spray head by a heat medium that is provided, a spray valve that is interposed in the spray flow path and shuts off water supply to the spray head by a valve; In what is provided with a spray temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the portion of the spray flow path downstream of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger,
The spray valve is interposed in the part of the spray channel upstream of the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger,
A mist sauna device comprising a drainage mechanism capable of draining water remaining in a spraying channel from a spraying head to at least a portion in a liquid heat exchanger when the spraying valve is closed.   After starting the supply of the heat medium from the heat source device to the liquid heat exchanger in response to the start instruction of the mist operation for spraying from the spray head, when the temperature detected by the spray temperature sensor becomes a predetermined temperature or higher The mist sauna device according to claim 1, further comprising spray control means for opening the spray valve.   Test operation control means for performing a test operation by supplying a heat medium from the heat source unit to the liquid heat exchanger while the spray valve is closed, and the test operation control means adjusts the detected temperature of the spray temperature sensor during the test operation. 3. The mist sauna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mist sauna apparatus is configured to perform pass / fail determination based on the determination.

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