JP2006329527A - Hot water supply apparatus with sterilizing function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function capable of suppressing a fall of silver ion concentration in a bathtub caused by reheating or the like without shortening a service life of a silver electrode of a silver ion sterilizer. <P>SOLUTION: The hot water supply apparatus 1 with the sterilizing function is capable of heating (reheating) hot water in the bathtub 11 by a heat exchanger 28 while circulating the hot water in a circulating circuit 13. When refilling silver ion after filling the bathtub 11 with hot water, since bath hot water supply piping 52 connecting a general water heater 12 to the circulating circuit 13 is provided and equipped with the silver ion sterilizer 24, clean water (or hot water) obtained by eluting silver ion from the general water heater 12 by the silver ion sterilizer 24 can be added into the bathtub 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hot water supply device with a sterilization function, and more particularly, to a hot water supply device with a sterilization function that sterilizes by eluting silver ions into hot water in a bathtub.

  In the patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-40859), the applicant of the present application proposes a hot water supply device with a sterilization function that elutes silver ions from a silver electrode to sterilize bath water (hot water) in a bathtub and keeps it clean. is doing. In the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-40859, a silver ion sterilizer is provided in a pipe through which hot water passes when supplying hot water in a bathtub, and silver ions are eluted in the hot water that has passed through the silver ion sterilizer. I am letting. Thus, hot water containing silver ions can be stored in the bathtub when the hot water is supplied to the bathtub. However, the silver ion concentration decreases with heat retention operation, reheating operation, bathing, and time passage due to deposition of silver on the wall surface of the pipe and the like. The silver ion concentration was not adjusted.

  On the other hand, patent document 2 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-18730) is proposed as what controls a silver ion density | concentration after hot water filling to a bathtub. In the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function described in Patent Document 2, a circulation path provided with a silver ion sterilizer is provided, and silver ions are eluted into the hot water by circulating hot water stored in the bathtub in the circulation path. Ions are replenished and the sterilizing ability is maintained.

  However, the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-18730 has a drawback that the life of the silver electrode is shortened because dirty bath water in the bathtub flows to the silver electrode.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-40859 JP 2000-18730 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-327962 JP 2005-7317 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the technical problems as described above, and the object of the present invention is to refill the inside of the bathtub due to chasing or time passage without shortening the life of the silver electrode of the silver ion sterilizer. It is providing the hot-water supply apparatus with a sterilization function which can suppress the fall of silver ion concentration.

  The hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function according to claim 1 is a circulation circuit capable of circulating the water in the bathtub to the heat exchanger and replenishing the water, and a dropping pipe line capable of dropping the water from the water heater into the bathtub. In the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function, in which a silver ion sterilizer that elutes silver ions by silver electrolysis is arranged in the dropping pipe line, water in which the silver ions are electrolyzed from the dropping pipe line when bathing It is characterized by replenishing the bath water with silver ions by adding hot water.

  In the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function according to claim 1, the replenishment of silver ions after dropping water into the bathtub is performed by dropping the tap water from which silver ions have been eluted with a silver ion sterilizer and into the bathtub from the piping line. By adding hot water, silver ions can be replenished in the bath water, and the sterilizing effect of the water stored in the bathtub can be maintained. Further, since the silver ion sterilizer is not arranged on the circulation circuit, the dirty bath water does not flow into the silver ion sterilizer, and the life of the silver electrode can be prevented from being shortened.

  The water heater with a sterilizing function according to claim 2 is characterized in that the silver ions are replenished when the water level in the bathtub is lower than a predetermined water level.

  In the embodiment of the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function according to claim 2, replenishment of silver ions with addition hot water is performed only when the water level of the bath water in the bathtub is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Since the silver ions are not replenished with the additional hot water, the bath water can be prevented from overflowing from the bathtub.

  The water heater with a sterilizing function according to claim 3 is characterized in that the replenishment of the silver ions is performed after dropping water into the bathtub or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last replenishment of silver ions.

  In the embodiment of the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function according to claim 3, since water is dropped into the bathtub or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous silver ion replenishment, silver ions are replenished. It is possible to prevent the concentration of silver ions from being increased more than necessary.

  The water heater with a sterilizing function according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that a flow rate control means is provided in the dropping pipe line.

  In the embodiment of the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function according to the fourth aspect, since the flow rate control valve is provided, the amount of water (hot water) flowing through the silver ion sterilizer can be controlled.

  The water heater with a sterilizing function according to claim 5 is set to a minimum flow rate at which the flow rate can be controlled by the flow rate control means when the silver ions are replenished, and the silver ion generation amount in the silver ion sterilizer is maximized. It is characterized by having become.

    In the embodiment of the hot water supply device with a sterilizing function according to claim 5, the flow rate of water is set to a minimum flow rate that can be controlled by a flow rate control valve when replenishing silver ions, and silver ions are generated in a silver ion sterilizer. Since the amount is maximized, a large amount of silver ions can be replenished in the bathtub with a small amount of water, and the water in the bathtub is unlikely to overflow.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a hot water supply device 1 with a sterilizing function according to a first embodiment. The hot water supply device 1 with a sterilizing function is composed of a bathtub 11 and a dropping pipe path 10, and the dropping pipe path 10 is a general hot water heater 12, a circulation circuit 13, and a bath hot water supply pipe 52 that connects the general water heater 12 and the circulation circuit 13. It is comprised by. The dropping pipe path 10 is configured so that the hot water is heated by the heat exchanger 20 provided in the general water heater 12 and silver ions are injected by the silver ion sterilizer 24 and dropped into the bathtub 11. ing. Further, the bath water (hot water) stored in the bathtub 11 is circulated in the circulation circuit 13, and the bath water is heated by the heat exchanger 28 so that it can be reheated.

  The general water heater 12 has one end (upstream side) connected to a water supply or the like, and the other end (OUT side in FIG. 1) connected to a sink or a faucet (not shown) of a wash basin. The flow rate sensor 41, the temperature sensor 42, the heat exchanger 20, the temperature sensor 43, and the hot water excessive outflow servo valve 22 (flow rate control valve) are provided in order. Further, a bypass pipe 51 is provided to connect between the temperature sensor 42 and the heat exchanger 20 and between the temperature sensor 43 and the heat exchanger 20 so as not to pass through the heat exchanger 20. By controlling the burner (not shown) and the electric two-way valve 21 provided in the bypass pipe 51, the temperature of hot water flowing out from the sink or the faucet of the sink is adjusted. Further, the hot water overflow / outflow servo valve 22 can adjust the valve opening, and can adjust the flow rate of hot water passing through the hot water overflow / outflow servo valve 22.

Further, the electric three-way valve 25 of the circulation circuit 13 and the downstream side of the hot water outflow / outflow servo valve 22 of the general water heater 12 are connected by a bath hot water supply pipe 52. The bath hot water supply pipe 52 is provided with a flow rate sensor 44, a pouring electromagnetic valve 23, and a silver ion sterilizer 24 in order from the general hot water heater 12 side, and is supplied to the general hot water heater 12 by opening and closing the pouring electromagnetic valve 23. The purified water can be led to the circulation circuit 13 and poured into the bathtub 11. In addition, the silver ion sterilizer 24 includes, for example, a silver ion generating means by silver electrolysis incorporated in a float tank. The positive electrode uses silver as the positive electrode and silver or platinum as the negative electrode. The silver is electrolyzed and eluted as silver ions and dissolves in the flowing water (hot water). The elution amount Z of silver ions can be easily calculated by the following equation (1) using Faraday's law, using the current value A, the energization time t, 1 gram equivalent of silver, and the Faraday constant F.
Z = 108 At / F (1)
Z: Electricity (silver elution amount) (g)
A: Current value (ampere)
t: Energization time (seconds)
Thus, silver ions can be dissolved in water (hot water) passing through the silver ion sterilizer 24 and supplied to the bathtub 11.

  Next, the circulation circuit 13 connects the circulation return pipe (pipe that passes through the heat exchanger 28 and connects to the bus adapter (not shown) of the bathtub 11) 53 and the circulation forward pipe 54 (heat exchanger 28) to the electric three-way valve 25. The other end of the circulation return pipe 53 and the circulation forward pipe 54 that is not connected to the electric three-way valve 25 is connected to the bathtub 11. The electric three-way valve 25 has a circulation return pipe 53 in an open state, and controls the opening and closing of the bath hot water supply pipe 52 side and the circulation forward pipe 54 side. In the circulation return pipe 53, a check valve 26, a circulation pump 27, a heat exchanger 28, and a temperature sensor 46 are installed in this order from the electric three-way valve 25 side. In addition, the circulation pipe 54 is provided with a water level sensor 47 for measuring the water level stored in the bathtub 11. Each temperature sensor 42, 43, 46 and each flow sensor 41, 44 are detecting the temperature and flow volume in each installation place.

  Therefore, when storing the clean water in the bathtub 11 (in the case of dropping), the hot water supply piping 52 side and the circulation forward piping 54 side of the electric three-way valve 25 are opened, and the hot water outflow servo valve 22 and the pouring solenoid valve 23 are opened. When the water is supplied to the general water heater 12, the water flows from the general water heater 12 into the circulation return pipe 53 and the circulation forward pipe 54 of the circulation circuit 13 via the bath hot water pipe 52. Dropped into. That is, it is possible to quickly store clean water in the bathtub 11 by dropping into the bathtub 11 from both the circulation return pipe 53 and the circulation return pipe 54. At this time, if a voltage is applied to the silver ion sterilizer 24 and a current is allowed to flow, clean water containing silver ions can be supplied into the bathtub 11, and if the heat exchanger 20 is heated, the clean water is heated. be able to.

  Further, when the hot water stored in the bathtub 11 is to be reheated (when it is desired to reheat), the circulation pump 27 is activated by opening the circulation forward piping 54 side of the electric three-way valve 25, so that the bath in the bathtub 11 is obtained. Water can be heated by sucking the water into the circulation pipe 54, sending it to the circulation return pipe 53, heating it with the heat exchanger 28, and returning it to the bathtub 11 again.

  Further, when measuring the temperature of the water stored in the bathtub 11, the water stored in the bathtub 11 is circulated in the circulation circuit 13 and measured by the temperature sensor 46 provided in the circulation return pipe 53. Yes.

  Operation of the hot water supply device 1 with a sterilizing function is controlled by a built-in controller 61 (control means). The remote controller 62 is for operating the hot water supply device 1 with a sterilizing function from a remote location, and includes a temperature setting switch 64, a water level setting switch 65, and an automatic operation switch 63. The temperature and water level (water volume) of hot water stored in the bathtub 11 can be arbitrarily set by the temperature setting switch 64 and the water level setting switch 65. The automatic operation switch 63 operates in an automatic operation mode that automatically controls from dropping of hot water into the bathtub 11 to keeping the temperature, and forcibly repelling for forced retreat (repulsion by the user's operation). The driving can be switched. The controller 61 and the remote controller 62 are connected through a signal line 66.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration around the controller 61 in the hot water supply device 1 with a sterilizing function. The controller 61 performs microcomputer control of the hot water supply device 1 with a sterilization function in accordance with a program for operation processing stored in a memory such as ROM or EEPROM. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 61 receives signals from the temperature sensors 42 to 43, 46, the flow rate sensors 41 and 44, the water level sensor 47, the temperature setting switch 64, the water level setting switch 65, and the automatic operation switch 63. In accordance with a predetermined procedure, the silver ion sterilizer 24, the circulation pump 27, the hot water outflow servo valve 22, the pouring solenoid valve 23, the electric three-way valve 25, the electric two-way valve 21, and the heat exchangers 20, 28 are burners. By controlling (not shown), processing is performed so that the bath water temperature in the bathtub 11 and the silver ion concentration of the bath water are maintained at predetermined values. In the hot water supply device 1 with the sterilizing function of the present embodiment, the silver ion concentration was set to be about 50 ppb when the normal concentration was set, and about 80 ppb when the high concentration was set. Further, the controller 61 has means for measuring time such as a timer, and can measure the elapsed time from the completion of dropping and the end of chasing.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation in the automatic operation mode by the hot water supply device 1 with the sterilization function. Hereafter, the process of the automatic operation mode of the hot water supply apparatus 1 with a sterilization function is demonstrated according to FIG. 3, FIG. Before the operation of the hot water supply apparatus 1 with the sterilizing function, bath water is not stored in the bathtub 11, the circulation pump 27 and the silver ion sterilizer 24 are stopped, and the electric three-way valve 25 is connected to the circulation outgoing pipe 54 side. It is assumed that both bath hot water supply pipes 52 are closed, the hot water outflow servo valve 22, the pouring electromagnetic valve 23, and the electric two-way valve 21 are closed, and the heat exchangers 20 and 28 are not heated. Moreover, the temperature and water level of the hot water stored in the bathtub 11 are set to the set temperature H1 and the set water level L1 by the temperature setting switch 64 and the water level setting switch 65, respectively.

  When the automatic operation switch 63 of the remote controller 62 is pressed and the operation is started in the automatic operation mode, the hot water supply device 1 with the sterilizing function drops hot water into the bathtub 11 according to the flowcharts of FIGS. Sowing) and replenishment of silver ions. When the operation is started in the automatic operation mode of the hot water supply apparatus 1 with the sterilizing function, the heat exchanger 20 is first heated to a predetermined temperature (step S11), and the hot water supply solenoid valve 23 and the bath hot water supply pipe 52 of the electric three-way valve 25 are used. The side and the circulation outgoing pipe 54 side are opened (steps S12 to S13), and the hot water excessive outflow servo valve 22 is opened to a predetermined valve opening degree (step S14). Next, supply of clean water is started from the IN side of the general water heater 12, and a predetermined voltage V1 is applied to the silver ion sterilizer 24 (step S15). The voltage V1 applied to the silver ion sterilizer 24 is determined by calculating from the valve opening degree of the hot water outflow servo valve 22 or the measured value at the flow sensor 44 so that the silver ion concentration becomes 50 ppb, for example. . The clean water supplied from the IN side of the general water heater 12 is heated by the heat exchanger 20 and contains silver ions when passing through the silver ion sterilizer 24, and from the circulation return pipe 53 and the circulation forward pipe 54. 11 is dropped. While hot water is being dropped into the bathtub 11, the temperature sensors 42 to 43, 46 monitor the temperature of the hot water at each location. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 11 deviates from the set temperature H1 set by the temperature setting switch 64 (in the case of No in step S16), the inside of the bathtub 11 is based on the temperature measured by each temperature sensor 42, 43, 46. The temperature of the heat exchanger 20 and the valve opening degree of the hot water excessive outflow servo valve 22 are changed so that the temperature of the hot water becomes the set temperature H1 (steps S17 to S18). Further, the applied voltage V1 of the silver ion sterilizer 24 is adjusted to an appropriate value so that the silver ion concentration in the bathtub 11 falls within a predetermined range as the valve opening degree of the hot water excessive outflow servo valve 22 changes (step). S19). Next, when the hot water in the bathtub 11 reaches the water level L1 set by the water level setting switch 65 (Yes in step S20), the heating of the heat exchanger 20 is finished (step S21) and the hot water solenoid valve 23, The electric three-way valve 25 and the hot water overflow servo valve 22 are closed (steps S22 to S24), the voltage applied to the silver ion sterilizer 24 is turned off (step S25), and the dropping of hot water into the bathtub 11 is completed ( Step S26).

  Next, when the time from completion of dropping of hot water into the bathtub 11 has passed the predetermined time T1 (Yes in step S27), or the forced chasing operation is started manually (in the case of Yes in step S28). Then, the circulation pump 27 is operated and the circulation forward piping 54 side of the electric three-way valve 25 is opened (steps S29 and S30), and the hot water in the bathtub 11 is circulated through the circulation circuit 13 and the temperature provided in the circulation return piping 53. The temperature of the hot water is measured by the sensor 46. If the temperature of the hot water measured by the temperature sensor 46 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature H1 (the temperature set by the temperature setting switch) (Yes in step S31), the hot water supply device 1 with the sterilizing function heats the heat exchanger 28 and the bathtub The hot water in 11 is started (step S32). At this time, if the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 11 is equal to or lower than the predetermined water level L2 (in the case of No in step S33), silver ions are replenished. The replenishment of silver ions is performed by switching the electric three-way valve 25 so that the circulation outgoing pipe 54 side is closed and the bath hot water supply pipe 52 side is opened (step S34), the hot water solenoid valve 23 is opened (step S35), The valve opening degree of the servo valve 22 is set to a minimum that can be controlled (step S36). Then, a predetermined voltage V2 (maximum voltage or predetermined voltage) is applied to the silver ion sterilizer 24, and water containing silver ions is added into the bathtub 11 and hot water is added (step S37). At this time, the amount of added hot water is calculated from the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 44, and when a predetermined time T2 (time for the added hot water amount to be about 2L) is reached (step S38), the amount of added hot water is supplied to the silver ion sterilizer 24. The applied voltage is turned off (step S39), the hot water overflow / outflow servo valve 22 and the pouring electromagnetic valve 23 are closed (steps S40 and S41), and the electric three-way valve 25 is closed on the side of the hot water supply piping 52 and circulated forward piping. It switches so that the 54 side may be opened (step S42), and the hot water in the bathtub 11 is circulated in the circulation circuit 13 again, and reheating is performed. On the other hand, when the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 11 is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level L2 in step S33, replenishment of silver ions (steps S34 to S42) is not performed in order to prevent hot water from overflowing from the bathtub 11 due to replenishment of silver ions. . The predetermined water level L2 is set to a water level 50 mm higher than the set water level L1.

  When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 11 reaches the set temperature H1 set by the temperature setting switch 64 (Yes in step S43), the electric three-way valve 25 is closed on the circulation forward piping 54 side and the bath hot water supply piping 52 side. (Step S44), the operation of the circulation pump 27 and the heating of the heat exchanger 28 are stopped (Steps S45 and S46), and the timer is reset (Step S47). Next, if the driving or manual forced chasing operation is continued in the automatic operation mode (No in step S48), the process returns to step S27 again and the operations of steps S27 to S48 are repeated.

  As described above, in the addition water for replenishing silver ions in steps S34 to S42, the applied voltage V2 to the silver ion sterilizer 24 is performed with a maximum current amount or a predetermined current amount larger than the drop time and a flow rate. Is set to the lowest vicinity that can be controlled by the hot water overflow servo valve 22, a sufficient amount of silver ions can be supplied into the bathtub 11 even with a small amount of hot water of about 2 L. As a result, even after hot water is stored in the bathtub 11, silver ions that have decreased with the heat-retaining operation, the chasing operation, and the passage of time are replenished, and the concentration of silver ions contained in the hot water in the bathtub 11 exceeds a certain level. Therefore, the sterilizing ability can be maintained (or recovered). Moreover, the capacity | capacitance of a general bathtub is about 200L, and the raise of the water level by 2L additional hot water is about several millimeters, and the water level of the hot water in a bathtub does not rise extremely. The amount of added hot water is not limited to 2 L, but may be set to an appropriate amount of added hot water depending on the capacity of the bathtub 11, the silver ion elution rate that can be set with the silver ion sterilizer 24, the flow rate that can be controlled with the hot water overflow servo valve 22, etc. That's fine.

  Moreover, since the hot water supply apparatus 1 with the sterilizing function shown in the present embodiment is not provided with the silver ion sterilizer 24 that supplies silver ions to the circulation circuit 13 in which the hot water in the bathtub 11 circulates, The dirty hot water does not pass through the silver ion sterilizer 24, so that the life of the silver electrode is not shortened.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilization function concerning Example 1. FIG. It is a functional block diagram for demonstrating the function of the controller of the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilization function same as the above. It is a flowchart explaining the process of the automatic operation mode of the hot water supply apparatus with a sterilization function of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 4 is a continuation diagram of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water supply apparatus with a sterilization function 10 Drop piping route 11 Bathtub 12 General water heater 13 Circulation circuit 20, 28 Heat exchanger 21 Electric two-way valve 22 Hot water outflow servo valve 23 Pouring solenoid valve 24 Silver ion sterilizer 25 Electric three-way valve 26 Check valve 27 Circulation pump 41, 44 Flow rate sensor 42, 43, 46 Temperature sensor 51 Bypass pipe 52 Bath hot water supply pipe 53 Circulation return pipe 54 Circulation return pipe 61 Controller 62 Remote control 63 Automatic operation switch 64 Temperature setting switch 65 Water level setting switch 66 signal lines

Claims (5)

A circulation circuit that can recirculate the water in the bathtub to the heat exchanger,
A dropping pipe line that can drop water from the water heater into the bathtub,
In the hot water supply device with a sterilization function in which a silver ion sterilizer that elutes silver ions by silver electrolysis is arranged in the dropping pipe line,
A hot water supply device with a sterilizing function, wherein silver ions are added to hot water in the bathtub by adding water obtained by electrolyzing silver ions from the dropping pipe line when bathing.   The hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function according to claim 1, wherein the silver ions are replenished when the water level in the bathtub is lower than a predetermined water level.   The hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function according to claim 1, wherein the replenishment of the silver ions is performed after dropping water into the bathtub or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last replenishment of silver ions.   The hot water supply apparatus with a sterilizing function according to claim 1, wherein a flow rate control means is provided in the drop piping line.   The silver ion generation amount in the silver ion sterilizer is maximized by setting the flow rate to a minimum flow rate that can be controlled by the flow rate control means when replenishing the silver ions. 4. A hot water supply device with a sterilization function according to 4.

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