JP2006329566A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater having higher heating efficiency in a heat pump 6 by selecting heat-exchangeable medium temperature water in a hot water storage tank 8 according to the temperature of hot and cold water in a bathtub 13 to heat the hot and cold water in the bathtub 13, thereby lowering the temperature of medium temperature water in the hot water storage tank 8. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of hot water discharge ports are provided in a vertical direction of a side face of the hot water storage tank, and hot and cold water in the bathtub is heated with hot water in the tank taken out of the hot water discharge port, as a heat source. When heating of a bath is determined to be necessary, a hot water temperature detected by a bath hot water temperature sensor 32, and the temperatures of stored hot water temperature detecting means 17a, 17c, 17e, are compared in a heat source side circuit 30 to select a switching means 10 corresponding to the stored hot water temperature detecting means 17 which detected the temperature equal to the hot water temperature detected by a heating unit sensor 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that stores hot hot water in a hot water storage tank to supply hot water.

  As a conventional hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus of this type, for example, there is one as shown in FIG. 2 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, this water heater includes a hot water storage tank 8 and a heating source 1 by a heat pump 6. The hot water tank 8 is connected to the heat pump 6 from the lower part of the hot water tank 8 through the boiling pipe 9, and is connected from the heat pump 6 to the upper part of the hot water tank. is doing.

  In the bath heat exchanger 14 for heating hot water in the bathtub 13, the use side is connected to circulate the hot water in the bathtub 13 by the use side pump 12, and the heat source side is supplied by the heat source side pump 11. Hot water at the top of the hot water storage tank 8 is circulated and circulated to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 8.

In this way, by operating the use side pump 12 and the heat source side pump 11, the hot water on the heat source side and the low temperature water on the use side exchange heat with the bath heat exchanger 14, thereby keeping the hot water in the bathtub 13 warm or supplemented. A whisper is done. The hot water on the heat source side is sent from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8 to the bath heat exchanger 14 by the heat source side pump 11, exchanges heat with the low temperature water on the use side, and then circulates near the bottom of the hot water storage tank 8.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-293737

  However, in the above configuration, medium temperature water of about 30 to 50 ° C. is stored in the hot water storage tank 8 by heat exchange in the bath heat exchanger 14. Medium-temperature water cannot be used for bathing or heating because the temperature of the hot water is low. In addition, if the medium temperature water is stored as it is, the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 8 is reduced, which causes hot water shortage. Therefore, although the medium temperature water is heated by the heat pump 6, there is a problem that the efficiency of the heat pump 6 is reduced because the temperature of the hot water is high.

  The object of the present invention is to select the medium temperature water in the hot water storage tank 8 that can exchange heat according to the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 13 and heat the hot water in the bathtub 13, thereby Is to provide a water heater having higher heating efficiency in the heat pump 6.

  In order to achieve this object, the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention is provided with a plurality of hot water outlets in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank side surface, and hot water in the bathtub is heated using hot water in the tank taken out from the hot water outlet as a heat source.

  Accordingly, the hot water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub can be selected, the hot water in the bathtub can be heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank can be lowered.

  The water heater of the present invention can select the medium temperature water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub, and heat the hot water in the bathtub to reduce the temperature of the medium temperature water in the hot water storage tank. It is possible to provide a water heater with higher heating efficiency in the heat pump 6.

  In the first invention, a plurality of hot water outlets are provided in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank side surface, and hot water in the bathtub is heated using hot water in the tank taken out from the hot water outlet as a heat source.

  Accordingly, the hot water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub can be selected, the hot water in the bathtub can be heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank can be lowered.

  The second invention is particularly the first invention, and is provided with a switching means for switching a hot water outlet for taking out hot water in the hot water storage tank.

  Accordingly, the hot water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub can be selected, the hot water in the bathtub can be heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank can be lowered.

  The third aspect of the invention is particularly the first and second aspects of the invention, wherein the reflux water that is taken out from the hot water outlet and returned to the hot water storage tank heated and cooled by the hot water in the bathtub passes through any of the hot water outlets. I went back.

  Accordingly, the return position of the circulating water to the hot water storage tank can be selected, and the circulating water can be returned to a position close to the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank, so that the medium temperature water can be prevented from spreading in the hot water storage tank.

  The fourth aspect of the invention is particularly the first to third aspects of the invention, and switching of the outlet from which the circulating water returns is performed by the switching means.

  Accordingly, the return position of the circulating water to the hot water storage tank can be selected, and the circulating water can be returned to a position close to the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank, so that it is possible to suppress the expansion of the intermediate hot water area in the hot water storage tank.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, in the first to fourth inventions, a hot water outlet to be taken out from the hot water storage tank is selected according to the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, and the switching means is controlled.

  Accordingly, the hot water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub can be selected, the hot water in the bathtub can be heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank can be lowered.

  The sixth invention provides a hot water storage temperature detecting means for detecting a hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank near the hot water outlet, particularly in the first to fifth inventions, and selects the hot water outlet having the smallest temperature difference from the temperature of the circulating water. Then, the switching means is controlled so as to return the reflux water.

  Accordingly, the return position of the circulating water to the hot water storage tank can be selected, and the circulating water can be returned to a position close to the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank, so that it is possible to suppress the expansion of the intermediate hot water area in the hot water storage tank.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, in the first to sixth inventions, the heat source is a heat pump including a compressor.

  Thereby, efficient heating using atmospheric heat as a main heat source can be performed.

  In the eighth invention, in particular, in the sixth invention, a refrigerant whose pressure is raised to a critical pressure or higher is used for the heat pump.

  Thereby, since the refrigerant | coolant which flows through a radiator is pressurized more than critical pressure with the compressor, even if it takes heat with a radiator and temperature falls, it does not condense. Therefore, it is easy to form a temperature difference between the refrigerant and the latent heat storage material over the entire radiator, and the heat exchange efficiency can be increased.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention.

  The outline of the apparatus includes a hot water storage tank 8 in which low-temperature hot water and high-temperature hot water are stored in a layered state, and a heat pump 6 that is a heating source 1 for heating the hot water. The water is heated and boiled and stored for hot water supply.

  First, the configuration of the heat pump 6 that is the heating source 1 will be described. The heat pump 6 includes a compressor 2 that compresses the refrigerant, a radiator 3 that cools the refrigerant, a decompression unit 4 that decompresses the refrigerant, and a heat absorber 5 that evaporates and evaporates the refrigerant. The heat pump 6 is connected from the discharge side of the compressor 2 to the decompression means 4 via the radiator 3 and further connected to the suction side of the compressor 2.

  Further, in the heat pump 6, carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2 enters the radiator 3 as a high-temperature and high-pressure supercritical refrigerant, and radiates and cools it here. . Thereafter, the pressure is reduced in the pressure reducing means 4 to form low-temperature and low-pressure wet steam, and the heat absorber 5 exchanges heat with air to evaporate and return to the compressor 2.

  On the other hand, in the configuration related to boiling of hot water, the boiling pipe 9 is connected to the heat pump 6 from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 and is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8 from the heat pump 6.

  The upper part of the hot water storage tank to which the boiling pipe 9 is connected is sufficient if the hot water is on the high temperature layer side of the hot water storage tank 8, and the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 is if the hot water is on the low temperature layer side of the hot water storage tank. Good.

  In order to send hot water from the hot water storage tank 8 to the heat pump 6 and return it to the hot water storage tank 8, a boiling pump 7 capable of arbitrarily changing the output is provided in the middle of the boiling pipe 9.

  In addition, an incoming water temperature sensor 15 for detecting the temperature of the low hot water before being heated in the heat pump 6 is provided in the vicinity of the inlet side of the heat pump 6 (radiator 3) of the boiling pipe 9 and a hot water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heated hot water. 16 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the heat pump 6 in the boiling tube 9.

  And in order to grasp | ascertain the temperature distribution of the hot water storage tank 8, the hot water storage temperature sensor 17 is provided in the orthogonal | vertical direction on the outer wall surface.

  As a configuration relating to hot water supply, a water supply pipe 19 for supplying water from a water supply source is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 8, and the water supply source is decompressed to an appropriate pressure by a pressure reducing valve 20 and supplied to the water supply pipe 19. In addition, a water supply temperature sensor 18 is provided to detect the water supply temperature.

  A hot water supply pipe 21 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8 for discharging the hot water stored in the hot water and using it for hot water supply, and a water supply bypass pipe 22 from the water supply pipe 19 is connected in the middle thereof. Moreover, the mixing valve 23 which can mix the high temperature water from the hot water supply pipe 21 and the low hot water from the water supply bypass pipe 22 in arbitrary ratios is provided.

  On the downstream side of the mixing valve 23, a hot water supply temperature sensor 25 is provided to detect the mixed hot water supply temperature, and a hot water supply terminal 24 is connected to the end thereof.

  When the hot water supply terminal 24 is opened for hot water supply, hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 is discharged from the hot water supply pipe 21 and supplied from the water supply pipe 19 to the hot water storage tank 8. With respect to the hot water supply temperature, the water supply is branched by the water supply bypass pipe 22, and high hot water from the hot water storage tank 8 and low hot water from the water supply are mixed at the mixing valve 23 by changing the mixing ratio, thereby changing the hot water supply temperature. Hot water is supplied to 24. The mixing ratio at this time is controlled in accordance with the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 25 and is kept at a predetermined hot water temperature. Since hot water is supplied by mixing the hot water and water in the hot water storage tank 8 and lowering the temperature, the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is significantly higher than the hot water temperature of 40 ° C. to about 50 ° C. The heat storage density of the hot water storage tank 8 can be increased by setting the temperature to about 90 ° C.

  As a configuration related to hot water supply to the bath, a hot water supply pipe 28 that branches from the hot water supply pipe 21 and pours into the bathtub 13 is provided. A bath mixing valve 26 is provided so that low temperature hot water from the water supply bypass pipe 22 can be mixed and poured, and a pouring temperature sensor 35 is provided downstream thereof. Moreover, the pouring pipe 28 is provided with a pouring electromagnetic valve 27, which is arbitrarily opened and closed to pour water into the bathtub 13 automatically.

  Regarding the circuit configuration of the bath heating operation for heating and keeping hot water in the bathtub 13, in the use side circuit 31, the hot water in the bathtub 13 is circulated to the bath heat exchanger 14 by the use side pump 12. In addition, a bath water temperature sensor 32 is provided to detect the temperature in the bathtub 13.

  The hot water outlets 34 are used for taking out hot water from the hot water storage tank 8 and returning the reflux, and are attached to three locations in the vicinity of the hot water temperature detecting means 17 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hot water tank 8 side.

  At the hot water outlet 34, switching means 10 for changing the position of taking out hot water from the hot water storage tank 8 and returning the reflux is installed. Then, hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 is circulated to the bath heat exchanger 14 by the heat source side pump 11 and circulated to the hot water storage tank 8.

  A circulating temperature sensor 33 for detecting the temperature of the hot water circulated and circulated from the bath heat exchanger 14 by the use-side pump 11 is attached, and the hot water circulated through the bath heat exchanger 14 is supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. And a heat source solenoid valve 29 which is opened when circulating to the rear.

  In the water heater configured as described above, the operation and action will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the heat pump 6, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2 enters the radiator 3 as a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant in a supercritical state, where it dissipates heat and cools it. Thereafter, the pressure is reduced in the pressure reducing means 4 to become low-temperature and low-pressure wet steam, and heat is exchanged with air in the heat absorber 5 to be evaporated and returned to the compressor 2. At this time, the low temperature hot water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 is sent to the radiator 3 by the boiling pump 7 and is heated by absorbing the heat of the radiator 3.

  That is, in the hot water storage operation in which the hot water in the low temperature layer at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 is heated by the heat pump 6 and returned to the hot water storage tank 8, the boiling pump 7 is driven to heat and heat the low hot water from the hot water storage tank 8. The heated water is sent to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8 through the boiling pipe 9.

  Then, the temperature of the water heated by the heat pump 6 is detected by the tapping temperature sensor 16 and the output of the boiling pump 7 is changed to control the tapping temperature from the heat pump 6 so that the heating becomes the target temperature. Do.

  Although the water supply temperature sensor 18 is attached to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 as shown in FIG. 1, the temperature of the hot water in the low temperature layer of the high temperature and low temperature layers formed in the hot water storage tank 8 can be measured. Any position is acceptable.

  The bath heating operation is performed by radiating the heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 to the hot water in the bathtub 13.

  When it is determined by the heating unit sensor 32 that the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and heating is necessary, the heat source side circuit 30 calculates the hot water temperature detected by the heating unit sensor 32 and the temperature of the hot water storage temperature detection means 17a, 17c, 17e. In comparison, it corresponds to the hot water storage temperature detection means 17 that is higher than the detection temperature of the heating unit sensor 32 and has the smallest temperature difference between the detection temperature of the heating unit sensor 32 and the hot water storage temperature detection means 17 (17a, 17c, 17e). The switching means 10 is selected. Specifically, when the difference between the detected hot water temperature of the heating unit sensor 32 and the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature detection means 17a (> the detected temperature of the heating unit sensor 32) is the smallest, the switching means 10a is selected. Similarly, when the difference between the hot water temperature detected by the heating unit sensor 32 and the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature detecting means 17c (> the detected temperature of the heating unit sensor 32) is the smallest, the switching means 10b is selected and the heating unit is selected. When the difference between the hot water temperature detected by the sensor 32 and the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature detection means 17e (> the detection temperature of the heating unit sensor 32) is the smallest, the switching means 10c is selected. Then, the water path is switched so that hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 is circulated to the heating heat exchanger 14 from the hot water outlets 34a, 34b, 34c corresponding to the selected switching means 10a, 10b, 10c.

  The temperature of the hot water radiated by the heating heat exchanger 14 decreases, and the temperature of the hot water is detected by the circulating temperature sensor 33 via the heat source side pump 11. The detected hot water temperature and the hot water storage temperature detection means 17a, 17c, 17e are compared, and the switching means 10a, 10b, 10c closest to the position of the hot water storage temperature detection means 17a, 17c, 17e with the smallest difference is selected and switched. It is returned to the hot water storage tank 8 through the hot water outlet 34 corresponding to the means 10. For example, if the switching means 10b is selected, it is returned to the hot water storage tank 8 through the hot water outlet 34b, and if the switching means 10c is selected, it is returned to the hot water storage tank 8 through the hot water outlet 34c.

  When the hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 is selected to be discharged from the lowermost switching means 10c to the heating heat exchanger 14, the hot water radiated from the heating heat exchanger 14 passes through the opened heat source electromagnetic valve 29 to store the hot water. It flows into the hot water storage tank 8 from the bottom of the tank 8.

  On the other hand, in the use side circuit 31, the hot water in the bathtub 13 is circulated to the bath heat exchanger 14 by the use side pump 12, and the heat in the heat source side circuit 30 is absorbed by the hot water in the bathtub 13 to raise the temperature.

  This series of operations is continued until the bath temperature sensor 32 determines that the predetermined bath temperature has been reached.

  In this manner, the hot water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub can be selected, the hot water in the bathtub can be heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank can be lowered. In addition, the return position to the hot water storage tank can be selected, and the return water can be returned to a position close to the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank. Heat pump operation can be realized.

  As described above, the water heater according to the present invention selects the medium temperature water in the hot water storage tank that can exchange heat with the hot water in the bathtub, and heats the hot water in the bathtub, thereby The temperature can be lowered and the heat pump is useful as a water heater with higher heating efficiency.

Circuit diagram of a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention Circuit diagram of a conventional water heater

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heating source 2 Compressor 6 Heat pump 7 Boiling pump 8 Hot water storage tank 10 Switching means 13 Bathtub 17 Hot water storage temperature detection means 34 Outlet

Claims (8)

In a water heater that heats the water in the hot water storage tank by a heating source by circulating water from the bottom of the hot water storage tank using a boiling pump, and stores the heated hot water in the hot water storage tank, A hot water supply apparatus provided with a plurality of hot water outlets in a direction, and heating hot water in a bathtub using hot water in the tank taken out from the hot water outlet as a heat source. 2. A water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a switching means for switching a hot water outlet for taking out hot water in the hot water storage tank. The reflux water which is taken out from the hot water outlet and returns to the hot water storage tank heated and cooled by hot water in the bathtub returns to the hot water storage tank through one of the hot water outlets. Water heater. 4. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot water outlet to which the circulating water returns is switched by the switching means. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the switching means selects a hot water outlet that is taken out from the hot water storage tank according to the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub. Hot water storage temperature detecting means for detecting the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank near the hot water outlet is provided, and the switching means selects the hot water outlet having the smallest temperature difference from the temperature of the circulating water detected by the hot water storage temperature detecting means. The hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein the reflux water is returned. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is a heat pump including a compressor. The water heater according to claim 7, wherein a refrigerant whose pressure is raised to a critical pressure or more is used for the heat pump.

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