JP2008096032A - Hot water circulation type hot water supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water circulation type hot water supply system capable of decomposing and removing organic substances such as sebum existing in hot water as impurities, and sterilizing pathogenic bacteria without generating chlorine smell. <P>SOLUTION: An electrolytic cleaning device 10 is disposed at an upstream side with respect to a filtering device 11 of a hot water circulation cycle 14, a hot water heating sterilizing device 11 is disposed at a downstream side of the filtering device 11, the hot water passing through the electrolytic cleaning device 10 is electrically decomposed to generate active oxygen, the organic substances in the hot water are oxidized and decomposed by using active oxygen, and heat exchange is performed between a refrigerant heated by a refrigerant circulation cycle 23 and hot water in the hot water heating sterilizing device 11, thus the sterilizing treatment can be performed without injecting chlorine antiseptic liquid to the hot water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water circulation hot water supply system that is used in a bathing facility such as a super public bath and circulates and reuses hot water in a bathtub.

  This type of hot water circulation hot water supply system is used to reduce the amount of tap water and hot spring water used. Generally, hot water in a bathtub is taken out using a pump and taken out. A hot water circulation cycle is used in which hot water is purified by a filtration device and then heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating device and refluxed into the bathtub (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

And in order to prevent pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Legionella bacteria from breeding in the bathtub by sterilizing the hot water circulating, the disinfectant injection device in the middle of the hot water circulation cycle (particularly upstream from the filtration device) The medicine is injected into the warm water (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). As the type of the drug, a chlorine-based drug such as sodium hypochlorite is usually used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP-A-10-235368 JP 2003-170014 A

  However, when a chlorine-based chemical such as sodium hypochlorite is injected into warm water, if the concentration of hypochlorous acid is relatively high, bathing users will have a dissatisfaction / complaint regarding the smell of chlorine, In addition, there is a problem in that corrosion occurs in a portion of each device that comes into contact with hot water. On the other hand, if the amount of chlorinated chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite injected is relatively small, organic substances such as human sebum in the hot water cannot be completely decomposed. The organic substance and hypochlorous acid combine to generate highly irritating trihalomethane.

  In addition, in the pipes of the equipment connected to the flow pipe of the hot water circulation cycle, a phenomenon such as the generation of algae using this organic matter as nutrients or the biofilm sticking to the surface of the equipment in multiple layers occurs. Pathogens in the space wrapped in biofilm are difficult to kill by injection of chlorinated antiseptics.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a hot water circulation type hot water supply system that can decompose and remove organic substances such as sebum present as impurities in the hot water and can sterilize pathogenic bacteria without causing a chlorine odor. The purpose is to do.

  A hot water circulation hot water supply system according to the present invention has a hot water circulation cycle composed of a bathtub, a hot water circulation pump, a filtration device, and a hot water heating sterilization device, and an electrolytic purification device between the hot water circulation pump and the filtration device. Is arranged, electrolyzing the hot water passing through the electrolytic purification device to generate active oxygen, and oxidizing the organic matter in the hot water using the active oxygen (claim 1). The hot water heat sterilizer has a hot water storage tank for temporarily storing hot water. In addition, the hair collector (hair catcher) may be arrange | positioned between this bathtub and a hot water circulation pump.

  And this hot water circulation type hot water supply system has a refrigerant circulation cycle constituted by appropriately connecting a compressor, a heat exchanger for heating, an expansion device, and a heat exchanger for heat absorption, and of these, the heat exchanger for heating Constitutes a part of the hot water heating sterilization apparatus, and the hot water of the hot water circulation cycle is sent, and the endothermic heat exchanger is supplied with the hot water discharged from the bathtub. The hot water sent to the hot water heating sterilizer is heated and sterilized using the heat of the refrigerant which is heat-exchanged by the heat-absorbing heat exchanger and further pressurized by the compressor and heated to a high temperature. (Claim 2). This refrigerant circulation cycle is a so-called heat pump cycle, and a natural refrigerant such as CO 2 is used as the circulating refrigerant. The hot water heating sterilizer has a second hot water circulation cycle in which hot water circulates between a hot water heating heat exchanger and a hot water storage tank.

  The electrolytic purification apparatus is characterized in that at least two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, are arranged in an electrolytic cell through which hot water in the hot water circulation cycle flows in and out (Claim 3). Examples of the electrode include a ceramic electrode and a diamond electrode.

  Therefore, hot water taken out from the bathtub into the hot water circulation cycle by the hot water circulation pump is electrolyzed into active oxygen and hydrogen when passing through the electrolytic tank of the electrolytic purification device, and the organic matter in the hot water is converted into this active oxygen. When oxidized and decomposed completely, water and carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) are generated from organic substances. And even if organic matter is not decomposed | disassembled completely, the remaining solid content will be scraped off with the following filtration apparatus. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to decompose and remove organic substances from the hot water flowing through the hot water circulation cycle, and to return the hot water to the bathtub in a purified state. In connection with this, it is also possible to prevent a large amount of algae from generating organic matter as nutrients in the heat exchanger using exhaust heat and the heat exchanger for heating hot water in the refrigerant circulation cycle.

  And since the warm water from which the organic matter has been removed in this way flows into the hot water storage tank of the warm water heating sterilizer and is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant having a high temperature of, for example, 70 degrees or more by the hot water heating heat exchanger, it is 70 degrees or more. Therefore, it is possible to heat sterilize pathogenic bacteria in warm water. Moreover, because of the configuration of the hot water circulation cycle of the present invention, the electrolytic purification device is arranged upstream of the hot water heat sterilization device, so that the problem that the organic matter in the hot water before decomposition is precipitated in the hot water storage tank is avoided. You can also However, according to the present invention, pathogens such as Legionella can be sterilized without injecting the drug into the warm water flowing in the warm water circulation cycle.

  In addition, since the heat of the hot water discharged from the bathtub is used as a heat source of the exhaust heat utilization heat exchanger, it is not necessary to provide a device for obtaining a heat source, for example, a device for obtaining outside air heat. System manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a hot water circulation type hot water supply system 1 according to the present invention. This hot water circulation type hot water supply system supplies hot water to the bathtub 2 at an initial stage or after completely draining water. The hot water supply path 1 is provided. The hot water supply path 1 includes a heating device 3 that heats water such as tap water sent from the outside, and a hot water storage tank 4 that temporarily stores hot water generated by heating with the heating device 3. Yes. However, the heating device 3 may be omitted when hot spring water having a temperature suitable for bathing is always used.

  And the bathtub 2 has the receiving part 2B which receives the warm water which overflowed from the main-body part 2A of this bathtub 2, and the drain pipe 5 for excluding the received warm water to the exterior at the bottom part of this receiving part 2B Is connected. Moreover, the main body part 2A of the bathtub also has a pipe 6 for taking out the hot water in the bathtub main body part 2A to the outside. The pipe 6 branches into two on the way, one of which is drained. The pipe 6A is connected to the pipe 5. However, the drain pipe 6A is provided with a valve 7 so that the hot water taken out from the bathtub body portion 2A is not excluded from the drain pipe 6A through the drain pipe 5 to the outside in normal use. That is, the valve 7 is opened only when the water is completely drained from the bathtub 2 performed once a week, for example.

  Moreover, this hot water circulation type hot water supply system 1 has the said bathtub 2, the hair collector 8, the circulation pump 9, the electrolytic purification apparatus 10, and the filtration apparatus as a means for purifying and keeping warm the hot water in the bathtub 2. 11 and a hot water circulation cycle 14 composed of a hot water storage tank 13 of the hot water heat sterilizer 12. The hot water circulation cycle 14 includes the drain pipe 6A of the pipe 6 in the order of the bathtub 2, the hair collector 8, the circulation pump 9, the electrolytic purification apparatus 10, the filtration apparatus 11, the hot water heating sterilization apparatus 12, and the bathtub 2 again. Pipes are sequentially connected via the other branched pipe 6B.

  Of these, the hair collector 8 is for removing relatively large dust such as hair from the hot water, and is equipped with a filter or the like for removing this dust. Further, the filtering device 11 is configured by storing a filtering means such as sand in a container, and enables relatively fine impurities to be filtered when hot water passes through the filtering device 11.

  The electrolytic purification device 10 is located on the upstream side of the filtration device 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrolytic cell 15, and the anode-side electrode 16 and the cathode side accommodated in the electrolytic cell 15. In this embodiment, the anode-side electrode 16 and the cathode-side electrode 17 are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval along the flow direction of the hot water. However, these electrodes 16 and 17 may be arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in a direction intersecting the flowing direction of the hot water. Further, as these electrodes 16 and 17, ceramic electrodes or diamond electrodes may be used. As a result, the hot water passing through the electrolytic purification apparatus 10 is electrolyzed, generating active oxygen in the vicinity of the anode-side electrode 16 and generating hydrogen in the vicinity of the cathode-side electrode 17.

  The hot water heat sterilizer 12 serves both to sterilize pathogenic bacteria in the hot water and to keep the water at a temperature suitable for bathing the hot water in the bathtub 2. Is heated to a temperature of 70 ° C. or more by exchanging heat with the heat exchanger 20 for heating, and then lowered to a temperature suitable for bathing (for example, 39 to 42 ° C.) This is sent to the pipe 6B on the downstream side of the hot water heat sterilizer 12.

  As means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 13 of the hot water heat sterilizer 12, a refrigerant circulation cycle 23 and a second hot water circulation cycle 24 are used. Among these, the refrigerant circulation cycle 23 is referred to as a heat pump cycle. The heat absorption heat exchanger 18, the compressor 19 that boosts the refrigerant, the heating heat exchanger 20, and the expansion device 21 that decompresses the refrigerant. The compressor 19, the heat exchanger 20 for heating, the heat exchanger 18 for endothermic heat, and the compressor 19 are connected again by piping 22 in the order of the compressor 19. As the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation cycle 23, for example, a natural refrigerant such as CO2 is used.

  Among these, the heat absorption heat exchanger 18 enables heat exchange between the hot water discharged from the receiving portion 2B or the main body portion 2A of the bathtub 2 and the refrigerant flowing out of the expansion device 21, and The refrigerant absorbs heat using the hot water discharged in the heat exchanger 18 as a heat source. Then, the refrigerant that has absorbed the discharged hot water and has a relatively high temperature is increased in pressure by the compressor 19, so that it is further increased in temperature to, for example, 70 degrees or more and sent to the heating heat exchanger 20. The heat exchanger 20 for heating also constitutes a part of the hot water heat sterilizer 12 and is appropriately connected to the hot water storage tank 13 of the hot water heat sterilizer 12 by a pipe 25 to form a second hot water circulation cycle 24. Therefore, heat exchange is possible between the hot water sent from the hot water storage tank 13 and the above-mentioned high-temperature refrigerant flowing out from the compressor 19.

  According to the above configuration, the hot water taken out from the main body portion 2A of the bathtub to the pipe 6B by the circulation pump 9 is first sent to the electrolytic purification apparatus 10 after large dust such as hair is removed by the hair collector 8. . In the electrolytic purification apparatus 10, when the organic matter in the warm water is organically decomposed by the active oxygen generated by electrolyzing the warm water passing therethrough as described above and completely decomposed, water and carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) And are generated. In this case, even if the organic matter is not completely decomposed, the remaining solid content is scraped off when passing through the next filtration device 11.

  The hot water from which the organic substances have been removed in this way is sent to the hot water storage tank 13 of the hot water heating sterilizer 12, and a part of the hot water is circulated through the second hot water circulation cycle 24 and heated to a high temperature by the heating heat exchanger 20. Therefore, since the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 13 is raised to 70 degrees or more, pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella bacteria and Escherichia coli are sterilized. Finally, the warm water from which organic substances are removed and pathogens are sterilized and purified in this way is adjusted to a temperature appropriate for bathing (for example, 39 degrees to 42 degrees) when sent from the hot water heat sterilizer 12 to the pipe 6B. Then, it is returned to the bathtub 2.

  According to the above, since chlorine-based chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite are not injected into warm water for the sterilization of Legionella, etc., chlorine odor is generated from warm water when hypochlorous acid is contained in a high concentration. It is possible to avoid problems. Further, since the organic matter is decomposed by the electrolytic purification device 10 upstream from the filter device 11, even if hypochlorous acid is generated for some reason, the organic matter is not accumulated in the filter device. And hypochlorous acid can be combined to prevent generation of highly irritating trihalomethanes. In addition, it is possible to avoid the precipitation of organic substances in the hot water storage tank 13.

  Furthermore, since the warm water can be discharged from the bathtub 2 with relatively clean organic water free from organic matter, the hot water circulation hot water supply system according to the present invention can be used even in places where sewage treatment facilities are not fully equipped. Can be used. Moreover, although warm water is sent to the heat exchanger 18 for heat absorption, and the heat exchanger 20 for heating, since organic substance is not contained, organic matter is fed in the path | route through which the warm water in these heat exchangers 18 and 20 flows. As algae is not generated.

  And, as the heat source for exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the heat absorption heat exchanger 18 of the refrigerant circulation cycle 23, since the discharged hot water is used, there is no need to use an apparatus for using outside air heat or the like as a heat source, The manufacturing cost of the hot water circulating hot water supply system can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water circulation hot water supply system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the electrolytic purification device of the same hot water circulation type hot water supply system.

Explanation of symbols

2 Bathtub 5 Drain pipe 6 Pipe 6A Drain pipe 6B Pipe 9 Circulation pump 10 Electrolytic purification device 11 Filtration device 12 Hot water heating sterilizer 13 Hot water storage tank 14 Hot water circulation cycle 15 Electrolyzer 16 Electrode 16 Electrode 17 Cathode 18 Heat exchanger 19 Compressor 20 Heat exchanger for heating 21 Expansion device 22 Piping 23 Refrigerant circulation cycle (heat pump cycle)
24 Second hot water circulation cycle 25 Piping

Claims (3)

It has a hot water circulation cycle composed of a bathtub, hot water circulation pump, filtration device, and hot water heat sterilization device,
An electrolytic purification device is disposed between the hot water circulation pump and the filtration device, electrolyzing the hot water passing through the electrolytic purification device to generate active oxygen, and using the active oxygen, the organic matter in the hot water is removed. Hot water circulation hot water supply system characterized by oxidative decomposition. A refrigerant circulation cycle configured by appropriately connecting a compressor, a heat exchanger for heating, an expansion device, and a heat exchanger for heat absorption;
Among these, the heat exchanger for heating constitutes a part of the hot water heating sterilizer and is sent with hot water of the hot water circulation cycle, and the heat exchanger for heat absorption is sent with hot water discharged from the bathtub. By
Using the heat of the refrigerant that is heat-exchanged with the discharged heat water and the heat-absorbing heat exchanger and further increased in pressure by the compressor and heated, the hot water sent to the hot water heating sterilizer is heated, The hot water circulation hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein sterilization is performed. The said electrolytic purification apparatus is comprised at least by arrange | positioning two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, in the electrolytic vessel in which the warm water of the said warm water circulation cycle flows in and out. Hot water circulation hot water supply system.

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