JP2010019501A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater improving comfort, convenience and hot water supply efficiency by making the bath temperature during bathing appropriate by using a human detecting means. <P>SOLUTION: The water heater includes a bath hot water filling pipe line 67 for supplying hot water within a hot water storage tank 57 to a bathtub 68; a bath heat exchanger 73 for performing heat exchange between the hot water in the hot water storage tank 57 and circulating water or circulating hot water from the bathtub 68; a bath circulation pipe line 69 for interconnecting the bathtub 68 and the bath heat exchanger 73; a bathtub temperature setting means 83 for setting the temperature of the bathtub 68; a bathtub temperature detecting means 78 for detecting the temperature of the bathtub 68; the human detecting means 81 for detecting a person within the bathtub 80; and a control means 82. When the human detecting means 81 detects a person, hot water having a temperature higher than a set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 is filled in the bathtub 68. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water heater having a bath retreat function.

  Conventionally, as this type of water heater, there is one having a reheating function of a bathtub using hot water of a hot water tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 shows a conventional water heater described in the publication. As shown in the figure, this hot water supply machine includes a compressor 1, a heat pump unit 4 including a hot water supply heat exchanger 2 and an evaporator 3 which are refrigerant to water heat exchangers, a hot water tank 5 and water to water heat. The hot water supply unit 7 includes a bath heat exchanger 6 that is an exchanger. The hot water storage tank 5 stores hot water heated by the heat pump unit 4 using the hot water supply heat exchanger 2.

  The hot water in the hot water tank 5 is poured into the bathtub 9 and filled with hot water through the bathtub pouring pipe line 8 and the bath circulation pipe line 10 connecting the bathtub 9 and the hot water storage unit 7. The bath heat exchanger 6 heats the hot water in the bathtub 9 by circulating the hot water in the hot water tank 5. That is, hot water pumped from the heat source side circulation pump 11 from the upper part of the hot water tank 5 is led to the bath heat exchanger 6 to heat the hot water or water in the bathtub 9 pumped by the use side circulation pump 12. After that, the hot water from the hot tub 9 is returned to the hot tub 5, while the hot water from the hot tub 9 is returned to the tub 9, so that the bath is replenished.

  Furthermore, it is configured so that hot water can be supplied by opening the faucet 13. With such a configuration, an appropriate amount of hot water is poured from the hot water storage tank 5 into the bathtub 9 to fill the bathtub 9, and then the hot water in the bathtub 9 is chased to an appropriate temperature for a predetermined time. The bathtub automatic driving which is driving | operation is demonstrated.

In this case, after filling the hot water, the use-side circulation pump 12 is driven at regular time intervals to circulate hot water in the bathtub 9 to the hot water storage unit 7 side, and the bathtub temperature detecting means 14 detects the temperature of the bathtub 9. Bathtub temperature detection operation is performed. At this time, if the temperature of the bathtub 9 is lower than the appropriate temperature range, the bath chasing operation is performed, and if it is within the appropriate temperature range, the bath chasing operation is not performed.
JP 2002-243275 A

  However, the conventional configuration has the following problems. As described above, the bathtub temperature detection operation is performed at regular time intervals (for example, every 15 minutes). However, the timing of the bath temperature detection operation is performed regardless of the timing at which a person bathes.

FIG. 5 shows the temperature change of the bathtub 9 during the automatic bath operation, with the horizontal axis representing the elapsed time during the automatic bath operation and the vertical axis representing the temperature of the bathtub 9. In the figure, T _OFF is a temperature at which bath reheating is completed, and T _ON is a temperature at which bath reheating is started. Furthermore, the point A shows the point where the hot water filling is completed in the bathtub 9. Thereafter, the bath temperature detection operation is performed every time interval t. The first bath temperature detection operation is performed at time t after completion of the hot water filling.

That is, the user-side circulation pump 12 is driven to circulate hot water in the bathtub 9 toward the hot water storage unit, and the temperature of the bathtub 9 is detected by the bathtub temperature detection means 14. T In this case, since the temperature of the hot water bath circulation pipe 10 is cold than the temperature of the bath 9, the temperature of the bath 9 by performing the bath temperature sensing operation, which further decreases (from FIG during T _{0 1} ).

It is higher than the temperature T ₁ of the bath reheating start temperature T _ON of the bath 9 detected at this time, the bath reheating is not performed. Temperature T ₂ of the tub 9 detected by the tub temperature detection operation of the second time also is higher than the bath reheating start temperature T _ON, the bath reheating is not performed. Further, the temperature T ₃ of the bath 9 detected by the tub temperature detection operation of the third time is lower than a bath reheating start temperature T _ON.

Accordingly, the bath reheating is performed until the temperature of the bathtub 9 reaches the bath renewal stop temperature T _OFF at which the bath renewal ends. If a person takes a bath at the elapsed time t ₁ in the figure, the bath is not replenished until the elapsed time t ₂ even though the temperature of the bathtub 9 is lowered. In some cases, bathing is not performed for a while even if the temperature falls below the appropriate temperature range, so that when a person is immersed in the bathtub, the temperature of the bathtub 9 may be low and may feel slippery, causing a problem in comfort.

  In addition, when the bath automatic operation continues for a long time, the time for bath renewal operation increases, and the hot water at the top of the hot water tank 5 is used as a heat source for bath renewal. There was a problem in convenience and comfort.

  Furthermore, the hot water in the upper part of the hot water tank 5 which is a heat source for bathing is exchanged with the hot water in the bathtub 9 by the bath heat exchanger 6 and becomes a medium temperature of about 40 to 50 ° C. The low temperature in the lower part of the hot water tank 5 Return to the part. This medium temperature hot water is mixed with the low temperature hot water in the hot water tank 5 or water to raise the temperature of the lower part of the hot water tank 5. As a result, when the hot water or water in the lower part of the hot water tank 5 is heated using a heat pump, there is a problem that the efficiency is lowered.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and uses a human detection means to achieve an appropriate temperature of the bath temperature at the time of bathing, thereby providing a water heater that improves comfort, convenience, and hot water supply efficiency. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a water heater of the present invention includes a hot water heater, a hot water tank for storing hot water heated by the hot water heater, and a bath for supplying hot water in the hot water tank to a bathtub. A hot water pipeline, a bath heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the hot water in the hot water tank and the circulating water or the circulating hot water from the bathtub, a bath circulation pipeline connecting the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger, and a bathtub Bathtub temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the bathtub, bathtub temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the bathtub, person detection means for detecting a person in the bathroom, and control means, wherein the person detection means detects a person A hot water having a temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means or a temperature higher than that is poured into the bathtub, and when the person detecting means detects a person, the bath temperature setting means Bath hot water at a temperature higher than the set temperature set in By pouring hot water into the bath, it is not necessary to circulate the hot water in the bathtub through the bath circulation line that is cooler than the temperature of the bathtub, and to detect the temperature of the bathtub with the bath temperature detection means, Comfort can be improved without lowering the temperature of the bathtub.

  In addition, when the human detection means detects a person, the hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means is poured into the bathtub, so that the start bath temperature and the stop bath temperature of the bath additional cooking operation can be set. In the meantime, when the user takes a bath, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling lukewarm by not bathing and driving, and the comfort can be improved.

  In addition, by pouring hot water in the hot water tank into the bathtub, the number of hot water bathing operations to exchange heat between the hot water in the hot water tank and the hot water in the bathtub can be reduced, so the medium hot water stored in the hot water tank The amount of water can be reduced, and a reduction in efficiency when heating water in a hot water tank using a heat pump can be prevented.

  In addition, by pouring hot water in the hot water tank into the bathtub, if the bathtub continues to operate for a long time, the time for bath reheating increases, and the hot water at the top of the hot water tank is used as a heat source for bath reheating. By doing so, it is possible to prevent running out of hot water at the time of hot water supply, which is caused by less hot water.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the hot water supply machine which implement | achieves the improvement of comfort, convenience, and hot water supply efficiency can be provided by achieving the optimal temperature of the bath temperature at the time of bathing using a person detection means.

  A first aspect of the invention includes a hot water supply heating means, a hot water tank for storing hot water heated by the hot water supply heating means, a bath pouring pipe for supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank to a bathtub, hot water in the hot water tank, A bath heat exchanger for exchanging heat with circulating water or circulating hot water from the bathtub, a bath circulation line connecting the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger, and a bathtub temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the bathtub, A bathtub temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the bathtub, a person detecting means for detecting a person in the bathroom, and a control means, and when the person detecting means detects a person, the bathtub temperature setting means is set. Hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature is poured into the bathtub, and when the human detection means detects a person, the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means or a temperature higher than that is set. By pouring hot water into the bathtub, It is not necessary to circulate through the bath circulation pipe that is colder than the temperature and detect the bath temperature with the bath temperature detection means, so the comfort is improved without lowering the bath temperature. it can.

  In addition, when the human detection means detects a person, the hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means is poured into the bathtub, so that the start bath temperature and the stop bath temperature of the bath additional cooking operation can be set. In the meantime, when the user takes a bath, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling lukewarm by not bathing and driving, and the comfort can be improved.

  In addition, by pouring hot water in the hot water tank into the bathtub, the number of hot water bathing operations to exchange heat between the hot water in the hot water tank and the hot water in the bathtub can be reduced, so the medium hot water stored in the hot water tank The amount of water can be reduced, and a reduction in efficiency when heating water in a hot water tank using a heat pump can be prevented.

  In addition, by pouring hot water in the hot water tank into the bathtub, if the bathtub continues to operate for a long time, the time for bath reheating increases, and the hot water at the top of the hot water tank is used as a heat source for bath reheating. By doing so, it is possible to prevent running out of hot water at the time of hot water supply, which is caused by less hot water.

  2nd invention provides a use side circulation pump in a bath circulation line, and after the pouring performed when a person detection means detects a person, the said use side circulation pump is driven and bath replenishment is performed. Since it does not operate to detect the temperature of the bathtub and immediately retreats the bath, it can prevent the temperature of the bathtub from decreasing due to the operation of detecting the temperature of the bathtub, and the temperature of the bath rises quickly. Since it starts, it can improve comfort.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a use-side circulation pump is provided in the bath circulation pipe, and after the pouring performed when the human detection means detects a person, the use-side circulation pump is driven, and the bathtub temperature detection means When the detected bath temperature is lower than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means, the bath is reheated. If the amount of pouring is mistakenly predicted and the bath temperature is higher than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means, the bath will not be replenished, so the accuracy is high. The bath can be refurbished and the comfort can be improved.

The fourth invention is characterized in that the predetermined time after pouring when the human detection means detects a person does not pour even if the human detection means detects a person. Therefore, it is possible to maintain comfort and improve efficiency.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, since the heat pump is used as the hot water supply heating means, high efficiency and global environmental conservation can be achieved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water heater in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, hot water heating means that is a heat source of a water heater is a heat pump unit 55 that constitutes a heat pump cycle that includes a compressor 51, a hot water heat exchanger 52, a decompressor 53, and an evaporator 54 that absorbs atmospheric heat. Then, carbon dioxide whose refrigerant pressure on the high pressure side is equal to or higher than the critical pressure is used as the refrigerant.

  Water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 57 stored in the hot water storage unit 56 through a water supply pipe 58 connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57, and hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 passes through the hot water supply pipe 59 and is supplied by the hot water supply mixing valve 60. Hot water is supplied from the terminal (faucet 62) through the hot water supply pipe 61 after being heated to a predetermined temperature by mixing with hot water.

  Further, by forming a boiling circuit that sequentially connects the lower part of the hot water tank 57 to the circulation pump 63, the hot water supply heat exchanger 52, and the upper part of the hot water tank 57, the water sent from the hot water tank 57 by the circulation pump 63 is The hot water supply heat exchanger 52 is heated by the refrigerant heat and stored from above the hot water storage tank 57. A boiling temperature detecting means 64 is provided at the water-side outlet of the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 in order to detect the hot water temperature heated by the heat pump heat source.

  A bathtub pouring pipe 67 branched from the hot water pipe 59 and provided with a bath hot water mixing valve 65 and a bath pouring valve 66 is connected to a bathtub 68 through a bath circulation pipe 69. The bath circulation pipe 69 is composed of a bath outlet pipe 70 and a bath return pipe 71.

  The bath heating means 72 includes a bath heat exchanger 73 that is a water-water heat exchanger, a heat source side water circuit 74 and a use side water circuit 75 connected thereto, and the heat source side and use side water circuits 74 and 75. The heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are provided. The heat source side water circuit 74 is connected to the upper and lower portions of the hot water tank 57, and the use side water circuit 75 is connected to the bath circulation line 69.

  Further, the use side water circuit 75 is provided with a bathtub temperature detecting means 78 for detecting the temperature of the bathtub 68 and a bathtub water level detecting means 79 for detecting the water level of the bathtub 68. Heating of the bathtub 68 was sent from the hot water storage tank 57 to the bath heat exchanger 73 by the heat source side circulation pump 76 and from the bathtub 68 to the bath heat exchanger 73 by the use side circulation pump 77. It is carried out by heat exchange with water or hot water.

  The bathroom 80 is provided with a person detection means 81 for detecting a person in the bathroom. Furthermore, when the human detection means 81 provided in the bathroom 80 detects a person, the control means 82 pours hot water having a temperature higher than the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 for setting the bathtub temperature into the bathtub 68. The bath hot water mixing valve 65 and the bath pouring valve 66 are controlled so that hot water is used.

Also, a hot water supply temperature detection means 84 for detecting the hot water supply temperature mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 60 is provided on the mixing outlet side of the hot water supply mixing valve 60, and a bath hot water temperature detection means for detecting the bath hot water temperature mixed by the bath hot water mixing valve 65. 85 is provided on the mixing outlet side of the bath hot water mixing valve 65. In addition, 86a, 8
6b and 86c are remaining hot water temperature detecting means 86 attached at different positions in the vertical direction of the hot water tank 57, and detect temperatures at different positions in the vertical direction of the hot water tank 57. The human detection means 81 includes an infrared sensor.

  About the hot water heater comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  In FIG. 1, first, the hot water supply heating operation will be described. If there is a request (not shown) for boiling the hot water storage tank 57, the heat pump unit 55 performs a hot water supply heating operation using atmospheric heat. In this case, high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 51 flows into the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 where heat is exchanged with the water sent from the lower part of the hot water tank 57 to dissipate heat, and then the pressure is reduced. The pressure is reduced by the device 53, and heat is absorbed from the atmosphere by the evaporator 54, gasified, and returned to the compressor 51.

  At this time, the water sent from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57 flowing into the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 controls the rotation speed of the circulation pump 63 so that the temperature at the outlet of the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 becomes a predetermined temperature. As a result, hot water of a predetermined temperature flows from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 and is stored.

  Next, a bathtub temperature detection operation for detecting the temperature of the bathtub 68 will be described. In this operation, the use side circulation pump 77 is driven to circulate hot water in the bathtub 68 with the hot water storage unit 56. And after circulating for a certain fixed time (for example, 1 minute), the temperature of the hot water of the bathtub 68 is detected by the bathtub temperature detection means 83.

  If the detected temperature is determined from the temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 and is lower than the bath reheating start temperature lower than the set temperature, the bath temperature detecting operation is terminated and the next bath reheating operation is performed. Transition. On the other hand, if the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the bath reheating start temperature, the bathtub temperature detection operation is terminated, and the process waits until the next bathtub temperature detection operation.

  Next, a bath rebirth operation that is a heating operation of the bathtub 68 will be described. The bathtub temperature desired by the user is set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. In general, the remote controller of the water heater is often installed in the bathroom 80 or kitchen (not shown), and the bathtub temperature setting means 83 is often provided in the bathroom remote controller 87 installed in the bathroom 80.

  The bathtub temperature setting means 83 may be provided on a kitchen remote controller (not shown) installed in the kitchen. As described above, if the temperature detected by the bathtub temperature detecting means 83 is lower than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating operation is performed. That is, the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are driven.

  The hot water sent from the bathtub 68 by the use side circulation pump 77 is heated by heat exchange with the hot water in the upper part of the hot water tank 5 sent by the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the bath heat exchanger 73, and the temperature rises. Return to the bathtub 68. On the other hand, the hot water from the hot water storage tank 57 that has heated the hot water from the bathtub 68 by the bath heat exchanger 73 decreases to a medium temperature hot water of about 40 to 50 ° C. and returns to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57.

  At this time, the bathtub temperature detecting means 83 detects the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 68 sent by driving the use side circulation pump 77. If the detected temperature is determined from the temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 and is lower than the set temperature or the bath reheating stop temperature higher than the set temperature, the bath renewal operation is continued as it is.

If the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the bath reheating stop temperature, the bath renewal operation is terminated. The bath reheating start temperature and the bath reheating stop temperature may be determined as follows. When it is desired to control the temperature of the bathtub 68 to about 1 degree, the bath reheating start temperature is set to (set temperature +0.5 degrees) with respect to the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83, and the bath reheating stop temperature is set to (Set temperature-0.5 degrees) may be used. When it is desired to control the temperature of the bathtub 68 to about 0.5 degrees, the bath reheating start temperature is set to (set temperature−0.5 degrees) with respect to the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, and the bath The reheating stop temperature may be set to (set temperature).

  An automatic bathtub operation in which an appropriate amount of hot water is filled in the bathtub 68 and then the heat insulation operation of the bathtub 68 is performed for a predetermined time will be described. At this time, the desired bathtub temperature, the amount of hot water in the bathtub, and the heat retention time can be set. The temperature of the bathtub desired by the user, the amount of hot water in the bathtub, and the heat retention time are set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, the bathtub hot water amount setting means 88, and the heat retention time setting means 89, respectively.

  In general, a remote controller of a water heater is installed in a bathroom 80 or a kitchen (not shown), and the bath temperature setting means 83, the bath water amount setting means 88, and the heat retention time setting means 89 are provided on a bathroom remote controller 87 installed in the bathroom 80. In many cases, the configuration is provided. In addition, you may provide these setting means 83, 88, and 89 in the kitchen remote control (not shown) installed in the kitchen.

  Further, the person detecting means 81 may be installed alone, but as shown in FIG. In this case, since it is not necessary to install the person detecting means 81 and the bathroom remote controller 87 separately, there is an advantage that the workability is improved.

  When the bathtub automatic operation is started, the bathtub 9 is filled with water by pouring from the hot water tank 57 to the bathtub 68 so that the temperature and the amount of hot water set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 and the bathtub hot water amount setting means 88 are obtained. Do. That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and starts pouring.

  Then, the mixing ratio of the bath / hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled based on the signal from the bath / hot water temperature detecting means 85 so that the temperature of the bathtub 68 becomes the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. When the water level detected by the bathtub water level detection means 79 reaches a water level corresponding to the amount of hot water set by the bathtub hot water volume setting means 88, the control means 82 ends the hot water filling that is the pouring operation. Then, if the temperature of the bathtub 68 falls according to the time set by the heat retention time setting means 89, the heat insulation operation is performed by chasing the bathtub 68.

  First, the case where it is not in the bathroom 80 will be described. Since the human detection means 81 does not detect a person in the bathroom 80, the control means 82 performs a bath temperature detection operation every time interval t (for example, every 15 minutes). Do whispering. The operation at this time is the same as in the case of the conventional example shown in FIG. That is, the control means 82 drives the use side circulation pump 77 to circulate hot water in the bathtub 68 to the hot water storage unit side, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78. If the detected temperature of the bathtub 68 is higher than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating is not performed, so the control unit 82 stops the use-side circulation pump 77 and waits until the next bath temperature detecting operation.

  On the contrary, if the detected temperature of the bathtub 68 is lower than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating is performed. That is, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 to replenish the bath, and the bathtub temperature detection means 78 detects the temperature of the bathtub 68. If the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and the detected temperature of the bathtub temperature detecting means 78 becomes equal to or higher than the bath reheating stop temperature, which is the temperature at which the bath reheating is finished, the control means 82 is connected to the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation. The pump 77 is stopped, the bath chasing is finished, and it waits until the next bathtub temperature detection operation.

Next, the case where a person is in the bathroom 80 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the temperature change of the bathtub 68 during the automatic bath operation, with the horizontal axis representing the elapsed time during the automatic bath operation and the vertical axis representing the temperature of the bathtub 68. In the figure, T _OFF is a bath reheating stop temperature at which the bath renewal is finished, and T _ON is a bath renewal start temperature at which the bath renewal is started.

  Further, a point A when the hot water filling is finished in the bathtub 68 is indicated by a point A. As described above, after completion of the hot water filling, the control means 82 performs a bath temperature detection operation at every time interval t (for example, every 15 minutes), and performs a bath rebirth operation when the temperature of the bathtub 68 decreases. In the figure, after t time has elapsed since the end of hot water filling A (point B), the control means 82 drives the use side circulation pump 77 to circulate the hot water in the bathtub 68 to the hot water storage unit side, so that the bath temperature The temperature of the bathtub 68 is detected by the detection means 78 (point C).

Since the temperature of the bath 68 detected at this time is higher than is the bath reheating start temperature T _ON and T _1, since the bath reheating is not performed, the control unit 82 stops the use-side circulation pump 77. Then, when a person enters the bathroom 80 at the elapsed time t ₁ (point D), the person detecting means 81 detects the person. Then, in response to the detection signal from the human detection means 81, the control means 82 supplies a predetermined amount of hot water (for example, 55 ° C.) having a predetermined pouring temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. Only pour into the bathtub 68.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and starts pouring. Then, the mixing ratio of the bath / hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled based on a signal from the bath / hot water temperature detecting means 85 so as to reach the predetermined pouring temperature. When this amount of pouring reaches the predetermined pouring amount, the bath pouring valve 66 is closed to end pouring (point E).

Furthermore, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 to replenish the bath, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78. If the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and the detected temperature of the bathtub temperature detection means 78 becomes equal to or higher than the bath renewal stop temperature T _{OFF at} which the bath renewal is finished, the control means 82 is connected to the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump. 77 and stop bathing (point F).

  It should be noted that a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) after the end of the pouring operation and the subsequent bath chasing operation after the human detection means 81 detects a person and after the operation has continued. ), The person detection means 81 does not detect a person, or even if the person detection means 81 detects a person, the signal is ignored and no further pouring or bathing is performed. .

  If the predetermined dead zone time is set in this manner, unnecessary pouring and bathing can be prevented, and hot water does not overflow from the bathtub 68 due to repeated pouring. And if the said predetermined dead zone time is over, the person detection means 81 will restart the detection operation | movement whether a person exists.

  Moreover, what is necessary is just to set the pouring amount in the pouring operation | movement mentioned above after the human detection means 81 detects a person as follows. At the time when the bath chasing operation is completed, the temperature of the hot water in the bath circulation pipe 69 is the same as that of the bathtub 68 (the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83). Decreases. The bath circulation pipe 69 may be exposed to the outside air. Furthermore, since the surface area per unit volume is very large as compared with the hot water of the bathtub 68, the temperature drop is faster and larger than the hot water of the bathtub 68.

In the case of the prior art, the water in the cooled bath circulation pipe 69 enters the bathtub 68, and on the contrary, the temperature of the bathtub 68 is lowered. Therefore, the pouring amount may be determined so as to be equal to the amount of heat radiated through the bath circulation pipe 69. Specifically, in FIG. 1, piping temperature detection means 90 is provided in the bath circulation pipe 69. Further, an input means 91 for inputting the length or volume of the bath circulation pipe 69 to the control means 82 in advance is provided, and a flow rate detecting means 92 for measuring the pouring flow rate in the middle of the bathtub pouring pipe 67 is provided. Provide.

  And the control means 82 detects the preset temperature of the bathtub 68 set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 before performing the pouring operation after the human detection means 81 detects a person, and the piping temperature detection means The temperature of hot water in the bath circulation line 69 is detected by a signal from 90, and the length or volume information of the bath circulation line 69 input by the input means 91 is detected. Calculate the amount of heat released.

  Then, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and starts pouring. Then, the mixing ratio of the bath / hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled based on a signal from the bath / hot water temperature detecting means 85 so as to reach a predetermined pouring temperature (for example, 55 ° C.). At this time, the pouring flow rate is detected by a signal from the flow rate detecting means 92. In addition, the amount of pouring heat is integrated from the pouring temperature and the pouring flow rate at this time. When this accumulated heat amount becomes equal to the heat amount radiated by the bath circulation pipe 69 described above, the bath pouring valve 66 is closed to end pouring. In this way, necessary pouring can be performed.

  As described above, a simplified setting may be used without strictly calculating the required amount of heat. For example, an outside air temperature detecting means 93 that detects the outside air temperature is provided. Then, the length of the average bath circulation line 69 is set to about 5 m, and the hot water in the bath circulation line 69 is calculated from the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means 93 and the elapsed time from the end of the previous bath reheating operation. To estimate the required heat. As described above, the amount of heat may be integrated from the pouring flow rate and temperature so as to determine the time for pouring so as to obtain this amount of heat.

  Alternatively, the pouring flow rate may be calculated using an assumed flow rate (for example, about 15 L / min). Furthermore, in order to improve the accuracy, the temperature of the bathtub 68 after pouring with the estimated amount of heat may be measured, and the difference from the estimation may be corrected by the next pouring heat amount estimation.

  In this way, when it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom 80, it corresponds to the heat dissipation amount of the hot water in the bath circulation pipe 69, or hot water is poured so as to reduce the heat dissipation amount, Subsequently, since the bath chasing operation is performed, the temperature of the bathtub 68 immediately becomes the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, and the comfort can be improved.

  In addition, when it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom 80, the hot water amount at the upper part of the hot water tank 57 used when the amount of heat dissipated in the bath circulation pipe 69 is supplemented with hot water is determined by the bath heat exchanger 73. Therefore, the amount of hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 used when the hot water in the bathtub and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 57 are exchanged and heated is smaller.

  Therefore, even when a large amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 57 is used to fill the bathtub 68, the hot water is less likely to run out than in the past, and convenience is improved. Furthermore, since the ratio of heat exchange between the hot water in the bath and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 57 is reduced in the bath heat exchanger 73, the temperature from 40 to 50 is returned from the bath heat exchanger 73 to the hot water storage tank 57. The amount of hot water of about 0 ° C. is also reduced, so that the power consumption when boiling the hot water storage tank 57 can be reduced, and the efficiency of hot water supply is improved.

  In FIG. 2, hot water having a predetermined pouring temperature (for example, 55 ° C.) was poured into the bathtub 68 by a predetermined pouring amount (point E) and immediately after the bath was poured, As shown, after the pouring is finished (point E), the bath temperature detection operation is performed, and if the temperature of the bath 68 is low, the bath reheating may be performed.

Alternatively, the control unit 82 pours hot water having a predetermined pouring temperature that is the same as the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting unit 83 into the bathtub 68 by a predetermined pouring amount, and the detected temperature of the bath temperature detecting unit 78 is The bath reheating may be performed so as to be equal to or higher than the bath renewal stop temperature T _{OFF at which} the bath renewal ends.

That is, when a person enters the bathroom 80 at the elapsed time t ₁ (point D), the person detection means 81 detects the person. Then, in response to the detection signal from the human detection means 81, the control means 82 supplies a predetermined amount of hot water (for example, 55 ° C.) having a predetermined pouring temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. Only pour into the bathtub 68.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and starts pouring. Then, the mixing ratio of the bath / hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled based on a signal from the bath / hot water temperature detecting means 85 so as to reach the predetermined pouring temperature.

  When this amount of pouring reaches the predetermined pouring amount, the bath pouring valve 66 is closed to end pouring (point E). And the control means 82 drives the utilization side circulation pump 77, circulates the hot water of the bathtub 68 to the hot water storage unit side, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78 (point E ').

If the detected temperature of the bathtub 68 is lower than the bath reheating stop temperature T _{OFF at} which the bath renewal is finished, the bath retreat is performed, the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are driven, and the bath retreat is performed. Whirling is performed, and the temperature of the bathtub 68 is detected by the bathtub temperature detecting means 78. If the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and the detected temperature of the bathtub temperature detection means 78 becomes equal to or higher than the bath renewal stop temperature T _{OFF at} which the bath renewal is finished, the control means 82 is connected to the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump. 77 and stop bathing.

On the other hand, the temperature of the bath 68 which is detected is higher than the bath reheating stop temperature T _OFF to end the reheating bath, without performing the bath reheating, the control unit 82 stops the use-side circulation pump 77.

  By so doing, it is possible to eliminate the drop in bathtub temperature due to the operation of detecting the bathtub temperature, and therefore it is possible to improve comfort. Furthermore, in the pouring after detecting a person, if the pouring amount is erroneously predicted to be poured more than an appropriate amount, and the temperature of the bathtub 68 is higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 Since bathing is not carried out, bathing in the bathtub 68 with high accuracy can be carried out, and comfort is improved.

  As described above, the water heater according to the present invention controls the number of operations for detecting the temperature of the bathtub by controlling so that hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature is poured into the bathtub when a person is detected. It can be reduced, and comfort, convenience and efficiency can be improved.

Configuration diagram of a water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Characteristic diagram showing changes in bathtub temperature of the water heater Characteristic chart showing changes in bathtub temperature when there is bathtub temperature detection of the water heater Configuration of a conventional water heater Characteristic diagram showing changes in bathtub temperature of the water heater

Explanation of symbols

55 Heat pump unit (hot water heating means)
57 Hot water storage tank 66 Bath pouring valve 67 Bath pouring pipe 68 Bath 69 Bath circulation pipe 73 Bath heat exchanger 77 Use-side circulation pump 78 Bath temperature detecting means 80 Bathroom 81 Person detecting means 82 Control means 83 Bath temperature setting means

Claims (5)

Hot water supply heating means, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water heated by the hot water supply heating means, a bath pouring line for supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank to the bathtub, hot water in the hot water storage tank and circulating water from the bathtub Alternatively, a bath heat exchanger that exchanges heat with circulating hot water, a bath circulation line that connects the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger, a bath temperature setting unit that sets the temperature of the bath, and a temperature of the bath are detected. Bathtub temperature detection means, human detection means for detecting a person in the bathroom, and control means, when the human detection means detects a person, set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means or higher than that A water heater characterized by pouring hot water of high temperature into the bathtub. The use-side circulation pump is provided in the bath circulation pipe, and after the pouring performed when the human detection means detects a person, the use-side circulation pump is driven to perform the bath replenishment. 1. A water heater according to 1. A use-side circulation pump is provided in the bath circulation line, and after the pouring performed when the human detection means detects a person, the use-side circulation pump is driven, and the bathtub temperature detection means detects the temperature of the bathtub, The hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein when the detected bath temperature is lower than a set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means, the bath is reheated. The predetermined time after the pouring end when the human detection means detects a person does not pour the hot water even if the human detection means detects a person. The water heater described in 1. The hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a heat pump is used as the hot water supply heating means.

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