JP2010029785A - Water softening system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water softening system with no risk of unavailability of hot or cold water due to freezing. <P>SOLUTION: The water softening system is provided with: a water softening tank 11 having a tank water inlet port 13 and a tank discharge port 14 and incorporating ion exchange resin; a water inlet port 15 connectable to an external water source; a water outlet port 16; a water flow detection means 19 detecting presence or absence of a water flow; and a discharge port 17 and one or more valves. In the system, an ordinary water feed circuit communicated from the water inlet port 15 with the tank water inlet port 13 according to the open/close state of the valves and extending to the water outlet port 16 from the tank discharge port 14; a bypass water feed circuit extending to the water outlet port 16 from the water inlet port 15 without passing through the water softening tank 11; and a backwashing circuit communicated with the tank discharge port 14 from the water inlet port 15 and extending to the discharge port 17 from the tank water inlet port 13, are switchable. When the open/close state of the valves is set to compose the backwashing circuit and when the water flow detection means 19 does not detect a given water flow rate, the open/close state of the valves is switched from the state of composing the backwashing circuit to the state of composing the bypass water feed circuit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a water softening system for softening hot water supplied from the outside.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for passing tap water or well water through a water softening tank containing a cation exchange resin to convert it into soft water has been known. Soft water is good for the skin and has good foaming. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for soft water to be used for bathing, face washing, washing, etc. In order to satisfy such demand, various softening of externally supplied hot water A water softening device is provided.

  This type of water softening device has a water softening tank filled with a cation exchange resin that adsorbs calcium ions, magnesium ions, etc. contained in hot water, and introduces hot water supplied from the outside into the water softening tank. Thus, the hardness of the hot water can be lowered to soften the hot water.

  The cation exchange resin used in the water softening device has a limit in adsorption of calcium ions and magnesium ions, and when used for a long period of time, the water softening ability is lowered. Therefore, conventionally, the water softening device has been provided with a regenerating liquid supplier. As a result, when the water softening ability is reduced, by passing a regenerated solution such as salt water (sodium chloride aqueous solution) through the cation exchange resin, calcium ions and magnesium ions adsorbed on the cation exchange resin are removed, It is possible to regenerate the cation exchange resin so that it can be softened. The operation of passing the regenerated solution through the cation exchange resin is called drug operation.

  A backwashing operation is performed after the medicine feeding operation. This is an operation of washing the water softening tank by flowing hot water into the water softening tank in the direction opposite to that during normal water supply (water softening operation).

  In this specification, out of the hot and cold water inlets and outlets in the water softening tank, the one that communicates with the water inlet of the water softening device (water softening system) in normal water supply is called the tank water inlet, and the water outlet of the water softening device (water softening system). What communicates with the water outlet is called a tank drain.

  In the backwashing operation, the tank drain is connected to the water inlet, and hot water from an external water supply source is caused to flow from the water inlet. Hot water flows into the water softening tank from the tank drain, cleans the water softening tank, and flows out from the tank water inlet. Since this hot water is not suitable for use, the tank water inlet is connected to a waste outlet provided separately from the water outlet of the water softening system, and the hot water flowing out from the waste outlet is discarded.

  If such a water softening device is left with hot water inside, the flow path may be blocked due to freezing of water inside during winter, especially at night, and water flow may not be possible. Once water flow becomes impossible due to freezing, it takes a considerable time to eliminate the frozen state, and hot water cannot be used during that time, which is inconvenient. In particular, when a water softening device is attached to a water faucet for a house, the entire house is in a water-stopped state, which is inconvenient. When it is expected that the water softener will not be used for a long time such as when the user is absent for a long time, the water softener is usually drained (drainage) to prevent freezing. Since the cation exchange resin used in the above is weak to drying, a small amount of water must be left in the water softening tank even after draining, and the possibility of freezing could not be eradicated.

As a conventional technique for dealing with this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a “softening prevention mechanism for a water softener”. In the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, at least one of a tube filled with an ion exchange resin, a raw water line, a soft water line, and a flow path control valve is provided with a heating lamp. It is activated to prevent freezing, and when the temperature sensor detects a predetermined temperature or higher, the operation of the heating lamp is stopped.
No. 3-98994 (No. 2-6498)

  However, in the water softening device configured as described above, since heating is repeated during the period even when the device is not used for a long period of time, power consumption is large, cost is increased, and energy resources are wasted. On the other hand, once power consumption is suppressed and freezing is caused, the flow path is blocked for a considerably long time, and hot water cannot be used.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving water softening system that is low in cost and does not cause the hot water to become unusable due to freezing.

  The invention of claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is characterized in that a water softening tank having a tank water inlet and a tank water outlet and incorporating an ion exchange resin, a water inlet that can be connected to an external water supply source, and soft water It is equipped with a water outlet that can be connected to a pipe leading to a consumption point, a water flow detection means that detects the presence or absence of a water flow, a waste outlet, and one or more valves. Connected to the normal water supply circuit from the tank drain to the water outlet, the bypass water supply circuit from the water inlet to the water outlet without going through the water softening tank, and from the water inlet to the tank drain, and then discarded from the tank inlet It is possible to switch the backwash circuit to the mouth, and when the valve is opened and closed to constitute a backwash circuit, and the water flow detection means does not detect a predetermined water flow amount, Bypass water supply from the state that configures the backwash circuit to open and close A softening system wherein the switching state constituting the road.

  In such a water softening system, when the open / closed state of the valve is configured to constitute a backwash circuit, and the water flow detecting means does not detect a predetermined water flow rate, the open / closed state of the valve is changed from the backwash circuit to bypass water supply. Since the circuit is switched to a state that constitutes a circuit, when water cannot be passed through the water softening tank due to freezing, the hot water passes through the bypass water supply circuit from the water inlet and does not pass through the water softening tank (bypassing the water softening tank). ) Because it can reach the water outlet, water outage can be avoided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature detection means, and on the condition that the detected temperature of the temperature detection means is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the open / close state of the valve is changed from a state constituting a backwash circuit to a bypass water supply circuit The water softening system according to claim 1, wherein the water softening system is switched to a state that constitutes.

  In such a water softening system, one of the conditions for switching the open / close state of the valve is that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the open / close state of the valve can be switched after confirming that the freezing has occurred based on the detected temperature.

  The invention of claim 3 has a heater for warming the water softening tank, and when the conditions for switching the open / close state of the valve from the state constituting the backwash circuit to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit are complete, The water softening system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation is started.

  In such a water softening system, the water softening tank is heated with a heater to eliminate the frozen state. However, when the water softening operation is not performed for a long period of time, heating is not performed during that period, so power consumption is reduced. small.

  The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that the heater operates for a certain period of time or until the temperature detecting means detects a temperature above a certain temperature, and after the heater operation is completed, the open / closed state of the valve returns to the normal water supply circuit. It is a water softening system of Claim 3.

  In such a water softening system, normal water supply (water softening operation) is started after the frozen state is eliminated, and the operation is easy.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the water softening system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the heater is provided in a lower part of the water softening tank.

  Usually, freezing occurs in the portion of water remaining in the lower part of the water softening tank, so thawing is facilitated by providing a heater in the lower part of the water softening tank. Here, “providing the heater in the lower part of the water softening tank” includes not only the structure in which the heater is brought into contact with the lower part of the water softening tank but also the structure in which the heater is brought close to the lower part of the water softening tank. That is, “the heater is provided at a position where the lower part of the water softening tank can be heated”.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the water softening system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the power is turned on, the open / close state of the valve is set to a state constituting a backwash circuit.

  Such a water softening system is easy to operate because the presence or absence of freezing is automatically checked when the power of the water softening system is turned on, and appropriate processing is performed when freezing has occurred.

  According to the present invention, hot water can be used even if freezing occurs in the water softening device. Further, when the water softening operation is not performed for a long period of time, heating is not performed during the period, so that power consumption is low, costs are low, and waste of energy resources can be prevented.

  Then, the water softening system concerning embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail, referring drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a hot water supply system using the water softening system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the water softening system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a water softening operation. FIG. 4 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a water replenishment operation in the regeneration operation. FIG. 5 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a medicine feeding operation or an extrusion / cleaning operation in the regeneration operation. FIG. 6 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a backwash operation in the regeneration operation. FIG. 7 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a drain operation. FIG. 8 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs the bypass operation. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation at the start of the water softening system of FIG.

  In addition, in FIGS. 3-8, the part shown with the continuous line shows that it is in the state which can permeate | transmit water, and the part shown by the dashed-two dotted line shows that it is a state which cannot permeate | transmit water.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water supply system 1 has a hot water supply device 2 and a water softening device 10 (water softening system), which are connected by a soft water supply pipe 5. Although omitted in FIG. 1, the flow path is branched to another water faucet between the water softening device 10 and the hot water supply device 2.
The hot water supply device 2 is the same as a conventionally known one, and can heat soft water (hot water) supplied from the water softening device 10 side through the soft water supply pipe 5. In addition, a hot water supply pipe 8 is connected to the hot water supply device 2, and soft water (hot water) heated through the hot water supply pipe 8 can be supplied to an external heat load. Specifically, the soft water (hot water) supplied from the hot water supply device 2 through the hot water supply pipe 8 can be used for hot water supply to a curan or a shower (not shown) or dropped into a bathtub (not shown). it can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water softening device 10 includes a water softening tank 11 and a regenerated salt water supplier 12 (regenerated liquid supplier).
The water softening tank 11 is a device that softens hot water supplied from the outside. The water softening tank 11 is a container filled with a cation exchange resin that adsorbs calcium ions, magnesium ions, etc. contained in hot water, and decreases the hardness of hot water by bringing the hot water supplied from the outside into contact with the cation exchange resin. The hot water can be softened.
The regenerated salt water supplier 12 is a device that manufactures and supplies a regenerated liquid to regenerate the cation exchange resin in the water softening tank 11.

  The water softening tank 11 has a tank water inlet 13 and a tank drain 14. The tank drain port 14 communicates with a suction port 9 provided at the bottom of the water softening tank 11 through a water pipe 18. A water supply pipe 20 (incoming flow path) is connected to the tank water inlet 13 of the water softening tank 11, and a soft water supply pipe 5 (outflow flow path) is connected to the tank drain port 14, respectively.

  Further, a temperature sensor 22 (temperature detection means) is attached to the water softening tank 11, and a heater 28 for heating the water softening tank 11 is provided at the lower part (near the lower end) of the water softening tank 11. ing.

  The water supply pipe 20 is connected to the tank water inlet 13 of the water softening tank 11 at one end, and provided with a water inlet 15 that can be connected to an external water supply source at the other end. The water supply pipe 20 is a pipe that can supply hot water from the water inlet 15 toward the water softening tank 11. A water amount sensor 19 (water amount detection means), a backflow prevention valve 24, and a water supply valve 23 are attached in the middle. It has been. The supply of hot water to the water softening tank 11 is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve 23. The backflow prevention valve 24 is attached at a position upstream of the water supply valve 23 in the flow direction of the hot water flowing through the water supply pipe 20. The water amount sensor 19 is attached at a position between the water inlet 15 and the backflow prevention valve 24.

  During normal water supply, hot water is supplied into the water softening tank 11 from the tank water inlet 13, passes through the cation exchange resin layer 33 from the top to the bottom, flows into the water pipe 18 from the suction port 9, and enters the water pipe 18. From the bottom to the top and out of the water softening tank 11 through the tank drain port 14.

  A drainage pipe 21 (drainage flow path) is connected in the middle of the water supply pipe 20, specifically between the water supply valve 23 and the tank water inlet 13 of the water softening tank 11. The drain pipe 21 is a pipe for discharging waste water generated during the regeneration operation of the water softening tank 11 from the water softening tank 11. A drain valve 26 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 21. The end of the drain pipe 21 reaches the disposal port 17.

  The soft water supply pipe 5 has one end connected to a tank drain port 14 of the water softening tank 11, and the other end connected to a water outlet 16 that can be connected to a pipe that leads to a location (hot water supply device 2) that consumes soft water. Is provided. The soft water supply pipe 5 is a pipe for supplying hot water softened in the water softening tank 11 toward the hot water supply device 2, and sampling is performed to open and close the flow path of the water flowing through the soft water supply pipe 5. A water control valve 25 is provided.

  During normal water supply (water softening operation) of the water softening device 10, the water supply valve 23 and the water sampling control valve 25 are opened, and hot water is introduced from the external water supply source toward the water softening tank 11 through the water supply pipe 20. To do. The introduced hot water is softened in the water softening tank 11, and the softened hot water can be supplied from the outlet 16 to the hot water supply device 2 via the soft water supply pipe 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a bypass pipe 30 (bypass channel) is connected between the soft water supply pipe 5 and the water supply pipe 20 described above, and the water softening tank 11 is connected using the bypass pipe 30. A flow path from the water inlet 15 to the water outlet 16 can be formed without passing (bypassing). One end of the bypass pipe 30 is in the middle of the water supply pipe 20 and is connected to a position between the water supply valve 23 and the backflow prevention valve 24. The other end side of the bypass pipe 30 is in the middle of the soft water supply pipe 5 and is connected to a position between the water sampling control valve 25 and the water outlet 16. A bypass valve 31 is provided in the middle of the bypass pipe 30. Therefore, the water softening device 10 can bypass the water softening tank 11 by opening the bypass valve 31 so that hot water supplied from the outside through the water supply pipe 20 flows into the bypass pipe 30.

  One end of the water refilling pipe 35 is connected in the middle of the bypass pipe 30, specifically between the bypass valve 31 and the soft water supply pipe 5. The other end side of the supplementary water pipe 35 is connected to the regenerated salt water supplier 12. A supplementary water valve 36 is provided in the middle of the supplementary water pipe 35, and water supplied from the outside by opening the supplementary water valve 36 is supplied to the regenerated salt water supplier 12 through the water supply pipe 20 and the bypass pipe 30. can do. Therefore, the water refilling pipe 35 and the water refilling valve 36 function as water injection means for the regenerated salt water supply device 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the regenerated salt water supply device 12 includes a hollow container body 50 in which salt water is manufactured and stored, and a salt basket 52 (salt container) that is a bowl-shaped member capable of storing salt. Have. Then, the salt basket 52 into which the salt has been charged is set in the container body 50 and water is poured into the container body 50, whereby the salt in the salt basket 52 can be dissolved to prepare salt water.

The container body 50 has a water injection port 54 on the upper end side and a discharge port 56 on the lower end side.
The water filling port 35 is connected to the water filling port 54 described above. On the other hand, one end of a salt water supply pipe 29 (salt water supply flow path) is connected to the discharge port 56, and the salt water produced by the regenerated salt water supply device 12 is supplied to the water softening tank 11 via the salt water supply pipe 29. Supplied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the other end side of the salt water supply pipe 29 is connected to the soft water supply pipe 5. Specifically, the other end side of the salt water supply pipe 29 is in the middle of the soft water supply pipe 5 and is connected to a position between the water softening tank 11 and the water sampling control valve 25. In addition, the container body 50 is disposed above the water softening tank 11. Therefore, when the salt water supply valve 27 is opened in a state where the salt water is accumulated in the container main body 50, the salt water naturally flows down the salt water supply pipe 29 by gravity.

The salt basket 52 has an outer shape smaller than the internal space of the container body 50 and is mounted so as to hang from the container body 50. Therefore, in a state where the salt basket 52 is installed in the container main body 50, the bottom surface of the salt basket 52 is at a position spaced apart by a certain distance from the bottom surface where the discharge port 56 is provided.
Further, the salt basket 52 can pass water between the inner side and the outer side through the bottom surface.

The water softening device 10 described above can perform a water softening operation and a regeneration operation.
The water softening operation is an operation method in which hot water supplied from an external water supply source is softened via the water supply pipe 20 and softened hot water is supplied from the outlet 16 via the soft water supply pipe 5.
In the regeneration operation, hot water supplied from an external water supply source is made to flow into the regenerated salt water supply device 12 through the water supply pipe 20 and the supplementary water pipe 35 to create salt water, and this salt water is supplied to the water softening tank 11. This is an operation method for regenerating the cation exchange resin in the water softening tank 11.

  More specifically, when the water softening device 10 performs the water softening operation, the water supply valve 23 and the water sampling control valve 25 are opened as shown in FIG. 3, and the drain valve 26 and the salt water supply valve 27 are also opened. The bypass valve 31 and the water refill valve 36 are closed. That is, a normal water supply circuit is formed which communicates from the water inlet 15 to the tank water inlet 13 and further from the tank drain 14 to the water outlet 16. In this state, hot water is supplied from an external water supply source to the water softening tank 11 through the water inlet 15 and the water supply pipe 20. Thereby, the hot water that has passed through the water softening tank 11 is softened and supplied to the hot water supply apparatus 2 via the soft water supply pipe 5 and the water outlet 16.

When the water softening device 10 performs the regeneration operation, a series of operations including a water replenishment operation, a medicine feeding operation, an extrusion / washing operation, and a backwashing operation are performed a plurality of times.
Specifically, when the water softening device 10 performs the regeneration operation, first, a water refilling operation is performed, and salt water is prepared in the container body 50. That is, when the water replenishment operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 4, the water supply valve 23, the water sampling control valve 25, the drain valve 26, and the salt water supply valve 27 are closed, and the bypass valve 31 and the water replenishment valve 36 are In this state, hot water is supplied from an external water supply source through the water supply pipe 20. Thereby, the hot water supplied from the outside flows into the regenerated salt water supplier 12 from the water supply pipe 20 through the refill water pipe 35. Thereafter, the salt previously put in the salt basket 52 of the regenerated salt water supplier 12 is dissolved, and the salt water is prepared.

  When salt water is prepared in the container body 50, a medicine feeding operation is performed. Specifically, when a medicine operation is performed, the water supply valve 23, the water sampling control valve 25, and the water replenishment valve 36 are closed as shown in FIG. 27. The bypass valve 31 is opened. Thereby, the salt water prepared in the regenerated salt water supply device 12 passes through the water softening tank 11 and is discharged from the drain pipe 21 and the waste outlet 17 to the outside. The salt water prepared in the regenerated salt water supplier 12 slowly flows into the water softening tank 11 due to natural flow due to gravity. Along with this, calcium ions and magnesium ions adsorbed on the cation exchange resin constituting the water softening tank 11 are removed by the salt water. The medicine passing operation is performed until there is no salt water in the regenerated salt water supplier 12.

When the medicine feeding operation is completed, the extrusion / cleaning operation is performed. The extrusion / cleaning operation is performed by extruding the portion on the bottom side of the container body 50, piping and valves connected to the container body 50, salt remaining in the water softening tank 11 and the like to the drain pipe 21 using water from the outside. It is an operation to do.
Specifically, water is once poured into the container main body 50 of the regenerated salt water supply device 12 in the same procedure as the above-described water replenishment operation. Here, the regenerated salt water supply device 12 of the present embodiment is disposed such that the bottom surface of the salt basket 52 is above the bottom surface of the container body 50. Therefore, the water injection in the cleaning operation is performed in a range where the water level in the container body 50 is lower than the bottom surface of the salt basket 52 so as not to produce salt water.

  When water is accumulated in the container main body 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the extrusion / cleaning operation is performed with the same flow path configuration as the medicine feeding operation. Specifically, the salt water supply valve 27 and the drain valve 26 are opened, and the water supply valve 23, the water sampling control valve 25, and the water supplement valve 36 are closed. Thereby, the water in the container main body 50 is discharged | emitted via the salt water supply piping 29, the water softening tank 11, and the drain pipe 21 from the reproduction | regeneration salt water supply device 12. FIG. As a result, the container body 50, the salt water supply pipe 29, the salt water supply valve 27, the water softening tank 11, and the like are washed.

  When the extrusion / cleaning operation is completed as described above, the backwashing operation is performed. When performing the backwashing operation, the water supply valve 23, the salt water supply valve 27, and the water replenishment valve 36 are closed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the bypass valve 31, the water sampling control valve 25, and the drain valve 26 are opened. That is, a backwash circuit is formed which communicates from the water inlet 15 to the tank drain 14 and further from the tank water inlet 13 to the waste outlet 17. Thereby, the water supplied to the water supply pipe 20 from the external water supply source flows into the water softening tank 11 from the tank drain port 14 through the bypass pipe 30 and the soft water supply pipe 5, and the water softening tank 11 is washed. . The water that has passed through the water softening tank 11 flows into the drain pipe 21 through the tank water inlet 13 and is discharged from the waste outlet 17 to the outside. The flow rate control in the backwash operation is performed by the water sampling control valve 25 or the drain valve 26.

  Now, when it is expected that the water softener will not be used for a long time in the cold season, such as when the user is absent for a long period of time, the drainage operation is performed. Specifically, when the water supply main plug is closed and a drain switch (not shown) is pressed, the water supply valve 23, the drain valve 26, and the water sampling control valve 25 are opened (see FIG. 7). When the drain plug (not shown) of the disposal port 17 is loosened, air is sucked from the disposal port 17 according to the principle of siphon, and the hot water in the water softening tank 11 (in the ion exchange resin tank) and the piping is discharged from the outlet port 16. Drained from. After the drainage operation is completed, the drainage valve 26 is closed. In this state, the power supply (not shown) is turned off. The positional relationship between the water softening tank 11 and the water outlet 16 is such that a small amount of water remains in the water softening tank 11 even after the drainage operation is completed.

  Thereafter, when the water softening system is used again, as shown in FIG. 9, when the power of the water softening system is turned on, the open / close state of the valve is the backwashing operation state shown in FIG. The valve 23, the salt water supply valve 27, and the supplementary water valve 36 are closed, while the bypass valve 31, the water sampling control valve 25, and the drain valve 26 are opened. Here, water is supplied from an external water supply source to the water supply pipe 20 via the water inlet 15.

  At this time, when the water amount sensor 19 (water flow detection means) provided in the water supply pipe 20 detects a predetermined water flow rate (XL / min or more), it is considered that freezing does not occur in the water softening tank 11. . At this time, a backwash operation is performed. That is, water flows from the water supply pipe 20 through the bypass pipe 30 and the soft water supply pipe 5 to the water softening tank 11 from the tank drain port 14. And the water which passed the water softening tank 11 flows into the drain pipe 21 through the tank water inlet 13, and is discharged | emitted from the waste outlet 17 outside. After the backwash operation is performed, the open / close state of the valve is switched to a state (FIG. 3) constituting a normal water supply circuit, and normal water supply (softening operation) is performed.

  On the other hand, when the water amount sensor 19 does not detect a predetermined water flow amount, it is considered that there is a possibility that freezing has occurred in the water softening tank 11. At this time, on the condition that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature T ° C. (for example, 2 ° C.), the open / close state of the valve is switched from the backwash circuit to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the water supply valve 23, the water sampling control valve 25, and the water supplement valve 36 are closed, and the bypass valve 31 is opened. As a result, a bypass water supply circuit from the water inlet 15 to the water outlet 16 without passing through the water softening tank 11 is configured. Simultaneously with the switching of the circuit, the heater 28 provided at the lower part (near the lower end) of the water softening tank 11 is energized to start heating the water softening tank 11. Here, the reason why the heater 28 is provided in the lower part of the water softening tank 11 is that freezing usually occurs in a portion of water remaining in the lower part of the water softening tank 11.

  Even if the water amount sensor 19 does not detect a predetermined water flow rate, if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 exceeds a predetermined temperature T ° C. (for example, 2 ° C.), a cause other than freezing, for example, the valve The heater is not energized because it is considered a failure. In this case, abnormality display (not shown) may be performed by means such as lamp lighting or sound. By switching the open / close state of the valve to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit, the hot water can be used even before the failure state is resolved.

  When the water softening tank 11 is heated, the heater 28 is energized (operated) for a certain period of time (FIG. 9). However, the operation of the heater 28 may be performed until the temperature detecting means detects a certain temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) or more. Alternatively, the heater 28 may be operated until either a certain time elapses or the temperature detection means detects a certain temperature (for example, 5 ° C.) or higher.

  Once freezing occurs in the water softening tank 11, even if the heater 28 is energized, it takes some time until the frozen state is eliminated and the water softening tank 11 can pass water. However, even in this case, in the water softening system 10 according to the present invention, the open / close state of the valve is switched to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit, so that water can be passed. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the water supply valve 23, the water sampling control valve 25, the drain valve 26, the salt water supply valve 27, and the water supplement valve 36 are closed, and the bypass valve 31 is open. When using hot water with a device (hot water supply device 2 in this embodiment) or a water tap connected to the water inlet 16, hot water supplied from the outside through the water supply pipe 20 is passed through the bypass pipe 30 with soft water. It can flow to the water outlet 16 without going through the chemical bath 11. Therefore, even before the frozen state of the water softening tank 11 is resolved, the user can use hot water. This hot water is not softened and is raw water as it is, but the raw water is usually tap water or well water and can be used as it is, and comparison is made until the frozen state disappears. In practical use, there is no problem in particular.

  Simultaneously with the end of energization of the heater 28, the open / close state of the valve is switched, and after the backwash operation, normal water supply (softening operation) is started. That is, the bypass valve 31 is closed, the water supply valve 23 and the water sampling control valve 25 are opened, and the hot water passes through the water softening tank 11, and the softened hot water can be obtained from the outlet 16.

  Various embodiments other than those described above are conceivable for the present invention. For example, in the said embodiment, although the water softening system 10 is combined with the hot water supply apparatus 2 and it is set as the hot water supply system 1, even if it uses (consumes) soft water at low temperature without combining the water softening system 10 with the hot water supply apparatus 2, it is. Good.

  Of course, the temperature sensor 22 (temperature detection means) may detect the temperature of the water softening tank 11 itself, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature of the inside of the housing that houses the water softening tank 11 and the temperature drops when freezing occurs in the water softening tank 11, so to speak, it softens water indirectly. The presence or absence of freezing in the tank 11 may be determined. “Constant temperature” as a criterion for determination can be appropriately determined by experiment.

  When the water amount sensor 19 does not detect the predetermined water flow amount and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 exceeds the predetermined temperature, the embodiment shown in FIG. However, as another embodiment, the open / closed state of the valve may not be switched to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit.

  As the water flow detection means, a water flow switch may be used instead of the water amount sensor 19.

  In the above embodiment, the freeze / water break determination and the subsequent series of processing are automatically performed when the power is turned on. Instead of this, a predetermined operation by an input device such as a remote controller (not shown) is performed instead of this. A form in which a series of these processes is performed as a trigger may be used.

It is the schematic diagram which showed the hot water supply system using the water softening system of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the water softening system concerning 1st embodiment of this invention. It is an operation principle figure in case the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs water softening operation. FIG. 3 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a water replenishment operation in a regeneration operation. FIG. 3 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a medicine operation or an extrusion / washing operation in a regeneration operation. FIG. 3 is an operation principle diagram when the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a backwash operation in a regeneration operation. It is an operation principle figure in case the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs drainage operation. It is an operation principle figure in case the water softening system of FIG. 2 performs a bypass operation. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of starting of the water softening system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

5 Soft water supply piping (outflow channel)
10 Water softening system (water softening device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Water softening tank 13 Tank water inlet 14 Tank drain 15 Water inlet 16 Water outlet 17 Waste outlet 19 Water quantity sensor (water flow detection means)
20 Water supply pipe (inflow channel)
21 Drain pipe (drainage channel)
22 Temperature sensor (temperature detection means)
28 Heater 29 Salt water supply pipe (regeneration liquid supply flow path)
30 Bypass piping (bypass flow path)

Claims (6)

  A water softening tank having a tank water inlet and a water tank outlet and containing an ion exchange resin, a water inlet that can be connected to an external water supply source, and a water outlet that can be connected to a pipe that leads to a location where soft water is consumed, A normal water supply circuit comprising a water flow detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a water flow, a waste outlet and one or more valves, and communicates from the water inlet to the tank inlet depending on the open / closed state of the valve and from the tank drain to the water outlet And a bypass water supply circuit that leads from the water inlet to the water outlet without going through the water softening tank, and a backwash circuit that communicates from the water inlet to the tank drain and further from the tank water inlet to the waste outlet. When the open / close state of the valve is set to a state constituting a backwash circuit, and the water flow detecting means does not detect a predetermined water flow rate, the open / close state of the valve is changed from the state constituting the backwash circuit to the bypass water supply circuit. It is characterized by switching to the state that constitutes Water softening system that.   Having a temperature detection means, and switching the open / close state of the valve from the state constituting the backwash circuit to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit on the condition that the detected temperature of the temperature detection means is not more than a predetermined temperature The water softening system according to claim 1.   It has a heater for warming the water softening tank, and starts the operation of the heater when the conditions for switching the open / close state of the valve from the state constituting the backwash circuit to the state constituting the bypass water supply circuit are complete The water softening system according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The soft water according to claim 3, wherein the heater operates for a predetermined time or until the temperature detecting means detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and after the operation of the heater is finished, the open / close state of the valve returns to the normal water supply circuit. System.   The water softening system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the heater is provided in a lower part of the water softening tank.   The water softening system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the power is turned on, the open / close state of the valve is set to a state constituting a backwash circuit.

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