JP2010085091A - Heat pump type hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat pump type hot water supply device capable of enhancing the safety of the device by preventing high-pressure refrigerant piping from being exposed to the outside, and capable of improving the energy efficiency of the heat pump type hot water supply device. <P>SOLUTION: The heat pump type hot water supply device includes a heat pump unit 11 having a compressor 16, a heat pump heat exchanger 18, and a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger 27, and integrated with a refrigerant circuit using a natural refrigerant; and a hot water supply unit 12 having a hot water supply tank 26 capable of storing the hot water heated by the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger 27. The hot water supply unit 12 and the heat pump unit 11 are connected by water piping 36, a water-to-water heat exchanger 28 is provided for circulating the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 pumped up through circulation piping 101 led out of a top of the hot water supply tank 26 and reheating the hot water in a bathtub 14, and the water-to-water heat exchanger 28 is built in the hot water supply unit 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus that heats water with refrigerant heat and can store hot water in a hot water supply tank.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus has been proposed in which a hot water supply heat exchanger heats water with refrigerant heat and can store hot water in a hot water supply tank. In this type, a hot water supply tank including a compressor, a heat pump heat exchanger, a heat pump unit including a pressure reducing device, and a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, and capable of storing hot water heated by the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger In general, the hot water supply unit and the heat pump unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe.

JP 2001-263812 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-84533)

  However, in the above configuration, when the refrigerant pipe connecting the hot water supply unit and the heat pump unit is exposed to the outside, when the refrigerant is a refrigerant containing a large amount of carbon dioxide, the refrigerant pressure is higher than that of the fluorocarbon refrigerant, There is a risk that the safety of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus is impaired.

  In addition, the heat pump hot water supply apparatus may include a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger that can recharge the hot water in the bathtub in addition to the coolant-to-water heat exchanger for hot water supply. However, in this case, there is a problem that the heat pump unit must be operated only by chasing the bath without supplying hot water.

  In this type of heat pump type hot water supply device, the hot water temperature at the top of the hot water tank is high, so a hot water supply pipe is connected to this top, and the hot water supplied through this pipe is mixed with water to an appropriate temperature. Hot water. However, when the hot water temperature of the hot water supply tank is high, it is necessary to mix a large amount of water with this hot water, and there is a problem that the energy efficiency of this heat pump hot water supply device is lowered.

  The object of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and prevents the high-pressure refrigerant pipe from being exposed to the outside, improving the safety of the apparatus and improving the energy efficiency of the heat pump hot water supply apparatus. It is in providing the heat pump type hot-water supply apparatus which can improve this.

The invention described in claim 1 includes a heat pump unit integrally including a refrigerant circuit using natural refrigerant, including a compressor, a heat pump heat exchanger, and a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, and the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. A hot water supply unit including a hot water tank that can store hot water heated by the water, and the hot water unit and the heat pump unit are connected by a water pipe and pumped out through a circulation pipe led out from the top of the hot water tank. It has a water-to-water heat exchanger that circulates the hot water in the hot water supply tank to replenish the hot water in the bathtub, and the water-to-water heat exchanger is built in the hot water supply unit.
In the present invention, since the hot water supply unit and the heat pump unit are connected by the water pipe, the high-pressure refrigerant pipe is not exposed to the outside, and the safety of the hot water supply unit can be improved. Moreover, since hot water for reheating is derived from the top where hottest hot water is accumulated in the hot water supply tank, efficient reheating can be expected.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the water-to-water heat exchanger is connected to the hot water supply tank by a pipe of a system different from the water pipe.
In this invention, since it connected to the hot water supply tank by piping of a system different from the water piping, it is possible to perform reliable reheating.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pipe of another system according to the second aspect, a circulation pump that is driven during the reheating operation is provided in a circulation pipe that extends from the hot water supply tank to the water-to-water heat exchanger. It is characterized by. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a bathtub water pipe extending from the bathtub to the water-to-water heat exchanger according to claim 1 is provided with a bathtub circulation pump that is driven during the reheating operation.
In these present inventions, it is possible to perform further reliable renewal by operating the pump.
The invention according to claim 5 is the water-to-water heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a counterflow of the hot water derived from the hot water tank and the hot water derived from the bathtub. To do.
In the present invention, since the flow direction of water in the water-to-water heat exchanger is the counter flow, it is possible to improve the heat exchange efficiency during the reheating operation.
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that both the circulation pump according to claim 3 and the circulation pump for bathtub according to claim 4 are incorporated in the hot water supply unit according to claim 1.
In the present invention, since a reheating control system including two pumps is arranged in the hot water supply unit, the design of the hot water supply unit and the simplicity of the construction of the heat pump water heater can be expected.

  In the present invention, since the hot water supply unit and the heat pump unit are connected by the water pipe, the high-pressure refrigerant pipe is not exposed to the outside, and the safety of the hot water supply unit can be improved. Moreover, since hot water for reheating is derived from the top where hottest hot water is accumulated in the hot water supply tank, efficient reheating can be expected.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the heat pump hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention, in which water in a hot water supply tank is heated and hot water is stored in the tank. In FIG. 1, it is a circuit diagram when supplying hot water to a faucet. In FIG. 1, it is a circuit diagram when pouring into a bathtub. In FIG. 1, it is a circuit diagram when the hot water or water in a bathtub is heated (it chases), and is kept warm.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a heat pump hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention, and is a circuit diagram when water in a hot water supply tank is heated and hot water is stored in the tank.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus 10 includes a heat pump unit 11, a hot water supply unit 12, a faucet 13, a bathtub 14, and control devices 15A and 15B.

  The heat pump unit 11 includes a compressor 16, a hot water supply heat exchanger (refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger) 27, a heat pump heat exchanger 18, and an accumulator 17 that are sequentially arranged in a refrigerant pipe 19. The compressor 16 compresses the refrigerant. The hot water supply heat exchanger 27 heats hot water or water by the heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 16. In this embodiment, the refrigerant is a natural refrigerant such as a refrigerant containing a large amount of carbon dioxide. In the case of a refrigerant containing a large amount of carbon dioxide, the refrigerant pressure is usually higher than that of a fluorocarbon refrigerant.

  The aforementioned hot water supply unit 12 includes a hot water supply tank 26, a bathtub heat exchanger (water-to-water heat exchanger) 28, a faucet hot water supply line 71, a bathtub pouring line 72, and the like.

  The hot water supply tank 26 stores hot water heated by refrigerant heat using a hot water supply heat exchanger 27. The hot water supply tank 26 and the hot water supply heat exchanger 27 are connected in a loop by a hot water supply water pipe 36 provided with a hot water supply circulation pump 34, a flow rate adjusting valve 35, and a first switching electromagnetic valve 73. When the valve 73 is opened, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 1, a hot water supply water circulation circuit N for circulating water is configured.

  When a refrigerant containing a large amount of carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, as described above, the refrigerant pressure becomes higher than that of the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant, and the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water supply heat exchanger 27 reaches about 90 ° C. To rise.

  Since the heat pump unit 11 and the hot water supply unit 12 are connected in a loop shape by the hot water supply water pipe 36, compared to the conventional case, the high pressure refrigerant pipe (for example, the refrigerant pipe 19) is not exposed to the outside, and the heat pump hot water supply apparatus. Safety can be improved.

  A first tap water pipe 38 provided with a pressure reducing check valve 37 is connected to the bottom portion 26 </ b> B of the hot water supply tank 26 so that tap water can be always supplied into the hot water supply tank 26. Therefore, tap water pressure always acts in the hot water supply tank 26. Further, the top 26A of the hot water supply tank 26 is connected to a top hot water discharge pipe 40 having a pressure relief valve 39. The intermediate portion 26C between the top 26A and the bottom 26B of the hot water tank 26 has an intermediate hot water supply. A pipe 33 is connected, and a mixing valve 100 such as a wax valve is disposed at a junction between the hot water pipes 33 and 40.

  When the water in the bottom portion 26B of the hot water supply tank 26 is supplied to the hot water supply heat exchanger 27 by the operation of the hot water supply circulation pump 34, the hot water supply heat exchanger 27 converts the supplied water into the heat pump unit 11. The refrigerant 16 is heated by the heat of the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 16. When the first switching solenoid valve 73 is opened, the heated hot water or water is adjusted in flow rate by the flow rate adjusting valve 35 and guided to the top 26A of the hot water supply tank 26, and has an upper limit of about 90 ° C. in the hot water supply tank 26. Hot water can be stored.

  The pressure relief valve 39 releases the pressure when hot water or water is heated excessively and the pressure in the hot water supply tank 26 becomes excessive.

  The bathtub heat exchanger 28 is a water-to-water heat exchanger that circulates hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 to replenish hot water in the bathtub 14. Hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 is pumped out by driving the pump 102 in the circulation pipe 101 led out from the top portion 26A. The pumped hot water is led to the bathtub heat exchanger 28 through the circulation pipe 101 to heat (repel) the hot water or water in the bathtub 14, and then the second switching solenoid valve 74 and the return The pipe 103 is connected to an intermediate portion 26C between the top portion 26A and the bottom portion 26B of the hot water supply tank 26.

  That is, the bathtub heat exchanger 28 is brought into contact with the introduction water pipe 75 that guides hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 and the first bathtub water pipe 51 that guides hot water or water in the bathtub 14. And the hot water or water respectively flowing through the first bathtub water pipe 51 are configured to be able to exchange heat. The introduction water pipe 75 and the first bathtub water pipe 51 are formed in a flat tube shape in the portion constituting the bathtub heat exchanger 28 and the contact area is increased.

  The first bathtub water pipe 51 communicating the bathtub heat exchanger 28 and the bathtub 14 includes a bathtub circulation pump 46, a filter 47, a water level sensor 48, a thermistor 49, and a flow switch 50.

This first bathtub water pipe 51 constitutes a bathtub water circulation circuit P in which hot water or water circulates between the bathtub heat exchanger 28 and the bathtub 14.

  Since the water level sensor 48 communicates with the bathtub 14 via the first bathtub water pipe 51, the water level sensor 48 detects the level of hot water or water in the bathtub 14. Further, the thermistor 49 detects the hot water temperature when the hot water or water is circulating in the bathtub water circulation circuit P, and indirectly detects the hot water temperature in the bathtub 14. Moreover, the flow switch 50 detects that hot water or water is circulating in the water circulation circuit P for bathtubs. Further, the filter 47 filters hot water together with the filter 56 disposed in the bathtub 14.

  As described later, hot water is poured into the bathtub 14 to fill the bathtub 14, and when the hot water in the bathtub 14 is replenished, the circulation pump 102 and the bathtub circulation pump 46 are operated. Then, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 4, the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 and the hot water in the bathtub 14 flow into the bathtub heat exchanger 28, where heat is exchanged, and the hot water in the bathtub 14 is The hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 is chased away. The hot water worked in the bathtub heat exchanger 28 is lowered to about 50 ° C. by the heat exchange, and flows into the intermediate portion 26 </ b> C of the hot water supply tank 26 through the water pipe 103.

  The faucet hot water supply line 71 includes a hot water supply pipe 59, a mixing control valve 57, and a flow sensor 58, as shown by a thick line Q in FIG. Since the tap water pressure is applied to the hot water supply tank 26 via the first tap water pipe 38, the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 can be supplied to the tap 13 by opening the tap 13.

  The flow sensor 58 detects the amount of hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 59. Further, the mixing control valve 57 is connected to the downstream side of the pressure reducing check valve 37 of the first tap water pipe 38 through the second tap water pipe 62 as shown by a thick line R in FIG.

  Therefore, by controlling the opening degree of the mixing control valve 57, the hot water from the hot water supply pipe 59 and the tap water from the second tap water pipe 62 are mixed, and the hot water supplied from the faucet 13 is about 60 ° C. or less, for example 42 Adjusted to ° C.

  As shown by the thick line S in FIG. 3, the bathtub pouring line 72 is provided between the downstream side of the flow sensor 58 in the hot water supply pipe 59 and the space between the bathtub circulation pump 46 and the flow switch 50 in the first bathtub water pipe 51. The hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 can be poured into the bathtub 14 by being connected by the bathtub water pipe 68. In the second bathtub water pipe 68, a flow sensor 64, a pouring electromagnetic valve 65, a relief means 66, a check valve 67, and an electromagnetic valve 54 are sequentially arranged from the hot water supply pipe 59 side.

  Here, the flow sensor 64 detects the amount of hot water flowing in the second bathtub water pipe 68. The relief means 66 and the check valve 67 release pressure when excessively heated hot water flows through the second bathtub water pipe 68. The solenoid valve 54 is opened when hot water is supplied to the bath, and is closed when reheating.

  When the hot water solenoid valves 65 and 54 are opened while the bathtub circulation pump 46 is stopped, the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 becomes part of the hot water supply pipe 59 and The second bathtub water pipe 68 flows into the first bathtub water pipe 51 and is poured into the bathtub 14 through the flow switch 50, the thermistor 49, the water level sensor 48, and the filter 47 in the first bathtub water pipe 51. .

  When the water level sensor 48 detects that a proper amount of hot water has been poured into the bathtub 14 from the hot water supply tank 26, the hot water solenoid valves 65 and 54 are closed. Thereafter, when the thermistor 49 detects that the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 14 has fallen below the appropriate temperature, the hot water or the water in the bathtub 14 is heated (fired) as described above, and the hot water in the bathtub 14 is heated. Is kept warm.

  In this way, an operation in which an appropriate amount of hot water is poured from the hot water supply tank 26 into the bathtub 14 and then the hot water in the bathtub 14 is heated to an appropriate temperature for a predetermined time (retreating) is referred to as automatic bath operation. .

  In this embodiment, since the refrigerant circuit using the natural refrigerant is provided, the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water supply tank 26 rises to about 90 ° C. as compared with the refrigerant circuit using the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. According to this, by circulating the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26, the hot water in the bathtub 14 can be replenished with this hot water temperature. Therefore, in the case of chasing a bath without supplying hot water, it is not necessary to operate the heat pump unit 11 and energy efficiency can be improved.

  The control device 15A is installed in the heat pump unit 11, and controls the operation (including capacity control) and stop of the compressor 16. The control device 15B is installed in the hot water supply unit 12 to operate or stop the hot water supply circulation pump 34 and the bathtub circulation pump 46, the first switching electromagnetic valve 73, the second switching electromagnetic valve 74, and the hot water supply electromagnetic valve. The opening and closing of the flow control valve 35 and the mixing control valve 57 are controlled. The control device 15B is connected to the control device 15A of the heat pump unit 11 by a communication line 78, enables bidirectional communication, and is connected to the remote controller 79 in a wired or wireless state.

  Since it was configured as described above, according to the above embodiment, for example, the following effects can be obtained.

  A hot water supply heat exchanger 27 that heats water with refrigerant heat and can store hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 is disposed in the heat pump unit 11 including the compressor 16 that compresses the refrigerant, and the hot water supply tank 26 is the hot water supply unit. 12, the heat exchanger 28 for the bathtub is configured to heat the hot water or water in the bathtub 14 by the heat of the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 27, so that the heat can be kept. Since the refrigerant pipe 19 through which the high-pressure refrigerant flows is disposed only in the heat pump unit 11 and is not disposed between the heat pump unit 11 and the hot water supply unit 12, these high-pressure refrigerant pipes are exposed to the outside. Can be prevented, and the safety of the heat pump hot water supply apparatus 10 can be improved.

  The bathtub heat exchanger 28 is a portion corresponding to the bathtub heat exchanger 28, that is, an introduction water pipe 75 that guides hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 and a first bathtub water pipe 51 that guides hot water or water in the bathtub 14. Since the hot water or water flowing through both pipes (introductory water pipe 75 and first bathtub water pipe 51) can be exchanged by heat, the heat pump unit 11 is operated at the time of bathing. There is no need to improve energy efficiency. Moreover, even if the 1st bathtub water piping 51 breaks out of both piping (introduction water piping 75 and the 1st bathtub water piping 51) on the other hand, for example, the contaminated hot water in this 1st bathtub water piping 51 Or, since water does not mix with the hot water or water in the introduction water pipe 75, the contaminated hot water does not flow into the hot water supply tank 26 through the first bathtub water pipe 51. The water can always be kept clean.

  Since the refrigerant circuit using the natural refrigerant is provided, the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water supply tank 26 rises to about 90 ° C. as compared with the refrigerant circuit using the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. According to this, the hot water temperature in the substantially middle part 26C of the hot water supply tank 26 is often maintained at about 50 ° C. If so, the required temperature at the faucet 13 is often about 42 to 43 ° C., so that the hot water in the intermediate portion 26C can be used as it is.

  In the present embodiment, a top hot water discharge pipe 40 is connected to the top portion 26A of the hot water supply tank 26, and an intermediate hot water discharge pipe 33 is connected to a substantially intermediate portion 26C between the top portion 26A and the bottom portion 26B. , 40 is provided with a mixing valve 100 that is automatically adjusted. For this reason, when the hot water temperature of the intermediate portion 26 </ b> C reaches near the required temperature at the faucet 13, the hot water of the intermediate portion 26 </ b> C can be directly taken out from the faucet 13 through the mixing valve 100.

  When the hot water temperature of the intermediate portion 26C is low, the mixing valve 100 mixes a large amount of hot water from the top portion 26A and sends it to the junction pipe 59. Moreover, when the hot water temperature of the intermediate part 26C is high, the hot water having a high temperature from the top part 26A is sent to the junction pipe 59 with little mixing. When the temperature of hot water passing through the mixing valve 100 is equal to or higher than the hot water temperature at the faucet 13, hot water from the hot water supply pipe 59 and tap water from the second tap water pipe 62 are controlled by opening control of the mixing control valve 57. The temperature of the hot water mixed and fed from the faucet 13 is adjusted to 42 ° C., for example.

  According to this, the hot water in the hot water supply tank 26 can be sent to the faucet 13 as it is without lowering the temperature with city water, so that waste of energy is saved and the energy efficiency of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is improved. Can be improved.

  As the mixing valve 100, for example, a wax valve is used to reduce the cost. On the other hand, an electric valve using a stepping motor or the like is used as the mixing control valve 57, and the mixing accuracy is maintained high.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Heat pump type hot water supply apparatus 11 Heat pump unit 12 Hot water supply unit 14 Bathtub 16 Compressor 19 Refrigerant piping 26 Hot water supply tank 26A Top part 27 Heat exchanger for hot water supply (refrigerant to water heat exchanger)
28 Bath heat exchanger (water-to-water heat exchanger)
36 Hot water supply water piping 40 Top hot spring piping

Claims (6)

A heat pump unit integrally including a refrigerant circuit using a natural refrigerant, including a compressor, a heat pump heat exchanger, and a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, and hot water heated by the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger can be stored. A hot water supply unit including a hot water supply tank, and the hot water supply unit and the heat pump unit are connected by a water pipe,
A water-to-water heat exchanger that circulates the hot water in the hot water tank pumped out through a circulation pipe led out from the top of the hot water tank to replenish the hot water in the bathtub; A heat pump type hot water supply apparatus characterized in that an exchanger is built in the hot water supply unit. The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water-to-water heat exchanger is connected to the hot water supply tank through a pipe different from the water pipe. 3. The piping of another system according to claim 2, wherein a circulation pump that is driven during the reheating operation is provided in a circulation pipe that extends from the hot water supply tank to a water-to-water heat exchanger. Heat pump water heater. 2. The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bathtub water pipe extending from the bathtub according to claim 1 to the water-to-water heat exchanger is provided with a circulation pump for bathtubs driven during the reheating operation. 2. The water-to-water heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the water-to-water heat exchanger is a counterflow of the hot water derived from the hot water tank and the hot water derived from the bathtub. apparatus. 5. The heat pump hot water supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein both the circulation pump according to claim 3 and the circulation pump for bathtub according to claim 4 are incorporated in the hot water supply unit according to claim 1.