JP2011163570A - Bath hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic heat-retaining operation capable of further saving energy, as heat efficiency for heating bathtub water by reheating is low in the automatic heat-retaining operation of a bathtub. <P>SOLUTION: This bath hot water supply device includes a hot water supply pipe 16 for guiding hot water from a hot water supply heat source to the bathtub, a hot water supply valve 17 for opening and closing the hot water supply pipe 16, and a bathing detecting means 19 for detecting presence or absence of bathing in the bathtub 12 or presence or absence of entering a bathroom. A hot water supply operation is interrupted by closing the hot water supply valve 17 when hot water of a bath set temperature is supplied to the bathtub 12 by a temporal water level or a temporal amount of hot water lower than a set water level or a set amount of hot water by a prescribed water level or a prescribed amount of hot water by opening the hot water supply valve 17, then the hot water supply operation is restarted by opening the hot water supply valve 17 when the bathing detecting means 19 detects the presence of bathing or entering the bathroom, and the hot water supply operation is terminated by closing the hot water supply valve 17 when the hot water is supplied to the bathtub 12 by the prescribed water level or the prescribed amount of hot water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath hot water supply apparatus for filling a bathtub with hot water.

  Conventionally, in this type of bath water heater, hot water filling is performed at a preset flow temperature preset by the user up to a preset water level or a preset hot water volume set by the user, and after completion of the hot water filling, the bath is set at regular intervals. The water was circulated, and if the temperature of the bathtub water was lower than the flow setting temperature, the water was kept at the flow setting temperature by an automatic heat-retaining operation that performs a reheating operation of the circulating bath water.

  In addition, with the recent improvement in the thermal insulation performance of bathrooms and bathtubs, in view of the current situation that the bath water temperature check operation at regular intervals will lead to a drop in the bath water temperature, a human body sensor is placed in the bathroom and the hot water filling is completed Later, when the human body sensor detected a person entering the room, there was one that circulated the bath water and reheated it to the flow set temperature.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-84941 JP 2001-235222 A

  However, in this conventional one, the bath water is heated by reheating, so that the heat efficiency is poor, and higher energy saving is required.

  For example, in a heat pump water heater, hot water in a hot water storage tank uses hot water in the hot water storage tank as a heat source, so the hot water in the hot water storage tank that has exchanged heat with the bathtub water becomes medium hot water that is heated by the heat pump. In addition, in a latent heat recovery type gas water heater, there is a problem that latent heat recovery cannot be performed due to the high water intake temperature of the heat exchanger when the bath water is reheated, resulting in a decrease in thermal efficiency. It was.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a hot water pipe that guides hot water from a hot water supply source to the bathtub, a hot water valve that opens and closes the hot water pipe, and whether or not bathing is performed in the bathtub or in the bathroom. Bathing detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of entry into the room, and opening the hot water filling valve to supply hot water having a set flow temperature to a temporary water level lower than a predetermined water level by a predetermined water level or a predetermined hot water amount lower than a set hot water amount. The hot water filling valve is closed to interrupt the hot water filling operation, and when the bathing detection means detects the presence or absence of bathing, the hot water filling valve is opened and the hot water filling operation is resumed. When a predetermined amount of hot water was supplied to the bathtub, the hot water valve was closed to end the hot water operation.

  In addition, after the hot water filling operation is resumed, the hot water supply heat source supplies hot water at a temperature obtained by adding a predetermined value corresponding to the elapsed time from the interruption of the hot water filling operation until the bath detection means detects bathing to the flow setting temperature. I tried to supply.

  The predetermined value is set to be larger as the outside air temperature or the feed water temperature is lower.

  The predetermined water level or the predetermined amount of hot water is set to a larger value as the outside air temperature or the feed water temperature is lower.

  In addition, a flow heat exchanger that circulates and heats the hot water in the bathtub is provided, and when the bath detection means does not detect the presence or absence of bathing for a predetermined time or longer after the hot water filling operation is interrupted, A warming operation for circulating hot water to the flow heat exchanger and heating to the flow set temperature is performed, and the elapsed time until the bath detection means detects bathing is reset and counted again.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat released in the time until bathing is started, and when bathing is started, the set water level or set hot water amount can be quickly set at a desired flow setting temperature by hot water filling. It is possible to achieve a higher energy saving.

The schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the action | operation of the same embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the action | operation of other one Embodiment. Furthermore, the flowchart for demonstrating the action | operation of other one Embodiment.

  Next, a heat pump bath hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a stainless steel hot water storage tank for storing hot water, 2 is a water supply pipe for supplying city water to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, 3 is a hot water discharge pipe for discharging hot water from the top of the hot water storage tank 1, 4 is a water supply bypass branched from the water supply pipe 2 A hot water mixing valve that mixes hot water from the hot water discharge pipe 3 and water from the hot water supply bypass pipe 4 so as to reach a hot water supply set temperature, 6 is a hot water supply pipe through which hot water mixed by the hot water mixing valve 5 flows, 7 is a hot-water tap for supplying hot water from the hot-water supply pipe 6, 8 is a hot-water supply temperature sensor for detecting the hot-water supply temperature provided in the middle of the hot-water supply pipe 6, and 9 is a hot-water supply flow rate sensor for detecting the amount of hot water provided in the middle of the hot-water supply pipe 6. A pressure reducing valve 10 is provided in the water supply pipe 2 to reduce the supply pressure of city water to a constant pressure, and 11 is an overpressure relief valve for releasing the overpressure in the hot water storage tank 1. Here, the hot water storage tank 1, the water supply pipe 2, the hot water discharge pipe 3, the water supply bypass pipe 4, the hot water supply mixing valve 5 and the hot water supply pipe 6 constitute a hot water supply heat source.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a bathtub, 13 is a flow heat exchanger provided in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 for heating the bathtub water as an external fluid by the heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, and 14 is a bathtub 12 and a flow heat exchanger 13. Is connected to the flow circulation circuit 14, and 15 is a flow circulation pump for circulating the bath water provided in the flow circulation circuit 14, and 16 is a hot water branched from the hot water supply pipe 6 and connected to the flow circulation circuit 14. A tension pipe 17 is provided in the middle of the hot water filling pipe 16 and opens and closes the hot water filling pipe 16, and 18 is provided in the middle of the flow circulation circuit 14 to detect the temperature of the bathtub water flowing from the bathtub 12 to the flow heat exchanger 13. The flow temperature sensor 19 is a water level sensor that detects the water level in the bathtub 12 by pressure. Here, the water level sensor 19 constitutes a bathing detection means for detecting the presence or absence of bathing.

  20 is a heat pump type heating means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, a compressor 21 for compressing the refrigerant, a refrigerant water heat exchanger 22 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and water, and the pressure of the refrigerant is reduced. A decompressor 23 and an evaporator 24 that evaporates the liquid refrigerant are provided, and the refrigerant that has absorbed heat by the evaporator 24 is compressed by the compressor 21 so that water is heated via the refrigerant water heat exchanger 22. The evaporator 24 is provided with a blower 25, and an outside air temperature sensor 26 for detecting the outside air temperature is provided upstream of the evaporator 24 in the ventilation path. This heat pump type heating means 20 uses carbon dioxide refrigerant as the refrigerant, and can heat water to a high temperature of 90 ° C. when the high-pressure side is in a supercritical state.

  A heating circulation circuit 27 connects the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, the water side of the refrigerant water heat exchanger 21 and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 so that hot water can circulate, and 28 a heating circulation pump provided in the middle of the heating circulation circuit 27. , 29 is an incoming water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water flowing into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 22, and 30 is a boiling temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of hot water heated by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 22.

  A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 31 provided in the vertical direction of the side surface of the hot water storage tank 1 are used to detect the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 and are called 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e from the top. . Of these hot water storage temperature sensors 31a to 31e, the lowermost hot water storage temperature sensor 31e detects the temperature of hot water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 to detect the temperature of the hot water supply when a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied. It operates as a sensor.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a remote controller, which displays various types of information related to the hot water supply device (hot water supply set temperature, flow set temperature, amount of remaining hot water, operating state of the hot water supply device, etc.), hot water supply set temperature, flow set temperature, flow set hot water volume, etc. Is provided with a setting switch 34 for performing a setting operation, a hot water filling switch 35 for instructing the bathtub 12 to fill a certain amount of hot water, and a sound generating unit 36 for generating sounds such as operation sounds and warning sounds.

  37, the detection values of the hot water supply temperature sensor 8, the hot water supply flow rate sensor 9, the flow temperature sensor 18, the water level sensor 19, the outside air temperature sensor 26, the incoming water temperature sensor 29, the boiling temperature sensor 30, and the hot water storage temperature sensors 31a to 31e are input. The control means is connected to the remote controller 32 so as to be communicable with the flow circulation pump 15, the hot water filling valve 17, the compressor 21, the decompressor 23, the blower 25, and the heating circulation pump 28. The control means 37 stores a program for controlling the operation of the hot water supply device in advance, and has a calculation, comparison, storage function, and clock function.

  Next, the energy-saving hot water filling operation of one embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2. When the hot water filling switch 35 of the remote controller 32 is operated, the control means 37 responds to the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 26. Then, a predetermined amount of hot water α to be filled in the subsequent hot water filling operation is set (step S1). The predetermined hot water amount α corresponding to the outside air temperature is stored in advance by the control means 37, and the predetermined hot water amount α is related to increase as the outside air temperature decreases.

  The control means 37 opens the hot water filling valve 17 and adjusts the opening degree of the hot water mixing valve 5 so that the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 8 becomes the flow set temperature set by the setting switch 34 of the remote controller 32. When the hot water supply flow rate sensor 9 accumulates a temporary hot water amount that is less than the set hot water amount set by the setting switch 34 of the remote controller 32 and a predetermined hot water amount α corresponding to the outside air temperature, the hot water filling valve 17 is closed and the hot water filling operation is performed. Is terminated (step S2), and the hot water supply interruption is notified by the display unit 33 and the sound generation unit 36 of the remote controller 32 (step S3).

  And the control means 37 monitors the water level in the bathtub 12 when the amount of temporary hot water has been filled with the water level sensor 19, and when it detects that the water level has risen above a certain level, bathing in the bathtub 12 is possible. (Step S4), the display unit 33 and the sound generation unit 36 of the remote controller 32 notify the refilling of the hot water filling (step S5), and the hot water filling valve 17 is used to supply the remaining predetermined hot water amount α to the bathtub 12. The hot water mixing valve 5 is adjusted so that the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature sensor 8 is higher than the preset flow temperature by a predetermined value, and the hot water supply flow rate sensor 9 responds to the outside air temperature. When the predetermined amount of hot water α is integrated, the hot water filling valve 17 is closed to end the hot water filling operation (step S6), and the hot water filling operation is completed.

  In this way, the amount of temporary hot water that is a predetermined amount α less than the set amount of hot water is pre-filled, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of heat release during the waiting time from when hot water filling is interrupted until bathing is started, and when bathing is started. Thus, the hot water filling can quickly set the amount of hot water at a desired flow setting temperature, and energy saving can be further enhanced compared to the reheating operation. Further, since the predetermined hot water amount α of the rear hot water filling is increased or decreased according to the outside air temperature, the desired flow setting temperature can be quickly achieved by the rear hot water filling.

  Although the predetermined hot water amount α for the rear hot water filling is set based on the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 26, it is set based on the water supply temperature detected by the lowest hot water storage temperature sensor 31e instead of the outside air temperature. It may be made to do.

  Next, the operation of the filling operation according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, and when the filling switch 35 of the remote control 32 is operated, the control means 37 controls the filling valve 17. The hot water supply temperature sensor 8 adjusts the opening of the hot water supply mixing valve 5 so that the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 8 becomes the flow setting temperature set by the setting switch 34 of the remote controller 32, and supplies hot water at an appropriate temperature. 9 accumulates the temporary hot water amount that is a predetermined hot water amount α smaller than the set hot water amount set by the setting switch 34 of the remote control 32, the hot water filling valve 17 is closed and the hot water filling operation is ended (step S7). At the same time that the hot water filling is interrupted by the unit 36 (step S8), the control means 37 starts counting the elapsed time from the hot water filling until the presence of bathing is detected (step S). ).

  And the control means 37 monitors the water level in the bathtub 12 when the amount of temporary hot water has been filled with the water level sensor 19, and when it detects that the water level has risen above a certain level, bathing in the bathtub 12 is possible. (Step S10), a predetermined value corresponding to the elapsed time started in step S9 is added to the flow set temperature, and then the hot water filling temperature β is set (step S11).

  Next, the display unit 33 and the sound generation unit 36 of the remote controller 32 notify the restart of hot water filling (step S12), and the hot water filling valve 17 is opened to supply the remaining predetermined hot water amount α to the bathtub 12, and the hot water supply temperature sensor. After adjusting the opening of the hot water supply mixing valve 5 so that the temperature detected at 8 becomes the hot water filling temperature β, hot water filling is performed, and when the hot water supply flow rate sensor 9 adds the predetermined hot water amount α, the hot water filling valve 17 is closed. The hot water filling operation is terminated (step S13), and the hot water filling operation is completed.

  In this way, the amount of temporary hot water that is a predetermined amount α less than the set amount of hot water is pre-filled, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of heat release during the waiting time from when hot water filling is interrupted until bathing is started, and when bathing is started. Thus, the hot water filling can quickly set the amount of hot water at a desired flow setting temperature, and energy saving can be further enhanced compared to the reheating operation. Further, since the hot water filling temperature β of the rear hot water filling is increased or decreased according to the elapsed time from the completion of the hot water filling, the desired flow setting temperature can be quickly reached by the hot water filling.

  It should be noted that if the presence of bathing is not detected in step S10 (No in step S10) and the elapsed time started counting in step S9 passes a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour 30 minutes) (Yes in step S14). ), The flow circulation pump 15 is actuated to circulate the bath water in the bathtub 12 to the flow heat exchanger 13 via the flow circulation circuit 14 and heat it until the flow temperature sensor 18 detects the flow set temperature. Continuously carry out the warming-up operation (step S15). Then, after performing the warming and chasing operation, the process returns to step S9 to reset the count of the elapsed time until the presence of bathing is detected, and count again.

  As described above, when the presence of bathing cannot be detected even after a relatively long predetermined time has elapsed since the completion of the pre-filling, the hot water is reheated. Therefore, since the amount of heat (energy amount) consumed by keeping warming can be suppressed, and the temperature in the bathtub 12 does not excessively decrease, the bather is not uncomfortable.

  In addition, when increasing / decreasing the predetermined hot water amount α of the hot water filling based on the outdoor temperature detected by the outdoor air temperature sensor 26 as in the previous embodiment, the hot water filling according to the elapsed time from the completion of the hot water filling. By taking into account the magnitude of the predetermined hot water amount α according to the outside air temperature when the hot water filling temperature β is increased or decreased, the bath water temperature at the completion of the post hot water filling can be brought close to the flow setting temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the water level detected by the water level sensor 19 is reduced to a level equal to or lower than the set hot water amount−predetermined hot water amount α after the completion of post-filling (Yes in step S <b> 16), the set hot water amount−predetermined hot water amount. Replenishing hot water is filled up to a water level equivalent to α (step S17), and the minimum water level is maintained to achieve both energy saving and convenience. And when the end of bathing is detected, it is possible to wait until the presence of bathing is detected again, and when 4 hours of the longest heat retention time has passed since the start of the first hot water filling, without detecting the presence or absence of bathing. The control is terminated.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist thereof. For example, hot water in a hot water storage tank is circulated and heated with a heat pump heating means. Heat pump hot water heaters, hot water hot water heaters that heat hot water with electric heaters installed in hot water storage tanks, oil water heaters and gas water heaters that heat hot water with a burner that uses petroleum gas as fuel, and discharge of power generators The present invention can also be applied to a hot water supply device of a cogeneration device that heats hot water in a hot water storage tank using heat.

  In addition, as the flow heat exchanger 13, an external heat exchange system is used, or in a petroleum water heater or a gas water heater, a burner that heats the hot water supply heat exchanger is shared, or the flow heat exchanger is a dedicated burner. You may make it heat with. Also, the bathing detection means is not limited to the water level sensor 19, but it is used for a human body detection sensor such as an ultrasonic wave or infrared ray detection or an image sensor, a bathroom illuminance sensor, a bathroom lighting switch, or a shower using a large amount of hot water detection. Anything that can detect the presence or absence of bathing, such as judgment, may be used.

  In the above embodiments, the hot water is filled with a predetermined amount of hot water less than the set amount of hot water based on the integrated flow rate counted by the hot water supply flow rate sensor 9, or the hot water is filled with a predetermined amount of hot water. Based on the water level detected by the sensor 19, the hot water may be filled up to a temporary water level that is lower than the set water level by a predetermined water level, or the predetermined water level may be filled from the temporary water level to the set water level.

  Furthermore, whether or not to perform the energy saving hot water operation divided into the hot water filling and after hot water detection after bathing detection can be left to the user's choice. As usual, the bath water temperature may be confirmed every certain time (for example, 20 minutes), and if the temperature has decreased, a normal heat retaining operation of heating with a flow heat exchanger may be performed.

12 Bath 13 Flowing heat exchanger 16 Hot water filling pipe 17 Hot water filling valve 18 Flow temperature sensor 19 Water level sensor (bathing detection means)
26 Outside air temperature sensor 31 Hot water storage temperature sensor

Claims (5)

  A hot-water pipe that guides hot water from a hot water supply source to the bathtub, a hot-water valve that opens and closes the hot-water pipe, and a bath detection means that detects whether the bath is bathed or whether the bath is entered. The hot water filling valve is opened, and when the hot water at the flow set temperature is supplied to the bathtub up to a temporary water level that is lower than the set water level by a predetermined water level or a predetermined hot water amount that is lower than the set hot water amount, the hot water valve is closed and the hot water valve is closed. When the bathing operation is interrupted and the bath detection means detects the presence or absence of bathing, the hot water filling valve is opened to restart the hot water filling operation, and when the predetermined water level or the predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub, A bath hot water supply device characterized in that the valve is closed to end the hot water filling operation.   After the hot water filling operation is resumed, the hot water supply heat source supplies hot water having a temperature obtained by adding a predetermined value corresponding to an elapsed time from the interruption of the hot water filling operation to the bath detection means detecting the bathing to the flow setting temperature. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured as described above.   3. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined value becomes larger as the outside air temperature or the feed water temperature is lower.   3. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined water level or the predetermined amount of hot water is set to a larger value as the outside air temperature or the water supply temperature is lower.   A flow heat exchanger that circulates and heats the hot water in the bathtub is provided, and when the bath detection means does not detect the presence or absence of bathing for a predetermined time or more after the hot water filling operation is interrupted, the hot water in the bathtub is In addition to performing a heat-retaining operation that circulates in the flow heat exchanger and heats to the flow set temperature, the elapsed time until the bath detection means detects bathing is reset and counted again. The bath hot-water supply apparatus of Claim 2 or 3.

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