JP2011196588A - Storage type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage type water heater capable of quickly raising a temperature to a degree not giving discomfort to a user when the user enters a bathroom.SOLUTION: This storage type water heater includes a hot water storage tank for storing hot water/water, a bathroom remote controller disposed in the bathroom, and a motion sensor section disposed on the bathroom remote controller for determining whether a person stays in the bathroom or not, and has an automatic operating function for supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank to the bathtub. When the hot water supply is started in a state that the bath automatic operating function is ON, the hot water supply to the bathtub is completed by an amount of hot water smaller than a predetermined amount of hot water, at a temperature lower than a predetermined hot water supply temperature, a heat-retaining operation using hot water of high temperature in the hot water storage tank is not performed after the completion of the bath hot water supply, and a prescribed amount of hot water of high temperature is additionally supplied from the hot water storage tank to the bathtub when the motion sensor section detects bathing activity in the bathroom.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that has a hot water storage tank and performs hot water bathing and bath heat insulation operation using hot water in the hot water storage tank.

  Conventionally, the bath operation of this type of hot water storage type hot water heater is equipped with an automatic hot water filling function, a chasing function, etc. as a standard feature, and is now an indispensable function. In particular, the automatic bath operation function is such that 1) hot water is filled in a bathtub to a set water level or a set amount of water, 2) the hot water temperature of the bathtub is raised to a set temperature, and 3) a warming operation is performed for a predetermined time.

  The warming operation continues the function of automatically supplying water to the bathtub (adding hot water) by detecting a drop in the water level and automatically boiling by detecting a drop in the hot water temperature of the bathtub (for example, 4 hours). This function is very convenient for the user (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Briefly explaining the operation of the conventional bath automatic operation function, when the bath automatic operation switch in the water heater remote control is turned on and operated, first, a pouring valve for filling hot water in the bathtub opens, and the mixing valve opens the hot water in the tank. The hot water mixed with the water supply pipe is supplied to the bathtub to the set water level. Next, when hot water filling is completed up to the set water level, the pouring valve is closed, the circulation pump is driven, the hot water in the bathtub is stirred, and the heat is exchanged with the hot water in the tank in the heat exchanger. Is heated to the set temperature.

  When boiling is completed up to the set temperature, the temperature is kept for a predetermined time (for example, 4 hours). This heat retention state automatically detects a drop in the water level, adds hot water to the set water level to the bathtub, or drives the circulation pump every predetermined time to automatically detect a drop in the hot water temperature in the bathtub. This is a function of boiling up to a set temperature in a heat exchanger.

  In recent years, in consideration of energy saving, it has a sensor to detect people in the bathroom, and when there are no people in the bathroom, the temperature of the bathtub is kept at a low temperature to detect that a person has entered the bathroom. Then, there is also a water heater that starts the heat insulation operation of the bathtub at a normal temperature.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-170752 JP 2001-235222 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, the warming operation is performed even when there is no person in the bathroom, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank is used for reheating, so the interval between bathing is long among families. When the time is free, the reheating operation is unnecessarily performed, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank is unnecessarily used, which has a problem in energy saving.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and without using the extra heat insulation amount of the bathtub when there is no person in the bathroom, quickly reaches a temperature at which the user does not feel uncomfortable when a person enters the bathroom. An object is to provide a hot water storage type water heater that can be raised.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the hot water storage type water heater according to the present invention determines whether a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bathroom remote control provided in the bathroom, and whether there is a person in the bathroom in the bathroom remote control. A hot water storage hot water supply machine having a bath automatic operation function for performing hot water filling from a hot water storage tank to a bathtub, and when hot water filling is started when the automatic bath operation function is ON Complete the bathing in the bathtub at a temperature lower than the preset hot water volume and lower than the preset hot water temperature. If the human sensor detects that the bath has been bathed in the bathroom without using warm water, the hot water is added to the bathtub from the hot water storage tank. Keep the extra heat in the bathtub When people come into the bathroom without any trouble, it can be quickly raised to near the set temperature with hot hot water, saving energy without using wasted energy, and adding hot water. For this reason, since the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub can be increased to a temperature at which the user does not feel uncomfortable, the user experience can be improved without causing discomfort.

  The present invention provides a hot water storage type hot water heater capable of quickly raising the temperature to a level at which a user does not feel uncomfortable when a person enters the bathroom without using the extra heat of the bathtub when there is no person in the bathroom. can do.

The block diagram of the hot water storage type hot water heater in Embodiment 1 of this invention Flow chart of hot water storage type water heater in the first embodiment

  A hot water storage type water heater of the first invention includes a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bathroom remote control provided in the bathroom, and a human sensor in the bathroom remote control for determining whether a person is in the bathroom. A hot water storage type hot water supply machine having a bath automatic operation function for filling a bath from a hot water storage tank to the bathtub, and when the hot water filling is started when the automatic bath operation function is ON, from a preset amount of hot water The hot water filling in the bathtub is completed with a small amount of water and at a temperature lower than the preset hot water filling temperature. After the hot water filling is completed, the warming operation using the hot water in the hot water storage tank is not possible. If it is detected that the human sensor has bathed in the bathroom, the extra amount of heat stored in the bathtub when no one is in the bathroom is used. Without entering the bathroom When you come, you can quickly raise the temperature to near the set temperature with hot water, which saves energy without using wasted energy. Since the temperature can be raised to a temperature at which it does not feel uncomfortable, there is no discomfort and the usability can be improved.

  In addition, even if there is time to enter the bathroom for bathing after the user turns on automatic bathing with the remote control, it does not use wasted energy, so it does not use wasted energy, saving energy become. Since the hot water is filled with a small amount of hot water, waste heat loss can be kept to a minimum, further saving energy and hot water when the user enters the room. Since the temperature of the hot water can be raised to a temperature at which the user does not feel uncomfortable at a stretch, it is possible to improve ease of use without causing discomfort.

The hot water storage type water heater of the second invention is the human sensor unit, particularly in the first invention, during the automatic bathing operation, measuring the elapsed time from the previous warming operation or the time when hot hot water was performed. When it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom, the temperature of the hot water and the amount of hot water are switched according to the measured elapsed time. When a person enters the bathroom without using, you can change the temperature and amount of hot water depending on the elapsed time, so you can quickly raise the temperature to the set temperature, saving energy without using wasted energy Because the hot water temperature and quantity are determined according to the elapsed time, the hot water in the bathtub is not raised too much or the set temperature is not raised, which is uncomfortable for the user. Without giving the, it is possible to better usability.

  The hot water storage type water heater of the third invention is provided with an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outdoor air temperature, particularly in the first or second invention, and the presence sensor detects that a person has entered the bathroom. Then, by adopting a configuration that switches the temperature and amount of hot water depending on the outdoor temperature, calculate the heat dissipation coefficient of the bathtub according to the outside air temperature, determine the temperature and amount of hot water, Therefore, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is not raised too much or the set temperature is not raised, and the user can be made uncomfortable and the usability can be improved.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a tank for storing hot water, and has a hot water supply pipe 11 in the upper part and a water supply pipe 12 in the lower part of the tank 10. The water supply pipe 12 is connected from a water supply port 13 to which a water supply is connected through a pressure reducing valve 14 for reducing the water pressure. In the tank 10, hot water is separated into the upper part and water is separated into the lower part due to the difference in specific gravity, and when boiling the hot water in the tank 10, hot water is stored from the upper part of the tank 10, thereby forming a layer in which the hot water is pushed down. Accumulated.

  When hot water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 11, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 12 into the tank 10 and the tank 10 is always filled with hot water. A boiling pipe 15 connected from the lower part to the upper part is connected to the tank 10, and a boiling pump 16 and a heat source unit 17 are interposed in the boiling pipe 15.

  Then, by driving the boiling pump 16, hot water at the lower part of the tank 10 is supplied to the heat source part 17, and the hot water is heated by the heat source part 17 and then returned to the upper part of the tank 10 to store hot water. . At this time, the heat source unit 17 is a heat pump or a heater having a heat pump cycle mechanism. Reference numeral 18 denotes a control unit (not shown) of the water heater main body, which drives each load in accordance with an input from each sensor to boil the tank or supply hot water at a set temperature.

  In general, among power systems provided by electric power companies, hot water is generally stored in the hot water storage tank 10 at night using relatively inexpensive late-night power. However, depending on the amount of hot water used, the amount of hot water stored may cause the hot water to run out, and the control unit 18 monitors the temperature of the thermistor 19 of the hot water storage tank 10 and keeps hot water in the heat source unit 17 even during the daytime. It is common to add additional boiling.

  Further, the bath hot water mixing valve 23, the bath hot water thermistor 24, the bath hot water pouring valve 25, and the bathtub 22 are provided, and the bath hot water mixing is performed so that the bath hot water thermistor 24 has a set temperature. It mixes with the valve 23 and pours into the bathtub 22 from the bath pouring valve 25.

  Further, a bath circulation pump 26, a water heat exchanger 27, a bath temperature thermistor 28, and a heat exchange pump 29 are provided, and when performing warming operation of the bath, the circulation pump 26 and the heat exchange pump 29 are operated. The operation is continued until the temperature of the temperature thermistor 28 reaches the set temperature.

And when a user performs hot water supply to the currant 20 and the shower 21, hot water supplied from the tank 10 via the hot water supply pipe 11 and water supplied by the pressure reducing valve 14 through the water supply pipe 12 are reduced. The hot-water supply mixing valve 31 is driven so that the hot-water supply temperature becomes the target temperature to mix hot water.

  In addition, a water heater remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a bathroom remote controller) 32 installed in the bathroom 28 is provided. There is a microcomputer 33 (not shown) that performs data communication between the bathroom remote controller 32 and the controller 18 of the water heater main body and controls switches and displays. The bathroom remote control 32 has an operation unit 34 such as an UP / DOWN switch for changing the hot water supply temperature and a bath automatic operation switch for turning on / off the bath automatic operation.

  In addition, there is a display unit 35 for displaying the state of the water heater such as the hot water temperature and the fact that the bath is in automatic operation. The bathroom remote control 32 has a human sensor unit 36 for detecting that a person has entered the bathroom.

  The operation and action of the hot water storage hot water bath automatic operation function configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the present invention.

  First, when a bath automatic operation switch disposed in the operation unit 34 of the bathroom remote control 32 is turned on and operated, the bath pouring valve 25 is first opened and supplied from the tank 10 through the hot water supply pipe 11 through the bath hot water mixing valve 23. Hot water obtained by mixing the hot water and the water decompressed by the pressure reducing valve 14 and supplied through the water supply pipe 12 is poured into the bathtub 22.

  At this time, the bath water supply thermistor 24 is set to the temperature α by setting the temperature α (= T1−T2) lower than the bath set temperature T1 ° C. set by the bathroom remote controller 32 by a constant temperature T2 ° C. as a hot water filling target temperature. Hot water mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 23 is poured. Then, the flow rate sensor 30 counts the amount of poured hot water with a target amount of water β (= L1−L2) smaller than the bath setting water amount L1 set by the bathroom remote controller 32 by a certain amount L2. Then, when the hot water filling is completed to the target water amount β, the bath pouring valve 25 is closed, the circulation pump 26 is driven, the hot water in the bathtub 22 is stirred, and the heat exchanger 27 Heat is exchanged with hot water to heat the bath temperature up to the hot water filling target temperature α.

  Then, when the heating operation is completed until the bath temperature reaches the target temperature α, the bathroom remote control 32 notifies the user that the bath has boiled with a notification sound or the display unit 35. Here, when the user enters the bathroom, the human sensor unit 36 detects a person and detects bathing.

  Then, the control unit 18 pours hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) by an amount corresponding to L2. In this way, when the user enters the bathroom, additional hot water is poured up to the set amount of hot water L1, so there is no dissatisfaction that the amount of water set in the bathroom remote control 32 is larger, and hot water is added to the hot water. The bath temperature can be increased to the vicinity of the set temperature T1 at a stretch, and there is no discomfort when bathing.

  In addition, after notifying that the hot water filling is completed, even if there is a time interval until the user takes a bath, the human sensor 36 does not perform the warming operation until the user enters the bathroom. Energy saving performance can be improved.

  In addition, since the hot water is filled with a small amount of water β, the amount of heat released until the user bathes can be reduced, thereby saving energy. Furthermore, since the user performs a normal warming operation after bathing, the water heater is very energy-saving and easy to use.

Also, the bath warming operation during bathing and the elapsed time from hot hot water when the user enters the bathroom is counted by the control unit 18, and this is counted when the user next enters the bathroom. Depending on the elapsed time, the temperature and amount of hot water can be calculated and controlled to approach the set temperature. Thus, by calculating the amount of heat release from the elapsed time in the control unit 18 and calculating the temperature and amount of hot water to be heated, the comfort can be improved and the usability is improved.

  Further, the outside air temperature is detected by an outside air temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the outside air temperature installed in the water heater main body, and the temperature and amount of hot water are supplied to the control unit 18 according to the outside air temperature. It is possible to improve the comfort and energy saving, and improve usability by calculating and pouring so that the optimal bath temperature and amount of hot water can be obtained.

  The hot water storage type water heater according to the present invention uses a human sensor mounted on the bathroom remote controller to keep the bath temperature in the absence of a person, and when a person enters the bathroom, hot water is used to adjust the bath temperature. Since the energy saving and comfort are both achieved, the application can be applied to applications such as electric water heaters and heat pump water heaters.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tank 11 Hot water supply pipe 12 Water supply pipe 15 Boiling pipe 16 Boiling pump 17 Heat source part 18 Control part 20 Curran 21 Shower head 22 Bathtub 23 Bath mixing valve 24 Bath hot water supply thermistor 25 Bath hot water supply valve 26 Bath circulating pump 27 Water heat Exchanger 28 Bath temperature thermistor 29 Heat exchange pump 30 Flow rate sensor 31 Bathroom 32 Bathroom remote control 34 Operation unit 35 Display unit 36 Human sensor unit

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bathroom remote controller provided in the bathroom, and a human sensor in the bathroom remote controller for determining whether or not a person is in the bathroom, and hot water filling from the hot water tank to the bathtub A hot water storage type hot water supply machine having a bath automatic operation function, and when hot water filling is started when the bath automatic operation function is ON, a hot water amount smaller than a preset hot water amount is set in advance. The hot water filling in the bathtub is completed at a temperature lower than the hot water filling temperature, and after the hot water filling is completed, the warming operation using the hot water in the hot water storage tank is not performed, and the human sensor unit A hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that performs a predetermined amount of hot hot water from a hot water storage tank to a bathtub when it is detected that the user has bathed in the bathroom. During the automatic bathing operation, the elapsed time from the time of the previous warming operation or hot hot water was measured, and when the presence sensor detects that a person has entered the bathroom, the measured elapsed time The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature and the amount of hot water are switched according to the temperature. A configuration that includes an outdoor temperature sensor that detects outdoor temperature, and switches between the temperature and amount of hot water according to the outdoor temperature when the human sensor detects that a person has entered the bathroom. The hot water storage type water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

Images