JP2012112606A - Insulation hot water storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that though the insulating capacity is improved, when a vacuum insulation material is tightly attached to a storage tank, there is a risk of breaking vacuum sealing state of a vacuum insulation material, and the prevention of breakage by covering the outside of the vacuum insulation material with an outside material is desired but the covering with the outside material makes the state of the vacuum insulation material unknown, whether it is normal or broken.SOLUTION: While the vacuum insulation material is protected by installing the outer material covering the whole range of the vacuum material from outside, a penetration hole is formed on part of the outer material to enable palpation of the vacuum insulation material. When the vacuum insulation material is damaged at any place, the hardness is changed over the whole region, and then palpation on even one part can give a determination whether it is normal or abnormal.

Description

  The present invention relates to an adiabatic hot water storage device.

  There is known a hot water supply technology in which hot water heated by a heat pump or a gas water heater is stored in a hot water storage tank, and the stored hot water is supplied to a necessary place when necessary. A technique for preventing the temperature of hot water stored in a hot water storage tank from being lowered by covering the hot water storage tank with a heat insulating member is known. Moreover, existence of the vacuum heat insulating member whose heat insulating performance is higher than a foaming heat insulating member is known. The vacuum heat insulating member sandwiches a porous core material between two films, welds two films in a range that goes around the core material sandwiched, and seals the existence range of the core material in a vacuum state It is a thing. It is known that the vacuum heat insulating member is excellent in heat insulating performance, but is easily damaged, and once it is damaged and the vacuum state is broken, the heat insulating performance is lowered.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a heat insulating hot water storage device in which at least a part of a hot water storage tank is covered with a vacuum heat insulating member and the outside thereof is covered with a foamable heat insulating member. The foamable heat insulating member covering the outside of the vacuum heat insulating member also functions as a protective material and prevents the vacuum heat insulating member from being damaged.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for integrally forming a vacuum heat insulating member and a foam heat insulating member. In this technique, a vacuum heat insulating member is embedded in the thickness of the foam heat insulating member, and both the inner and outer surfaces of the vacuum heat insulating member are protected by the foam heat insulating member.

Even if the vacuum heat insulating member is protected by the foam heat insulating member, an accident in which the vacuum heat insulating member is damaged cannot be prevented. For example, the vacuum heat insulating member may be damaged when a sharp object penetrates the foam heat insulating member or parts such as piping vibrate. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose the normality of the vacuum heat insulating member.
However, if the vacuum heat insulating member is covered and protected by the foam heat insulating member, it becomes difficult to diagnose the normality of the vacuum heat insulating member. In the case of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the vacuum heat insulating member is exposed by removing the foam heat insulating member. If the vacuum heat insulating member is exposed, normality / abnormality of the vacuum heat insulating member can be diagnosed. However, many pipings are often arranged around the hot water storage tank in a complicated manner, and it takes a long time to remove the foamable heat insulating member. In addition, the risk of damaging the vacuum heat insulating member by removing the foam heat insulating member is increased. If the vacuum heat insulating member is embedded in the thickness of the foamable heat insulating member as in Patent Document 3, normality of the vacuum heat insulating member cannot be diagnosed without destroying the foamable heat insulating member.

JP 2005-226965 A JP 2007-198717 A JP 2007-131329 A

  The present invention provides a technique in which the outer side of the vacuum heat insulating member is covered and protected by a protective member, and the outer member does not need to be removed in order to diagnose normality of the vacuum heat insulating member.

  The heat insulation type hot water storage device disclosed in the present specification includes a hot water storage tank, a vacuum heat insulation member that covers at least a part of the hot water storage tank, an outer member that covers the entire area of the vacuum heat insulation member and is partially formed with a through hole. A lid member that opens and closes the through hole is provided. When the through member is opened by removing the lid member, the vacuum heat insulating member can be palpated from the outside of the outer member.

The heat insulating member that covers the hot water storage tank is widespread because it has no meaning unless the hot water storage tank covers a wide area. If the heat insulating member cannot be visually recognized because the heat insulating member is covered from the outside, the idea of providing an inspection hole in the member covering the heat insulating member may be reached. However, even if a local inspection hole (through hole) is provided, the entire region of the heat insulating member cannot be visually recognized. A technique that uses a local inspection hole cannot be applied to a heat insulating member that does not know where it will be damaged.
However, in the case of a vacuum heat insulating member, the hardness of the vacuum heat insulating member changes uniformly over the whole depending on the presence or absence of damage regardless of the position of damage. The vacuum heat insulating member can diagnose the presence or absence of damage by palpation. And it is not limited to a palpation location, Even if it palpates in any part, it can be diagnosed whether the vacuum heat insulation member is damaged or is maintained normally. In the case of a vacuum heat insulating member, the vacuum heat insulating member can be diagnosed from a local inspection hole by palpating. In this technology, by adopting a method of palpating the vacuum heat insulating member from a local through hole, it is possible to diagnose normality or abnormality of the vacuum heat insulating member from the through hole. As a result, normality / abnormality of the vacuum heat insulating member can be diagnosed without removing the outer member.

  Instead of covering the hot water storage tank with one vacuum heat insulating member, the hot water storage tank may be covered with a plurality of vacuum heat insulating members. In this case, it is preferable to form a through hole at a position straddling the boundary between the plurality of vacuum heat insulating members. Then, a plurality of vacuum heat insulating members can be palpated from the same through hole. It is possible to diagnose normality / abnormality for each vacuum heat insulating member.

In some cases, two vacuum heat insulating members are arranged at intervals, and the temperature detecting device is arranged on the wall surface of the hot water storage tank exposed at the interval. In this case, it is preferable to form a through hole having a width from one vacuum heat insulating member to the other vacuum heat insulating member beyond the temperature detecting device.
In this case, if the normal abnormality of the vacuum insulation member on one side can be diagnosed from the through hole, the normal abnormality of the vacuum insulation member on the other side can be diagnosed, or the temperature detection device can be inspected, It is also possible to replace the failed temperature detection device.

When the temperature detection device is disposed between the two vacuum heat insulating members, it is preferable to form a small through hole in the lid member and add a small lid member that opens and closes the small through hole.
In this case, by removing the small lid member, the operator can touch the temperature detection device from the outside of the lid member. In this state, the vacuum heat insulating member is not exposed. The vacuum insulation member is not accidentally damaged during inspection and replacement of the temperature detection device.

It is preferable to form a regulating portion that determines the maximum insertion depth of the lid member between the lid member and the outer member or between the lid member and the hot water storage tank.
In this case, when the operator inserts the lid member and closes the through hole, it is possible to prevent an accident that damages the vacuum heat insulating member by inserting the lid member too deeply.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to diagnose normality of the vacuum heat insulating member without removing the outer member. The diagnosis work for the vacuum heat insulating member is simplified, and the occurrence of an accident that damages the vacuum heat insulating member during the diagnostic work can be prevented.

The disassembled perspective view of the heat insulation type hot water storage apparatus of Example 1 is shown typically. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an adiabatic hot water storage device of Example 1. FIG. The front view of the heat insulation type hot water storage apparatus of Example 1 is shown typically. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. The state which opened the cover member of Example 1 is shown typically. Sectional drawing of the cover member of Example 2 is shown. Sectional drawing of the cover member of Example 3 is shown. The state which opened the cover member of Example 4 is shown typically.

The main features of the embodiments described below are listed below.
(Feature 1) The vacuum heat insulating member is divided into left and right parts. The outer heat insulating member is also divided into left and right parts. Prior to attaching the heat insulating member to the hot water storage tank, the left vacuum heat insulating member is attached to the inner surface of the left outer heat insulating member, the right vacuum heat insulating member is attached to the inner surface of the right outer heat insulating member, and then the left outer heat insulating member and the right outer heat insulating member are attached. Cover the hot water storage tank with the material.
(Feature 2) The hot water storage tank is covered with the right outer heat insulating member, the left outer heat insulating member, the upper outer heat insulating member, and the lower outer heat insulating member.
(Feature 3) A location for the operator to hold the lid member is provided. The lid member can be opened and closed without tools. Occurrence of an accident that damages the vacuum insulation member with a tool can be prevented.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an exploded perspective view of the heat insulation type hot water storage apparatus of the first embodiment. It is a figure shown typically and the shape of each part is not exact. Reference numeral 8 is a stainless steel hot water storage tank that stores hot water heated by a heat pump (not shown). 4 is a left outer heat insulating member, 6 is a left vacuum heat insulating member, 10 is a right vacuum heat insulating member, 12 is a right outer heat insulating member, 2 is an upper outer heat insulating member, and 14 is a lower outer heat insulating member. The stainless steel hot water storage tank 8 is covered with the heat insulating members 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, and 14 and is insulated from the surroundings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure, the actual appearance is shown in FIG. 2, the front view is shown in FIG. 3, and the cross section taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a part of the front side edge 4b of the left outer heat insulating member 4 in the axial direction is cut away (see 4a). Similarly, a part in the axial direction of the front side edge 12b of the right outer heat insulating member 12 is also cut away (see 12a). When combined so that the front side edge 4b of the left outer heat insulating member 4 and the front side edge 12b of the right outer heat insulating member 12 are in contact with each other, a through hole 20 (see FIG. 5) is formed by the notch 4a and the notch 12a. The A lid member 16 for opening and closing the through hole 20 is prepared. A pair of thermistors (temperature detection devices) 18 a and 18 b are attached to the wall surface of the hot water storage tank 8. The upper thermistor 18 a detects the temperature of hot water stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8, and the lower thermistor 18 b detects the temperature of hot water stored in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. In a state where the hot water storage tank 8 is covered with the heat insulating members 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, and 14, the pair of thermistors 18 a and 18 b are connected to the edge 6 e of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the end of the right vacuum heat insulating member 10. Located between the edges 10e. The pair of thermistors 18 a and 18 b are located in the through hole 20 and are exposed to the inside of the through hole 20 when the lid member 16 is removed.

As schematically shown in FIG. 5, when the cover member 16 is removed and the through hole 20 is opened, the through hole 20 has an edge 6 e of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6, an edge 10 e of the right vacuum heat insulating member 10, A pair of thermistors 18a and 18b are exposed. The operator can touch the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 by inserting his / her hand into the through hole 20, can touch the right vacuum heat insulating member 10, and can also inspect the thermistors 18 a and 18 b. If necessary, the thermistors 18a and 18b can be exchanged. Even if the left-side vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the right-side vacuum heat insulating member 10 are damaged in a portion that is not exposed to the through hole 20, that is, a portion covered with the left outer heat insulating member 4 and the right outer heat insulating member 12, the vacuum state is broken. The hardness changes over the entire surface. Although only a part of the left-side vacuum heat insulating member 6 and a part of the right-side vacuum heat insulating member 10 are exposed in the through hole 20 and the range that can be palpated by the operator is limited, the left-side vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the right-side vacuum The normality / abnormality of the heat insulating member 10 can be diagnosed.
In order to facilitate the opening and closing operation of the lid member 16, the lid member 16 is formed with a pair of recesses 16a and 16b. The operator can grasp the lid member 16 without using a tool. The operator can open and close the lid member 16 without a tool. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an accident that damages the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10 with a tool.
As shown in FIG. 4, a step is formed along the edge defining the through hole 20 of the left outer heat insulating member 4 and the right outer heat insulating member 12. Corresponding steps are also formed on the lid member 16. The maximum insertion depth of the lid member 16 is regulated by the step. When the operator pushes the lid member 16, the maximum insertion depth is regulated by the step, and the lid member 16 does not contact the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10. When the operator pushes the lid member 16, the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10 are not damaged.

  FIG. 6 shows a drawing corresponding to a section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5 in the second embodiment. In this case, steps 4 c and 4 d are formed along the upper edge and the lower edge that define the through hole 20 of the left outer heat insulating member 4. Although not shown, a similar step is formed on the right outer heat insulating member 12. Corresponding steps are also formed on the lid member 16. The maximum insertion depth of the lid member 16 is regulated by the step. When the operator pushes the lid member 16, the maximum insertion depth is regulated by the step, and the lid member 16 does not contact the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10. The vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10 are not damaged when the operator pushes the lid member 16. The lid member 16 may be a flat plate having no step. Any step may be used as long as it is in contact with the steps 4c and 4d and cannot be inserted deeper than that, and there may be no step corresponding to the steps 4c and 4d.

  FIG. 7 shows a drawing corresponding to a cross section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5 in the third embodiment. In this case, the protruding portion 16 c extends from the upper center of the inner surface of the lid member 16, and the protruding portion 16 d extends from the lower central portion of the inner surface of the lid member 16. The widths of the protrusions 16 c and 16 d are narrower than the distance between the edge 6 e of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the edge 10 e of the right vacuum heat insulating member 10. When the operator pushes the lid member 16, the protruding portions 16c and 16d enter the interval. The protruding lengths of the protruding portions 16 c and 16 d are longer than the thicknesses of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the right vacuum heat insulating member 10. When the operator pushes in the lid member 16, the inner surface of the lid member 16 (the area where the protrusions 16 c and 16 d are not formed) protrudes before contacting the surfaces of the left vacuum insulating member 6 and the right vacuum insulating member 10. The tips of the portions 16c and 16d abut against the wall surface of the hot water storage tank 8 and are regulated so as not to be inserted deeper than that. Therefore, the lid member 16 does not contact the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10. As a result, the vacuum heat insulating members 6 and 10 are not damaged when the operator pushes the lid member 16.

FIG. 8 shows a drawing corresponding to FIG. 5 in the fourth embodiment. A small through hole 26 a is formed in the lid member 26, and a small lid member 36 that closes the small through hole 26 is prepared. The size of the through hole 20 that opens and closes the lid member 26 is the same as that of the first embodiment. When the cover member 26 is removed and the through hole 20 is opened, the edge 6 e of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the edge 10 e of the right vacuum heat insulating member 10 are exposed in the through hole 20. An operator can insert his hand into the through-hole 20 and palpate the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 or can palpate the right vacuum heat insulating member 10. When the small lid member 36 is removed and the small through hole 26a is opened, the thermistors 18a and 18b are exposed in the small through hole 26a. By removing the small lid member 36, the thermistors 18a and 18b can be inspected and replaced. Even if the small lid member 36 is removed, the edge 6e of the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the edge 10e of the right vacuum heat insulating member 10 are not exposed. That is, when the thermistors 18a and 18b are inspected and replaced by removing the small lid member 36, the left vacuum heat insulating member 6 is protected by the left outer heat insulating member 4, and the right vacuum heat insulating member 10 is protected by the right outer heat insulating member 12. Protected by The left vacuum heat insulating member 6 and the right vacuum heat insulating member 10 are not damaged when the thermistors 18a and 18b are inspected and replaced.
A step may be provided in the small through hole 26a of the lid member 26 to restrict the maximum insertion depth of the small lid member 36. Or you may form the convex part which contact | abuts the wall surface of the hot water storage tank 8, and regulates the maximum insertion depth of the small lid member 36 in the inner surface of the small lid member 36. FIG. The small lid member 36 may also be formed with a gripping shape that allows the operator to grip the small lid member 36 without tools.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
For example, the vacuum heat insulating member is not limited to the embodiment in which the vacuum heat insulating member is divided into left and right parts, and may be divided into four parts in the vertical and horizontal directions. Moreover, you may form the convex part for holding | grip in a cover member and a small cover member.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and achieving one of the objects itself has technical utility.

2: Upper outer heat insulating member 4: Left outer heat insulating member 6: Left vacuum heat insulating member 8: Hot water storage tank 10: Right vacuum heat insulating member 12: Left outer heat insulating member 14: Lower outer heat insulating member 16: Lid member 20: Through hole

Claims (5)

A hot water storage tank,
A vacuum insulation member covering at least a part of the hot water storage tank;
An outer member that covers the entire area of the vacuum heat insulating member and in which a through hole is formed in part;
A lid member that opens and closes the through hole;
A heat insulating hot water storage device in which the vacuum heat insulating member can be palpated from the outside of the outer member when the cover member is removed and the through hole is opened. The hot water storage tank is covered with multiple vacuum insulation members,
A through hole is formed at a position straddling the boundary between the plurality of vacuum heat insulating members,
The heat insulation type hot water storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the cover member is removed and the through hole is opened, the plurality of vacuum heat insulation members can be palpated from the outside of the outer member. Two vacuum insulation members are arranged at intervals,
A temperature detecting device is arranged on the wall surface of the hot water tank exposed at the interval,
The heat insulating hot water storage device according to claim 2, wherein the through hole has a width that reaches from the one vacuum heat insulating member to the other vacuum heat insulating member beyond the temperature detecting device. A small through hole is formed in the lid member,
A small lid member that opens and closes the small through hole is added,
The heat insulation type hot water storage device according to claim 3, wherein the temperature detecting device can be accessed from the outside of the lid member by removing the small lid member and opening a small through hole.   The restriction part which regulates the maximum insertion depth of a lid member is formed between a lid member and an outside member, or between a lid member and a hot water storage tank. The heat insulation type hot water storage device described in 1.

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