JP2013002649A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater which has high usability by making the addition concentration of a water modifying component supplied to hot water constant.SOLUTION: The water heater includes a hot water pouring path 26 for pouring hot water, a water modifying means 33 of adding a functional modification component to the hot water, and a flow rate detection means 50 of detecting the flow rate of the hot water flowing in the hot water pouring path 26, and is configured to change a time when the functional modification component is added to the hot water based upon the flow rate of the hot water that the flow rate detection means 50 detects. There is provided the water heater which has high usability by making the addition concentration of the water modifying component supplied to the hot water constant.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus having a function of adding a predetermined amount of a component for water reforming to hot water supply water.

  Conventionally, this type of device has a water reforming means for adding a material containing a target component to hot water in a water supply path for supplying tap water to a water heater, or a pouring path for guiding hot water boiled in a water heater to a bathtub. A method of disposing the water-reforming component for a predetermined purpose in hot water is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 shows a conventional hot water supply apparatus described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, water reforming means is incorporated in the water path.

  In this patent document 1, as a water reforming means, an electrolysis method using an additive component as an electrode (zinc anode 1) is used, and electricity is supplied to the electrodes 1 and 2 while pouring water passes through the water reforming means. By electrolyzing a part of the electrode 1 in the pouring water, a water-reforming component having a predetermined concentration can be added.

  Further, as other water reforming means other than Patent Document 1, a means for dissolving an inorganic compound containing a water reforming component by making contact with hot water and using concentration diffusion can also be used.

JP 2004-190882 A

  However, the conventional configuration does not disclose a configuration in which the concentration of the water reforming component supplied to the hot water is constant.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device having high usability by making the concentration of the water reforming component supplied to the hot water constant.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a hot water supply apparatus of the present invention includes a pouring path for pouring hot water, water reforming means for adding a functional reforming component to the hot water, and hot water flowing through the pouring path. A flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate and a control device are provided, and the time for adding the functional reforming component to the hot water is changed based on the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means. Is.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the hot water supply apparatus with high usability can be provided by making constant the addition density | concentration of the water reforming component supplied to hot water.

Configuration diagram of hot water supply apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Detailed view of water reforming circuit in the same embodiment Detailed view of water reforming circuit using electrolysis method in the same embodiment Detailed view of bypass solenoid valve at the time of valve opening in the same embodiment Detailed view of bypass solenoid valve during valve closing in the same embodiment Characteristic diagram of solubility of inorganic compound with respect to water flow rate in the same embodiment The figure which shows the water flow ratio to the water reforming means with respect to the water flow rate in the same embodiment Configuration diagram of conventional hot water supply equipment

  The first invention includes a pouring path for pouring hot water, a water reforming means for adding a functional reforming component to the hot water, a flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of hot water flowing through the pouring path, and a control device. The hot water supply apparatus is characterized in that the time for adding the functional reforming component to the hot water is changed based on the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means, and the water reforming supplied to the hot water A hot water supply device with high usability can be provided by keeping the concentration of the added components constant.

  2nd invention is equipped with the 1st solenoid valve distribute | arranged to the said pouring path | route, and the parallel branch path formed so that hot water might be shunted from the said pouring path | route, The said water reforming means is provided in the said parallel branch path | route. And a second electromagnetic valve, and the open / close operation of the second electromagnetic valve is controlled based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means. The dissolution amount of the hot water functional reforming component can be made constant, and the concentration of the hot water functional reforming component to be supplied can be made constant.

  A third invention is a hot water supply apparatus, wherein the second electromagnetic valve is opened within a predetermined range of the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means, and a flow rate range in which a functional reforming component is to be added. It becomes possible to decide.

  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 supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the water reforming circuit in the same embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a compressor 10, a hot water supply heat exchanger 11, a decompression unit 12, an evaporator 13, and a refrigerant circuit 14 are connected in an annular shape to constitute a heat pump unit 15. Water is stored in the hot water storage tank 17 of the hot water storage unit 16, and the hot water discharge circuit 18 is a circuit for connecting the hot water storage tank 17, the hot water supply pump 19, the hot water supply heat exchanger 11, and the hot water storage tank 17 in this order.

  The bathtub water heating circuit 20 is a circuit that connects the hot water storage tank 17, the bath heat exchanger 21, the bathtub water heating pump 22, and the hot water storage tank 17 in order, and the bathtub 23 is connected to the other circuit of the bath heat exchanger 21. ing. The bathtub water circulation circuit 24 is a circuit which connects the bathtub 23, the bathtub water pump 25 which conveys bathtub water, and the bath heat exchanger 21 in order.

  The bathtub water pouring path 26 is a circuit that pours water from the hot water storage tank 17 into the bathtub 23 via the bathtub water circulation circuit 24. This circuit includes a bathtub water mixing valve 27 that mixes hot water in the hot water storage tank 17 and tap water, a temperature detection means 28 that detects the temperature of the water to be poured, a flow rate detection means 50 that detects the amount of water to be poured, and a bathtub water injection A bathtub water pouring valve 29 for opening and closing the circuit of the hot water passage 26 is provided in order.

The water reforming circuit 30 is a circuit disposed in the middle of the bathtub water pouring path 26 on the downstream side of the bathtub water pouring valve. As shown in FIG. 2, the water reforming circuit 30 is provided with two branch parts 31 in the middle of the pouring path in the bathtub water pouring path 26, and both branch parts 31 are connected by a parallel branch path 32. The water reforming means 33 is disposed in the parallel branch path 32, and a bypass electromagnetic valve 34 is disposed between the water reforming means 33 and the upstream branching section 31, and the water reforming is performed by opening and closing the bypass electromagnetic valve 34. The supply of hot water to the means 33 can be opened and closed, and the water reforming circuit 30 configured as described above is housed in the housing of the hot water storage unit 16.

  Further, the water to which the water reforming component has been added by the water reforming means 33 passes through the branch portion 31 again and merges with the hot water in the bathtub water pouring channel 26, and the hot water to which the water reforming component has been added becomes the bathtub 23. Be poured into hot water. The water reforming means 33 may be any means capable of dissolving and adding the target water reforming component in water. As shown in FIG. 2, the particles of the inorganic compound 35 containing the water reforming component as shown in FIG. The filter 37 is disposed downstream of the inorganic compound 35, and a dissolution method in which the inorganic compound 35 and hot water are in direct contact with each other, and the target components as shown in FIG. An electrolysis method may be used in which power is supplied from the power source 9 to 2 to decompose and elute water reforming components in water. However, the direct dissolution method is safer in terms of cost, compactness, combustible gas generation, etc. There are many advantages in terms of power consumption and the like, and this embodiment will be described on the premise of the melting method.

  The operation of heating the water stored in the hot water storage tank 17 by the heat pump unit 15 is as follows. The water in the hot water storage tank 17 is conveyed to the hot water supply heat exchanger 11 by the hot water supply water pump 19 and heated by the heat pump cycle operation. The hot water supply pump 19 controls the flow rate of the hot water supply circuit 18 so that the temperature of the hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 11 becomes a predetermined temperature.

  Hot water filling to the bathtub 23 and heating of the water (tub water) stored in the bathtub 23 are as follows. The bath water mixing valve 27 of the bath water pouring path 26 is hot water and tap water so that the pouring temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 28 becomes a temperature preset by a control device (not shown). Adjust the mixing ratio.

  The hot water having a predetermined temperature flows out into the bathtub 23 through the bathtub water pouring path 26 and the bathtub water circulation circuit 24 in this order. On the other hand, when heating the bathtub water of the bathtub 23, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 17 is conveyed to the bath heat exchanger 21 by the bathtub water heating pump 22, and the bathtub water conveyed from the bathtub water pump 25. Heat. Hot-water supply water whose temperature has been lowered by heating the bath water in the bath heat exchanger 21 flows into the interior from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17.

  FIG. 4 shows a detailed view when the bypass solenoid valve 34 is closed. The valve body 38 is connected to the plunger 39 and closes the flow path of the parallel branch path 32 by a spring 40. Although the hot water branched from the branch part 31 is supplied to the valve body 38, since the parallel branch path 32 is closed by the valve body 38, hot water does not flow to the water reforming means 33, and water is not supplied to the bathtub 23. No modifying component is added.

  FIG. 5 shows a detailed view when the bypass solenoid valve is opened. A voltage is supplied from the terminal 41 to the electromagnetic coil 42, and the electromagnetic coil 42 is excited, opens the parallel branch path 32 against the compression force of the plunger 39 and the valve body 38 against the compression force of the spring 40, and is branched from the branch portion 31. Hot water is supplied to the water reforming means 33.

  About the hot water supply apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

When the user hot waters the bathtub 23, the remote controller or the like performs a hot water operation instruction operation. After the remote control operation, the water adjusted by the bathtub water mixing valve 27 to a preset temperature controls the bathtub water injection valve 29 from closed to open, so that the bath water injection from the bathtub water injection valve 29 is performed. Hot water flows into the path 26, a part of the hot water flowing into the bathtub water pouring path 26 is diverted to the parallel branch path 32, and the water to which the water reforming component is added by the water reforming means 33 is branched again. The hot water with the water reforming component added thereto is poured into the bathtub 23 through the section 31 and merged with the hot water in the bathtub water pouring path 26.

  In the water reforming means 33, the flowing hot water passes through a porous space formed by particles of the inorganic compound 35 filled in the storage container 36. Since water has viscosity, a velocity boundary layer is generated from the surface of the inorganic compound 35 to a region near the surface when passing through the porous space. Since the inorganic compound 35 is soluble in water, the surface molecules of the inorganic compound 35 in the vicinity of the surface of the inorganic compound 35 are dissolved in water in the vicinity of the surface, and the dissolution concentration of water is increased. Since the water near the surface has a low flow rate, the dissolved concentration has a high value.

  On the other hand, the dissolved concentration of water flowing in the center of the porous space having a high flow rate is low. At this time, if there is a difference in the concentration of the inorganic compound dissolved in water, the lower substance moves from the higher one according to the concentration difference (Fick's law), so the inorganic compound dissolved in the water near the surface Move to low center water. By utilizing this principle of substance diffusion, the inorganic compound 35 can be dissolved in water in the porous space.

  FIG. 6 shows the characteristics of the solubility of the inorganic compound with respect to the flow rate. The solubility in a predetermined flow rate range has a characteristic that can be approximated almost linearly with respect to the flow rate.

  When hot water is applied to the bathtub 23, when the on / off valve operation of the bypass solenoid valve 34 is interlocked with the on / off valve operation of the bathtub water pouring valve 29, the inorganic compound exhibits the characteristics shown in FIG. The amount of 35 dissolved will change.

  In addition, when it is set as the zinc compound (zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, etc.) containing zinc as an inorganic compound, the following effect can be acquired. Zinc is one of the essential elements of humans with relatively large demands, and is easily deficient when supplied from a normal diet. It is an element added to foods for the purpose of enhancing nutrition. On the other hand, the nutrition enhancement by percutaneous absorption can be performed during bathing by supplying water in which zinc is dissolved in the bathtub.

  In addition, zinc oxide, a zinc compound, is a material that has been approved under the pharmacopoeia and cosmetic raw material standards. It mainly has effects on the stratum corneum of human skin, such as astringent action and anti-inflammatory action, and the skin corners. Layer improvements can also be made.

In addition to zinc oxide, materials that can be used as the inorganic compound 35 include zinc oxide (ZnO), basic zinc carbonate (mZnCO ₃ .nZn (OH) ₂ ), and zinc hydroxide (Zn (OH)). ₂ ), zinc-substituted zeolite, zinc-substituted chelate, and zinc silica gel-supported material, which can be used singly or in combination.

  Further, calcium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide, iron compound (iron oxide, iron hydroxide), copper oxide, silicon oxide, manganese dioxide, cobalt hydroxide, titanium oxide, silver chloride, and barium sulfate can be used.

  Considering the expectation of the effects as described above, it is desirable that the addition concentration of the inorganic compound supplied to the bathtub is constant at an appropriate value. In order to realize this, it is only necessary to correct the difference in the dissolved amount of the inorganic compound depending on the flow rate of water and adjust the opening time of the bypass solenoid valve 34.

  The flow rate of the bathtub water can be detected by the flow rate detection means 50. When an impeller-type flow meter is used as the flow rate detection means 50, the flow rate can be normally detected with a resolution of about 0.1 L / min, and the flow rate can be detected with high accuracy.

  Here, with respect to the desired addition concentration C of the inorganic compound desired to be constant, calculation of the dissolved amount of the inorganic compound is performed using a linear expression as follows, for example.

In FIG. 6, when hot water is applied to the bathtub 23, when the on / off valve operation of the bypass solenoid valve 34 is linked with the on / off valve operation of the bathtub water pouring valve 29, the solubility that can achieve the desired addition concentration C is obtained. a _1, to the flow rate of the water at that time and _{q 1.}

When the flow rate of water is higher than q ₁ , the solubility is higher than A ₁ , and therefore, in order to achieve the desired addition concentration C, the valve closing operation of the bypass solenoid valve 34 is performed by the bathtub water pouring valve 29. It may be performed earlier than the valve closing operation.

By the way, when the hot water is passed through the water reforming means 33, it is carried out within a predetermined range of the flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means 50. For example, if the lower limit for the _{q L} upper limit _{q H,} determination range of the flow rate of performing hot water passing water Mizuaratameshitsu means 33, the _{q L} ≦ _q ≦ _{q H.}

  In this way, if a flow rate determination range for passing hot water through the water reforming means 33 is set, it can be used as an abnormality detection, and if the determination range is exceeded, the water reforming circuit 30 can be protected. it can.

That is, the bath water NOTE hot water valve 29 is opened the flow rate detecting unit 50 flow rate q detected by the or lower than q _L, is higher than q _H, malfunctions such as clogging and various valves of the piping In such a case, the bypass electromagnetic valve 34 is left closed, and the water reforming means 33 is protected by not passing hot water through the water reforming means 33 in such a case.

  FIG. 7 shows a water flow time ratio for supplying hot water to the water reforming means 33 with respect to the flow rate q of water in order to realize a desired addition concentration C of the inorganic compound.

As described above, the water flow time ratio B ₁ when the set flow rate q ₁ = q ₂ corresponds to the case where the on / off valve operation of the bypass solenoid valve 34 is linked to the on / off valve operation of the bathtub water pouring valve 29. Therefore, B ₁ = 100%.

According to FIG. 7, the water flow rate B at the flow rate q of water is as follows: B = B ₁ − {(q−q ₁ ) (B ₁ −B ₂ ) / (q ₂ −q ₁ )}. Here, B ₂ is a water passage time ratio at the maximum flow rate q ₂ obtained when the water passage resistance is the lowest.

When the pouring flow to bath set by the user and Q _1, the addition of the bypass valve closing operation of the electromagnetic valve 34 may be performed when pouring flow rate Q is Q = BQ _1, supplied to the tub inorganic compound The density can be constant at the value of C.

Here, the pouring amount Q to the bathtub 23 is integrated by adding the pouring flow rate q detected by the flow rate detecting means 50 provided in the pouring path downstream from the bathtub water mixing valve 27 as shown in FIG. Can be operated. Q = Σ (q _k · t · k) k = 1, 2, 3..., where k is the sample time stage and the sample time interval is t.

  As described above, the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention can make the addition concentration of the inorganic compound to be supplied to the bathtub constant when adding the inorganic compound to water. It can also be used for hot water heaters.

23 Bath 24 Bath water circulation circuit 25 Bath water pump 26 Bath water pouring route 27 Bath water mixing valve 28 Temperature detecting means 29 Bath water pouring valve 30 Water reforming circuit 31 Branching portion 32 Parallel branching route 33 Water reforming means 34 Bypass Solenoid valve 35 Inorganic compound 36 Storage container 37 Filter 50 Flow rate detection means

Claims (3)

A pouring path for pouring hot water, water reforming means for adding a functional reforming component to the hot water, flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of hot water flowing through the pouring path, and a control device, and the flow rate A hot water supply apparatus characterized in that the time for adding the functional reforming component to the hot water is changed based on the hot water flow rate detected by the detecting means. A first electromagnetic valve disposed in the pouring path; and a parallel branch path formed to divert hot water from the pouring path, wherein the water reforming means and the second solenoid valve are provided in the parallel branch path. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening / closing operation of the second electromagnetic valve is controlled based on a flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second electromagnetic valve is opened within a predetermined range of the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means.