JP2013064523A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater that is achieved to improve comfort and convenience by making the bath temperature during bathing appropriate by using a human detecting means.SOLUTION: A water heater includes a bathtub 68, a bath heat exchanger 73 for heating hot water in the bathtub 68, a bath circulation pipe line 69 for interconnecting the bathtub 68 and the bath heat exchanger 73 and having a circulation pump 77 arranged therein, a bathtub temperature detecting means 78 for detecting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 68, the human detecting means 81 for detecting the presence of a person within the bath room, a bathtub temperature setting means 83 for setting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, and a control means 82, wherein when the human detecting means 81 detects a person, hot water having a temperature higher than a set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 is filled to the bath circulation pipe line 69 and the circulation pump 77 is driven, characteristically.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water heater having a function of retreating a bath when a person is detected.

  Conventionally, as this type of water heater, there is one having a bath replenishment function that replenishes a bath by pouring hot water into a bathtub when a person is detected in the bathroom (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional water heater described in the publication. When the person detecting means 81 detects a person who has entered the bathroom 80, the hot water supply machine opens the bath pouring valve 66 and supplies hot water (for example, 55 ° C.) having a pouring temperature higher than the set temperature of the bath to the bathtub 68. A predetermined amount of pouring is performed.

  When the predetermined amount of pouring is completed, the bath pouring valve 66 is closed, the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are driven, and hot water in the hot water storage tank 57 and hot water in the bathtub 68 are discharged. The bath is reheated by exchanging heat with the bath heat exchanger 73. When the temperature of the bathtub 68 reaches a predetermined temperature, the heat-source side circulation pump 76 and the use-side circulation pump 77 are stopped, and the bath is replenished. It is configured to end.

JP 2010-19501 A

  However, the conventional configuration has the following problems. In general, the bath replenishment is often performed by exchanging heat between the hot water in the hot water tank 57 and the hot water in the bathtub 68 by the bath heat exchanger 73.

  On the other hand, if hot water is poured into the bathtub as in the conventional example of FIG. 6, the temperature of the bathtub 68 can be increased quickly, but the amount of hot water in the bathtub increases by the amount of hot water poured. The higher the pouring temperature is, the faster the temperature of the bathtub can be raised, and the less hot water is poured. However, the hot water temperature is usually set to 60 ° C. or lower (55 ° C. in the conventional example) so that a person in the bathtub does not feel the hot water poured hot.

  In the case of such a hot water temperature, when a person continues to bathe in a short time, pouring continues, so the amount of hot water in the bathtub may be excessive. In some cases, the amount of hot water is considerably larger than the appropriate amount of water, and the water level of the bathtub 68 rises, making it difficult to soak in the bathtub. Moreover, when the capacity | capacitance of a bathtub is comparatively small, when a person is immersed in a bathtub, it is also predicted that hot water will overflow from a bathtub, and the subject that hot water is wasted also arises.

  Furthermore, the hot water to be poured mixes the hot water at the top of the hot water tank 57 and the low temperature water supply. In order to actually increase the temperature of the bathtub, as the amount of low-temperature water supply increases (the lower the pouring temperature is, the lower the pouring temperature is) The proportion of heat used is reduced.

That is, if the pouring temperature is low, the proportion of heat that is effectively taken out of the hot water tank 57 decreases, so the amount of hot water that is taken out from the hot water tank 57 increases and the hot water may run out. May cause problems.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and provides a water heater that improves comfort and convenience by using a human detection means to achieve an appropriate temperature of the bath during bathing. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a water heater of the present invention includes a bathtub, a bath heat exchanger that heats hot water in the bathtub, and a circulation pump that connects the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger. A bath circulation pipe, a bathtub temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, a person detecting means for detecting the presence of a person in the bathroom, and a bathtub temperature setting means for setting the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, Control means, and when the human detection means detects a person, the hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means is poured into the bath circulation pipe and the circulation The pump is driven.

  As a result, hot water from the hot water tank is mixed with hot water from the bathtub in the bath circulation line to lower the temperature and then enter the bathtub. Even if set to), the pouring temperature can be increased to a temperature higher than this safe temperature, so the amount of pouring can be reduced, so that the increase in the amount of hot water in the bathtub is reduced and the comfort is improved. Since the amount of hot water flowing out from the hot water is reduced, the possibility of hot water running out is reduced and convenience is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the hot water heater which implement | achieves improvement of comfort and convenience can be provided by achieving the appropriate temperature of the bath temperature at the time of bathing using a person detection means.

Configuration diagram of a water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Characteristic diagram showing the heat dissipation characteristics of the bath circulation pipe of the water heater Characteristic chart showing the required amount of pouring water and the amount of hot water coming out of the hot water tank with respect to the pouring temperature of the water heater The characteristic figure which shows the ratio of the amount of pouring in the amount of mixed hot water with respect to the pouring temperature of the same hot water heater Configuration of other water heaters of the same water heater Configuration of a conventional water heater

  The first invention includes a bathtub, a bath heat exchanger that heats the hot water in the bathtub, a bath circulation pipe that connects the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger and is provided with a circulation pump, and hot water in the bathtub. Bath temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the person, person detection means for detecting the presence of a person in the bathroom, bath temperature setting means for setting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, and control means, and the person detection means When a person is detected, hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means is poured into the bath circulation pipe and the circulation pump is driven. It is.

  As a result, hot water from the hot water tank is mixed with hot water from the bathtub in the bath circulation line to lower the temperature and then enter the bathtub. Even if set to), the pouring temperature can be increased to a temperature higher than this safe temperature, so the amount of pouring can be reduced, so that the increase in the amount of hot water in the bathtub is reduced and the comfort is improved. Since the amount of hot water flowing out from the hot water is reduced, the possibility of hot water running out is reduced and convenience is improved.

  A second invention includes a hot water storage tank for storing hot water and a mixing valve for mixing high temperature water and water from the hot water tank, and the hot water adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the mixing valve is supplied to the bath circulation pipe. It is characterized by pouring hot water into the road, and even if the temperature of the hot water storage tank changes during pouring, the pouring temperature can be adjusted directly, so the temperature entering the bathtub can be adjusted stably, The effect of comfort can be increased.

  3rd invention controls the rotation speed of the said circulation pump so that the temperature of the hot water of the said bathtub may become predetermined temperature.

  This makes it possible to adjust the circulation rate from the bathtub even when the temperature of the hot water in the bath circulation line connecting the hot water heater and the bathtub is large, such as in winter, so that cold hot water does not enter the bathtub. Can increase the effect of comfort.

  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 is a configuration diagram of a water heater in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the heating means that is a heat source of the hot water heater is a heat pump unit 55 that constitutes a heat pump cycle including a compressor 51, a hot water supply heat exchanger 52, a decompression device 53, and an evaporator 54 that absorbs atmospheric heat. Then, carbon dioxide whose refrigerant pressure on the high pressure side is equal to or higher than the critical pressure is used as the refrigerant.

  Water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 57 stored in the hot water storage unit 56 through a water supply pipe 58 connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57, and hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 passes through the hot water supply pipe 59 and is supplied by the hot water supply mixing valve 60. Then, hot water is supplied from the terminal (faucet 62) through the hot water supply pipe 61.

  Further, by forming a boiling circuit that sequentially connects the lower part of the hot water tank 57 to the circulation pump 63, the hot water supply heat exchanger 52, and the upper part of the hot water tank 57, the water sent from the hot water tank 57 by the circulation pump 63 is The hot water supply heat exchanger 52 is heated by the refrigerant heat and stored from above the hot water storage tank 57. A boiling temperature detecting means 64 is provided at the water-side outlet of the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 in order to detect the temperature of the hot water heated by the heat pump heat source.

Further, a bathtub pouring pipe 67 branched from the hot water pipe 59 and provided with a bath hot water mixing valve 65 and a bath pouring valve 66 is connected to a connection port 50 provided in the middle of a use side water circuit 75 described later. In addition, the bathtub 68 is connected to the bathtub 68 by a bath outlet pipe 70 and a bath return pipe 71. Further, on the downstream side of the connection port 50 of the use side water circuit 75, a mixed temperature detection for detecting the temperature of hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water in the bathtub sent by the use side circulation pump 77 are mixed. Means 90 are provided. Further, the bath circulation pipe 69 includes a use side water circuit 75, a bath outlet pipe 70, and a bath return pipe 71.
The bath heating means 72 includes a bath heat exchanger 73 that is a water-water heat exchanger, a heat source side water circuit 74 and a use side water circuit 75 connected thereto, and the heat source side and use side water circuits 74 and 75. The heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are provided. The heat source side water circuit 74 is connected to the upper and lower parts of the hot water tank 57, and the use side water circuit 75 is connected to the bath outlet pipe 70 and the bath return pipe 71.

Further, the use side water circuit 75 is provided with a bathtub temperature detecting means 78 for detecting the temperature of the bathtub 68 and a bathtub water level detecting means 79 for detecting the water level of the bathtub 68. Heating of the bathtub 68 was sent from the hot water storage tank 57 to the bath heat exchanger 73 by the heat source side circulation pump 76 and from the bathtub 68 to the bath heat exchanger 73 by the use side circulation pump 77. It is carried out by heat exchange with water or hot water.

  The bathroom 80 is provided with a person detection means 81 for detecting a person in the bathroom. Furthermore, when the person detection means 81 provided in the bathroom 80 detects a person, the control means 82 pours hot water having a temperature higher than the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 that sets the temperature of the bathtub 68. Thus, the bath hot water mixing valve 65 and the bath pouring valve 66 are controlled.

  Also, a hot water supply temperature detecting means 84 for detecting the hot water supply temperature mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 60 is provided on the mixing outlet side of the hot water supply mixing valve 60, and a bath hot water temperature detecting means 85 for detecting the bath hot water temperature mixed by the bath hot water mixing valve 65. Is provided on the mixing outlet side of the bath hot water mixing valve 65. Further, 86a, 86b, 86c are remaining hot water temperature detecting means 86 attached at different positions in the vertical direction of the hot water tank 57, and detect temperatures at different positions in the vertical direction of the hot water tank 57. The human detection means 81 includes an infrared sensor.

  About the hot water heater comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. In FIG. 1, first, the hot water supply heating operation will be described. If there is a request (not shown) for boiling the hot water storage tank 57, the heat pump unit 55 performs a hot water supply heating operation using atmospheric heat.

  In this case, high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 51 flows into the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 where heat is exchanged with the water sent from the lower part of the hot water tank 57 to dissipate heat, and then the pressure is reduced. The pressure is reduced by the device 53, and heat is absorbed from the atmosphere by the evaporator 54, gasified, and returned to the compressor 51.

  At this time, the water sent from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57 flowing into the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 controls the rotation speed of the circulation pump 63 so that the temperature at the outlet of the hot water supply heat exchanger 52 becomes a predetermined temperature. As a result, hot water of a predetermined temperature flows from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 and is stored.

  Next, a bathtub temperature detection operation for detecting the temperature of the bathtub 68 will be described. In this operation, the use side circulation pump 77 is driven to circulate hot water in the bathtub 68 with the hot water storage unit 56. And after circulating for a certain fixed time (for example, 1 minute), the temperature of the hot water of the bathtub 68 is detected by the bathtub temperature detection means 78.

  If the detected temperature is determined from the temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 and is lower than the bath reheating start temperature lower than the set temperature, the bath temperature detecting operation is terminated and the next bath reheating operation is performed. Transition. On the other hand, if the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the bath reheating start temperature, the bathtub temperature detection operation is terminated, and the process waits until the next bathtub temperature detection operation.

  Next, a bath rebirth operation that is a heating operation of the bathtub 68 will be described. The bathtub temperature desired by the user is set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. In general, the remote controller of the water heater is often installed in the bathroom 80 or kitchen (not shown), and the bathtub temperature setting means 83 is often provided in the bathroom remote controller 87 installed in the bathroom 80.

  The bathtub temperature setting means 83 may be provided on a kitchen remote controller (not shown) installed in the kitchen. As described above, if the temperature detected by the bathtub temperature detecting means 78 is lower than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating operation is performed.

  That is, the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 are driven. The hot water sent from the bathtub 68 by the use side circulation pump 77 is heated by heat exchange with the hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57 sent by the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the bath heat exchanger 73, and the temperature rises. Return to the bathtub 68.

  On the other hand, the hot water from the hot water storage tank 57 that has heated the hot water from the bathtub 68 by the bath heat exchanger 73 decreases to a medium temperature hot water of about 40 to 50 ° C. and returns to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 57. At this time, the bathtub temperature detecting means 78 detects the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 68 sent by driving the use side circulation pump 77.

  If the detected temperature is determined from the temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 and is lower than the set temperature or the bath reheating stop temperature higher than the set temperature, the bath renewal operation is continued as it is. If the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the bath reheating stop temperature, the bath renewal operation is terminated.

  The bath reheating start temperature and the bath reheating stop temperature may be determined as follows. When it is desired to control the temperature of the bathtub 68 to about 1 ° C., the bath reheating start temperature is set to (set temperature −1 ° C.) with respect to the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83, and the bath reheating stop temperature is set to ( Set temperature).

  Further, when it is desired to control the temperature of the bathtub 68 to about 0.5 ° C., the bath reheating start temperature is set to (set temperature−0.5 degrees) with respect to the set temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, and the bath The reheating stop temperature may be set to (set temperature).

  Next, automatic bath operation will be described in which an appropriate amount of hot water is filled in the bath 68 and then the bath 68 is kept warm for a predetermined time. At this time, the desired bathtub temperature, the amount of hot water in the bathtub, and the heat retention time can be set. The temperature of the bathtub desired by the user, the amount of hot water in the bathtub, and the heat retention time are set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, the bathtub hot water amount setting means 88, and the heat retention time setting means 89, respectively.

  In general, a remote controller of a water heater is installed in a bathroom 80 or a kitchen (not shown), and the bath temperature setting means 83, the bath water amount setting means 88, and the heat retention time setting means 89 are provided on a bathroom remote controller 87 installed in the bathroom 80. In many cases, the configuration is provided.

  In addition, you may provide these setting means 83, 88, and 89 in the kitchen remote control (not shown) installed in the kitchen. In addition, the person detection means 81 may be installed alone, but may be configured to be provided in the bathroom remote control 87 as shown in FIG. In this case, there is no need to install the person detecting means 81 and the bathroom remote controller 87 separately, so that there is an advantage that the workability is improved.

  When the bathtub automatic operation is started, the bathtub 68 is filled with water by pouring from the hot water storage tank 57 to the bathtub 68 so that the temperature and the amount of hot water set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83 and the bathtub hot water amount setting means 88 are obtained. Do.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and starts pouring. Then, the mixing ratio of the bath / hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled based on the signal from the bath / hot water temperature detecting means 85 so that the temperature of the bathtub 68 becomes the temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83. When the water level detected by the bathtub water level detection means 79 reaches a water level corresponding to the amount of hot water set by the bathtub hot water volume setting means 88, the control means 82 ends the hot water filling that is the pouring operation. Then, if the temperature of the bathtub 68 falls according to the time set by the heat retention time setting means 89, the heat insulation operation is performed by chasing the bathtub 68.

  First, the case where it is not in the bathroom 80 will be described. Since the human detection means 81 does not detect a person in the bathroom 80, the control means 82 performs a bath temperature detection operation every time interval t (for example, every 15 minutes). Do whispering. The operation at this time is the same as in the case of the conventional example shown in FIG.

  That is, the control means 82 drives the use side circulation pump 77 to circulate the hot water in the bathtub 68 to the hot water storage unit side, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78. If the detected temperature of the bathtub 68 is higher than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating is not performed, so the control unit 82 stops the use-side circulation pump 77 and waits until the next bath temperature detecting operation.

  On the contrary, if the detected temperature of the bathtub 68 is lower than the bath reheating start temperature, the bath reheating is performed. That is, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 to replenish the bath, and the bathtub temperature detection means 78 detects the temperature of the bathtub 68. If the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and the detected temperature of the bathtub temperature detecting means 78 becomes equal to or higher than the bath reheating stop temperature, which is the temperature at which the bath reheating is finished, the control means 82 is connected to the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation. The pump 77 is stopped, the bath chasing operation is terminated, and the process waits for the next bathtub temperature detection operation.

  Next, a case where a person is in the bathroom 80 will be described. When a person enters the bathroom 80, the person detection means 81 detects the person. Then, upon receiving the detection signal from the human detection means 81, the control means 82 pours hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 as the bath temperature desired by the bather, Circulate the hot water in the bathtub 68.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and further drives the use side circulation pump 77. At this time, the mixing temperature is set so that the temperature of the hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water of the bathtub 68 sent by the use-side circulation pump 77 are mixed becomes a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.). Based on the signal from the detection means 90, the mixing ratio (mixing of the hot water in the hot water tank 57 and the water from the water supply pipe 58) in the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled.

  Here, in order to heat to the set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC) vicinity set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, the said predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 degreeC) is a temperature higher than this set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC). Furthermore, the temperature of the hot water poured by being controlled by the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is higher than the predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.).

  And if the bathtub temperature detection means 78 which detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 reaches predetermined pouring end temperature (for example, setting temperature -0.5 degreeC), the bath pouring valve 66 will be closed and pouring will be complete | finished. . Further, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 to perform the bath reheating operation, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78.

  When the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and the bath reheating end temperature (for example, set temperature) determined from the bath temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 is reached, the bath renewal operation is terminated. That is, the control unit 82 stops driving the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77.

  Next, the relationship between the pouring temperature, the required pouring amount, and the amount of hot water taken out from the upper part of the hot water tank at that time will be described. Loads for heating the bath include hot water in the bathtub 68 and hot water in the bath circulation pipe 69 connecting the bathtub 68 and the hot water storage unit 56. FIG. 2 shows the temperature change of the hot water in the bath circulation pipe 69 with respect to the time when the ambient temperature is 7 ° C. with time on the horizontal axis and temperature on the vertical axis.

The characteristic of the bath circulation pipe 69 shown in the figure is a characteristic obtained by experiments in the case of using a 13 mm inner diameter cross-linked polyethylene pipe kept warm by a generally used 10 mm thick heat insulating material. As can be seen from the figure, there is a temperature drop of 9 ° C. in 15 minutes. If the length of the bath circulation pipeline 69 is 10 m, the internal volume of the bath circulation pipeline 69 is 2.65L. The amount of hot water in the bathtub 68 is 200 L, the bath temperature is cooled from the set temperature 40 ° C. to 39 ° C., and the bath is heated from this state.

  That is, first, by pouring hot water, the bath temperature of 39 ° C. is raised to 39.5 ° C. Next, the temperature increase from 39.5 ° C. to 40 ° C. is carried out by using the bath heat exchanger for the hot water sent from the bathtub 68 and the hot water at the top of the hot water tank 57 as described in the bath chasing operation. The heat exchange is performed at 73.

  When the temperature supplied from the water supply pipe 58 at the time of pouring is 9 ° C. and the temperature of the hot water in the upper part of the hot water tank 57 is 85 ° C., the hot water is supplied from the hot water of 85 ° C. in the upper part of the hot water tank 57 and the water supply pipe 58. This is performed by mixing the 9 ° C. water to be supplied with a hot water supply mixing valve 65 so as to reach a predetermined pouring temperature.

  FIG. 3 shows the pouring characteristics for bringing the hot water in the bath 68 at 39 ° C. and 200 L into 39.5 ° C. by pouring under the above conditions. That is, the horizontal axis represents the pouring temperature, the vertical axis represents the amount of hot water, and the relationship between the amount of pouring required for the pouring temperature and the amount of hot water taken out from the upper part of the hot water tank at that time was obtained by calorific value calculation. It is.

  As can be seen from the figure, when the pouring temperature is 60 ° C, the amount of hot water and the amount of hot water taken out from the upper part of the hot water tank are about 6L and 4L, respectively, and when the pouring temperature is 80 ° C, 3L and 2.8L, respectively. This amount of pouring enters the bathtub 68, increases the amount of hot water in the bathtub 68, and raises the water level of the bathtub 68. The amount of increase in the amount of hot water in the bathtub 68 is about half in the case of 80 ° C. with respect to the pouring of 60 ° C. (6 L becomes 3 L).

  The amount of hot water taken out from the upper part of the hot water tank is about 70% at 4O <0> C versus 4O <0> C (4L becomes 2.8L). When the pouring temperature is compared between 55 ° C. and 80 ° C. as in the conventional example, the difference is further increased.

  In this way, the higher the pouring temperature can reduce the amount of hot water in the bathtub 68 and the amount of hot water taken out from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 57. However, if hot water is put in the bathtub 68 as it is, the hot water hits the person in the bathtub 68 and may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the temperature of the hot water entering the bathtub 68 is usually set to 60 ° C. or lower. ing.

  Therefore, as described above, if the hot water poured into the bathtub 68 is mixed with the hot water from the bathtub 68 to lower the temperature of the hot poured hot water and then put into the bathtub 68. good.

  If the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 68 is now 39.5 ° C. and the hot water from the bathtub 68 is mixed with the poured hot water and then the hot water entering the bathtub 68 is 60 ° C., the above-mentioned mixing with respect to the pouring temperature FIG. 4 shows the ratio of the pouring amount in the amount of hot water calculated by calorie calculation.

  In the same figure, when the ratio of the amount of pouring water to the amount of hot water circulated from the bathtub and the hot water circulated from the bathtub is R1, the mixing temperature will be 60 ° C. if the pouring temperature is T1 ° C. As described above, as described above, based on the signal from the mixing temperature detecting means 90, the mixing ratio (the hot water tank 57) in the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is set so as to reach a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.). By controlling the mixing of the hot water in the upper portion and the water from the water supply pipe 58, the pouring temperature T1 is set in accordance with the ratio of the pouring amount to the mixed hot water amount at this time.

In this manner, when it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom 80, hot water is started and the use-side circulation pump is driven, so that hot water from the hot water storage tank 57 is appropriately supplied by the bath hot water mixing valve 65. Since the hot water poured into the temperature and the hot water from the bathtub 68 are mixed and put into the bathtub 68, even if the hot water temperature in the bathtub 68 is a safe temperature (60 ° C. or less), the hot water temperature is kept at this level. Therefore, the amount of hot water poured can be reduced, so that the amount of hot water in the bathtub is reduced and comfort is improved.

  Further, since the amount of hot water taken out from the hot water tank 57 is reduced, the possibility of hot water shortage is also reduced, and convenience is improved. In particular, even if the temperature of the hot water tank 57 changes during pouring, the pouring temperature can be controlled directly, so that the temperature entering the bathtub 68 can be stably adjusted, and the comfort effect can be further increased. I can do it.

  In order to obtain the same operation effect under wider conditions than the configuration of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a flow rate control device 91 may be provided in the middle of the bathtub pouring pipeline 67 of FIG. 1. . The flow rate control device 91 adjusts the pouring flow rate flowing through the bathtub pouring pipeline 67, and changes the flow path resistance by changing the flow path cross-sectional area (not shown) to control the pouring flow rate.

  Depending on the location and state of the hot water supply device, when the water supply pressure from the water supply pipe 58 is high, or when the bath circulation line 69 is long and the circulation flow rate from the bathtub 68 by the use side circulation pump 77 is small, the bath hot water mixing valve Even if 65 is controlled, the above-mentioned predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) may not be achieved.

  At this time, if the amount of pouring flowing through the bathtub pouring pipe 67 is reduced by the flow rate control device 91 and the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is controlled, the mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) can be achieved. Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to the case of FIG. 1 is acquired.

  1 and 5, the connection port 50 is provided on the downstream (discharge) side of the usage-side circulation pump 77, but the connection port 50 is provided on the upstream (suction) side of the usage-side circulation pump 77. It may be configured. Also in this case, the same operations and effects as in FIGS. 1 and 5 can be obtained.

  As described above, by controlling the pouring temperature with the bath hot water mixing valve 65, the temperature of the hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water from the bathtub 68 are mixed is set to a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.). It was made to become. On the other hand, the same operation and effect can be obtained by controlling the amount of hot water from the bathtub 68 while keeping the pouring temperature constant.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the pouring temperature is T2, the ratio of the pouring amount to the mixed hot water amount of the poured hot water and the hot water circulated from the bathtub 68 may be R2. That is, when a person enters the bathroom 80, the person detecting means 81 detects the person.

  Then, upon receiving the detection signal from the human detection means 81, the control means 82 pours hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 as the bath temperature desired by the bather, Circulate the hot water in the bathtub 68.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66 and further drives the use side circulation pump 77 at a predetermined initial rotational speed. Then, the mixing temperature is detected so that the temperature of the hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water in the bathtub 68 sent by the use-side circulation pump 77 are mixed becomes a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.). Based on the signal from the means 90, the rotation amount of the use side circulation pump 77 is adjusted to control the circulation amount.

  Here, in order to heat to the set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC) vicinity set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, the said predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 degreeC) is a temperature higher than this set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC). Furthermore, the temperature of the hot water poured by being controlled by the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is higher than the predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.).

  And if the bathtub temperature detection means 78 which detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 reaches predetermined pouring end temperature (for example, setting temperature -0.5 degreeC), the bath pouring valve 66 will be closed and pouring will be complete | finished. Further, the control of the circulation amount in which the rotation speed of the use-side circulation pump 77 is adjusted based on the signal from the mixing temperature detecting means 90 so as to reach a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) is also terminated.

  Further, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 to perform the bath reheating operation, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78. When the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and reaches a bath retreat end temperature (for example, a set temperature) determined from the bath temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83, the bath retreat is terminated. That is, the control unit 82 stops driving the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77.

  In this way, when it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom 80, hot water is started and the use-side circulation pump 77 is driven, so that hot water from the hot water tank 57 is replaced with hot water from the bathtub 68. In order to put in the bathtub 68 after making an appropriate mixing ratio, even if the hot water temperature to be put into the bathtub 68 is a safe temperature (60 ° C. or less), the pouring temperature can be made higher than this safe temperature, so the amount of pouring is reduced. Therefore, the increase in the amount of hot water in the bathtub is reduced and the comfort is improved.

  In addition, since the amount of hot water taken out from the hot water tank 57 is reduced, the possibility of hot water shortage is reduced and convenience is improved. In particular, even when the temperature of the hot water in the bath circulation line connecting the hot water heater and the bathtub is large, such as in winter, the amount of circulation from the bathtub 68 can be adjusted, so that cold hot water does not enter the bathtub 68. And the comfort effect can be increased.

  As described above, in order to obtain the same effect under a wider condition than the configuration of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a flow rate control device 91 is provided in the middle of the bathtub pouring pipeline 67 of FIG. It may be configured. Depending on the location and state of the water heater, the use-side circulation pump may be used when the supply water pressure from the water supply pipe 58 is high or when the bath circulation line 69 is long and the circulation flow rate from the bathtub 68 by the use-side circulation pump 77 is small. Even if the number of rotations of 77 is controlled, the above-mentioned predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) may not be achieved.

  At this time, a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) can be obtained by reducing the amount of pouring flowing through the bathtub pouring pipe 67 with the flow rate control device 91 and controlling the rotational speed of the use side circulation pump 77. . Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to the case of FIG. 1 is acquired.

  1 and 5, the connection port 50 is provided on the downstream (discharge) side of the usage-side circulation pump 77, but the connection port 50 is provided on the upstream (suction) side of the usage-side circulation pump 77. It may be configured. Also in this case, the same operations and effects as in FIGS. 1 and 5 can be obtained.

  As described above, the temperature of the hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water from the bathtub 68 are mixed by controlling the number of revolutions of the bath hot water mixing valve 65 and the use-side circulation pump 77 is changed to a predetermined mixing temperature ( For example, 60 ° C.).

  On the other hand, the same operation and effect can be obtained by controlling the pouring amount by keeping the pouring temperature constant and the rotation speed of the use-side circulation pump 77 constant. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a flow rate control device 91 is provided in the middle of the bathtub pouring pipeline 67. The flow rate control device 91 adjusts the pouring flow rate flowing through the bathtub pouring pipeline 67, and controls the pouring flow rate by changing the flow path resistance by changing the flow path cross-sectional area (not shown). .

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the pouring temperature is T3, the ratio of the pouring amount to the mixed hot water amount of the poured hot water and the hot water circulating from the bathtub 68 may be R3. That is, when a person enters the bathroom 80, the person detecting means 81 detects the person.

  Then, upon receiving the detection signal from the human detection means 81, the control means 82 pours hot water having a predetermined pouring temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83 as the bath temperature desired by the bather. While hot water is circulated, the hot water in the bathtub 68 is circulated.

  That is, the control means 82 opens the bath pouring valve 66, pours water at a temperature adjusted to a predetermined pouring temperature by the bath hot water mixing valve 65, and drives the use-side circulation pump 77 at a predetermined initial rotational speed. To do. At this time, the mixing temperature is set so that the temperature of the hot water after the poured hot water and the hot water of the bathtub 68 sent by the use-side circulation pump 77 are mixed becomes a predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.). Based on the signal from the detection means 90, the flow path cross-sectional area of the flow control device 91 is adjusted to control the pouring amount.

  Here, in order to heat to the set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC) vicinity set by the bathtub temperature setting means 83, the said predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 degreeC) is a temperature higher than this set temperature (for example, 40 degreeC). Furthermore, the temperature of hot water mixed and poured by the bath hot water mixing valve 65 is higher than the predetermined mixing temperature (for example, 60 ° C.).

  And if the bathtub temperature detection means 78 which detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 reaches predetermined pouring end temperature (for example, setting temperature -0.5 degreeC), the bath pouring valve 66 will be closed and pouring will be complete | finished. . Furthermore, the control means 82 drives the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77 to replenish the bath, and detects the temperature of the bathtub 68 by the bathtub temperature detection means 78. When the temperature of the bathtub 68 rises and reaches a bath retreat end temperature (for example, a set temperature) determined from the bath temperature set by the bath temperature setting means 83, the bath retreat is terminated. That is, the control unit 82 stops driving the heat source side circulation pump 76 and the use side circulation pump 77.

  In this way, when it is detected that a person has entered the bathroom 80, hot water is started and the use-side circulation pump 77 is driven to adjust the flow rate of the hot water. Since the mixing ratio of the hot water from the bathtub 68 is changed to an appropriate mixing ratio, the pouring temperature can be increased to a temperature higher than the safe temperature even if the hot water temperature in the bathtub 68 is a safe temperature (60 ° C. or lower). Therefore, since the amount of pouring can be reduced, the increase in the amount of hot water in the bathtub is reduced and the comfort is improved. Further, since the amount of hot water taken out from the hot water tank is reduced, the possibility of hot water shortage is reduced and convenience is improved.

  In particular, depending on the location and state of the hot water supply device, when the water supply pressure from the water supply pipe 58 is high, or when the bath circulation line 69 is long and the circulation flow rate from the bathtub 68 by the use side circulation pump 77 is small, the direct heat Therefore, more stable control is possible.

  As described above, the water heater according to the present invention, when the human detection means detects a person, pours hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature of the bath into the bathtub and drives the circulation pump, There is little increase in hot water in the bathtub, and the possibility of running out of hot water can be reduced, so that comfort and convenience can be improved.

55 Heat pump unit (heating means)
57 Hot water storage tank 58 Water supply pipe 65 Bath hot water mixing valve 66 Bath pouring valve 67 Bath pouring pipe 68 Bathtub 69 Bath circulation pipe 73 Bath heat exchanger 77 User-side circulation pump 78 Bath temperature detection means 80 Bathroom 81 Person detection means 82 Control means 83 Bath temperature setting means 91 Flow control device

Claims (3)

A bathtub, a bath heat exchanger that heats the hot water in the bathtub, a bath circulation pipe that connects the bathtub and the bath heat exchanger and is provided with a circulation pump, and a bathtub that detects the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub When temperature detection means, human detection means for detecting the presence of a person in the bathroom, bathtub temperature setting means for setting the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, and control means, when the human detection means detects a person A hot water supply apparatus for pouring hot water having a temperature higher than the set temperature set by the bath temperature setting means into the bath circulation pipe and driving the circulation pump. A hot water storage tank for storing hot water and a mixing valve for mixing high temperature water and water from the hot water tank, and hot water adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the mixing valve is poured into the bath circulation pipe. The water heater according to claim 1. The water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of rotations of the circulation pump is controlled so that the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub becomes a predetermined temperature.

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