JP2015087025A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater that can prevent a hot water surface in a bathtub from becoming higher than a set water level and can prevent hot water from overflowing from the bathtub due to unnecessary hot water filling.SOLUTION: When current water level determination sections (100a, 100b) determine that a current water level in a bathtub 3 detected by a water level sensor LS is above a connection adapter 9 and is less than a reference water level at start of a bath hot water filling operation, a hot water filling control section 100c performs a first hot water filling operation for filling preset amount of hot water. When the current water level determination sections (100a, 100b) determine that the current water level in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is equal to or more than the reference water level at start of the bath hot water filling operation or completion of the first hot water filling operation, the hot water filling control section 100c performs a second hot water filling operation for filling the amount of hot water corresponding to a difference between a set water level and the current water level.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a hot water supply device, it is determined whether the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor using water pressure is higher than the reference water level during the automatic hot water filling operation or the water level holding operation in the heat retention mode. When the water level is equal to or higher than the reference water level, the amount of hot water from the current water level to the set water level is poured, and when the current water level is lower than the reference water level, the amount of hot water from the reference water level to the set water level is poured (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9 -96437 (patent document 1)). According to the hot water supply apparatus, automatic hot water filling operation and water level maintaining operation can be performed so that hot water does not overflow from the bathtub.

JP-A-9-96437

  However, in the above-described conventional hot water supply device, when the water level sensor detects a lower water level than actual due to bubbles remaining in the pipe, the hot water level in the bathtub is lower than the set water level due to unnecessary pouring based on the wrong water level. There is still a problem of rising and hot water overflowing from the bathtub.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the hot-water supply apparatus which can prevent the hot_water | molten_metal surface in a bathtub rising from a preset water level or hot water overflowing from a bathtub by unnecessary pouring.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem,
A hot water supply circuit for supplying hot water into the bathtub;
A circulation circuit for circulating hot water in the bathtub;
A water level sensor that is disposed in the hot water supply circuit or the circulation circuit and detects a current water level in the bathtub;
Based on the current water level in the bath detected by the water level sensor, the hot water pouring operation for pouring into the bath through the hot water supply circuit is controlled so that the water level in the bath becomes a set water level. A control device,
The control device
The current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than a reference water level set in advance above a connection port where the hot water supply circuit and the circulation circuit are connected to the bathtub, and from the connection port. Is a current water level determination unit that determines whether the water level is above or above the reference water level,
If the current water level determination unit at the start of the pouring operation determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and above the connection port, it is set in advance. While the first pouring operation for pouring the amount of hot water is performed, at the start of the pouring operation or at the end of the first pouring operation, the current water level determination unit in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor When it is determined that the current water level is equal to or higher than the reference water level, there is provided a pouring control unit that performs a second pouring operation for pouring a hot water amount corresponding to a difference between the set water level and the current water level. .

  Here, the pouring operation means “hot water operation” in which the hot water surface in the bathtub is set to the set water level, and hot water is poured once so that the hot water surface in the bathtub is at the set water level. After completion of the tension operation, “additional hot water operation” is performed, in which hot water is poured so as to compensate for the difference between the current water level and the set water level when the hot water in the bathtub is used and the hot water level falls below the set water level.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when performing a pouring operation as a “filling operation” from a state in which there is remaining hot water in the bathtub, the pouring control unit of the control device determines the current water level at the start of the pouring operation. When it is determined that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and above the connection port, a first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water is performed. By this first pouring operation, bubbles remaining in the hot water supply circuit or the circulation circuit in which the water level sensor is disposed can be discharged. Then, when the hot water level in the bathtub exceeds the reference water level, the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is equal to or higher than the reference water level, and the pouring control unit determines the set water level. The hot water level in the bathtub is set to the set water level by performing a second pouring operation for pouring a hot water amount corresponding to the difference between the current water level and the current water level.

  In addition, when performing the pouring operation as the “additional hot water operation” for maintaining the water level after the “hot water filling operation” is completed, the pouring control unit of the controller is configured so that the current water level determination unit is started at the start of the pouring operation. When it is determined that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and above the connection port, a first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water is performed. As a result, bubbles remaining in the hot water supply circuit or the circulation circuit in which the water level sensor is disposed can be discharged. Then, when the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is equal to or higher than the reference water level, the hot water control unit pours the amount of hot water corresponding to the difference between the set water level and the current water level. A second pouring operation for hot water is performed.

  As described above, when there is a possibility that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and lower than the actual water level, the amount of hot water corresponding to the difference between the set water level and the current water level is once set. By performing the first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water without performing the second pouring operation for pouring into the hot water, the set water level and the current water level are not changed until the water level in the bathtub exceeds the reference water level. A second pouring operation for pouring the amount of hot water corresponding to the difference between the two is performed. Thereby, it can prevent that the hot_water | molten_metal surface in a bathtub rises from a setting water level or the hot water overflows from a bathtub by unnecessary pouring.

Moreover, in the hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment,
The preset amount of hot water in the first pouring operation is set such that the water level in the bathtub is equal to or higher than the reference water level by performing the first pouring operation several times.

  According to the embodiment, the amount of hot water in the first pouring operation is set in advance so that the water level in the bathtub exceeds the reference water level by performing the first pouring operation several times. In a short time, the hot water level in the bathtub can be set to a level higher than the reference water level, and the time for pouring operation can be shortened.

Moreover, in the hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment,
A circulation pump for circulating the hot water in the bathtub through the circulation circuit;
The control device
A circulating pump control unit that operates the circulating pump for a preset time after performing a first pouring operation of pouring the preset amount of hot water by the pouring control unit at the start of the pouring operation; .

  According to the above embodiment, after performing the first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water by the pouring control unit, the circulation pump control unit operates the circulation pump for a preset time, thereby circulating the water. Bubbles staying in the piping of the circuit can be discharged, and detection errors of the water level sensor due to the bubbles can be reduced.

Moreover, in the hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment,
A water flow sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the circulation circuit,
The pouring control unit is
At the start of the pouring operation, the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and above the connection port, and After performing a first pouring operation for pouring a set amount of hot water, if the water flow sensor detects that there is a water flow in the circulation circuit during operation of the circulation pump by the circulation pump control unit, the current water level The first pouring operation for pouring the preset amount of hot water is repeated until the determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is equal to or higher than the reference water level.

  According to the embodiment, the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is less than the reference water level and above the connection port, and pouring a preset amount of hot water. If the water flow sensor detects that there is a water flow in the circulation circuit during the operation of the circulation pump by the circulation pump control unit after the first pouring operation is performed, the current water level determination unit in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor The first pouring operation of pouring a preset amount of hot water is repeated until it is determined that the current water level is equal to or higher than the reference water level. Thereby, it can discriminate | determine reliably that the present water level in a bathtub is more than a reference | standard water level because there exists a hot water surface above the connection port of a bathtub. Furthermore, when the water flow sensor detects that there is a water flow in the circulation circuit, it is possible to determine that the hot water surface is above the connection port of the bathtub to which the hot water supply circuit and the circulation circuit are connected. It is possible to prevent useless pouring when there is no need for pouring due to a stopper being removed.

Moreover, in the hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment,
A water flow sensor for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the circulation circuit,
The pouring control unit is
At the start of the pouring operation, the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is lower than the reference water level and above the connection port, and After performing a first pouring operation for pouring a set amount of hot water, if the water flow sensor detects that there is no water flow in the circulation circuit when the circulation pump controller operates the circulation pump, End driving.

  According to the embodiment, the current water level determination unit determines that the current water level in the bathtub detected by the water level sensor is less than the reference water level and above the connection port, and pouring a preset amount of hot water. After the first pouring operation is performed, if the water flow sensor detects that there is no water flow in the circulation circuit during the operation of the circulation pump by the circulation pump control unit, the pouring operation is terminated, so no pouring is required for drainage etc. In such a case, it is possible to prevent the hot water from being poured unnecessarily.

  As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a hot water supply apparatus that can prevent the hot water surface in the bathtub from rising above the set water level or the hot water from overflowing from the bathtub due to unnecessary pouring. Can do.

FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the hot water filling operation of the controller for the hot water supply apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart following FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the bath monitoring operation of the controller for the hot water supply apparatus. FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG.

  Hereinafter, a hot water supply apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a piping system diagram of a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply apparatus includes a hot water storage tank 1 and a heat pump unit 2 for boiling water in the hot water storage tank 1. One end of the pipe L1 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, and the other end of the pipe L1 is connected to one end of the heat exchange unit 2a of the heat pump unit 2. Further, the other end of the heat exchanging part 2a of the heat pump unit 2 is connected to one end of the pipe L2, and the other end of the pipe L2 is connected to the input side of the three-way valve 10. One end of the pipe L3 is connected to one output side of the three-way valve 10, and the other end of the pipe L3 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1. On the other hand, one end of the pipe L4 is connected to the other output side of the three-way valve 10, and the other end of the pipe L4 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1. The piping L 1, L 2, L 3, L 4 constitutes a boiling circulation circuit between the hot water storage tank 1 and the heat pump unit 2. In addition, a boiling circulation pump P1 is disposed in the pipe L1. A drainage three-way valve 25 is disposed closer to the hot water storage tank 1 than the boiling circulation pump P1 of the pipe L1. The three-way valve 25 for drainage is normally in a switching position where the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 is communicated with the circulating pump P1 for boiling, and when the water in the hot water storage tank 1 is drained for maintenance or the like, The drainage three-way valve 25 is switched to a switching position where the lower part and the drainage port communicate with each other.

  The boiling circulation pump P1 circulates hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 through the pipe L1, the heat exchanging portion 2a of the heat pump unit 2, the pipe L2, the three-way valve 10, and the pipe L3 (or L4).

  Next, an external water supply pipe is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 via a pipe L11. In this pipe L11, only the strainer 11, the check valve 12 that allows only the flow from the water supply pipe side to the hot water storage tank 1 side, the pressure reducing valve 13, and the flow from the water supply pipe side to the hot water storage tank 1 side are allowed. The check valve 14 is disposed in order from the upstream side.

  One end of the pipe L21 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, and the other end of the pipe L21 is connected to one input side of the bath mixing valve 5. A check valve 4 that allows only the flow from the hot water storage tank 1 side to the opposite side is disposed in the pipe L21. One end of the branch pipe L12 is connected to the other input side of the bath mixing valve 5, and the other end of the branch pipe L12 is connected between the pressure reducing valve 13 and the check valve 14 of the pipe L11. . Further, one end of the pipe L22 is connected to the output side of the bath mixing valve 5 and the other end of the pipe L22 is connected to a hot water supply port 9a of the connection adapter 9 provided in the bathtub 3. In order from the bath mixing valve 5 side of the pipe L22, a flow rate adjusting electromagnetic valve 6, a water amount sensor 7, and a check valve 8 that allows only the flow from the bath mixing valve 5 side to the bathtub 3 are arranged. ing.

  Here, the connection adapter 9 provided in the bathtub 3 includes a bath hot water supply circuit (piping L21 and piping L22) and a bath circulation circuit (piping L24, reheating heat exchanger 20 (secondary side), branch piping L23, which will be described later. , Pipe L22) is connected to the connection port.

  A composite water valve 30 is constituted by the flow rate adjusting electromagnetic valve 6, the water amount sensor 7 and the check valve 8. Further, the pipe L21 and the pipe L22 constitute a bath hot water supply circuit between the hot water storage tank 1 and the bathtub 3.

  One end of the pipe L24 is connected to the reheating water inlet 9b of the connection adapter 9, and the other end of the pipe L24 is connected to an input on the secondary side of the reheating heat exchanger 20. A circulation pump P3 for bath is disposed in the pipe L24. Further, one end of the branch pipe L23 is connected to the downstream side of the check valve 8 of the pipe L22, and the other end of the branch pipe L23 is connected to the output on the secondary side of the reheating heat exchanger 20.

  The hot water in the bathtub 3 is circulated through the pipe L24, the reheating heat exchanger 20 (secondary side), the branch pipe L23, and the pipe L22 by the bath circulation pump P3.

  The pipe L24, the reheating heat exchanger 20 (secondary side), the branch pipe L23, and the pipe L22 constitute a bath circulation circuit. The solenoid valve 6 for adjusting the flow rate is an open / close valve that opens and closes a path through which hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 flows into the bathtub 3 via a bath circulation circuit.

  Further, one end of the branch pipe L25 is connected to the downstream side of the check valve 4 of the pipe L21, and the other end of the branch pipe L25 is connected to an input on the primary side of the reheating heat exchanger 20. One end of the pipe L26 is connected to the output on the primary side of the reheating heat exchanger 20, and the other end of the pipe L26 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1. A recirculation circulation pump P2 is disposed in the pipe L26.

  The recirculation pump P2 recirculates hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 through the pipe L21, the branch pipe L25, the reheating heat exchanger 20 (primary side), and the pipe L26.

  Further, one end of the pipe L31 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, and the other end of the pipe L31 is connected to one input side of the hot water mixing valve 22. A check valve 21 that allows only the flow from the hot water storage tank 1 side to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 is disposed in the pipe L31. In addition, one end of the branch pipe L13 is connected to the other input side of the bath mixing valve 5, and the other end of the branch pipe L13 is connected to the other input side of the hot water mixing valve 22 of the branch pipe L12. . A check valve 23 that allows only a flow from the branch pipe L12 side to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 is disposed in the branch pipe L13. One end of the pipe L32 is connected to the output side of the hot water supply mixing valve 22, and the other end of the pipe L32 is connected to the hot water supply section 26 (a faucet in this embodiment). A water amount sensor 24 is connected to the pipe L32.

  The hot water storage tank 1 is provided with six temperature sensors T1 to T6 at substantially equal intervals from the lower side to the upper side. In addition, a temperature sensor T <b> 11 that detects a hot water supply temperature is provided on the downstream side of the water amount sensor 24 in the pipe L <b> 32 connected to the hot water supply unit 26. Further, the pipe L24 connected to the bathtub 3 includes a water level sensor LS, a water flow switch SW as an example of a water flow sensor, and a temperature sensor T12 between the connection adapter 9 on the bathtub 3 side and the circulation pump P3 for bath. Are provided in order from the connection adapter 9 side. Further, a temperature sensor T13 for detecting the feed water temperature is provided between the pressure reducing valve 13 and the check valve 14 of the pipe L11 and downstream of the connection point where the branch pipe L12 is connected to the pipe L11. Furthermore, the hot water temperature supplied to the bathtub 3 is detected downstream of the check valve 8 of the pipe L22 connected to the bathtub 3 and upstream of the connection point where the branch pipe L23 is connected to the pipe L22. A temperature sensor T14 is provided.

Furthermore, the heat pump unit 2 includes a hot water temperature sensor T21 that detects the temperature of the hot water returned from the heat exchange unit 2a, and an outside air temperature sensor T22 that detects the outside air temperature. In addition, the heat pump unit 2 uses carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) as a refrigerant, and can control a tapping temperature in a range of 65 ° C. to 90 ° C., for example.

  The hot water supply device includes a control device 100 including a microcomputer and an input / output circuit, and a remote controller 200 that transmits and receives signals to and from the control device 100. The control device 100 receives signals from the temperature sensors T1 to T14, the water level sensor LS, the water flow switch SW, the water amount sensors 7 and 24, the hot water temperature sensor T21, the outside air temperature sensor T22, and the remote controller 200, and the heat pump unit 2 The boiling circulation pump P1, the recirculation circulation pump P2, the bath circulation pump P3, the bath mixing valve 5, the hot water supply mixing valve 22, and the three-way valve 10 are controlled.

  In addition, the control device 100 includes a water level determination unit 100a that determines the water level in the bathtub 3, a water flow determination unit 100b that determines whether there is a water flow flowing in the bath circulation circuit based on the detection result of the water flow switch SW, and “ A pouring controller 100c for controlling pouring operation including "bath bathing operation" and the like, and a circulation pump controller 100d for controlling the boiling circulation pump P1, the recirculation pump P2, and the bath circulation pump P3 Have. The water level determination unit 100a and the water flow determination unit 100b constitute a current water level determination unit.

[Boiling operation]
In the hot water supply apparatus configured as described above, in the “boiling operation” in which the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 is boiled by the heat pump unit 2, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 is connected to the pipe L1, the heat pump by operating the boiling circulation pump P1. The unit 2 is circulated through the heat exchange section 2a, the pipe L2, the three-way valve 10, and the pipe L3 (or L4).

  The said control apparatus 100 controls the heat pump unit 2 so that the tapping temperature of the heat pump unit 2 becomes the target tapping temperature TS during the boiling operation. Here, the target hot water temperature TS is calculated by the control device 100 based on the amount of hot water supplied from the hot water storage tank 1 or the like. For example, when the amount of hot water used is large, the target hot water temperature TS is as high as 85 ° C., for example, and when the amount of hot water is small, the target hot water temperature TS is as low as 65 ° C., for example.

  Next, when performing “bath hot water operation” in which hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank 1 into the bath tub 3, the user operates the remote controller 200 to set the automatic bath operation mode in which the set water level and the set temperature are automatically maintained. select. When this bath automatic operation mode is selected, after performing the “bath hot water operation” for supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank 1 into the bath tub 3, the hot water level in the tub 3 is maintained at the set water level and the hot water temperature is adjusted. A “bath monitoring operation” is performed to monitor the state of hot water in the bathtub 3 so as to maintain the set temperature.

[Bath bathing operation]
When performing “bath hot water filling operation” in which hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank 1 into the bath tub 3, the flow rate adjusting electromagnetic valve 6 is opened by the control device 100, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 becomes the pipe L 21, for bath. It is supplied into the bathtub 3 through the mixing valve 5 and the pipe L22. At this time, the control device 100 controls the bath mixing valve 5 to mix the hot water from the hot water storage tank 1 and the external water supply based on the target set temperature, and the bathtub detected by the water level sensor LS. When the water level in 3 reaches the set water level, the flow rate adjusting electromagnetic valve 6 is closed.

  2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the “hot water bathing operation” of the control device 100 of the hot water supply device.

  First, when the “bath hot water operation” starts, the process proceeds to step S1 shown in FIG. 2, and the circulation pump control unit 100d turns on the circulation pump P3 for the bath.

  Next, it progresses to step S2 and the presence or absence of the water flow in a bath circulation circuit is detected by the water flow switch SW.

  In step S3, the circulation pump control unit 100d turns off the bath circulation pump P3.

  Next, in step S4, when the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S2 determines that there is a water flow in the bath circulation circuit, the water flow determination unit 100b proceeds to step S5.

On the other hand, in step S4, if the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S2 is determined by the water flow determination unit 100b that there is no water flow in the bath circulation circuit, the process proceeds to step S9, after pouring the reference hot water amount, the process proceeds to step S7. Here, the reference amount of hot water is the amount of hot water that becomes the reference water level S ₀ from the empty state in the bathtub 3 without hot water.

  Next, the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is detected by the water level sensor LS in step S5.

Then, the program proceeds to a step S6, determines whether or not the current water level S is the reference level S ₀ or not in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS in step S1 by the level determining unit 100a. Here, the reference water level S ₀ is a water level set in advance above the connection adapter 9 provided in the bathtub 3.

When the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is the reference level S ₀ than the water level determining portion 100a is determined in step S6, additional hot water Q which proceeds to step S7, corresponding to the difference between the set water level Sset and the current water level S Is calculated.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S8, and the additional hot water amount Q calculated in step S3 is poured (second pouring operation). Thereafter, the process proceeds to the “bath monitoring operation” shown in FIGS.

On the other hand, the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is less than the reference level S ₀ When determining water level determining unit 100a in step S6, setting the hot water Q ₁ that the process proceeds to step S11, a preset additional amount of hot water Q shown in FIG. 3 To do.

  Next, it progresses to step S12 and the additional hot water amount Q set by step S11 is poured by the pouring control part 100c (1st pouring operation | movement).

  In step S13, the circulation pump controller 100d turns on the circulation pump P3 for bath.

  Next, it progresses to step S14 and the presence or absence of the water flow in a bath circulation circuit is detected by the water flow switch SW.

  Next, proceeding to step S15, the bath circulation pump P3 is turned off after a preset time has elapsed since the bath circulation pump P3 was turned on.

  Next, in step S16, if the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S14 determines that the water flow in the bath circulation circuit is present, the water flow determination unit 110b proceeds to step S17, while the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S14 indicates that the water flow switch SW is detected. When the water flow determination unit 110b determines that there is no water flow in the circulation circuit, it is determined that no hot water filling is necessary due to the plugging out of the bathtub 3, and the “bath hot water filling operation” is terminated.

  Next, it progresses to step S17 and the present water level S in the bathtub 3 is detected by the water level sensor LS.

Then, the process proceeds to step S18, determines if the current water level S is the reference level S ₀ or not in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS in step S17 by the water level determination unit 100a.

And now the water level If it is a reference water level above the water level determining portion 100a is determined in step S18, the process proceeds to step S7 shown in FIG. 2, the current level judging unit 100a is determined that the water level S is less than the reference level S ₀ Then, it returns to step S11.

The reference water level S ₀ is set as follows. That is, in the trial operation at the time of installing the hot water supply apparatus, the bath circulation pump P3 is turned on while water is being poured into the empty bathtub 3 by 10 liters to check whether there is a water flow in the bath circulation circuit. Then, water injection is repeated, and when the water surface in the bathtub 3 exceeds the connection adapter 9 and a water flow is generated in the bath circulation circuit, the water flow switch SW is turned on. Raise the water surface to the upper side. The water level detected by the water level sensor LS at this time is defined as a reference water level S ₀ . Thereby, the reference water level S ₀ is set above the connection adapter 9 of the bathtub 3.

[Bath monitoring operation]
In the “bath monitoring operation” in which the state of hot water in the bathtub 3 is monitored so as to keep the set water level and temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 3 after the “bath hot water operation” is finished, the control device 100 performs a predetermined operation. At each interval, the water level sensor LS detects the current water level in the bathtub 3 and controls the flow rate adjusting electromagnetic valve 6 so that the current water level in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS becomes the set water level. Pour hot water inside.

  In addition, the control device 100 operates the bath circulation pump P3 at predetermined intervals so that the hot water in the bathtub 3 flows into the bath circulation circuit (pipe L24, reheating heat exchanger 20 (secondary side), branch pipe. L23 is circulated through the pipe L22), and the hot water temperature is detected by the temperature sensor T12. This hot water temperature detection is performed at the same timing as the current water level detection, but may be performed at a different timing.

  Then, the controller 100 operates the recirculation circulation pump P2 to supply hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 via the pipe L21, the branch pipe L25, the reheating heat exchanger 20 (primary side), and the pipe L26. Circulate. Thus, the hot water flowing through the bath circulation circuit is heated by the reheating heat exchanger 20, and the recirculation circulation pump P2 and the recirculation pump P3 for the bath are heated until the hot water temperature detected by the temperature sensor T12 reaches the set temperature. To work.

  The “bath monitoring operation” is ended when a stop operation is performed by the remote controller 200 or when a predetermined time has elapsed. Alternatively, when the bath circulation pump P3 is operated to keep the hot water temperature at the set temperature, if the detection result of the water flow switch SW detects that there is no water flow in the bath circulation circuit, the “bath monitoring operation” is terminated. .

  4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the “bath monitoring operation” operation of the control device 100 of the hot water supply device.

  First, when the operation of “bath monitoring operation” starts, the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is detected by the water level sensor LS in step S21 shown in FIG.

  Next, when the water level determination unit 100a determines that the current water level S is less than (set water level Sset-α) in step S22, the process proceeds to step S23, while the current water level S is equal to or higher than (set water level Sset-α). If the water level determination part 100a determines, it will progress to step S26 and will perform a heat retention driving | operation.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S23, determines if the current water level S is the reference level S ₀ or not in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS in step S1 by the level determining unit 100a.

When the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is the reference level S ₀ than the water level determining portion 100a it is determined in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In the next step S24, an additional hot water amount Q corresponding to the difference between the set water level Sset and the current water level S is calculated.

  Next, it progresses to step S25, and the pouring control part 100c pours the additional hot water quantity Q calculated by step S3 (2nd pouring operation | movement).

  And it progresses to step S26 and performs heat insulation operation | movement, Then, it progresses to step S27 and determines whether the bath monitoring operation is complete | finished.

  If it is determined in step S27 that the bath monitoring operation is completed, this process is terminated. If it is determined that the bath monitoring operation is not completed, the process returns to step S21.

On the other hand, if the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is determined to be lower than the reference water level S ₀ in step S23, the process proceeds to step S31 shown in FIG. 5, is set to hot water Q ₁ set in advance an additional quantity of water Q.

  Next, it progresses to step S32 and the additional hot water quantity Q set by step S31 is poured (1st pouring operation | movement).

  In step S33, the circulation pump control unit 100d turns on the bath circulation pump P3.

  Next, it progresses to step S34 and the presence or absence of the water flow in a bath circulation circuit is detected by the water flow switch SW.

  Next, proceeding to step S35, the bath circulation pump P3 is turned off after a preset time has elapsed since the bath circulation pump P3 was turned on.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S36, and if the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S34 is determined by the water flow determination unit 100b that there is a water flow in the bath circulation circuit, the process proceeds to step S37, while the detection result of the water flow switch SW in step S34 is When the water flow determination unit 100b determines that there is no water flow in the bath circulation circuit, it is determined as drainage and the “bath monitoring operation” is terminated.

  Next, in step S37, the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is detected by the water level sensor LS.

Then, the process proceeds to step S38, the determining whether the current water level S is the reference level S ₀ or not in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS in step S36 by the water level determination unit 100a.

And now the water level S is the is the reference level S ₀ or level determining unit 100a determines at step S38, the the process proceeds to step S22 shown in FIG. 4, the water level determination unit and the current water level S is less than the reference level S ₀ If 100a determines, the process returns to step S31.

According to the hot water supply apparatus having the above-described configuration, for example, when the “bath hot water filling operation” is performed from a state in which the remaining hot water is in the bathtub 3, the pouring control unit 100c of the control device 100 performs the “bath hot water filling operation”. at the beginning, the current level judging section (the water level determining portion 100a, the water flow determination unit 100b) is a current water level S is less than the reference level S ₀ in the bathtub 3 detected and the upper in than the connecting adapter 9 by the water level sensor LS If it is determined that there is, a first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water Q ₁ (10 liters in this embodiment) is performed. Here, when the water flow switch SW detects that there is a water flow in the bath circulation circuit with the bath circulation pump P3 turned on, the water flow determination unit 100b indicates that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is higher than the connection adapter 9. Judge that there is.

Thereby, the bubbles staying in the bath circulation circuit can be discharged. When the hot water level in the bathtub 3 exceeds the reference water level S ₀ , the water level determination unit 100a determines that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is equal to or higher than the reference water level S ₀ . The pouring control unit 100c performs the second pouring operation of pouring an additional hot water amount Q corresponding to the difference between the set water level Set and the current water level S, thereby setting the hot water level in the bathtub 3 to the set water level Sset.

In addition, when the “bath monitoring operation” is performed after the “bath hot water operation” is completed, the hot water pouring control unit 100c of the control device 100 has a current water level determination unit (a water level determination unit) at the start of the “bath monitoring operation”. 100a, flow determination unit 100b) is, determines that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is above the reference level S is less than ₀ and connection adapter 9, a preset quantity of water the first pouring operation of pouring the Q _1, repeatedly performed until the water level determination unit 100a determines that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is the reference level S ₀ or more.

Thereby, the bubbles staying in the bath circulation circuit can be discharged. Then, when the water level determination unit 100a determines that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is the reference level S ₀ or more, pouring control section 100c includes a set water level Sset and the current water level S A second pouring operation for pouring an additional hot water amount Q corresponding to the difference between the two is performed.

Thus, when there is a possibility that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS is less than the reference water level S _{0 and} lower than the actual water level, the set water level Set and the current water level S without second pouring operation for pouring additional hot water Q at a time corresponding to the difference, by repeating the first pouring operation of pouring the hot water Q ₁ that is set in advance, the current water level in the tub 3 Only when S exceeds the reference water level S ₀ does the second pouring operation of pouring an additional hot water amount Q corresponding to the difference between the set water level Sset and the current water level S (Sset−S). It is possible to prevent the hot water surface in the bathtub 3 from rising above the set water level Sset or the hot water from overflowing from the bathtub 3.

Also, as the water level in the tub 3 by performing several times the first pouring operation exceeds the reference level S _0, by hot water to Q ₁ first pouring operation is preset, over time Therefore, the hot water level in the bathtub 3 can be set to the water level higher than the reference water level S ₀ in a short time, and the time for pouring operation can be shortened.

Furthermore, the circulating pump control unit 100d of the controller 100, after the first pouring operation of pouring the hot water Q ₁ which is set in advance by the pouring control section 100c, is preset bath circulation pump P3 By operating for a long time, bubbles staying in the piping of the bath circulation circuit can be discharged, and the detection error of the water level sensor LS due to the bubbles can be reduced.

Moreover, the current level judging section (the water level determining portion 100a, the water flow determination unit 100b) is above the a current water level S is less than the reference level S ₀ in and connection adapter 9 in the bathtub 3 detected by the water level sensor LS first Note after the hot water operation, the current water level S is the reference level S of the water level determining portion 100a is within the tub 3 which is detected by the water level sensor LS to pouring the hot water Q ₁ that is set in advance determined to be determined to be ₀ or more, until the circulating water flow switch SW (water flow sensor) during operation of the pump control unit 100d bath circulation pump P3 due When there is a flow in the bath circulation circuit water flow determination unit 100b to determine, the hot water Q ₁ set in advance repeating the first pouring operation of pouring. Thereby, when the water flow switch SW detects that there is a water flow in the bath circulation circuit, it is possible to determine that the hot water surface is above the connection adapter 9 of the bathtub 3, and the connection adapter 9 of the bathtub 3. It is possible to reliably determine that the current water level S in the bathtub 3 is equal to or higher than the reference water level S ₀ by the presence of the hot water surface on the upper side.

  Although the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus has been described in the above embodiment, the heat source apparatus is not limited to the heat pump, and the present invention may be applied to a hot water supply apparatus including a heat source apparatus such as another heater or a boiler.

  Moreover, although the hot water supply apparatus using the water flow switch SW as the water flow sensor has been described in the above embodiment, the water flow sensor is not limited to this, and may be a sensor that detects the amount of water.

  Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hot water storage tank 2 ... Heat pump unit 2a ... Heat exchange part 3 ... Bathtub 5 ... Bath mixing valve 6 ... Solenoid valve for flow control 7,24 ... Water quantity sensor 9 ... Connection adapter 13 ... Pressure reducing valve 20 ... Heat exchange for reheating Equipment 22 ... Mixing valve for hot water supply 30 ... Composite water valve 100 ... Control device 100a ... Water level judgment unit 100b ... Water flow judgment unit 100c ... Hot water pouring control unit 100d ... Circulation pump control unit 200 ... Remote controller L21, L22, L23, L24 ... Piping LS ... Water level sensor P1 ... Circulating pump for boiling P2 ... Circulating pump for reheating P3 ... Circulating pump for bath SW ... Water flow switch T21 ... Tap temperature sensor T22 ... Outside air temperature sensor

Claims (5)

A hot water supply circuit (L21, L22) for supplying hot water into the bathtub (3);
A circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20) for circulating hot water in the bathtub (3);
A water level sensor (LS) that is disposed in the hot water supply circuit (L21, L22) or the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20) and detects the current water level in the bathtub (3);
Based on the current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS), the water level in the bathtub (3) is set via the hot water supply circuit (L21, L22) so that the water level in the bathtub (3) becomes a set water level. A control device (100) for controlling a pouring operation for pouring the hot water into the bathtub (3),
The control device (100)
The current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS) is connected to the hot water supply circuit (L21, L22) and the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20) to the bathtub (3). A current water level determination unit for determining whether the water level is lower than the reference water level set in advance above the connection port (9) and above the connection port (9) or above the reference water level ( 100a, 100b)
The current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS) by the current water level determination unit (100a, 100b) at the start of the pouring operation is less than the reference water level and the connection port ( If it is determined that the temperature is higher than 9), a first pouring operation for pouring a preset amount of hot water is performed, while the current water level is set at the start of the pouring operation or at the end of the first pouring operation. When the determination unit (100a, 100b) determines that the current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS) is equal to or higher than the reference water level, it corresponds to the difference between the set water level and the current water level. A hot water supply apparatus comprising a hot water pouring control unit (100c) for performing a second pouring operation for pouring the amount of hot water to be poured. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1,
The preset amount of hot water in the first pouring operation is set so that the water level in the bathtub (3) is equal to or higher than the reference water level by performing the first pouring operation several times. A hot water supply device. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A circulation pump (P3) for circulating hot water in the bathtub (3) through the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20);
The control device (100)
After the first pouring operation of pouring the preset amount of hot water by the pouring control unit (100c) at the start of the pouring operation, the circulating pump (P3) is operated for a preset time. A hot water supply apparatus having a circulation pump control unit (100d). The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3,
A water flow sensor (SW) for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20);
The pouring control unit (100c)
The current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS) by the current water level determination unit (100a, 100b) at the start of the pouring operation is less than the reference water level and the connection port After performing the first pouring operation for pouring the preset amount of hot water by determining that the temperature is above (9), the circulating pump (P3) is operated by the circulating pump control unit (100d). When the water flow sensor (SW) detects that there is a water flow in the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20), the current water level determination unit (100a, 100b) is detected by the water level sensor (LS). The hot water supply apparatus characterized by repeating the first pouring operation of pouring the preset amount of hot water until it is determined that the current water level in the bathtub (3) is equal to or higher than the reference water level. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3,
A water flow sensor (SW) for detecting the presence or absence of water flow in the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20);
The pouring control unit (100c)
The current water level in the bathtub (3) detected by the water level sensor (LS) by the current water level determination unit (100a, 100b) at the start of the pouring operation is less than the reference water level and the connection port After performing the first pouring operation for pouring the preset amount of hot water by determining that the temperature is above (9), the circulating pump (P3) is operated by the circulating pump control unit (100d). The hot water supply apparatus, wherein when the water flow sensor (SW) detects that there is no water flow in the circulation circuit (L22, L23, L24, 20), the pouring operation is terminated.

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