JP2021156486A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water heater capable of simply and reliably cancelling a frozen state.SOLUTION: A water heater 1 of the present invention can execute hot water filling operation for filling a predetermined amount of heated hot water in a bathtub 5, and reheating operation for reheating the hot water filled in the bathtub 5 by a circulation pump 12. When starting the hot water filling operation, in a case where the drive of the circulation pump 12 is not detected even if a drive voltage is applied to the circulation pump 12, after supplying the heated hot water, a defreezing operation of reapplying the drive voltage to the circulation pump 12 is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times, to perform the hot water filling operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device including a hot water filling operation and a reheating operation.

Conventionally, a hot water supply device having an antifreeze function has been known in order to prevent the water in the hot water circulation path and the pump from freezing when the outside air temperature drops.

For example, the heat source machine of Patent Document 1 below intermittently energizes the pump (energizes the canned motor in the pump) when the stagnant water (about 5 to 10 cc) staying in the pump is frozen. It has a freezing operation control to thaw the accumulated water frozen by the heat generated by the pump.

Specifically, the thawing operation is an operation in which a thawing cycle is performed a plurality of times after the pump is energized for a predetermined time and then the energization is turned off. When the canned motor of the pump in which the accumulated water is frozen is energized, the canned motor generates heat and transfers heat to the inside of the pump, and the freezing is gradually thawed (Patent Document 1 / paragraph 0032, 0036, FIG. 3).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-025882

However, in the case of the heat source machine of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to pass a larger current than usual through the coil in order to release the frozen state. In addition, there is a problem that it takes time to thaw because the power is applied intermittently.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device capable of easily and surely releasing a frozen state.

The present invention is a hot water supply device capable of performing a hot water filling operation in which a predetermined amount of heated hot water is filled in a bathtub and a reheating operation in which the hot water filled in the bathtub is reheated by a circulation pump.
When the drive of the circulation pump is not detected even if the drive voltage is applied to the circulation pump when the hot water filling operation is started, the drive voltage is supplied to the circulation pump after the heated hot water is supplied to the circulation pump. The antifreeze operation of reapplying the above is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times, and the hot water filling operation is performed.

Filling the tub with hot water When a drive voltage is applied to the circulation pump when starting the hot water filling operation, the circulation pump rotates, for example, the pump rotation speed signal is detected, or the water flow is detected by the water flow detecting means. By doing so, the drive of the circulation pump is detected. In the present invention, when the drive of the circulation pump is not detected due to freezing or the like, the freezing operation by supplying hot water and reapplying the driving voltage is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times to perform the hot water filling operation. As a result, the frozen state of the hot water supply device can be easily and surely released, and hot water can be supplied to the bathtub in parallel, so that the influence on the time required for the hot water filling operation can be suppressed.

In the hot water supply device of the present invention
It is equipped with an antifreeze heater that is driven when commercial power is supplied to prevent the water in the circulation pump from freezing.
When executing the first hot water filling operation that shifts from the off state in which the commercial power is not supplied to the on state in which the commercial power is supplied, it is preferable to execute the freeze release operation.

The water heater is equipped with an antifreeze heater driven by the supply of commercial power, and is used to prevent the water in the circulation pump from freezing. Since there is a possibility that freezing has occurred when the commercial power is off, the freeze release operation is executed in the first hot water filling operation when the commercial power is turned on. In the case of the hot water filling operation which is not the first time, the normal operation is performed without the unfreezing operation, so that the user does not feel a sense of discomfort.

Further, in the hot water supply device of the present invention,
It is preferable to provide a notification unit for notifying an abnormality of the circulation pump when the drive of the circulation pump is not detected after the execution of the freeze release operation a predetermined number of times.

If the drive of the circulation pump is not detected even if the unfreezing operation is executed a predetermined number of times, it is presumed that the freezing has not been resolved or a failure other than freezing has occurred. Therefore, the notification unit of the hot water supply device can notify the user of the abnormality of the circulation pump in such a case.

Further, in the hot water supply device of the present invention,
It has a drive experience flag of the circulation pump that is turned on when the drive of the circulation pump is detected for the first time after shifting from the off state where the commercial power is not supplied to the on state where the commercial power is supplied.
It is preferable that the notification unit notifies the abnormality when the drive of the circulation pump is no longer detected after the drive experience flag is turned on.

According to this configuration, when the drive experience flag is on, it means that the circulation pump has been normally driven once. Therefore, if the drive of the circulation pump is not detected after that, there is a high possibility that a failure other than freezing has occurred. Therefore, the notification unit of the hot water supply device can immediately notify the user of the abnormality of the circulation pump.

The figure explaining the whole structure of the hot water supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram explaining the functional structure of the main part of the control means. The flowchart of the process at the time of starting a water heater which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the hot water supply device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The hot water supply device 1 includes a gas water heater 2, a control device 3, and a remote controller 4. The gas water heater 2 and the bathtub 5 are connected to each other via pipes, various valves, and the like. The hot water supply device 1 is installed in, for example, each dwelling unit of an apartment house, a detached house, or the like.

The electrical connection between the control device 3 and the gas water heater 2 to be controlled is omitted for the sake of simplification of the drawings.

The water supplied from the water supply source (for example, tap water) is supplied to the gas water heater 2 through the water supply pipe 6. The water supply pipe 6 is connected to the first water introduction pipe 7. The first water introduction pipe 7 is connected to the second water introduction pipe 10 via the water amount sensor 8 and the bypass servo 9.

In addition, in this specification, the term "water" may include not only unheated cold water but also heated hot water or hot water.

The gas water heater 2 includes a combustion device 11, a circulation pump 12, a bath piping system 13, a hot water amount servo 14, a first pouring pipe 15, and a second pouring pipe 16. The combustion chamber 17 of the combustion device 11 is provided with a first burner 18, a second burner 19, a hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and a bath heat exchanger 21. Further, a spark plug 22, a frame rod 23, and an overheat prevention device (temperature fuse) 24 are attached to the combustion device 11.

The circulation pump 12 is a device that drives water to circulate between the gas water heater 2 and the bathtub 5 through the water channel of the bath piping system 13. When the circulation pump 12 freezes, the bathtub 5 cannot be filled with hot water, so that the circulation pump 12 is equipped with an antifreeze heater 12'.

The first burner 18 and the second burner 19 heat the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 arranged above the first burner 18. The hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 both have a large number of fins, and are heated by at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19, respectively. The bath heat exchanger 21 is smaller than the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and is arranged adjacent to the hot water supply heat exchanger 20.

In this way, the combustion device 11 heats the water supplied to the combustion device 11 by burning at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. A combustion fan 25 and a gas pipe 26 are connected to the combustion chamber 17. The combustion fan 25 sends the air required for combustion of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19 to the combustion chamber 17.

The gas pipe 26 is branched into a first gas branch pipe 27 and a second gas branch pipe 28. The first gas branch pipe 27 guides the gas required for combustion to the first burner 18. Further, the second gas branch pipe 28 guides the gas required for combustion to the second burner 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the two water channels of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and the bath heat exchanger 21 have a common burner (first burner 18 and second burner 18) in one combustion chamber 17. It is heated by a burner 19) and has a structure called a one-can, two-water channel type.

The gas pipe 26 is provided with a source gas solenoid valve 29 and a gas proportional valve 30. Further, the first gas branch pipe 27 is provided with a first gas solenoid valve 31, and the second gas branch pipe 28 is provided with a second gas solenoid valve 32. The original gas solenoid valve 29 controls the supply and stop of gas to the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. The gas proportional valve 30 controls the amount of fuel supplied to the corresponding first burner 18 and the second burner 19 by the valve opening degree. The first gas solenoid valve 31 and the second gas solenoid valve 32 control the supply and stop of fuel to the corresponding first burner 18 and the second burner 19.

The control device 3 is electrically connected to each control target of the gas water heater 2, and controls the operation of each control target of the gas water heater 2.

Next, the piping of the bathtub 5 will be described. The bath piping system 13 includes a first pipeline 33 and a second pipeline 34. The first pipe line 33 and the second pipe line 34 connect the bath heat exchanger 21 and the bathtub 5, and circulate water between the bath heat exchanger 21 and the bathtub 5.

The first pipe line 33 includes an outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21 and a bath going pipe 36. The bath going pipe 36 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21, and may be integrally formed with the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing through the first pipeline 33 flows from the bath heat exchanger 21 toward the bathtub 5. The outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21 at the upstream end of the first pipeline 33 passes through the inside of the bath heat exchanger 21 and communicates with the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The end of the bath going pipe 36 on the downstream side of the first pipe 33 is connected to the bathtub 5. The bath going pipe 36 is provided with a bath going thermistor 38.

The second pipeline 34 includes a bath return pipe 39, a bath pump outlet pipe 40, and an inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The bath pump outlet pipe 40 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21, and may be integrally formed with the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21. When the circulation pump 12 is driven, the water flowing through the second pipe line 34 flows from the circulation pump 12 toward the bath heat exchanger 21.

The downstream end of the second pipeline 34 passes through the inside of the bath heat exchanger 21 and communicates with the outlet pipe 35 of the bath heat exchanger 21. The bath return pipe 39 of the second pipe line 34 is connected to the bathtub 5 via a circulation fitting (not shown).

The bath return pipe 39 is provided with a water flow switch 41 (water flow detecting means) and a water level sensor 42. The water flow switch 41 detects that water is flowing through the bath pump outlet pipe 40. The water level sensor 42 detects the water level in the bathtub 5.

The second water introduction pipe 10 is provided with a water amount sensor 8. The water amount sensor 8 detects the flow rate of water flowing through the second water introduction pipe 10.

The bypass servo 9 is provided at a connection portion between the first water introduction pipe 7, the second water introduction pipe 10, and the hot water supply bypass pipe 43, and is guided to the hot water supply bypass pipe 43 and the second water introduction pipe 10. Control the ratio of. The hot water supply bypass pipe 43 is connected to the connection portion between the first water introduction pipe 7 and the second water introduction pipe 10 at one end, and is connected to the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 at the other end. There is.

A water pipe thermistor 46'is provided in the inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The water pipe thermistor 46'detects the temperature of the water flowing through the inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20.

The inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 communicates with the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The inlet pipe 45 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 does not necessarily have to be clearly distinguished from the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and may be integrally formed with the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. good.

The outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 is provided with a heat exchange thermistor 46, a hot water supply thermistor 47, a hot water amount servo 14, and a drain plug 48.

The heat exchange thermistor 46 is water flowing through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and detects the temperature of the water immediately after passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger 20. The hot water supply thermistor 47 is water flowing through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20, and detects the temperature of the water on the hot water amount servo 14 side.

The hot water amount servo 14 controls the amount of hot water guided to the hot water supply pipe 64 and the first hot water injection pipe 15. A hot water pouring solenoid valve 49 is connected to the hot water volume servo 14 via a first pouring pipe 15.

The first pouring pipe 15 is connected to the second pouring pipe 16 via a pouring solenoid valve 49, a first check valve 50, a second check valve 51, and a water volume sensor 52. ..

The second pouring pipe 16 is connected to the circulation pump 12. The water amount sensor 52 detects the flow rate of water flowing through the second pouring pipe 16. The air release valve 53 is connected to the first water introduction pipe 7 via the pipeline 54, and is connected to the drain port 56 via the pipeline 55.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 3 includes a hot water supply control unit 57, a hot water filling control unit 58, and a reheating control unit 59 as functions.

The hot water filling control unit 58 controls the hot water filling operation to the bathtub 5, and the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation of the hot water in the bathtub 5. Further, the hot water filling control unit 58 instructs the reheating control unit 59 to perform the reheating operation as needed.

Further, the remote controller 4 includes an operation unit 61 including various operation switches, a display unit 62 for displaying various information, and a notification unit 63 for notifying by voice or alarm. As the display unit 62, one capable of displaying the time is adopted. The notification unit 63 can also notify an abnormality of the circulation pump 12 or the like.

Next, the hot water filling operation (hot water filling operation) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The hot water filling operation is an operation of heating the water supplied from the water supply source (for example, tap water) and supplying it to the bathtub 5.

When the user presses the automatic hot water filling button (not shown) of the operation unit 61 of the remote controller 4, the hot water filling control unit 58 of the control device 3 starts controlling the hot water filling operation. In the hot water filling operation, the hot water filling control unit 58 opens the hot water pouring solenoid valve 49. Then, due to the pressure of the water supplied from the water supply source, water flows through the first water introduction pipe 7 and the second water introduction pipe 10 and is supplied to the gas water heater 2.

At this time, since the temperature of the water supplied to the gas water heater 2 is lower than the set temperature of the water filling, the water filling control unit 58 operates the combustion device 11. The water (hot water) heated in the combustion device 11 passes through the outlet pipe 44 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 20 and is guided to the hot water amount servo 14.

The water guided to the hot water amount servo 14 flows through the first hot water pouring pipe 15, and passes through the hot water pouring solenoid valve 49, the first check valve 50, the second check valve 51, and the water amount sensor 52, and the second note. It is guided to the hot water pipe 16. The water guided to the second pouring pipe 16 enters the circulation pump 12, and the water guided to the bath pump outlet pipe 40 flows toward the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing toward the bath heat exchanger 21 is heated in the bath heat exchanger 21 and circulates through the outlet pipe 35 and the bath going pipe 36 of the bath heat exchanger 21 in the first pipeline 33 and circulates. It is supplied to the bathtub 5 via a metal fitting (not shown).

In this way, the hot water filling control unit 58 controls the hot water filling operation until the water level of the hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches the set water level (preset set amount of hot water filling).

Next, the reheating operation (reheating operation) will be described. The reheating operation is an operation of circulating and heating the water inside the bathtub 5 and returning the heated water to the bathtub 5.

When the user presses the reheating button (not shown) of the remote controller 4, the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation so that the temperature of the water inside the bathtub 5 matches the set temperature.

Further, in the control of the hot water filling operation by the hot water filling control unit 58, the hot water filling control unit 58 sets the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 5 to be preset when the hot water filling setting amount is supplied to the bathtub 5. If the temperature is less than the temperature, the reheating control unit 59 is instructed to perform a boiling operation for raising the temperature of the water (hot water) in the bathtub 5.

When the reheating control unit 59 controls the reheating operation, the circulation pump 12 is driven. Then, the water in the bathtub 5 circulates through the bath return pipe 39 and heads for the inlet pipe 37 of the bath heat exchanger 21.

The water flowing through the bath heat exchanger 21 is heated by at least one of the first burner 18 and the second burner 19. Further, the water heated by the bath heat exchanger 21 flows through the outlet pipe 35 and the bath going pipe 36 of the bath heat exchanger 21 which is the first pipe line 33, and enters the bathtub 5.

Further, the hot water filling control unit 58 completes the hot water filling when the hot water filling set amount is supplied to the bathtub 5 and the hot water in the bathtub 5 reaches the set temperature, and the display unit 62 of the remote controller 4 and the notification The unit 63 is driven to notify the completion of hot water filling. Further, the hot water filling control unit 58 drives the display unit 62 and the notification unit 63 of the remote controller 4 to notify the remaining time until the hot water filling is completed several minutes before the hot water filling completion is notified.

Next, the unfreezing operation of the circulation pump 12 according to the gist of the present invention will be described.

In the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the water in the circulation pump 12 freezes especially in winter when the outside air temperature is low, and the circulation pump 12 may not operate immediately even if the user tries to fill the water after turning on the power. Therefore, after the commercial power is turned on, the circulation pump 12 is unfrozen when the hot water filling operation is performed. Hereinafter, the process at the time of starting the water heater including the unfreezing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, as an initial setting at startup, the drive experience flag is turned off and the retry counter N is set to "0" (STEP 10). Here, the "driving experience flag" is a flag that is turned on when the circulation pump 12 is normally driven. In the present embodiment, it is determined that the circulation pump 12 has been normally driven by detecting the pump rotation speed signal. Further, the "retry counter N" is a counter that counts the number of redoing operations of the unfreezing operation executed when the circulation pump 12 is not driven.

Next, the commercial power supply (AC100 [V]) is turned on, and then the automatic switch of the hot water supply device 1 is turned on by the user (STEP 20). The automatic switch is a switch that automatically executes the hot water filling operation. If the automatic switch is turned on, it proceeds to STEP30, and if it is not turned on yet, it waits until it is turned on.

Next, the hot water supply device 1 fills with 6 liters of hot water (STEP30). Specifically, the hot water filling control unit 58 controls so that 6 liters of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 5. After that, the circulation pump 12 is turned on (STEP 40). As a result, the circulation of hot water is started in each water channel of the hot water supply device 1, so that the water flow detection by the water flow switch 41 is started.

Next, it is determined whether or not the pump rotation speed signal is detected (whether the pump is driven) (STEP 50). When the circulation pump 12 is normally driven, the control device 3 detects the pump rotation speed signal, so that the procedure proceeds to STEP 60. On the other hand, if the pump rotation speed signal is not detected due to freezing or the like, the process proceeds to STEP100.

When the pump rotation speed signal is detected (“YES” in STEP 50), the state of the water flow switch 41 is confirmed (STEP 60). Since this is the case when the circulation pump 12 is driven, the water flow switch 41 always detects the water flow.

Next, the circulation pump 12 is turned off (STEP 70). This is the case when the 6-liter hot water filling operation is completed, and at the same time, the water flow detection by the water flow switch 41 is terminated. After that, when the circulation pump 12 is normally driven, the drive experience flag is turned on (STEP80).

Next, a set amount of hot water (for example, 150 liters) is filled (STEP90), and then it is determined whether or not the set amount of hot water is completed (STEP100). When the set amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 5 and the hot water filling operation is completed, the process returns to STEP 20. On the other hand, if the set amount of hot water filling is not completed, the process returns to STEP 90 and the hot water filling is continued.

Next, the case where the pump rotation speed signal is not detected (“NO” in STEP 50) will be described. In this case, it is determined whether or not the drive experience flag is off (STEP110). If the drive experience flag is off, the process proceeds to STEP 120, and if the drive experience flag is on, the notification unit 63 notifies the abnormality of the circulation pump 12. If the drive experience flag is on but the pump rotation speed signal is not detected, there is a high possibility of a failure other than freezing, so an abnormality is immediately notified.

When the drive experience flag is off (“YES” in STEP 110), it is the first start of the circulation pump 12, and it is possible that the circulation pump 12 did not start due to freezing. In this case, it is determined whether or not the retry counter N is less than the preset upper limit value (STEP 120).

If the retry counter N is less than the upper limit value, the process proceeds to STEP 130. On the other hand, when the retry counter N reaches the upper limit value, the notification unit 63 notifies the abnormality of the circulation pump 12. If the drive experience flag is off and the pump rotation speed signal is not detected, the freeze may not be resolved or there is a possibility of a failure other than the freeze.

When the retry counter N is less than the upper limit value (“YES” in STEP 120), 1 is added to the retry counter N (STEP 130), the process returns to STEP 30, and the 6-liter hot water filling operation is performed again.

For example, when the upper limit value of the retry counter N is "3 (3 times)", the operation of returning from STEP 130 to STEP 30 is repeated 3 times. If the pump rotation speed signal is detected in STEP50 during that period (freezing is thawed), the process proceeds to STEP60, and the normal hot water filling operation proceeds. On the other hand, if the pump rotation speed signal is not detected in STEP 50 during that period and the retry counter N reaches the upper limit value, an abnormality of the circulation pump 12 is notified.

As described above, the hot water supply device 1 of the present embodiment performs a hot water filling operation and an unfreezing operation (FIGS. 3: STEP30 to 50, 110 to 130) for applying a driving voltage to the circulation pump 12 a predetermined number of times when the hot water supply device 1 is started. , Repeat. As a result, the frozen state of the hot water supply device 1 can be easily and surely released.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may take various forms as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

The abnormality of the circulation pump 12 was in a mode of notifying by voice or buzzer by the notification unit 63 of the remote controller 4, but if the voice or the like is changed due to freezing and other failures, the user can respond abnormally quickly. Can be done. The notification of the abnormality is not limited to the notification unit 63, and may be executed by, for example, the display unit 62.

In the above embodiment, whether or not the circulation pump 12 is normally driven is determined by the pump rotation speed signal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to detect the water flow by the water flow switch 41 or detect the pump drive current to determine whether or not the circulation pump 12 is normally driven.

1 ... hot water supply device, 2 ... gas water heater, 3 ... control device, 4 ... remote control, 5 ... bathtub, 12 ... circulation pump, 12'... antifreeze heater, 41 ... water flow switch (water flow detection means), 63 ... notification unit ..

Claims (4)

In a hot water supply device capable of performing a hot water filling operation in which a predetermined amount of heated hot water is filled in a bathtub and a reheating operation in which the hot water filled in the bathtub is reheated by a circulation pump.
When the drive of the circulation pump is not detected even if the drive voltage is applied to the circulation pump when the hot water filling operation is started, the drive voltage is supplied to the circulation pump after the heated hot water is supplied to the circulation pump. A hot water supply device characterized in that a hot water filling operation is performed by repeatedly executing a defreezing operation for reapplying a predetermined number of times. It is equipped with an antifreeze heater that is driven when commercial power is supplied to prevent the water in the circulation pump from freezing.
The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the unfreezing operation is executed when the first hot water filling operation is executed, which is the transition from the off state in which the commercial power is not supplied to the on state in which the commercial power is supplied. Hot water supply device. The hot water supply device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a notification unit for notifying an abnormality of the circulation pump when the drive of the circulation pump is not detected after the execution of the freeze release operation a predetermined number of times. .. It has a drive experience flag of the circulation pump that is turned on when the drive of the circulation pump is detected for the first time after shifting from the off state where the commercial power is not supplied to the on state where the commercial power is supplied.
The hot water supply device according to claim 3, wherein the notification unit notifies the abnormality when the drive of the circulation pump is no longer detected after the drive experience flag is turned on.

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