JP2592529B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a hot water supply path between a hot water supply path extending from a hot water supply source to a hot water tap and the hot water supply source. A circulation pump that circulates and returns the hot water through the return hot water path to the hot water supply source; and a heating unit that maintains the temperature of the circulated and hot water at a set temperature, and operates the circulation pump and the heating unit. The present invention relates to a hot water supply device provided with a heat retaining control means for controlling the temperature.

[Conventional technology]

The hot water supply apparatus as described above keeps the hot water in the hot water supply path in order to prevent the hot water in the hot water supply path from being cooled by heat radiation and discharging cold water from the hot water tap at the next hot water supply.

However, since it is not economical to always operate the heat retaining control means, that is, the circulating pump and the heating means, it is desirable to stop the operation of the heat retaining control means when the hot water supply device is not used.

Therefore, it is unlikely that the time zone in which the hot water supply device is used varies greatly depending on the day. Therefore, it is conceivable to operate the heat retention control means only in the time zone in which the use of the hot water supply device is predicted.

Conventionally, when setting the time zone of the operation of the control means for keeping warm, it has been customarily set by, for example, a 24-hour timer.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above prior art, the time period for using the hot water supply device must be set in advance, and the setting operation is troublesome.

Further, there is a possibility that the set operation time zone and the actually used time zone do not match, and in this case, the operation efficiency of the heat retaining control means is reduced.

 An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve this object, a first characteristic configuration of the hot water supply device according to the present invention is based on a hot water tap time from the hot water tap.
An operation time setting means for setting an operation start time of the heat retention control means with a cycle of 24 hours is provided, and the heat retention control means is automatically activated based on an operation instruction from the operation time setting means. That is to say,

A second characteristic configuration is that the operation time setting means is configured to set an operation stop time of the control means for keeping heat, and the control means for keeping heat is controlled based on a stop instruction of the operation time setting means. That is, the operation is automatically stopped.

[Action]

In the first characteristic configuration, the operation start time of the control means for heat keeping is set in a cycle of 24 hours based on the actual hot water supply time from the hot water tap, and then, as the operation start time comes, the heat keeping time becomes longer. Is automatically started.
That is, when the operation start time comes after 24 hours, the operations of the circulation pump and the heating means are automatically started.

In the second characteristic configuration, an operation stop time of the control unit for keeping heat is also set, and when the operation stop time comes, the operations of the circulation pump and the heating unit are automatically stopped.

〔The invention's effect〕

In the first characteristic configuration, the operation start time of the circulation pump and the heating means is automatically set, and in the second characteristic configuration, the operation stop time is automatically set. Therefore, it is troublesome to set those times artificially. And the operability can be improved.

In addition, since the operation start time and the operation stop time of the circulation pump and the heating means are set to the time according to the actual use based on the hot water supply time from the hot water tap, the operation efficiency of the heat retaining control means is increased. Running costs can be reduced.

〔Example〕

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water supply device includes a hot water supply main body (A) as a hot water supply source and an immediate hot water supply unit (B) for keeping hot water when hot water supply is stopped. In the drawings, (1) and (2) denote first and second hot-water taps, which are so-called mixing taps, and (3) denotes a main controller for giving a control command to the water heater main body (A).

If we add a description of the piping path in the water heater,
A water supply path (R1) for supplying water to the hot water supply device, a branch path (R2) for supplying water to the first and second hot water taps (1) and (2),
Hot water supply channel (R) for supplying hot water to the second hot water taps (1) and (2)
3) and a return hot water path (R4) for connecting the front end of the hot water supply path (R3) and the water supply path (R1) in the immediate hot water supply unit (B) via the circulation pump (4).

That is, the hot water in the hot water supply path (R3) can be circulated and returned so as to return to the water heater main body (A) through the return hot water path (R4).

When the configuration of the water heater main body (A) is further described, a burner (5), a water heating heat exchanger (6) heated by the burner (5), and the like are provided. The gas used in the burner (5) is supplied through a gas supply path (G1).

Two gas solenoid valves (7) and (8) and a gas proportional valve (9) are interposed in the gas supply path (G1) of the water heater body (A), and the water heater body is provided in the water supply path (R1). A water amount sensor (10) for (A) is interposed, and a hot water temperature thermistor (11) and a water amount control valve (12) are interposed in the hot water supply path (R3). In addition, (13) is an afterburn safety device, (14) is a heating prevention device, (15) is a combustion fan, (16) is a spark plug, (1)
7) is a frame rod for detecting whether or not the burner (5) has ignited.

These are connected to a burner controller (18), respectively, and the burner controller (18) is connected to the main controller (3).

The main controller (3) has an operation switch (3
1), an operation lamp (32), a combustion lamp (33), and a hot water temperature adjustment button switch (34) are provided respectively.

The operation of the water heater body (A) will be further described. When the water amount sensor (10) detects that the water amount is equal to or larger than the set water amount in a state where the operation switch (31) is turned on, the gas solenoid valve (7) is activated. ) And (8) are opened to ignite the burner (5) and drive the combustion fan (15). Hot water is supplied in advance, and the temperature of the supplied hot water is detected by a hot water temperature thermistor (11), and based on the detected information, the temperature of the supplied hot water is maintained at a temperature set by a hot water temperature adjustment button switch (34). The opening of the gas proportional valve (9) is adjusted. If the temperature adjustment by the gas proportional valve (9) is not sufficient, the water amount is adjusted by the water amount control valve (12).

If the hot water thermistor (11) breaks down, or if the heat exchanger (6) overheats abnormally because the flow rates of water and gas cannot be adjusted properly, the embers safety device (13) will be activated and 2 The two gas solenoid valves (7), (8) are closed. Embers safety device (13)
Does not work and the heat exchanger (6) overheats abnormally,
The overheat prevention device (14) is operated to close the two gas solenoid valves (7) and (8). That is, double safety measures are taken.

The configuration of the instant hot water supply unit (B) will be described in more detail. A tank (19) provided in the hot water supply path (R3), a heater (20) for heating hot water in the tank (19), and the circulation pump ( 4) is provided.

Two check valves (21), (2), which prevent the hot water of the return hot water path (R4) from flowing back to the upstream side of the hot water supply path (R1), in the water supply path (R1) in the instant hot water supply unit (B). 22) and an incoming water quantity sensor (23) which is supplied to the instant hot water supply unit (B) through the water supply path (R1), and a return water path (R4).
Circulating water temperature thermistor (24) and circulating pump (4)
And a check valve (26) for preventing the water in the water supply channel (R1) from flowing back into the hot water channel (R4) during hot water supply. ing. (27)
Is an excessive temperature rise prevention device that stops energization of the heater (20) when abnormal heating of the heater (20) is detected.

These are connected to the unit controller (28).

The operation when the operation switch (29) provided in the instant hot water supply unit (B) is ON will be described.

The operation of the instant hot water supply unit (B) includes a normal mode and a learning mode. The normal mode will be described first.

In the normal mode, a stopped state in which the driving of the circulation pump (4) is stopped, and an operating state in which the circulation pump (4) is continuously driven in either a large or small water supply capacity. It is automatically switched according to the time zone. This switching time is set in a learning mode described later.

In the operating state, the hot water in the hot water supply channel (R3) is circulating through the return hot water channel (R4). The difference between the temperature detected by the circulating water temperature thermistor (24) and a preset temperature for preserving heat (for example, 60 ° C.) is a first deviation (for example, 15 ° C.).
C), the water supply capacity of the circulation pump (4) is increased. As a result, the water amount sensor (10) for the water heater main body (A) detects that the water amount is equal to or larger than the set water amount, and the burner (5) is ignited as described above, and the circulating hot water is heated. Is done. When the temperature of the hot water rises and the difference from the set temperature for keeping the temperature becomes equal to or less than the second deviation (for example, 5 ° C.), the circulation pump (4) is driven with a small water supply capacity, and the amount of water decreases. As a result, the water amount sensor (10) for the water heater body (A) detects that the water amount is less than the set water amount, and the burner (5) is extinguished. In this case, the circulating hot water is heated by energizing the heater (20) instead. When the temperature of the hot water further rises and reaches the set temperature for keeping heat, the power supply to the heater (20) is stopped. Then, when the difference from the set temperature for heat retention becomes larger than the second deviation due to natural cooling, the heater (20) is energized again.

That is, the burner (5) and the heater (20) correspond to the heating means (K), and the control means (100) for keeping heat is configured using the unit controller (28).

In the stopped state, the operation of the heating means (K) is also stopped.

 Next, the learning mode will be described.

The learning mode is continued for 24 hours after the operation switch (29) is first turned on after the power is supplied to the instant hot water supply unit (B).

In the learning mode, the operating state is always maintained without being stopped. That is, the circulation pump (4) is driven. Then, the operation of the heating means (K) is controlled in the same manner as described above.

In this state, when water is discharged from the first hot water tap (1) or the second hot water tap (2), the water input amount sensor (23) is turned ON. The unit controller (28) has a clock function and can detect the ON operation time of the water input amount sensor (23). One hour before this ON operation time is set as the operation start time of the heat retaining control means (100), and one hour later is set as the operation stop time of the heat retaining control means (100).
This work is continued on a 24-hour cycle.

In setting the operation start time and the operation stop time of the control means (100) for keeping heat as described above, the water input amount sensor (23) is again turned on within one hour from the ON operation time of the water input amount sensor (23). When the ON operation is performed, the ON operation information again is treated as invalid information. That is, when the operation start time and the operation stop time are set by the ON operation of the water input amount sensor (23), a new operation start is started as the water input amount sensor (23) is turned ON after one hour has passed. The time and the operation stop time are set. In addition, since the setting of the operation start time and the operation stop time is performed using two hours as one unit, it is possible to set a maximum of twelve pieces per day. Looking at it, it is only necessary to provide a function for setting, for example, five settings per day.

That is, the operation time setting means (101) is configured using the unit controller (28).

Next, the operation of the instant hot water supply unit (B) will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

After the power is turned on, the learning mode is set as the operation switch (29) is turned on, and the control means (100) for keeping heat is in the operating state.

Then, the time of tapping from the first and second hot-water taps (1) and (2) is detected, and the operation time in the normal mode of the heat retaining control means (100) is set.

 After 24 hours, it will be in normal mode.

In the normal mode, the operation state is started with the operation start time, that is, the state in which the control means (100) for keeping heat is automatically started, and the stop state is reached with the operation stop time, Then, the operation is switched to a state in which the operation of the heat retaining control means (100) is stopped.

When the setting of the operation time is changed, the power supplied to the instant hot water supply unit (B) may be temporarily cut off.

(Another embodiment)

In the above embodiment, the case where a flow type is used as the hot water supply source (A) is shown, but a hot water storage type may be used.

In the above embodiment, the operation start time and the operation stop time once set are fixed until the setting is changed using a new learning mode, but the operation start time and the operation stop time are determined based on the usage state in the normal mode. The time may be corrected. In the learning mode, the operation time may be set based on the frequency of use. Further, the operation time may be corrected according to the season, the incoming water temperature, or the like.

As described above, correcting the operation start time and the operation stop time based on the usage state in the normal mode will be specifically described with reference to an example in which the present invention is applied to the embodiment.
When the hot water from the hot-water taps (1) and (2) is detected in the stop state, the set operation time closest to the hot water time is detected and cleared, and the current operation time is cleared. Based on this, a new operation start time and an operation stop time are set. In this way, when the use time of the user changes due to the season or the like, it can be automatically corrected in accordance with the change.

In the above embodiment, the water input amount sensor (23) and the circulating water amount sensor (25) are provided separately, but one sensor (30) may be used in common. In that case, the sensor (3
0) is provided at the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG.

The specific configuration of each part such as the configuration of the heating means (K) can be variously changed.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the hot water supply apparatus, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are flowcharts of the control operation. (1), (2) ... hot water tap, (4) ... circulation pump,
(100): Control means for keeping heat, (101): Means for setting operation time, (A): Hot water supply source, (R3): Hot water supply path, (R4)
...... Return hot water path, (K) ... Heating means.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A return hot water path (R4) is interposed between a hot water supply source (A) and a hot water supply path (R3) extending from a hot water supply source (A) to hot water taps (1) and (2). A circulation pump (4) that circulates and returns the hot water in the hot water supply path (R3) to the hot water supply source (A) through the return hot water path (R4); A heating means (K) for maintaining the circulating pump (4) and the heating means (K);
A hot water supply device provided with a heat retaining control means (100) for controlling the operation of the hot water supply tap, based on hot water tap times from the hot water taps (1) and (2).
An operation time setting means (101) for setting an operation start time of the heat keeping control means (100) with time as a cycle is provided, and based on a driving instruction from the operation time setting means (101), the operation time setting means (101) is provided. A hot water supply device configured to automatically start the control means (100). 2. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation time setting means (101) is provided with said heat keeping control means (10).
0) is configured to set the operation stop time, and based on the stop instruction of the operation time setting unit (101), the control unit (100) for heat retention is automatically stopped. Water heater.