JP3182681B2 - Peltier element water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a Peltier element warm water generator in which the temperature of the heat absorbing unit of the element is maintained as high as possible and the efficiency is improved. CONSTITUTION: The Peltier element warm water generator comprises a Peltier element 2 as an air heat source heat pump, a power source 7 for supplying power to the element 2, a radiating side heat pipe 3 of a first heat pipe so that the radiating side end is disposed in a hot water storage tank 1 and the heat absorbing side is mounted at the radiating side of the element 2 in a heat exchanging manner, and a heat absorbing side heat pipe 5 of a second heat pipe so that the heat absorbing side end is disposed in the atmosphere and the radiating side end is mounted at the heat absorbing side of the element 2 in a heat exchanging manner. The power source 7 is so mounted at the heat absorbing side of the element 2 as to heat exchange. Thus, the temperature rise of the power source can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Peltier element water heater that drives a Peltier element to boil hot water, and more particularly to a Peltier element water heater that effectively uses waste heat generated from a power supply for driving the Peltier element. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional Peltier element water heater, there is a water heater that uses a Peltier element as an air heat source heat pump to boil hot water. The Peltier element water heater, for example,
Some include a power supply device for supplying electric power to the Peltier element, a heat sink attached to the heat radiation side of the Peltier element so as to exchange heat, and a hot water storage tank containing the heat sink. And the water put in the hot water storage tank is boiled by driving the Peltier element.

Here, a switching power supply is used as a power supply for driving the Peltier element. This switching power supply is generally used because it is relatively small. Further, as such a conventional Peltier element water heater, for example, there is one described in JP-A-63-238371.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional Peltier element water heater, waste heat generated from a power supply for driving the Peltier element is not used at all, and the waste heat is discarded to the outside. The energy consumption of the power supply has become unnecessarily large.

In a switching power supply used as a power supply for driving the Peltier element, a switching element is used for converting an alternating current to a direct current. Most of the power conversion loss in the switching power supply is an internal loss in the switching element, which is generated as heat of the switching element. The heat is only radiated to the outside air in the conventional Peltier water heater, and is not used at all.
The efficiency of the Peltier element water heater was reduced.

On the other hand, as means for improving the efficiency of the Peltier element water heater, a heat-absorbing side end of a heat pipe is attached to the heat-radiating side of the Peltier element so that heat can be exchanged, and the heat-radiating side end of the heat pipe is arranged in a hot water storage tank. A Peltier element water heater having a configuration to be installed is conceivable. Thereby, the heat generated in the Peltier element can be efficiently moved into the hot water storage tank.

As a means for further improving the efficiency of the Peltier element water heater, it is important to maintain the temperature at the heat-absorbing end of the heat pipe as high as possible. Than this,
In order to increase the heat capacity of the heat pipe, it is conceivable to attach a plurality of plate-shaped fins to the heat-absorbing end of the heat pipe and forcibly blow air from the blower to the fins.

However, such a Peltier element water heater uses fins and a blower, so that the size of the device is increased, and a large amount of electric power is required to drive the blower and the like. Rather, the efficiency is reduced.

Therefore, the present invention provides a Peltier element water heater in which the efficiency of the Peltier element water heater is improved by maintaining the temperature of the heat absorbing portion of the Peltier element as high as possible without increasing the heat capacity of the heat pipe for performing heat exchange with the outside air. The purpose is to provide.

[0010]

A Peltier element water heater according to the present invention comprises a Peltier element as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply for supplying power to the Peltier element, and a heat radiation side end disposed in a hot water storage tank. A first heat pipe having a heat-absorbing end attached to the heat-dissipating side of the Peltier element so as to exchange heat, and a heat-absorbing end disposed in the outside air and having a heat-dissipating end exchangeable with the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element. A second heat pipe attached to the Peltier device, wherein the power supply device is attached to a heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so as to be able to exchange heat.

Further, the Peltier element water heater of the present invention comprises a Peltier element as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply for supplying power to the Peltier element, a heat radiation side end disposed in the hot water storage tank, and a heat absorption side end disposed. A first heat pipe mounted on the heat radiation side of the Peltier element so as to be capable of exchanging heat, and a second heat pipe whose heat absorbing side end is disposed in the outside air and whose heat dissipating side end is heat exchangeably mounted to the power supply device; And a pipe, wherein the power supply device is also mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so as to be able to exchange heat.

Further, the Peltier element water heater of the present invention comprises a Peltier element as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply device for supplying power to the Peltier element, a heat radiation side end disposed in the hot water storage tank, and a heat absorption side end. A first heat pipe which is heat-exchangeably attached to the heat radiation side of the Peltier element, a heat-absorbing end is disposed in the outside air, and a heat-radiating end is heat-exchangeably mounted to the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element. And a second heat pipe, wherein the power supply device is heat-exchangeably attached to a heat radiation side end of the second heat pipe.

[0013]

In the Peltier element water heater according to the present invention, when a current is applied to the Peltier element, the temperature of the heat absorption side of the Peltier element decreases. At the same time, the power supply that supplies current to the Peltier element generates heat. Since the power supply device is mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so as to be able to exchange heat, the heat of the power supply device is conducted to the heat absorbing portion of the Peltier device, and the temperature of the heat absorbing portion is prevented from lowering. That is, since the heat generation of the power supply device occurs with the temperature decrease on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element, the temperature decrease of the heat absorption portion can be efficiently suppressed without using a special control circuit or the like.

As a result, the Peltier device water heater of the present invention maintains the temperature of the heat absorbing portion of the Peltier device as high as possible without increasing the heat capacity of the heat pipe for performing heat exchange with the outside air, thereby improving the efficiency. Can be done.

Further, heat generated due to power conversion loss or the like in the power supply device is absorbed by the heat absorbing portion of the Peltier element, so that the temperature rise of the power conversion element or the like in the power supply device is suppressed, and It is possible to suppress deterioration and deterioration of performance, and to suppress reduction in output power of the power supply device.

On the other hand, if the power supply device cannot be directly attached to the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element, the heat dissipation side end of the second heat pipe may be attached to the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element, and the power supply device may be attached to the heat dissipation side end. Good. At this time, as the position of the power supply device and the heat absorption side of the Peltier element are closer, the heat of the power supply device is absorbed by the Peltier element without heat loss.
It is preferable that the positions of the power supply device and the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element be as close as possible.

Further, heat generated from the power supply device is conducted to the second heat pipe in addition to the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element. However, by arranging the second heat pipe so as to operate with the bottom heat, the heat diode property of the heat pipe works, and the amount of heat generated from the power supply device escaping to the outside air becomes extremely small. Can be collected extremely efficiently on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a Peltier element water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. The Peltier element water heater includes a Peltier element 2 as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply device 7 for supplying power to the Peltier element 2, a heat radiation side end disposed in the hot water storage tank 1, and a heat absorption side end disposed in the Peltier element 2.
A heat-dissipating heat pipe 3 which is a first heat pipe mounted on the heat-dissipating side of the Peltier element 2 so that the heat-dissipating end is disposed in the outside air and the heat-dissipating end is heat-exchangeable to the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element And a heat absorbing side heat pipe 5 which is a second heat pipe attached.

The power supply 7 is mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element 2 so as to be able to exchange heat.

Further, in the present Peltier element water heater, a heat radiation side heat sink 4 is provided at a heat radiation side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3.
Is provided to increase the thermal conductivity between the water 9 stored in the hot water storage tank 1 and the heat radiation side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3. A heat-absorbing heat sink 6 is provided at the heat-absorbing end of the heat-absorbing heat pipe 5 to increase the thermal conductivity between the outside air and the heat-absorbing side end of the heat-absorbing heat pipe 5. The outer periphery of the hot water storage tank 1 and the like is covered with a heat insulating material 8.

Here, the heat radiation side heat pipe 3 and the heat absorption side heat pipe 5 are operated by bottom heat in order to prevent heat loss from the hot water storage tank 1 to the outside air side by utilizing the heat diode property of the heat pipe. It is arranged as follows.

Next, the operation of the present Peltier element water heater will be described. When the power supply device 7 is driven to supply a current to the Peltier element 2, the temperature on the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 2 increases and the temperature on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 decreases. As a result, the temperature of the heat absorption side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3 increases. The temperature of the heat absorption side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3 is transmitted to the heat radiation end side very efficiently, and
Temperature also rises. As a result, the water 9 stored in the hot water storage tank 1 receives heat from the heat radiation side heat sink 4 and the heat radiation side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3, and the temperature rises.

On the other hand, the temperature of the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 is reduced by supplying a current to the Peltier element 2 from the power supply device 7, contrary to the temperature rise on the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 2. Here, in the power supply device 7, heat is generated by supplying power to the Peltier element 2. This heat is generated by a power conversion loss in the power supply device 7. Since the power supply device 7 and the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 are mounted so as to be able to exchange heat, the heat of the power supply device 7 is absorbed by the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 and the temperature of the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 decreases. Is suppressed.

Since the heat-radiating end of the heat-absorbing heat pipe 5 is attached to the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element 2, the outside air temperature is pumped up by the heat-absorbing heat pipe 5 and the heat-absorbing heat sink 6, and the Peltier element 2 The temperature drop on the heat absorption side is further suppressed.

Thus, the present Peltier element water heater
When driving the Peltier element 2 to raise the temperature of the water 9, the heat generated by the power supply device 7 can be used very efficiently for water heating. Here, the time when heat is generated from the power supply device 7 is when power is supplied to the Peltier device 2 and coincides with the time when the temperature drop on the heat absorption side of the Peltier device 2 should be suppressed. There is no need to use.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a Peltier element water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This Peltier element water heater is a Peltier element 2 as an air heat source heat pump.
A power supply device 7 for supplying power to the Peltier element 2, and a first heat pipe having a heat radiation side end disposed in the hot water storage tank 1 and a heat absorbing side end attached to the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 2 so as to be able to exchange heat. And a heat-absorbing heat pipe 5 which is a second heat pipe whose heat-absorbing end is disposed in the outside air and whose heat-radiating end is heat-exchangeably attached to the power supply 7. ing.

The power supply device 7 is also mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element 2 so as to be able to exchange heat. That is,
The power supply device 7 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 and the heat radiation side end of the heat absorption side heat pipe 5.

As a result, the present Peltier element water heater
As in the first embodiment, when the temperature of the water 9 is increased by driving the Peltier element 2, the heat generated by the power supply device 7 can be used very efficiently for water heating. Further, since the present Peltier element water heater can effectively use the metal case or the like of the power supply device 7, the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2, the power supply device 7, and the heat radiation side end of the heat absorption side heat pipe 5 are heated. They can be interconnected with increased conductivity.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a Peltier element water heater according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This Peltier element water heater is a Peltier element 2 as an air heat source heat pump.
And a power supply device 7 for supplying power to the Peltier element 2.
A heat radiation side heat pipe 3 which is a first heat pipe whose heat radiation side end is disposed in the hot water storage tank 1 and whose heat absorption side end is heat-exchangeably attached to the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 2; It has a heat-absorbing heat pipe 5 which is a second heat pipe which is disposed in the outside air and whose heat-radiating end is heat-exchangeably attached to the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element 2. further,
The power supply device 7 is attached to the heat radiation side end of the heat absorption side heat pipe 5 so as to be able to exchange heat.

Thus, the Peltier element water heater is
As in the first embodiment, when the temperature of the water 9 is increased by driving the Peltier element 2, the heat generated by the power supply device 7 can be used very efficiently for water heating. Further, in the present Peltier element water heater, since the power supply device 7 is attached to the heat radiation side end of the heat absorption side heat pipe 5,
The arrangement of the power supply device 7 can be easily performed as compared with the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of a connection portion between the power supply device and the heat absorbing heat pipe in the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. Here, the power supply device 7 uses a so-called switching power supply, and uses the switching element 10 as a main member thereof.

The switching element 10 is fixed to an electrically insulated aluminum heat sink 11 having good thermal conductivity with screws 14. Further, the heat sink 11
Are fixed to the power supply case 12 with screws 14. The power supply case 12 is fixed to the power supply fixing aluminum block 13 formed on the heat absorption side heat pipe 5 with screws 14. Silicone grease or the like is applied to the joint surface of each of the above members to improve thermal conductivity.

Thus, the heat generated from the switching element 10 and the heat of the air around the switching element 10 are transmitted to the heat sink 11,
To the heat absorbing side heat pipe 5 and further to the Peltier element fixing aluminum block 16, and to the Peltier element 2.
Endothermic to the endothermic side.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing details of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the actual wiring of the electric system in the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram showing detailed wiring of an electric system in the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. The operation of the power supply 7 is controlled by the electric circuits shown in these figures, the amount of power output from the power supply 7 to the Peltier element 2 is controlled, and the temperature of the water 9 in the hot water storage tank 1 is controlled.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a heating mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. On the other hand, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a heat retention mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG.

In the heating mode, the automatic temperature controller is in the ON state, and the power supply 7 is in the ON state.
As a result, a current is supplied to the Peltier element 2 from the power supply device 7, and the temperature on the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 2 increases, and the temperature on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 decreases. Then, the temperature of the heat absorption side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3 increases. The temperature of the heat absorption side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3 is transmitted to the heat radiation end side very efficiently, and
Temperature also rises. As a result, the water 9 stored in the hot water storage tank 1 receives heat from the heat radiation side heat sink 4 and the heat radiation side end of the heat radiation side heat pipe 3, and the temperature rises.

Further, the heat absorption side heat pipe 5 absorbs the outside air temperature through the heat absorption side heat sink 6 and sends the heat to the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2. Furthermore, the power supply 7
Is sent to the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 via the heat absorption side heat pipe 5. Thus, in the heating mode, the temperature drop on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 2 is automatically suppressed, and an efficient heating operation can be performed.

On the other hand, in the warming mode, the automatic temperature controller is in the OFF state, and the power supply 7 is in the OFF state. Here, the heat-dissipation-side heat pipe 3 and the heat-absorption-side heat pipe 5 become the top heat, so that the heat pipe exhibits the thermal diode property and the hot water storage tank 1 is heated.
Heat loss from the inside to the outside air side is suppressed.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing temperature changes at various points in the heating mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. This graph shows the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank with respect to the elapsed time from the start of heating of the Peltier element water heater. The horizontal axis in this graph indicates the elapsed time from the start of heating, the left vertical axis indicates the temperature of each unit, and the right vertical axis indicates the power consumption of the power supply device 7. However, as the measurement conditions, the environmental temperature is constant at about 23 ° C., and the hot water storage tank 1
Was 3.7 liters, and the hot water storage tank 1 used had a heat loss of about 0.11 (kcal / h ° C.). Also,
The initial water temperature is about 23 ° C, and the power conversion efficiency of the power supply 7 is about 8
0%, and the power supply voltage was constant at about 14V.

As for the power consumption, as the temperature of the Peltier element rises and the resistance value of the Peltier element increases, the power consumption value decreases over time as shown in FIG. Here, the elapsed time until the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank 1 becomes 85 ° C. is about 5 hours and 30 minutes. In addition, it can be seen that the temperature on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element has dropped to at least 13 ° C.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a temperature change in each part of the conventional Peltier element water heater. However, this measurement condition is the same as the measurement condition of the graph shown in FIG. Here, the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank 1 is 85
The elapsed time until the temperature reaches ° C is about 5 hours and 50 minutes. In addition, it can be seen that the temperature on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element has been reduced to at least 9 ° C.

Comparing the graphs of FIGS. 10 and 12, it can be seen that the Peltier device water heater of this embodiment can boil hot water about 20 minutes faster than the conventional Peltier device water heater. In addition, it can be seen that the Peltier element water heater of the present embodiment suppresses the temperature decrease on the heat absorption side of the Peltier element by 4 ° C. at the lowest temperature as compared with the conventional Peltier element water heater.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the power consumption and the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank in the Peltier element water heater according to the present invention and the conventional Peltier element water heater. The Peltier element water heater for recovering the waste heat of the power supply shown in this figure is the Peltier element water heater according to the present invention shown in FIG. Further, the Peltier element water heater that does not recover waste heat of the power supply and the ordinary heater-heated water heater are respectively conventional water heaters.

In this graph, the abscissa indicates the power consumption of the power source converted into the amount of heat, and the ordinate indicates the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank. The measurement conditions are the same as the measurement conditions in the graph shown in FIG.

As shown in this graph, the Peltier element water heater for recovering the waste heat of the power supply can boil the same temperature hot water with less power consumption than the other water heaters. It can be seen that waste heat from the power supply device is recovered as heat storage energy in the hot water storage tank. It is also shown that a Peltier element water heater is more efficient than a normal heater-heated water heater.

In the above embodiment, the power supply case 12 of the power supply 7 is attached to a heat pipe or a Peltier element. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The element may be configured to be directly attached to a heat pipe or a Peltier element. Here, a structure in which a switching element or the like and a heat pipe or a Peltier element are attached via a heat sink may be adopted.

Here, it is conceivable to take out only the switching element from the power supply device, extend it with an electric wire, and attach it to a heat pipe or a Peltier element. However, the switching element constituting the power supply and other power supply parts are switched at high frequency. Therefore, if the wire becomes longer, the transmission loss increases. For this reason, it is preferable to use a power supply device in which the switching element and other power supply components are integrated.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the power supply for supplying power to the Peltier element is mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so as to exchange heat. Peltier element water heater that can be recovered as heat storage energy and maintains efficiency as high as possible at the heat absorption part of the Peltier element without increasing the heat capacity of the heat pipe that exchanges heat with the outside air Can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress heat generation due to power conversion loss and the like in the power supply device, so that a decrease in performance due to a rise in temperature in the power supply device, such as a decrease in output power, is suppressed. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a Peltier element water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a Peltier element water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a Peltier element water heater according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of a connection portion between a power supply device and a heat absorbing heat pipe in the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing details of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing actual wiring of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram showing detailed wiring of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. 3;

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a heating mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a heat retaining mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG. 3;

10 is a graph showing a temperature change in each part in a heating mode of the Peltier element water heater shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the power consumption and the average water temperature of the hot water storage tank in the Peltier element water heater of the present invention and the conventional Peltier element water heater.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a temperature change in each part of the conventional Peltier element water heater.

[Description of Signs] 1 Hot water storage tank 2 Peltier element 3 Heat radiation side heat pipe 4 Heat radiation side heat sink 5 Heat absorption side heat pipe 6 Heat absorption side heat sink 7 Power supply device 8 Thermal insulation material 9 Water 10 Switching element 11 Heat sink 12 Power supply case 13 Power supply fixing aluminum Block 14 Screw 15 Mounting bracket 16 Aluminum block for fixing Peltier element 17 Automatic temperature controller 18 Temperature switch 19 Electric leakage breaker 20 Terminal block

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI F24H 1/20 F24H 1/20 Z

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A Peltier device as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply device for supplying power to the Peltier device, and a heat-radiating end disposed in the hot water storage tank and a heat-absorbing side end exchanging heat with a radiation side of the Peltier device. A first heat pipe that is mounted so as to be capable of being mounted, and a second heat pipe whose heat-absorbing end is disposed in the outside air and whose heat-radiating end is heat-exchangeably mounted on the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element. The Peltier element water heater, wherein the power supply device is mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so as to exchange heat. 2. A Peltier device as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply for supplying power to the Peltier device, a heat-radiating end disposed in the hot water storage tank, and a heat-absorbing end connected to a heat-radiating side of the Peltier device. A first heat pipe movably attached to the power supply device, and a second heat pipe having a heat-absorbing end provided in the outside air and a heat-radiation end provided heat-exchangeably attached to the power supply device. Is mounted on the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element so that heat can be exchanged. 3. A Peltier device as an air heat source heat pump, a power supply device for supplying power to the Peltier device, a heat-radiating end disposed in the hot water storage tank, and a heat-absorbing end connected to a heat-radiating side of the Peltier device. A first heat pipe that is mounted so as to be capable of being mounted, and a second heat pipe whose heat-absorbing end is disposed in the outside air and whose heat-radiating end is heat-exchangeably mounted on the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element. The Peltier element water heater, wherein the power supply device is attached to a heat radiation side end of the second heat pipe so as to exchange heat.