JP4811393B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water heater, and more particularly to a water heater that stores water heated by a heating means in a tank.

Usually, a tank of a water heater is covered with a heat insulating material so that heat is not taken away by outside air (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, the heat insulating material molded so as to follow the tank surface covers the tank surface so as to avoid piping. And the clearance gap between the heat insulating material and piping is block | closed with the 2nd heat insulating material softer than the heat insulating material. This method is suitable for insulating the upper part of the tank having a high temperature and the pipe connected to the upper part.
JP2007-85572

  However, regarding the lower part of the tank into which low-temperature water flows in winter and the pipes connected to the lower part, it is necessary to further improve the heat insulation from the viewpoint of freezing prevention. The method is inadequate.

  Furthermore, in the heat insulation method described in Patent Document 1, the work efficiency of blocking the gap between the heat insulating material and the pipe with the soft second heat insulating material increases in proportion to the number of pipes, so that the work efficiency is poor.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a water heater that enhances the heat insulation between the lower part of a tank that is easily exposed to low temperatures and the piping connected to the lower part of the tank and the outside air, and facilitates the work for the heat insulation.

A water heater according to a first aspect of the present invention is a water heater that stores hot water heated by a heating means in a tank, and includes a first heat insulating material and a second heat insulating material. The 1st heat insulating material is shape | molded by the foaming foam, and has covered the predetermined | prescribed surface of the tank. The 2nd heat insulating material is shape | molded by the fiber assembly, and has covered the piping connected to the surface which the 1st heat insulating material of the tank does not cover, the pipe connection part provided in the lower part of the tank, and the pipe connection part. The 1st heat insulating material has the bottom part and notch part which cover a tank lower part. The cutout portion is formed by cutting out a part of the bottom portion, and avoids interference with the pipe connection portion and the pipe at the bottom of the tank. And the 2nd heat insulating material has covered the notch part.

In this water heater, in a place where the spatial shape is complicated due to the presence of the pipe connection part and the pipe, the second heat insulating material formed by the fiber assembly is changed to the first heat insulating material formed by the foamed foam. In comparison, since it can enter a narrow area, the heat insulation effect is improved. Moreover, there is no gap between the first heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material, and the heat retaining property of the lower portion of the tank is enhanced.

The water heater according to the second invention is the water heater according to the first invention, wherein the second heat insulating material leaves a gap for circulating air between the tank and the pipe connecting portion and the pipe. Covers pipe connections and pipes.

  In this water heater, the water temperature in the tank is higher than the outside air temperature, so the air heated on the surface of the tank warms the piping. As a result, the tank lower part, the pipe connection part and the pipe are warmed, and freezing in winter is prevented.

A water heater according to a third aspect of the present invention is the water heater according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a casing for storing the tank. The casing has a fixed leg that extends vertically upward from the bottom surface and fixes the tank. The 1st heat insulating material and the 2nd heat insulating material have the insertion hole which inserts a fixed leg.

  In this water heater, when the first heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material are attached to the bottom surface of the casing, the workability is good because the insertion hole is positioned.

A water heater according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the water heater according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the second heat insulating material is a wool material.

  In this water heater, the second heat insulating material is flexible, easy to handle, and inexpensive, so the number of work steps and material costs are reduced.

In the water heater according to the first invention, in the place where the space shape is complicated due to the presence of the pipe connection part and the pipe, the second heat insulating material formed by the fiber assembly is formed by the foamed foam. Compared to 1 heat insulating material, since it can enter a narrow region, the heat insulating effect is improved. Moreover, there is no gap between the first heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material, and the heat retaining property of the lower portion of the tank is enhanced.

In the water heater according to the second aspect of the invention, the water temperature in the tank is higher than the outside air temperature, so the air heated on the surface of the tank warms the pipe. As a result, the tank lower part, the pipe connection part and the pipe are warmed, and freezing in winter is prevented.

In the water heater according to the third aspect of the invention, when the first heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material are attached to the bottom surface of the casing, the insertion hole is positioned, so that workability is good.

In the water heater according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the second heat insulating material is flexible, easy to handle, and inexpensive, so the number of work steps and material costs are reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

<Configuration of water heater 1>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the water heater. In FIG. 1, a water heater 1 includes a heat pump unit (heating means) 2 and a hot water storage device 3, and a vapor compression refrigeration circuit is housed in a casing 120 of the heat pump unit 2. A tank 31 is accommodated in the casing 130.

  In FIG. 2, the heat pump unit 2 includes a muffler 21 a, a compressor 21, a refrigerant pipe 22 a in the water heat exchanger 22, an expansion valve 23 as a decompression unit, and an air heat exchanger 24 connected in a ring shape by a refrigerant pipe 25. The vapor compression refrigeration circuit 20 is provided.

  The refrigeration circuit 20 is provided with a liquid gas heat exchanger 26 for heat exchange between the high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant coming out of the water heat exchanger 22 and the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant coming out of the air heat exchanger 24. Has been. Specifically, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant passage connecting the water heat exchanger 22 and the expansion valve 23 and the refrigerant passage connecting the air heat exchanger 24 and the compressor 21.

  The hot water storage device 3 includes a water circulation circuit 30 in which a tank 31, a water pipe 22 b in the water heat exchanger 22, and a water circulation pump 32 are annularly connected by a water circulation pipe 34. The control device 4 controls the operation of the heat pump unit 2 and the hot water storage device 3.

<Hot water storage device 3>
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of piping for connecting a hot water storage device of a water heater and a load according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the load described here refers to hot water supply and a bath. The hot water supply pipe 71 communicates the head of the tank 31 with the hot water supply mixing valve 73. The hot water supply pipe 71 has a first hot water supply branch pipe 71a and a second hot water supply branch pipe 71b. The first hot water supply branch pipe 71a connects the hot water supply pipe 71 and the hot water beam mixing valve 74, and the second hot water supply branch pipe. 71 b communicates the hot water supply pipe 71 and the relief valve 75.

  The water supply pipe 72 connects the water supply source and the hot water supply mixing valve 73. The water supply pipe 72 has a first water supply branch pipe 72a and a second water supply branch pipe 72b. The first water supply branch pipe 72a communicates the water supply pipe 72 and the hot water mixing valve 74, and the second water supply branch. The pipe 72 b connects the water supply pipe 72 and the bottom of the tank 31. A pressure reducing check valve 76 is connected upstream of the first water supply branch pipe 72a and the second water supply branch pipe 72b. Further, a water temperature sensor 41 is provided at a position away from the tank 31 of the second water supply branch pipe 72 b, so that the water temperature sensor 41 is not affected by the temperature from the tank 31.

  The hot water circulation pipe 77 communicates the top of the tank 31 and the bottom of the tank 31, and a memorial heat exchanger 78 and a circulation pump 79 are connected midway.

  The second hot water supply pipe 81 connects the hot water supply mixing valve 73 and the hot water supply port 82, and a hot water supply water amount sensor 42a is disposed on the way. The third hot water supply pipe 83 communicates the hot water beam mixing valve 74 and the bath water circulation pipe 91, and a composite water valve 84 is disposed in the middle. The composite water valve 84 includes a hot water solenoid valve 84a, a drain valve 84b, and a hot water volume sensor 42b.

  The bath water circulation pipe 91 exits from the bathtub 92 and returns to the bathtub 92, and a bath water circulation pump 93 is connected on the way. It should be noted that heat is exchanged between the bath water circulation pipe 91 and the hot water circulation pipe 77 in the memory heat exchanger 78.

  On the side wall of the tank 31, temperature sensors 44a to 44e are provided as a remaining hot water amount detecting means at a constant interval from the head to the bottom. The temperature of the hot water and the amount of remaining hot water are calculated by detecting the hot water temperature at each height position of the tank 31 with the temperature sensors 44a to 44e. In addition, the tank 31 is covered with a heat insulating material on the entire periphery of the side portion, the head portion, and the bottom portion.

<Insulation method of tank 31>
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tank with the side wall and head insulation removed, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tank with a part of the insulation removed from the bottom, and FIG. It is a perspective view of the tank lower part covered with the heat insulating material.

  In FIG. 4, the outer surface of the tank 31 is covered with the 1st heat insulating material 51 made from a polystyrene foam except for one part. The first heat insulating material 51 includes a bottom heat insulating material 511, a front side heat insulating material 512, a rear side heat insulating material 513, and a head heat insulating material 514, and is formed so as to follow the shape of the surface to be covered.

  Since the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the second heat insulating material 52 are located on the lower side of the tank 31, the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the second heat insulating material 52 are then assembled to the bottom plate 136 of the casing 130. Assembled on the upper side.

  In FIG. 5, a pipe connection part 60 is provided at the bottom of the tank 31, and a pipe 70 is connected to the pipe connection part 60. The pipe connection part 60 includes a first pipe connection part 601, a second pipe connection part 602, a third pipe connection part 603, and a fourth pipe connection part 604. The pipe 70 includes a first pipe 701, a second pipe 702, A third pipe 703 and a fourth pipe 704 are included.

  The 1st piping 701 is a part of hot water circulation piping 77 (refer FIG. 3), and connects the 1st piping connection part 601 and the circulation pump 79 (refer FIG. 3). The 2nd piping 702 is a part of water circulation piping 34, Comprising: The 2nd piping connection part 602 and the water circulation pump 32 (refer FIG.2, 3) are connected. The third pipe 703 is a part of the second water supply branch pipe 72 b and is connected to the third pipe connection portion 603. The fourth pipe 704 connects the fourth pipe connecting portion 604 and the drain pipe 39 (see FIG. 3).

  As described above, there are the pipe connection part 60 and the pipe 70 at the bottom of the tank 31, and the bottom heat insulating material 511 cannot be covered along the lower surface of the tank 31. A notch 511b is formed so as not to interfere with the. And the 2nd heat insulating material 52 shape | molded with the wool material instead of the bottom heat insulating material 511 covers the piping connection part 60, the piping 70, and the notch part 511b.

  In FIG. 6, the second heat insulating material 52 is provided from the notch portion of the bottom heat insulating material 511 to a place covering the lower end of the front side heat insulating material 512, and is joined to the front side heat insulating material 512 by the tape 53. As a result, the pipe 70 is covered with the second heat insulating material 52 at least from the bottom of the tank 31 to a length corresponding to the outer diameter of the tank 31 or longer.

<Assembly method of bottom heat insulating material 511 and second heat insulating material>
FIG. 7A is a perspective view before assembling the bottom heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view after assembling the bottom heat insulating material and the second heat insulating material. 7A and 7B, the bottom heat insulating material 511 is formed in a dome shape along the shape of the bottom of the tank 31, and penetrates in the thickness direction on the side facing the notch 511b. Two insertion holes 511a are provided.

  The 2nd heat insulating material 52 is shape | molded by the rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has the rectangular insertion hole 52a in the approximate center. The second heat insulating material 52 is disposed so as to cover the notch 511 b from the base of the wall surface surrounding the insertion hole 511 a of the bottom heat insulating material 511, and is joined to the curved outer surface with the tape 53.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view before the bottom plate, the bottom heat insulating material, and the second heat insulating material are assembled, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view after the bottom plate, the bottom heat insulating material, and the second heat insulating material are assembled. 8A and 8B, the bottom plate 136 has three fixed legs 140 extending vertically upward, and the insertion holes 511a of the bottom heat insulating material 511 are provided in the three fixed legs 140. And the insertion hole 52 a of the second heat insulating material 52 is inserted, and the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the second heat insulating material 52 are positioned on the bottom plate 136.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the tank 31 is placed on the inner surface of the bottom heat insulating material 511, and the side surface is held by the fixed legs 140. Next, the front side heat insulating material 512, the rear side heat insulating material 513, and the head heat insulating material 514 are assembled in the tank 31. Finally, the second heat insulating material 52 is curved so as to cover the bottom surface of the tank 31, the pipe connecting portion 60 and the pipe 70, and is joined to the front side heat insulating material 512 with the tape 53.

  There is a gap between the bottom surface of the tank 31 and the pipe 70, and the second heat insulating material 52 covers the pipe 70 while maintaining this gap, so that there is a gap between the bottom surface of the tank 31 and the second heat insulating material 52. A space in which air convects is formed. As a result, the air heated in the upper part of the tank 31 convects between the bottom surface of the tank 31 and the second heat insulating material 52 through the gap between the tank 31 and the front side heat insulating material 512. The temperature of the bottom of the heat-insulating member is prevented from being lowered by the heat insulating action of the second heat insulating material 52 and the convection of warm air.

<Features>
(1)
In the water heater 1, the bottom of the tank 31 is covered with a bottom insulating material 511 made of polystyrene foam and a second insulating material 52 made of wool. The bottom heat insulating material 511 is formed with a notch 511b so as not to interfere with the pipe connection 60 at the bottom of the dunk 31 and the pipe 70 connected thereto. The 2nd heat insulating material 52 has covered the bottom part of the tank 31 exposed from the notch part 511b, the piping connection part 60, and the piping 70. FIG. In a place where the space shape is complicated due to the presence of the pipe connection portion 60 and the pipe 70, the second heat insulating material 52 made of wool enters a narrow region, so that the heat insulating effect is improved. Further, there is no gap between the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the second heat insulating material 52, and the heat retaining property at the bottom of the tank 31 is enhanced.

(2)
In the water heater 1, the second heat insulating material 52 covers the bottom of the tank 31 and the pipe 70 while leaving a gap between the bottom of the tank 31 and the pipe 70. The air heated on the surface of the tank 31 warms the space covered with the second heat insulating material 52 and warms the pipe connection part 60 and the pipe 70. This prevents freezing in winter.

(3)
In the water heater 1, the fixing leg 140 extends vertically upward from the bottom plate 136 of the casing 130 and fixes the tank 31. The insertion holes 511a of the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the insertion holes 52a of the second heat insulating material 52 are inserted into the fixed leg 140. As a result, since the bottom heat insulating material 511 and the second heat insulating material 52 are positioned when assembled on the bottom plate 136, workability is improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the piping connected to the lower part of the tank is prevented from freezing, and the work for attaching the heat insulating material is easy. It is.

1 is an external perspective view of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic block diagram of the water heater. The circuit diagram of the piping which connects the hot water storage apparatus and load of the water heater. The perspective view of the tank which removed the heat insulating material of the side wall and the head. The perspective view which looked at the tank which removed a part of heat insulating material of the bottom part from the bottom part. The perspective view of the tank lower part covered with the heat insulating material. (A) The perspective view before the assembly of a bottom part heat insulating material and a 2nd heat insulating material. (B) The perspective view after the assembly of a bottom part heat insulating material and a 2nd heat insulating material. (A) The perspective view before the assembly of a baseplate, a bottom part heat insulating material, and a 2nd heat insulating material. (B) It is a perspective view after the assembly of a baseplate, a bottom part heat insulating material, and a 2nd heat insulating material.

1 Water heater 2 Heat pump unit (heating means)
31 Tank 51 1st heat insulating material 52 2nd heat insulating material 52a Insertion hole 60 Piping connection part 70 Piping 130 Casing 140 Fixed leg 511 Bottom heat insulating material (1st heat insulating material)
511a Insertion hole 511b Notch 512 Front side heat insulating material (first heat insulating material)
513 Rear side heat insulating material (first heat insulating material)
514 Head insulation (first insulation)
601 1st piping connection part 602 2nd piping connection part 603 3rd piping connection part 604 4th piping connection part 701 1st piping 702 2nd piping 703 3rd piping 704 4th piping

Claims (4)

A water heater for storing hot water heated by the heating means (2) in a tank (31),
A first heat insulating material (51) formed of foamed foam and covering a predetermined surface of the tank (31);
The surface of the tank (31) not covered with the first heat insulating material (51), the pipe connection part (60) provided at the lower part of the tank (31), and the pipe connection part ( A second heat insulating material (52) covering the pipe (70) connected to 60),
Equipped with a,
The first heat insulating material (51)
A bottom covering the lower part of the tank (31);
A part of the bottom part is formed by notching, and has a notch part (511b) that avoids interference with the pipe connection part (60) and the pipe (70) under the tank (31),
The second heat insulating material (52) covers the notch (511b),
Water heater (1). The second heat insulating material (52) is in a state in which a gap for allowing air to flow between the tank (31) and the pipe connecting portion (60) and the pipe (70) remains. Covering (60) and the pipe (70),
The water heater (1) according to claim 1. A casing (130) for accommodating the tank (31);
The casing (130) has a fixed leg (140) extending vertically upward from the bottom surface and fixing the tank (31),
The first heat insulating material (51) and the second heat insulating material (52) have insertion holes (511a, 52a) for inserting the fixed legs (140),
The water heater (1) according to claim 1. The second heat insulating material (52) is a wool material,
The water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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