JP5295739B2 - Bathroom heater with sauna function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathroom heater with a sauna function suppressing cost increase and device enlargement and for immediately adjusting a generation amount of steam. <P>SOLUTION: The bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function includes a heating mechanism 2 having a ventilation passage connecting an inlet 21a and an outlet 21b communicated with a bathroom BR, a circulation fan 22 provided in the ventilation passage, sucking in air in the bathroom BR from the inlet 21a and blowing it out into the bathroom BR from the outlet 21b, and a heating radiator 4b provided in the ventilation passage, and a humidification mechanism 3 having a spray nozzle 32 spraying water, an evaporator 31 evaporating the water sprayed from the spray nozzle 32, and a water passage 33 supplying water to the spray nozzle 32. Water vapor generated by the humidification mechanism 3 is mixed into air heated by the heating radiator 23, and a high temperature high humidity sauna state is provided in the bathroom BR. A controller 5 is provided, controlling a water amount sprayed by the spray nozzle 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bathroom heater with a sauna function that can make a bathroom in a hot and humid sauna state.

  Conventionally, a heat source device having a heat exchanger for heating, a ventilation path connecting a suction port and a blower outlet communicating with the bathroom, and a ventilation passage interposed between the suction inlet and the bathroom to suck in the air in the bathroom and from the blower outlet to the bathroom A circulation fan that blows out to the air, a radiator for heating provided in the ventilation path, and a main heat medium circulation path for circulating the heat medium heated by the heating heat exchanger of the heat source unit to the radiator for heating. A heating mechanism for heating the bathroom, a spray nozzle for spraying warm water toward the evaporator, and a warm water passage for supplying warm water to the spray nozzle, and vaporizing the warm water sprayed by the spray nozzle by the evaporator (Mist) generating humidifier mechanism, and steam function generated by the humidifying mechanism is mixed with the air heated by the radiator for heating to make the bathroom a hot and humid sauna (steam sauna). Known bathroom heaters

  In such a bathroom heater with a sauna function, it is necessary to adjust the amount of steam (humidification amount) generated by the humidification mechanism so that the humidity in the bathroom is optimized.

  Therefore, the steam generator described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 includes a plurality of diffusion pipes for diffusing hot water in a heat exchanger (evaporator), and an on-off valve for shutting off water flow to each diffusion pipe by closing the valve. It has. Then, the amount of water vapor generated is adjusted by controlling the opening and closing of each on-off valve and changing the amount of hot water diffusing into the heat exchanger. It also describes that the amount of water vapor generated is adjusted by controlling the position of the diffusion pipe relative to the heat exchanger and the diffusion direction of hot water, and changing the diffusion area to the heat exchanger.

Moreover, in the steam generator described in Patent Document 3, a diffusion pipe for diffusing warm water into a heat exchanger (evaporator), a buffer tank for collecting the diffused warm water, and pumping the warm water in the buffer tank for diffusion And a circulation pump for supplying the pipe. And the rotation amount of a circulation pump is controlled and the generation amount of water vapor | steam is adjusted by changing the amount of warm water diffused from a diffusion pipe to a heat exchanger. It also describes that the amount of water vapor generated is adjusted by controlling the opening and closing of a thermal valve connected to the heat exchanger.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-152000 JP 2007-152001 A JP 2007-271160 A

  However, in the steam generator described in Patent Document 1 or 2, there is a problem that the cost increases because it is necessary to provide an on-off valve for each of the plurality of diffusion pipes. On the other hand, in order to control the position of the diffusion pipe and the diffusion direction of the hot water, a mechanism for moving or rotating the diffusion pipe is required, which increases the size of the device and makes it difficult to embed it in the ceiling. It was. Furthermore, there is a problem that noise and cost increase.

  Moreover, in the steam generator described in patent document 3, since it was necessary to provide a circulation pump, there existed a problem that cost became high. Furthermore, when controlling the opening and closing of the heat valve connected to the heat exchanger, the heat capacity of the heat exchanger is large, so it takes time to change the evaporation capacity of the heat exchanger, and the amount of steam generated is adjusted immediately. There was a problem that I could not.

  This invention makes it the subject to provide the bathroom heater with a sauna function which suppresses a raise in cost and the enlargement of an apparatus, and can adjust the generation amount of water vapor | steam immediately in view of the above point.

  In order to achieve the above object, the bathroom heater with a sauna function of the present invention is provided in the ventilation path connecting the inlet and the outlet communicating with the bathroom, and sucks the air in the bathroom from the inlet. It has a circulation fan that blows out from the air outlet into the bathroom, and a heat radiator that is provided in the ventilation path. The heating mechanism that heats the bathroom, the spray nozzle that sprays water, and the water sprayed by the spray nozzle evaporates. It has an evaporator and a water channel for supplying water to the spray nozzle, and includes a humidifying mechanism that generates water vapor, and by mixing the water vapor generated by the humidifying mechanism into the air heated by the heating radiator, It is a bathroom heater with a sauna function that puts the bathroom in a hot and humid sauna state, characterized by comprising spray amount control means for controlling the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle.

  According to the bathroom heater with a sauna function of the present invention, since the spray amount control means is provided, the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle onto the evaporator can be controlled. Therefore, even if the evaporation capability of the evaporator is constant, the amount of water vapor generated in the humidification mechanism can be changed by controlling the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle onto the evaporator. And according to the change of the water quantity which a spray nozzle sprays, the generation amount of the water vapor | steam in a humidification mechanism changes immediately. Therefore, the amount of water vapor generated can be adjusted instantaneously.

By the way, normally, a valve for shutting off the supply of water to the spray nozzle is provided in the water channel, and the opening and closing of the valve is controlled according to the presence or absence of water vapor in the humidifying mechanism. Among such valves, on-off valves are inexpensive. Therefore, the bathroom heater with a sauna function of the present invention is provided with an opening / closing valve that is interposed in the water channel and shuts off the supply of water to the spray nozzle when the valve is closed, and the spray amount control means adjusts the opening / closing of the opening / closing valve. by, that controls the amount of water spray nozzles for spraying. Thereby, the water quantity which a spray nozzle sprays can be controlled, without adding a new structural member. Therefore, it is possible to immediately adjust the amount of water vapor generated without increasing the cost and increasing the size of the apparatus.

However, noise is generated when opening and closing the on-off valve. Therefore, if you want to suppress the generation of noise, sauna function bathroom heater is interposed in said water channel comprises a flow control valve for adjusting the amount of water supplied to the spray nozzle in accordance with the opening degree, the spray amount control The means can also adjust the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle by adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the flow rate adjusting valve.

  Also in this case, the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle can be controlled without adding a new component. Therefore, it is possible to immediately change the amount of water vapor generated without increasing the cost and without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  A bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function includes a heating mechanism 2, a humidifying mechanism 3, and a heat source device 4. The heat source device 4 includes a heating heat exchanger 4b heated by a burner 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heating mechanism 2 is disposed on the ceiling BR1 of the bathroom BR. The heating mechanism 2 has a suction port 21 a and a blower outlet 21 b communicating with the bathroom BR on the lower surface, and a ventilation case 21 that defines a ventilation path connecting the suction port 21 a and the blower outlet 21 b, and the ventilation case 21. The circulation fan 22 circulates the air in the bathroom BR through the ventilation path in the ventilation case 21 and the heating radiator 23 that is arranged in the ventilation case 21 and heats the air. Although not shown in detail, the heating radiator 23 is a fin-tube heat exchanger including a large number of fins stacked in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 2 and meandering tubes that pass through the fins. The air in the bathroom BR sucked into the ventilation case 21 from the suction port 21a by the circulation fan 22 is heated by the heating radiator 23 and blown out from the outlet 21b to the bathroom BR.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heating mechanism 2 further includes a main heat medium circulation path 24 connected to the heating radiator 23 and connected to the heating heat exchanger 4 b of the heat source unit 4. A heating medium valve 24 a is interposed in the main heating medium circulation path 24 in the heating mechanism 2. On the other hand, a cistern 24 b and a circulation pump 24 c are interposed in the main heat medium circulation path 24 in the heat source unit 4. The heat medium (water, antifreeze liquid, etc.) circulates by opening the heating medium valve 24a for heating and operating the circulation pump 24c. The heat medium heated by the heating heat exchanger 4b of the heat source unit 4 is supplied into the tube of the heating radiator 23 and radiated by the heating radiator 23, and then the heat exchange of the heat source unit 4 for heating. It returns to the container 4b and is heated again.

  The humidifying mechanism 3 includes a first auxiliary heat medium circulation path 25 branched from the main heat medium circulation path 24, a thermal valve 25a and an evaporator 31 provided in the first auxiliary heat medium circulation path 25, and an evaporator. And a spray nozzle 32 that sprays hot water toward 31. The evaporator 31 and the spray nozzle 32 are arrange | positioned in the ventilation case 21, as shown in FIG. Although not shown in detail, the evaporator 31 is a fin-tube heat exchanger provided with a large number of fins stacked in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 and meandering tubes passing through the fins. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat medium heated by the heating heat exchanger 4 b of the heat source device 4 is supplied into the tube of the evaporator 31 via the first auxiliary heat medium circulation path 25, and the evaporator After radiating heat at 31, the heat source device 4 returns to the heating heat exchanger 4b and is heated again. A warm water channel (water channel) 33 is connected to the spray nozzle 32. A filter 33a, a water supply valve 33b, a check valve 33c, a liquid heat exchanger 34, a hot water temperature sensor 33d, and a hot water valve 33e are provided in this order from the upstream side.

  Tap water is supplied to the liquid heat exchanger 34 via the hot water channel 33. The liquid heat exchanger 34 is connected to a second sub heat medium circuit 26 branched from the main heat medium circuit 24, and a flow rate control valve 26 a is interposed in the second sub heat medium circuit 26. ing. In this way, the heat medium heated by the heating heat exchanger 4b of the heat source device 4 is supplied to the liquid heat exchanger 34 by opening the flow rate control valve 26a, and the water flowing in the hot water passage 33 is liquid heat. It is heated by the heat of the heat medium in the exchanger 34 and is supplied to the spray nozzle 32 as warm water. The spray nozzle 32 sprays the supplied hot water in a fan shape so that fine water droplets are applied to the upper rear surface of the evaporator 31 over the entire width direction. In addition, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the spray nozzle 32 is changed by changing the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the liquid heat exchanger 34 by the flow rate control valve 26a.

  The evaporator 31 is supplied with the heat medium heated by the heating heat exchanger 4b of the heat source device 4 by opening the heat valve 25a, and evaporates the hot water sprayed from the spray nozzle 32. Of the hot water sprayed from the spray nozzle 32, the hot water dropped from the evaporator 31 without evaporating is collected in the drainage channel 35 via the drain pan 35a, and the bathroom drain pan (not shown) provided in the bathroom BR is used. Through the bathroom. A bypass path 36 extending from the upstream side of the liquid heat exchanger 34 of the hot water path 33 is connected to the drainage path 35. By the bypass path 36, the tap water before being heated by the liquid heat exchanger 34 is supplied to the drain path 35, and the hot water flowing through the drain path 35 is cooled.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function includes a controller 5 that is a spray amount control means. The controller 5 controls the operation of the heating mechanism 2 and the humidifying mechanism 3. The controller 5 is communicably connected to a remote controller (not shown) and a controller (not shown) of the heat source unit 4. The remote controller is provided with various switches such as a heating switch and a sauna switch. And the controller 5 performs various control, such as heating operation control and sauna operation control, according to operation of these switches.

  The bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function further includes a humidity sensor 6 that detects the humidity in the bathroom BR. Detection signals from the humidity sensor 6 and the hot water temperature sensor 33 d are input to the controller 5. The controller 5 executes various controls such as sauna operation control in accordance with the detection signals from these sensors 6 and 33d.

  Next, the operation of the controller 5 when the heating switch of the remote controller is turned on will be described. The controller 5 combusts the heating burner 4a and sends a heating command for operating the circulation pump 24c to the heat source unit 4, opens the heating heat medium valve 24a, and is heated by the heating heat exchanger 4b. The heating medium is circulated to the heating radiator 23 via the main heat medium circulation path 24, and the circulation fan 22 is operated to perform heating operation control for blowing warm air to the bathroom BR. Then, when the heating switch is turned off, the controller 5 sends a command to stop the combustion of the heating burner 4a and stop the operation of the circulation pump 24c to the heat source unit 4, and closes the heating medium valve 24a. Then, the heating operation is finished.

  Next, the operation of the controller 5 when the sauna switch of the remote controller is turned on will be described. The controller 5 performs sauna operation control by performing the heating operation control described above and performing the humidification operation control. The controller 5 opens the thermal valve 25a of the first auxiliary heat medium circuit, and opens the flow control valve 26a so that the temperature of the hot water detected by the hot water temperature sensor 33d becomes a predetermined set temperature. The humidification operation control is performed by controlling the opening and closing of the hot water valve 33e so that the humidity of the bathroom BR detected by the humidity sensor 6 becomes a predetermined set humidity. In addition, without providing the humidity sensor 6, for example, the humidifying operation control may be performed by opening and closing the hot water valve 33e at a predetermined interval. The tap water supplied to the hot water channel 33 is heated by the liquid heat exchanger 34 to become hot water, and when the hot water valve 33e is opened, it is sprayed from the spray nozzle 32 and heated by the evaporator 31 to evaporate. . The steam generated in this manner is blown into the bathroom BR from the outlet 21b together with warm air by the circulation fan 22, so that the bather in the bathroom BR can enjoy the sauna. Then, when the sauna switch is turned off, the controller 5 ends the heating operation control and closes the thermal valve 25a, the flow rate control valve 26a, and the hot water valve 33e, and ends the process.

  When the humidity of the bathroom BR detected by the humidity sensor 6 is less than a predetermined set humidity, the controller 5 opens the hot water valve 33e and sprays hot water from the spray nozzle 32 onto the evaporator 31 to generate water vapor. generate. On the other hand, when the humidity of the bathroom BR detected by the humidity sensor 6 is equal to or higher than a predetermined set humidity, the hot water valve 33e is closed to stop the spraying of the hot water from the spray nozzle 32 and suppress the generation of water vapor. . In this manner, the controller 5 controls the opening and closing of the hot water valve 33e, changes the spray amount of the spray nozzle 32, and adjusts the amount of water vapor generated, so that the humidity of the bathroom BR becomes a predetermined set humidity. I am doing so.

  It is also possible to adjust the amount of water vapor generated by changing the temperature of the hot water supplied to the spray nozzle 32 by controlling the opening degree of the flow control valve 26a. However, even if an attempt is made to reduce the temperature of the hot water supplied to the spray nozzle 32 by reducing the opening degree of the flow control valve 26a in order to suppress the generation amount of water vapor, the heat capacity of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger 34 is large. In addition, there is a problem that it takes time until generation of water vapor is suppressed. Furthermore, if the temperature of the hot water sprayed by the spray nozzle 32 is low, the heat medium passing through the evaporator 31 is excessively dissipated, resulting in a problem that the heating capacity in the heating mechanism 2 is reduced. Further, in order to increase the amount of water vapor generated, it is said that it takes time to increase the amount of water vapor generated even if the temperature of the hot water supplied to the spray nozzle 32 is increased by increasing the opening degree of the flow control valve 26a. A malfunction occurs. Furthermore, since the temperature of the warm water flowing down to the drain pan 35a without evaporating becomes high, there arises a problem that the drain pan 35a is deformed and a large amount of cooling water supplied from the bypass passage 36 is required. Furthermore, since it takes time to suppress and increase the generation of water vapor, it is difficult to control because predictive control is required.

  It is also possible to adjust the amount of water vapor generated by controlling the opening and closing of the thermal valve 25a to change the evaporation capacity of the evaporator 31. However, even if the thermal valve 25a is closed in order to suppress the generation amount of water vapor, the heat capacity of the evaporator 31 is large, so that it takes time to stop the generation of water vapor. When the thermal valve 25a is opened in order to generate water vapor, similarly, there is a problem that it takes time until the generation of water vapor is resumed. Furthermore, since it takes time to suppress and increase the generation of water vapor, it is difficult to control because predictive control is required.

  As described above, when the amount of water vapor generated is adjusted by controlling the opening / closing of the flow control valve 26a and the thermal valve 25a, the above-described problems occur. On the other hand, even if the hot water valve 33e is opened and closed to adjust the amount of water vapor generated, such a problem does not occur. That is, by the opening and closing of the hot water valve 33e, the spray from the spray nozzle 32 is immediately restarted and stopped, and the generation of water vapor is also restarted and stopped promptly. Moreover, since the warm water supplied to the spray nozzle 32 may be an appropriate temperature, there are no problems such as excessive heat dissipation of the heat medium in the evaporator 31, deformation of the drain pan 35a, and use of a large amount of cooling water.

  The opening / closing control of the hot water valve 33e by the controller 5 is not limited to the above-described one. For example, when the humidity of the bathroom BR detected by the humidity sensor 6 is within a predetermined set humidity range, the controller 5 may perform control so that the hot water valve 33e is intermittently opened and closed at predetermined time intervals. Moreover, the bather may be able to set the humidity of the bathroom BR from the controller. At this time, since the amount of water vapor generated can be quickly adjusted according to the change in the humidity setting, this is more advantageous than the case where the opening / closing of the flow control valve 26a and the thermal valve 25a is controlled.

  By the way, noise is generated when the hot water valve 33e is opened and closed. Therefore, when it is desired to suppress the generation of noise, a flow rate control valve may be used as the hot water valve 33e. In this case, the controller 5 controls the humidity of the bathroom BR to be a predetermined set humidity by adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the hot water valve 33e as the flow rate adjustment valve and adjusting the amount of water vapor generated. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of a noise can be suppressed and the fluctuation | variation of humidity can also be suppressed by fine control. However, the use of an on-off valve as the hot water valve 33e has an advantage of being inexpensive in terms of cost.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the spray nozzle 32 sprayed warm water in fan shape, the spray nozzle 32 may spray water. However, spraying warm water is preferable because evaporation efficiency and heating efficiency are good.

  Moreover, although the case where the bathroom heater main body of the bathroom heater 1 with a sauna function is installed behind the ceiling has been described, the present invention is also applied to a wall-mounted bathroom heater with a sauna function in which the heater body is installed on the side wall of the bathroom. Can be applied.

Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the bathroom heater with a sauna function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory sectional drawing which shows the bathroom heater with a sauna function.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bathroom heater with a sauna function, 2 ... Heating mechanism, 3 ... Humidification mechanism, 4 ... Heat source machine, 4b ... Heat exchanger for heating, 5 ... Controller (spray amount control means), 6 ... Humidity sensor, 21 ... Ventilation Case, 21a ... Suction port, 21b ... Air outlet, 22 ... Circulating fan, 23 ... Heating radiator, 24 ... Main heat medium circuit, 25 ... First sub heat medium circuit, 26 ... Second sub heat medium circuit 31: Evaporator 32 ... Spray nozzle 33 ... Warm water channel (water channel) 33e ... Warm water valve (open / close valve) 34 ... Liquid heat exchanger, BR ... Bathroom.

Claims (1)

A ventilation path connecting the inlet and the outlet communicating with the bathroom, a circulation fan that is provided in the ventilation path, sucks air in the bathroom from the inlet, and blows out from the outlet to the bathroom, and for heating provided in the ventilation path A heating mechanism having a radiator and heating the bathroom;
Water vapor generated by a humidifying mechanism, comprising: a spray nozzle for spraying water; an evaporator for evaporating water sprayed by the spray nozzle; and a water passage for supplying water to the spray nozzle; and a humidifying mechanism for generating water vapor. Is a bathroom heater with a sauna function that makes the bathroom a hot and humid sauna state by mixing it in the air heated by the radiator for heating,
Spray amount control means for controlling the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle;
An on-off valve that is interposed in the water channel and shuts off the supply of water to the spray nozzle when the valve is closed;
The bathroom heater with a sauna function, wherein the spray amount control means controls the amount of water sprayed by the spray nozzle by adjusting the opening and closing of the on-off valve.

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