JP5427510B2 - Heat pump hot water supply system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump hot water supply system and a control method for the heat pump hot water supply system.

  A silver ion generator is used to purify and sterilize hot water supplied to a bathtub. There are various ways of installing the silver ion generator, and for example, it can be installed directly in a bathtub, or installed in a circulation circuit for warming and reheating hot water.

  Further, Patent Document 1 below also discloses a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus in which a silver ion generator is incorporated and a hot water supply path to the bathtub and a part of the hot water heat insulation circuit for keeping and reheating the hot water in the bathtub are configured in common. ing.

JP 2006-183911 A

  However, in the method of installing the silver ion generator directly in the bathtub or in the circulation circuit, the silver ion generator is installed in a place where it is in direct contact with hot water after use during use. Dirt often adheres to the silver ion generator. In order to avoid the state where the dirt is adhered, the trouble that frequent maintenance must be performed arises.

  Moreover, in the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the return path constituting the hot water heat insulation circuit is directly drawn into the hot water storage tank. However, this structure has to provide a hole through the return path in the upper part of the hot water storage tank, and also reduces the sealing performance of the hot water storage tank.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the adhesion of dirt as much as possible by installing a silver ion generator on a hot water path to a bathtub and maintainability. It is to provide a heat pump hot water supply system and a control method for the heat pump hot water supply system that constitutes a hot water heat insulation circuit without performing unnecessary processing on the hot water storage tank.

The first feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is that a compressor, a water heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and a refrigerant, an expansion valve, and air heat that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air. A heat pump unit in which exchangers are sequentially connected to a pipe; a hot water storage tank connected to a water circuit of the water heat exchanger for storing high temperature water generated by the water heat exchanger; And a hot water supply valve, a drain valve, a check valve and a hopper comprising a flow sensor, a bath circulation pump for circulating hot water in the bathtub, and the hot water. A bath heat exchanger that performs heat exchange with the high-temperature water in the hot water storage tank, a hot water insulation circuit configured from, and a silver ion generator provided between the hopper and the hot water insulation circuit; The heat pump unit and the silver ion generation A control unit for controlling the location, wherein, when the flow sensor is provided in the hopper detects the flow of hot water into the bathtub by water filling operation, the control unit is a silver ion generating device When the electric current is applied and the flow of hot water is no longer detected by the flow sensor, the control unit cuts off the electric power supply to the silver ion generator .

  According to the present invention, by installing the silver ion generator on the hot water filling path to the bathtub, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of dirt as much as possible, improve the maintainability, and perform hot water without performing unnecessary processing on the hot water storage tank. The heat pump hot-water supply system which comprised the heat retention circuit, and the control method of a heat pump hot-water supply system can be provided.

It is a circuit diagram which shows the whole structure of the heat pump hot-water supply system in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the control part in embodiment of this invention. It is an external view which shows the whole hot water storage tank in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of the heat pump hot-water supply system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of the heat pump hot-water supply system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an overall configuration of a heat pump hot water supply system 1 in an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pump hot water supply system 1 is roughly composed of a heat pump unit 10, a hot water storage unit 30, and a bathtub 50 in which the supplied hot water is used. Further, the heat pump hot water supply system 1 is controlled by the control unit 60. The heat pump unit 10 and the hot water storage unit 30 are connected by a so-called water circuit 21, and the hot water storage unit 30 and the bathtub 50 are respectively connected by a hot water insulation circuit 40 described later. In addition, the triangle shown on each pipe line is a check valve, and water or hot water can flow only in the direction shown at an acute angle.

  In the heat pump unit 10, the compressor 11 that compresses the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle and the water supplied from the water supply pipe W through the water circuit 21 using the heat of the refrigerant are warmed and stored in the hot water storage tank. A water heat exchanger 12 that generates high-temperature water, an expansion valve 13, and an air heat exchanger 14 that turns the refrigerant that has become liquid in the water heat exchanger 12 that has passed through the expansion valve 13 into gas are sequentially connected by piping. A refrigeration cycle 15 is provided. In the refrigeration cycle 15, an air heat exchanger 14 is used as an evaporator, and this air heat exchanger takes outside air into a refrigerant.

  The hot water storage unit 30 is connected to the hot water storage tank 31 for storing the high-temperature water generated by using the refrigeration cycle 15, the hot water filling path P <b> 1 for hot water filling the bathtub 50, and the hot water in the bathtub 50. , And a hot water insulation circuit 40 for additionally cooking.

  Here, the refrigeration cycle in the heat pump hot water supply system 1 will be briefly described by taking the above-described refrigeration cycle 15 as an example. First, the refrigerant, which is a gas, is pressurized in the compressor 11 to a high temperature and a high pressure, and is supplied to the water heat exchanger 12. On the other hand, the water supplied from the water supply pipe W through the pressure reducing valve R is temporarily stored in the hot water storage tank 31, and if necessary, the water is exchanged by the pump 20 from the hot water storage tank 31 through the water pipe during the hot water storage operation. (See the solid arrow shown in FIG. 1).

  In the water heat exchanger 12, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and water. That is, the heat of the refrigerant heats the water sent to the water heat exchanger 12 by the pump 20, and the refrigerant is cooled by this water and changes from gas to liquid. The heated water becomes high-temperature water and flows through the water circuit 21 in the direction of the solid arrow shown in FIG. 1 and is stored in the hot water storage tank 31. The hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 31 is appropriately mixed with water supplied from the water supply pipe W in the hot water supply mixing tap 32 and supplied to each use place such as a kitchen via the hot water supply pipe H. The refrigerant that has been deprived of heat by the water heat exchanger 12 and turned into a liquid by the expansion valve 13 and the air heat exchanger 14 is made into a gas again and repeats the previous cycle.

  The hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 31 is appropriately mixed with the water supplied from the water supply pipe W in the bath mixing tap 33 and supplied to the bathtub 50 through the hot water filling path P1. Here, the hot water filling path P <b> 1 is a path connected from the bath mixing tap 33 to the bathtub 50.

  Of course, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50 can be freely set by the user. According to the set temperature, the control unit 60 controls the opening degree of the mixing tap 33 for bath, and mixes water and hot water. Hot water having a temperature set in this way is supplied to the bathtub 50.

  The hot water filling path P1 is provided with a hopper 34 and a silver ion generator 35 downstream of the mixing tap 33 for bath, and hot water is supplied to the bathtub 50 by sequentially passing through these. That is, hot water flows in the direction indicated by the thick solid line arrow in FIG.

  The hopper 34 is shown by a broken line in FIG. 1 and plays a role in preventing hot water or the like from flowing backward from the downstream side to the upstream side of the hot water storage tank 31 or the like. Normally, the pressure is released to atmospheric pressure, but when the downstream pressure becomes higher than the upstream pressure, the pressure is released to prevent the reverse flow to the upstream side.

  The hopper 34 includes a water supply valve 34 a, a flow sensor 34 b, a drain valve 34 c, and a check valve inside the hopper 34 from upstream to downstream. The water supply valve 34 a is a water supply electromagnetic valve, for example, and is opened and closed according to a command from the control unit 60. The flow sensor 34b measures the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water filling path P1. The drain valve 34c is used for draining hot water remaining in the hot water filling path P1 after hot water filling operation.

  The flow sensor 34b may be any sensor as long as it can measure the flow rate of hot water during a hot water filling operation to the bathtub 50. Moreover, the sensor which measures only whether the hot water is flowing through the hot water passage P1 may be used.

  The silver ion generator 35 is installed downstream of the hopper 34 and upstream of the hot water insulation circuit 40. The silver ion generator 35 is comprised from the pipe | tube with which the hot water supplied mainly to the bathtub 50 flows, and a pair of silver plate installed so that it may become parallel to a water flow in the pipe | tube. When the control unit 60 turns on a switch SW described later, the silver ion generator 35 is energized, and silver ions are generated between the pair of silver plates. The generated silver ions are dissolved in hot water flowing through the pipe (hot water passage P1) constituting the silver ion generator 35 and supplied to the bathtub 50.

  One or the other of the silver plates, at least the positive electrode, is made of silver or an alloy containing silver, and when energized by a command from the controller 60, the silver ions are eluted by electrolysis. Yes.

  The pipe | tube which comprises the silver ion generator 35 is connected to a part of pipe | tube which comprises the hot water supply path P1. Moreover, since a pair of silver plates are installed in the tube as described above, the silver ion generator 35 can be easily assembled together.

  A part of the hot water passage P1 shares the flow path with a part of the hot water insulation circuit 40. Connected to the bathtub 50 is a hot water insulation circuit 40 for maintaining the temperature of the hot water stored in the bathtub 50. The hot water insulation circuit 40 includes a bath circulation pump 41 that circulates hot water stored in the bathtub in the hot water insulation circuit 40, and hot water stored in the bathtub 50 between the hot water in the hot water storage tank 31. The bath heat exchanger 42 performs heat exchange.

  The temperature of hot water supplied to the specific bathtub 50 and the flow of hot water during additional cooking are as follows (see the broken line arrows shown in FIG. 1). That is, the hot water in the bathtub 50 passes through a pipe shared with the hot water passage P <b> 1 and is sent to the bath heat exchanger 42 via the bath circulation pump 41. The flow of the hot water is opposite to the direction in which the hot water flows into the bathtub 50 during the hot water operation. The bath heat exchanger 42 is provided with a pipe through which high-temperature water in the hot water storage tank 31 passes, and heat exchange is performed between the high-temperature water and hot water fed from the bathtub 50. The hot water that has undergone heat exchange and has risen in temperature returns to the bathtub 50 again.

  On the other hand, the bath heat exchange pump 43 supplies the hot water from the hot water storage tank 31 to the bath heat exchanger 42 and returns the hot water generated by the heat exchange to the hot water storage tank 31 again.

  The control part 60 is controlling the whole system of the heat pump hot-water supply system 1 in embodiment of this invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the hot water storage tank 31 is provided. In FIG. 1, connection with each part of the heat pump hot water supply system 1 is omitted for convenience of illustration, but for example, a hot water mixing tap 32, a bath mixing tap 33, or a bath circulation pump 41 or a bath in the hot water insulation circuit 40. Controls driving of the heat exchange pump 43 and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control unit 60 in the embodiment of the present invention. The controller 60 is provided in the hot water storage tank 31 as described above in the embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 60 is provided with a control circuit 61 for controlling each device in the heat pump unit 10 and the hot water storage unit 30, but in FIG. 2, only the part representing the connection with the silver ion generator 35 is particularly shown. Is shown.

  The control unit 60 is supplied with power from the commercial power source E. The commercial power supply E also supplies power to the silver ion generator 35 via the constant current circuit 62. However, the constant current circuit 62 (silver ion generator 35) is normally powered off by the switch SW. The control circuit 61 turns on or off the switch SW in synchronization with the timing of filling the bathtub 50 with water.

  FIG. 3 is an external view showing the entire hot water storage tank 31 in the embodiment of the present invention. Although the heat pump unit 10 and the bathtub 50 are not shown in FIG. 3, since the devices other than the two are collected and arranged around the hot water storage tank 31, the entire heat pump hot water supply system 1 is compactly assembled. The flow of generating high-temperature water from the water supplied from the water supply pipe W via the heat pump unit 10 and storing it in the hot water storage tank 31 and the flow of hot water in the bathtub 50 in the hot water heat insulation circuit 40 and the flow of reheating are as described above. It is.

  Next, the flow at the time of filling the bathtub 50 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 including the drive control of the silver ion generator 35.

  For example, the control unit 60 checks whether or not an instruction to start a hot water filling operation is given to the bathtub 50 in the vicinity of the bathtub 50 (ST1). Usually, it is determined by whether or not, for example, a “hot water button” provided on a remote control installed in a bathroom is depressed. Unless an instruction to start the hot water filling operation is given (NO in ST1), the control unit 60 is on standby.

  When the hot water filling button is pressed and an instruction to start the hot water filling operation is received (YES in ST1), the control unit 60 starts the hot water filling operation and turns on the switch SW (turns on the relay) to supply commercial power. Power is also supplied from E to the silver ion generator 35 via the constant current circuit 62. As a result, the silver ion generator 35 is turned on (ST2).

  When power is supplied to the silver ion generator 35, electricity is passed between the pair of silver plates to generate silver ions. Since the hot water filling operation has been started, the hot water mixed so as to reach the set temperature by the bath mixing tap 33 is supplied to the bathtub 50 through the hot water filling path P1. At this time, silver ions generated when the hot water passes through the silver ion generator 35 are also flowed, so that the silver ions are also supplied to the bathtub 50.

  The control unit 60 obtains flow rate detection information from the flow sensor 34b in the hopper 34 at any time or as appropriate, and determines whether or not the amount of hot water specified in the hot water operation has been reached. When a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 50, the controller 60 ends the hot water filling operation (YES in ST3), and also issues a power-off command to the silver ion generator 35 (ST4). As a result, the switch SW (relay) is turned OFF, and the current supply to the silver plate is cut off. Therefore, at the same time as the supply of hot water to the bathtub 50 is finished, the generation of silver ions by the silver ion generator 35 is also finished.

  As described above, installing a silver ion generator on the hot water filling path to the bathtub minimizes the adhesion of dirt, improves the maintainability, and eliminates unnecessary processing of the hot water storage tank. The heat pump hot-water supply system which comprised the heat retention circuit, and the control method of a heat pump hot-water supply system can be provided.

  In particular, the hot water filling path is a flow path used only for hot water filling of a bathtub, and hot water after use does not flow in during use in the bathtub. Moreover, since it is not used except hot water filling, hot water does not remain in the pipe.

  Therefore, by installing a silver ion generator between the hopper of the hot water passage and the hot water insulation circuit, it is possible to suppress contamination of the silver ion generator as much as possible, and the silver ion generator is integrated. The maintenance performance can also be improved, for example, the silver ion generator can be replaced without closing the original faucet in combination with the configuration.

  At the same time, a hot water storage circuit is installed in the hot water storage circuit, so there is no need to apply unnecessary processing to the hot water storage tank. Can be secured.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components is omitted because it is duplicated.

  In the first embodiment, ON / OFF of the silver ion generator 35 is controlled with the start and end of the hot water filling operation. The second embodiment is characterized in that the silver ion generator 35 is controlled using the flow sensor 34b in the hopper 34.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the control unit 60 checks whether or not hot water is flowing in the hot water filling path P <b> 1. Specifically, it is whether or not the flow sensor 34b detects the flow of hot water (ST11). When the flow of hot water is not detected by the flow sensor 34b (NO in ST11), the controller 60 stands by as it is for turning on the silver ion generator 35.

  When the control unit 60 starts a hot water filling operation and the flow sensor 34b detects the flow of hot water (YES in ST11), the control unit 60 turns on the switch SW (turns on the relay) and starts from the commercial power source E. Power is also supplied to the silver ion generator 35 via the constant current circuit 62. As a result, the silver ion generator 35 is turned on (ST12).

  When power is supplied to the silver ion generator 35, electricity is passed between the pair of silver plates to generate silver ions. When the hot water filling operation is started, the hot water mixed so as to reach the set temperature by the bath mixing plug 33 is supplied to the bathtub 50 through the hot water filling path P1. At this time, silver ions generated when the hot water passes through the silver ion generator 35 are also flowed, so that the silver ions are also supplied to the bathtub 50.

  The controller 60 obtains information on whether or not hot water is flowing in the hot water filling path P1 from the flow sensor 34b in the hopper 34 at any time or appropriately, and is the hot water flowing in the hot water filling path P1? Judge whether or not. When a predetermined amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 50 and the control unit 60 ends the hot water filling operation, hot water does not flow in the hot water filling passage P1. That is, the flow sensor 34b cannot detect the flow of hot water (not detected) (YES in ST13).

  Therefore, the control unit 60 issues a power OFF command to the silver ion generator 35 based on this non-detected state (ST14). As a result, the switch SW (relay) is turned OFF, and the current supply to the silver plate is cut off. Therefore, at the same time as the supply of hot water to the bathtub 50 is finished, the generation of silver ions by the silver ion generator 35 is also finished.

  As described above, installing a silver ion generator on the hot water filling path to the bathtub minimizes the adhesion of dirt, improves the maintainability, and eliminates unnecessary processing of the hot water storage tank. The heat pump hot-water supply system which comprised the heat retention circuit, and the control method of a heat pump hot-water supply system can be provided.

  In particular, the hot water filling path is a flow path used only for hot water filling of a bathtub, and hot water after use does not flow in during use in the bathtub. Moreover, since it is not used except hot water filling, hot water does not remain in the pipe.

  Therefore, by using the flow sensor provided on the hot water filling path, it can be surely grasped whether hot water is flowing in the hot water filling road. Therefore, ON / OFF of the silver ion generator can be reliably controlled.

  In addition, by installing a silver ion generator between the hot water hopper and the hot water insulation circuit, it is possible to suppress contamination of the silver ion generator as much as possible, and the silver ion generator is integrated. The maintenance performance can also be improved, for example, the silver ion generator can be replaced without closing the original faucet in combination with the configuration.

  At the same time, a hot water storage circuit is installed in the hot water storage circuit, so there is no need to apply unnecessary processing to the hot water storage tank. Can be secured.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heat pump hot-water supply system, 10 ... Heat pump unit, 11 ... Compressor, 12 ... Water heat exchanger, 13 ... Expansion valve, 14 ... Air heat exchanger, 15 ... Refrigerating cycle, 20 ... Pump, 21 ... Water circuit, 30 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Hot water storage unit, 31 ... Hot water storage tank, 32 ... Mixing tap for hot water supply, 33 ... Mixing tap for bath, 34 ... Hopper, 35 ... Silver ion generator, 40 ... Hot water insulation circuit, 41 ... Bath circulation pump, 42 ... Bath heat Exchanger, 43 ... Bath heat exchange pump, 50 ... Bathtub, 60 ... Control unit, H ... Hot water supply pipe, R ... Pressure reducing valve, W ... Water supply pipe

Claims (1)

A heat pump unit in which a compressor, a water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between water and a refrigerant, an expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air are sequentially connected by piping;
A hot water storage tank connected to a water circuit of the water heat exchanger and storing high temperature water generated by the water heat exchanger;
The hot water in the hot water storage tank and the water are mixed in a mixing tap for a bath, and a bathtub supplied through a hopper consisting of a water supply valve, a drain valve, a check valve and a flow sensor,
A hot water insulation circuit composed of a bath circulation pump that circulates the hot water in the bathtub, and a bath heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the hot water and the hot water in the hot water storage tank;
A silver ion generator provided between the hopper and the hot water insulation circuit;
A controller for controlling the heat pump unit and the silver ion generator;
When the flow sensor provided in the hopper detects the flow of hot water to the bathtub by hot water filling operation, the control unit energizes the silver ion generator, and the flow sensor detects the hot water flow. The heat pump hot water supply system is characterized in that when the flow of water is no longer detected, the control unit cuts off the power supply to the silver ion generator.

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