JP5892154B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a hot water supply apparatus, there is a hot water storage tank that stores hot water and supplies the hot water to a bathtub (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-255587 (Patent Document 1)). The hot water storage tank is connected to a reheating circuit having a reheating heat exchanger and a boiling circuit having a reheating heat exchanger. A common pump is disposed in the boiling circuit. This common pump is driven both when supplying water to the remedy circuit and when supplying water to the boiling circuit.

  Moreover, the said hot water supply apparatus is provided with the bath water circulation pump which circulates the bath water in a bathtub via a memorial heat exchanger.

  According to the hot water storage apparatus having the above-described configuration, when the bath water in the bathtub is replenished, the common pump is driven and hot water flows from the hot water storage tank into the reheating circuit, and this hot water is supplied to the reheating heat exchanger. The At this time, the bath water circulation pump is driven, and bath water is supplied from the bathtub to the memory heat exchanger. Thereby, after the temperature rises by heat exchange with warm water, the bath water flows into the bathtub. On the contrary, after the temperature of the hot water is lowered by heat exchange with the bath water, it flows into the boiling circuit, is heated by the refrigerant from the air heat exchanger in the boiling heat exchanger, and then added again. Return to 焚 circuit.

  Thus, when the bath water in the bathtub is chased, the shared pump is driven so that the hot water circulates in the chasing circuit and the boiling circuit. In other words, it is necessary to flow hot water through the reheating circuit and the boiling circuit in order to retreat the bath water in the bathtub.

JP 2012-255587 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional hot water supply apparatus, when performing the positive cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger, the temperature decrease of the refrigerant in the boiling heat exchanger is suppressed, and the high temperature refrigerant is returned to the air heat exchanger. Stop the shared pump so that warm water does not boil and flow through the heat exchanger.

  That is, during the positive cycle defrosting operation, warm water cannot flow through the chasing circuit and the boiling circuit, and the chasing operation cannot be performed.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned conventional hot water supply device, when detecting the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub, the bath water circulation pump is driven, and the bath water in the bathtub is sent to the water pipe connecting the remedy heat exchanger and the bathtub. The temperature of the bath water is detected by a temperature sensor attached to the water pipe.

  In this way, when the bath water circulation pump is driven in order to detect the temperature of the bath water with the temperature sensor, the cold bath water in the water pipe returns to the bathtub, and the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub is accelerated. Will be. At this time, if hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank to the recuperation heat exchanger, the temperature of the bath water in the water pipe can be increased, and therefore, prevention of a decrease in the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub is prevented. Can do.

  However, since warm water cannot flow through the remedy circuit during the above-mentioned positive cycle defrost operation, hot water cannot be supplied from the hot water storage tank to the remedy heat exchanger, and the promotion of the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub can be prevented. There is a problem that you can not.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the hot-water supply apparatus which can prevent that the temperature fall of the bath water in a bathtub is accelerated | stimulated during the forward cycle defrost operation | movement of an air heat exchanger.

In order to solve the above problems, the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention is:
A hot water storage tank for storing hot water supplied to the bathtub;
A memorial circuit connected to the hot water storage tank and having a memorial heat exchanger;
A boiling circuit connected to the hot water storage tank and having a boiling heat exchanger;
An air heat exchanger connected to the boiling heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe;
A common pump for supplying water to the memorial circuit and the boiling circuit;
A bath water circulation circuit provided for returning the bath water from the bathtub to the bathtub through the memorial heat exchanger, and having a bath water circulation pump;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the bath water in the bath water circulation circuit;
A control device,
The controller controls the temperature of the bath water by the temperature sensor while driving the bath water circulation pump , regardless of the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank, when the air heat exchanger is performing a positive cycle defrost operation. It is characterized by having a bath water temperature detection prohibition unit that prohibits detection of water.

  According to the above configuration, the bath water temperature detection prohibition unit detects the temperature of the bath water by the temperature sensor while driving the bath water circulation pump when the forward cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger is performed. Is prohibited. As a result, even if cold bath water has accumulated in the bath water circulation circuit, the cold bath water can be prevented from being sent to the bathtub. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub from being promoted during the positive cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger.

The hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment
With remote control,
The control device does not cause the remote controller to notify that the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of the temperature detection of the bath water when the bath water in the bathtub is automatically kept warm.

  According to the said embodiment, since the heat retention of the bath water in the said bathtub is performed automatically, the user does not need to be aware of whether the said heat retention is performed. Therefore, when the bath water in the bathtub is kept warm automatically, it is unnecessary for the user to notify that the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection. Therefore, when the bath water in the bathtub is automatically kept warm, the control device does not notify the remote control that the bath water temperature cannot be detected due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection. Can be reduced.

The hot water supply apparatus of one embodiment
With remote control,
When the control device receives an instruction to start a chasing operation by a user's manual operation, the control device informs the remote controller that the chasing operation cannot be performed when the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection.

  According to the above embodiment, when the user issues a start instruction for the chasing operation by manual operation, if the chasing operation is not started without any notification, the user may have a malfunction of the hot water supply device. I think. Therefore, when the control device receives an instruction to start a chasing operation by a user's manual operation, when the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection, the remote controller is notified that the chasing operation cannot be performed. It is possible to prevent the user from suspecting the failure of the water heater.

  The hot water supply apparatus of the present invention includes a control device having a bath water temperature detection prohibition unit, and the bath water temperature detection prohibition unit drives the bath water circulation pump when the forward cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger is performed. By prohibiting the bath water temperature from being detected by the temperature sensor, the cold bath water in the bath water circulation circuit can be prevented from being sent to the bathtub, so the positive cycle of the air heat exchanger It is possible to prevent the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub from being promoted during the defrost operation.

FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of a hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the relationship between the normal cycle defrost operation and the memorial operation. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the remote controller. FIG. 5 is another front view of the remote controller.

  Hereinafter, a hot water supply apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of a hot water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The hot water supply device includes a hot water storage unit 1 having a hot water storage tank 3, a memory circuit L 1, a boiling circuit L 2, a bath water circulation circuit L 3 and a control device 100, and a heat pump unit 2.

  The hot water storage tank 3 stores hot water supplied to the bathtub 4. The hot water storage tank 3 is provided with four temperature sensors T1 to T4 at substantially equal intervals from the lower side to the upper side. Further, city water from the water supply source 70 is supplied to the hot water storage tank 3 when necessary. More specifically, one end of the water pipe L11 is connected to the water supply source 70, and the other end of the water pipe L11 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3. Further, the water pipe L11 includes a pressure reducing valve 11 for preventing the pressure in the water pipe L11 from exceeding a predetermined value, and a check valve 12 for allowing only a flow from the water supply source 70 side to the hot water storage tank 3 side. Are arranged.

  One end of a water pipe L12 is connected to the water pipe L11 between the pressure reducing valve 11 and the check valve 12. On the other hand, the other end of the water pipe L12 is connected to the first water inlet port of the hot water supply mixing valve 22. The water pipe L12 is provided with a check valve 23 that allows only a flow from the water supply source 70 side to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 side.

  One end of a water pipe L31 is connected to the second water inlet port of the hot water mixing valve 22. On the other hand, the other end of the water pipe L31 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3. Thereby, the mixing valve 22 for hot water supply mixes the city water from the water pipe L12 with the hot water from the water pipe L31 so that the hot water adjusted to a desired temperature can flow from the outlet port to the water pipe L32. It has become. The water pipe L31 is provided with a check valve 21 that allows only the flow from the hot water storage tank 3 side to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 side.

  The water pipe L32 guides hot water from the hot water supply mixing valve 22 to the hot water tap 60 through the water amount sensor 24. A temperature sensor T <b> 21 is attached to the water pipe L <b> 32 on the downstream side of the water amount sensor 24. On the other hand, one end of a water pipe L33 is connected to the water pipe L32 upstream of the water amount sensor 24. The other end of the water pipe L33 is connected to the water pipe L34. Thereby, the warm water which flowed into the water pipe L33 from the water supply pipe L32 can be supplied to the bathtub 4 through the water pipe L34. Further, in the water pipe L33, a hot water filling electromagnetic valve 25, a check valve 26, a water amount sensor 27, and a check valve 28 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side. The check valves 26 and 28 allow only the flow from the water pipe L32 side to the water pipe L34 side.

  Further, one end of the water pipe L <b> 34 is connected to a hot water supply port 9 a of a connection adapter 9 provided in the bathtub 4. In addition, one end of a water pipe L35 is connected to the water intake port 9b for remedy of the connection adapter 9. On the other hand, the other ends of the water pipes L34 and L35 are connected to the memory heat exchanger 20. The water pipe L35 is provided with a bath water circulation pump P2. A water level sensor LS, a water level switch SW, and a temperature sensor T23 are attached to the pipe L35 upstream of the bath water circulation pump P2. In addition, a temperature sensor 22 is attached to a connection portion between the other end of the water pipe L33 and the water pipe 34.

  The remedy circuit L1 has water pipes L21 and L22 and a remedy heat exchanger 20, and hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 flows through the remedy circuit L1. The recuperation heat exchanger 20 has one end connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 through a water pipe L21 and the other end connected to the first water inlet port of the boiling mixing valve 50 through the water pipe L22. Has been. One end of the water pipe L41 is connected to the water pipe L21, and the other end of the water pipe L41 is connected to the drain port 80. A relief valve 31 is disposed in the water pipe L41.

  Further, the memory heat exchanger 20 is disposed in the memory circuit L1. In the memory heat exchanger 20, hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 and bath water from the bathtub 4 exchange heat with each other. At this time, the temperature of the bath water rises due to heat exchange with the warm water, and is guided to the bathtub 4 by the water pipe L34. On the contrary, the temperature of the hot water is lowered by heat exchange with the bath water, and is guided to the boiling mixing valve 50 by the water pipe L22.

  The boiling circuit L2 includes a boiling mixing valve 50, water pipes L51 to L53, and a boiling heat exchanger 10, and hot water flowing toward the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 flows through the boiling circuit L2. A second water inlet port of the boiling mixing valve 50 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 via a water pipe L51. Further, the water outlet port of the boiling mixing valve 50 is connected to one end of the boiling heat exchanger 10 via a water pipe L52. That is, the boiling mixing valve 50 is for mixing the warm water from the water pipe L22 with the warm water from the water pipe L51 and flowing the warm water adjusted to a desired temperature to the water pipe L52. On the other hand, the other end of the boiling heat exchanger 10 is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 through a water pipe L53. A common pump P1 is disposed in the water pipe L52. Moreover, the temperature sensor 11 is attached to the water pipe L52 on the downstream side of the common pump P1. A temperature sensor T12 is attached to the water pipe L53.

  The boiling heat exchanger 10 is provided with a temperature sensor T13. In addition, hot water is supplied from the boiling mixing valve 50 to the boiling heat exchanger 10 via the water pipe L52, and refrigerant is supplied from the compressor 42 of the heat pump unit 2 via the refrigerant pipe L61. At this time, the temperature of the hot water rises due to heat exchange with the refrigerant, and is guided to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 by the water pipe L53. Conversely, the temperature of the refrigerant decreases as a result of heat exchange with the hot water, and is guided to the heat pump unit 2 through the refrigerant pipe L62.

  The common pump P1 supplies water to the remedy circuit L1 and the boiling circuit L2. For this reason, it is necessary to drive the common pump P1 both when flowing warm water through the memory circuit L1 and when flowing warm water through the boiling circuit L2.

  The bath water circulation circuit L <b> 3 returns the bath water from the bathtub 4 to the bathtub 4 through the memorial heat exchanger 20. More specifically, the bath water circulation circuit L3 includes water pipes L34 and L35 and a bath water circulation pump P2. One end of the water pipe L <b> 34 is connected to the hot water supply port 9 a of the connection adapter 9 provided in the bathtub 4. In addition, one end of a water pipe L35 is connected to the water intake port 9b for remedy of the connection adapter 9. On the other hand, the other ends of the water pipes L34 and L35 are connected to the memory heat exchanger 20. The water pipe L35 is provided with a bath water circulation pump P2. A water level sensor LS, a water level switch SW, and a temperature sensor T23 are attached to the pipe L35 upstream of the bath water circulation pump P2. The temperature sensor T23 detects the temperature of the hot water in the water pipe L35 and sends a signal indicating this temperature to the control device 100. In addition, a temperature sensor 22 is attached to a connection portion between the other end of the water pipe L33 and the water pipe 34.

  The control device 100 includes a bath water temperature detection prohibition unit 101 configured by software. This bath water temperature detection prohibition unit 101 prohibits the temperature detection of the bath water by the temperature sensor T23 while driving the bath water circulation pump P2 when the forward cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger 41 is performed. .

  The heat pump unit 2 includes an air heat exchanger 41, a compressor 42, and an expansion mechanism (for example, an expansion valve) 43. The air heat exchanger 41, the compressor 42, the boiling heat exchanger 10 and the expansion mechanism 43 are connected in an annular shape via a refrigerant pipe (not shown) and refrigerant pipes L61 and L62. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the air heat exchanger 41 flows through the compressor 42, the boiling heat exchanger 10 and the expansion mechanism 43 in this order, and then returns to the air heat exchanger 41.

  The heat pump unit 2 is provided with a first temperature sensor 44 for detecting the temperature of the air heat exchanger 41 and a second temperature sensor 45 for detecting the outside air temperature. The first temperature sensor 44 sends a signal indicating the temperature of the air heat exchanger 41 to the control device 100. Further, the second temperature sensor 45 sends a signal indicating the outside air temperature to the control device 100.

  The positive cycle defrost operation is started when the temperature of the air heat exchanger 41 detected by the first temperature sensor 44 becomes equal to or lower than a preset start temperature. More specifically, when the control device 100 detects that the temperature of the air heat exchanger 41 is equal to or lower than the start temperature, the control device 100 controls the common pump P1 so that the common pump P1 is not driven. The compressor 42 and the expansion mechanism 43 are controlled so that the refrigerant discharged from the exchanger 41 sequentially flows through the compressor 42, the boiling heat exchanger 10, and the expansion mechanism 43 and returns to the air heat exchanger 41.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the relationship between the normal cycle defrost operation and the memorial operation. In the line graph in FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents bath water temperature, while the horizontal time represents time.

  After the hot water filling operation in which the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is adjusted to a desired temperature and supplied to the bathtub 4 is completed, the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub 4 is not greatly deviated from the bath set temperature. The memorial operation is repeated every minute. At this time, in each memorial operation, first, the bath water circulation pump P2 is driven, and the temperature of the bath water is detected. If the detected bath water temperature is lower than the bath water set temperature, the common pump P1 is driven. When the bath water temperature rises to the bath water set temperature, the common pump P1 is stopped, and then the bath water circulation pump P2 is stopped to complete the memorial operation. When such a chasing operation is repeated, as shown in FIG. 2, the temperature of the air heat exchanger 41 starts as described above immediately before the third chasing operation is started after the hot water filling operation is completed. If it is below the temperature, the boiling operation is stopped and the normal cycle defrost operation is started. Then, while the forward cycle defrost operation is being performed, the bath water temperature detection prohibiting unit 101 does not detect the bath water temperature by the temperature sensor T23 while driving the bath water circulation pump P2. When the forward cycle defrost operation is completed, the third chasing operation is started. Thereby, first, the bath water circulation pump P2 is driven, and the temperature sensor T23 detects the temperature of the bath water in the water pipe L35. Then, the shared pump P <b> 1 is driven, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is supplied to the memory heat exchanger 20, and the temperature of the bath water rises in the memory heat exchanger 20.

  According to the hot water supply apparatus having the above-described configuration, the bath water temperature detection prohibition unit 101 is configured to perform the bath water by the temperature sensor T23 while driving the bath water circulation pump P2 when the forward cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger 41 is performed. Prohibit temperature detection. As a result, even if cold bath water has accumulated in the bath water circulation circuit L3, the cold bath water can be prevented from being sent to the bathtub 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub 4 from being promoted during the positive cycle defrost operation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the slope of the temperature drop when the temperature of the bath water is detected by the temperature sensor T23 while the bath water circulation pump P2 is driven is steeper than the slope of the temperature drop due to natural heat dissipation. ing. Therefore, if the temperature of the bath water is detected by the temperature sensor T23 while the bath water circulation pump P2 is driven during the positive cycle defrost operation, the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub 4 is greatly reduced. That is, if the bath water temperature is not detected by the temperature sensor T23 while the bath water circulation pump P2 is driven during the positive cycle defrost operation, it is possible to prevent a drastic temperature drop in the bath water in the bathtub 4. it can.

  Moreover, the length of the water piping L34, L35 between the hot water storage unit 1 and the bathtub 4 is 5 to 10 m. For this reason, a certain amount of bath water accumulates in the water pipes L34 and L35 between the hot water storage unit 1 and the bathtub 4. Moreover, since the heat radiation proceeds in the water pipes L34 and L35 between the hot water storage unit 1 and the bathtub 4 as compared with the bathtub 4, the temperature of the bath water may be very low. Therefore, supply of bath water having a certain amount and low temperature to the bathtub 4 is not negligible in suppressing the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub 4.

  In the above embodiment, the interval from the hot water operation to the next chasing operation and the interval between chasing operations are fixed at 15 minutes, but may be fixed at a time other than 15 minutes. Alternatively, the interval from the hot water operation to the next chasing operation and the interval between chasing operations may be variable.

  In the above embodiment, the common pump P1 is arranged in the boiling circuit L2, and the common pump P1 is not arranged in the memorial circuit L1, but the common pump P1 is arranged in the boiling circuit L2, In addition, a shared pump may be provided in the memory circuit L1.

  In the above embodiment, the boiling heat exchanger 10 is installed in the hot water storage unit 1, but may be installed in the heat pump unit 2.

  In the above embodiment, the bath water temperature detection unit 101 is configured by software, but may be configured by hardware.

  In the above embodiment, the hot water supply apparatus may include the remote controller 200 shown in FIG. The remote controller 200 is provided with a display unit 201 and buttons 202-211. For example, when the user presses the button 202, the warming of the bath water in the bathtub 4 is automatically performed. Further, when the user presses the button 203, the memorial operation is started. That is, when the user presses the button 203, the control device 100 receives an instruction to start the memorial operation.

  When the hot water supply apparatus includes the remote controller 200, the bath water temperature detection prohibition unit 101 prohibits the bath water temperature detection when the button 202 is pressed and the bath water in the bathtub 4 is automatically kept warm. It is not necessary to notify the user that the memorial operation cannot be performed by text or voice using the remote controller 200. That is, the control device 100 may control the remote controller 200 so as not to perform such notification. By such control, unnecessary notification of the remote controller 200 is reduced.

  In addition, when the control device 100 controls the remote controller 200 so as not to perform the above-described notification, and when the control device 100 does not control the remote control 200 so as not to perform the above-described notification, when the button 203 is pressed, If the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection by the temperature detection prohibiting unit 101, the control device 100 displays on the display unit 201 that the chasing operation cannot be performed as shown in FIG. Also good. Such a display can prevent the user from misunderstanding if the hot water supply apparatus is out of order. Note that the remote controller 200 may notify by voice that the follow-up operation is not possible.

  Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, an appropriate combination of modifications of the above embodiment may be used as an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage unit 2 Heat pump unit 3 Hot water storage tank 4 Bathtub 10 Boiling heat exchanger 20 Reheating heat exchanger 41 Air heat exchanger 42 Compressor 43 Expansion mechanism 44 1st temperature sensor 45 2nd temperature sensor 50 Boiling mixing valve 100 Control device 101 Bath water temperature detection prohibition part P1 Shared pump P2 Bath water circulation pump L1 Mourning circuit L2 Boiling circuit L11, L12, L21, L22, L31 to L35, L41, L51 to L53 Water piping L61, L62 Refrigerant piping

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank (3) for storing hot water supplied to the bathtub (4);
A memorial circuit (L1) connected to the hot water storage tank (3) and having a memorial heat exchanger (20);
A boiling circuit (L2) connected to the hot water storage tank (3) and having a boiling heat exchanger (10);
An air heat exchanger (41) connected to the boiling heat exchanger (10) via refrigerant pipes (L61, L62);
A common pump (P1) for feeding water to the memorial circuit (L1) and the boiling circuit (L2);
A bath water circulation circuit (L3) having a bath water circulation pump (P2) and returning the bath water from the bath (4) to the bathtub (4) via the memory heat exchanger (20);
A temperature sensor (T23) for detecting the temperature of the bath water in the bath water circulation circuit (L3);
A control device (100),
The control device (100) controls the bath water circulation pump (P2) regardless of the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank (3) when the forward cycle defrost operation of the air heat exchanger (41) is performed. A hot water supply apparatus comprising a bath water temperature detection prohibition unit (101) that prohibits the temperature sensor (T23) from detecting the temperature of the bath water while being driven. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1,
With remote control (200)
When the bath water in the bathtub (4) is automatically maintained, the control device (100) informs the remote control (200) that the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of the bath water temperature detection. A hot water supply device characterized by not being notified. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1,
With remote control (200)
When the control device (100) receives an instruction to start a chasing operation by a user's manual operation, the remote control (100) indicates that the chasing operation cannot be performed when the chasing operation cannot be performed due to the prohibition of bath water temperature detection. 200).