JP5897937B2 - Bath equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bath apparatus that performs a reheating operation of heating bathtub water in a bathtub with a bath heat exchanger.

  Conventionally, in this type, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bath heat exchanger provided in the hot water storage tank for heating the bathtub water, a bath circulation pump for circulating the bathtub water to the bath circulation circuit, It is equipped with a water level sensor that detects the water level in the bathtub, and when a bathing operation of a person into the bathtub is detected by increasing or decreasing the water level sensor, by performing a reheating operation that drives the bath circulation pump to heat the bathtub water, Some have made it possible to bathe at a comfortable temperature. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP 2011-252667 A

  However, in this conventional type, if there is high-temperature water around the bath heat exchanger installed in the hot water storage tank, the bath water in the bath heat exchanger may be heated to a high temperature, and the reheating operation At the start of the bath, the vicinity of the bath water inlet that connects the bath circulation circuit and the bathtub is partially heated, which causes the bather to feel uncomfortable.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in claim 1 of the present invention, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bath heat exchanger provided in the hot water storage tank for heating bath water in the bathtub, and the bath heat exchanger A bath circulation circuit for connecting the tub and the bathtub with piping, a bath circulation pump having a variable flow rate installed in the bath circulation circuit and circulating the bathtub water, a timing means for counting a stop time of the bath circulation pump, and the hot water storage tank A hot water storage temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature of the bath heat exchanger, a comparison means that compares the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor with a predetermined value, and a water level sensor that detects the water level in the bathtub And bathing judgment means for judging the presence or absence of a bather in the bathtub based on the increase or decrease in the water level detected by the water level sensor, and driving the bath circulation pump at a predetermined flow rate to make the bath water into the bath heat. Heat with exchanger In the bath apparatus including a controller that performs a reheating operation, when the bath determination unit determines that there is a bather in the bathtub at the start of the reheating operation, the control unit uses the comparison unit to Comparing the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor with a predetermined value, the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor is not less than a predetermined value, and the stop time of the bath circulation pump counted by the timing means is not less than a predetermined time. If present, the predetermined flow rate of the bath circulation pump is increased.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the controller reduces the flow rate of the bath circulation pump when the drive time after the increase of the predetermined flow rate of the bath circulation pump counted by the timing means reaches a predetermined time. Is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the bathing determination means determines that there is no bather in the bathtub, the control unit drives the bath circulation pump at a predetermined flow rate.

  According to claim 1 of the present invention, when it is determined that there is a bather in the bathtub at the start of the chasing operation, the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and the bath circulation pump is stopped. If it is longer than the specified time, the specified flow rate of the bath circulation pump is increased, so if there is a bather in the bathtub, the bath water in the bath circulation circuit flows into the bathtub vigorously and quickly mixes with the bath water. Thus, the vicinity of the inflow port of the bathtub water is prevented from being partially heated, and comfortable bathing is possible.

  Further, according to claim 2, when the driving time after increasing the predetermined flow rate of the bath circulation pump reaches a predetermined time, the flow rate of the bath circulation pump is decreased, so that the bath water in the bathtub is excessive for a long time. It is possible to prevent the heating efficiency in the bath heat exchanger from being lowered and to efficiently raise the temperature of the bath water.

  According to claim 3, when it is determined that there is no bather in the bathtub, the bath circulation pump is driven at a predetermined flow rate, so that the flow rate of the bath circulation pump increases and the drive sound increases. Can be prevented.

Schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention Control block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention Flowchart for explaining the chasing operation of one embodiment of the invention

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a hot water storage tank unit that stores a hot water storage tank 2 or the like that can store hot water in a predetermined amount, and 3 denotes a heat pump unit that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2.

  The heat pump unit 3 includes a compressor 4 that compresses the refrigerant to a high temperature and a high pressure, a refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 that heats hot and cold water by heat exchange with the high temperature and pressure refrigerant, an electric expansion valve 6 that decompresses the refrigerant, A refrigerant circuit 8 in which an air heat exchanger 7 that evaporates the refrigerant with air heat is connected in a ring shape with a pipe, and a blower fan 9 that sends ambient air to the air heat exchanger 7 is provided. Uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant and constitutes a supercritical heat pump cycle.

  Here, the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 employs a counter flow system in which the refrigerant and hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 that is heated water face each other. In the supercritical heat pump cycle, the refrigerant is super The water to be heated can be efficiently heated to a high temperature because it is condensed in a critical state, and the expansion is performed so that the temperature difference between the refrigerant inlet temperature flowing into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 and the outlet temperature flowing out becomes constant. By controlling the valve 6 or the compressor 4 and setting the temperature of the water to be heated flowing into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 to a low temperature of 5 to 20 ° C., it can be efficiently heated, and the COP is improved.

  10 is a hydrothermal inlet sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 4 and flows into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5, and 11 is a hydrothermal outlet that detects the temperature of the refrigerant radiated by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5. A sensor 12 is an air heat inlet sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant that is decompressed by the expansion valve 6 and flows into the air heat exchanger 7, and 13 is an air heat outlet that detects the temperature of the refrigerant that has evaporated in the air heat exchanger 7. A sensor 14 is an outside air temperature sensor that is installed in the upper part of the air heat exchanger 7 and detects the ambient air temperature.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a heat pump outgoing pipe that connects the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2 and the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 with a pipe, 16 denotes a heat pump return pipe that connects the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5 and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2 with a pipe, and 17 denotes an outgoing heat pipe. A heat pump circulating pump that is installed in the middle of the pipe 15 and circulates the hot water in the pipe. By driving the heat pump circulating pump 17, hot water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2 is transferred from the heat pump forward pipe 15 to the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5. A heat pump circulation circuit 18 for storing hot water is formed by flowing in and heating and flowing into the hot water storage tank 2 from the heat pump return pipe 16.

  19 is a forward pipe temperature sensor that is installed in the heat pump forward pipe 15 to detect the temperature of hot water flowing into the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5, and 20 is hot water that is installed in the heat pump return pipe 16 and heated by the refrigerant water heat exchanger 5. This is a return pipe temperature sensor that detects the temperature, and is set by controlling the output of the compressor 4 and the flow rate of the heat pump circulation pump 17 based on the temperature of hot water detected by the forward pipe temperature sensor 19 and the return pipe temperature sensor 20. Boiling up to the target boiling temperature is performed.

  21 is a water supply pipe for flowing city water into the hot water storage tank 2, 22 is a hot water discharge pipe for discharging hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2, 23 is a water supply bypass pipe branched from the water supply pipe 21, and 24 is a hot water supply pipe 22 and a water supply bypass. A hot water mixing valve 25 that adjusts the hot water flowing in the pipe 23 to a set hot water temperature by mixing at a predetermined ratio, and 25 mixes the hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 22 and the water supply bypass pipe 23 at a predetermined ratio. This is a bath mixing valve that adjusts to the set bath temperature.

  26 is a hot water supply pipe through which hot water mixed at a predetermined ratio by the hot water supply mixing valve 24 flows, and 27 is installed in a washroom or the like and can be discharged by opening the hot water adjusted to the hot water supply temperature by the hot water mixing valve 24. A hot-water tap, 28 is a hot water flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 26, and 29 is a hot water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of hot water flowing in the hot water pipe 26.

  30 is a bath heat exchanger that heats the bath water stored in the bathtub 31 by exchanging heat with hot water in the hot water storage tank 2, 32 is a bath return pipe that sends the bath water to the bath heat exchanger 30, and 33 is a bath A bath-out pipe for returning the bath water heated by the heat exchanger 30 into the bathtub 31, 34 is a bath circulation circuit formed by the bath-out pipe 33, the bath heat exchanger 30 and the bath return pipe 32, and 35 is a bath circulation. It is a bath circulation pump composed of a DC pump with variable flow rate that circulates bathtub water in the circuit 34.

  36 is a water level sensor that detects the water level of the bathtub water in the bathtub 31, and 37 is a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water heated by the bath heat exchanger 30. ing.

  A hot water filling circuit 38 conveys hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 25 to the bath return pipe 32. A hot water temperature sensor 39 for detecting the temperature of hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 25 is provided in the middle of the piping. A hot water solenoid valve 40 that opens and closes an electric valve to start and stop hot water filling the bathtub 31, and a hot water flow rate sensor 41 that detects the amount of hot water flowing into the bathtub 31 from the flow rate of hot water flowing in the pipe. A check valve 42 for preventing the hot water in the bathtub 31 from flowing backward is installed.

  A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 43 are arranged in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank 2, and in this embodiment, five hot water storage temperature sensors 43 a, 43 b, 43 c, 43 d, 43 e are installed. The amount of residual heat in the hot water storage tank 2 and the vertical temperature distribution in the hot water storage tank 2 can be confirmed by the temperature information detected by.

  In this embodiment, the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a detects the temperature of the hot water around the bath heat exchanger 30, and the bath water in the bath heat exchanger 30 is heated from the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a. Judge whether it is possible.

  44 is a relief valve for preventing pressure increase due to volume expansion of hot water heated and communicated with the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2, 45 is a pressure reducing valve for reducing pressure from city water, and 46 is the temperature of city water flowing in the water supply pipe 21. A water supply temperature sensor 47 for detecting the water supply is provided in the water supply pipe 21 and is provided with a stopper.

  48 is a main remote controller installed in the kitchen or the like, and starts the bath heat insulation operation for keeping the bath water at the bath set temperature for a predetermined time after performing the hot water filling operation to fill the bath 31 with the bath set temperature hot water. A bath automatic switch 49 for instructing, a display unit 50 for displaying a hot water supply set temperature and a bath set temperature, and a speaker 51 for notifying the hot water set temperature and completion of bath filling by voice are provided.

  52 is a bath remote controller installed on the wall of the bathroom 53 where the bathtub 31 is located, etc., a reheating switch 54 for starting a reheating operation for heating the bathtub water by the bath heat exchanger 30, and hot water for filling the bathtub 31. A bath display unit 55 for displaying the set temperature of the bath and a bath speaker 56 for notifying the set content by voice.

  The display unit 50 and the bath display unit 55 can use various displays such as a liquid crystal, an LED, and a dot matrix display, and in this embodiment, are formed by a liquid crystal touch panel. As a result, various item switches and switches for inputting numerical values are displayed, and it is possible to select items and input numerical values by touching and operating arbitrary switches.

  Reference numeral 57 denotes a control unit that incorporates a microcomputer that receives the input of each sensor installed in the hot water storage tank unit 1 and controls the drive of each actuator, and compares the value detected by each sensor with a predetermined value. 58, a timing means 59 for counting the time elapsed since the start of the chasing operation, the hot water filling operation, and the like, and the presence or absence of a bather in the bathtub 31 due to the increase or decrease of the water level of the bathtub 31 detected by the water level sensor 36. Bathing judging means 60 for judging whether or not.

  Reference numeral 61 denotes a heat-pump control unit that incorporates a microcomputer that controls the drive of each actuator based on the detection value of each sensor installed in the heat pump unit 3, and communicates with the control unit 57 to drive the compressor 2 and The flow rate of the heat pump circulation pump 17 is controlled.

  A drain pipe 62 is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 2 and has a drain plug 63 installed in the middle of the pipe. When a disaster such as an earthquake occurs and the water is shut off, the water tap 47 is closed and the relief valve 44 is closed. The hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank 2 can be taken out by opening the drain plug 63.

Next, a specific operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, the boiling operation at normal time will be described. When the power unit price of the contracted electric power according to the time zone in each region reaches a low-night time zone, the control unit 57 heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 with the heat pump unit 3. Start the boiling operation.

  The controller 57 determines the target temperature and amount of hot water to be stored in the hot water storage tank 2 based on the average amount of hot water used in the past week and the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 43, and sets the target at the completion time of boiling. A boiling start time at which a boiling operation is started to boil a predetermined amount of hot and cold water is calculated, and the information is transmitted to the heat pump control unit 61.

  When it is determined that the boiling start time has been reached, the heat pump control unit 61 drives the compressor 4 and the heat pump circulation pump 17 so that the low-temperature water at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2 passes through the heat pump forward pipe 15 as a refrigerant. Hot water is heated by the water heat exchanger 5 and heated to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2 through the heat pump return pipe 16 so that the hot water of the target temperature flows into the hot water tank 2 so that the hot water is sequentially stacked from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2. Go.

  When the heat pump control unit 61 determines that the hot water at the target boiling temperature has been stored from the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43 to a predetermined amount of hot water, the heat pump controller 61 stops the compressor 4 and the heat pump circulation pump 17 to perform the boiling operation. Exit.

Next, a hot water filling operation for flowing hot water into the bathtub 31 by the set hot water amount will be described.
When the bath automatic switch 49 of the main remote controller 48 is operated, the controller 57 opens the hot water solenoid valve 40 and adjusts the opening of the bath mixing valve 25 so that hot water at the bath set temperature flows into the bathtub 31. If it is determined that the set amount of hot water has flowed into the bathtub 31 from the flow rate detected by the hot water flow sensor 41, the hot water solenoid valve 40 is closed and the water level of the bathtub 31 detected by the water level sensor 36 is stored. The hot water filling operation is terminated.

Next, the reheating operation of the bathtub water in the bathtub 31 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the hot water filling operation is completed and the bath warming operation is started, the current water level detected by the water level sensor 36 is compared with the hot water level stored at the end of the hot water filling operation by the comparison means 58, and the current water level is the hot water level. The bathing judgment means 60 judges whether or not there is a bathing operation in the bathtub 31 (step S101). If the detected water level is higher than the stored hot water level, the bathing operation into the bathtub 31 is performed. The controller 57 determines that it is present, stores the increased bathing water level, and checks the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a installed in the hot water storage tank 2 (step S102).

  When the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a is confirmed in step S102, the controller 57 compares the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a with a predetermined value of 75 ° C. by the comparison means 58, and the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a. (Step 103), if the detected temperature exceeds 75 ° C, the stop time of the bath circulation pump 35 counted by the time measuring means 59 is confirmed ( Step S104), it is determined whether the stop time of the bath circulation pump 35 is 10 minutes or more (Step S105), and if the stop time is 10 minutes or more, it is determined that there is hot bath water in the bath heat exchanger 30. The bath circulation pump 35 is driven at a second predetermined flow rate that is increased from the predetermined flow rate by a predetermined value (step S106).

  When the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the second predetermined flow rate in step S107, the control unit 57 confirms the time elapsed after driving the bath circulation pump 35 with the time measuring means 59, and is a predetermined time 10 from the start of driving. It is determined whether or not more than one second has passed (step S107), and if more than 10 seconds have passed, the flow rate of the bath circulation pump 35 is reduced and changed to a first predetermined flow rate that is a predetermined flow rate (step S108). The bath circulation pump 35 is driven.

  When the flow rate of the bath circulation pump 35 is changed to the first predetermined flow rate in step S108, the control unit 57 compares the bath set temperature set in advance with the main remote control 48 or the bath remote control 52 and the detected value with the bath temperature sensor 37. 58, the bath temperature sensor 37 determines whether the detected value of the bath temperature sensor 37 has reached the bath set temperature (step S109). If it is determined that the bath set temperature has been reached, the bath circulation pump 35 is stopped (step S110). ) And finish the chasing operation.

  When the bather continues bathing operation while bathing, the control unit 57 determines No in step S101 without detecting the bathing operation, proceeds to the next step, and performs the hot water filling operation. It is determined whether there is a renewal request such as the end or a predetermined interval time such as 20 minutes from the end of the last retreat operation, or the operation of a retreat switch 54 installed in the bath remote controller 52 ( Step S111).

  If it is determined in step S111 that there is a follow-up request, the current water level detected by the water level sensor 36 is compared with the stored bathing water level at the time of determining the presence of the bathing operation by the comparison means 58, and the current water level is determined from the stored bathing water level. Is determined whether the bath 31 is bathing in the bath determination means 60 (step S112). If it is determined that the current water level has not decreased from the bathing water level and the bath 31 is bathing, the process proceeds to step S102. 57 determines whether to drive the bath circulation pump 35 at the second predetermined flow rate from the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a and the stop time of the bath circulation pump 35.

  In addition, the bathing is performed after the bathing operation, and the current water level detected by the water level sensor 36 in step S112 is reduced compared with the bathing water level at the time of the determination of the presence of the bathing operation, or once the hot water filling operation is completed. If there is no bathing operation and the water level does not fluctuate as compared with the hot water level stored during the hot water operation, the bath determining means 60 determines that the bath 31 is not bathing, and the control unit 57 uses the bath circulation pump. 35 is driven at a first predetermined flow rate (step S113), and a normal reheating operation for driving the bath circulation pump 35 is performed until the bath set temperature is reached.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43a is equal to or lower than 75 ° C., the bath water in the bath heat exchanger 30 is not hot and the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the first predetermined flow rate in step S113. If it is determined in step S105 that the stop time of the bath circulation pump 35 is less than 10 minutes, only a short time has elapsed since the last reheating operation, and the bath water in the bath heat exchanger 30 is heated to a high temperature. In step S113, the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the first predetermined flow rate, and a normal reheating operation is performed.

  Note that the bathing determination means 60 is not limited to the above embodiment regarding the determination during bathing. For example, if there is an increase in the water level above a predetermined water level within a predetermined time, it is determined that there is a bathing operation and the bathing operation is performed. The bathing operation may be determined to occur when the water level has decreased below a predetermined water level within a predetermined time, and the period from the bathing operation to the bathing operation may be determined to be during bathing.

  As described above, when it is determined that there is a bather in the bathtub 31 at the start of the chasing operation, the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the second predetermined flow rate that is increased by a predetermined value from the first predetermined flow rate. Thus, the bath water heated in the bath heat exchanger 30 flows into the bath 31 vigorously and quickly mixes with the entire bath 31, so that only the vicinity of the inlet from the bath circulation circuit 34 to the bath 31 is partially provided. You can bathe comfortably without getting hot.

  Further, when 10 seconds have elapsed after the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the second predetermined flow rate, it is lowered to the first predetermined flow rate, so that the increased flow rate of the bath water flows into the bathtub 31 and continues to hit the bather. The amount of heat dissipated from the bath circulation circuit 34 is prevented by excessively mixing the bath water in the bath 31 to eliminate the temperature difference of the bath water, and the heating efficiency in the bath heat exchanger 30 Therefore, the temperature of the bath water can be increased efficiently.

  Further, when it is determined that there is no bather in the bathtub 31, the bath circulation pump 35 is driven at the first predetermined flow rate, so that an increase in the driving sound of the bath circulation pump 35 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the heat pump unit 3 using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant has been described as a heat source device. However, the heat pump unit 3 is not limited to this, and a general heat pump cycle using a refrigerant such as chlorofluorocarbon or alternative chlorofluorocarbon may be used. .

  Moreover, although the heating means which heats the stored hot water was demonstrated as the heat pump unit 3, it is not restricted to this, It can apply to a hot water heater, an electric water heater, etc. by solar heat, gas, and liquid fuel.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage tank unit 2 Hot water storage tank 30 Bath heat exchanger 31 Bathtub 34 Bath circulation circuit 35 Bath circulation pump 36 Water level sensor 57 Control part 58 Comparison means 59 Timing means 60 Bath judgment means

Claims (3)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a bath heat exchanger provided in the hot water storage tank for heating the bath water in the bathtub, a bath circulation circuit for connecting the bath heat exchanger and the bathtub with piping, and the bath circulation A bath circulation pump with variable flow rate that circulates bathtub water installed in the circuit, a timing means that counts the driving and stopping times of the bath circulation pump, and a temperature around the bath heat exchanger that is installed in the hot water storage tank Hot water storage temperature sensor, comparison means for comparing the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor with a predetermined value, a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the bathtub, and an increase or decrease in the water level detected by the water level sensor Bathing determination means for determining the presence or absence of a bather in the bathtub, and a controller for performing a reheating operation of driving the bath circulation pump at a predetermined flow rate and heating the bath water with the bath heat exchanger. Wind In the apparatus, when the bath determination unit determines that there is a bather in the bathtub at the start of the chasing operation, the control unit calculates the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor by the comparison unit and a predetermined value. In comparison, if the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor is not less than a predetermined value and the stop time of the bath circulation pump counted by the timing means is not less than a predetermined time, the predetermined flow rate of the bath circulation pump is increased. Bath device characterized by letting it be.   The said control part reduces the flow volume of the said bath circulation pump, if the drive time after increasing the predetermined flow volume of the said bath circulation pump counted by the said time measuring means becomes predetermined time. The bath apparatus according to 1.   3. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the bath determination unit determines that there is no bather in the bathtub, the control unit drives the bath circulation pump at a predetermined flow rate. 4. .

Images