JP6761062B2 - Water distribution system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water distribution system for supplying water or hot water, which prevents the retention of hot water and suppresses the growth of bacteria in a pipe.

Water distribution systems that supply water or hot water are generally provided in various facilities and stores. Regarding such a water distribution system, in relatively large-scale medical facilities, nursing care facilities, commercial buildings, etc., for example, a water distribution system 1 provided with a water return pipe 30 as shown in the following [Patent Document 1] and FIG. 7 is often used. ing. Here, the conventional water distribution system 1 shown in FIG. 7 includes a main pipe 10 for supplying hot water or water having a predetermined temperature, a water supply pipe 12 connected to the main pipe 10, and a branch pipe 22 connected to the water supply pipe 12. A water tap 24 provided at the tip of the branch pipe 22 is provided. Further, a water return pipe 30 is provided in each of the water supply pipes 12, and the water return pipe 30 returns the hot water in the water supply pipe 12 to the supply source or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-292058

However, in a relatively large-scale facility, the pipeline of some water supply pipes 12 may be complicated, and such water supply pipes 12 have higher pipe resistance than others. When water supply pipes 12 having different pipe resistances are connected in parallel, the flow rate of the water return pipe 30 of the water supply pipe 12 having a large pipe resistance becomes relatively small, and the water supply pipes 30 are not sufficiently returned. There is a possibility that the residence time of hot water in 12 may be prolonged. Further, the frequency of use of the faucet 24 differs depending on the installation location and the installation area, and the faucet 24, which is extremely infrequently used, may have hot water staying in the branch pipe 22 for a long time. And, the retention of hot water in such a pipe becomes a factor of bacterial growth and is not preferable. In particular, infectious diseases caused by Legionella spp. Have been increasing in recent years, and measures against Legionella spp. In medical facilities and long-term care facilities are required. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water distribution system that prevents the retention of hot water in a pipe and suppresses the growth of bacteria.

The present invention
(1) In a water distribution system having a main pipe 10, a branch pipe 22 to which water or hot water is supplied from the main pipe 10, and a water tap 24 connected to the branch pipe 22.
Possess a discharge pipe 40 for discharging the hot water is provided on the front side of the branch pipe 22 in the branch pipe 22, and the on-off valve 42 for opening and closing the discharge pipe 40, a,
A water return pipe 30 is provided in which the main pipe 10 and the branch pipe 22 are connected via a loop pipe 13 and the hot water in the loop pipe 13 is returned to a predetermined water tank.
The water return pipe 30 solves the above problem by providing a water distribution system 80 characterized in that the water return pipe 30 is provided at a position where the pipe resistance from the main pipe 10 in the loop pipe 13 is substantially equal .
(2) The water distribution system 80 according to (1) above, wherein the on-off valve 42 opens at a predetermined time interval or when the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe 40 drops to a predetermined temperature. The above problem is solved by providing.
( 3 ) A plurality of loop pipes 13 connected in parallel from the main pipe 10 are provided, each water return pipe 30 connected to each loop pipe 13 is provided with a flow rate adjusting means 32, and the flow rate adjusting means 32 is a water return pipe. The above problem is solved by providing the water distribution system 80 according to the above (1) or (2) , wherein the flow rates of the 30 are substantially the same.
(4) and the loop pipe 13 and a plurality of branch pipes 22 through the water supply branch pipe 20 connected, the water supply branch pipe 20 is characterized by having a switching means 26 to the loop piping 13 side above (1) The above problem is solved by providing the water distribution system 80 according to any one of (3) to (3) .

The water distribution system according to the present invention has a discharge pipe on the tip side of the branch pipe, and by opening and closing this discharge pipe, the hot water in the branch pipe is periodically replaced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the hot water from staying in the branch pipe for a long time and suppress the growth of bacteria. In addition, hot water is supplied to the branch pipe via the loop pipe, and the water return pipe is connected at a position where the pipe resistance is substantially the same. As a result, the return pipe can return the hot water in the pipelines on both sides of the loop pipe substantially evenly, prevent the hot water from stagnation due to the difference in pipe resistance, and suppress the growth of bacteria. Furthermore, in the case of a water distribution system having a plurality of loop pipes connected in parallel, a flow rate adjusting means is provided in each water return pipe so that the return amount of each loop pipe is substantially the same. As a result, the hot water of all the loop pipes is returned substantially evenly, and the stagnation of the hot water due to the difference in the pipe resistance of each loop pipe can be prevented and the growth of bacteria can be suppressed.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the water distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of the branch pipe part of the water distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of the branch pipe part of the water distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the water distribution system which concerns on this invention which provided a plurality of loop pipes. It is a schematic block diagram which shows another example of the water distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of the flow rate adjusting means part of the water distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the conventional water distribution system.

The water distribution system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same structure as the conventional one is represented by the same reference numeral. The water distribution system 80 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 has a main pipe 10, a branch pipe 22, and a water tap 24 provided at the tip of the branch pipe 22, as in the conventional water distribution system 1. ing. Examples of the water faucet 24 include a faucet, a shower head, and a water supply port on-off valve for various mechanical equipment. When the water distribution system 80 is a hot water supply pipe, the main pipe 10 is connected to a hot water storage tank or the like of a hot water supply facility (not shown) to supply hot water having a predetermined temperature to each water tap 24. When the water distribution system 80 is a water pipe, the main pipe 10 is connected to a water tank, a city water supply pipe, or the like (not shown) to supply water to each water tap 24. In addition to this example, the present invention can also be applied to a mixed faucet in which both a hot water supply pipe and a water pipe are connected to the water faucet 24.

Further, the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention has a discharge pipe 40 provided on the tip side of the branch pipe 22 and an on-off valve 42 for opening and closing the discharge pipe 40 as its characteristic configuration. .. Here, FIGS. 2 and 3 show enlarged views of the branch pipe 22 portion. Here, FIG. 2 shows an example in which one branch pipe 22 (water faucet 24) is connected independently, and FIG. 3 shows an example in which a plurality of branch pipes 22 (water faucet 24) are grouped and connected. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base side of the branch pipe 22 is connected to the loop pipe 13 described later directly or via the water supply branch pipe 20, and the water tap 24 and the water supply plug 24 are discharged to the tip side of the branch pipe 22. It is connected to the pipe 40. An on-off valve 42 is provided in the discharge pipe 40. When a plurality of water taps 24 are close to each other, a pipe 40a is connected to each branch pipe 22 as shown in FIG. 3, and the plurality of pipes 40a are merged on the downstream side to form a discharge pipe 40. It is preferable to connect and provide an on-off valve 42 in the discharge pipe 40. According to this configuration, the number of on-off valves 42 to be installed can be reduced, and the member cost can be reduced.

Then, the on-off valve 42 opens for a certain period of time, for example, at a predetermined time interval. By the opening operation of the on-off valve 42, the hot water in the branch pipe 22 is discharged through the discharge pipe 40, and even the water faucet 24, which is infrequently used, is periodically replaced. The hot water discharged through the discharge pipe 40 is basically discarded. As a result, it is possible to prevent long-term retention of hot water in the branch pipe 22, that is, generation of dead water, and it is possible to suppress the growth of bacteria in the branch pipe 22. The interval at which the on-off valve 42 opens is not particularly limited, but when the water distribution system 80 is a hot water supply pipe, for example, the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe 40 should not drop to the breeding temperature of Legionella spp. Is preferable. Further, when the water distribution system 80 is a water pipe, it is preferable that the interval is such that the residual chlorine in the water does not decrease to a concentration at which the bactericidal effect is lost.

Further, when the water distribution system 80 is a hot water supply pipe, the on-off valve 42 may be opened when the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe 40 drops to a predetermined temperature. In this case, a temperature measuring means is provided in the discharge pipe 40 or the on-off valve 42, and the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe 40 is acquired by the temperature measuring means. The predetermined temperature at this time is preferably set to a temperature higher than, for example, the temperature at which Legionella spp. Propagate. Further, in the case of the hot water supply pipe, the open operation control based on temperature and the open operation control based on time may be combined and configured. In this configuration, for example, even when the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe 40 is maintained at a high temperature, the on-off valve 42 opens after a certain period of time to replace the hot water. As a result, old water is discharged regardless of the temperature of hot water, and hygiene can be further improved.

Further, when the branch pipes 22 are grouped and connected as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to provide an opening / closing means 26 such as an opening / closing valve on the base side of the water supply branch pipe 20. According to this configuration, with the opening / closing means 26 and the on-off valve 42 closed, the water faucet 24 is appropriately opened, and a disinfectant solution or the like is pumped from an arbitrary water faucet 24 to form a branch pipe 22, a pipe 40a, and the like. The inside of the water supply branch pipe 20 can be disinfected and cleaned. As a result, it is possible to further sterilize bacteria, suppress their reproduction, and improve hygiene.

Further, in the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention, the main pipe 10 and the branch pipe 22 are connected via the loop pipe 13. Here, the loop pipe 13 has a ring-shaped supply pipe, and the decrease in water pressure can be reduced even when a plurality of water taps 24 in the loop pipe 13 are used at the same time. Then, particularly in the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention, the water return pipe 30 is connected at a position in the loop pipe 13 where the pipe resistance from the main pipe 10 is substantially the same. As a result, the water return pipe 30 returns the hot water of both the left and right pipelines from the main pipe 10 to the water return pipe 30 substantially evenly. As a result, the stagnation of hot water does not occur in both pipelines of the loop pipe 13 due to the difference in pipe resistance, and the growth of bacteria in the loop pipe 13 can be suppressed. Further, by optimizing the return amount of the water return pipe 30, the temperature of the hot water is maintained at a high temperature in the hot water supply pipe, and the residual chlorine is maintained at an effective concentration in the water pipe, and bacteria in the loop pipe 13 are maintained. Can suppress the reproduction of.

When the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention has a plurality of loop pipes 13 connected in parallel to the main pipe 10, a flow rate adjusting means 32 is provided in each water return pipe 30 of each loop pipe 13 as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the return amount of each water return pipe 30 is substantially the same regardless of the pipe resistance of the loop pipe 13. As the flow rate adjusting means 32, a well-known constant flow rate valve or the like can be used. As a result, the stagnation of hot water does not occur in all the loop pipes 13 due to the difference in pipe resistance, and the growth of bacteria in each loop pipe 13 can be suppressed. Further, by optimizing the return amount of the water return pipe 30, the temperature of the hot water is maintained at a high temperature in the hot water supply pipe, and the residual chlorine is maintained at an effective concentration in the water pipe, and bacteria in each loop pipe 13 are maintained. It is possible to suppress the reproduction of species.

In the case of a hot water supply pipe, the hot water returned by the water return pipe 30 is sent to a hot water supply facility, heated, and then sent to a hot water storage tank for reuse. Further, in the case of a water pipe, water may be sent to a water tank for reuse, or as shown in FIG. 5, for example, it is used as washing water for a toilet 36 or the like where water is frequently used or as cooling water for equipment. You may do so.

Further, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 6, the flow rate adjusting means 32 is preferably configured so that both sides are connected by flanges 34a or the like and opening / closing valves 34b or the like are provided on both sides so that the flow rate adjusting means 32 can be removed. In this configuration, after closing the on-off valve 34b, the flange 34a is released from the fixing, the flow rate adjusting means 32 is removed, and the inside of the flow rate adjusting means 32 can be cleaned. As a result, it is possible to sterilize the bacteria in the flow rate adjusting means 32, suppress their reproduction, and improve hygiene.

Next, the operation of the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention will be briefly described. Here, an example will be described in which the water distribution system 80 is a hot water supply pipe in which a plurality of loop pipes 13 are connected in parallel, and the on-off valve 42 is opened at a predetermined time interval. First, tap water is supplied to a hot water supply facility (not shown), heated to a predetermined temperature, and then stored in a hot water storage tank. Then, it is pumped to the main pipe 10 by a pump means (not shown). Next, the hot water of the main pipe 10 is pumped to each loop pipe 13, and a part of the hot water is returned to the hot water supply facility through the water return pipe 30. At this time, the water return pipe 30 is provided at a position where the pipe resistances of the left and right pipelines of the loop pipe 13 are substantially the same, and the flow rate adjusting means 32 makes the return amount of each loop pipe 13 substantially the same. The amount of returned water from each pipe of the pipe 13 is substantially the same, and the stagnation of hot water does not occur due to the difference in pipe resistance, whereby the growth of bacteria can be suppressed.

When the water tap 24 is opened, the hot water in the loop pipe 13 is discharged through the water supply branch pipe 20 and the branch pipe 22. Further, regardless of the opening and closing of the water tap 24, the on-off valve 42 opens at predetermined time intervals. As a result, the hot water in the branch pipe 22 is periodically discharged through the discharge pipe 40, and the hot water is replaced. As a result, even the water faucet 24, which is used infrequently, does not generate dead water and can suppress the growth of bacteria.

As described above, the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention has a discharge pipe 40 on the tip side of the branch pipe 22, and opens and closes the on-off valve 42 provided in the discharge pipe 40 at a predetermined time interval or a predetermined temperature. By doing so, the hot water in the branch pipe 22 is replaced regularly. As a result, it is possible to prevent the hot water from staying in the branch pipe 22 for a long time and suppress the growth of bacteria. Further, the hot water is supplied to the branch pipe 22 via the loop pipe 13, and the water return pipe 30 is connected at a position where the pipe resistance from the main pipe 10 is substantially the same. As a result, the water return pipe 30 can return the hot water in the pipelines on both sides of the loop pipe 13 substantially evenly, prevent the hot water from staying, and suppress the growth of bacteria in the loop pipe 13. Further, in the case of the water distribution system 80 having a plurality of loop pipes 13 connected in parallel, the flow rate adjusting means 32 is provided in each water return pipe 30, and the return amount of the water return pipe 30 of each loop pipe 13 is substantially the same. As a result, the hot water of all the loop pipes 13 is returned substantially evenly, and the retention of the hot water in the loop pipe 13 can be prevented and the growth of bacteria can be suppressed.

Further, in the water distribution system 80 according to the present invention, the opening / closing means 26 is provided on the base side of the water supply branch pipe 20 to which the plurality of branch pipes 22 are connected, and the opening / closing means 26 and the on-off valve 42 on the discharge pipe 40 side are closed. By pumping a disinfectant solution or the like from the water tap 24 in this state, the inside of the pipe such as the branch pipe 22 can be cleaned. Further, by connecting both sides of the flow rate adjusting means 32 with flanges 34a or the like and providing an on-off valve 34b or the like on both sides to make the flow rate adjusting means 32 removable, the inside of the flow rate adjusting means 32 can be cleaned. As a result, the growth of bacteria in the pipe on the branch pipe 22 side and in the flow rate adjusting means 32 can be suppressed.

Since the configuration, shape, dimensions, operation, piping route, etc. of each part of the water distribution system 80 shown in this example are examples, the present invention is not particularly limited to this example, and the present invention deviates from the gist of the present invention. It is possible to change and implement within the range that does not.

10 Main
13 Loop piping
20 Water supply branch pipe
22 branch pipe
24 faucet
26 Opening and closing means
30 water pipe
32 Flow rate adjusting means
40 Discharge piping
42 on-off valve
80 water distribution system

Claims (4)

In a water distribution system having a main pipe, a branch pipe to which water or hot water is supplied from the main pipe, and a faucet connected to the branch pipe.
Possess a discharge pipe for discharging the hot water of the branch vessel is provided on the front side of the branch pipe, the opening and closing valve for opening and closing the discharge pipe,
A water return pipe is provided in which the main pipe and the branch pipe are connected via a loop pipe, and the hot water in the loop pipe is returned to a predetermined water tank.
The water distribution system is characterized in that the water return pipe is provided at a position where the pipe resistance from the main pipe in the loop pipe is substantially the same. The water distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the on-off valve opens at a predetermined time interval or when the temperature of the hot water in the discharge pipe drops to a predetermined temperature. It has a plurality of loop pipes connected in parallel from the main pipe, each water return pipe connected to each loop pipe is provided with a flow rate adjusting means, and the flow rate adjusting means makes the flow rate of each water return pipe substantially the same. The water distribution system according to claim 1 or 2 . The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the loop pipe and a plurality of branch pipes are connected via a water supply branch pipe, and the water supply branch pipe has an opening / closing means on the loop pipe side. Water distribution system.

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