JP6844527B2 - Hot water storage type hot water supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply device.

A hot water storage type hot water supply device capable of performing a bath heat recovery operation for recovering the heat of the bath water remaining in the bathtub after bathing into the hot water storage tank is known. Since the bath water after bathing contains organic substances such as sebum stains, germs may propagate.

The device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is provided with a sterilization device such as an ultraviolet irradiation device in a circulation circuit connecting a bathtub and a heat exchanger, and performs a sterilization operation for sterilizing the circulating bath water by this sterilization means.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-248899

In the technique of Patent Document 1, sebum stains and the like contained in bath water are gradually accumulated on the surface of the sterilizer, and it is difficult to remove them. As a result, the sterilizing ability decreases over time, and it becomes difficult to sufficiently sterilize the bath water.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a hot water storage type hot water supply device which is advantageous in improving the hygiene of bath water because the deterioration of bath water sterilization performance due to aging is small. The purpose is.

The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to the present invention includes a hot water storage tank, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between bath water from a bathtub and tank water from a hot water storage tank, and a tank that circulates tank water to the heat exchanger. A tank water flow path having a water pump, a bath water circulation flow path having a bath water pump for circulating bath water to a heat exchanger, a bath water sterilizer installed in the bath water circulation flow path and capable of sterilizing bath water, and a bath. A cleaning device installed in the bath water circulation flow path on the upstream side of the water sterilizer that can add purifying components to the bath water, and tank water to recover the heat of the bath water in the bathtub into the hot water storage tank. A bath water sterilization operation for operating the bath water sterilizer and a cleaning operation for operating the cleaning device are provided with a control means having a bath heat recovery mode for operating the pump and the bath water pump. Is to do.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hot water storage type hot water supply device which is advantageous in improving the hygiene of bath water with little deterioration in bath water sterilization performance due to aging.

It is a figure which shows the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a circuit block diagram in the bath heat recovery mode in the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship between the amount of ultraviolet rays and the sterilization rate of bath water when the ultraviolet LED is used. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship between the amount of intake air from the bubble generator when microbubbles are generated by the bubble generator, and the increase rate of the sterilization amount with respect to the sterilization rate of only a bath water sterilizer.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify or omit duplicate description.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hot water storage type hot water supply device 35 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water storage type hot water supply device 35 of the first embodiment includes a tank unit 33, an HP (heat pump) unit 7, and a remote control device 44. The HP unit 7 and the tank unit 33 are connected to each other via an HP going pipe 14, an HP returning pipe 15, and an electric wiring (not shown). The control device 36 is built in the tank unit 33. The operation of various valves, pumps, etc. included in the tank unit 33 and the HP unit 7 is controlled by a control device 36 electrically connected to these.

The remote control device 44 has a function of accepting a user's operation regarding a driving operation command and a change of a set value. The remote control device 44 is an example of a user interface. The control device 36 and the remote control device 44 are connected by wire or wirelessly so that data communication is possible in both directions. Although not shown, the remote controller 44 is equipped with a display unit that displays information such as the state of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 35, an operation unit such as a switch operated by the user, a speaker, a microphone, and the like. The display unit of the remote controller device 44 has a function as a notification means for notifying the user of information. The remote control device 44 in the present embodiment includes a display unit as a notification means, but as a modification, other notification means such as a voice guidance device may be provided.

In the present embodiment, the remote control device 44 may be installed on a wall such as a kitchen, a living room, or a bathroom. A plurality of remote control devices 44 may be able to communicate with the control device 36. Further, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone may be configured to have a function as a user interface such as the remote control device 44. The mobile terminal and the control device 36 may communicate with each other via a network.

The HP unit 7 is an example of a heating means for heating water. The HP unit 7 includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor 1, a water refrigerant heat exchanger 3, an expansion valve 4, and an air heat exchanger 6 are cyclically connected by a refrigerant pipe 5. The HP unit 7 operates the heat pump cycle by this refrigerant circuit. In the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3, water is heated by exchanging heat between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 and the water guided from the tank unit 33. A configuration may be provided in which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 and the water directly supplied from a water source such as tap water can be heat-exchanged by the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3.

The tank unit 33 contains the following various parts, pipes, and the like. The hot water storage tank 8 stores hot water. Inside the hot water storage tank 8, a temperature stratification can be formed in which the upper side is high temperature and the lower side is low temperature due to the difference in water density depending on the temperature. The hot water storage tank 8 is not limited to a single tank as shown in the figure, and may include a plurality of tanks connected in series. In a plurality of hot water storage tanks connected in series, the lower part of the upper tank and the upper part of the next tank on the lower side with respect to the tank are sequentially connected via a pipe. In the following description, the height direction, that is, the vertical position of the hot water storage tank 8 will be referred to. However, when the hot water storage tank 8 includes a plurality of tanks connected in series, the highest tank is the lowest. The vertical position shall be specified in the entire hierarchy up to the tank.

A third water supply pipe 9c is connected to the water introduction port 8a provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. The water supplied from a water source such as a water supply through the first water supply pipe 9a is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure reducing valve 31 and then flows into the hot water storage tank 8 through the third water supply pipe 9c. At the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8, there are a hot water introduction outlet 8d for supplying the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 to the outside of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 35, and a hot water introduction outlet 8e that can communicate with the HP return pipe 15. It is provided. A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 41, 42, and 43 are attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank 8 at different heights. The hot water storage temperature sensor 41 is located at the same height as the medium hot water introduction outlet 8f or at a height close to the medium hot water introduction outlet 8f. The hot water storage temperature sensor 42 is located higher than the hot water storage temperature sensor 41. The hot water storage temperature sensor 43 is located lower than the hot water storage temperature sensor 41. By detecting the temperature distribution of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 with these hot water storage temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, the amount of remaining hot water and the amount of heat storage in the hot water storage tank 8 can be calculated.

The control device 36 controls a hot water storage operation in which the hot water heated by the HP unit 7 flows into the hot water storage tank 8. The control device 36 controls the start and stop of the hot water storage operation according to the amount of remaining hot water or the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 8. The water entry temperature sensor 40 attached to the HP going pipe 14 detects the water entry temperature, which is the temperature of the water flowing into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3. The hot water temperature sensor 39 attached to the HP return pipe 15 detects the hot water temperature, which is the temperature of the hot water flowing out from the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3. In hot water storage operation, it is as follows. The low-temperature water flowing out from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 is guided to the HP unit 7 via the HP going pipe 14, and is heated in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 3 to become hot water, that is, high-temperature water. This high-temperature water flows into the hot water storage tank 8 from the hot water introduction outlet 8e at the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8 via the HP return pipe 15. By executing such a hot water storage operation, high-temperature water is stored from the upper layer inside the hot water storage tank 8, and the high-temperature water layer gradually becomes thicker. The control device 36 ends the hot water storage operation when the amount of hot water stored or the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 8 grasped by the hot water storage temperature sensors 41, 42, 43 exceeds a predetermined amount.

The tank unit 33 includes a tank water pump 12 and a bath heat exchanger 20. The tank water pump 12 is a pump for circulating hot water through various pipes, and is provided on the first water supply pipe 13a. In the following description, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 may be referred to as "tank water". Further, the hot water stored in the bathtub 30 is referred to as "bath water". The bath heat exchanger 20 exchanges heat between the tank water supplied from the hot water storage tank 8 and the bath water from the bathtub 30.

The bath going pipe 27 and the bath returning pipe 28 are connected to the bathtub adapter 80 installed in the bathtub 30. The bath heat exchanger 20 is installed in the middle of the bath going pipe 27 and the bath returning pipe 28. A bath going temperature sensor 37 for detecting the temperature of the bath water that has passed through the bath heat exchanger 20 is installed in the middle of the bath going pipe 27. In the middle of the bath return pipe 28, a bath water pump 29 for circulating bath water and a bath return temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of bath water before exiting the bath 30 and entering the bath heat exchanger 20 38, a water level sensor 46 for detecting the water level in the bathtub 30, and a flow switch 47 for detecting the circulation of water in the bath return pipe 28 are installed. In the following description, the temperature detected by the bath return temperature sensor 38 is referred to as “bath return temperature”. Further, the temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 37 is referred to as "bath temperature".

The three-way valve 11 is a flow path switching means having an inlet a port and a b port and an outlet c port. The three-way valve 11 is configured so that the flow path can be switched between the two paths ac and bc.

The four-way valve 16 is a flow path switching means having an inlet a port and a b port and an outlet c port and d port. The four-way valve 16 is configured so that the flow path can be switched between the four paths of ac, ad, bc, and bd.

The four-way valve 18 is a flow path switching means having an inlet a port and an outlet b port, c port, and d port. The four-way valve 18 is configured so that the flow path can be switched between the three paths of ab, ac, and ad.

The tank unit 33 has a low temperature pipe 10, a first water supply pipe 13a, a first hot water pipe 17a, a second hot water pipe 17b, a third hot water pipe 19a, a fourth hot water pipe 19b, and a fifth hot water pipe 19c. .. The low temperature pipe 10 connects the water outlet 8b provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 with the a port of the three-way valve 11. The first water supply pipe 13a connects the c port of the three-way valve 11 and the inlet of the tank water pump 12. The HP going pipe 14 connects the outlet of the tank water pump 12 and the inlet of the HP unit 7. The HP return pipe 15 connects the outlet of the HP unit 7 and the b port of the four-way valve 16. The first hot water pipe 17a connects the d port of the four-way valve 16 and the a port of the four-way valve 18. The second hot water pipe 17b connects the c port of the four-way valve 16 and the water introduction port 8c provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. The third hot water pipe 19a connects the b port of the four-way valve 18 and the hot water introduction outlet 8e above the hot water storage tank 8. The fourth hot water pipe 19b connects the d port of the four-way valve 18 and the hot water introduction outlet 8d provided in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8. The fifth hot water pipe 19c connects the c port of the four-way valve 18 and the hot water introduction port 8g provided between the upper part and the middle portion of the hot water storage tank 8.

The first tank circulation pipe 20a connects the b port of the four-way valve 18 and the tank water inlet of the bath heat exchanger 20. The second tank circulation pipe 20c connects the outlet of the tank water of the bath heat exchanger 20 and the b port of the three-way valve 11. The second water supply pipe 13b branches from between the tank water pump 12 and the inlet of the HP unit 7 in the HP going pipe 14, and is connected to the a port of the four-way valve 16.

Further, the tank unit 33 includes a medium temperature pipe 79, a first water supply pipe 9a, a second water supply pipe 9b, a third water supply pipe 9c, a fourth water supply pipe 9d, a hot water supply mixing valve 22, a bath mixing valve 23, and a medium temperature water switching. It has a valve 78, a hot water supply pipe 24, a bath pipe 25, a return pipe 20b, and a check valve 50.

The medium-temperature water switching valve 78 is a flow path switching means having an inlet a port and a b port and an outlet c port. The medium-temperature water switching valve 78 is configured so that the flow path can be switched between the two paths ac and bc.

The hot water supply mixing valve 22 is a mixing means including a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The bath mixing valve 23 is a mixing means including a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet.

One end of the first water supply pipe 9a is connected to a water source such as water supply. The second water supply pipe 9b and the third water supply pipe 9c are connected to the other end of the first water supply pipe 9a via the pressure reducing valve 31. The second water supply pipe 9b is connected to the a port of the medium / hot water switching valve 78. The medium temperature pipe 79 connects the medium temperature water introduction outlet 8f provided in the middle portion of the hot water storage tank 8 and the b port of the medium temperature water switching valve 78. The return pipe 20b branches from the middle of the second tank circulation pipe 20c and is connected to the middle of the medium temperature pipe 79. The check valve 50 is installed on the return pipe 20b. The check valve 50 obstructs the flow from the middle portion of the hot water storage tank 8 to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent heat from flowing out from the middle portion of the hot water storage tank 8 to the lower portion of the hot water storage tank 8. One end of the fourth water supply pipe 9d is connected to the c port of the medium / hot water switching valve 78. The other end of the fourth water supply pipe 9d is connected to the first inlet of each of the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve 23. One end of the high temperature pipe 21 communicates with the hot water introduction outlet 8d of the hot water storage tank 8. The other end of the high temperature pipe 21 is connected to the second inlet of each of the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve 23.

The medium temperature water switching valve 78 has two flows, a first flow path state in which the second water supply pipe 9b and the fourth water supply pipe 9d communicate with each other, and a second flow path state in which the medium temperature pipe 79 and the fourth water supply pipe 9d communicate with each other. Use by switching the road condition. When the medium-temperature water switching valve 78 is set to the first flow path state, the low-temperature water supplied from the water source is supplied to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve 23 through the second water supply pipe 9b and the fourth water supply pipe 9d. It will be in a state of being done. The first flow path state of the medium / hot water switching valve 78 corresponds to the “low temperature water usage state”. When the medium-temperature water switching valve 78 is placed in the second flow path state, the medium-temperature water supplied from the hot water storage tank 8 through the medium-temperature pipe 79 passes through the fourth water supply pipe 9d to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve. It will be in a state of being supplied to 23. The state of the second flow path of the medium-temperature water switching valve 78 corresponds to the “state of using medium-temperature water”.

The hot water supply mixing valve 22 is used by adjusting the flow rate ratio of the high temperature water supplied from the hot water storage tank 8 through the high temperature pipe 21 to the low temperature water or medium hot water supplied from the fourth water supply pipe 9d. Generates hot water at a set temperature set by the remote controller 44 and flows it into the hot water supply pipe 24. The hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot water supply mixing valve 22 is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 24 to a faucet (not shown) such as a shower or a curan used by the user via a hot water tap 34.

The bath mixing valve 23 is used by adjusting the flow rate ratio of the high temperature water supplied from the hot water storage tank 8 through the high temperature pipe 21 to the low temperature water or medium hot water supplied from the fourth water supply pipe 9d. Can generate hot water at a set temperature set by the remote controller 44. The hot water adjusted to the set temperature by the bath mixing valve 23 flows into the bath 30 through the bath pipe 25 through the bath flow sensor 45, the bath electromagnetic valve 26, the bath going pipe 27, and the bath returning pipe 28.

The control device 36 determines the completion of hot water filling based on the information detected by the bath flow sensor 45 and the water level sensor 46, thereby determining the amount of hot water filling in the bathtub 30 when the hot water filling is completed. However, it can be controlled so as to be equal to the amount of hot water set by the user on the remote control device 44. The hot water storage type hot water supply device 35 of the present embodiment may be capable of executing automatic bath operation. When the automatic bath operation is set by the remote control device 44, the control device 36 maintains the temperature and amount of the bath water in the bathtub 30 at the temperature and amount set by the remote control device 44 after the completion of hot water filling. As needed, the bath water is heated, cooled, added water, and squeezed water.

The control device 36 in the present embodiment includes a bath heat recovery mode as a control mode. The bath heat recovery mode is a mode for recovering the heat of the bath water remaining in the bathtub 30 into the hot water storage tank 8 after the bathing is completed. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 35 shown in FIG. 1 in the bath heat recovery mode. In the bath heat recovery mode, it is as follows. The three-way valve 11 is controlled so that the a port and the c port communicate with each other and the b port is closed. As a result, the low temperature pipe 10 and the first water supply pipe 13a communicate with each other, and the flow path to the second tank circulation pipe 20c is cut off. The four-way valve 16 is controlled so that the a port and the d port communicate with each other and the b port and the c port are closed. As a result, the second water supply pipe 13b and the first hot water pipe 17a communicate with each other, and the second hot water pipe 17b side is closed to block the flow path to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. The four-way valve 18 is controlled so that the a port and the b port communicate with each other and the c port and the d port are closed. As a result, the first hot water pipe 17a and the third hot water pipe 19a communicate with each other, and the fourth hot water pipe 19b and the fifth hot water pipe 19c side are closed to block the flow path to the intermediate portion of the hot water storage tank 8.

When starting the bath heat recovery mode, it may be controlled as follows. First, after the bath water circulation is started by starting the operation of the bath water pump 29, the tank water pump 12 is in a state where the three-way valve 11, the four-way valve 16, and the four-way valve 18 are controlled as described above. Operation is started. The tank water circulates as follows. The low-temperature tank water flowing out from the water outlet 8b of the hot water storage tank 8 through the low-temperature pipe 10 is the three-way valve 11, the first water supply pipe 13a, the tank water pump 12, the second water supply pipe 13b, the four-way valve 16, the first. It flows into the bath heat exchanger 20 through the hot water pipe 17a, the four-way valve 18, the third hot water pipe 19a, and the first tank circulation pipe 20a. In the bath heat exchanger 20, the tank water is heated by the heat of the bath water from the bathtub 30, and the temperature becomes close to the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub 30. This heated tank water may be hereinafter referred to as "heat recovery hot water". The heat recovery hot water flows from the bath heat exchanger 20 into the hot water storage tank 8 from the medium hot water introduction outlet 8f through the return pipe 20b, the check valve 50, and the medium temperature pipe 79. In the present embodiment, as described above, the flow path through which the tank water circulates corresponds to the “tank water flow path”. When the bath heat recovery mode is implemented, the heat recovery hot water is stored near the medium hot water introduction outlet 8f in the hot water storage tank 8.

When the bath water pump 29 is operated, the bath water in the bathtub 30 is drawn from the bathtub adapter 80 into the bath return pipe 28 and flows into the bath heat exchanger 20 through the bath return pipe 28. The bath water that has passed through the bath heat exchanger 20 passes through the bath going pipe 27 and flows into the bathtub 30 from the bathtub adapter 80. In the present embodiment, the flow path through which the bath water circulates corresponds to the "bath water circulation flow path" as described above.

In the present embodiment, the control device 36 alternately performs the heat exchange operation and the stirring operation in the bath heat recovery mode. The heat exchange operation is an operation of transferring the heat of the bath water in the bathtub 30 into the hot water storage tank 8 by operating the tank water pump 12 and the bath water pump 29 at the same time. The stirring operation is an operation of stirring the bath water in the bathtub 30 by operating the bath water pump 29 without operating the tank water pump 12.

The flow rate of bath water flowing through the bath going pipe 27 and the bath returning pipe 28 is hereinafter referred to as "bath water flow rate". The control device 36 can adjust the rotation speed of the bath water pump 29. The higher the rotation speed of the bath water pump 29, the higher the bath water flow rate. It is desirable that the control device 36 controls the bath water pump 29 so that the rotation speed of the bath water pump 29 in the stirring operation is higher than the rotation speed of the bath water pump 29 in the heat exchange operation. As a result, the following effects can be obtained. In the stirring operation, the flow velocity of the bath water flowing into the bathtub 30 from the bath going pipe 27 becomes high, so that the inside of the bathtub 30 can be stirred more efficiently. In the heat exchange operation, the power consumption of the bath water pump 29 can be reduced because the bath water flow rate is relatively low. Further, since the time from when the bath water enters the bath heat exchanger 20 to when it exits becomes longer, more heat of the bath water can be transferred to the tank water.

The control device 36 may start the bath heat recovery mode according to the operation of the user with respect to the remote control device 44. For example, the control device 36 may start the bath heat recovery mode when a predetermined button of the remote control device 44 is pressed.

If the temperature of the tank water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 43 is lower than the bath return temperature detected by the bath return temperature sensor 38, the bath heat can be recovered. Therefore, the control device 36 may allow the start of the bath heat recovery mode when the detection temperature of the hot water storage temperature sensor 43 is lower than the bath return temperature.

When the heat exchange operation is performed, a temperature boundary layer is formed in the bath water in the bathtub 30. In the heat exchange operation, the bath water flowing out of the bath heat exchanger 20 is deprived of heat by the tank water and the temperature drops, so that the density becomes high. When this bath water flows into the bathtub 30, low-density, relatively high-temperature bath water stays above the bathtub 30, and high-density, relatively low-temperature bath water stays below the bathtub 30. In the bathtub 30, a temperature boundary layer having a high temperature on the upper side and a low temperature on the lower side is generated. If the temperature boundary layer is higher than the position of the bathtub adapter 80, the high temperature bath water on the upper layer side cannot be drawn into the bath return pipe 28, so that the temperature of the bath water flowing into the bath heat exchanger 20 is low. Therefore, the heat recovery efficiency is reduced.

On the other hand, when the stirring operation is performed from the state where the temperature boundary layer is formed in the bathtub 30, the temperature boundary layer in the bathtub 30 is broken, and the bath water on the upper layer side having a relatively high temperature and the lower layer side having a relatively low temperature are broken. It mixes with the bath water. As a result, the temperature of the bath water at the height of the bathtub adapter 80 rises, so that the temperature of the bath water flowing into the bath heat exchanger 20 rises. Therefore, the heat recovery efficiency is improved by performing the heat exchange operation after the stirring operation.

In the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained by stopping the tank water pump 12 during the stirring operation. Since the bath water is not cooled in the bath heat exchanger 20, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the jet stream flowing into the bathtub 30 from the bath going pipe 27 from becoming low. Therefore, the time required for the temperature of the entire bath water in the bathtub 30 to become uniform can be shortened, so that the time required for the stirring operation can be shortened. As a result, the time required for the entire bath heat recovery mode can be shortened, and the usability of the user is improved. Further, the power consumption of the tank water pump 12 can be saved.

The rotation speed of the bath water pump 29 during the stirring operation is controlled so as to be equal to or higher than a predetermined rotation speed at which the bath water in the bathtub 30 can be agitated. For example, if the bath water flow rate during the stirring operation is 8 L / min, the bath water in the bathtub 30 can be sufficiently stirred. Therefore, the control device 36 may control the rotation speed of the bath water pump 29 so that the bath water flow rate during the stirring operation is 8 L / min or 8 L / min or more. On the other hand, for example, at a bath water flow rate of 3 L / min or less, it may be difficult to efficiently agitate the bath water in the bathtub 30.

The hot water storage type hot water supply device 35 of the present embodiment further includes a bubble generator 48 and a bath water sterilizer 49 capable of sterilizing bath water. The bubble generator 48 is installed in the bath water circulation flow path on the upstream side of the bath water sterilizer 49. In the present embodiment, in the bath water circulation flow path, the bubble generator 48 is located on the downstream side of the flow switch 47, the bath water sterilizer 49 is located on the downstream side of the bubble generator 48, and the bath water sterilizer 49 is located on the downstream side of the bath water sterilizer 49. There is a bath heat exchanger 20 in. In the present embodiment, the control device 36 performs a bath water sterilization operation in which the bath water sterilizer 49 is operated and a cleaning operation in which the bubble generator 48 is operated to generate bubbles while the bath heat recovery mode is being executed. Do.

The bath water sterilizer 49 is, for example, an ultraviolet sterilizer capable of irradiating the bath water with ultraviolet rays, an ozone sterilizer capable of supplying ozone to the bath water, and a metal ion having a sterilizing effect (for example, silver ion, copper ion, etc.). At least one of a metal ion sterilizer capable of supplying water and an ultrasonic sterilizer capable of irradiating bath water with ultrasonic waves may be provided. The ultraviolet sterilizer may be an ultraviolet LED as a light source. FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the amount of ultraviolet rays and the sterilization rate of bath water when an ultraviolet LED is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the bath water can be sterilized by irradiating the bath water with ultraviolet rays.

The bubble generator 48 can generate bubbles in the bath water by mixing the air taken in from the outside with the bath water. The bubbles generated by the bubble generator 48 preferably include fine bubbles such as microbubbles (for example, bubbles having a diameter of 50 μm or less). The bubble generator 48 may include, for example, the following ejectors. The ejector has a diameter-reduced portion that reduces the diameter of the bath water flow path. Air can be naturally aspirated by the negative pressure generated in this reduced diameter portion. In the reduced diameter portion, air is introduced from a direction perpendicular to the flow of bath water. A stationary blade that swivels the water flow flowing into the ejector may be provided at a position on the upstream side of the ejector. The stationary blade forms, for example, a swirling flow centered on the axis of the flow path. The swirling flow of bath water formed by the stationary blades shears the bubbles and makes them finer, so that fine bubbles can be generated.

The bubbles generated by the bubble generator 48, particularly fine bubbles, have a purifying action of cleaning and removing stains such as sebum stains. The bath water containing bubbles generated by the bubble generator 48 flows through the bath water circulation flow path, so that a cleaning effect of removing dirt adhering to the inner wall of the bath water circulation flow path can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the bubble generator 48 corresponds to a cleaning device capable of adding bubbles as a component having a purifying action to bath water.

The bubbles generated by the bubble generator 48 are examples of components having a purifying action. The component having a purifying effect is not limited to bubbles, and for example, a detergent such as a surfactant may be used in place of the bubbles or in combination with the bubbles.

In the present embodiment, by performing the bath water sterilization operation while the bath heat recovery mode is being executed, it is possible to reliably suppress the growth of germs and the like in the bath water in the bathtub 30. Therefore, it is advantageous in maintaining the hygiene of the bath water in the bathtub 30. Further, when the bath water in the bathtub 30 is reused for washing, for example, the generation of odor can be surely suppressed.

The bath water after bathing contains stains such as sebum stains. If there is no bubble generator 48, sebum stains and the like may accumulate on the surface of the bath water sterilizer 49 over time, and the sterilization performance of the bath water sterilizer 49 may deteriorate. For example, when the bath water sterilizer 49 is an ultraviolet sterilizer, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the bath water may decrease due to sebum stains or the like adhering to the surface of the exit portion from which the ultraviolet rays are emitted.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the washing operation is performed during the execution of the bath heat recovery mode, and the bubbles added by the bubble generator 48 are supplied to the bath water sterilizer 49 to sterilize the bath water. It is possible to reliably prevent sebum stains and the like from accumulating on the surface of the device 49. Therefore, it is possible to surely suppress the deterioration of the sterilization performance by the bath water sterilizer 49 with aging, and the sterilization performance by the bath water sterilizer 49 can be maintained for a long time.

Generally, when the bath heat recovery mode is executed, the time for the bath water containing sebum stains to come into contact with the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80 increases, so that the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80 become dirty due to the growth of bacteria. It tends to increase. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the growth of bacteria in the bath water can be reliably suppressed, so that the increase in dirt on the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80 can be reliably suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bubbles added by the bubble generator 48 in the washing operation come into contact with the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80, so that the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80 are washed with the bubbles. The effect of cleaning is obtained. Therefore, dirt on the inner wall of the bathtub 30 and the bathtub adapter 80 can be reliably suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bubbles added by the bubble generator 48 pass through the bath heat exchanger 20 after passing through the bath water sterilizer 49, so that sebum stains inside the bath heat exchanger 20. It is possible to surely prevent the accumulation of such substances. The flow path volume in the bath heat exchanger 20 is larger than the flow path volume in the bath water sterilizer 49. Therefore, the total amount of dirt in the bath heat exchanger 20 is larger than the total amount of dirt in the bath water sterilizer 49. The air bubbles after passing through the bath heat exchanger 20 may have a reduced detergency because a large amount of dirt has been purified in the bath heat exchanger 20. In the present embodiment, since the air bubbles before passing through the bath heat exchanger 20 can be supplied to the bath water sterilizer 49, the surface of the bath water sterilizer 49 can be more reliably cleaned by the air bubbles having high detergency. .. Since the total amount of dirt in the bath water sterilizer 49 is relatively small, the detergency of air bubbles is unlikely to decrease even after passing through the bath water sterilizer 49. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress the deterioration of the cleaning effect on the bath heat exchanger 20.

It typically takes about 1 to 1.5 hours from the start to the end of the bath heat recovery mode, and during that time, it is necessary to circulate the bath water in the bath water circulation flow path. In the present embodiment, by performing the bath water sterilization operation and the washing operation during the execution of the bath heat recovery mode, it is possible to more effectively utilize the time for executing the bath heat recovery mode and the circulation of the bath water. it can.

As the bath water sterilization operation, the bath water sterilizer 49 may be operated for at least a part of the time from the start to the end of the bath heat recovery mode. Further, as the washing operation, the bubble generator 48 may be operated at least a part of the time from the start to the end of the bath heat recovery mode. Further, the bath water sterilization operation and the washing operation may be executed in parallel at the same time, or the time for performing the bath water sterilization operation and the time for performing the washing operation may not overlap.

When the bath water sterilization operation and the washing operation are executed in parallel at the same time, the bath water sterilizer 49 sterilizes the bath water containing the bubbles generated by the bubble generator 48, so that the following effects are obtained. can get.

(First effect) The surface of fine bubbles of 50 μm or less is negatively charged. Bacteria in positively charged water are more likely to be adsorbed on the surface of microbubbles. Since fine bubbles having a diameter of 50 μm or less have a small buoyancy, they are uniformly dispersed in water. Therefore, bacteria adhering to the surface of fine bubbles can be uniformly dispersed in water. By sterilizing the bath water sterilizer 49 in a state where the fine bubbles and bacteria are uniformly dispersed in the bath water in this way, the sterilization efficiency can be further improved.

(Second effect) It is known that fine particles having a diameter on the order of μm or less are scattered in the entire peripheral direction when they receive light having a short wavelength such as ultraviolet rays. When the bath water sterilizer 49 is an ultraviolet sterilizer, the fine bubbles dispersed in the flow path are irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the ultraviolet rays are scattered in the entire circumference direction of the fine bubbles, so that the distribution of the irradiation intensity in the entire flow path is distributed. Can increase the uniformity of. As a result, the sterilization efficiency can be further improved.

Further, when the bath water sterilizer 49 is an ultraviolet sterilizer and the time for performing the bath water sterilization operation and the time for performing the washing operation do not overlap, the following effects can be obtained. If the diameter of the bubble is large, it will not be scattered all around, and the area behind the bubble irradiated with ultraviolet rays will be a shadow and the ultraviolet rays will not reach. On the other hand, when the bath water sterilizer 49 operates, the bubbles from the bubble generator 48 are not supplied to the bath water sterilizer 49, so that the irradiated ultraviolet rays are surely blocked by the bubbles. Can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the user can select either the bath water sterilization operation "strong" or the bath water sterilization operation "weak" by operating the remote controller device 44. Bath water sterilization operation "Weak" corresponds to the first bath water sterilization operation. The bath water sterilization operation "strong" corresponds to the second bath water sterilization operation having a higher sterilization effect than the first bath water sterilization operation. For example, when the degree of contamination of the bath water is relatively high and a high sterilizing effect is required, the user selects the bath water sterilization operation "strong". On the other hand, when the degree of contamination of the bath water is relatively low and a high sterilization effect is not required, the user may select the bath water sterilization operation "weak".

When the bath water sterilization operation “strong” is set, the control device 36 sets the bath water sterilizer 49 in both the heat exchange operation and the stirring operation in the bath heat recovery mode. Get it up and running. As a result, a high bactericidal effect can be obtained.

On the other hand, when the bath water sterilization operation "weak" is set, the control device 36 operates the bath water sterilization device 49 during the heat exchange operation in the bath heat recovery mode to perform the stirring operation. The bath water sterilizer 49 is controlled not to be operated during the execution. As a result, the operating time of the bath water sterilizer 49 can be shortened while achieving the required sterilization effect, so that power consumption and the like can be suppressed and the life of the device can be extended.

Alternatively, when the bath water sterilization operation "weak" is set, the control device 36 operates the bath water sterilizer 49 during the execution of the stirring operation in the bath heat recovery mode, and the heat exchange operation is being executed. May be controlled so that the bath water sterilizer 49 is not operated. As a result, the same effect as the above effect can be obtained. Typically, the operating time of the stirring operation is shorter than the operating time of the heat exchange operation. Therefore, by operating the bath water sterilizer 49 only during the stirring operation, it is further advantageous in shortening the operating time of the bath water sterilizer 49.

Depending on the type of bath water sterilizer 49, it may be difficult to control the output. In the present embodiment, the sterilization effect is adjusted without controlling the output of the bath water sterilizer 49 by performing the above in the bath water sterilization operation "strong" and the bath water sterilization operation "weak". It becomes possible.

Further, if the output of the bath water sterilizer 49 is higher than necessary, the power consumption increases and the running cost may deteriorate. In the present embodiment, the bath water sterilization operation "strong" and the bath water sterilization operation "weak" can be switched according to the required sterilization performance, so that the power consumption can be suppressed and the running cost can be reduced. It will be advantageous. The control device 36 may be able to automatically switch between the bath water sterilization operation "strong" and the bath water sterilization operation "weak".

Microbubbles are known to have a bactericidal effect. In the present embodiment, the sterilizing effect of the microbubbles and the sterilizing effect of the bath water sterilizing device 49 are synergistic by generating the microbubbles by the bubble generating device 48. As a result, the effect of further improving the sterilization performance can be obtained. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the amount of intake air from the bubble generator 48 when the microbubbles are generated by the bubble generator 48 and the rate of increase in the amount of sterilization with respect to the sterilization rate of only the bath water sterilizer 49. Is.

In the present embodiment, an automatic drain plug 81 that can be automatically opened and closed is installed at the bottom of the bathtub 30. When the automatic drain plug 81 is closed, bath water can be stored in the bathtub 30. When the automatic drain plug 81 is opened, the bath water in the bathtub 30 is discharged to, for example, a drain pipe (not shown) through the automatic drain plug 81. By opening the automatic drain plug 81, all the bath water in the bathtub 30 can be discharged to the outside. The automatic drain plug 81 opens and closes by being driven by, for example, an electric motor (not shown). The control device 36 can control the operation of the automatic drain plug 81. The control device 36 may directly control the operation of the automatic drain plug 81, or the control device 36 indirectly controls the operation of the automatic drain plug 81 via a control unit (not shown) of the automatic drain plug 81 installed in or near the bathroom. The operation of the automatic drain plug 81 may be controlled.

The remote control device 44 can accept the user's operation for operating the automatic drain plug 81. The user can input a command for opening the automatic drain plug 81 and a command for closing the automatic drain plug 81 to the remote controller device 44. The user can remotely control the automatic drain plug 81 by operating the remote control device 44.

The user can use the remote control device 44 to select and set in advance whether or not to open the automatic drain plug 81 to automatically drain the inside of the bathtub 30 after the bath heat recovery mode is completed. For example, when the bath water in the bathtub 30 is planned to be reused for washing or the like, the user sets the automatic drain plug 81 not to open after the bath heat recovery mode ends. On the other hand, when there is no plan to reuse the bath water in the bathtub 30, the user sets the automatic drain plug 81 to automatically drain the bathtub 30 after the bath heat recovery mode ends. To do. This improves usability.

When the control device 36 is scheduled to open the automatic drain plug 81 after the bath heat recovery mode ends, the bath water sterilization operation "weak" is performed, and the automatic drain plug 81 is opened after the bath heat recovery mode ends. If it is not planned to open, it may be controlled to carry out the bath water sterilization operation "strong". If it is planned not to open the automatic drain plug 81 after the bath heat recovery mode ends, it is considered that the bath water in the bathtub 30 will be reused, so the bath water sterilization operation is "strong". By carrying out the above, it is possible to provide bath water with higher hygiene. On the other hand, if it is planned to open the automatic drain plug 81 after the bath heat recovery mode ends, it is considered that such high sterilization performance is not necessary, so the bath water sterilization operation "weak" should be carried out. Therefore, power consumption and the like can be suppressed.

1 Compressor, 3 Water refrigerant heat exchanger, 4 Expansion valve, 5 Coolant piping, 6 Air heat exchanger, 7 HP unit, 8 Hot water storage tank, 8a Water inlet, 8b Water outlet, 8c Water inlet, 8d, 8e hot water inlet, 8f medium hot water inlet, 8g hot water inlet, 9a first water supply pipe, 9b second water supply pipe, 9c third water supply pipe, 9d fourth water supply pipe, 10 low temperature pipe, 11 three-way valve, 12 tank Water pump, 13a 1st water supply pipe, 13b 2nd water supply pipe, 16 4-way valve, 17a 1st hot water pipe, 17b 2nd hot water pipe, 18 4-way valve, 19a 3rd hot water pipe, 19b 4th hot water pipe, 19c 5th Hot water piping, 20 Bath heat exchanger, 20a 1st tank circulation piping, 20b Return piping, 20c 2nd tank circulation piping, 21 High temperature piping, 22 Hot water supply mixing valve, 23 Bath mixing valve, 24 Hot water supply piping, 25 Bath Piping, 26 Bath electromagnetic valve, 29 Bath water pump, 30 Bathtub, 31 Pressure reducing valve, 33 Tank unit, 34 Hot water tap, 35 Hot water storage type hot water supply device, 36 Control device, 37 Bath going temperature sensor, 38 Bath return temperature sensor, 41, 42, 43 Hot water storage temperature sensor, 44 remote control device, 45 bath flow sensor, 46 water level sensor, 47 flow switch, 48 bubble generator, 49 bath water sterilizer, 50 check valve, 78 medium temperature water switching valve, 79 Medium temperature piping, 80 bath adapter, 81 automatic drain plug

Claims (10)

Hot water storage tank and
A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the bath water from the bathtub and the tank water from the hot water storage tank.
A tank water flow path having a tank water pump that circulates the tank water to the heat exchanger, and
A bath water circulation flow path having a bath water pump for circulating the bath water to the heat exchanger,
A bath water sterilizer installed in the bath water circulation channel and capable of sterilizing bath water,
A cleaning device installed in the bath water circulation flow path on the upstream side of the bath water sterilizer and capable of adding a purifying component to the bath water.
A control means having a bath heat recovery mode for operating the tank water pump and the bath water pump to recover the heat of the bath water in the bathtub into the hot water storage tank is provided.
A hot water storage type hot water supply device that performs a bath water sterilization operation for operating the bath water sterilizer and a cleaning operation for operating the cleaning device while the bath heat recovery mode is being executed. The hot water storage according to claim 1, wherein the bath water sterilization operation can be switched between a first bath water sterilization operation and a second bath water sterilization operation having a higher sterilization effect than the first bath water sterilization operation. Type hot water supply device. In the bath heat recovery mode, a heat exchange operation in which the tank water pump and the bath water pump are operated at the same time and a stirring operation in which the bath water pump is operated without operating the tank water pump are alternately executed.
The second aspect of claim 2, wherein when the second bath water sterilization operation is set, the bath water sterilizer is operated both during the execution of the heat exchange operation and during the execution of the stirring operation. Hot water storage type hot water supply device. In the bath heat recovery mode, a heat exchange operation in which the tank water pump and the bath water pump are operated at the same time and a stirring operation in which the bath water pump is operated without operating the tank water pump are alternately executed.
When the first bath water sterilization operation is set, the bath water sterilizer is operated during the heat exchange operation, and the bath water sterilizer is not operated during the stirring operation. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 2 or 3. In the bath heat recovery mode, a heat exchange operation in which the tank water pump and the bath water pump are operated at the same time and a stirring operation in which the bath water pump is operated without operating the tank water pump are alternately executed.
When the first bath water sterilization operation is set, the bath water sterilizer is operated during the execution of the stirring operation, and the bath water sterilizer is not operated during the execution of the heat exchange operation. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 2 or 3. An automatic drain plug that can be opened and closed automatically is installed in the bathtub,
The hot water storage type according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein it is possible to select in advance from the user interface whether or not to open the automatic drain plug to drain the inside of the bathtub after the bath heat recovery mode is completed. Hot water supply device. As the bath water sterilization operation, it is possible to switch between the first bath water sterilization operation and the second bath water sterilization operation having a higher sterilization effect than the first bath water sterilization operation.
The control means carries out the first bath water sterilization operation when the automatic drain plug is scheduled to be opened after the end of the bath heat recovery mode, and the automatic operation after the end of the bath heat recovery mode. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 6, wherein the second bath water sterilization operation is carried out when it is planned not to open the drain plug. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bath water sterilizer is located in the bath water circulation flow path on the upstream side of the heat exchanger. Claims 1 to 8 of the control means, in which the bath water sterilization operation and the washing operation are executed in parallel during at least a part of the time from the start to the end of the bath heat recovery mode. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to any one of the above. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control means controls so that the time for performing the bath water sterilization operation and the time for performing the washing operation do not overlap.

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