JP6895881B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to preventing freezing of a group of functional parts including sensors and valves provided in an electric water heater.

Conventionally, in this type of hot water storage type water heater, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating means for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the lower part of the hot water storage tank, and hot water discharged from the upper part of the hot water storage tank. It is equipped with a pipe, a water supply bypass pipe branched from the water supply pipe, and a hot water supply mixing valve that mixes hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe and water flowing through the water supply pipe, and is required if there is a hot water supply request from the user. Depending on the situation, hot water was discharged from the upper part of the hot water storage tank and mixed with water to supply hot water.

In addition, conventional electric heaters are provided in places where there is a risk of freezing, and when the temperature drops, the electric heater is turned on to prevent freezing, or molding that covers the hot water storage tank located in places where there is a risk of freezing. It has been known that a part of the heat insulating material is thinned to prevent freezing by utilizing heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-271102

However, if an electric heater is installed in a place where there is a risk of freezing and the electric heater is turned on when the temperature is low to prevent freezing, it is necessary to always turn on the electric heater in cold weather, which increases the cost of electricity. In addition, if a part of the molded heat insulating material that covers the hot water storage tank is thinned to prevent freezing by using the heat radiation of the hot water storage tank, the heat is dissipated only in the vicinity of the molded heat insulating material. If it is made too thin in order to increase the amount of electricity, the heat stored in the hot water will continue to be released, and there is a problem that there is a risk of boiling in the daytime when the electricity bill is high or running out of hot water in the hot water storage tank.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating means for heating the water in the hot water storage tank, a heating going pipe and heating in which the hot water storage tank and the heating means are circulateably connected. It is provided with a return pipe, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank, a water supply bypass pipe branched from the water supply pipe, and a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank. Hot water supply including a mixing valve for mixing hot water from a pipe, a temperature thermistor for detecting the temperature of the mixed hot water, and a functional component group consisting of at least one of a flow sensor for detecting the flow rate of the mixed hot water. The machine is provided with a heating bypass pipe that branches from the heating return pipe and is connected to the water supply pipe, and a heating bypass valve that can switch the flow path to the heating bypass pipe in the middle of the heating return pipe. The heating bypass pipe is arranged so as to pass in the vicinity of the functional parts group , and further, a bath-side mixing valve that mixes at least water from the water supply bypass pipe and hot water from the hot water outlet pipe and the bath-side mixing valve. A hopper unit including a hot water filling pipe for flowing mixed hot water and a molded heat insulating material for preventing heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank are provided, and the hot water storage tank, the molded heat insulating material, the hopper unit, and the function thereof are provided around the hot water storage tank. The parts are arranged in the order of the parts .

Further, an outside air temperature thermistor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided, and when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature thermister becomes lower than a predetermined temperature and there is a possibility of freezing of the functional parts group, the heating bypass valve is provided. Was fully opened on the heating bypass pipe side, the heating going pipe and the heating bypass pipe were communicated with each other, and the hot water at the lower part of the hot water storage tank was heated by the heating means to circulate the antifreeze operation control means.

According to the present invention, the heating bypass pipe is arranged so as to pass in the vicinity of the functional parts group, and the antifreeze operation control means is the hot water storage tank if the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined outside air temperature. The lower part, the heating going pipe, the heating means, the heating return pipe, the heating bypass pipe, and the water supply pipe are communicated with each other, and the hot water heated by the heating means is allowed to flow through the heating bypass pipe. Therefore, heat is transferred to the functional component group through the heating bypass tube, and freezing of the functional component group can be prevented.

Further, the hopper unit is prevented from freezing by the radiant heat of the hot water storage tank 1 via the molded heat insulating material, and the functional parts group arranged at a distant position where the radiant heat does not reach are subjected to the antifreezing operation. Heat is transferred through the heating bypass valve and the heating bypass pipe to prevent freezing.

Schematic diagram of the present invention Front view of the tank unit according to the embodiment of the present invention Enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the main part around the functional component group 30 of the embodiment of the present invention. A flowchart illustrating an antifreezing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the hot water supply device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a hot water storage tank for storing hot water of a hot water storage type hot water supply device, 2 is a water supply pipe for supplying water to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, 3 is a hot water discharge pipe for hot water from the top of the hot water storage tank 1, and 4 is for heating the water in the hot water storage tank. Heat pump type heating means 5, 5 is a heating going pipe connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 and the heating means 4, 6 is a heating circulation pump provided in the middle of the heating going pipe 5, 7 is the heating means 4 and the hot water storage tank 1. 8 is a heating bypass pipe provided in the middle of the heating return pipe 7, and 9 is a heating bypass pipe branched by switching the heating bypass valve 8. The heating bypass pipe 9 is connected to the water supply pipe 2.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an outside air temperature thermistor for detecting the outside air temperature provided in the appliance of the heating means 4.

Further, 11 is a hot water supply side water supply bypass pipe bypassed from the water supply pipe 2, and 12 is a mixture of hot water from the hot water supply pipe 3 and water from the hot water supply side water supply bypass pipe 11 and controlling the mixing ratio to obtain a desired hot water supply. The hot water supply side mixing valve 13 for supplying hot water to the set temperature is a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water mixed by the hot water supply side mixing valve 8 to the hot water supply plug 14.

Further, 15 is a bath-side water supply bypass pipe bypassed from the water supply pipe 2, and 16 is a mixture of hot water from the hot water supply pipe 3 and water from the bath-side water supply bypass pipe 15, and the mixing ratio is controlled to control the desired bath. The bath-side mixing valve 17 for supplying hot water to the set temperature is a hot water filling pipe for supplying hot water mixed by the bath-side mixing valve 16 to the bathtub 11. Here, the hot water supply pipe 3 and the hot water supply pipe 13 form a hot water supply pipe, and the hot water discharge pipe 3 and the hot water supply pipe 17 form a bath pipe.

18 is a water supply pressure reducing valve provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 2 to reduce the city water to a constant water supply pressure, 19 is a water supply thermistor provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 2 to detect the temperature of the city water, and 20 is the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1. It is a relief valve that can be opened and closed manually.

21 is a hot water storage temperature thermistor provided above and below the side surface of the hot water storage tank 1 to detect the hot water storage temperature in the hot water storage tank 1, and 22 is a hot water supply flow rate provided in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 13 to detect the hot water supply flow rate by the rotation rate of the internal impeller. The sensor, 23 is a hot water supply temperature thermistor that detects the hot water supply temperature, 24 is a bath flow rate sensor that is provided in the middle of the hot water filling pipe 17 and detects the bath flow rate by the number of rotations of the impeller inside, and 25 is a bath temperature thermistor that detects the bath temperature. Is.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a hopper unit in which the bath-side mixing valve 16, the bath flow rate sensor 24, and the bath temperature sensor 25 are centrally arranged.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a remote controller having a temperature setting switch 28 for setting a desired hot water supply set temperature and a display 29 for displaying the hot water supply set temperature and the like. This hopper unit 27 is unsuitable in a place where the temperature is always high from the viewpoint of durability, and is not suitable in a place where the temperature is low because there is a risk of malfunction or damage due to freezing. It's a good instrument.

30 is connected to the remote control 27 in advance while the detection values of the hot water storage temperature thermistor 21, the hot water supply flow rate sensor 22, the hot water supply temperature thermistor 23, the bath flow rate sensor 24, and the bath temperature thermistor 25 are input and can be communicated with the remote control 27. It is a control device that controls according to a stored program.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a group of functional parts in which the hot water supply side mixing valve 12, the hot water supply flow rate sensor 22, and the hot water supply temperature thermistor 23 are centrally arranged. This functional component group 31 is unsuitable in a place where the temperature is always high from the viewpoint of durability, and is not suitable in a place where the temperature is low because there is a risk of malfunction or damage due to freezing. Is a good instrument.

Next, the boiling operation of the hot water storage type water heater will be described.
When there is a boiling request such as midnight when the electricity charge is relatively cheap or the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature thermistor 21 reaches the minimum hot water storage temperature, the control device 29 starts heating the heating means 4 and the heating going pipe 5 The heating circulation pump 6 that is profitable is driven in the middle of the process, and the boiling of water in the hot water storage tank 1 is started. Then, when it is confirmed that the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature thermistor 21 has reached the target hot water storage temperature, the driving of the circulation pump is stopped, the heating of the heating means 4 is stopped, and the boiling is completed.

Next, the hot water supply operation of the hot water storage type water heater will be described.
When the hot water tap 14 is opened and hot water supply is started, the pressure on the hot water supply pipe 13 side decreases, water supply from the water supply pipe 2 is supplied from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, and high temperature hot water is discharged from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1. Is pushed out to. On the other hand, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 2 is mixed with the hot water from the hot water outlet pipe 3 by the hot water supply side mixing valve 12 via the hot water supply side water supply bypass pipe 11, and is supplied to the hot water supply plug 14 via the hot water supply pipe 13. Is.

Next, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 which is an overall view of the hot water storage tank 1 and FIG. 3 which is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of a main part around the functional component group 31.

First, 32 is a hot water storage unit provided with a hot water storage tank 1, a group of functional parts 31, a control device 30, and the like, 33 is a housing which is an outer case of the hot water storage unit 32, and 34 is a case where hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 is not dissipated. It is a molded heat insulating material having a substantially constant thickness that covers the outer periphery of the hot water storage tank 1.

When the detection temperature of the atmospheric temperature thermistor 33 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature in the control device 29, the heating bypass valve 8 is switched to the heating bypass pipe 9 side to drive the heating circulation pump 6 and start heating the heating means 4. The antifreeze operation control means 35 is provided.

Specifically, water is pumped from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 by driving the heating circulation pump 6 and sent to the heating means 4 via the heating going pipe 5 to raise the temperature to a temperature at which freezing can be prevented. Further, the heating bypass valve 8 provided in the middle of the heating return pipe 7 branches into the heating bypass pipe 9, and the heated hot water is circulated in the vicinity of the functional component group 31 in which the appliances are concentrated and arranged. By doing so, the anti-freezing operation of the functional component group 31 is performed. Then, the heating bypass pipe 9 passes near the functional parts group 31, joins in the middle of the water supply pipe 2, and repeats circulation so as to be returned to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 again, thereby causing damage due to freezing of the functional parts group 31. It can be further prevented.

As a result, since the functional component group 31 is arranged in the vicinity of the molded heat insulating material 34, the heat insulating capacity of only a part of the molded heat insulating material 34 can be reduced, and the heat of the hot water storage tank 1 can be easily transferred to the functional component group 31. As a result, freezing of the valves, sensors, etc. included in the functional component group 31 can be prevented, and the piping heater dedicated to freeze prevention can be eliminated or the number of used pipe heaters can be reduced.

Next, the relationship between the functional component group 31 and the heating bypass valve 8 will be described with reference to an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of a main part around the functional component group 31 of FIG.
Centering on the hot water storage tank 1 provided with the housing 33, the molded heat insulating material 34, the hopper unit 26, the functional parts group 31, and the cover of the housing 33 are arranged in this order. At this time, the hopper unit 26 can prevent freezing due to the radiant heat of the hot water storage tank 1 via the molded heat insulating material 34.

Therefore, since most of the radiant heat of the hot water storage tank 1 is used to prevent freezing of the hopper unit 26, the freezing prevention of the hot water supply side mixing valve 16 is performed by the antifreezing operation using the heating bypass pipe 9 described below. Here, the heating bypass valve 8 and the heating bypass pipe 9 are arranged in the vicinity of the hot water supply side mixing valve 12 to preferentially prevent freezing.

This anti-freezing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the automatic boiling operation is set, the anti-freezing operation control means 35 checks whether or not the anti-freezing operation is necessary every time the timer count elapses for a predetermined time (here, every hour) (here, every hour). S1).

When the timer count elapses for a predetermined time (S1 is Yes), it is confirmed whether the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature thermistor 10 is below the predetermined outside air temperature (here, 3 ° C. or less) (S2), and detected by the outside air temperature thermistor 10. When the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined outside air temperature (S2 is Yes), the antifreeze operation control means 35 determines that the functional component group 31 may freeze.

The anti-freezing operation control means 35 fully opens the heating bypass valve 8 to the heating bypass pipe 9 side (S3), starts the heating operation by the heating means 4 (S4), and drives the heating circulation pump 6 (S5). , The anti-freezing operation is started (S6).

As shown in FIG. 2, the heating bypass pipe 8 is arranged so as to pass in the vicinity of the functional component group 31, and the antifreeze operation control means 35 confirms the outside temperature detected by the outside air temperature thermista at predetermined time intervals. If the temperature is below the predetermined outside air temperature, the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, the heating going pipe 5, the heating means 4, the heating return pipe 7, the heating bypass pipe 9, and the water supply pipe 2 are communicated with each other. By flowing the hot water heated in step 4 through the heating bypass pipe 9, heat is transferred to the functional component group 31 via the heating bypass pipe 9 to prevent the functional component group 31 from freezing.

Then, after the start of the anti-freezing operation, it is confirmed whether the predetermined anti-freezing operation time (30 minutes in this case) has elapsed (S7), and when the predetermined anti-freezing operation time has elapsed (S7 is Yes), the anti-freezing operation control The means 35 stops driving the heating circulation pump 6 (S8), ends the heating operation by the heating means 4 (S9), and fully closes the heating bypass valve 8 to the heating bypass pipe 9 side (S10) to prevent freezing. The operation is terminated (S11). Then, the process returns to S1 and the same control is repeated.

In this way, the hopper unit 26 uses the radiant heat of the hot water storage tank 1 to prevent freezing through the molded heat insulating material 34, and the functional parts group 31 that is blocked by the hopper unit 26 and the radiant heat does not reach is in the vicinity. By arranging the heating bypass valve 8 and the heating bypass pipe 9 and preferentially preventing freezing in the antifreezing operation, both the hopper unit 26 and the functional component group 31 can be prevented from freezing.

In this embodiment, the hot water supply-related appliances are configured as the functional parts group 31, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained with the functional parts group including the bath-related pipes and appliances. it can.
Examples of bath-related appliances include a bath-side mixing valve 16, a bath flow rate sensor 24, and a bath temperature thermistor 25.

Further, in this embodiment, the heating means has been described as a heat pump type heating means, but a combustion type heating means may also be used.

1 Hot water storage tank 2 Water supply pipe 3 Hot water outlet pipe 4 Heating means 5 Heating outbound pipe 7 Heating return pipe 8 Heating bypass valve 9 Heating bypass pipe 10 Outside air temperature thermista 12 Hot water supply side mixing valve 22 Hot water supply flow sensor 23 Hot water supply temperature thermista 30 Control device 31 Function Parts group 32 Hot water storage unit 33 Housing 35 Anti-freezing operation control means

Claims (2)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating means for heating the water in the hot water storage tank, a heating forward pipe and a heating return pipe for circulating the hot water storage tank and the heating means, and a water supply for supplying water to the hot water storage tank. A pipe, a water supply bypass pipe branched from the water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water from the upper part of the hot water storage tank, and a mixing valve for mixing water from the water supply bypass pipe and hot water from the hot water supply pipe. In a water dispenser including at least one functional component group consisting of a temperature thermista that detects the temperature of the mixed hot water and a flow sensor that detects the flow rate of the mixed hot water, it branches from the heating return pipe. A heating bypass pipe connected to the water supply pipe and a heating bypass valve capable of switching the flow path to the heating bypass pipe are provided in the middle of the heating return pipe, and the heating bypass pipe is of the functional component group. From a bath-side mixing valve that mixes at least water from the water supply bypass pipe and hot water from the hot water outlet pipe, and a hot water filling pipe that flows hot water mixed by the bath-side mixing valve. A hopper unit and a molded heat insulating material for preventing heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank are provided, and the hot water storage tank, the molded heat insulating material, the hopper unit, and the functional parts group are arranged in this order around the hot water storage tank . A water heater that is characterized by that. The control device is provided with an outside air temperature thermister that detects the outside air temperature, and when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature thermister becomes a predetermined temperature or less and there is a possibility that the functional parts group may freeze, the heating bypass valve is used. It is characterized by providing an antifreeze operation control means that is fully opened on the heating bypass pipe side, the heating going pipe and the heating bypass pipe are communicated with each other, and the hot water at the lower part of the hot water storage tank is heated and circulated by the heating means. The water heater according to claim 1.

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