JP7211876B2 - bath water heater - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hot water storage type water heater for reheating or keeping warm water in a bathtub by bath heat exchange with hot water in a hot water storage tank.

Conventionally, a bath heat exchanger consisting of a serpentine tube provided in a hot water storage tank, a bath circulation circuit capable of circulating the bath tub and the bath heat exchanger, a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit, and A bath temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of bath water flowing through a bath circulation circuit, a set amount of hot water is filled in the bathtub, and a bath circulation pump is driven after 2/3 of the set amount of hot water is filled. There is a hot water storage type hot water heater provided with a controller for removing air from the bath circulation circuit (Patent Document 1).

Then, in the bath heat exchanger, the bath water remaining when the bath water is circulated by the bath heating operation or the like is heated by the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and high-temperature residual water remains.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-10146

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when it is determined that the water surface is above the circulation port, it is necessary to stop the hot water filling operation and drive the circulation pump to detect the water level. Therefore, it takes a long time to complete the hot water filling operation, and since there is no bypass pipe for bypassing the bath heat exchanger, high temperature water remaining in the bath heat exchanger is supplied to the bathtub for air bleeding. As a result, there is a problem that there is a risk of burns or the like when a person is in the bathtub.

In addition, if the water surface is above the circulation port, the user may feel uncomfortable with the phenomenon that air is bubbling up from the circulation port of the bathtub. Since high-temperature water is supplied directly from the circulation port without being supplied to the hot water of the bathtub and the high-temperature water is diffused, there is a danger of burns, etc., and it was a problem to remove the air at an appropriate time. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a hot water filling path for supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank to a bathtub, and a bath for exchanging heat between hot water in the hot water storage tank and circulating bathtub water. a heat exchanger, and a bath outlet pipe that is configured to merge with the hot water filling path and extends from the bathtub to the bath heat exchanger, and a bath return pipe that extends from the bath heat exchanger to the bathtub. a bath circulation circuit for circulatingly connecting the bath heat exchanger and the bathtub; a bypass pipe for bypassing the bath heat exchanger; and a bath three-way valve for switching between the bypass pipe side and the bath heat exchanger side. and a bath circulation pump that circulates bathtub water, and a motion sensor that detects the movement of a person in the bathroom. a hot water filling operation control means for performing a hot water filling operation for supplying a set amount of hot water from the circulation port of the bathtub; a bath hot-water supply apparatus comprising a control device provided with an air bleeding control means for switching from the bypass pipe side to the bath heat exchanger side during hot water filling operation to bleed air in the bath circulation circuit, wherein the air After the first predetermined amount of hot water has been filled, the venting control means performs the air venting when the presence determination means determines that no person is in the bathroom.

Further, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, the air bleeding control means does not perform the air bleeding when the room presence determining means determines that a person is in the bathroom. Continuing the tensioning operation, the air bleeding control means operates when the water surface is higher than the circulation port and after a second predetermined amount of hot water, which is larger than the first predetermined amount, is filled, the air I decided to remove it.

Further, the air bleeding control means switches from the bath heat exchanger side to the bypass pipe side to perform the air bleeding when the presence determining means determines that a person is in the bathroom during the air bleeding. I made it stop.

Further, when the air bleeding is interrupted, hot water is poured so as to lower the temperature of the high-temperature water supplied by the air bleeding to at least a temperature that does not burn a person.

In addition, when the air bleeding is interrupted, the air bleeding control means controls the water surface to be higher than the circulation port and the second water level larger than the first predetermined amount. After a predetermined amount of hot water is filled, the air is removed.

As described above, according to the present invention, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, when the presence determination means determines that there is no person in the room, the water supply to the bathtub is not interrupted, and the bath circulation circuit is filled with hot water. Since the air is vented, even if high-temperature water is supplied directly from the circulation port, there is no risk of burns to the user. It is possible to shorten the time until the hot water filling operation is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Schematic explanatory drawing of 1st Example of this invention Flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, 2 is a heat pump unit as heating means for heating hot water, 3 is a bathtub, and 4 is a circulation port for supplying hot water to the bathtub.

A heating circulation circuit 5 connects the hot water storage tank 1 and the heat pump unit 2 so as to be circulating. The cold water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 is heated by the heat pump unit 2 through the heat pump supply pipe, and the heated high temperature hot water is returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 by the heat pump return pipe to return the hot water to the hot water storage tank 1. is heated and stored. A stored hot water temperature sensor 7 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 1, and the amount of stored hot water is detected when the stored hot water temperature sensor 7 detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

8 is a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank 1, 9 is a hot water discharge pipe for discharging hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, 10 is a water supply bypass pipe branched from the water supply pipe 8, and 11 is cold water from the water supply bypass pipe 10. A hot water supply mixing valve for mixing hot water from the hot water supply pipe 9 to a set temperature, 12 a hot water supply pipe for supplying the mixed hot water at the set temperature, and 13 a hot water supply valve provided at the end of the hot water supply pipe 12. A hot water supply temperature sensor 14 is provided downstream of the hot water mixing valve 11, and a hot water supply flow rate sensor 15 counts the amount of hot water supplied. Reference numeral 16 denotes a pressure reducing valve for reducing the tap water pressure to a predetermined pressure, and 17 denotes a pressure relief valve for releasing excess pressure due to heating.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a bath circulation circuit, which connects a bath heat exchanger 19 made of a serpentine pipe provided in the hot water storage tank 1 and the bathtub 3, and connects the bath tub 18a from the bathtub 3 to the bath heat exchanger 19 and the bath heat exchanger 19. It is connected to the bath return pipe 18b directed to the bathtub 3 so as to be circulatory. Then, when the bathtub water remains in the bath heat exchanger 19 due to the previous reheating operation, heat retention operation, etc., the heated high-temperature residual water is heat-exchanged with the heat of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 1. remain in vessel 19.

20 is a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit 18, 21 is a water flow sensor that detects the presence or absence of running water, 22 is a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water flowing through the bath circulation circuit 18, and 23 is the water pressure of the bath water. It is a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the bathtub 3, and is provided on the upstream side of the bath circulation pump 20 in the bath circulation circuit 18. - 特許庁Since the water level sensor 23 detects the water level in the bathtub 3 from the water pressure of hot water, the water level cannot be detected if the circulation port 4 of the bathtub 3 is exposed. The water level must be higher than the circulation port 4 of the.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a bypass pipe that bypasses the bath heat exchanger 19 and connects the bath forward pipe 18a and the bath return pipe 18b, and a bath three-way valve 25 that connects all three sides at an intermediate position between the bypass pipe 24 and the bath return pipe 18b. It is provided at the connecting portion and selectively switches whether or not the warm water flowing through the bath circulation circuit 18 is supplied to the bath heat exchanger 19 .

26 is a hot water supply pipe branched from the middle of the hot water supply pipe 12 and connected to the bath circulation circuit 18 for filling the bathtub 3 with hot water; A hot water filling valve 28 for stopping is a bath flow rate sensor for counting the amount of hot water filled into the bathtub 3 .

29 is a heating control unit that controls heating of the heat pump unit 2, and 30 is a control device that controls hot water supply and bathing. , the water level sensor 23 and the bath flow rate sensor 25 are inputted to drive the heating circulation pump 6, the hot water mixing valve 11, the bath circulation pump 20 and the hot water filling valve 27.

The hot water filling path for the hot water filling operation for supplying hot water to the bathtub 3 includes the hot water storage tank 1, the hot water discharge pipe 9, the hot water mixing valve 11, the hot water supply pipe 12, the hot water filling pipe 26, the bath going pipe 18a, the bath three-way valve 25, They are the bypass pipe 24, the bath return pipe 18b, and the bathtub 3.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an in-bathroom remote controller that can communicate with the control device 30 and is provided in the bathroom. Operation for setting the set water level, which is the target water level for starting the hot water filling operation and the hot water filling operation, and the set amount of hot water filling, which is the target amount. A display unit 33 for displaying setting contents, a notification unit 34 for notifying completion of the hot water filling operation, and a human sensor 35 for detecting the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom are provided. Reference numeral 36 denotes an external bathroom remote controller provided outside the bathroom, which is provided with an operation unit 32, a display unit 33, and a notification unit 34, similar to the internal bathroom remote controller 31. FIG.

The human sensor 35 is a pyroelectric sensor that detects the amount of temperature change in the heat source within the detection area, and detects the presence of a person in the bathroom. Specifically, the human detection sensor 35 detects whether or not a person is present in the bathroom by detecting a temperature change in the detection area when the person moves or moves their limbs. Based on the detection result of the human sensor 35, the room presence determination means 37 provided in the control device 30 determines whether the user has entered the bathroom or left the bathroom.

The control device 30 also includes hot water filling operation control means 38 for controlling the operation during the hot water filling operation, and a bath three-way valve 25 that switches the bath three-way valve 25 from the bypass circuit side to the bath heat exchanger 19 side during the hot water filling operation to circulate the bath. An air bleeding control means 39 is provided for bleeding the air from the circuit 18 by a predetermined air bleeding amount (here, 10 L).

In this air bleeding, the bath three-way valve 25 switches from the bypass circuit side to the bath heat exchanger 19 side during the hot water filling operation, and at the same time the air in the bath circulation circuit 18 is released, the bath heat exchanger 19 is heated to a high temperature. There is a risk of burns, etc., because the hot water that is discharged is also supplied to the bathtub.

The hot water filling path for the hot water filling operation for supplying hot water to the bathtub 3 includes the hot water storage tank 1, the hot water discharge pipe 9, the hot water mixing valve 11, the hot water supply pipe 12, the hot water filling pipe 26, the bath going pipe 18a, the bath three-way valve 25, They are the bypass pipe 24, the bath return pipe 18b, and the bathtub 3.

In addition, the air bleeding path for air bleeding during hot water filling operation includes hot water storage tank 1, hot water outlet pipe 9, hot water supply mixing valve 11, hot water supply pipe 12, hot water filling pipe 26, bath going pipe 18a, bath three-way valve 25, They are the bath heat exchanger 19, the bath return pipe 18b, and the bathtub 3.

Next, the boiling operation will be explained.
When there is a request for boiling, the controller 30 drives the heating circulation pump 6 in the middle of the pipe connecting the hot water storage tank 1 and the heat pump unit 2 to pump up water from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 and heat it with the heat pump unit 2. The water in the hot water storage tank 1 is gradually boiled up to high temperature water by continuing the operation of returning the hot water to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1.例文帳に追加

Next, hot water supply operation will be described.
When the hot water supply tap 13 is opened, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 7, flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1, passes through the water supply bypass pipe 10, and is pushed out from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1. The hot water mixed in 11 and adjusted so that the hot water supply set temperature and the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature sensor 14 are the same are supplied from the hot water tap 13 .

Also, the hot water filling operation will be explained.
When the hot water filling switch of the operation portion 32 of the bathroom remote controller 31 and the bathroom outside remote controller 36 is pressed, the control device 30 opens the hot water filling valve 27 to supply water from the water supply pipe 8 and flow into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 . The hot water mixing valve 11 mixes the high-temperature water pushed out from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 through the water supply bypass pipe 10 and the water supply of the water supply bypass pipe 10, and the bath set temperature and the temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 22 become the same. Filling of the hot water is started by flowing into the bathtub 3 the hot water adjusted so as to become the hot water. Then, the bath flow rate sensor 28 detects the flow rate, and when the total integrated value of the flow rate reaches the set amount of hot water filling, the control device 30 closes the hot water filling valve 24 to complete the hot water filling operation. Then, it shifts to automatic keep-warm operation that automatically keeps the bath temperature warm.

Next, the removal of air from the bath circulation circuit 18 during the hot water filling operation will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
The hot water filling control means 39 starts the hot water filling operation from the hot water filling path to the bathtub 3 (S1). .

Then, after the bath flow rate sensor 28 fills the first predetermined amount of hot water in which the total integrated value of the flow rate is 1/3 of the set amount of hot water filling (Yes in S2), the occupancy determination means 37 determines whether there is a person in the bathroom. When it is determined that there is no air (Yes in S3), the air release control means 39 switches the bath three-way valve 25 from the bypass circuit side to the bath heat exchanger 19 side, changes the hot water filling route to the air release route, and opens the bath Air bleeding is started to release air remaining in the circulation circuit 18 from the circulation port 4 of the bathtub 3 (S4).

In this way, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, when it is determined by the presence determination hand 37 that no one is present, air is removed from the bath circulation circuit 18 without interrupting the supply to the bathtub 3. Therefore, even if high-temperature water is directly supplied from the circulation port 4 by air bleeding, there is no fear of the user getting burned, and the air is vented at an appropriate time, so that the supply to the bathtub 3 can be continued. , the time until the hot water filling operation is completed can be shortened.

In addition, if the room occupancy determination means 37 determines that there is no one in the bathroom during air bleeding (S5 is Yes), and air has been vented for a predetermined amount (here, 10 L) (S6 is Yes), The air bleeding control means 39 switches the bath three-way valve 25 from the bath heat exchanger 19 side to the bypass pipe 24 side, changes the air bleeding path to the hot water filling path, completes air bleeding (S7), and switches the hot water filling path. Continue the hot water filling operation.

Then, the bath flow rate sensor 28 fills the bath so that the total integrated value of the flow rate is equal to the hot water filling set amount (S8), and the bath temperature sensor 22 confirms the temperature of the bath (S9). If not (No in S9), the bath is heated by the reheating operation so as to reach the bath set temperature (S10), and the hot water filling operation is completed (S11).

If the bath temperature is the set temperature (Yes in S9), the hot water filling operation is completed (S11).

Also, after the bath flow rate sensor 28 has filled 1/3 of the set amount of hot water (Yes in S2), the room presence determination means 37 has determined that there is a person in the bathroom. (No in S3), the hot water filling operation is continued in the hot water filling operation route until the water surface is above the circulation port 4 without air bleeding (S12).

Then, when the total integrated value of the flow rate by the bath flow rate sensor 28 exceeds the second predetermined amount, which is the flow rate at which the water surface rises above the circulation port, the hot water filling operation is interrupted, and the bath circulation pump 20 is operated to operate the bathtub. Water is circulated to check the detection value of the water level sensor 23 (S13), and if the water surface is higher than the circulation port 4 (Yes in S13), the air bleeding control means 39 controls the bath heat exchanger from the bypass circuit side. The bath three-way valve 25 is switched to the 19 side, the hot water filling path is used as the air bleeding path, and the air bleeding that remains in the bath circulation circuit 18 is discharged from the circulation port 4 of the bathtub 3 and air bleeding is started (S14). ).

When the water surface is lower than the circulation port 4 (No in S13), the notification unit 34 of the bathroom remote controller 31 and the bathroom outside remote controller 36 indicates that the drain valve of the bathtub 3 may be open. "Notice of omission" is announced (S15).

After the predetermined air removal amount (here, 10 L) is removed (Yes in S16), the air removal control means 39 switches the bath three-way valve 25 from the bath heat exchanger 19 side to the bypass pipe 24 side, and The hot water filling route is used as the air bleeding route, the air bleeding is completed (S17), and the hot water filling operation is continued in the hot water filling route.

Then, the bath flow rate sensor 28 fills the bath so that the total integrated value of the flow rate is equal to the hot water filling set amount (S8), and the bath temperature sensor 22 confirms the temperature of the bath (S9). If not (No in S9), the bath is heated by the reheating operation so as to reach the bath set temperature (S10), and the hot water filling operation is completed (S11).

If the bath temperature is the set temperature (Yes in S9), the hot water filling operation is completed (S11).

In this way, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, when the presence determination means 37 determines that a person is in the bathroom, there is a danger of burns due to the supply of high-temperature water by removing the air. does not bleed the air, and bleeds the air after the water level sensor 23 detects that the second predetermined amount has been reached. As a result, the high-temperature water supplied from the circulation port 4 is diffused into the bathtub water in the bathtub 3, so that burns or the like can be suppressed.

In addition, by removing the air when the water surface rises above the circulation port 4 instead of immediately before the hot water filling operation is completed, it is possible that some users may start bathing a little earlier than the hot water filling operation is completed. This is an operation in view of the fact that the circulation port 4 makes a bubbling sound during bathing just before the completion of the hot water filling operation, and the air accumulated in the bath circulation circuit 18 is released into the bathtub water, so that the user is relieved. It can reduce discomfort.

Further, after the air bleeding operation is started in S4 (S4), when the presence determining means 37 determines that a person has entered the bathroom (No in S5), the air bleeding control means 39 controls the bath heat exchanger 19 The bath three-way valve 25 is switched from the side to the bypass pipe 24 side, the air bleeding path is changed to the hot water filling path, and the air bleeding is interrupted (S18). The hot water mixing valve 11 is controlled so that the hot water in the heat exchanger 19 has a temperature that does not burn a person, and water is injected (S19). Then, the process proceeds to S13.

In this way, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, if the presence determination means 37 determines that there is no one in the bathroom and the air is removed, the presence determination means 37 determines that a person has entered the bathroom while the air is being removed. When it is determined that the air has come down, the supply of high-temperature water from the circulation port 4 is interrupted by interrupting air bleeding, and the air is vented after waiting for the second predetermined amount to reduce the possibility of burns. By restarting , the user can determine the timing of air bleeding according to the timing desired by the user.

In addition, since the high-temperature water accumulated in the bath heat exchanger 19 is supplied from the circulation port 4 at the time of the first air bleeding, in order to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable when the user takes a bath as it is, it is necessary for at least a person to take a bath. By injecting hot water so as to lower the temperature to a level that does not cause burns, safe hot water filling operation and air bleeding can be performed whenever the user takes a bath.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this first embodiment, and is not intended to prevent modification within the scope of the invention. It may be a known electric water heater having

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, air is removed by a predetermined amount of air removal, but air removal may be continued for a predetermined time.

Also, after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, the occupancy determination means 37 determines that there is no one in the bathroom, and the air is removed. When it is determined, the air bleeding is interrupted, and the air bleeding performed when the second predetermined amount is reached is also performed by 10 L of the predetermined air bleeding amount, but the first air bleeding and the second air bleeding and may be set to 10L, or the controller 30 may be newly provided with air bleeding completion determination means for determining the completion of air bleeding, and the amount of air bleeding may be determined based on the determination result.

1 hot water storage tank 3 bathtub 4 circulation port 18 bath circulation circuit 18a bath going pipe 18b bath return pipe 19 bath heat exchanger 20 bath circulation pump 24 bypass pipe 25 bath three-way valve 30 control device 31 bathroom remote controller 35 human sensor 36 outside the bathroom Remote control 37 Presence determination means 38 Hot water filling control means 39 Air release control means

Claims (5)

a hot water storage tank for storing hot water; a hot water filling path for supplying hot water from the hot water storage tank to the bathtub; a bath heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the hot water in the hot water storage tank and circulating bathtub water; and the hot water filling path. The bath heat exchanger and the bathtub are composed of a bath outlet pipe leading from the bathtub to the bath heat exchanger and a bath return pipe leading from the bath heat exchanger to the bathtub. a bath circulation circuit that circulates between the bath water, a bypass pipe that bypasses the bath heat exchanger, a bath three-way valve that switches between the bypass pipe side and the bath heat exchanger side, and a bath circulation pump that circulates the bath water. and a human sensor that detects the movement of people in the bathroom,
a hot-water filling operation control means for performing a hot-water filling operation to supply hot water of a preset arbitrarily set amount of hot water to the bathtub from a circulation port of the bathtub through the hot-water filling path and the bypass pipe; room occupancy determination means for determining whether or not there is a person in the bathroom based on the detection result of the sensor; In a bath hot water supply device equipped with a control device provided with air bleeding control means for bleeding,
The air bleeding control means performs the air bleeding when the presence determination means determines that no person is in the bathroom after the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled. bath water heater. After the first predetermined amount of hot water is filled, the air bleeding control means does not perform the air bleeding when the room presence determining means determines that a person is in the bathroom, and the hot water filling operation is performed as it is. and the air bleeding control means performs the air bleeding after the water surface is higher than the circulation port and a second predetermined amount of hot water, which is larger than the first predetermined amount, is filled. 2. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the hot water supply is performed. The air bleeding control means switches from the bath heat exchanger side to the bypass pipe side to interrupt the air bleeding when the presence determining means determines that a person is in the bathroom during the air bleeding. 2. The bath hot-water supply apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured as follows. 4. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when said air bleeding is interrupted, hot water is poured so as to lower the temperature of the high-temperature water supplied by said air bleeding to at least a temperature that does not burn a person. When the air bleeding is interrupted, the air bleeding control means controls the water surface above the circulation port and the second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount. 5. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the air is released after the hot water is filled.

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