JPH023105B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the filling of water in a fully automatic bathtub with a water heater that uses gas, oil, or the like as a heat source.

[Prior art and its problems]

The water level switch type and the water amount sensor type are known as fully automatic hot water filling control devices for bathtubs as described above.

Figure 4 is a configuration diagram showing the water level switch method, in which the user sets the desired bath boiling temperature (for example, 42°C) using a controller (not shown) and turns on the fully automatic operation switch. For example, the water heater automatically fills the water with the desired amount of water and brings the water to the desired boiling temperature. That is,
In operation, the water solenoid valve 1 first opens, and when the water heater's water switch 12 detects running water, the hot water gas burner 2 is ignited, and the hot water heat exchanger 3 replaces the combustion heat with water, turning the hot water into hot water. The water is supplied to the bathtub 13. In other words, filling the water with hot water is started. When the water level switch 4 detects the required liquid level, the water solenoid valve 1
is closed and the supply of hot water, that is, the filling of hot water, is stopped. At this time, an electric control circuit (not shown in the figure) installed in the appliance controls the gas amount of the hot water gas burner so that the temperature does not exceed the set temperature based on the signal from the hot water temperature detector 5 at the outlet of the hot water heat exchanger 3. Control. When the water solenoid valve 1 closes, the pump 6 on the bath side starts operating, and the hot water in the bathtub is discharged from the water intake port 13a via the bath water switch 7, the bath temperature sensor 8, and the bath heat exchanger 9. The circulation starts back into the bathtub from the outlet 13b.

At this time, when the bath temperature detector 8 detects the water temperature set in the controller, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped, and if the set water temperature is not reached and the bath water switch 7 is ON, the bath After igniting the gas burner 10 and reheating it until it reaches a set temperature, the bath gas burner 10 is extinguished and the operation of the pump is stopped. Note that the hot water temperature detector 5 and the bath temperature detector 8 are generally thermistors. Further, the solenoid valve 1 and the water level switch 4 are generally installed as one unit separately from the equipment due to the mounting position of the water level switch.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the conventional water amount sensor system, in which components having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4. The operation is the fourth
If "the water level switch 4 detects the required liquid level" explained in the figure is replaced with "the water amount sensor 11 detects the required amount", it is exactly the same, so a detailed explanation will be omitted. That is, the only difference is that the water level switch method detects the height of the liquid level in the bathtub, whereas the water flow sensor method detects the amount of hot water filled. However, in Fig. 4, it was stated that the solenoid valve 1 and the water level switch 4 are generally placed separately from the appliance as one unit, but in the case of the water flow sensor 11 in Fig. 3, they are incorporated into the appliance. It is common that

The advantage of the above-mentioned water level switch method is that the water level can be correctly stopped at the required level no matter what level of water remains in the bathtub, but the water level switch unit must be placed outside the bathtub and separate from the equipment. This has the disadvantage that the construction work is expensive and complicated. In addition, the water sensor method is easy to install because the water sensor can be incorporated into the fixture, but if the user does not check the remaining water level in the bathtub and correct the amount counted by the water sensor each time, the water will not flow out of the bathtub. The problem is that the water level overflows or the water level is abnormally lower than the required level, and it is extremely inconvenient to use.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention improves the problems of the prior art as described above, has the advantages of the water level switch method and the water amount sensor method, is easy to install, is low in cost, and
The purpose is to provide an extremely accurate and easy-to-use method for controlling the amount of hot water filled.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention has the following features:
Rather than controlling the amount of hot water filled using a conventional water level switch or water sensor, the remaining water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated through a bath heat exchanger, and the presence or absence of the remaining water is determined by the presence or absence of the circulating water. If it is detected that there is no residual water, the water is first filled to a level that is less than the required amount, and then the hot water is forcibly circulated through the bath heat exchanger and the bath burner is turned off. The amount of secondary hot water is calculated based on the temperature difference between the hot water before and after the combustion, and the amount of hot water filled when it is determined that there is no residual water is corrected and the secondary hot water is It is characterized by stretching.

In addition, the present invention performs hot water filling in the primary and secondary baths separately, regardless of whether it is detected that there is residual water or no residual water, and after the primary hot water filling is completed, the hot water in the bathtub is exchanged for bath heat. The bath burner is burnt for a certain period of time while the water is forced to circulate through the vessel.
The secondary hot water filling amount is calculated based on the temperature difference of the hot water before and after the bath burner combustion, and the secondary hot water filling is performed by correcting the calculation error in the hot water filling amount determined at the time of primary hot water filling. shall be.

[Effect]

As described above, the present invention forcibly circulates the remaining water in the bathtub via the bath heat exchanger, and detects the presence or absence of the remaining water based on the presence or absence of the circulating water, so that the remaining water reaches above the suction port. There is no problem if there is, but
If there is water remaining below the suction port, the amount of hot water filled is calculated based on the assumption that there is no remaining water, and there is a risk that an extra amount of hot water may be filled. Here, in the first invention, when it is determined that there is no residual water, the primary filling amount is below the required amount and the liquid level is above the suction port, and then the pump is driven. While the hot water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated, the bath burner is burned for a certain period of time, and the amount of secondary hot water filled is calculated based on the temperature difference between the hot water before and after the bath burner burns. By calculating the filling amount, the initial filling amount assuming that there is no remaining water can be corrected, and filling can be performed to maintain an accurate liquid level in any case.

In addition, the second invention provides, after performing the primary filling of hot water less than the required amount, regardless of the presence or absence of residual water,
While the hot water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated through a bath heat exchanger, a bath burner is burned for a certain period of time, and the amount of secondary hot water filled is determined based on the temperature difference between the hot water before and after the bath burner burns. Since it is calculated, it goes without saying that it has the same effect as the first invention, but
Furthermore, even if there is an error in the temperature sensor or calculation error during the primary filling, it is possible to correct this and perform the filling to maintain a more accurate liquid level.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a fully automatic bathtub to which the present invention is applied.

In these figures, a controller 14 includes a bath heating temperature control switch 15, a fully automatic operation switch 16, and a hot water supply operation switch 17. Then, the user selects the desired temperature (for example, 42°C) using the bath temperature control switch 15.
After setting, when the fully automatic operation switch 16 is turned on, the signal enters the bath calculation circuit 18 and the pump drive circuit 19, and the bath calculation circuit 18 starts calculating the amount necessary to fill the water. Relay K ₁ is energized and contact SW ₁ is closed, allowing pump 6 to operate. In addition, the bath calculation circuit 18 includes the bath boiling temperature control switch 15, the bath temperature detector 8, a water amount calculation circuit 20, a timer circuit 21, a hot water supply proportional control circuit 22, and a bath water flow switch 7. , a water electromagnetic valve drive circuit 23 and a bath proportional control circuit 24 are connected, and when the bath water switch 7 is turned on, a bath temperature sensor 8 detects the temperature of the water (hot water) in the bathtub and The signal is input to the arithmetic circuit 18, and then a signal is output from the bath arithmetic circuit 18 to the timer circuit 21, and the relay _K4 is energized for a specific time T (hr) set in the timer circuit 21, and the bath proportional valve 25 is activated for that time. Close contact SW ₄ and turn on bath burner 10.
Let it burn.

Further, the bath calculation circuit 18 includes the pump 6
If the bath water switch 7 does not turn on despite the rotation of the bathtub, it is determined that there is no water left in the bathtub, the total amount of hot water required for the bathtub is calculated, and the primary and secondary water are filled as described below. The water electromagnetic valve drive circuit 23 and the water amount calculation circuit 20 are made to input signals for filling the water separately as follows.

The water electromagnetic valve drive circuit 23 is a two-channel type in which when a hot water filling signal is input from the bath calculation circuit 18, a relay _K2 is energized to operate the water electromagnetic valve 1 and the hot water supply proportional valve 26 as described later. Close contact SW ₂ ,
While opening the water solenoid valve 1, the hot water supply proportional control circuit 22
When the bath is boiling, the user can turn the temperature control switch 1.
The bathtub is configured to be able to fill the hot water at a temperature slightly lower than the bath boiling temperature set in step 5 (for example, about 2 degrees Celsius lower).

Although the illustrated embodiment is not directly related to the present invention, the hot water supply operation is such that when the hot water tap is opened after the hot water supply operation switch 17 of the controller 14 is turned on, the hot water supply running water switch 12 is closed and the relay K is turned on. ₃
is excited, the contact SW ₃ closes, and the hot water proportional valve 26 is energized.

Next, the control method of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

First control method The user controls the bath boiling temperature control switch 15 of the controller 14 to a desired boiling temperature (e.g.
42℃), then turn on the fully automatic switch 16.
, the signal enters the bath calculation circuit 18 and pump drive circuit 19, which detects the amount necessary for filling the bath water.
Start calculation operation.

When a signal enters the pump drive circuit 19, the relay
K ₁ is energized, its contact SW ₁ is closed, and the pump 6 is operated, sucking the remaining water from the bathtub suction port 13a and passing it through the bath water switch 7, bath temperature detector 8, and bath heat exchanger 9. A circulation circuit is formed in which residual water is returned to the bathtub 13 from the discharge port 13b. At this time, if the bath water switch 7 is not turned on for a certain period of time, the bath calculation circuit 18 determines that there is no remaining water in the bathtub, and calculates the total amount of hot water to fill the bathtub.

When this calculation is completed, a signal is input to the water electromagnetic valve drive circuit 23, and a signal is input to the water amount calculation circuit 20 to stop filling the water when a part of the total amount of water, for example, 60%, has been counted out.

As a result, relay K ₂ is energized, and a double contact point that operates water solenoid valve 1 and hot water proportional valve 26 is activated.
At the same time as SW ₄ is closed, a signal is input from the bath calculation circuit 18 to the hot water supply proportional control circuit 22, and the water solenoid valve 1 is closed.
is opened and the primary water is filled at a temperature slightly lower (for example, 2° C. lower) than the bath boiling temperature set by the user. Then, the water amount sensor 11 counts the amount of primary hot water filling, and when 60% of the hot water is filled, the water solenoid valve 1 is closed to stop the primary hot water filling.

At this time, the pump 6 continues to operate, and the primary hot water in the bathtub is supplied to the water intake port 13a of the bathtub.
The water is sucked in, passed through the bath water switch 7, the bath temperature sensor 8, and the bath heat exchanger 9, and then returned to the bathtub from the discharge port 13b. The tension temperature t ₁ (°C) is detected. Next, while this circulation continues, a signal is sent from the bath calculation circuit 18 to the timer circuit 21 to energize the relay _K4 , and the contact SW ₄ of the bath proportional valve 25 is closed to close the timer circuit 21.
The bath gas burner 10 is burned for a specific time T (hr) set in
t ₂ (°C) is detected by the same bath temperature detector 8, and the bath calculation circuit 18 calculates the amount of hot water Q ₁ () in the bathtub at that time according to the following equation.

Q ₁ = Is × T × η/1 × (t ₂ − t ₁ ) …(1) where Is (kcal/hr)……Bath input T (hr)……Specific ignition time η (% )......Thermal efficiency Q ₁ ()......Amount of hot water in the bathtub (=Kg) t ₁ (℃)......Temperature of hot water in the bathtub t ₂ (℃)...... Hot water in the bathtub after a specific ignition time Temperature 1 (kcal/Kg℃)......It is the specific heat of water.

Here, the input Is (kcal/hr) of the bath is fixed by the equipment, and the thermal efficiency η (%) strictly varies depending on the temperature etc., but it is not so much that it becomes a problem in use, so this also applies. It can be fixed at a certain value. Further, the specific ignition time T (hr) is determined by the timer circuit 21, and the pre-ignition water temperature t ₁ (°C) in the bathtub and the water temperature t ₂ (°C) after the specific ignition time T (hr) are determined by the bath temperature detector 8. Therefore, by substituting these data into equation (1), the amount of hot water in the bathtub Q ₁ () can be calculated.

The thus detected amount of hot water in the bathtub, _Q1 , is approximately equal to the initially calculated amount of hot water if the bathtub is truly empty, but if there is residual water in the bathtub, it is equal to the amount of primary hot water + the remaining amount of hot water. Thus, even if there is residual water, you can know the exact amount of hot water at this point.

As above, the amount of hot water at that point Q ₁ ()
Once calculated, the bath calculation circuit 18 calculates the difference between the required water amount Q ₂ () (generally 180 = fixed value) and the secondary hot water filling amount Q ₂ −Q ₁ (). , water solenoid valve drive circuit 23 and water amount calculation circuit 2
0, and in the same manner as the primary water filling, secondary water filling is performed until the water flow sensor 11 counts out, thus ensuring that the liquid level is always constant regardless of the presence or absence of residual water below the suction port. You can perform hot water filling.

When the hot water is filled as described above, the pump 6 on the bath side starts operating, and the hot water in the bathtub flows from the water intake port 13a to the bath water switch 7, the bath temperature sensor 8, and the bath heat exchanger 9. At this time, when the bath temperature sensor 8 detects the water temperature set in the controller, the operation of the pump 6 is stopped and the water temperature becomes lower than the set temperature. Low and bath water switch 7
If ON, the bath burner 10 is ignited and reheated until the set water temperature is reached, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 above.

In addition, when the pump is first operated, if there is residual water in the bathtub to a level above the water intake port, the bath water switch 7 is turned on, which causes the residual water temperature to rise.
t ₁ (°C) is detected, and then a signal is sent from the bath calculation circuit 18 to the timer circuit 21 to burn the bath gas burner 10 for a certain specific time, and then increase the residual water temperature t ₂ (°C) to the bath. The temperature is detected by a temperature sensor, the amount of remaining water is calculated according to equation (1) above, and the required amount of hot water is filled based on the calculation result. Therefore, this control method is a method in which hot water is filled separately into the primary and secondary stages only when it is determined that there is no remaining water.

Second control method As mentioned above, the first control method divides hot water filling into the primary and secondary stages only when it is determined that there is no residual water, but the second control method This is a method in which the hot water is filled separately into the primary and secondary stages, regardless of whether it is present or not.

That is, when the bath water switch 7 is not turned on even though the pump 6 is operated, it is determined that there is no water remaining, and the primary hot water is filled, for example, by 60% in the same manner as in the first control method, and the bath water is not turned on. When the switch 7 is turned on, the bath burner 10 is burnt for a specific time T (hr) while circulating the remaining water, and the remaining water temperatures t ₁ (°C) and t ₂ (°C) before and after combustion are determined.
Based on the equation (1) above, calculate the remaining water amount Q ₁ (), and calculate the difference between the required water amount Q ₂ () and the difference Q ₂ −Q ₁ ().
Perform 60% primary hot water filling.

In any of the above cases, the temperature of the mixed water t ₁ ′ (°C) is measured when the remaining water (with or without water) is filled with hot water to 60% of the first calculation value, and then again at a certain predetermined temperature. The bath gas burner 10 is ignited for a time T' (hr), and then the remaining water that has risen is 60% of the first calculation value.
After the temperature t ₂ ′ (°C) of the filled mixed water is detected by the same bath temperature detector 8, the required amount Q ₁ ′ () of the filled water is determined by similarly substituting into equation (1)′.

Q ₁ ′=Is×T′×η/1×(t ₂ ′−t ₁ ′)…(1)′
Formula Here, Is (kcal/hr)...Bath input T' (hr)...Specific ignition time η (%)...Thermal efficiency Q ₁ ' ()...Fill the remaining water in the bathtub with primary hot water Amount of mixed remaining water (=Kg) t ₁ ′ (℃) ......Temperature of mixed water filled with 60% hot water of the first calculation value t ₂ (℃)' ...... First calculation for the remaining water Temperature after a specific ignition time of mixed water filled to 60% of its value (kcal/Kg℃)...Specific heat of water Once the required amount of hot water filling Q ₁ ′ () is calculated, the required water flow Q ₂ () The difference Q ₂ −Q ₁ ′()
After the calculation is performed again in step 8, the water solenoid valve 1 is opened to start correction secondary water filling, and when the water flow rate sensor 11 counts out the flow rate of Q ₂ −Q ₁ ′(), the water solenoid valve 1 is opened. It closes and stops the correction secondary hot water filling.

Note that in this case as well, reheating is performed until the water temperature reaches the set water temperature, as described above.

According to this second control method, like the first control method, even if it is determined that there is no residual water and there is residual water at a level below the water inlet, the liquid level is always constant and accurate. Not only is it possible to perform accurate filling of hot water, but if there is an error in the detected temperature when there is residual water or an error in the first calculation, this can be corrected in the second calculation and a more accurate constant temperature can be obtained. It is possible to perform hot water filling with a liquid level.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the fully automatic hot water filling control method for a bathtub according to the present invention, no matter whether there is residual water in the bathtub or not, and no matter what level the residual water level is, It is possible to maintain the liquid level and perform extremely accurate filling of hot water, and the construction work is also simple, which has the effect of greatly improving usability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of the hot water filling control method of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the hot water filling control circuit, and Fig. 3 is a conventional fully automatic bath pot using a water flow sensor method and a fully automatic bath pot to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional water level switch type fully automatic bath pot. 1...Water solenoid valve, 2...Hot water gas burner, 3...
...Hot water heat exchanger, 5...Hot water temperature detector, 6...
Pump, 7... Bath running water switch, 8... Bath temperature detector, 9... Bath heat exchanger, 10... Bath gas burner, 11... Water flow sensor, 12... Hot water supply running water switch, 13... Bathtub, 14 ... Controller, 15 ... Bath boiling temperature control switch, 1
6...Full automatic operation switch, 18...Bath calculation circuit, 19...Pump drive circuit, 20...Water amount calculation circuit, 21...Timer circuit, 22...Hot water supply proportional control circuit, 23...Water solenoid valve drive Circuit, 24...
Bath proportional control circuit, 25...Bath proportional valve, 26...
…Hot water proportional valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The remaining water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated by a pump via a bath heat exchanger, and the circulation path is equipped with a bath water switch and a bath temperature detector, and the pump is operated. However, if the bath water switch does not turn on, it is determined that there is no water left in the bathtub, and the amount of hot water required for the bathtub is calculated. Fill the primary hot water with an amount equal to or greater than the suction port, then drive the pump to forcibly circulate the hot water in the bathtub while burning the bath burner for a certain period of time. A fully automatic bath with a water heater, which calculates the amount of secondary hot water filling based on the temperature difference of the hot water, and performs secondary hot water filling by correcting the amount of hot water determined to be free of residual water based on the calculation. How to control the amount of hot water in a pot. 2. The remaining water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated by a pump via a bath heat exchanger, and the circulation path is equipped with a bath water switch and a bath temperature detector, so that the water in the bathtub remains in the bath regardless of the operation of the pump. If the running water switch is not turned on, it is determined that there is no water left in the bathtub, and the amount of hot water required for the bathtub is calculated, and when the running water switch is turned on, the bath burner is burnt for a specific time while continuing the circulation. The amount of remaining water is calculated based on the temperature difference of the remaining water before and after the bath burner combustion, and in the case of any of the above-mentioned hot water filling amounts, the primary hot water filling is less than the required hot water filling amount based on the result of the above calculation. After that, while the hot water in the bathtub is forcibly circulated through the bath heat exchanger, the bath burner is burned for a certain period of time, and the temperature is calculated based on the temperature difference of the hot water before and after the bath burner burns. A fully automatic bath pot with a water heater, characterized in that the secondary hot water filling amount is calculated using the calculated secondary hot water filling amount, and the secondary hot water filling is performed by correcting the calculation error in the hot water filling amount determined at the time of the primary hot water filling. Control method.