JPH02593Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a gas water heater with a power generation function using a thermoelectric conversion element.

B. Conventional technology Conventionally, thermoelectric conversion elements have been used in gas water heaters, such as pilot burner sensors or electromagnets for electromagnetic safety valves, but the power generation capacity of both of them is extremely small, so thermoelectric conversion elements have been used in gas water heaters such as air supply fan motors and hot water pumps. It was not possible to obtain enough power to power motors, timers, control circuits, etc., and commercial power was still required.

C. Problems that the invention aims to solve This invention was devised in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide power for equipment built into gas water heaters, such as motors and control circuits. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a gas water heater having a thermal power generation function.

D. Means for Solving the Problems The gas water heater with power generation function of the present invention is equipped with a main heat exchanger and a heat exchanger for preheating feed water, and the water flow path of the heat exchanger for preheating feed water is shaped into a rectangular shape. 2 wall plates that form the combustion gas flow path and partition the water flow path.
It is characterized in that it is formed from two metal plates, and a flat thermoelectric power generation unit is sandwiched between the two metal plates.

E Effect According to the above configuration, since the combustion gas and the preheating water supply are used as the heat sources of the thermoelectric generation unit, there is a large temperature difference between both junctions of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the combustion gas flow path and water flow of the heat exchanger are large. The partition wall from the road is constructed of two flat metal plates, and a flat thermoelectric power generation unit is inserted inside the partition wall, so thermoelectric conversion efficiency is high and space is not taken up.

F. Effects As mentioned above, the present invention has a unique configuration in which the partition wall of the heat exchanger is formed of a thermoelectric power generation unit, which makes it possible to generate compact thermal power with high conversion efficiency. Since a commercial power supply is not required as a power source for the fan motor and control circuit, there are no restrictions on installation location, and there are advantages in that there is no need for power cords or transformers.

G. Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the gas water heater with power generation function of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a main heat exchanger, which includes a metal drum 2, a water pipe 3 wound inside and outside the drum 2, a plurality of fins 4 installed perpendicularly to the water pipe 3, and a gas burner 5. It is made up of. 6 is a feed water preheating heat exchanger installed above the feed water preheating heat exchanger 6.
also serves as a power generation block. FIG. 2 shows a plan sectional view of the feed water preheating heat exchanger 6.
A partition wall between the combustion gas flow path A and the water flow path B is composed of two metal plates 7 and 8, and a thermoelectric power generation unit 9 is sandwiched between the metal plates 7 and 8. Note 10
are fins protruding into the combustion gas flow path A.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the thermoelectric power generation unit 9 has a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 11 made of a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor arranged in a row, and connected to both metal plates 7 and 8 through an insulating material 12. It is constructed into a flat plate by being sandwiched between the two. In the figure, 12 is a conductor forming a high temperature side joint, and 13 is an electrical output terminal.

With the above configuration, a large number of thermoelectric conversion elements can be compactly installed in the limited heat transfer space within the heat exchanger, and a small, high-output power generation block can be configured.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which the lower part of the drum 2 constituting the main body of the water heater is used as a feed water preheating heat exchanger 6, and the water pipes 3a of the feed water preheating heat exchanger 6 are formed into an oblate rectangular shape. A planar thermoelectric power generation unit 9 is sandwiched between the water pipe 3a and the drum 2.
In this embodiment, similarly to the previous embodiment, the combustion gas flow path A
By forming the partition wall between the water flow path B and the water flow path B by the two flat metal plates 7 and 8, the flat thermoelectric power generation unit 9 can be sandwiched between the two metal plates 7 and 8, which have a temperature difference. This is how it was done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the same, Fig. 3 a is a cross-sectional view showing a thermoelectric power generation unit used in the present invention, and b is a perspective view of the same. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment. 1 is the main heat exchanger, 2 is the feed water preheating heat exchanger, 3
3a is a water pipe, 4 is a fin, 5 is a gas burner, 6 is a heat exchanger for preheating water supply, 7 is a metal plate on the low temperature side, 8 is a metal plate on the high temperature side, 9 is a flat thermoelectric power generation unit, 10 is a fin, and 11 is a A thermoelectric conversion element, 12 a conductor, and 13 an electric output terminal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It is equipped with a main heat exchanger and a feed water preheating heat exchanger, and the water flow path of the feed water preheating heat exchanger is formed into an oblate rectangular shape, and the wall plate that partitions the combustion gas flow path and the water flow path is made of two metal plates. A gas water heater with a power generation function, comprising a flat thermoelectric power generation unit sandwiched between the two metal plates.