JPH06249507A - Circulation and heat insulation type hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a flow rate and the flow rate of a hot water supply upon circulation and heat insulation by a single flow rate sensor and to surely detect the use of a hot water supply plug even in case of a small quantity of hot water supply in a circulation and heat insulation type hot water supply device. CONSTITUTION:A hot water supply device 1 includes a circulation line 8 having a water supply line 3, a heat exchanger 4, a hot water line 5 and a return line 6 provided with a circulation pump 7 and achieves a heat insulation by circulating and heating a hot water in the circulation line 8. A hot water use detecting means 23 decides a hot water supply from a hot water plug based on the detected flow rate of a flow rate sensor 11 provided in the circulation line except the return line 6 makes different flow rate values which are decided to be the use of a hot water supply between a circulation pump operating state and a circulating pump stop state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulation warming type hot water supply apparatus, and in particular, it shares a flow rate sensor for detecting a circulating flow rate at the time of circulation warming and a flow rate sensor for detecting hot water.
The present invention relates to a hot water supply device capable of accurately detecting even a small amount of hot water and quickly supplying hot water having a desired temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A circulation line is formed by connecting a terminal side of a hot water supply line and a water inlet side of a heat exchanger with a return line, and a circulation pump provided in the return line or the like is operated to operate in the circulation line. While circulating hot water, the temperature sensor installed in the appropriate place in the circulation path detects the temperature of the hot water in the circulation path. If the detected hot water temperature is lower than the set temperature, heat it with a heat exchanger to set the temperature. When the temperature reaches a certain level, the hot water in the circulation path is kept at an appropriate temperature, and the hot water supply with a suitable temperature can be quickly discharged from the hot water tap connected to the hot water supply pipeline. Fairness 3-28
It is known from Japanese Patent No. 664.

In such a circulation warming type hot water supply apparatus, it is necessary to detect that hot water has been discharged from the hot water tap and switch from the circulation warming operation state to the hot water supply operation state. In order to detect the use of the hot water tap, it is conceivable to install a flow rate sensor between the hot water supply pipe and the hot water tap, but a signal line must be laid between the hot water heater body and the hot water tap, and workability is improved. Is bad. Further, when a plurality of hot water taps are provided, a plurality of flow rate sensors are required for each hot water tap, which is not preferable. Therefore, a flow sensor was installed on the upstream side of the water supply pipe rather than the connection between the water supply pipe and the return pipe, and hot water from the hot water tap was detected based on the output of this flow sensor. Has been done.

[0004]

On the other hand, in order to efficiently control the circulation heating, a flow rate sensor and a water temperature sensor are provided in the water inlet side conduit of the heat exchanger in the circulation path, and the circulation flow rate detected by each sensor is adjusted. When the heat quantity required for heat retention heating is calculated based on the incoming water temperature and the set temperature set by the temperature setting device, etc., the burner in the heat exchanger is configured to control the intermittent combustion cycle. A flow rate sensor is provided on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the connection portion between the and the return pipeline.

Therefore, considering the use of a hot water tap, that is, the detection of hot water discharge using a flow rate sensor provided in the circulation path, the flow rate for determining the hot water discharge is a value larger than the circulation flow rate value during the circulation heat insulation operation. However, if the circulation pump is stopped while heat retention and heating are not being performed to save electricity and reduce operating noise, if the hot water output from the hot water tap is small, the hot water tap Can no longer detect the use of. Further, since the pipe lengths of the hot water supply pipe and the return pipe are different for each installation place, the circulation flow rate is different for each installation place even if the circulation pump has a constant capacity. Therefore, unless the flow rate for determining hot water discharge is set higher than the circulation flow rate when the pipe length is short, erroneous detection occurs, and it becomes difficult to detect a small hot water flow.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and detects the flow rate at the time of circulating heat retention with a single flow rate sensor, and reliably detects the use of a hot water tap even with a small amount of hot water. It is an object of the present invention to provide a circulation warming type hot water supply device capable of switching to a hot water supply state by means of the above. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a circulation warming type hot water supply device which can detect the use of a hot water tap by tapping a predetermined amount of hot water even if the circulation flow rate at the time of circulation warming varies depending on the pipe length.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a circulation warming type hot water supply device according to the present invention connects a midway part of a hot water supply pipe and a water supply pipe with a return pipe to provide a water supply pipe and heat exchange. An annular pipe is formed by the water heater, the hot water supply pipe, and the return pipe, and when the hot water tap connected to the hot water supply pipe is not in use, the circulation pump installed in the return pipe is operated for circulation. In a circulation warming type hot water supply device that keeps the hot water temperature in the circulation pipeline within a predetermined temperature range by appropriately performing a circulation warming operation in which the hot water is heated in the heat exchanger while circulating the hot water in the pipeline.
The hot water supply usage detecting means for determining hot water discharge from the hot water tap based on the output of the flow rate sensor provided at any position in the circulation pipeline except the return pipeline is provided. It is characterized in that the flow rate values for determining whether hot water is used are different between the stopped state and the hot state.

The hot water supply usage detecting means may be configured to set a flow rate value for determining hot water usage in the circulating pump operating state based on the circulation flow rate during the circulation heat retention operation.

[0009]

[Operation] By providing the flow rate sensor at any position in the circulation pipeline except the return pipeline, the circulation flow rate during operation of the circulation pump,
It is possible to detect both the hot water flow rate when the circulation pump is stopped, and the total flow rate of the hot water flow rate and the hot water flow rate when the hot water tap is used during the circulation pump operation. The hot water supply usage detection means determines that hot water is used when the circulation pump is operating and when it is stopped. However, when the circulation pump is stopped, it can be determined that hot water is being used when a predetermined flow rate is detected. That is, it is possible to reliably detect even a small amount of hot water, regardless of the operating state of the circulation pump.

Further, by setting the hot water supply use judgment flow rate during the circulation pump operation based on the circulation flow rate during the circulation pump operation, the amount of hot water discharged from the hot water tap reaches a predetermined amount regardless of the circulation flow rate. Thus, the use of the hot water tap can be detected.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a circulation warming type hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention. In the hot water supply device 1 in a hot water supply state in which the hot water tap 2 is opened, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 3 is heated by the heat exchanger 4, and the hot water is supplied from the hot water tap 2 via the hot water supply pipe 5. At the same time, in the non-hot water supply state in which the hot water supply tap 2 is closed, the circulation pump 7 provided in the return pipe 6 that connects the terminal side of the hot water supply pipe 5 and the water supply pipe 3 is operated, so that the heat exchanger 4 , Hot water supply line 5, return line 6, water supply line 3
The hot water in the circulation pipe 8 consisting of the water supply pipe 3a on the downstream side of the connecting portion of the return pipe 6 and the heating pipe 4 is heated while being circulated, and the hot water in the circulation pipe 8 is kept at a predetermined temperature. Is configured as follows.

The controller 9 includes a temperature sensor 10 and a flow sensor 11 provided in a water supply pipe 3a downstream of a connecting portion between the water supply pipe 3 and the return pipe 6, and signals 10a relating to an incoming water temperature and a flow rate from a flow sensor 11. 11a and the set temperature of the heat retention operation switch 12 and the temperature setter 13 are input, and the gas opening / closing valve 15 and the gas proportional valve 16 provided in the gas pipe 14 are provided.
The operation of the fan 18 for supplying combustion air to the burner 17 and the circulation pump 7 is controlled.

FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of the controller. The controller 9 includes a circulation heat retention control means 21 and
It comprises a combustion control means 22 and a hot water supply usage detection means 23.

The circulation heat retention control means 21 periodically monitors the setting state of the heat retention operation switch 12, and when the heat retention operation is requested, the hot water temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 10 is detected.
C and the set temperature TS set by the temperature setter 13 are compared, and when the hot and cold water temperature TC is lower than the set temperature TS by a predetermined temperature or more, the combustion control means 2 issues a heat retention heating request 21a.
2, the circulation pump operation command 21b is output to operate the circulation pump 7, and when the hot water temperature TC reaches the set temperature TS, the heat retention heating request 21a and the circulation pump operation command 21b are stopped. Further, when the hot water supply heating request 23a is supplied from the hot water supply use detection means 23, the circulation heat retention control means 21 keeps the heat retention heating request 21.
a and the output of the circulation pump operation command 21b are stopped.

The combustion control means 22 uses the heat retention heating request 21a.
The intermittent combustion control based on the above and the proportional combustion control based on the hot water supply heating request 23a are performed. When the heat retention heating request 21a is given, the combustion control means 22 sets the set temperature T
The temperature difference between S and the hot and cold water temperature TC is multiplied by the flow rate Q detected by the flow rate sensor 11 to calculate the necessary heat quantity during circulation heat retention, and the on-time and off-time of the intermittent combustion are determined by referring to a table registered in advance. The burner 17 is intermittently burned by controlling the operation of the fan 18 and the opening / closing of the gas on-off valve 15 while the gas proportional valve 16 is kept at the minimum opening degree.

When the hot water supply heating request 23a is given, the combustion control means 22 drives the fan 18 and the open / close valve 15 to the combustion state, and detects the temperature difference between the set temperature TS and the hot water temperature TC by the flow rate sensor 11. The required heat quantity for hot water supply is calculated by multiplying the flow rate Q during hot water supply, and the opening of the gas proportional valve 16 is adjusted so as to generate the calculated necessary heat quantity. If the calculated required heat quantity is less than or equal to the minimum heat quantity in the proportional combustion control, the combustion control means 22 may temporarily stop the combustion or perform intermittent combustion control to prevent the hot water temperature from becoming too high at a small flow rate. It is configured to prevent.

The hot water supply use detecting means 23 includes a hot water supply use determining means 24 and a hot water supply determining flow rate storing means 25 when the pump is stopped.
And a hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 26 during pump operation, a determination flow rate update means 27, and a temporary circulation flow rate storage means 28.

When the circulating pump operation command 21b is not output, that is, when the circulating pump 7 is not operating, the hot water supply use determining means 24 stops the pump supplied from the hot water supply determining flow rate storing means 25 when the pump is stopped. The hot water supply use determination flow rate QPoff at the time and the flow rate Q detected by the flow rate sensor 11 are compared, and the detected flow rate Q is the hot water supply use determination flow rate QP.
When it exceeds off, it is judged that the hot water is being used from the hot water tap 2, and the hot water heating request 23a is output. When the circulation pump operation command 21b is output, that is, when the circulation pump 7 is operating, the hot water supply use determination flow rate QPon during pump operation supplied from the hot water supply determination flow rate storage unit 26 during pump operation is set. The flow rate Q detected by the flow rate sensor 11 is compared, and when the detected flow rate Q exceeds the hot water supply use determination flow rate QPon, it is determined that hot water is being used from the hot water tap 2 and the hot water supply heating request 23a. Is output.

Hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 25 when the pump is stopped
Is configured by using, for example, a ROM, and the flow rate data of about 1 to 1.5 liters per minute is registered in advance as the hot water supply determination flow rate when the pump is stopped. It should be noted that the hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 25 when the pump is stopped may use a digital switch or the like capable of setting numerical data so that the set value can be appropriately set.

The temporary circulation flow rate storage means 28 is, for example, RO
The circulation flow rate when the hot water supply pipe 5 and the return pipe 6 are arranged in the shortest length is registered in advance as a temporary circulation flow amount. This provisional circulation flow rate value is set according to the capacity of the circulation pump 7. In this embodiment, 4 per minute
The value is about 5 liters.

Hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 26 during pump operation
Is configured using a RAM or the like, and the determination flow rate can be rewritten by the determination flow rate updating means 27. The determination flow rate updating means 27 adds the hot water supply determination flow rate QPoff when the pump is stopped, which is stored in the hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 25 when the pump is stopped, to the provisional circulation flow rate value stored in the temporary circulation flow rate storage means 28. The value is first written in the hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 26 during pump operation.

Then, the judgment flow rate updating means 27 indicates that the circulation heat retention operation is being performed by the circulation pump operation command 21b.
When the detected flow rate Q is within a predetermined fluctuation range over a predetermined time, the average flow rate at that time is calculated, and the calculated average flow rate is detected. A value obtained by adding the hot water supply determination flow rate when the pump is stopped is written in the hot water supply determination flow rate storage means 26 during pump operation. Instead of adding the hot water supply determination flow rate QPoff when the pump is stopped, a preset flow rate value may be added.

As described above, since the flow rate value for determining whether hot water is used is varied according to the operating state of the circulation pump 7, the circulation flow rate is detected by using the single flow rate sensor 11. Even if the amount of hot water discharged from the hot water tap 2 is small, its use can be reliably detected and hot water heating control can be performed. In addition, the circulation flow rate is detected during circulation warming operation, and the hot water supply flow rate used during circulation pump operation is set based on the detected circulation flow rate.Therefore, when the flow rate during circulation pump operation differs depending on the installation conditions of the water heater. However, by using the hot water tap 2 to discharge a predetermined amount of hot water, it is possible to reliably detect the use of hot water.

Although the flow rate sensor 11 is provided on the water inlet side of the heat exchanger 4 in this embodiment, the flow rate sensor 11 may be provided on the hot water outlet pipe 5 side. Further, the configuration is shown in which the value obtained by adding the predetermined flow rate to the circulation flow rate is stored in the hot water supply use determination flow rate storage means 26 during pump operation. However, the circulation flow rate is stored and a predetermined amount with respect to this circulation flow rate is stored. The configuration may be such that it is determined that hot water is being used when a very large flow rate is detected.

[0025]

As described above, in the circulation warming type hot water supply apparatus according to the first aspect, since the flow rate sensor is provided at any position in the circulation pipeline except the return pipeline, the circulation flow rate during the circulation pump operation. The flow rate of hot water when the circulation pump is stopped, and the total flow rate of the circulation flow and hot water flow when the hot water tap is used during operation of the circulation pump can be detected.The hot water use detection means can be used when the circulation pump is operating and when it is stopped. Since the flow rate values used for hot water supply are different, it is determined that hot water is used when the circulation pump is operating when a flow rate higher than the circulating flow rate is detected. When the circulation pump is stopped, hot water is used when the predetermined flow rate is detected. It can be judged to be used. That is, regardless of the operating state of the circulation pump, even a small amount of hot water can be reliably detected and switched to the hot water supply operating state.

Further, since the hot water supply use is determined based on the circulation flow rate during the circulation pump operation, the circulation flow rate varies depending on the hot water supply pipe line and the return pipe line. Also, when the amount of hot water discharged from the hot water tap reaches a predetermined amount, the use of the hot water tap can be accurately detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a circulating water heater according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of a circulating water heater according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Hot Water Supply Device 2 Hot Water Supply Plug 3 Water Supply Pipeline 4 Heat Exchanger 5 Hot Water Supply Pipeline 6 Return Pipeline 7 Circulation Pump 8 Circulation Pipeline 9 Controller 11 Flow Rate Sensor 23 Hot Water Supply Use Detection Means 24 Hot Water Supply Use Judgment Means 25 Hot Water Supply Judgment flow rate storage means 26 Hot water supply judgment flow rate storage means during pump operation 27 Judgment flow rate updating means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masaki Nakamura Inventor, Masaki Nakamura, 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture (72) Tetsuro Takada 43, Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture No. 1 Nihon Yupro Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Miura 43 Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture No. 1 Nihon Yupro Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyotaka Nakano 43 Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture No. 1 within Nihon Yupro Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hikaru Hira-gun 43-1 Uozakihama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Within Nihon Yupro Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hot water supply conduit is connected to a midway portion of the hot water supply conduit by a return conduit to form an annular conduit by the water supply conduit, the heat exchanger, the hot water supply conduit, and the return conduit. In the non-hot water supply state where the connected hot water tap is not used, the circulation pump installed in the return pipe is operated to circulate the hot and cold water in the circulation pipe, and the circulation heat retention operation of heating with the heat exchanger is appropriately performed. Therefore, in the circulation warming type hot water supply device that keeps the hot water temperature in the circulation pipeline within a predetermined temperature range, the hot water is supplied based on the output of the flow rate sensor provided at any position in the circulation pipeline except the return pipeline. A hot water supply use detecting means for judging hot water supply from the tap is provided, and the hot water supply use detecting means is characterized by different flow rate values for judging hot water use depending on whether the circulating pump is operating or stopped. Water heater. 2. The hot water supply use detecting means is configured to set a flow rate value for determining hot water use in the circulation pump operating state based on the circulation flow rate during the circulation heat retention operation. Circulation warm water heater.