JPH07217992A - Electric hot water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electric hot water supplier capable of detecting any fault in piping parts such as a bypass valve and a pressure reducing valve and hence of restricting any damage due to the failure to a minimum. CONSTITUTION:There are provided a hot water storage can 1, a pressure reducing valve 3 disposed between a water source for supplying water into the can 1 and the can 1, a heater 7 for heating water in the can 1, a bypass valve 5 for releasing water expanded by heating with the heater, a drain piping 6 for draining the expanded water from the bypass valve 5, and a temperature sensor 12 mounted in the vicinity of the bypass valve 5 of the drain piping 6. It is detected with the temperature sensor 12 whether hot water flows out from the bypass valve 5 whereby any failure of piping parts such as the pressure reducing valve 3 and the bypass valve 5 is judged to be present or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric water heater having means for judging an abnormality such as a failure of a piping component.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional electric water heater when a midnight power system is used, and FIG. 7 is an external view thereof. In FIG. 6, 1 is a can body for storing hot water, 2 is a water supply pipe of the can body 1, 3 is a pressure reducing valve provided between the water supply pipe 2 and a water source, 4 is a hot water supply pipe for taking out hot water, and 5 is boiling. A relief valve attached to the pipe for releasing the expansion water of the device, 6 is a drainage pipe for guiding the expansion water of the relief valve 5 to a drain, and 7 is provided in the can body 1 to heat the water in the can body 1. Heater, 8
Is a temperature sensor A provided below the wall surface of the can body 1 for detecting the boiling temperature, 9 is a controller provided outside the can body 1 for reading the temperature of the temperature sensor A8 and controlling the heater 7, An indicator for displaying the hot water temperature of the electric water heater and the like, 11 is a water heater. Further, in FIG. 7, reference numeral 14 is a horizontal pipe section of the drainage pipe 6, 16 is a hopper for smoothing the drainage by communicating the inside of the pipe with the atmosphere through air holes, and 15 is the horizontal pipe 14 and the hopper 16 A special elbow for connecting with, 17 is a vertical pipe section of the drainage pipe 6, and 18 is a drainage pipe.

Next, the operation will be described. The pressure of the water source water is reduced by the pressure reducing valve 3, and the water passes through the water supply pipe 2 to remove water from the can body 1.
And the inside of the can body 1 is always filled with water. Here, the controller 7 supplies power to the heater 7 to heat and raise the temperature of the water in the can 1. Then, when the temperature inside the can body 1 is detected by the temperature sensor A8 attached to the outer wall surface of the can body 1, and it is detected that the water in the can body 1 has boiled up to a predetermined temperature set in advance by the temperature. , Control unit 9
Stops energizing the heater 7. Here, 1 hot water supply
Hot water can be taken out by opening 1. Since the can 1 is sealed, the water expands when it is boiled,
The internal pressure of the can body 1 increases. Here, when the pressure exceeds a certain value, the relief valve 5 works to guide the expanded water to the drainage groove via the drainage pipe 6. Further, the display 10 can be used to display the temperature inside the can 1 and the state of boiling.

[0004]

Since the piping parts of the electric water heater are consumable parts, it is highly likely that they will break down. For example, in the relief valve 5, a slight leak occurs due to the presence of foreign matter, and the water source water pressure is applied to the leak, which may cause an erosion-corrosion phenomenon, resulting in a large leak. In addition, the valve portion of the relief valve 5 may be fixed and locked due to adhesion of scale or the like. Further, in the pressure reducing valve 3, since the pressure is adjusted by the diaphragm, the spring and the like, if the spring fails, the pressure adjustment may not work properly and the pressure may be excessive.

In such a case, the conventional electric water heater system has the following problems. That is, if the leak of the relief valve 5 or the pressure of the pressure reducing valve 3 becomes excessive, the hot water boiled up due to the pressure of water is drained from the relief valve 5, the hot water cannot be used when necessary, and energy consumption is reduced. It will also be a loss. On the contrary, if the relief valve 5 locks,
It is conceivable that the pressure inside the can body 1 increases due to the water pressure and the expansion of water due to boiling, and in the worst case, the can body 1 cannot withstand the pressure and breaks.

Conventionally, there has been a failure monitor for an electric water heater described in JP-A-1-208657. This is for judging a failure based on a temperature difference in a hot water storage tank. There is a problem that it is difficult to find an abnormality such as a pressure reducing valve and a relief valve outside the hot water storage tank where the abnormality actually appears, and the reliability is low.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and makes it possible to detect failures of piping components such as pressure reducing valves and relief valves of electric water heaters with high reliability and at low cost. , The purpose is to minimize the damage caused by failure.

[0008]

An electric water heater according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a can body for storing hot water, a pressure reducing valve provided between a water source for supplying water into the can body and the can body, and a can body. A heater that heats water in the body, a relief valve that releases expansion water due to this heater heating, a drain pipe that drains expansion water from this relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to this drain pipe, and this temperature sensor And a judging means for judging whether or not there is an abnormality based on the detected value.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a temperature sensor is attached to the upper portion of the vertically extending pipe of the drainage pipe, and the presence or absence of abnormality is judged based on the detection value of the temperature sensor.

A third invention is a can body for storing hot water, a pressure reducing valve provided between a water source for supplying water into the can body and the can body, a heater for heating water in the can body, and this heater. A relief valve that releases expansion water due to heating, a drainage pipe that drains expansion water from this relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to this drainage pipe, and a judgment that determines whether there is an abnormality based on the detection value of this temperature sensor And a display for displaying the judgment result of the judgment means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a value detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined value after a lapse of a predetermined time from the end of energization of the heater, it is judged as an abnormality and the abnormality is displayed on a display. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the value detected by the temperature sensor is continuously a predetermined value or more for a predetermined time or more, it is judged as an abnormality and the abnormality is displayed on the display.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a can body for storing hot water, and a pressure reducing valve provided between the water source for supplying water into the can body and the can body.
A heater that heats the water in the can, a relief valve that escapes the expansion water by this heater heating, a drain pipe that drains the expansion water from this relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to this drain pipe, and this temperature sensor And a controller for controlling the heater when the judgment means judges that there is an abnormality.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the detected value of the temperature sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined value for a predetermined time during energization of the heater, it is judged as abnormal and the energization of the heater is stopped by the control device. Is.

[0015]

In the electric water heater according to the first aspect of the present invention constructed as described above, the temperature of the drainage pipe is detected by the temperature sensor to judge whether hot water is flowing out from the relief valve or not. Judge failure of piping parts of water heater.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the temperature sensor reliably detects the temperature of the upper portion of the vertical pipe where the hot water leaks from the relief valve is sure to pass and whether the hot water is flowing out from the relief valve. Whether or not the piping parts of the electric water heater are faulty is judged sensitively.

In the third aspect of the invention, the abnormality is displayed on the display based on the detected value of the temperature sensor, that is, based on the determination as to whether hot water is flowing out from the relief valve.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, when the detected value of the temperature sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined value after a lapse of a predetermined time from the end of energization of the heater, that is, when it is detected that hot water is flowing out from the relief valve, It is judged that the leak from the relief valve or the pressure of the pressure reducing valve is excessive, and an error is displayed on the display.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, when the detected value of the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than the predetermined value continuously for a predetermined time or more, that is, when it is detected that hot water is flowing from the relief valve, the relief valve is operated. It is judged that there is a leak or the pressure in the pressure reducing valve is excessive, and an error is displayed on the display.

In the sixth aspect of the invention, the heater is controlled based on the value detected by the temperature sensor, that is, the hot water is flowing out from the relief valve, and the can body is broken by locking the relief valve. Prevent damage to.

In the seventh invention, when the detected value of the temperature sensor is below a predetermined value while the heater is energized, that is, when hot water does not flow out from the relief valve, the relief valve is locked, or It is judged that the heater is broken, and the power to the heater is stopped.

[0022]

【Example】

Example 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention when a midnight power system is used. In the figure,
Since 1 to 8, 10 and 11 are the same as or equivalent to the conventional example, the description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 12 is a temperature sensor B attached near the relief valve 5 of the drainage pipe 6 provided outside the can body 1 for storing hot water. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control device, which is similar to the conventional control device 9 shown in FIG. 6, and based on the temperature detected by a temperature sensor A8 attached to the outer wall surface of the can body 1 which is a hot water storage tank, the water in the can body 1 is previously removed. While controlling the energization of the heater 7 so as to boil up to the set predetermined temperature, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor B12, an abnormality of the electric water heater, particularly the pressure reducing valve 3 outside the can body 1, the relief valve 5, etc. Detect an abnormality. The appearance of the electric water heater is almost the same as that shown in FIG.

Next, a method of detecting an abnormality in the control device 13 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the abnormality detection process is started (step 50) by interlocking with the operation switch of the electric water heater or by turning on a dedicated switch. Next, in step 51, it is confirmed whether or not the heater 7 is energized. If the heater is energized, the process is terminated (step 55), and if not energized, the process proceeds to step 52.

In step 52, it is confirmed whether or not a certain time has elapsed after the heater power was turned on. Here, the fixed time is the time during which the hot water temperature in the can 1 may continue to rise due to preheating after heating, and the time until the temperature of the drainage pipe cools. The time for preheating after heating is a time sufficient to completely escape the hot water leaking due to the increase in the internal pressure of the can body 1, the tank capacity, the heater capacity, the thermal gradient when the hot water temperature rises, the pressure reducing valve 3 and the relief valve 5 Is determined by the operating pressure and the like, and the time until the temperature of the drainage pipe is cooled is determined by the pipe material, the outside air temperature, etc. In this embodiment, 2
It was time. As described above, the fixed time here is determined by various conditions, and may be set in advance or may be reset according to the desire of the user or the person in charge of housing management.

If the fixed time has not elapsed in step 52, the process is terminated, and if the fixed time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 53. Here, the temperature of the temperature sensor B12 is not checked during the heater energization and for a certain time after the heater energization, because the internal pressure of the can body 1 becomes high during the heating or during the preheating during the heating and the hot water escape valve 5 through the drain pipe 6 This is because it is a normal state that flows out to.

In step 53, it is confirmed whether or not the temperature sensor B12 is at a certain temperature or higher. Here, the constant temperature is
In this example, the temperature was set to 45 degrees at a temperature corresponding to the hot water temperature at the completion of boiling. The temperature of 45 ° C. is usually set in the range of 55 ° C. to 90 ° C. for boiling, and it is taken into consideration that the temperature drop of hot water after boiling is about 0.5 ° C. per hour. Then, it is considered that the temperature of the hot water leaking from the relief valve 5 is the lowest. in this way,
The constant temperature here is appropriately changed according to the boiling temperature, and may be set in advance or may be reset according to the desire of the user or the person in charge of housing management.

If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature in step 53, the process is terminated (step 55). If the temperature is higher than the constant temperature, it is determined that the relief valve 5 is leaking or the pressure adjustment of the pressure reducing valve 3 is not normally operating. Then, the process proceeds to step 54, and an error display indicating a piping component failure is displayed on the display device 10, and the process ends (step 55).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the failure of the piping component is judged by detecting the temperature of the drainage pipe 6 after a lapse of a predetermined time from the end of energization of the heater, so that the reliability is high. Further, by using the temperature sensor, the cost can be reduced as compared with, for example, a device which detects a leak of hot water by using a flow rate sensor. Further, by displaying an error display of a piping component failure, the failure can be dealt with early, and damage such as waste of hot water and loss of energy can be minimized.

Example 2. Although the temperature sensor B12 is provided in the vicinity of the relief valve 5 in the first embodiment, it may be attached to any position of the drainage pipe 6 as long as it can detect a leak of hot water. The most suitable mounting position is the upper portion of the vertical pipe section 17 of the drainage pipe 6, as shown in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 3, the drainage pipe 6 is illustrated by distinguishing the horizontal drawing pipe portion 14, the special elbow 15, the hopper 16, and the vertical drawing pipe 17, which are the respective constituent parts. The reason why the upper portion of the vertical pipe 17 is the optimum mounting position is as follows. That is, the optimum mounting position of the temperature sensor B12 is a place where the temperature rises quickly for a small amount of hot water leak, the hot water runs out well, and is not affected by the hot water temperature inside the can. Considering this point, the place where the temperature rises most sensitively to the leakage of hot water is near the relief valve 5, but the temperature of this portion is unlikely to drop to 40 degrees or less due to the heat conduction of the hot water of the tank. Next is the horizontal piping section 14, but the hot water runs out poorly. On the other hand, the special elbow 15 at the upper part of the vertical piping part 17 shows a temperature rise equivalent to that of the horizontal piping part 14, and is a place where leaked hot water surely flows and the hot water runs out well.
Therefore, if the temperature sensor B12 is provided at the position shown in FIG. 3, the temperature of the leaked hot water can be detected with the highest sensitivity, and the reliability of the determination as to whether or not there is a failure in a piping component or the like is improved.

Example 3. Next, an embodiment of another method for detecting an abnormality in the control device 13 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The schematic diagram of the electric water heater in the third embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1, but the control device 13 in the third embodiment is provided with a timer (not shown).

First, the switch is turned on as in the first embodiment,
The abnormality detection process is started (step 60). Next, in step 61, it is confirmed whether or not the temperature sensor B12 is above a certain temperature (45 ° C. in this example as well). If the temperature is below a certain temperature, return to the start. If the temperature is equal to or higher than the certain temperature, the process proceeds to step 62. In step 62, the timer provided in the controller 13 is started to measure the time during which the temperature sensor B12 exceeds a certain temperature. Next step 6
In 3 again, it is confirmed again whether the temperature sensor B12 is above a certain temperature. If the temperature is below a certain temperature, return to the start. If the temperature is equal to or higher than the certain temperature, the process proceeds to step 64.

In step 64, the timer that has just been started is checked to see if the temperature of the temperature sensor B12 is above a certain temperature for a certain time or longer.
If the operation of the relief valve 5 is normal, the relief valve 5 works due to the increase in the internal pressure in the can 1 during boiling, and the hot water is drained.
However, the operation at this time is an intermittent operation, and hot water is not continuously introduced to the drainage pipe 6 for a predetermined time or longer. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the fixed time is set to 5 minutes to determine the failure of the piping component. If the fixed time is set too short, there is a risk of malfunction, and if it is set too long, a large amount of hot water flows out into the drainage pipe 6 and the damage is increased. Step 64
If it is less than the fixed time, the process returns to step 63. If the time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, it is determined that the piping components such as the relief valve 5 and the pressure reducing valve 3 are in failure, and the process proceeds to step 65 to be the processing after the detection of the piping component failure. In step 65, an error display is displayed on the display 10 indicating that the relief valve 5 is leaking or that the pressure adjustment of the pressure reducing valve 3 is not operating normally, and the abnormality detection process is terminated (step 66).

In the third embodiment, even when the heater 7 is energized or immediately after the energization, the failure of the piping component can be detected with high reliability and at a low cost, and the failure can be promptly detected by displaying. Can handle. Although not shown in the flow chart, if the heater 7 is being energized, the energization may be stopped so that damage such as waste of hot water and loss of energy is minimized. It can be limited.

Example 4. Next, an embodiment showing still another method of detecting an abnormality in the control device 13 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Also in the fourth embodiment, the schematic diagram of the electric water heater is the same as that of FIG.
3 is equipped with a timer (not shown).

First, similarly, the switch is turned on to start the abnormality detection processing (step 70). At step 71, it is confirmed whether the heater is energized. If it is not energized, the process ends (step 78). If the power is on, the process proceeds to step 72. In step 72, the temperature sensor B12
Is above a certain temperature (also 45 ° C. in this example). If the temperature is equal to or higher than the certain temperature, the process ends (step 78). If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to step 73. In step 73, the timer is started to measure the time during which the temperature sensor B12 is below a certain temperature. In the next step 74, it is confirmed again whether the temperature of the temperature sensor B12 is equal to or higher than a certain temperature. If the temperature is equal to or higher than the certain temperature, the process ends (step 78). If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to step 75.

In step 75, the timer that has just been started is checked, and it is checked whether the time when the temperature is lower than a certain temperature is a certain time or more. Here, the fixed time in the fourth embodiment means the time until the hot water in the can body 1 reaches a predetermined temperature and starts to leak from the relief valve 5, or the expansion water in the can body 1 is released while the heater is energized. Even if it is not escaped from No. 5, it is a time that is considered to be less damaged, and is determined by the water temperature at the start of energizing the heater, the tank capacity, the heater capacity, the operating pressure of the pressure reducing valve 3 and the relief valve 5, the pressure resistance of the tank, the state of residual hot water, etc. In this example, it was 4 hours. If the time is less than the fixed time in step 75, the process returns to step 74. If it is longer than a certain period of time, in step 76, an error display indicating that the relief valve 5 is locked or the heater is broken is displayed on the display 10. Further, the heater energization is stopped in step 77, and the control by the abnormality detection is completed (step 78).

If the operation of the relief valve 5 is normal, the pressure in the can body 1 rises due to the expansion of water due to boiling while the heater is energized after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of energization of the heater, so that the relief valve 5 expands. Water is guided to the drainage pipe 6. Therefore, if the expanded water is not guided to the drainage pipe 6 for a certain period of time while the heater is energized, the relief valve 5 is locked or the heater 7 is broken, and the controller 13 instructs the heater to be energized. It can be determined that the heater 7 is not energized. Further, if boiling is continuously performed while the relief valve 5 is locked, the internal pressure in the can body 1 rises, resulting in a dangerous state. Therefore, the energization of the heater is stopped to prevent damage such as breakage of the can body 1.

In the fourth embodiment, the abnormality is detected by measuring the time when the detection value of the temperature sensor B12 is less than the predetermined value. By correlating with the detection value of B12, it is detected whether the temperature of the temperature sensor B12 is less than the predetermined value when the temperature of the hot water in the upper portion of the can body 1 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, that is, when the hot water should flow out from the relief valve 5. You may go by

Also in the fourth embodiment, since the temperature is controlled by detecting the temperature of the portion outside the can body 1 where the failure is likely to occur, the failure of the piping parts or the disconnection of the heater 7 can be performed with high reliability and at a low cost. . In addition, damages due to breakdowns of piping parts can be minimized by displaying an error or stopping the power supply to the heater.

In the first, third and fourth embodiments, the display is used to notify the user of the abnormality, but a buzzer or the like may be used.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and inexpensively determine an abnormality such as a failure of a piping component such as a relief valve or a pressure reducing valve.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the temperature sensor is mounted on the upper portion of the vertical pipe where the hot water leaked from the relief valve flows reliably and the drainage is good, the leakage from the relief valve is detected with high sensitivity. Therefore, it is possible to increase the reliability of the abnormality determination.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the indicator for displaying the abnormality is provided, the abnormality such as the failure of the piping parts such as the relief valve and the pressure reducing valve can be detected with high reliability and at a low cost, and the abnormality can be detected early. It is possible to prevent the damage caused by the abnormality to the minimum.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, after a lapse of a predetermined time from the end of energization of the heater, when the value detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the abnormality is displayed on the display, so that the relief valve is operated. Abnormalities due to leakage or excessive pressure in the pressure reducing valve can be detected with high reliability and at low cost, and the abnormalities can be dealt with early and damage can be minimized.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the value detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or longer than the predetermined value for the predetermined time or longer, the abnormality is displayed by the display unit. In addition, it is possible to reliably and inexpensively detect an abnormality due to leakage from the relief valve or excessive pressure in the pressure reducing valve, quickly respond to the abnormality, and minimize damage.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the controller for controlling the heater based on the detected value of the temperature sensor is provided,
It is possible to prevent unnecessary boiling up due to leakage from the relief valve and abnormal increase in pressure inside the can due to locking of the relief valve.

According to the seventh invention, when the detected value of the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined value while the heater is energized,
Since the control device has stopped the energization of the heater, abnormalities due to lock of the relief valve or disconnection of the heater can be detected reliably and inexpensively, and damage such as excessive pressure in the can can be minimized. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electric water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional electric water heater.

FIG. 7 is an external view of an electric water heater according to the related art and the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 can body 3 pressure reducing valve 5 relief valve 6 drainage pipe 7 heater 10 indicator 12 temperature sensor B 13 controller 14 vertical pipe

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A can body for storing hot water, a pressure reducing valve provided between the can body and a water source for supplying water to the can body, a heater for heating water in the can body, and a heater for heating the heater body. A relief valve for releasing the expansion water, a drainage pipe for draining the expansion water from the relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to the drainage pipe, and a determination means for determining whether there is an abnormality based on the detection value of the temperature sensor. Electric water heater with. 2. The electric water heater according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is attached to an upper portion of a vertical pipe of the drain pipe. 3. A can body for storing hot water, a pressure reducing valve provided between the can body and a water source for supplying water to the can body, a heater for heating water in the can body, and a heater for heating the heater body. A relief valve for releasing the expansion water, a drainage pipe for draining the expansion water from the relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to the drainage pipe, and a determination means for determining whether there is an abnormality based on the detection value of the temperature sensor. An electric water heater having a display for displaying the judgment result of the judgment means. 4. After a predetermined time has passed from the end of energization of the heater,
4. The electric water heater according to claim 3, wherein when the value detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the determining means determines that the abnormality is present and displays the abnormality on the display. 5. The determination means determines that there is an abnormality and displays the abnormality on the display when the value detected by the temperature sensor is continuously equal to or more than a predetermined value for a predetermined time or more. Item 3. The electric water heater according to item 3. 6. A can body for storing hot water, a pressure reducing valve provided between the can body and a water source for supplying water to the can body, a heater for heating water in the can body, and a heater for heating the heater body. A relief valve for releasing the expansion water, a drainage pipe for draining the expansion water from the relief valve, a temperature sensor attached to the drainage pipe, and a determination means for determining whether there is an abnormality based on the detection value of the temperature sensor. An electric water heater including a control device that controls the heater when the determination means determines that the heater is abnormal. 7. When the detected value of the temperature sensor is equal to or more than a predetermined time and equal to or less than a predetermined value while the heater is energized, the determination means determines that the heater is energized by the controller. The electric water heater according to claim 6, which is stopped.