JPH0996430A - Vaporizing humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select service power in conformity with a distribution system to which a humidifier is connected by change-over controlling the power of a variable electric heater at least at two stages high and low during large electric heating time. SOLUTION: Whether a manual setting state of an electric power change over switch is 800W or 500W is checked, thereby performing heating control in conformity with the setting state (103). In the case when the setting of the electric power change over switch is 800W, at first, a small heater is energized (104) and further a large heater is energized as well (105). The heating operation is carried out with a total of 800W power. On one hand, in the case when the setting is 500W, only the large heater is energized (105). From this processing, automatic change over is carried out as for the heater in conformity with the setting state of the power change over switch. It is, therefore, possible to change over the number of watts of the humidifier in large power heating mode in conformity with the service state of electric equipment and operate in conformity with the service state of power.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an evaporative (steam type) humidifier for evaporating water in a water tank to humidify the inside of a room, and particularly to a humidifier capable of adjusting electric power during initial heating before boiling water. Regarding vessels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electric heater is provided inside a humidifier main body, and the heat of the electric heater is used to evaporate the water in a water tank contained in the humidifier to humidify the interior of the humidifier. It has been known. As conventional examples of this type of humidifier, JP-A-4-335942 and JP-A-4-3 are available.
No. 3,594,3 and JP-A No. 5-71790.

A conventional evaporation type humidifier has a structure in which water is temporarily transferred from a relatively large water tank incorporated therein to a small water tank, and then heated by an electric heater to generate steam in the small water tank. ing.

However, the above-mentioned two-tank system has a problem that the internal structure is complicated and the convenience of cleaning or other handling is lacking.

Therefore, it is conceivable to use a single large water tank and heat the water in this large water tank to simplify the structure.

[0006]

However, when the size of the water tank is increased, heating is first performed with a large amount of electric power in order to shorten the time (boiling time) until stable generation of steam, and steam is generated after boiling. It is conceivable to switch to a small amount of power required for power consumption, but in general, an allowable amount of power consumption is set for electric power consumers, and the circuit breaker trips when used in excess of the allowable current. The operation of the breaker due to the operation of the humidifier adversely affects the operation of other electric devices.

Therefore, according to the usage condition of the electric equipment,
It is convenient if the electric power can be switched when heating the large electric power, and the operation can be started according to the usage condition of the electric power.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steam-type humidifier capable of adjusting electric power at the time of operation disclosure when the rise time from the start of operation to the generation of steam is shortened.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 discharges water vapor by heating and evaporating water in a water tank provided in a humidifier by a heating means. In the evaporative humidifier, the heating means is a variable electric heater capable of selectively adjusting electric power, and based on a hot water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water in the water tank, and a hot water temperature detection signal from the hot water temperature sensor. A large electric power heating is performed by the variable electric heater until the water in the water tank is boiled, and after boiling, a hot water temperature control unit that outputs a control signal for performing a small electric power heating by the variable electric heater to the heating unit. The hot water temperature control means is further configured to be capable of switching control of the electric power of the variable electric heater in at least two stages of high and low when the large electric power is heated.

According to the present invention, since the electric power of the variable electric heater can be switched and controlled at least in two stages of high and low when heating with a large electric power, the permissible current of the distribution system to which the humidifier is connected is reduced. It is possible to select the power to be used in combination, and to prevent other electric devices from being adversely affected by a power failure or the like caused by the breaker trip.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the hot water temperature control means is configured to set the hot water temperature sensor when the electric power of the heater is set high by the electric power switching means. A control signal for automatically switching the electric power of the heater to low is output when the time after the water temperature detected in step 2 exceeds a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature immediately before boiling exceeds a predetermined time. Composed.

According to the present invention, even when the electric power at the time of high electric power heating is set to "high", if the time after the second set temperature exceeds the predetermined time, the electric power of the heater automatically becomes "high". Since it is switched to "low", it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption at the time of heating with high power, and prevent inadvertent breaker trip.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Humidifier Structure FIG. 1 shows the external structure of an evaporative humidifier (hereinafter, simply referred to as a humidifier) according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the humidifier 1 includes an outer cylinder 2 which is a main body of the humidifier, a canopy 5 which is provided on the outer cylinder 2 so as to be openable and closable and which covers an upper opening of a water tank 3, and is inserted into the outer cylinder 2. It is configured to include a water tank 3 that is detachably accommodated and a heating device 12 that is provided in the outer cylinder 2 and that heats water in the water tank 3. A display panel 6 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the outer cylinder 2, and the display panel 6 includes a display unit 7 for displaying a driving state and an operation unit 8 for driving operation.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the display panel 6. The display unit 7 is provided with a water supply display lamp, a hot water temperature display lamp, etc., and the operation unit 8 is provided with an operation changeover switch 9 and an operation switch 10.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal structure of the humidifier 1. In FIG. 3, the humidifier 1 includes an outer cylinder 2 made of a synthetic resin and formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and an inner cylinder 11 that is formed by drawing an aluminum plate into a substantially cylindrical shape and fitted and fixed inside the outer cylinder 2. , And a bottom plate 25 made of a synthetic resin attached to the bottom of the outer cylinder 2.

In the outer cylinder 2, a heating device 12 is provided at a position in contact with the bottom of the water tank 3 housed in the outer cylinder 2. The heating device 12 is a die-cast aluminum heating plate 26 and a large heater 13 made up of a sheathed heater.
(For example, 500 W) and the small heater 14 (for example, 300 W)
W) and are embedded concentrically. A detection device 15 is provided at the center of the heating plate 26. The detection device 15 detects the temperature of the water 16 in the water tank 3 and the reed switch 22 that detects whether or not the water tank 3 in the outer cylinder 2 is stored. It is composed of a hot water temperature sensor 23 such as a thermistor for detecting.

The water tank 3 is formed by pressing a pre-coated aluminum plate on which at least the inner surface (surface contacting water) is coated with a fluororesin in advance. A handle 4 made of synthetic resin for carrying is rotatably attached to the upper end of the water tank 3.

The canopy 5 is formed so as to be openable and closable around a pivot shaft 27 as a pivot shaft, and a lock device 18 for locking the closed state of the canopy 5 is provided at a point symmetrical position of the pivot shaft 27.

Large heater 13 and / or small heater 14
The water vapor generated in the water tank 3 by the heating of 1 passes through the passage formed by the vapor passage forming member 24 as shown by the arrow and is diffused into the atmosphere from the vapor discharge port 17 provided on the upper portion of the canopy 5. It The water vapor keeps the room humidity properly.

The humidity is controlled by a relative humidity sensor (not shown) that detects the humidity in the room, and based on the humidity detection signal, a controller using a microcomputer.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the detection device 15. A movable member 20 is mounted on the head portion of the heating device 12 located at the center of the heating device 12 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the support member 19, and covers the head portion of the support member 19.
The spring 21 wound around 9 keeps the floating state at normal times, and is pushed down by the bottom surface of the water tank 3 only when the water tank 3 is stored. Further, a reed switch 22 and a hot water temperature sensor 23 are embedded in the head of the support member 19 so that when the movable member 20 contacts the top surface of the support member 19, it can come into contact with the inner bottom surface of the movable member 20. . The hot water temperature detection signal from the hot water temperature sensor 23 is used for hot water temperature control described later.

(II) Hot Water Temperature Control Device FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the hot water temperature control device according to the present invention.

The hot water temperature control device comprises a power supply circuit, a heating control circuit, a hot water temperature detection circuit serving as hot water temperature detection means, a hot water temperature control circuit serving as hot water temperature control means, and various setting switches.

In the power supply circuit, the AC power supply 30 is wired to the primary winding of the transformer 35, and the secondary winding of the transformer 35 is connected to the AC input side of a full-wave rectification circuit 36 consisting of a diode bridge, and the rectification circuit 36 is connected. The power supply voltage VCC is output from the DC output side, and the power supply voltage VDD is further output via the constant voltage circuit 43 such as a three-terminal regulator. The power supply voltage VDD is distributed and supplied to each necessary part of the hot water temperature control circuit. At the potential level, VDD
Is a positive (+) potential, and VSS is a negative (-or GND) potential. A large heater 13 and a small heater 14 and a part of a heating control circuit that controls driving of these are connected to the primary side of the power supply circuit.

The heating control circuit is as follows. The large heater 13 is connected between both ends of the primary winding of the transformer 35 via a large heater switch 31 (relay contact), and similarly, the small heater 14 is connected to the diode 33 and the small heater switch 3.
2 (relay contact). A bypass circuit for this diode 33 is turned ON / O for the diode 33.
The changeover switch 34 (relay contact) for FF is connected. The opening / closing operation of the large heater switch 31 is performed by the rectifier circuit 3
6 is interlocked with the relay 37 connected to the VDD side of the DC side, similarly the small heater switch 32 is interlocked with the relay 39 connected to the VDD side of the DC side of the rectifying circuit 36, and similarly the changeover switch 34 is rectified. It interlocks with a relay 41 connected to the VDD side on the DC side of the circuit 36.

The other end of the relay 37 is connected to the switching drive circuit 38,
The other end of the relay 39 is connected to the switching drive circuit 40, and the other end of the relay 41 is connected to the switching drive circuit 42. The excitation operation of these switching drive circuits 38, 40 and 42 is controlled by the heater control signals A, B and C from the control circuit 45.

The hot water temperature detection circuit comprises a hot water temperature sensor 23 embedded in the head of the support member 19 (see FIG. 3) and a switch 44 for enabling or disabling the output of the hot water temperature sensor 23. The temperature detection signal T is input to the A / D converter conversion input port of the control circuit 45 and used for hot water temperature control.

The hot water temperature control circuit is composed of a control circuit 45 composed of a microcomputer.
Heater control signals A, B, and C for controlling the temperature of one display panel 6 in the water tank 3 according to a control algorithm (see FIG. 6) described later based on the hot water temperature detection signal T from the water tank 3.
Are individually output to the switching drive circuits 38, 40 and 42. This control algorithm is stored as a control program in a memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM in the control circuit 45, and is executed under the general control of the CPU. It is obvious that realizing this control algorithm by a sequence circuit using discrete elements is within the scope of the present invention.

In the control circuit 45, the operation mode is automatically switched between the heating mode and the humidification mode based on the water temperature and the humidity to control the humidity to a desired value, and the strong operation is performed regardless of the humidity. An operation change-over switch 9 for selectively performing a switching operation to a continuous manual operation city of weak operation, and an operation switch 10 for turning on / off the operation of the humidifier are connected.

(III) Control Operation (i) Outline Operation First, the outline of the hot water temperature control according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

That is, in this embodiment, the basic idea in controlling the temperature of the hot water is that high energy in the heating mode is reached until the boiling temperature T1 ° C. (eg 98 ° C.) at which water vapor is generated in the water tank 3 is reached. Rapid heating is performed in a mode (high power heating mode) MH, and after boiling, heating is performed in a low energy mode ML required for humidification. The energy referred to here includes not only electric power supplied to the electric heater adopted in the present embodiment but also heat generated by a heat source such as a combustor of gas or petrochemical fuel.

As a specific example of the high energy mode MH,
A method of driving multiple heating units simultaneously and continuously or quantitatively until the boiling temperature at which steam is generated is reached,
As the low energy mode (small power heating mode) ML which is the humidification mode, a method of selectively driving at least one of the plurality of heating units after boiling can be used. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the large heater 13 and the small heater 14 that are a plurality of electrothermal heater units are simultaneously energized for a period of time until the boiling temperature at which steam is generated reaches a high power heating mode MH ( Both the heaters 13 and 14 are ON at 800 W, or the large heater 13 is ON and the small heater 14 is OFF at 500 W. This switching is performed by the power changeover switch 46.) After rapid heating, a plurality of electric heaters are heated. By selectively energizing either the large heater 13 or the small heater 14 which is a unit, that is, the small heater 14, the small power heating mode ML (300
A method for performing humidification by switching to W) will be disclosed.

Further, in a more specific mode of the present embodiment, the reference temperature T1 ° C for switching from the high power heating mode MH to the low power heating mode ML is set to the set temperature T1 just before the boiling of the water 16 in the water tank 3 = Set to 98 ° C to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

Further, in this embodiment, when the amount of hot water in the water tank 3 is small, the temperature setting means (step 115) makes the switching set temperature TB = 98 ° C. (first set temperature) immediately before boiling 95 relatively low. The temperature can be changed to ° C (second set temperature) to more effectively suppress the generation of excessive water vapor at the time of high power rapid heating when the amount of water is small due to the response delay of the detection time of the hot water temperature sensor 23. (ii) Detailed Operation FIG. 6 shows a control algorithm of the hot water temperature control device according to the present invention.

At step 100, the control circuit 45 confirms whether the operation switch 10 is ON or OFF. When the operation switch 10 is ON (Y), the process proceeds to step 101,
If the operation switch 10 is OFF (N), step 10
Proceed to 2 and the large heater 13 and the small heater 14 are not energized,
Turn off all heaters.

A) Hot water temperature follow-up control at the start of operation In step 101, the hot water temperature detection signal T from the hot water temperature sensor 23 and the heater switching reference temperature TA = 85 ° C. are compared to suit the hot water temperature at the time of operation disclosure. Heating control. That is,
The temperature of the water 16 at the start of operation is the heater switching reference temperature TA =
The heater used in the high power heating mode MH is selected depending on the setting state of the power changeover switch 46 when the temperature is lower than 85 ° C. Therefore, as a result of the comparison in step 101, if T ≧ TA (N), the process jumps to step 107 to enter the low power heating mode ML which is the humidification mode. On the other hand, if T <TA (Y), the process proceeds to step 103.

B) Setting follow-up control of the power changeover switch 46 In step 103, it is confirmed whether the manual setting state of the power changeover switch 46 is 800W or 500W.
The heating control suitable for the set state is performed.

That is, in general, a consumer of electric power is set with an allowable power consumption amount, and the circuit breaker trips when used in excess of the allowable current. As described above, electric power consumers, particularly, general households having a small allowable current (for example, 15 A) have severe restrictions on the amount of electric current, and the breaker may trip if the humidifier is operated at 800 W when other electric devices are used. There is. Therefore,
It is convenient if the wattage of the humidifier 1 in the high power heating mode MH can be manually switched according to the usage state of the electric device, and the operation suitable for the usage state of the power becomes possible.

Now, the power switch 46 is set to 80.
In the case of 0 W, the small heater 14 is energized in step 104, the process proceeds to step 105, and step 10
In the case of 5, the large heater 13 is also energized, so a total of 800 W
It will be heated by the electric power. On the other hand, the setting is 50
In the case of 0 W, only the large heater 13 is energized in step 105. By this processing, it is possible to automatically switch the heater that matches the setting state of the power changeover switch 46.

C) Water Volume Tracking Control Next, in the present embodiment, the hot water temperature of the water 16 is regularly monitored, and the water amount in the water tank 3 is detected from the rate of increase in the hot water temperature per unit time, and the water amount is adjusted according to the water amount. Heating control. The rate of increase may be used to judge the pressure or altitude instead of the amount of water, and whether to judge the amount of water and the atmospheric pressure or altitude at the same judgment level or at different levels is set according to the device. Just do it.

By the timer of step 106, the process proceeds to step 113 every time one minute elapses, and the hot water temperature detection signal T from the hot water temperature sensor 23 is fetched.
Next, at step 114, the current hot water temperature is compared with the hot water temperature at the previous sampling (1 minute before). As a result of the comparison, if the temperature increase is 9 deg or more, the process proceeds to step 115. The steps 113 and 114 constitute water amount detecting means.

In step 115, the temperature rise is 9 deg.
In the above case, it is determined that "the amount of water is small", and the switching set temperature T from the high power heating mode MH to the low power heating mode ML is set.
After changing the setting of B from 98 ° C. (first set temperature) to 95 ° C. (second set temperature), the process proceeds to step 107. By this treatment, it is possible to prevent excessive discharge of steam due to excessive heating when the amount of water in the water tank 3 is small, and to suppress wasteful power consumption. On the other hand, when the temperature increase is less than 9 deg, the process directly proceeds to step 107.

In step 107, the hot water temperature detection signal T and the heater switching reference temperature TB are compared. As a result of the comparison, when the hot water temperature detection signal T reaches 98 ° C. (95 ° C. for a small amount of water) (N), the process jumps to step 116 to enter the humidification mode of the small power heating mode ML. Hot water temperature detection signal T is 98 ℃
If it is less than (95 ° C for small amount of water) (Y), step 10
Proceed to 8.

In step 108, it is checked whether or not the first timer time t1 (= 6 minutes) has elapsed after the temperature has exceeded 85 ° C. in order to reduce the electric power and take measures against some abnormalities. . When the first timer time t1 has elapsed (Y), the small heater 14 is turned off in step 109.
Then, the heater is set to 500 W and the process proceeds to step 110.
If the first timer time t1 has not been reached (N), the process directly proceeds to step 110.

D) Use environment compatible control When the use environment of the humidifier 1 is at high altitude, the boiling point of the water 16 may not reach the heater switching reference temperature TB of 98 ° C. As a result, when used in the setting state of 98 ° C., the humidification mode is not automatically switched to the low power heating mode ML, and the water 16 itself is still boiling, but still in the high power heating mode. Continuing the operation at MH and heating with high power causes excessive generation of steam. Therefore, a time limit is set for the high power heating mode MH, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, it is considered to be used at high altitude, and control is performed so as to forcibly shift to the low power heating mode ML of the humidification mode.

Therefore, in step 110, the second timer time t1 is entered after the heating mode is entered and 85 ° C. is exceeded.
Check whether (= 10 minutes) has passed. If the second timer time t2 has elapsed (Y), the routine jumps to step 116 and enters the humidification mode low power heating mode ML. If the second timer time t2 has not been reached (N), step 11
Go to 1.

In step 111, the hot water temperature detection signal T and the heater switching reference temperature TB are compared. As a result of the comparison, when the hot water temperature detection signal T reaches 98 ° C. (95 ° C. for a small amount of water) (Y), the routine jumps to step 116 and enters the humidification mode of the low power heating mode ML. Hot water temperature detection signal T is 98 ℃
If it is less than (95 ° C for a small amount of water) (N), step 11
Jump to 2.

In step 112, it is confirmed whether the operation switch 10 is ON or not. If it is ON (Y), step 10
3 and repeats the above operation. If the operation switch 10 is OFF (N), the large heater 1 is selected in step 102.
3 and the small heater 14 are turned off.

When the high power heating mode MH is shifted to the low power heating mode ML by the above processing, the humidity control is performed based on the humidity detection signal from the humidity sensor.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the temperature control and the humidity control according to the present invention. Note that in FIG. 8, the vertical axis of the hot water temperature graph is displayed with the positive and negative signs reversed for convenience of description.

Referring to FIG. 8, the operation switch 10 is turned on.
Then, the high power heating mode MH is entered, and the heater is set to 80
Heating is performed at 0 W or 500 W. Due to this heating, the temperature T of the water 16 gradually rises. When the temperature of the water 16 reaches the heater switching reference temperature T1, the low power heating mode ML is entered, the heater is operated at 300 W, necessary steam is continuously generated, and the indoor humidity H gradually rises.

When the humidity H reaches the set humidity, the heater is switched to 150 W, for example, and the minimum electric power heating mode ML1 is set.
Will be driven in. In addition, 300W is turned on in FIG.
An example in which the -OFF duty control is set to 175 W is shown. If the control signal C from the microcomputer is controlled as shown in FIG. 7, "175 W" control is possible.

[0055]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the electric power of the variable electric heater can be controlled to be switched between at least two levels of high and low at the time of high power heating. The power to be used can be selected according to the allowable current of the power distribution system to which is connected, and other electric devices will not be adversely affected by a power failure or the like caused by the breaker trip.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the electric power at the time of heating the large electric power is set to "high", if the time after the second set temperature exceeds the predetermined time, the electric power of the heater is increased. Is automatically switched to "low", so that it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption during high power heating and prevent accidental breaker trips.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a humidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration example of a detector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the temperature control circuit of the humidifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control algorithm of the temperature control circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a temperature control operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a temperature and humidity control operation according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Humidifier 2 Outer Cylinder 3 Water Tank 4 Handle 5 Canopy 6 Display Panel 7 Display 8 Operating Unit 9 Operation Changeover Switch 10 Operation Switch 11 Inner Cylinder 12 Heating Device 13 Large Heater 14 Small Heater 15 Detector 16 Water 17 Steam Discharge Port 18 Locking device 19 Support member 20 Movable member 21 Spring 22 Reed switch 23 Hot water temperature sensor 24 Steam passage forming member 30 AC power source 31 Large heater switch 32 Small heater switch 33 Diode 34 Changeover switch 35 Transformer 36 Rectifier circuit 37 Relay 38 Changeover drive circuit 39 Relay 40 Switching drive circuit 41 Relay 42 Switching drive circuit 43 Constant voltage circuit 44 Temperature sensor switch 45 Control circuit 47 Safety switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An evaporative humidifier for heating and evaporating water in a water tank provided in the humidifier by heating means to release water vapor, wherein the heating means is a heater capable of selectively adjusting electric power,
A hot water temperature sensor that detects the temperature of water in the water tank, and based on a hot water temperature detection signal from the hot water temperature sensor, performs high-power heating by the heater until the water in the water tank boils, and after boiling. The apparatus further comprises hot water temperature control means for outputting a control signal for heating the heater with a small amount of electric power to the heating means, and electric power switching means for switching the electric power of the heater into at least two levels of high and low when the large electric power is heated. Characteristic evaporative humidifier. 2. The hot water temperature control means, when the electric power of the heater is set high by the electric power switching means, the water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor is lower than the first set temperature immediately before boiling. 2. The evaporative humidifier according to claim 1, wherein a control signal for automatically switching the electric power of the heater to a low level is output when the time after the temperature exceeds the set temperature exceeds a predetermined time.