JPH10249113A - Hot-water supply device for bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to wash out various kinds of the fur and bacteria deposited in a water circuit for circulation of bathtub water. SOLUTION: This hot-water supply device has a bathtub circulating water passage 31 for circulating the bathtub water, a hot-water passage 32 for feeding the water to the bathtub circulating water passage 31, a circulating pump 9 and filter tank 21 disposed at the bathtub circulating water passage 31 and a control section 30 for passing the water contg. residual chlorine to at least the return passage side of the bathtub circulating water passage 31 at every specified time. The water contg. the residual chlorine is passed at every specified time to the return passage side where the bathtub circulating water flows, by which the fur deposits of the bathtub circulating water passage 31 are washed or decreased and various kinds of the bacterial are sterilized and purified. The bathtub circulating water passage may be kept always clean and sanitary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a bath water heater capable of purifying and sterilizing a bathtub circulating water passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional bath water heater has a configuration as shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, water passes through a water amount sensor 1 and a water temperature sensor 2 from a water inlet, absorbs heat of a heat source 4 (combustion of gas, kerosene or the like, or an electric heater) by a hot water supply heat exchanger 3, and supplies hot water to a hot water supply sensor 5. It is discharged from the hot water outlet through the control valve 6.

[0003] The hot water to the bathtub 12 is supplied to a hot water supply heat exchanger 3.
The hot water that has absorbed the heat passes through the hot water supply sensor 5, the water quantity control valve 6, the pouring solenoid valve 7, the cutoff valve 8, the bath heat exchanger 18, the switching valve B20, the filtration tank 21, the switching valve C22, and the outgoing passage 13. Then, the water is discharged from the circulation adapter 10 to the bathtub through the circulation pump 9 and the return passage 14, respectively.

The bath water 11 is circulated by a circulation pump 9 to a circulation adapter 10, a return passage 14, a switching valve A15, a bath sensor 16, a water flow switch 17, a bath heat exchanger 18, and a switching valve B20. , Filtration tank 2
1. Switching valve C22, outgoing passage 13, circulation adapter 10
When the water temperature of the bathtub water 11 detected by the bath sensor 16 decreases while the dirt component is filtered and purified by the filter tank 21, the heat source 19 (gas,
The bathtub water 11 is heated by absorbing the heat of burning of kerosene or the like or an electric heater).

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional bath water heater, relatively large dirt particles (approximately 10 microns or more), which are simply dirt components of bath water, are filtered and purified in the filter tank 21 of the bath water circulation water passage. The filtration tank 21 can sufficiently remove dirt components caused by various bacteria (general bacteria, Escherichia coli, etc.) of fine particles (about 1 micron) generated by a plurality of persons continuously taking a bath or using a bath water continuously. It cannot be filtered and purified, and the bathtub circulation water passage is apt to become dirty and unclean. More importantly, the connection part of the bathtub circulation water passage is an uneven part, the flow of water is poor (large turbulence), dirt which is a nutrient source of various bacteria tends to accumulate, and various bacteria grow. It is an easy environment. In particular, since the dirt component of the bathtub water circulates as it is to the inlet of the filtration tank, it tends to become more unclean.To clean and clean these, always replace the bathtub water and clean the bathtub, There has been a problem that the operation is very uneconomical and troublesome because it has to be forcibly cleaned by washing with water through a cleaning agent.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a circulating pump and a filtration tank are provided in a bath tub circulating water passage, and at least a return chlorine side of the bath tub circulating water passage contains residual chlorine. A configuration is provided in which a control unit that allows water to flow at regular intervals is provided.

According to the above invention, relatively large dirt particles, which are dirt components of the bathtub water, are filtered and purified by the filtration tank, and the dirt deposits on the concave and convex components of the bathtub circulating water passage are replaced with fresh water supply and hot water supply power. In addition to washing or reducing with water to suppress the growth of various bacteria, small bacteria that are difficult to filter and purify in the filtration tank are sterilized and purified by water containing residual chlorine with sterilizing ability, so that the bathtub circulation water passage is always clean, It can be kept clean. Also, by keeping the bathtub circulating water passage always clean, it is possible to prevent re-discharged dirt components and to allow a plurality of persons to continuously take a bath or use the bathtub water continuously.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A bath water heater according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided in a bathtub circulating water passage for circulating bathtub water, a hot water supply passage for supplying water to the bathtub circulating water passage, and provided in the bathtub circulating water passage. A circulation pump and a filtration tank, and a control unit for passing water containing residual chlorine at least on a return passage side of the bathtub circulating water passage at regular intervals.
By passing water containing residual chlorine at regular intervals through the return passage through which the bathtub circulating water flows, the deposits in the bathtub circulating water passage are washed or reduced and purified, and various bacteria are disinfected and purified. The circulating water passage can always be kept clean.

A bath water heater according to a second aspect of the present invention is a bath water circulating water passage for circulating bath water, a hot water supply passage for supplying water to the bath water circulating passage, a circulation pump provided in the bath water circulating water passage, and a filtration tank. And a water level sensor, and a control unit for passing water containing residual chlorine at least on the return passage side of the bathtub circulating water passage by a reduced water level detected by the water level sensor. By passing water through the low water level detected by the water level sensor, the dirt accumulation in the bathtub circulating water passage is washed or reduced and purified, and various bacteria are sterilized and purified, and the bathtub circulating water passage is always kept clean and clean. be able to.

Further, in the bath water heater according to claim 3, the control unit is configured to allow the water containing residual chlorine to flow for at least a full capacity of the return passage and to stay there for a certain period of time. After passing the water, the feedwater containing residual chlorine is kept for a certain period of time, so that the purification can be performed with a greater temporal sterilization effect.

Further, in the bath water heater according to claim 4, the control unit is configured to repeatedly pass the water containing residual chlorine through cold water, hot water, cold water and hot water, and repeatedly pass cold water or hot water or cold water and hot water. By passing water, cold water slows down the decomposition of residual chlorine and maintains the residual chlorine concentration to increase the sterilization effect, and hot water water passes through the unevenness of the bathtub circulation water passage. The adhesion can be reduced, the scale accumulation can be cleaned or reduced, and the purification ability can be increased.

Further, in the bath water heater according to the present invention, the temperature of the water containing residual chlorine is set to 55 ° C. or higher. By synergistic sterilization effect of chlorine sterilization and high temperature sterilization,
The sterilization time can be shortened.

Further, the bath water heater according to claim 6 is configured to use tap water as the water containing residual chlorine, and can use tap water supplied to ordinary households. Purification with excellent economic efficiency can be performed.

(Embodiment 1) A bath water heater according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition,
The same components as those in the related art will be described with the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 denotes a bypass which bypasses the heating source 7, 25 denotes an upper going passage, and 26 denotes a lower going passage. The switching is performed by switching the valve C22. In other words, when purifying the bathtub circulating water, the circulating water flows downward through the filtration tank 21 from the top.
When the inside of the filtration tank 21 is washed, the circulating water is supplied to the filtration tank 2.
Backwashing is performed in which the dirt component accumulated in the filtration tank 21 is discharged from the discharge port 21a so that the inside of the filter 1 flows backward from below. 30 is the switching valve A15,
B20, C22, the pouring solenoid valve 7, the circulation pump 9, the heat sources 4, 19, etc. are controlled, and their control will be described in the following operation description.

First, when the hot water is poured into the bathtub 12, the hot water from which the heat of the heat source 4 has been absorbed by the hot water supply heat exchanger 3 passes through the hot water supply sensor 5, the water quantity control valve 6, the pouring solenoid valve 7, and the edge. The fluid is discharged from the circulation adapter 10 to the bathtub 12 through the cutoff valve 8, the outgoing passage 13 and the return passage 14.

On the other hand, bath water 11 is circulated by circulation pump 9.
Circulation adapter 10 attached to bathtub 12, return passage 1
4. Switching valve A15, circulation pump 9, bath sensor 16, water flow switch 17, switching valve D23, bath heat exchanger 18, upper going passage 25, switching valve B20, filtration tank 21, switching valve C
22, circulates through a bathtub circulating water passage 31 composed of the outgoing passage 13 and the circulation adapter 10. And the filtration tank 21
When passing through, the dirt components of the bathtub circulating water are filtered and purified. Further, the bath sensor 16 in the bathtub circulating water passage 31 detects the hot water temperature of the bathtub water 11, and when the hot water temperature drops, absorbs the heat of the heat source 19 of the bath heat exchanger 18 to heat the bathtub water 11. I do.

Next, purification and sterilization of the bathtub circulating water passage 31 by passing residual chlorine-containing water, which is a feature of the present invention, is performed as follows. That is, the water containing residual chlorine is passed through the hot water supply passage 32. For example, hot water supply passage 3
When the residual chlorine-containing water is passed through the water 2, the residual chlorine-containing water passes through a water amount sensor 1 for detecting the amount of water, the hot water supply heat exchanger 3, which is not heated, a water amount control valve 6, and a pouring solenoid valve. 7. Water is supplied to the bathtub circulating water passage 31 through the cutoff valve 8. The bathtub circulating water flows through at least a return bathtub circulating water passage including a circulation pump 9, a switching valve A <b> 15, and a return passage 14 via a circulation adapter 10 attached to the bathtub 12.

The control unit 30 controls the supply of the residual chlorine-containing water at regular intervals, whereby the deposit of dirt, which is one of the dirt components of the bathtub water 11, is first washed by the hydraulic power. Or reduce it, and by residual chlorine,
Various bacteria in the return passage 14 are sterilized, and the bathtub circulation water passage 3
Purify 1 At this time, of course, the circulation pump 9
Is stopped and water is passed.

Here, the term "every fixed time" differs depending on bathing conditions, that is, the number of bathers according to family structure, bather age, bathing time, bathing time zone, etc., but it is desirable to pass water at least once every 24 hours. . If water is passed for 24 hours or more, that is, every 36 or 48 hours, the amount of scale accumulation increases, the amount of water passing for washing increases, and the temperature of the bath water drops during bathing. For this reason, in consideration of bathing in the morning and at night, the bathing time is preferably every 6 to 12 hours, that is, 2 to 4 times / day.

Next, regarding the feedwater containing residual chlorine,
It will be described in detail. The residual chlorine-containing water is 0.1% as residual chlorine.
This is fresh water containing at least ppm, in which chlorine gas is dissolved, and sodium hypochlorite is dissolved, and the concentration is controlled to the level of tap water supplied to ordinary households. As the concentration control, the residual chlorine concentration was 0.1% as described above.
ppm or more, but copper and copper alloy, NBR and EPDM rubber, PP
And POM resin are generally used, and considering the durability of these materials, 10 ppm or less is desirable. In addition, when the sterilization and purification are made effective in a short period of time and the durability of the component parts is taken into consideration, the preferable residual chlorine concentration of the residual chlorine-containing water is 0.3 to 5 ppm.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a bathtub circulating water passage and a configuration of a purification determination plate for determining the purification effect of the present invention and the conventional method. (A) is a configuration diagram of a bathtub circulating water passage, in which a purification determination plate portion 27 includes a return passage 1 connected to a circulation adapter 10.
4. Installed in the outgoing passage 13 respectively. (B) is a top configuration diagram of the purification determination plate portion 27, (c) is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the purification determination plate portion 27, and a purification determination plate 28 (white resin plate having a width of 10 mm and a thickness of 1 mm). Return passage 14 and outgoing passage 13 via a sealing jig.
It is installed in the water passage.

Table 1 shows the purifying effects of the present invention and the conventional method using the bathtub circulating water passage structure described in detail in FIG. As detailed conditions and evaluations not described in the table, bathing conditions: 4 persons / day, kept at 42 ° C./4 hours, purification conditions: residual chlorine concentration of residual chlorine-containing water at the time of passing water is 0.5.
-1 ppm, bathtub water temperature: 42 ° C./4 hours, except natural heat, circulating conditions: after 11 hours continuous circulation pump operation, 1 minute at 20 l / min backwash flow rate of filtration tank, circulation pump stop 59
And evaluation: Evaluation index shown in Table 2 (five-level evaluation of dirt index: color change = visual evaluation of stain accumulation).

[0024]

[Table 1]

[0025]

[Table 2]

As is evident from Table 1, by passing water containing residual chlorine, dirt and dirt components that easily accumulate in the bathtub circulation water passage can be washed and reduced. In addition, generally-known scale (one in which various kinds of bacteria have become abnormally bred with dirt as a nutrient source) is likely to be generated at an evaluation index of 4 levels.
Since the scale is generated though it is very small, by supplying the water containing residual chlorine of the present invention, the growth of various bacteria can be suppressed, and the bathtub circulation water passage can be kept clean.

(Embodiment 2) A bath water heater according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the difference from the first embodiment is that a water level sensor 29 for detecting the water level of the bathtub water 11 is provided in a part of the return passage 14, and the control unit 30 performs the following based on the output from the water level sensor 29. This is the point of control. That is, when the water level falls, the residual chlorine-containing water is detected by the water level sensor 29 at least on the return pump 14 side and the circulation pump 9 through which the bathtub circulating water flows through the circulation adapter 10 attached to the bathtub 12. Only pass water. This allows bath water 1
While keeping the water level of 1 stable, the bathtub circulating water passage can be kept clean.

The detection amount of the water level drop detected by the water level sensor 29 here is preferably about 10 to 60 mm in consideration of the resolution of the water level sensor 29 and the hot water of the bather. Depending on the size of the bathtub, about 3-5 liters with a 10 mm drop in water level
It is.

(Embodiment 3) A bath water heater according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference from the first embodiment is that the control unit 30 performs the control shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 30 stops the circulation pump 9 in response to the signal, turns on the pouring solenoid valve 7, and feeds water containing a certain amount of residual chlorine to the bathtub circulating water passage 31 over the entire capacity. Then, the pouring electromagnetic valve 7 is turned off, and the pouring solenoid valve 7 is kept for a certain period of time, that is, for the stay setting time. Thereby, the sterilizing and purifying effect can be further increased.

The predetermined time, that is, the set retention time, is determined by the supplied residual chlorine concentration. Although the bactericidal concentration and time differ depending on the type of bacteria, the setting time is generally long when the residual chlorine concentration is low, and the setting time is short when the residual chlorine concentration is high. FIG. 6 shows the results of the sterilization evaluation performed by the inventors. The disinfection evaluation conditions in FIG. 6 were tested under the conditions of a sample volume of 500 ml, a water temperature of 20 ° C., an initial general bacterial count of 5,000,000 cells / ml, and residual chlorine concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 2 ppm.

As shown in FIG. 6, the residence time for reducing the number of common bacteria to 100 or less, which is the standard for tap water, is as follows:
The residual chlorine concentration can be achieved in about 15 minutes at 0.1 ppm, about 5 minutes at 0.5 ppm, and about 2 minutes at 2 ppm. Therefore, the preferred residence time depends on the residual chlorine concentration, but the preferred residence time is 2 to 15 minutes or more. Details are as shown in Table 3.

[0032]

[Table 3]

(Embodiment 4) A bath water heater for performing purification and sterilization by repeatedly passing water according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that the control unit 3
0 is to perform the control shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 30 includes the water amount sensor 1, the water temperature sensor 2, the hot water supply sensor 5,
After controlling the water flow control valve 6 to heat the hot water in the hot water supply heat exchanger 3, the residual chlorine-containing water is supplied to the bathtub circulating water passage 31 through the hot water supply electromagnetic valve 7 and the cutoff valve 8. Then, after the set water flow rate is passed, the water is retained for the retention time by the signal of the control unit 30, and the bathtub circulating water passage 3 is made of hot water.
(1) The adhesive force of the deposited debris deposited on the uneven structure part (1) is reduced to enhance the delamination and purification effect. Then, while the heat source 4 of the hot water supply heat exchanger 3 is turned off, the bathtub circulating water passage 31 is again supplied with cold water containing residual chlorine (water at an atmospheric temperature level that is not mechanically cooled), and then necessary. In accordance with the above, the staying time is set again by the signal of the control unit 30 for the staying set time, so that the peeling and sterilizing and purifying effects can be further increased. Also, if the heating water is hot water,
Since the temperature of the hot water supply passage and the bathtub circulating water passage also becomes high at the same time, the water supply passage 32 or
The cooling is performed in consideration of durability of components of the bathtub circulating water passage 31 and prevention of burns.

(Embodiment 5) A bath water heater for performing high-temperature sterilization according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference from the first embodiment is that the control unit 30 performs the control shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 30 heats the supply water to a high temperature by the hot water supply heat exchanger 3 and
After the set flow rate is set to 1 at high temperature, the remaining water is kept for the set time by the signal of the control unit 30 to more reliably sterilize and purify various bacteria by the synergistic effect of high temperature sterilization and water containing residual chlorine. .

[0035] High-temperature sterilization is to sterilize various bacteria by utilizing their weakness to high temperatures. Although the sterilization temperature and time are different depending on various bacteria, generally, when the temperature is relatively low, the holding time is long, and when the temperature is high, the holding time is short. FIG. 11 shows the results of the high-temperature sterilization evaluation performed by the present inventors. The high-temperature sterilization evaluation conditions shown in FIG.
Place 0.000 ml / ml in a beaker, immerse a thermocouple in the sample, heat it in a microwave oven,
The test was performed under the conditions of 5, 60, 65, and 70 ° C. The heating temperature was the maximum temperature at which the temperature rose, with a tolerance of 2 deg or less, and was held in a constant temperature water bath for the holding time. The holding time is the maximum temperature of the temperature rise and the time from when the tolerance reaches 2 deg or less.

As shown in FIG. 11, a heating temperature of 55 ° C. or more and 5 minutes or more is required to reduce the number of common bacteria to 100 or less, which is the standard of tap water. At 60 ° C., almost 100% high-temperature sterilization and purification can be performed when the temperature reaches 60 ° C. Details are as shown in Table 4.

[0037]

[Table 4]

(Embodiment 6) A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 12, as residual chlorine-containing water, tap water containing residual chlorine used in ordinary households is allowed to pass therethrough, which can be a purification means excellent in convenience and economy. .

Although not described in detail in the above embodiments, as a means for passing water through the bathtub circulating water passage 31, a combination of passing water through the bypass passage 25 and the lower going passage 26 may be used. As a result, it is possible to wash and reduce the accumulation of dirt in the bathtub circulating water passage 31, and to sterilize and purify various bacteria.

[0040]

As described above, the bath water heater of the present invention
By passing water containing residual chlorine through the bathtub circulating water passage at regular intervals, dirt accumulation, which is one of the dirt components of the bathtub water, is washed or reduced by hydraulic power. Can be sterilized to purify the bathtub circulation water passage.

Further, by passing the water containing residual chlorine by the reduced water level detected by the water level sensor, it is possible to keep the bathtub water level stable and to keep the bathtub circulation water passage clean and clean. it can.

Further, by passing water containing residual chlorine over the entire capacity of the bathtub circulating water passage and retaining it for a certain period of time, the sterilizing and purifying effect can be further enhanced.

By repeatedly passing cold water, hot water, or cold and hot water through water containing residual chlorine, the effect of removing and sterilizing and purifying the bathtub circulating water passage can be more reliably purified. it can.

Further, by making the water containing residual chlorine into warm water of 55 ° C. or more, the bathtub circulating water passage can be more reliably sterilized and purified by the synergistic effect of high-temperature sterilization and residual chlorine sterilization.

Further, by using tap water as the water containing residual chlorine, a purification method excellent in convenience and economy can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

2A is a configuration diagram of a bathtub circulating water passage for a comparative test of Example 1 and a conventional method. FIG. 2B is a top configuration diagram of a purification determination plate portion of the bathtub circulating water passage of the comparative test. Cross-sectional configuration diagram of the purification judgment plate part of the test bath circulating water passage

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control mode of the bath water heater.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a sterilization evaluation effect of Example 3;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control mode of the bath water heater.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control mode of the bath water heater.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the sterilization evaluation effect of Example 5;

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a bath water heater in Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a conventional bath water heater

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 3 hot water supply heat exchanger 7 pouring solenoid valve 9 circulation pump 11 bath water 13 outgoing passage 14 return passage 15 switching valve A 18 bath heat exchanger 21 filtration tank 24 bypass passage 29 water level sensor 30 control unit 31 bath tub circulation water passage 32 hot water supply aisle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI C02F 1/50 540 C02F 1/50 540B 550 550L 550H 560 560Z F24H 1/00 302 F24H 1/00 602L (72) Inventor Tetsuro Aoki Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Yamauchi 1006 Oji Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A bathtub circulating water passage for circulating bathtub water, a hot water supply passage for supplying water to the bathtub circulating water passage, a circulation pump and a filtration tank provided in the bathtub circulating water passage, and at least one of the bathtub circulating water passages. A bath water heater comprising: a control unit that allows water containing residual chlorine to flow through the return passage at regular intervals. 2. A bathtub circulating water passage for circulating bathtub water, a hot water supply passage for supplying water to the bathtub circulating water passage, a circulating pump, a filtration tank, and a water level sensor provided in the bathtub circulating water passage.
A bath water heater comprising: a control unit configured to flow water containing residual chlorine at least to the return passage side of the bathtub circulating water passage by an amount corresponding to a decrease in the water level detected by a water level sensor. 3. The bath water heater according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to allow the water containing residual chlorine to flow for at least a full capacity of the return passage and to stay there for a certain time. 4. The bath water heater according to claim 1, wherein the control section is configured to repeatedly pass water containing residual chlorine through cold water, hot water, or cold and hot water. 5. The bath water heater according to claim 4, wherein the temperature of the water containing residual chlorine is 55 ° C. or higher. 6. The bath water heater according to claim 1, wherein tap water is used as the water containing residual chlorine.