JPS6246111Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a water heater that has a simple and lightweight structure and is suitable as a low-cost general-purpose product.

Storage-type water heaters that can produce a predetermined amount of high-temperature hot water during times when hot water is not in use, such as late at night, and use it when needed have become popular.
This type of water heater has already been proposed in Publication No. 144978 and the like.

Regarding the above-mentioned conventional device, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a heat exchanger 5' that functions as a condenser of a heat pump type refrigeration system is disposed in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1', and a water supply is provided at the bottom. It has a structure in which a hot water outlet pipe 7 is connected to the top of a pipe 23, respectively, and the hot water storage tank 1' is formed into a watertight pressure vessel, which is a so-called sealed structure.

Therefore, the hot water storage tank 1' needs to have a pressure-resistant structure, and since it is made of thick steel plate, it is heavy, and the process for making it watertight is complicated, resulting in high costs.

Therefore, it may be possible to simplify the structure by making the hot water storage tank 1' an open type that is exposed to the atmosphere, but since the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1' is highest near the liquid surface, it is difficult to take out hot water. It is normal to connect the pipe 7 to the top, and when water is supplied into the tank in an open type, it is normal to install an automatic water supply valve at the top of the tank to supply water to the top of the tank. The problem with this is that low-temperature make-up water is supplied to the upper part of the tank where high-temperature water exists, causing the hot water temperature to drop.As hot water is used, the temperature gradually drops, so auxiliary heating is added to the upper part of the tank. The reality is that methods using open hot water storage tanks have not yet become widespread, as they require some ingenuity, such as adding a vessel.

In addition, in the case of a hot water storage type water heater, it is common to arrange a heat exchanger 5' at the inner bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, but it is necessary to ensure smooth convection around the heat exchanger 5'. If so, it is preferable to install the heat exchanger 5 in a slightly floating manner rather than placing it on the bottom. Conventionally, as shown in FIG.
The heat exchanger 5 was supported and fixed by inserting pipes 25 and 26 drawn out from headers 27 and 28 at both ends into the tank wall, and by fixing the inserted portions in a watertight manner.

However, such a fixing means requires complicated processing steps such as adjusting the dimensions of the holes drilled in the tank wall and the pipes 25 and 26, and welding, and in particular, care must be taken when making the supporting wall watertight. This was complicated, and led to high costs.

The present invention was developed in view of the various problems that conventional water heaters have, and its purpose is to realize a water heater using an open hot water storage tank. The aim is to provide a constant and stable supply of scales and high-temperature hot water.
Another important objective is to simplify the means for supporting and fixing the heat exchanger disposed at the bottom of the tank.

Therefore, in order to achieve such an objective, the present invention specifically provides a heater at the bottom of a hot water storage tank which is opened to the atmosphere, and a water inlet at the top of the hot water storage tank. , a water supply passage is provided that extends vertically within the tank to replenish water from the water supply port to the bottom of the hot water storage tank, and the lower edge of the wall forming the water supply passage is attached to the upper edge of the heater 5. The heater is fixed by pressing against it, and water is supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank and high temperature hot water is taken out from the upper part, so that high temperature hot water can always be taken out stably. In addition, it is possible to make the hot water storage tank a simple structure that contributes to cost reduction, and in addition to its original function of water supply, the water supply passage also functions as a member to fix the heater, making it possible to secure the heater. This allows for easy fixation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the hot water storage tank is formed with a stepped bottom in which the part immediately below the heater is lower than the surrounding part, and the heater is received by the stepped part. Another feature is that by providing a water pool directly below the heater, convection of water around the heater is promoted.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a hot water storage tank, which includes a tank main body 2 with an open top, and a lid 3 that covers the opening.
The tank is formed into an open tank which is opened to the atmosphere through a narrow hole around the lid 3, and
By surrounding the inner wall with a heat insulating material 4, a heat-retaining container is formed.

A heater 5 is disposed horizontally at the inner bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, and is used for heating the water stored in the tank. A container (condenser) is used.

In addition to the above-mentioned example, heating mechanisms such as an electric heater and a steam heat exchanger can also be used as the heater 5.

Reference numeral 6 designates a water supply valve, such as an automatic water supply valve called a ball tap, provided on the upper side wall of the hot water storage tank 1. The water supply port 21, which is the opening at the tip, is opened at a position above a predetermined liquid level in the tank to supply water. When water is required, water is discharged from the water supply port 21 toward a predetermined liquid level below.

The hot water storage tank 1 has a hot water outlet pipe 7 pulled out from the side wall at a position slightly below the liquid level, an overflow pipe 8 pulled out from an appropriate location on the side wall, and a drain pipe 9 pulled out from the bottom wall. ing.

In addition, after the hot water extraction pipe 7 falls inside the layer of the heat insulating material 4, it is drawn out from the lower part of the side wall through the pump 11, the check valve 12, and the accumulator 13 in series, and the hot water supply pipe 14 is connected. There is.

On the other hand, the heat pump refrigeration system R has a compressor 1
5. It is equipped with an expansion valve 16 and a heat source side heat exchanger 17, and is connected to the heater 5 through two refrigerant pipes 18 and 19, and the heater 5 is used as a condenser and a heat source side heat exchanger 17. A refrigeration cycle is formed in which each acts as an evaporator.

In the hot water supply device having the above structure, a water supply passage 10 is provided in the hot water storage tank 1, and is formed so that makeup water discharged from the water supply valve 6 can be guided to the bottom of the tank.

The water supply passage 10 is formed as an independent passage extending vertically within the hot water storage tank 1, and can be easily constructed by providing a partition wall that extends vertically within the layer 1 and partitions it into two chambers. However, in the illustrated example, a 100 mm diameter pipe made of heat-resistant polyethylene resin is installed vertically in the tank to form the water supply passage 10.

This water supply passage 10 has both upper and lower ends open,
The upper end portion is provided above the predetermined liquid level at a position where it can receive make-up water discharged from the water supply valve 6, and the pipe wall is fixed to the side wall of the hot water storage tank 1 by screws or other means. , the lower end is provided facing the inner bottom, and the lower edge 10a, which is a part of the opening periphery, is pressed against the upper edge of the heater 5, for example, the upper edge of the fin in the case of a cross-fin coil. .

In addition, in the illustrated example, the end of the resin pipe constituting the water supply passage 10 is cut out at the part that contacts the heater 5, and this cut out part 10a is brought into contact with the fin corner of the heater 5. The heater 5 placed on the inner bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 is fixed by being pressed against the inner bottom side by the lower end of the water supply passage 10, while the lower end of the water supply passage 10 is also attached to the heater 5 at the same time. 5, it is securely fixed.

Moreover, since the lower end of the water supply passage 10 is opened toward the heater 5, makeup water can be directly supplied to the heater 5 and quickly heated.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 has a circular horizontal cross section, and in the center of the bottom there is a long groove-shaped drop whose width is slightly narrower than the width of the heater 5. The bottom 22 is recessed to form a stepped bottom, the heater 5 is placed across the bottom 22, and the stepped portions 2 on both sides of the bottom 22
9 receives the heater 5.

By doing this, the part directly below the heater 5 becomes lower than the surrounding bottom part, and this lowered bottom 22
This part becomes the liquid storage chamber located directly below the heater 5, and in this case, the positional relationship of the water supply passage 10 with respect to the lowered bottom 22 is shown in FIG. 4 as 10 _-1 and 10 _-2.
As shown in the sub-number, the make-up water discharged from the water supply passage 10 is uniformly spread over the heating surface of the heater 5 to improve heat exchange, and at this time, the lowered bottom 22
The presence of the heater 5 allows smooth convection of water around the heater 5.

In the figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a presser tube provided separately in order to more securely support the heater 5, and if necessary, it can be appropriately arranged on the side facing the water supply passage 10, so that it can be installed in the same way as the water supply passage 10. The heater 5 is pressed down at the lower end.

Next, the operating mode of the hot water supply system will be described. By operating the refrigeration system R, condensation heat is exchanged between the high pressure refrigerant gas and the water stored in the tank in the heater 5. The temperature of the water around it gradually increases.

The temperature of the water stored in a predetermined amount in the hot water storage tank 1 rises uniformly in all layers due to convection, and finally hot water of 65 to 70°C is stored in the tank, and the hot water is heated by a command from a water temperature detector (not shown). The refrigeration device R is automatically turned on and off to maintain a constant temperature.

When hot water at a predetermined high temperature is stored and a tap at a demand point is opened, the pump 11 is driven by the operation of the flow switch 20, and the hot water existing near the predetermined liquid level in the hot water storage tank 1 is taken out. The hot water is sent through the pipe 7 to the hot water supply pipe 14 to supply hot water.

A quantity of make-up water equal to the amount of hot water supplied at this time is discharged from the water supply valve 6, but this make-up water is supplied to the water supply passage 1.
Since hot water is supplied to the inner bottom near the heater 5 through 0, hot water at a high temperature is always present in the upper layer where the inlet of the hot water outlet pipe 7 is open. Therefore, there is no inconvenience in which the temperature of the hot water to be taken out immediately drops due to the supply of low-temperature make-up water, and it becomes possible to take out the entire amount of the stored high-temperature hot water continuously.

On the other hand, it goes without saying that the make-up water sent to the bottom of the tank through the water supply passage 10 comes into immediate contact with the heater 5 and is heated.

When adding make-up water by using hot water or during the first heating start operation, the above device has a lower bottom 22 where the part directly below the heater 5 is lower than the surrounding parts, and the heater 5 are received by the step portions 29 on both sides of the lowered sole 22, so the lowered sole 22 serves as a water reservoir.

Therefore, there is an advantage that water is smoothly circulated around the heater 5 by convection, and heat exchange is promoted.

As is clear from the above explanation, in the present invention, since the hot water storage tank 1 is an open type, the structure is simple because the tank only needs to have a strength commensurate with the head of the stored water. It can be made of thin material, and a tank made of synthetic resin can be used, so it can be lightweight, and the cost of the device is lower than that of a conventional closed type.

Furthermore, since the water supply passage 10 is provided to guide the make-up water to the inner bottom where the heater 5 is disposed, the temperature of the hot water taken out is reduced due to stirring between the make-up water and the high-temperature water. These inconveniences are completely eliminated, and the high temperature hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 1 can be taken out continuously and in its entirety.

In addition, the lower edge 10a of the water supply passage 10 is connected to the heater 5.
Since the heater 5 is fixed by pressing it against the upper edge, no special fixing member is required, the structure is simple, and there is no need for troublesome work such as welding or water-tight treatment. There is an advantage that it can be saved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 is configured to have a stepped bottom, and the stepped portion 29 provides a heater 5.
Since a liquid reservoir is formed directly under the heater 5 by receiving the water, convection of water in the surrounding area of the heater 5 is performed smoothly, and heat exchange for heating is promoted. be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of one example of the device of the present invention;
2 is a front view of the bottom of the hot water storage tank in the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line B-B, and FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional water heater. 1... Hot water tank, 5... Heater, 6... Water supply valve,
10...Water supply passage, 10a...Lower edge, 21...
Water supply port, 22...lower bottom, 29...stepped portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A heater 5 is provided at the bottom of the hot water tank 1 which is open to the atmosphere, and a water supply port 21 is provided at the top of the hot water tank 1. A water supply passage 10 is provided which extends vertically to supply water from the water supply port 21 to the bottom of the hot water tank 1, and the lower edge 10a of the wall forming the water supply passage 10 is connected to the upper edge of the heater 5. A hot water supply device characterized in that the heater 5 is fixed by pressing the heater 5 against the wall. 2. The bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 has a stepped bottom 22 with the part directly below the heater 5 lowered than the surrounding part, and the heater 5 is received by the stepped part 29. A water heater according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim.