KR100230127B1 - Method and apparatus for preventing freezing of a warm-water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention device in a hot water heater capable of efficient freezing prevention operation.

When it is detected that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature, the circulation pump 18 is operated to circulate and mix water in a heating circuit including at least one terminal heater, and to detect that the average temperature of the circulation water is below a predetermined temperature. When the heating hot water generating means (3) is operated to prevent the freezing operation.

Description

Freezing prevention method and freezing prevention device in hot water heater

The present invention relates to a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention apparatus in a hot water heater.

In detail, the present invention relates to a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention apparatus in a hot water heater capable of efficient freezing prevention operation.

Conventional hot water heaters are provided with heating hot water generating means for generating hot water by burning gas, and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying the hot water to the terminal heater through a heating circuit.

Since the heating circuit leading to the terminal heater is often exposed to the outside air, it is necessary to prevent freezing in winter. Usually, in such a hot water heater, the freezing prevention operation is performed by circulating the hot water generating means and the circulation pump to supply the hot water necessary for freezing prevention to each terminal heater through the circulation system circuit when the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature. .

This freezing prevention operation is performed by operating the heating hot water generating means intermittently and at a low temperature to circulate hot water necessary for freezing prevention to each terminal heater.

The water temperature in the heating circuit from the hot water heater main body to each terminal heater varies depending on the place. That is, the water temperature in the hot water heater main body and each terminal heater is relatively high.

On the other hand, since the piping from the hot water heater to each terminal heater has a lot of exposed parts, the water temperature of that part is low.

On the other hand, the water temperature measurement, which is performed to determine whether the heating hot water generating means is operated or not, is performed after about one minute has elapsed from the start of the circulation pump, and it is determined that the freezing prevention operation is necessary when the measured value is 20 ° C. or lower. Is controlled.

By the way, if the water temperature of the water passing through the water temperature detection means at the time of water temperature measurement is 20 degrees C or less, the freeze prevention operation will be performed even if the water temperature of the parts other than a piping is high. That is, the freezing prevention operation is executed even when only some of the temperature water of the circulating water flowing through the heating circuit is low.

Therefore, even if the water temperature (average water temperature) as the whole circulating water flowing through the heating circuit is high, it is not necessary to execute the freeze protection operation to operate the heating hot water generating means. Therefore, it cannot be said that energy efficiency is high.

The present invention has been devised based on the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention apparatus in a hot water heater capable of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems and performing an efficient freezing prevention operation.

1 is a schematic diagram of a hot water heater according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a control system in the hot water heater according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing an example of the freezing prevention operation according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: hot water heating device 3: heating hot water generating means

13a: high temperature side terminal heater 13b: high temperature side terminal heater

13c: high temperature side terminal heating circuit 14: high temperature side terminal heating circuit

15a: low temperature terminal heater 15b: low temperature terminal heater

15c: low temperature terminal heating circuit 16: low temperature terminal heating circuit

18: circulation pump 19: water temperature detection means

23: low temperature detection thermistor (freezing danger temperature detection means)

24: thermal valve (circuit opening and closing means) 25: central control device (control means)

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention seeks the following technical means.

The invention described in the first claim of the present invention, a hot water having a heating hot water generating means and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to one or two or more terminal heaters through a heating circuit. In the heater, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature and water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the circulating water in the heating circuit are formed to detect the temperature below the freezing danger temperature. By operating the circulation pump to circulate and mix the water of the heating circuit including at least one terminal heater, and to prevent freezing by operating the heating hot water generating means based on detecting that the average temperature of the circulating water is below a predetermined temperature Characterized in that the driving is performed.

Hot water heaters include not only hot water by burning gas, but also hot water by burning petroleum, and hot water by electric power.

"Freezing danger temperature" refers to the temperature at which moisture in the circuit begins to freeze and may be based on atmospheric temperature, water temperature, etc. Although the actual freezing temperature varies depending on the installation location of the hot water heater, the location of each circuit, and the quality of the water, in general, since the water freezes below 0 degrees Celsius, the temperature slightly higher than 0 degrees Celsius is set as the freezing risk temperature. It is desirable to control. In addition, the place where the freezing danger temperature is detected is not particularly limited and can be detected in the body of the hot water heater or the terminal heater.

As the freezing risk detection means, for example, various temperature sensors such as thermistors and thermocouples can be employed. In addition, the water temperature detecting means may employ various temperature sensors as in the freezing hazard temperature detecting means.

The number of terminal heaters according to the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be applied to one or two or more terminal heaters connected to each other. In particular, when a plurality of terminal heaters are connected, the water temperature in the heating circuits reaching the terminal heaters is different, so that freezing prevention operation can be efficiently performed by circulating and mixing the water in these circuits.

Further, in the case where a plurality of terminal heaters are provided, when one terminal heater is heated immediately before the freeze protection operation, hot water generated by the heating operation can be used to prevent freezing of the entire circuit. Can increase.

In addition, since the water temperature is different depending on the part of the circuit as described above, the effect of circulating and mixing the water in the heating circuit prior to the freeze protection operation can be expected by performing in a circuit including at least one terminal heater. Of course, it is preferable to circulate and mix the water of the entire heating circuit including all the terminal heaters.

"Average temperature of circulating water" means the average temperature of the water in the heating circuit mixed with each other by being circulated by the circulation pump. By operating the circulation pump, the water in the heating circuit is mixed and the temperature is averaged to reach the average temperature.

In the present invention, after operating the circulation pump until the temperature of the circulating water is averaged, it is possible to determine the necessity of the freezing prevention operation by detecting the water temperature. In addition, the temperature change of the circulating water that changes every time is detected in real time to obtain an average temperature prediction value, and the necessity of the freeze prevention operation can be determined based on this prediction value.

The freezing prevention operation is executed by circulating hot water necessary for freezing prevention to each terminal heater by operating the heating hot water generating means intermittently and at a low temperature.

The invention described in the second claim of the present invention, the hot water having a heating hot water generating means and a circulation pump for circulating the hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to one or more terminal heaters through a heating circuit In the heater, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature and water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the circulating water in the heating circuit are formed to detect the temperature below the freezing danger temperature. By operating the circulation pump to circulate and mix the water of the heating circuit including at least one or more terminal heaters, and freezing by operating the heating hot water generating means on the basis of detecting that the average water temperature of the circulating water is below a predetermined temperature Forming a control means for performing the preventive operation, when circulating the water of the entire heating circuit including all terminal heaters It standing characterized by mixed.

The control means controls the operation of the heating hot water generating means and the circulation pump based on the information from the freezing hazard temperature detecting means and the water temperature detecting means.

It is also possible to circulate and mix the water in the heating circuit to one terminal heater, and to judge whether or not to carry out the freeze prevention operation based on the water temperature of the circulating water, and to control the water in all the heating circuits to all the terminal heaters. By circulating and mixing, it is possible to judge whether or not to perform the freezing prevention operation based on the water temperature of the circulating water.

In particular, by circulating and mixing the water of the entire heating circuit including all the terminal heaters, it is possible to determine the necessity of the anti-freezing operation with high accuracy, it is possible to further increase the energy efficiency.

In addition, as in the invention described in the third claim of the present invention, when the hot water heater is a hot water heater configured to exchange information between the terminal heater and hot water control, the heating valves and the like of all heating terminals are opened and closed by the control means. By controlling so as to make it possible to mix the water of the entire heating circuit including all the terminal heaters.

As the control means, it is preferable to configure the control circuit using a microcomputer.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described concretely based on drawing.

1 shows a schematic configuration of a warm water heater to which the present invention is applied.

The hot water heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called hot water supply hot water having hot water supply hot water generating means 2 for supplying hot water to a faucet or a bathtub and heating hot water generating means 3 for circulating and supplying hot water to a terminal heater. The present invention is applied to a heater. The hot water generating means (2) and the heating hot water generating means (3) are arranged in these hot water generating means (2, 3) by burners (2a, 3a) for burning the gas supplied through the gas supply pipe (4). The water flowing through the hot water supply heating circuit 5 and the heating water heating circuit 6 is configured to be heated respectively.

In this embodiment, the wood object is also heated by the hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means 3, and the water heat exchanger 7 for liquid-liquid heat exchange heats the bath water. It is provided in the circuit 8.

The hot water supply circuit (9) for branching from the hot water heating circuit (5) of the hot water generating means (2) to hot water into the bath (B) through the bath water heating circuit (8) is formed, and this hot water hot water circuit (9) The hot water solenoid valve 10 is provided in the middle. The bath water heating circuit 8 is provided with a bath pump 11 for circulating the bath water in the bath B.

High temperature terminal heating circuit 14 provided with high temperature terminal heaters 13a, 13b, and 13c such as hot air heaters, and low temperature terminal heating circuit provided with low temperature terminal heaters 15a, 15b, and 15c of floor heating systems. (16), and the bypass circuit for connecting the upstream side and the downstream side of the high temperature terminal heater in communication with each other and the liquid-liquid heat exchange by circulating hot water to the water heat exchanger (7) ( 12 is branched off from the heating water heating circuit 6. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the heating water heating circuit 6, the high temperature side terminal heating circuit 14 and the low temperature side terminal heating circuit 16 constitute a heating circuit.

The hot water flowing through each circuit is recovered to the water tank 17 and is configured to be circulated to each circuit by the circulation pump 18.

In the heating water heating circuit 6, the hot water heating water temperature detecting means 19 is formed on the tapping side of the heating hot water generating means 3, and the low temperature heating water temperature is located upstream of the low temperature terminal heating circuit 16. The detection means 20 is formed. In this embodiment, thermistors are employed as these water temperature detection means.

In addition, although the detailed description is omitted, the temperature sensor 21, the water quantity sensor 22, etc., in addition to the water temperature detection means 19 and 20 are installed at predetermined portions of each circuit of the hot water heater 1, By adjusting the amount of water, the amount of heating, etc., it is configured to be hot water at the desired amount and temperature.

In this embodiment, the low temperature detection thermistor 23 is adopted as the freezing danger temperature detection means. The low temperature detection thermistor 23 is provided near the combustion air intake port of the hot water heater 1, and is configured to detect whether the temperature of the outside air flowing from the intake port is below the freezing danger temperature.

In the heating circuit in the hot water heater main body, a bypass circuit 26 is formed in which the upstream side and the downstream side of the high temperature side terminal heating circuit are connected in series. This bypass circuit 26 is formed for the purpose of preventing the water in the circuit from boiling when the heating hot water generating means 3 is started. The bypass circuit 26 is configured to narrow the pipe so that hot water flows during the heating operation so as to prevent the loss of energy.

On the other hand, in the bypass circuit 12 for a bath, a thermal valve 24 is provided as a circuit opening and closing means on an upstream side of the heat exchanger 7 for water, and is opened when the bath water is heated. It is configured to be.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c, 15a, 15b, and 15c includes a circuit for controlling the circulation of water to the circulation circuits 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, and 16c. The thermal valves 27a to 27f, the room temperature sensors 28a to 28f provided to each terminal heater to detect room temperature, the terminal side control devices 29a to 29f, and the operation units 30a to 30f are respectively provided. . When the hot water is circulated by the terminal heaters, the respective thermal valves 27a to 27f are opened, and when the hot water is not circulated, the respective thermal valves 27a to 27f are closed.

Control of the hot water heater 1 according to the present embodiment is executed by the central control unit 25 in which the microcomputer is combined as shown in FIG. The central control unit 25 is connected to the hot water supply means (2), heating hot water generation means (3), low temperature sensing thermistor (23), water temperature detection means (19, 20) and the like in the body of the hot water heater (1) The hot water supply temperature and the hot water supply amount of the hot water heater 1 are controlled, and connected to the respective terminal side control devices 29a to 29f provided in the terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c, 15a, 15b, and 15c. The terminal-side control devices 29a to 29f and the central control device 25 exchange information with each other to perform opening / closing control of the thermal valves 27a to 27f of each terminal heater.

For example, when the start of heating is instructed by the operation unit 30a of the terminal heater 13a, the thermal valve 27a of the terminal heater is opened through the terminal side control device 29a, and at the same time, the central controller 25 is opened. Heating start information is entered. Then, the heating hot water generating means 3 or the like is operated based on the information from the terminal heater 13a. Further, when the freezing prevention operation mode described later is entered, the thermal valve 27a is opened through the terminal-side control device 29a based on the information from the central control device 25.

Further, the room temperature information obtained by the room temperature sensor 28a is sent to the central control unit 25 through the terminal side control unit 29a, and at the same time, the thermal valve 27a is controlled to start the freezing prevention operation. And the like to instruct the central controller 25.

3 is a flowchart of the freezing prevention operation performed by the control device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the temperature in the hot water heater detected by the low temperature sensing thermistor 23 becomes 3 ° C or lower (S101) during the heating operation stop (S100), the freezing prevention operation mode is entered. When the freezing prevention operation mode is entered, the circulation pump 18 is operated and the thermal valves of all the terminal heaters are opened at step S102.

By operating the circulation pump for 3 minutes to uniform the water temperature of the heating water of the entire heating circuit (S103). The operation time of the circulation pump may be a time for circulating and mixing the water in the heating circuit to equalize the water temperature, and can be changed according to the length of the heating circuit. The homogenization of this water temperature is achieved by recovering to the water tank 17 and detected by the high temperature heating water temperature detection means 19 provided downstream of the water tank 17.

When the detected water temperature does not rise above 20 ° C even by circulation and mixing (S104), it is determined that the freezing prevention operation is necessary and the burner 3a is burned to operate the heating hot water generating means (S105).

After operating the heating hot water generating means, when the water temperature of the heating water becomes 60 ° C. or more or after 3 minutes (S106), combustion of the burner 3a is stopped to stop the heating hot water generating means (S107). Thereafter, the circulation pump is stopped and the thermal valves of all the terminal heaters are closed (S108) to terminate the freezing prevention operation.

At the same time as the end of the freezing prevention operation, the interval timer is started to start the heating hot water generating means 3 and the circulation pump 18 at a predetermined intermittent idle time (S109). The intermittent pause time is set in advance according to the temperature change in the heating pipe, the length of the heating pipe, the number of terminal heaters, and the like.

When the hot water supply hot water generating means 2 is operated to hot water the hot water during this intermittent holiday (S110), the heating side intake fan 3b attached to the heating hot water generating means 3 is usually configured to operate. The heating side intake fan 3b is operated by the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port 2c of the hot water generating means 2 being re-sucked by the exhaust port 3c of the heating hot water generating means 3 to supply the hot water producing means 2. Burner) may cause incomplete combustion. This phenomenon occurs particularly easily when the exhaust ports 2c and 3c are formed in parallel on the front surface of the main body of the hot water heater 1.

When the heating side intake fan 3b attached to the heating hot water generating means 3 is operated by the use of the hot water producing means 2, although the burner 3a of the heating hot water generating means 3 does not operate. The outside air is then introduced into the combustion chamber of the heating hot water generating means 3. Therefore, the risk that the heat absorbing portion of the heating water heating circuit 6 is locally cooled and frozen is increased.

In this embodiment, the heating side intake fan 3b and the circulation pump 18 are operated in association with the operation of the hot water supply hot water generating means 2 and the hot water supply side intake fan 2b (S112). When the circulation pump 18 is operated, water is circulated through the bypass circuit 26 formed between the tapping and returning sides of the terminal heater in the hot water heater body. In addition, in the present embodiment, the circulation pump 18 is operated and the thermal valve 24 of the bathtub bypass circuit 12 is opened to circulate water through the bathtub bypass circuit 12. It is.

By circulating water in the hot water heater main body, the above-mentioned local freezing can be effectively prevented. Moreover, since at least the water temperature in a circulation circuit becomes uniform, even when circulating and mixing water of the whole circuit (S102), time to reach average temperature is shortened.

When water is circulated in the hot water heater, the thermal valves 27a to 27f of the terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c, 15a, 15b, and 15c are provided with the central controller 25 and the terminal controller 29a. Through 29f). This is because when water is circulated throughout the heating circuit leading to the terminal heater, the hot water in the external pipe generated by the low temperature combustion of the heating hot water generating means is also circulated, and the temperature is lowered, thereby reducing the effect of the freezing prevention operation.

When the intermittent pause time is completed during the operation of the hot water supply means 2 (S113), the heating valves are circulated again by opening the thermal valves of all the terminal heaters (S102), and if necessary, Operate to low temperature combustion (S105) and enter the freeze protection operation of the heating circuit.

On the other hand, if the hot water supply hot water generating means 2 and the hot water supply side intake fan 2b are stopped before the end of the intermittent pause period (S114), the circulation pump is stopped while the heating side intake fan 3b is stopped ( S115) Wait for the end of the down time.

In this embodiment, after stopping the said circulation pump 18, the temperature in the main body of a hot water heater is measured, and when it is 7 degreeC or more (S116), it determines that it is not necessary to perform a freeze prevention operation, and cancels a freeze prevention operation mode. Then, the low temperature detecting thermistor 23 detects the freezing danger temperature to determine whether to enter the freezing prevention operation mode.

In addition, even if the hot water supply and hot water generating means 2 does not operate, it is configured to release the freeze protection operation mode by determining whether the freeze protection operation is necessary by the low temperature detection thermistor 23 as described above (S117). Therefore, it becomes possible to execute the freeze prevention operation only when necessary, thereby avoiding waste of energy.

The present invention opens the thermal valves of all the terminal heaters before performing the freeze protection operation, circulates and mixes the water in the entire heating circuits 14 and 16, and heats the heating water only when the average temperature of the circulating water is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The generating means 3 is operated to execute the freezing prevention operation.

By circulating and mixing the water in the heating circuits 14 and 16, the temperature of the circulating water in the circuit becomes constant. Since it is possible to judge whether or not the freezing prevention operation is performed on the basis of the uniform water temperature, the freezing prevention operation is not executed based only on the fact that the water temperature is locally lowered. Therefore, the energy efficiency in the freeze protection operation can be increased, and the effective freeze protection operation can be performed.

In addition, when the temperature of the circuit is locally low, the freezing prevention effect can be expected only by circulating the water.

In addition, when there is a terminal heater that has been heated just before entering the freeze protection operation, the high temperature hot water generated by this heating operation can be used to prevent freezing of other parts, thereby further increasing the efficiency. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In this embodiment, the circulating water is controlled to reach the average temperature by operating the circulation pump 18 for 3 minutes (S103). However, the piping length of the heating circuit, the number of terminal heaters, and the like, the opening time of the thermal valve in each terminal heater. The circulation and mixing time can be changed depending on the like.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a hot water heater having a hot water producing means 2 and a heating hot water generating means 3, but can also be applied to a hot water heater having only heating hot water generating means.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the water of the whole heating circuit including all the single-heaters is circulated and mixed simultaneously, the terminal heaters are, for example, the high-temperature terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c and the low-temperature terminal heater 15a. 15b, 15c), and may be configured to circulate and mix the water in the heating circuit for each group to determine whether the cryoprotection operation is necessary, and to perform the cryoprotection operation for each group if necessary.

In the present embodiment, whether or not the freezing prevention operation is judged on the basis of the average water temperature in which the water of the heating circuits 14 and 16 is mixed in the water tank 17 is uniform. It does not need to be based on the water temperature afterwards, and it is also possible to calculate the predicted value of the average water temperature by measuring the temperature change of the circulating water in real time and to control it based on this calculated value.

By circulating and mixing the water in the heating circuit, the temperature of the circulating water in the circuit is made uniform.

Since it is possible to judge whether or not the freezing prevention operation is performed on the basis of the uniform water temperature, the freezing prevention operation is not executed based only on the fact that the water temperature is locally lowered. Therefore, the energy efficiency in the freeze protection operation can be increased, and the effective freeze protection operation can be performed. In addition, when the temperature of the circuit is locally low, the freezing prevention effect can be expected only by circulating the water.

In addition, when the heating operation is performed immediately before entering the freezing prevention operation, the high temperature hot water generated by the heating operation can be used to prevent freezing of other portions, thereby further increasing the efficiency.

Claims (3)

A hot water heater comprising a heating hot water generating means and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to one or two or more terminal heaters through a heating circuit, wherein the hot water heater has a temperature below a freezing hazard temperature. At least one terminal heater by operating the circulation pump on the basis of detecting the freezing hazard temperature detecting means and the water temperature detecting means detecting the temperature of the circulating water in the heating circuit, and detecting that the temperature is below the freezing hazard temperature. And circulating and mixing the water of the heating circuit, and performing a freeze prevention operation by operating the heating hot water generating means on the basis of detecting that the average water temperature of the circulating water is below a predetermined temperature. In freezing prevention method. A hot water heater comprising a heating hot water generating means and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to one or two or more terminal heaters through a heating circuit, the temperature being below a freezing danger temperature. At least one terminal heater by operating the circulation pump on the basis of detecting the freezing hazard temperature detecting means and the water temperature detecting means detecting the temperature of the circulating water in the heating circuit, and detecting that the temperature is below the freezing hazard temperature. Forming a control means for circulating and mixing the water of the heating circuit comprising a; and by operating the heating hot water generating means on the basis of detecting that the average water temperature of the circulating water is below a predetermined temperature, to perform a freeze prevention operation, In the hot water heater, characterized in that by circulating and mixing the water of the heating circuit including all the terminal heater. Standing freeze protection. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hot water heater is a hot water heater configured to control hot water supply by exchanging information between the terminal heater and the terminal heater.

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