KR100230129B1 - Method and apparatus for preventing freezing of a warm-water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

[assignment]

Provided is a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention apparatus in a hot water heater capable of performing efficient freezing prevention operation.

[Resolution]

While circulating water in each of the circulation circuits 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, and 16c sequentially, heating is performed for a circulation system circuit in which the water temperature of the circulation water detected by the water temperature detection means 19 is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature. The hot water generated by the hot water generating means 3 is circulated to supply freezing prevention 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. That is, the present invention relates to a freezing prevention method and a freezing prevention apparatus in a hot water heater capable of selectively performing a freezing prevention operation for a circuit requiring a freezing prevention operation.

For example, the gas hot water heater has a heating hot water generating means for generating hot water by burning a gas using a gas burner, and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying the hot water to the terminal heater through a heating circuit. have.

The heating circuit for circulating and supplying hot water to the plurality of terminal heaters is configured by connecting a plurality of circulation system circuits including each terminal heater in parallel, and through each of the circuits, the heating circuit generates hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means. It is configured to circulate the furnace.

Since the heating circuit connected to each terminal heater is exposed to the outside air in many cases, it is necessary to prevent freezing in winter. Therefore, when it is detected that the temperature falls below a predetermined freezing danger temperature, the heating and hot water generating means is operated to perform the freezing prevention operation.

This freezing prevention operation measures the water temperature, the outside air temperature, etc. of the heating circuit by a temperature detecting means such as a thermistor. When the detected water temperature is below the temperature required for freezing prevention, the heating hot water generating means is operated intermittently to prevent freezing. It is executed by intermittently circulating hot water required for each terminal heater.

Each terminal heater differs in installation conditions and operating conditions, and also insulates conditions of a circulating circuit including these terminal heaters.

On the other hand, since the freeze protection operation in the conventional hot water heater is performed for all terminal heaters, hot water is circulated and supplied to the terminal heaters which do not need freezing prevention. For this reason, the energy efficiency of the freezing prevention operation is not said to be good.

In addition, the conventional freeze protection operation is controlled to circulate and supply hot water for freezing prevention to all the terminal heaters at the same time, the head of the circulation pump is also lowered, the amount of hot water supplied to each terminal heater is reduced by that much. For this reason, there was a possibility that the hot water heater having a large pipe resistance could not be circulated and supplied with the amount of hot water required for freezing prevention.

The present invention provides a freeze protection method and a freeze protection device in a hot water heater capable of performing efficient freeze prevention operation by selectively supplying hot water to a circulation system circuit and a terminal heater requiring freeze protection. It is a task.

1 is a schematic diagram of a hot water heater.

2 is a block diagram showing a control system in a hot water heater.

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

4 is a circuit configuration diagram according to another embodiment.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

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

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

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

14a: fourth circulation system circuit 14b: fifth circulation system circuit

14c: 6th circulation system circuit 15a: low temperature terminal heater

15b: low temperature terminal heater 15c: low temperature terminal heater

16: low temperature side terminal heating circuit 16a: first circulation system circuit

16b: second circulation system circuit 16c: third circulation system 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)

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In order to solve the said subject, the following technical means are calculated | required.

The invention described in the first claim of the present invention, the heating hot water generating means, a heating circuit including a plurality of circulation system circuits, and hot water generated by the heating hot water generation means is circulated to the terminal heater through the circulation system circuit A hot water heater provided with a circulation pump for supplying, comprising: circuit opening / closing means for controlling water supply to the circulation system circuit, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below the freezing risk temperature, and circulating water flowing through the heating circuit By forming a water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the temperature, by operating the circulation pump by detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature, and operating the circuit opening and closing means of each circulation system circuit sequentially, the water in each circulation system circuit The circulation system circuit which circulates sequentially and whose water temperature of the circulating water detected by the water temperature detecting means is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature. Registration, and registered in the circulation loop circuit, supplying circulating hot water generated in the heating hot water generating means is characterized by executing the freeze prevention operation.

The hot water heater includes not only a hot water heater that burns gas to generate hot water, but also a variety of hot water heaters such as a hot water heater that generates hot water by burning petroleum and a hot water heater that generates hot water by electric power.

The circulation circuit is branched in parallel to the tapping-side piping and the circulation water-side piping extending from the hot water heater main body, and is each circulation circuit including each terminal heater. Moreover, as a terminal heater, various apparatuses, such as a warm air fan apparatus and a hot water floor heating apparatus, can be employ | adopted. Moreover, the number is not limited, either.

The circuit opening and closing means controls the circulation of water to each circulation system circuit, and specifically, a thermal valve, a solenoid valve, or the like can be employed.

The freezing hazard temperature refers to the temperature at which moisture in the circuit starts to freeze and can be based on atmospheric temperature, water temperature, etc. The actual freezing temperature varies depending on the location of the hot water heater and the circuit, the quality of the water, etc., but in general, water freezes below 0 ° C, so it is preferable to set the temperature slightly above 0 ° C as the freezing hazard temperature. In addition, the place where the freezing danger temperature is detected is not particularly limited and can be detected by the terminal heater in the hot water heater body.

As the freezing hazard temperature 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 the freezing hazard temperature detecting means.

The present invention determines the freezing risk of each circulation circuit by circulating the circulation water of each circulation circuit individually and detects the water temperature, and registers the circulation circuit with the risk of freezing. Then, the hot water is selectively supplied to the registered circulation system circuit to prevent freezing.

In the case where there are a plurality of circuits having a risk of freezing, hot water may be circulated simultaneously to these circuits, or hot water may be sequentially supplied at a time shifted.

The invention described in the second claim of the present invention, a heating circuit comprising a heating hot water generating means, a plurality of circulation system circuits, and hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means is circulated to the terminal heater through the circulation system circuit A freezing prevention device in a hot water heater provided with a circulation pump for supplying, comprising: circuit opening and closing means for controlling water supply to the circulation system circuit, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below a freezing danger temperature, and the heating Forming a water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the circulating water flowing through the circuit, by operating the circulation pump by detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature, and simultaneously operating the circuit opening and closing means of each circulation system circuit, each circulation The water temperature of the circulating water detected by the water temperature detection means is circulated sequentially through the water of the system circuit. Register the servant circulation system circuit, and form a control means for circulating supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to execute the freezing prevention operation in the registered circulation circuit, and to all the circulation system circuits having a risk of freezing. It is characterized in that the hot water is circulated and supplied at the same time to execute the freezing prevention operation.

The control means stores in advance the freezing danger temperature and the water temperature as reference. And, by comparing the reference temperature and the information by the freezing hazard temperature detection means and the water temperature detection means to control the operation of the circulation pump, hot water generating means and the like. It is also configured to memorize the circulatory system circuit determined that there is a risk of freezing. It is preferable that the control means be configured to have a microcomputer and a storage device.

By the program embedded in the microcomputer, the freezing prevention operation can be executed by circulating and supplying hot water to all the circulation system circuits in which there is a risk of freezing.

In addition, as in the invention described in the third claim of the present invention, hot water may be separately supplied sequentially to a circulation circuit having a risk of freezing.

Further, the invention described in the fourth claim of the present invention applies the present invention to a hot water heater configured to control operation by exchanging information between the terminal heater and the unit.

The conventional terminal heater is controlled separately from the body of the hot water heater, so that neither the hot water heater body nor the terminal heater enters the freezing prevention mode, and the freezing prevention operation of each heating circuit is not performed. For this reason, if the conditions are different in the hot water heater and the terminal heater, there is a fear that the freezing prevention operation is not performed even though the freezing prevention is required, causing the heating circuit to freeze. The invention described in the present invention is configured to perform information exchange between the hot water heater main body and the terminal heater to individually control the thermal valves of each circulation system circuit, thereby performing a reasonable and reliable freezing prevention operation.

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

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

The hot water heater shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called hot water heater, which is provided with 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 (1).

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) which are supplied with gas and burned in the gas supply pipe (4). The water flowing in the hot water heating circuit 5 and the heating water heating circuit 6 is configured to be heated respectively.

In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 7 for water warming is comprised so that bath water may be heated by the hot water produced | generated by the said heating hot water generation means 3, and liquid-liquid type heat exchange is carried out. It is provided in the warming 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 the bathtub The hot water solenoid valve 10 is provided in the middle of the hot water circuit 9. The bath water circuit (8) is provided with a bath pump (11) for circulating the bath water in the bath (B).

In this embodiment, the high temperature side terminal heating circuit 14 provided with the high temperature terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c, such as a warm air heating apparatus, and the low temperature terminal heaters 15a, 15b, 15c, such as a floor heating apparatus, are used. It is formed by connecting the installed low-temperature terminal heating circuit 16 and the upstream and downstream sides of the high-temperature terminal heater in a circulating manner, and circulates and supplies hot water to the water heat exchanger 7 for liquid-liquid heat exchange. The bypass circuit 12 for a bath is branched off from the heating water heating circuit 6.

The high temperature side terminal heating circuit 14 and the low temperature side terminal heating circuit 16 are configured by connecting circulating system circuits 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, and 16c including each terminal heater in parallel. The terminal heating circuits 14 and 16 including these circulation circuits and the heating water circuit 6 constitute a heating circuit.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the terminal heaters 13a, 13b, 13c, 15a, 15b, and 15c controls circulation of water to each circulation circuit 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, and 16c. Thermal valves (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f), room temperature sensors (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f) and end-side control devices (29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e, 29f) ) And operation sections 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f are respectively provided. When the hot water is circulated by the terminal heaters, the thermal valves 27a to 27f are opened, and when the hot water is not circulated, the thermal valves 27a to 27f are closed.

The hot water flowing through each circuit is recovered to the water tank 17 and is reheated by the heating hot water generating means 3 to be circulated and supplied to each circuit by the circulation pump 18.

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

In addition, although the detailed description is omitted, a predetermined portion of each circuit of the hot water heater (1) is provided with a temperature sensor (21), a water quantity sensor (22), etc., in addition to the temperature detection means (19, 20), By controlling the amount of water, the amount of heating and the like to be able to hot water the desired amount of water at a predetermined 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 and the hot water heater 1, and is configured to detect whether or not the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature by detecting the temperature of the outside air introduced from the intake port.

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

Control of the hot water heater / heater 1 according to the present embodiment is executed by the central controller 25 in which the microcomputer is combined, as shown in FIG. In addition, the central control unit 25 is connected to the hot water generating means (2), the heating hot water generating means (3), the water temperature detecting means (19, 20), etc. in the main body of the hot water heater (1), hot water temperature, While controlling the amount of hot water supply, each terminal heater 13a, 13b, 13c, 15a, 15b, 15c is connected to respective terminal side control devices 29a to 29f. When the terminal side control devices 29a to 29f and the central control device 25 exchange information with each other and the heating start is instructed by the operation unit 30a of each terminal heater 1a, the terminal side control device ( The heating start information is pressurized by the central control unit 25 at the same time as the thermal valve 27a of the terminal heater is opened through 29a). 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 via the terminal side control device 29a 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 the thermal valve 27a is controlled to start the freeze 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 is detected by the low temperature sensing thermistor 23 in the heating operation device (s100) becomes 3 ° C or less (s101), the freezing prevention operation mode is entered.

First, in the present embodiment, the circulation pump 18 is operated (S102) and the thermal valve 27d of the low temperature terminal heater 15a is opened (S103) to circulate water in the first circulation system circuit 16a. Let's do it.

When the water temperature of the circulating water in the first circulation system circuit is not measured by the high temperature side water temperature detecting means 19 and does not reach 20 ° C. (S104), the freezing prevention operation is performed on the first circulation system circuit 16a. After determining that it is necessary, it registers in the memory | storage device of the central control apparatus 25 (S105), and the said thermal valve 27d is closed.

On the other hand, when the water temperature is 20 ° C or more, it is determined that the freezing prevention operation for the first circulation system 16a is not necessary and closes the thermal valve of the first circulation system circuit as it is (S106).

Next, the thermal valve 27e of the low temperature terminal heater 15b is opened (S107), and water in the second circulation system circuit 16b is circulated. If the temperature of the circulating water is not reached at 20 ° C. as described above (S108), it is determined that the freezing prevention operation is necessary and registered in the storage device of the central controller 25 (S109). While closing (27e) (S110), if it is determined that the freeze protection operation is not necessary at 20 ° C or more, the thermal valve 27e of the second circulation system circuit is closed as it is (S110).

Opening of the thermal valve of the terminal heater and water temperature detection are carried out in the same manner for the remaining circulation circuits 16c, 14a, 14b, and 14c, and the central control unit 25 for the circuit determined to be freeze-proof operation is required. Register. In addition, in FIG. 3, each process of the said 4th circulation system circuit 14a and the 5th circulation system circuit 14b is abbreviate | omitted and shown.

After finishing the above processes for the sixth circulation system circuit 14c, all the thermal valves of the circulation system circuit registered in the central control unit 25 are opened (S119) to operate the heating hot water generating means (3). (S120), the hot water is circulated and supplied to these circulation system circuits to execute the freezing prevention operation.

When the water temperature of the circulating water by the freezing prevention operation is raised to 60 ° C. or more, or when the operating time of the heating hot water generating means elapses for 3 minutes (S121), the heating hot water generating means is stopped and at the same time (S122) the circulation pump is stopped. (S123) to end the freezing prevention operation.

The freeze protection operation in the present embodiment is configured to be executed by intermittently operating the heating hot water generating means 3 at a low temperature, and enters an idle time of the freeze protection operation by ending the freeze protection operation. This idle time is set in advance in the central control unit 25 according to the temperature change in the heating pipe, the length of the heating pipe, the number of terminal heaters, and the like.

It is configured to start the interval timer with the start of the idle time to measure the idle time (S124). On the other hand, when the idle time ends (S125), it is determined whether or not the condition for freezing prevention operation is satisfied again (S100, S101), and when it is determined that the freeze prevention operation is started again.

In the hot water heater of the above-described configuration, by circulating the water in each circulation system circuit sequentially and detecting the water temperature of the water flowing in each circulation system circuit, the risk of freezing of each circulation system circuit is individually determined, and the freezing prevention operation is performed. The necessary circuit can be extracted and registered.

Further, by circulating and supplying hot water to the registered circulation system circuit, the freezing prevention operation can be performed by selectively supplying hot water to only the circulation system circuit in which there is a risk of freezing.

Therefore, since hot water is not supplied to the circuit which does not need freezing prevention, the energy efficiency of the freezing prevention operation can be greatly improved.

In addition, since the amount of the circulating pump is increased so that the hot water is not circulated and supplied to the circulation system circuit which does not require the freezing prevention operation, a sufficient amount of hot water can be circulated and supplied to the circulation system circuit having a large pipe resistance. Therefore, highly reliable freezing prevention operation can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the thermal valve is used for opening and closing the circuit, but this is in accordance with the viewpoint of heat resistance and operation reliability in a hot water heater. However, since the thermal valve does not have high responsiveness (for example, it is "open" in about one minute after the valve opening is prevented, and "closed" in about 1.5 to 2 minutes after the valve closing instruction. The valve opening prevention and the valve closing instruction may be controlled so as to operate at the timing shown in the above-described flowchart. Therefore, in consideration of heat resistance and the like, a solenoid valve having excellent responsiveness may be used instead of the thermal valve.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the hot water heater or the hot water heater 1 provided with the hot water generator 2 and the hot water generator 3, but can also be applied to a hot water heater equipped with only the heating and hot water generator. .

In the embodiment, each of the circulation circuits is configured to include one terminal heater, but one circulation circuit may be configured including two or more terminal heaters. The number of circulation circuits is not limited to this embodiment.

In addition, it is also possible to individually determine the necessity of the freezing prevention operation by circulating water in each circulation system circuit while the thermal valve 24 of the bathtub bypass circuit 12 is opened, and closing the thermal valve 24. You may judge in a state. When the thermal valve 24 is executed in a closed state, the bathtub bypass circuit 12 is also treated as one circulation circuit, and the thermal valve is closed with the thermal valves 27a to 27f of each circulation system circuit closed. (24) can be opened to determine the risk of freezing of the bath bypass circuit 12 and to prevent freezing operation. In this case, it is preferable not to receive water in the bathtub. This is because, if there is water in the bath, it enters the freeze protection mode and at the same time the pump for the bath also operates, so the bath water is cut off.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the thermal valve is arrange | positioned at each terminal heater, each thermal valve can also be provided and controlled in each circulation system circuit in a hot water heater.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a header 32 having circuit opening and closing means in which the thermal valves 31a, 31b, and 31c are arranged intensively is provided outside the hot water heater. Each circulation system circuit may be connected to each other, and the thermal valves 31a, 31b, 31c may be controlled by control means.

The header may be provided on the circulation circuits 14a, 14b and 14c.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the freeze prevention operation | movement was performed simultaneously with respect to all the circulation system circuits which determined that the freeze prevention operation was necessary, it is a thermal valve with respect to each circulation system circuit like detecting the water temperature of each circulation system circuit. The sequential opening can be circulated supply of hot water for each circulation system circuit to execute the freezing prevention operation.

By circulating the water in each circulation system circuit sequentially and by detecting the water temperature of the water flowing through each circulation system circuit, it is possible to detect and register the circulation circuit which is at risk of freezing. In addition, by circulating and supplying hot water to the registered circulation system circuit, the freezing prevention operation may be performed by selectively supplying hot water to the circulation system circuit having a risk of freezing.

Therefore, since hot water is not supplied to the circuit which does not need the freezing prevention operation, the energy efficiency of the freezing prevention operation can be greatly improved.

In addition, since the head of the circulating pump rises as much as hot water is not circulated and supplied to the circulation system circuit which does not require freezing prevention operation, it is possible to circulate and supply a sufficient amount of hot water to the circulation system circuit having a large pipe resistance. Therefore, highly reliable freezing prevention operation can be performed.

Claims (4)

In a hot water heater having a heating hot water generating means, a heating circuit including a plurality of circulation system circuits, and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to the terminal heater through the circulation system circuit. And circuit opening / closing means for controlling water supply to the circulation system circuit, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below the freezing risk temperature, and water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the circulating water flowing through the heating circuit. By operating the circulation pump by detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature, the circulation opening and closing means of each circuit system circuit are sequentially operated, and the water of each circulation system circuit is sequentially circulated, and by the water temperature detecting means. The degree of detection registers a circulation system circuit in which the water temperature of the circulating water is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, and in the registered circulation circuit, A freeze prevention method in a hot water heater, characterized in that for performing a freeze prevention operation by circulating and supplying hot water generated by the warm water generating means. In a hot water heater having a heating hot water generating means, a heating circuit including a plurality of circulation system circuits, and a circulation pump for circulating and supplying hot water generated by the heating hot water generating means to the terminal heater through the circulation system circuit. And circuit opening / closing means for controlling water supply to the circulation system circuit, freezing danger temperature detection means for detecting that the temperature is below the freezing risk temperature, and water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the circulating water flowing through the heating circuit. By operating the circulation pump by detecting that the temperature is below the freezing danger temperature, the circuit opening and closing means of each circulation system circuit are sequentially operated, and the water of each circulation system circuit is sequentially circulated, and by the water temperature detecting means. Registering a circulation system circuit in which the detected water temperature of the circulating water is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, and in the registered circulation circuit, And forming a control means for circulating the hot water generated by the warm water generating means to execute a freezing prevention operation, wherein the freezing prevention operation simultaneously operates the circuit opening and closing means of each registered circulation circuit and A freezing prevention device in a hot water heater, characterized in that executed by circulating and supplying hot water at the same time. The hot water heater according to claim 2, wherein the freezing prevention operation is performed by sequentially operating circuit opening and closing means of each registered circulation system circuit and sequentially supplying hot water to each circulation system circuit. Freeze protection. The freezing prevention apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hot water heater is a hot water heater configured to control operation by exchanging information between the terminal heater and the terminal heater.

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