JP5195326B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus that includes a heat storage tank for storing heated hot water, and that automatically fills the hot water from the heat storage tank to the bathtub, maintains the hot water filling state, and further recovers heat to the heat storage tank by the remaining hot water in the bathtub. It is.

As a conventional hot water supply apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, hot water heated by a heating unit is stored in a heat storage tank, and hot water supply operation (hot water filling) is performed to supply the hot water to the bathtub. When the bath cools, the bathtub hot water is heated by the hot water in the upper part of the heat storage tank, and the water in the lower part of the heat storage tank is heated by the remaining hot water in the bathtub. What performs the bath heat recovery operation | movement collect | recovered in water is known.
JP 2002-195651 A

  However, the bath heat recovery operation in the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 only describes that the operation is “when the bath has been completed and unnecessary hot water remains in the bathtub”. There is no mention of operating conditions. For example, when a plurality of users take a bath and the last user's bathing time is delayed, the hot water in the bathtub is cooled.

  In addition, it is conceivable that the last user instructs the execution of the bath heat recovery, but in any case, there is a problem in usability. In addition, in order to improve usability, if the user recovers the bath heat during the time when the bathing always ends (for example, around 4 o'clock in the morning), the hot water temperature in the bathtub decreases, which is effective. It could not be said that it was possible to recover heat.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply apparatus that enables more effective heat recovery from a bath remaining hot water.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the hot water to be replenished is stored in the lower part, the hot water is generated as high temperature hot water by the heating means (20), and the heat storage tank (10) for storing the high temperature hot water, and the heat storage tank The bathtub (30) for storing the temperature-controlled hot water that has flowed out of (10) and adjusted to the set temperature, the heat exchanger (40, 80) for heating the hot water in the bathtub with the hot water, and the heat of the hot water in the bathtub Heat recovery heat exchangers (50, 80) for recovering the low temperature hot water in which the hot water is replenished at the lower part of the heat storage tank (10) and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub stored in the bathtub (30) a set scheduled period of a bath kept operating to keep the set temperature using the heating heat exchanger (40, 80), a cold water bath hot and the heat-recovery heat exchanger (50, 80) using Control means (60, In the water heater comprising a 1) and,
Automatic bathing that allows the control means (60, 61) to input an execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation after performing the hot water filling operation for storing the temperature-controlled hot water in the bathtub and ending the bath heat insulation operation. A switch (62) and a bath heat recovery switch (64) capable of inputting an execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation regardless of the input state of the bath automatic switch ,
Control means (60, 61), when the bath thus execution signal to the automatic switch (62) is input, after completion of the bath maintenance operation, executes the bath heat recovery operation, execution signal by bath automatic switch (62) When an execution signal is input by the bath heat recovery switch (64) when no is input, only the bath heat recovery operation is executed without going through the bath heat retention operation .

As a result, an execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation is input to the bath automatic switch (62) by the user, thereby enabling the bath heat recovery operation reflecting the user's intention. Moreover, since the bath heat recovery operation is executed after the bath heat insulation operation is completed, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the bath warm water in the bathtub (30) from being lowered unnecessarily and to effectively recover the heat. Become. Furthermore, when only the bath heat recovery is desired to operate, the bath heat recovery is activated by operating the bath heat recovery switch (64). Therefore, the operation can be simplified for the user who performs the bath heat recovery every time. Usability is improved.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the control means (60, 61) cancels the bath heat recovery operation after the bath heat insulation operation when the bath heat recovery switch (64) is turned OFF during the bath heat insulation operation. To do. When the bath heat recovery is not performed after the bath automatic switch (62) is operated, only the bath heat recovery can be canceled by operating the bath heat recovery switch (64), and the usability is further improved.

In the invention according to claim 3 , the heat recovery circulation path (51, 52) in which the hot water in the bathtub circulates from the bathtub (30) through the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) and returns to the bathtub (30) again. The bypass passage (54) for bypassing the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) in the heat recovery circuit (51, 52), and the branching of the heat recovery circuit (51, 52) and the bypass passage (54) Switching means (55) disposed at the point to switch the hot water flow of the bathtub to the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) side or the bypass passage (54) side, and the heat recovery circuit (51, 52) A bath hot water detecting means (72) that is disposed on the side of the bathtub (30) including the bypass passage (54) and detects the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, and the control means (60, 61) is a bath hot water detecting means. When detecting the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub according to (72), By operating replacement means (55), it is characterized in that bathtub hot water to flow the bypass passage (54) side.

  Thereby, since the distance which circulates bathtub hot water can be shortened by the bypass channel | path (54), the temperature detection of bathtub hot water can be performed correctly in a short time. Further, when the hot water in the bathtub (30) is lower than the tank lower part temperature, it is possible to prevent the heat from the heat storage tank (10) from flowing out to the bathtub (30) in advance. Loss does not occur.

In the invention according to claim 4 , the control means (60, 61) is provided with a time-measurement means (S19) for timekeeping, and time-measurement means (S19) for a predetermined time after the bath heat insulation operation is completed. It is characterized in that the bath heat recovery operation is executed after the time is counted by the above. Thus, for example, even if the user accidentally cancels the bath heat insulation operation, the bath heat recovery operation is not executed for a predetermined time from the end of the heat insulation operation. It can prevent that the temperature of bathtub hot water falls by bath heat recovery operation.

In the invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that it comprises control the control means (60, 61) is display means for displaying associated a bath heat recovery operation to be executed (63). Thereby, the user can recognize clearly that it is in a bath heat recovery operation state.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the display means (63) changes the display method between the standby state and the operation state of the bath heat recovery. Thereby, the display of the ON state (standby state) of the bath heat recovery switch (64) and the state where the bath heat recovery operation is actually performed are different, and the user can recognize that the bath heat recovery is being operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of the bath heat recovery.

In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis attached | subjected to each said means is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the hot water supply apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. 1 and FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a heat pump hot water supply apparatus 100A using a heat pump unit (heating means in the present invention) 20, and FIG. 2 shows a control apparatus (control means in the present invention) 60. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing at the time of the bath heat collection | recovery driving | operation performed by.

  A heat pump hot water supply apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a hot water supply apparatus) 100A of the present embodiment is used for general household use, and stores hot water generated by the heat pump unit 20 in the heat storage tank 10 (boiling operation). ), Supply the stored hot water to the kitchen, washroom, bath, etc. (hot water supply operation, hot water operation). Furthermore, in addition to the hot water supply function, the hot water supply apparatus 100A maintains the water level and temperature of the bath 30 filled with hot water (addition hot water operation, heat insulation operation), and also stores heat from the remaining hot water after bathing. 10 also has a function of performing heat recovery (low-temperature heat recovery operation) to low-temperature hot water in the lower part of 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water supply apparatus 100A includes a heat storage tank 10, various hot water supply pipes 13A, 13B, 15, 16, a heat pump unit 20 as a heating means, a bathtub 30, a heat exchanger 40 for heating, and heat for heat recovery. The exchanger 50, the control means 60 and 61, each thermistor 71 and 72 as a hot water temperature detection means are provided.

  The heat storage tank 10 is a container for storing hot water for hot water supply, and is made of a metal (for example, stainless steel) having excellent corrosion resistance, and a heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged on the outer peripheral portion so that hot water can be supplied for a long time. It is possible to keep the temperature warm. The heat storage tank 10 has a vertically long shape and is provided with an introduction port 10a on the bottom surface. The introduction port 10a is an introduction pipe as an introduction channel for supplying hot water (tap water) into the heat storage tank 10. 11 is connected.

  On the other hand, a lead-out port 10b is provided at the top of the heat storage tank 10, and a high-temperature take-out pipe serving as a hot water supply channel for leading out hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 is provided in the lead-out port 10b. 13A is connected. Moreover, in the outlet 10e formed in the substantially central part of the heat storage tank 10 in the vertical direction, the hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 has an intermediate temperature lower than the hot water accumulated from the top. An intermediate temperature extraction pipe 13B for extracting hot water is connected, and the intermediate temperature extraction pipe 13B joins with the high temperature extraction pipe 13A from the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 on the downstream side.

  A high / intermediate temperature mixing valve 14A, which is a flow rate adjusting valve, is provided at the downstream junction of the high temperature extraction pipe 13A and the intermediate temperature extraction pipe 13B. This high / intermediate temperature mixing valve 14A is a temperature adjustment valve that adjusts the temperature of hot water supplied to the hot water supply mixing valve 14B provided on the downstream side, and by adjusting the ratio of the respective opening areas, the high temperature extraction valve 14A The mixing ratio between the hot water taken out from the pipe 13A and the medium hot water taken out from the medium temperature take-out pipe 13B is adjusted.

  The high / medium temperature mixing valve 14A and the hot water supply mixing valve 14B are electrically connected to the control device 60, and are controlled based on temperature information detected by a thermistor (not shown) disposed in various places. It should be noted that the medium-temperature hot water taken out from the medium-temperature take-out pipe 13B is positively so that the temperature information detected by a thermistor (not shown) disposed downstream of the high-medium temperature mixing valve 14A becomes a predetermined temperature higher than the set temperature. The temperature is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by mixing.

  At the lower part of the heat storage tank 10, a discharge port 10c for discharging the lowermost hot water in the heat storage tank 10 to the heat pump unit 20 described later is provided. In addition, a suction port 10 d through which hot water discharged from the heat pump unit 20 flows into the inside is provided at the upper part of the heat storage tank 10. The discharge port 10 c and the suction port 10 d are connected by a circulation circuit 21, and a part of the circulation circuit 21 is disposed in the heat pump unit 20.

  A tank lower thermistor 71 is provided on the lower side of the heat storage tank 10 as tank lower hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water (low temperature hot water). The tank lower thermistor 71 is configured to output the detected temperature signal of hot water (low temperature hot water) in the heat storage tank 10 to the control device 60.

The heat pump unit 20 includes a heat pump cycle that uses carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) having a low critical temperature as a refrigerant, and a feed water pump 22 installed in the circulation circuit 21. In addition, according to the supercritical heat pump, hot water (for example, about 85 to 90 ° C.) hotter than a general heat pump cycle can be stored in the heat storage tank 10.

  The heat pump cycle is composed of an electric compressor (not shown), a water refrigerant heat exchanger, an electric expansion valve, an air heat exchanger, and an accumulator sequentially connected by refrigerant piping. It is controlled by the device. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger includes a refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows and a water passage through which hot water flows, and water is discharged by a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant that is discharged from the discharge port of the compressor and flows through the refrigerant passage. The hot water is circulated by heating the hot water flowing through the passage.

  A water supply pump 22 is disposed between the discharge port 10c of the circulation circuit 21 and the heat pump unit 20 (water refrigerant heat exchanger). The water supply pump 22 is rotationally driven by a built-in electric motor (not shown), and discharges hot water from the discharge port 10c at the time of boiling high-temperature hot water so that hot water heated in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is stored in the heat storage tank. It operates so as to recirculate to 10 suction ports 10d.

  The rotation speed of the feed water pump 22 is controlled by a control device (not shown) so that the water temperature on the outlet side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger becomes a predetermined target boiling temperature determined under various operating conditions. The introduction pipe 11 is provided with a water supply pipe 12 branched from the front part of the introduction port 10a, and the downstream end of the water supply pipe 12 is connected to a hot water supply mixing valve 14B. The introduction pipe 11 is provided with a pressure reducing check valve (not shown) for adjusting the water pressure of the hot water to be introduced (tap water) to a predetermined pressure and preventing the back flow of the hot water due to water interruption. It has been.

  A hot water supply mixing valve 14 </ b> B is provided at a downstream side joining portion between the high temperature take-out pipe 13 </ b> A and the water supply pipe 12. This hot water supply mixing valve 14B is a temperature control valve, and adjusts the opening area ratio between the high temperature side and the low temperature side to supply hot water extracted from the high temperature extraction pipe 13A and hot water supplied from the water supply pipe 12. By adjusting the mixing ratio, the temperature of hot water flowing through the hot water supply pipe 15 connected to the downstream side of the hot water supply mixing valve 14B and the bath pipe 16 is adjusted to a set temperature set by the user. .

  The hot water supply pipe 15 is a pipe for introducing hot water whose temperature is adjusted to a set temperature to a hot water faucet (curan, shower, etc.) as a terminal at the downstream end. Moreover, the downstream end of the pipe 16 for bath is connected to the discharge port 31 (adapter) of the bathtub 30, and the temperature is adjusted to the set temperature when hot water is filled in the bathtub 30, hot water, additional hot water, etc. This pipe leads hot water (temperature-controlled hot water). Although not shown in the figure, the bath valve 16 has a cistern that prevents the bath water in the bathtub 30 from flowing back to the hot water supply pipe 15 and a solenoid valve for hot water filling, hot water supply, and additional hot water.

  The heating heat exchanger 40 is a heat exchanger that heats the bath water in the bathtub 30 with the high-temperature hot water in the heat storage tank 10, and is disposed in the upper part inside the heat storage tank 10. The heating heat exchanger 40 includes a heating flow path 41 connected to the heating heat exchanger 40 from the suction port 32 (adapter) of the bathtub 30, and a midway between the heating heat exchanger 40 and the bath pipe 16. A heating return flow path 42 connected to the part (point A in FIG. 1) and connected to the discharge port 31 is provided.

  The heat recovery heat exchanger 50 is a heat exchanger that recovers the heat of the bath water in the bath 30 after bathing into the low temperature hot water in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10, that is, heats the low temperature hot water with the bath water, The heat storage tank 10 is disposed in the lower part. The heat recovery heat exchanger 50 includes a heat recovery flow path 51 that branches from an intermediate portion of the heating flow path 41 extending from the suction port 32 and is connected to the heat recovery heat exchanger 50, and a heat recovery function. A heat recovery return flow path 52 connected to the discharge port 31 by being connected from the heat exchanger 50 to an intermediate portion (point B in FIG. 1) of the heating return flow path 42 is provided.

  The heat recovery going channel 51 and the heat recovery return channel 52 are the heat recovery circuit in the present invention. A switching valve 53 for switching the heat exchanger is provided at the branch point of the heat recovery flow path 51 in the heating flow path 41. The switching valve 53 is a valve for switching the heating going flow path 41 on the heating heat exchanger 40 side and the heat recovery going flow path 51 on the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 side. The valve opening is controlled by.

  Specifically, the switching valve 53 opens the heating flow path 41 and closes the heat recovery flow path 51, and closes the heating flow path 41 and sets the heat recovery flow path 51. It is designed to switch between the open heat recovery mode. A bath pump 43 and a bath thermistor 72 are provided between the suction port 32 and the switching valve 53 in the middle of the heating channel 41.

  The bath pump 43 is an electric pump that pumps the bath water in the bathtub 30 to the heating heat exchanger 40 side or the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 side, and its operation is controlled by the control device 60. ing. When the switching valve 53 is controlled to the heating mode, the heating circulation path through which the bath water in the bathtub 30 circulates on the heating heat exchanger 40 side is formed by the heating going flow path 41 and the heating return flow path 42. It is formed.

  Further, when the switching valve 53 is controlled to the heat recovery mode, the upstream side of the heating going flow path 41, the heat recovery going flow path 51, the heat recovery return flow path 52, and the heating return flow path 42. The heat recovery circuit for circulating the bath water in the bathtub 30 through the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 side is formed by the downstream side.

  In the heating channel 41, a bath thermistor 72 is provided between the bath pump 43 and the switching valve 53 as a bath warm water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the bath warm water. When the temperature of the bath water in the bathtub 30 is detected, the switching valve 53 is switched to the heating mode or the heat recovery mode, and the bath pump 43 is operated so that the bath water in the bath 30 is heated. Alternatively, it is circulated in the heat recovery circuit, and the temperature of the bath water is detected by the bath thermistor 72. The bath thermistor 72 outputs the detected temperature signal of the bath water in the bathtub 30 to the control device 60.

  Next, the control means includes a control device 60 and an operation panel (remote controller) 61. The control device 60 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and a preset control program is provided in a built-in ROM (not shown). Based on the temperature signals from the thermistors 71 and 72, the operation signals from the operation panel 61 input by the user, etc., the high / medium temperature mixing valve 14A, the hot water mixing valve 14B, the bath pump 43, and the switching valve 53 are controlled. It is configured as follows.

  The operation panel 61 includes a hot water supply temperature setting switch as an operation switch, a bath automatic switch 62, a hot water temperature setting switch, a reheating switch, a bath heat retention time setting switch, a bath heat recovery switch 64, and the like, and display means. A lamp 63 and the like are provided. Here, the bath automatic switch (input unit referred to in the present invention) 62 is a bathing operation for storing temperature-controlled hot water in the bathtub 30 and bath water at a bath water level or a bathing set temperature during a set bath warming time. It is a switch that keeps the temperature.

  In the control device 60 of the present embodiment, the bath automatic switch 62 is turned ON once, so that the hot water filling operation and the bath warming and automatic hot water are performed during the set bath warming time. After the elapse of time, the bath heat recovery operation is continuously operated. If the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned off during the bath automatic operation described above, the bath heat recovery operation can be canceled after the bath heat insulation is completed, and the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned on at times other than during the bath automatic operation. Then, the bath heat recovery operation can be started.

  Further, the operation panel 61 is provided with a lamp (display means) (not shown) related to bath auto, and a display means for performing display related to the bath heat recovery operation, that is, a lamp 63 for displaying the bath heat recovery operation state. It is lit when the bath heat recovery is in the standby state, and blinks during the bath heat recovery operation.

  For example, when the bath automatic switch 62 is turned on, a bath auto lamp is displayed and the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is also lit. After the heat insulation is completed, only the bath automatic lamp is turned off and only the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned on. Further, after a certain period of time has elapsed after the bath heat insulation, the bath heat recovery operation is activated and the bath heat recovery lamp 63 blinks. The operation panel 61 is installed in the vicinity of a place where hot water is used, such as in a bathroom or kitchen, and the control device 60 is installed in a heat storage tank unit.

  Next, the operation of hot water supply apparatus 100A configured as described above will be described.

1. Boiling operation The control device of the heat pump unit 20 uses inexpensive late-night power during midnight hours, issues an operation instruction for the heat pump cycle and the water supply pump 22, and supplies hot water in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 to the circulation circuit 21. It is circulated and heated by a heat pump cycle, and the generated hot water is stored in the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 from the suction port 10d.

2. Hot water supply operation, hot water filling operation Hot water supply operation or hot water filling operation is performed when hot water is used in a kitchen or a washroom in the daytime or when hot water is filled in a bath. That is, the control device 60 firstly sets the high temperature extraction pipe 13A and the medium temperature extraction pipe 13B of the heat storage tank 10 so as to coincide with the set temperatures input by the user from the hot water supply temperature setting switch and the hot water temperature setting switch on the operation panel 61. Is mixed to a hot water temperature equal to or higher than a set temperature by a high / medium temperature mixing valve 14A provided at the junction.

  Next, as the hot water (temperature-controlled hot water) whose temperature is adjusted by adjusting the valve opening of the hot water mixing valve 14B and mixing the hot water from the high / medium temperature mixing valve 14A and the tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 12 Supply. In the hot water supply operation, the hot water faucet is opened, and in the hot water operation, the bath automatic switch 62 of the operation panel 61 is turned on.

3. The bath automatic control device 60 controls the bath water in the bath warming time setting range (time set by the user, for example, 4 hours) after the filling operation with respect to the temperature drop of the bath water in the bathtub 30. Implement a bath warming operation that keeps the temperature at the set temperature. That is, the control device 60 operates the switching valve 53 to open the heating going flow path 41 side of the heating going flow path 41 and the heat recovery going flow path 51 and operate the bath pump 43 to perform heating. Circulate bath water in the circuit.

  When the temperature of the bath water detected by the bath thermistor 72 is lower than the set temperature, the control device 60 continuously operates the bath pump 43 and heats the bath water using the heating heat exchanger 40. Furthermore, when the temperature of the bath water detected by the bath thermistor 72 reaches the set temperature, the control device 60 stops the bath pump 43.

4). Bath Heat Recovery Operation After the user has bathed, that is, after the bath warming time set by the user has ended, the control device 60 uses the bath water (residual hot water) in the bathtub 30 to recover heat to the heat storage tank 10. Do. In this embodiment, the control point of the bath heat recovery operation is characterized, and will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S11, the control device 60 determines whether or not the user inputs a bath automatic request, that is, whether or not the bath automatic switch 62 is ON. If the determination result is NO and there is no automatic request, the process proceeds to step S12. If the determination result is YES and the automatic request is made, the process proceeds to step S13 to execute automatic bath operation.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not the user inputs a bath heat recovery request, that is, whether or not the bath heat recovery switch 64 is ON. When the determination result is NO and bath heat recovery is not performed, the process returns to step S11 and the determinations of steps S11 and S12 are repeated. When the determination result is YES and the bath heat recovery is performed, the process jumps to step S20 to immediately execute the bath heat recovery operation described later.

  First, automatic bath operation after step S13 will be described. In step S13, the lamp indicating that the bath is in automatic operation and the lamp 63 indicating that the bath heat recovery is set and in the standby state are turned on. In the next step S14, it is determined whether or not the user cancels the bath heat recovery request, that is, whether or not the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned off. If the determination result is YES and the bath heat recovery is canceled, the process proceeds to step S15, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned off, and the operation of this flowchart ends.

  If the determination result in step S14 is NO and the bath heat recovery is executed, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the bath automatic operation has ended. If the determination result is NO and the automatic bath operation has not ended, the process returns to step S14 and the determinations of step S14 and step S16 are repeated. If it is determined that the bath automatic operation has been completed without canceling the bath heat recovery while repeating this determination, the process proceeds to step S17 and the bath automatic lamp is turned off.

  In the next step S18, it is again determined whether or not the user cancels the bath heat recovery request, that is, whether or not the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned off. If the determination result is YES and the bath heat recovery is canceled, the process proceeds to step S15, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned off, and the operation of this flowchart ends.

  If the determination result in step S18 is NO and the bath heat recovery is executed, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, it is determined by time counting by a timer whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the automatic bath operation ended. If the determination result is NO and the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S18 and the determinations of step S18 and step S19 are repeated. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed without canceling the bath heat recovery while repeating this determination, the process proceeds to step S20 to execute the bath heat recovery.

  In step S20, first, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 on the operation panel 61 is changed to blinking to indicate that the bath heat recovery operation is being performed, and the switching valve 53 is operated to open the heat recovery passage 51 side. The pump 43 is activated. Then, the bath water in the bathtub 30 circulates through the heat recovery circuit.

  In the next step S21, the temperature of the low-temperature hot water in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 detected by the tank lower thermistor 71 is compared with the temperature of the bath water detected by the bath thermistor 72. Step S26 is repeated while it is determined that the temperature is lower than the temperature by a predetermined temperature α or more (NO determination in step S21), and during this time, the circulation of the bath water in the heat recovery circuit in step S20 is continued. The

  That is, since the low temperature hot water temperature is lower than the bath water temperature by a predetermined temperature α or more, heat is transferred from the bath water to the low temperature hot water by the heat recovery heat exchanger 50, and the hot water is heated. In step S21, when the low-temperature hot water temperature + α is equal to or higher than the bath water temperature, heat transfer in the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 becomes impossible, so the process proceeds to step S22, the bath pump 43 is stopped, and switching is performed. The valve 53 is operated to open the heating flow path 41 side, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned off, and the operation of this flowchart ends.

  Next, the features and effects of this embodiment will be described. First, in this embodiment, the bath automatic switch 62 is provided as an input unit that allows a user to input an execution signal for causing the operation panel 61 to perform a bath heat recovery operation. When the execution signal is input from the automatic bath switch 62 by the user, the control device 60 performs the bath heat recovery operation after finishing the bath heat insulation operation.

  Thereby, the bath heat recovery operation reflecting the user's intention can be performed by inputting an execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation by the bath automatic switch 62 by the user. In addition, since the bath heat recovery operation is executed after the bath heat insulation operation is completed, the temperature of the bath warm water in the bath 30 is prevented from being lowered unnecessarily, and effective heat recovery is possible.

  Further, the control device 60 includes step S19 as a time measuring means, and performs a bath heat recovery operation after measuring a predetermined time in step S19 after the bath heat insulation operation is completed. Yes. Thus, for example, even if the user accidentally cancels the bath heat insulation operation, the bath heat recovery operation is not executed for a predetermined time from the end of the heat insulation operation. It can prevent that the temperature of bathtub hot water falls by bath heat recovery operation.

  In addition, a lamp 63 that displays to the user a display related to the bath heat recovery operation executed by the control device 60 is provided. Thereby, the user can recognize clearly that it is in a bath heat recovery operation state. The lamp 63 changes the display method between the standby state and the operation state of the bath heat recovery. As a result, the display of the ON state (standby state) of the bath heat recovery switch 64 and the state where the bath heat recovery operation is actually performed are different, and the user can recognize that the bath heat recovery is being operated. It is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the bath heat recovery.

  In addition, the control device 60 is provided with a bath automatic switch 62 for continuously operating the hot water filling operation for storing the temperature-controlled hot water in the bathtub 30 and the bath heat recovery operation. Thereby, the bath heat recovery operation reflecting the user's intention becomes possible. Also, a bath heat recovery switch 64 for inputting a bath heat recovery operation execution signal is provided. When the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned off when the bath automatic switch 62 is ON, only the hot water operation is performed without performing the bath heat recovery operation. When the bath heat recovery switch 64 is turned ON when the hot water filling operation is OFF, the bath heat recovery operation is executed.

As described above, since the bath heat recovery switch 64 is further provided, when the bath heat recovery is not performed after the bath automatic switch 62 is operated, only the bath heat recovery is performed by operating the bath heat recovery switch 64. Can be canceled. Further, when only the bath heat recovery is desired to be operated, the bath heat recovery is activated by operating the bath heat recovery switch 64. Therefore, the operation can be simplified for the user who performs the bath heat recovery every time, and the usability is further improved. improves.

Then, the temperature difference between the low temperature hot water and the bath water is confirmed (step S21), and the bath heat recovery operation is terminated, so that reliable heat recovery can be performed. Moreover, since hot water is taken out from the intermediate part of the heat storage tank 10, medium-low temperature (45 ° C. or lower) hot water stored in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 by recovery of bath heat can be preferentially used. For this reason, the usage-amount of the high temperature hot water of the thermal storage tank 10 upper part can be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in efficiency due to the boiling of the heat pump by the remaining hot water.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a heat pump hot water supply apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by the control apparatus 60 in FIG. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different configurations and features will be described.

  The present embodiment is a hot water supply apparatus 100B in which a bypass passage 54 and a switching valve (switching means referred to in the present invention) 55 are added to the first embodiment described above, and the control procedure during the bath heat recovery operation is changed. It is assumed that The bypass passage 54 branches from the switching valve 53 and the bath thermistor 72 in the heating flow path 41, and is connected to an intermediate portion (point C in FIG. 3) of the heating return flow path 42. It is a passage.

  That is, when the heat recovery circuit is formed by the switching valve 53, the bath water in the bathtub 30 is a passage through which the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 can be circulated. The bath thermistor 72 is disposed on the side of the bathtub 30 including the bypass passage 54 in the heat recovery circuit. The switching valve 55 is bypass switching means provided at a branch point of the bypass passage 54.

  The switching valve 55 is configured to switch between the heating-use flow path 41 (heat recovery-use flow path 51) and the bypass passage 54 on the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 side. The opening degree is controlled. The switching valve 55 opens the heating-use flow path 41 (heat recovery-use flow path 51), closes the bypass passage 54, and closes the heating-use flow path 41, and opens the bypass passage 54. The temperature detection mode is performed.

  Next, the control content of the bath heat recovery operation will be described in detail using the flowchart of FIG. The steps up to step S19 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the bath heat recovery operation in steps S23 to S27 is different. In step S23, the bath pump 43 is operated in the temperature detection mode in which the switching valve 55 is operated to open the bypass passage 54 side. Then, the bath water in the bathtub 30 circulates in the bathtub 30 → the heating passage 41 → the switching valve 55 → the bypass passage 54 → the heating return passage 42 (C → A) → the bath pipe 16 → the bathtub 30. .

  In the next step S24, the low temperature hot water temperature in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 detected by the tank lower thermistor 71 is compared with the bath water temperature detected by the bath thermistor 72 to recover heat by the bath water. Determine whether it is possible. Here, for the sake of safety, the temperature is compared with the bath water temperature as the low temperature hot water temperature + β.

  Usually, β is about 2 ° C., which is the tolerance of the thermistor. In step S24, if the low-temperature hot water temperature + β is equal to or lower than the bath water temperature and YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S25 to recover heat from the bath water. If the low-temperature hot water temperature + β is equal to or higher than the bath water temperature and NO is determined, The process jumps to step S27 to be described later and the bath heat recovery is terminated.

  In step S25, first, the switching valve 55 is operated to open the heating going flow path 41 (heat recovery going flow path 51) side, and the switching valve 53 is operated to open the heat recovery going flow path 51 side to open the bath. The heat recovery mode is set. As a result, the bath water in the bathtub 30 is circulated through the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 from the heat recovery circulation path to recover the bath heat. Then, the lamp 63 is blinked as a display during the bath heat recovery operation on the operation panel 61.

  In the next step S26, the temperature of the hot water + α by the tank lower thermistor 71 is compared with the temperature of the bath water by the bath thermistor 72, and it is determined that the cold hot water temperature is lower than the bath water temperature by a predetermined temperature α or more ( If NO is determined in step S26), step S26 is repeated, and during this time, circulation in the heat recovery circuit for bath water in step S25 is continued. That is, heat is transferred from the bath water to the low temperature hot water by the heat recovery heat exchanger 50, and the low temperature hot water is heated.

  In addition, when the temperature difference between the low temperature hot water temperature and the bath water temperature at the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 is reduced, heat is not exchanged due to the performance of the heat recovery heat exchanger 50. Therefore, it is more energy efficient to stop the recovery of bath heat at a constant value in consideration of the power consumption of the bath pump 43. This time α is set to about 5 ° C. in accordance with the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 that is normally used.

  In step S26, when the low temperature hot water temperature + α becomes equal to or higher than the bath water temperature, heat transfer in the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 becomes impossible, so the process proceeds to step S27, where the bath pump 43 is stopped and switched. The valve 53 is operated to open the heating flow path 41 side, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned off, and the operation of this flowchart ends.

  Next, the features and effects of this embodiment will be described. In the heat recovery circulation paths 51 and 52 in which the bath water circulates from the bathtub 30 through the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 and returns to the bathtub 30 again, a bypass passage 54 that bypasses the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 is provided. . Moreover, it arrange | positions in the branch point of the heat recovery circuit 51 (heating circuit 41) and the bypass passage 54, and switches the flow of bath water to the heat exchanger 50 side for heat recovery, or the bypass passage 54 side. A switching valve 55 is provided.

  The heat recovery circuit 51 (heating circuit 41) includes a bath thermistor 72 that is disposed on the side of the bathtub 30 including the bypass passage 54 and detects the temperature of the bath water. When the temperature of the bath water is detected by the bath thermistor 72, the switching valve 55 is operated so that the bath water flows on the bypass passage 54 side.

  Thereby, since the distance which circulates bath water can be shortened by the bypass channel | path 54, it becomes possible to detect the temperature of bath hot water correctly in a short time. Moreover, when the hot water in the bathtub 30 is lower than the tank lower part temperature, it is possible to prevent the heat from the heat storage tank 10 from flowing out to the bathtub 30 in advance, and thus wasteful heat loss may occur. Disappear.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a heat pump hot water supply apparatus 100C according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by the control apparatus 60 in FIG. A different characteristic part from each embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated. In each of the above-described embodiments, the heating heat exchanger 40 and the heat recovery heat exchanger 50 are arranged in the heat storage tank 10, but this embodiment serves both for heating and for heat recovery. The external heat exchanger 80 is disposed outside the heat storage tank 10.

  The external heat exchanger 80 is provided with a bath water passage 82 adjacent to the hot water passage 81, the flow direction of hot water flowing through the hot water passage 81, and the flow direction of bath water flowing through the bath water passage 82. Are configured to face each other. As a flow path on the hot water supply side, in the vicinity of the uppermost part of the heat storage tank 10, a lead-out port 10f for leading out hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 is provided, and this lead-out port 10f has a high-temperature outlet pipe. 83 is connected.

  In addition, a lead-out port 10g for leading out the low-temperature hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 is provided near the lowermost part of the heat storage tank 10, and a low-temperature take-out pipe 84 is connected to the lead-out port 10g. Yes. A switching valve 85 is provided at the downstream side joining portion of the high temperature extraction pipe 83 and the low temperature extraction pipe 84.

  This switching valve 85 is a switching valve for switching hot water to be circulated in the hot water passage 81 of the external heat exchanger 80 provided on the downstream side thereof. When the hot water in the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 is circulated by switching to the pipe 83 side and the hot water is heated in the bath heat recovery operation, the hot water in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 is switched to the low temperature take-off pipe 84 side. It is designed to be distributed.

  The hot or cold hot water flowing through the hot water supply passage 81 of the external heat exchanger 80 is returned to the inside of the heat storage tank 10 from the inlet 10 h provided at the lower part of the heat storage tank 10. In addition, the hot water is circulated by a hot water pump 86 provided in the circulation path, and the switching valve 85 and the hot water pump 86 are electrically connected to the control device 60 and controlled. .

  Further, as a bath water side channel, a heating channel 41 and a heat recovery channel 51 from the suction port 32 (adapter) of the bathtub 30 are provided in the bath channel 82 of the external heat exchanger 80. The flow path that also serves as the heating return flow path 42 and the heat recovery return flow path 52 that is connected to the double flow path 82 from the bath water passage 82 is an intermediate portion of the bath piping 16 (point A in FIG. 5). ) And connected to the discharge port 31 of the bathtub 30. The bath water is circulated by a bath pump 43 provided in the circulation path, and the bath pump 43 is electrically connected to the control device 60 and controlled. It is the same as the form.

  Next, the control content of the bath heat recovery operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The steps up to step S19 are the same as those in the above-described embodiments, and the bath heat recovery operation in steps S28 to S30 is different. In step S28, the switching valve 85 is operated to open the low temperature take-out pipe 84 side, and the hot water supply pump 86 and the bath pump 43 are operated.

  Then, on the hot water supply side, the low temperature hot water in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 is discharged from the outlet 10g → the low temperature extraction pipe 84 → the switching valve 85 → the hot water passage 81 of the external heat exchanger 80 → the hot water pump 86 → the introduction port. Circulate for 10 hours. Further, the bath water side circulates through the bathtub 30 → the heat recovery flow path 51 → the bath pump 43 → the bath water passage 82 of the external heat exchanger 80 → the heat recovery return flow path 52 → the bath piping 16 → the bathtub 30. To do. Thereby, the low temperature hot water supply in the downward direction in the heat storage tank 10 is heated with the bath water in the bathtub 30, and bath heat recovery is performed. Then, the lamp 63 is blinked as a display during the bath heat recovery operation on the operation panel 61.

  In the next step S29, the temperature of the low temperature hot water + α by the tank lower thermistor 71 is compared with the temperature of the bath water by the bath thermistor 72, and it is determined that the low temperature hot water temperature is lower than the bath water temperature by a predetermined temperature α or more ( If NO is determined in step S29, step S29 is repeated, and during this time, the bath heat recovery in the external heat exchanger 80 in step S28 is continued.

  In step S29, when the low-temperature hot water temperature + α is equal to or higher than the bath water temperature, heat exchange in the external heat exchanger 80 becomes impossible, and the process proceeds to step S30, where the hot water supply water pump 86 and the bath pump 43 are connected. Then, the switching valve 85 is operated to return to the high temperature take-out pipe 83 side, the bath heat recovery lamp 63 is turned off, and the operation of this flowchart is finished. As described above, the external heat exchanger 80 that serves both for heating and for heat recovery may be disposed outside the heat storage tank 10 to recover heat from the remaining hot water in the bathtub 30.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the heat pump unit 20 is used as the heating means for hot water supply. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electric heater or the like may be used.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of 100 A of heat pump type hot water supply apparatuses in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing which the control apparatus 60 in FIG. 1 performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus 100B in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing which the control apparatus 60 in FIG. 3 performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus 100C in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing which the control apparatus 60 in FIG. 5 performs.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Thermal storage tank 20 ... Heat pump unit (heating means)
30 ... Bathtub 40 ... Heat exchanger for heating 50 ... Heat exchanger for heat recovery 51 ... Heat recovery passage (heat recovery circuit)
52 ... Return path for heat recovery (heat recovery circuit)
54 ... Bypass passage 55 ... Switching valve (switching means)
60 ... Control device (control means)
61 ... Control panel (control means)
62 ... Bath automatic switch (input unit)
63 .. lamp (display means)
64 ... Bath heat recovery switch 71 ... Tank lower thermistor (tank lower water temperature detection means)
72 ... Bath thermistor (tub hot water detection means)
80 ... External heat exchanger (heat exchanger for heating, heat exchanger for heat recovery)
100A, 100B, 100C ... Heat pump type hot water supply device

Claims (6)

While storing hot water to be replenished in the lower part, the hot water is generated as high temperature hot water by the heating means (20), and a heat storage tank (10) for storing the high temperature hot water,
A bathtub (30) for storing temperature-controlled hot water that flows out of the heat storage tank (10) and is adjusted to a set temperature;
A heat exchanger for heating (40, 80) for heating the hot water in the bathtub with the hot water;
A heat recovery heat exchanger (50, 80) for recovering the heat of the hot water in the bath to the low temperature hot water in which the hot water is replenished at the lower part of the heat storage tank (10) and heating the low temperature hot water;
The temperature of the bath hot water the is accumulated in a bath (30), a bath kept operating to hold the set temperature by using set scheduled period of the heating heat exchanger (40, 80), said cold water In a hot water supply apparatus comprising a control means (60, 61) for performing a bath heat recovery operation for heating the bathtub hot water and the heat recovery heat exchanger (50, 80),
An execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation is input to the control means (60, 61) after performing the filling operation for storing the temperature-controlled hot water in the bathtub and ending the bath heat insulation operation. An automatic bath switch (62) to enable ;
A bath heat recovery switch (64) capable of inputting an execution signal for executing the bath heat recovery operation regardless of the input state of the bath automatic switch ;
With
Wherein said control means (60, 61), said the bath Thus the execution signal to the automatic switch (62) is input, after completion of the said bath maintenance operation, executes the bath heat recovery operation, the bath automatic switch If the execution signal is input by the bath heat recovery switch (64) when the execution signal according to (62) is not input, only the bath heat recovery operation is executed without going through the bath heat retention operation. Hot water supply device characterized by The control means (60, 61) cancels the bath heat recovery operation after the bath heat insulation operation when the bath heat recovery switch (64) is turned off during the bath heat insulation operation. The hot water supply device described in 1. A heat recovery circuit (51, 52) for circulating the hot water from the bathtub (30) through the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) and back to the bathtub (30);
A bypass passage (54) for bypassing the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) in the heat recovery circuit (51, 52);
It is arranged at a branch point between the heat recovery circulation path (51, 52) and the bypass passage (54), and the hot water flow of the bathtub is changed to the heat recovery heat exchanger (50) side or the bypass passage. Switching means (55) for switching to the (54) side;
Bath heat water detecting means (72) for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub disposed on the side of the bathtub (30) including the bypass passage (54) in the circulation path for heat recovery (51, 52). And
The control means (60, 61) operates the switching means (55) when the temperature of the bathtub warm water is detected by the bathtub warm water detection means (72), so that the bathtub warm water flows into the bypass passage (54). The hot water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot water supply device is configured to flow on a side of the water heater. The control means (60, 61) includes time measuring means (S19) for measuring time,
The predetermined time set in advance after the bath maintenance operation is completed after the measured by the time measuring means (S19), any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that executing the bath heat recovery operation The hot water supply apparatus as described in one . Hot water supply according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that comprising a display means (63) for performing display said control means (60, 61) is associated with the bath heat recovery operation to be executed apparatus. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the display means (63) changes a display method between a standby state and an operation state of bath heat recovery.

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