JP3149607B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus for supplying hot water for drinking at home or office.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Tap water in recent years contains a large amount of free chlorine due to chlorine disinfection, resulting in a large amount of chlorine odor (chlorine odor). Therefore, in a conventional hot water supply device, a device that keeps boiling for several minutes or an activated carbon is arranged to release or decompose free chlorine, trihalomethane, and musty odor in water into the atmosphere to remove defective components in tap water.

[0003]

However, in regions where high hardness water is used, scale is generated in the hot water supply device, and the scale adheres to the container and deteriorates heat conduction, and also discharges turbid hot water. It hurt the taste and beauty. In addition, aging pipes of the water supply supply iron-rich water, which not only impairs the flavor of the hot water,
When tea is added, the iron reacts with the tannins of the tea, even impairing the flavor of the tea. However, the purification of hot water by the above-mentioned conventional method cannot remove turbid substances such as scales and dissolved substances such as iron contained in the hot water. Also,
Simply arranging the filter in the water heater does not ensure sufficient water flow due to the gas coming out of the water during the water heater.

[0004] The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the conventional configuration and to supply delicious hot water. By providing an air bleeding mechanism in a heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter, the present invention provides a hot water supply device. It is an object of the present invention to be able to easily remove turbid components such as scale and iron in a filter efficiently and easily.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a hot water storage container, a heater for heating water in the container, a pump for pumping water in the container, and a pumping path. a circulation path for circulating the hot water to the container from, provided in the circulation path, Chi lifting Bleed mechanism of heat resistance, heat
And a sexual hollow fiber membranes fixed refractory hollow fiber membrane filter with an epoxy resin, wherein the pump water into the heating 循
Water is circulated in the ring path, and the air bleeding mechanism is a heat-resistant hollow fiber
A hot water supply device characterized by being detachable from a membrane filter .

[0006]

When the water in the container is heated, it reacts as shown in (Chemical Formula 1), and scale components such as calcium in the water are insolubilized and precipitate.

[0007]

Embedded image

When the temperature of the water becomes high, the CO
The pH of water rises because 2 escapes into the atmosphere. When the pH rises, the iron dissolved in water becomes insoluble and becomes particulate as shown in (Chemical Formula 2).

[0009]

Embedded image

By passing the water containing these through a heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter, the scale and iron in the water are removed, and the water is purified. Further, since the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter is made of at least polysulfone, it is hardly deteriorated by hot water. The air release material is made of a hydrophobic porous material, and allows gas to permeate but not water.
As a result, the gas generated from the water is discharged out of the filter module through the air bleeding mechanism, ensuring stable water flow without impeding air bubbles on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane. Is done. Therefore, a hot water supply device that can supply hot water with almost no iron or turbidity can be realized. In addition, by making the air release material of the filter module removable, dirt attached to the surface of the air release material can be washed, and the deteriorated air release material can be replaced with a new one. Can last longer.

[0011]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a hot water supply apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as main body 1).
It has a hot water storage container 2 of 50 mm. 3 is a hot water storage container 2
It is an inner plug attached so as to seal the mouth. Reference numeral 4 denotes an upper cover that covers the upper part of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 5 denotes a check valve, which penetrates the inner plug 3 and communicates with the inside of the hot water storage container 2 and also communicates with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 6 denotes a motor provided at the bottom between the main body 1 and the hot water storage container 2, 7 denotes a pump driven by the motor 6, and a suction port 8 of the pump 8
Communicates with the bottom of the Reference numeral 9 denotes a discharge port of the pump 7, which communicates with a discharge pipe 10 forming a water pumping path. Reference numeral 11 denotes a switching valve provided in the middle of the hot water pumping path by the discharge pipe 10, and the hot water is poured into the cup or the like from the tap 12 through the switching valve 11, or circulated in the hot water storage container 2. The hot water is again circulated into the hot water storage container 2 through the circulation port 13 constituting the circulation path. A heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is attached to the circulation port 13, and the hot water that has passed through the circulation port 13 passes through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22. Reference numeral 14 denotes a heater for heating, which is mounted on a lower side surface of the hot water storage container 2. Reference numeral 15 denotes a start switch for driving the motor 6, which has a variable resistor, and is operated via a rod 17 when a push button 16 is pressed. Reference numeral 18 denotes a compression spring. The spring 18 constantly urges the rod 17 so as to be pushed upward. Reference numeral 19 denotes a switch for operating the switching valve 11. By operating the switch, the switching valve 11 is switched to the tap hole 12 side path or the heat resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 side in the circulation path. The heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is detachable from the circulation port 13.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When hot water stored in the hot water storage container 2 is supplied, the push button 16 is pressed down. That is, the start switch 15 is turned on by the operation of depressing the push button 16, and the resistance is varied by further depressing to change the supply voltage, and the motor 6 is energized. When the motor 6 is energized, the pump 7 operates, draws hot water stored in the hot water storage container 2 from the suction port 8 of the pump 7, and discharges the hot water from the discharge port 9 to the discharge pipe 10. At this time, by operating the switch 19 to open the switching valve 11 to the tap hole 12 side path,
Hot water is supplied from the tap hole 12 to the outside. At this time, if the valve is opened on the circulation path side, hot water is poured into the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 through the circulation port 13. The hot water poured into the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is purified when passing through the inside of the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter, and circulates again into the hot water storage container 2.

The inside of the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 25 denotes a case of a heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter, which is made of polysulfone. 26 is an activated carbon and 27 is a hollow fiber membrane made of polysulfone. 28 is a potting material for fixing the membrane to the casing, and is made of epoxy. 29 is an air release material. Air release material 29
Is fixed to the filter case 25 by fixing screws 30 and can be detached. Further, the air release member 29 and the fixing screw 30 constitute an air release mechanism. In FIG. 2, the flow of water is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of gas is indicated by broken arrows. In the present embodiment, a stretched porous fluorine resin rod (manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries) was used as the air release material.

Experimental Example 1 Experimental water CaCl2 2 H2 O: 0.273 g / l MgSO4: 0.158 g / l NaHCO3: 0.280 g / l FeCl2: 0.3 mg / l Kaolin and sodium hypochlorite were added to tap water in Osaka 300 ppm, iron concentration 0.3 pp
m, turbidity 5 degrees, and residual chlorine concentration 1.0 ppm.

Analytical method Total hardness: Water test method 23.2.1, EDTA method. Iron: tap water test method 46.2.1, 1,10-phenanthroline method Turbidity: tap water test method 3, turbidity test Residual chlorine: measured according to tap water test method, o-tolidine method.

Experimental method The heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 is removed from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and 3000 ml of experimental water is added thereto and heated. At the same time as the heating, the pump 7 is operated so that the water circulates in the water heater. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the switch 19 was operated to set the switching valve 11 to the outlet 12 side path, the solution was sampled from the outlet 12 and the concentration was measured immediately.

2. The hollow fiber membrane 2 shown in FIG.
The filter from which 7 was removed was attached to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and 3000 ml of experimental water was added thereto and heated. At the same time as heating the solution, the pump 7 is operated so that water circulates in the water heater.

When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the switch 19 was operated to set the switching valve 11 to the outlet 12 side path, the solution was sampled from the outlet 12 and the concentration was measured immediately. In this experiment, coconut shell crushed charcoal was used as activated carbon.

3. As shown in FIG. 2, a filter equipped with a gas-impermeable rod instead of the air vent material 29 was attached to the apparatus shown in FIG.
Add 00 ml and heat. At the same time as heating the solution, the pump 7 is operated so that water circulates in the water heater. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the switch 19 was operated to set the switching valve 11 to the outlet 12 side path, the solution was sampled from the outlet 12 and the concentration was measured immediately. In this experiment, coconut shell crushed charcoal was used as activated carbon.

4. 3000 ml of experimental water is put into the apparatus of FIG. 4 and heated. Simultaneously with the heating of the solution, the pump 7 is operated so that water circulates in the water heater. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after boiling is over,
By operating the switch 19, the switching valve 11 was set to the path on the tap hole 12 side, the solution was sampled from the tap port 12, and the concentration was measured immediately. In this experiment, coconut shell crushed charcoal was used as activated carbon.

Results of Experimental Example 1 The results of Experimental Example 1 are shown in (Table 1).

[0022]

[Table 1]

Even when the above operation was repeated many times, the one using the hollow fiber membrane had a smaller amount of scale adhered to the container than the others. And the flow of hot water is 3000m
1 / min. Was maintained.

The turbidity of the hot water of Experiment 2 was higher than that of the raw water. This is because the fine powder generated from the crushed carbon fouled the hot water. Activated carbon that generates fine powder can also be used by using a hollow fiber membrane, and the range of choice of activated carbon has been widened.
In addition, the hot water of Experiment 3 removes less free chlorine than the hot water of Experiment 2. This is because in Experiment 3, there is no air bleeding mechanism of the filter module, so that sufficient water does not flow.

As described above, by using activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter having an air bleeding mechanism, residual chlorine, scale components (total hardness), turbidity and iron in water can be efficiently removed, and raw water can be more efficiently removed. Delicious water was made. In the present invention, the switching valve 11 is used to perform water circulation purification and tapping of hot water to the outside of the apparatus by the same pump. As a result, a compact configuration was realized.

Embodiment 2 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 31 is a main body of the water heater (hereinafter simply referred to as main body 31).
And a hot water storage container 32 having an inner diameter of 150 mm and a depth of 250 mm for storing hot water therein. Reference numeral 33 denotes an inner plug attached so as to seal the mouth of the hot water storage container 32. Reference numeral 34 denotes an upper lid that covers the upper part of the main body 31 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 35 denotes a check valve, which penetrates the inner plug 33 and communicates with the inside of the hot water storage container 32, and also communicates with the atmosphere.
36 is a tapping motor provided at the bottom between the main body 31 and the hot water storage container 32; 37 is a tapping pump driven by the tapping motor 36;
2 communicates with the bottom. Reference numeral 39 denotes a discharge port of the hot water pump 37, which communicates with a discharge pipe 40 forming a water pumping path. Reference numeral 41 denotes a tap for discharging hot water from the discharge pipe 40 to the outside of the water heater. 42 is a water purification motor provided at the bottom between the main body 31 and the hot water storage container 32, 43 is a water purification pump driven by the water purification motor 42, and its suction port communicates with the bottom of the hot water storage container 32. I have. 44
Is a discharge port of the water purification pump 43 and communicates with a discharge pipe 53 constituting a water pumping path. Reference numeral 45 denotes a heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter, and water pumped by the water purification pump 43 is circulated through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 to the hot water storage container 32 again. Reference numeral 46 denotes a heater for heating, which is mounted on a lower side surface of the hot water storage container 32. Reference numeral 47 denotes a start switch for driving the tapping motor 36, which has a variable resistor, and is operated via a rod 49 by a pushing operation of a push button 48. 50 is a compression type spring, and this spring 50
Is pushed upward. Reference numeral 51 denotes a thermistor for measuring the temperature of the container, which is connected to the control device 52. The signal from the control device 52 is sent to the water purification motor 42. The heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 is detachable.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When hot water stored in the hot water storage container 32 is supplied, the push button 48 is pressed down. That is, the start switch 47 is turned on by the operation of pressing down the push button 48, and the resistance is changed by further pressing down, so that the supply voltage changes,
Electric power is supplied to the tapping motor 36. The hot water pump 36 operates when the hot water motor 36 is energized, draws hot water stored in the hot water storage container 32 from the suction port 38 of the hot water pump 37, and discharges hot water from the discharge port 39 to the discharge pipe 40. Is sent from the tap 41. Also,
When water is put into the hot water storage container 32, the water purification motor 42 is operated, and the water in the hot water storage container 32 is passed by the water purification pump 43 through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45.
Recirculate to 2 again. Immediately after the boiling of the hot water ends, the motor 42 is stopped by a signal from the control device 52. The inside of the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 is shown in FIG. 55
Is a filter case made of polysulfone. 56
Is an activated carbon, and 57 is a hollow fiber membrane made of polysulfone. 58 is a potting material for fixing the membrane to the casing, and is made of epoxy. Reference numeral 59 denotes an air release material, which is fixed to a fixing portion 60 embedded in a potting material and a fixing screw 61, and is detachable. Further, an air bleeding mechanism is constituted by the air bleeding material 59, the fixing part 60 and the fixing screw 61, and the air bleeding mechanism is provided at the sealing part of the hollow fiber membrane 57. Reference numeral 62 denotes a filter head, which is detachable. In FIG. 2, the flow of water is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of gas is indicated by broken arrows. In this experiment, a spherical activated carbon (X-7000, manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was reactivated as activated carbon 56 to increase the activity, and then the surface was coated with polyolefin to suppress the generation of fine powder, and silver was carried on the activated carbon. Using. Poaflon (manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, pore diameter 5 μm) was used as the air release material 59.

Experimental Example 2-1. Experimental water CaCl2 2 H2 O: 0.273 g / l MgSO4: 0.158 g / l NaHCO3: 0.280 g / l FeCl2: 0.3 mg / l Kaolin and sodium hypochlorite were added to tap water in Osaka 300 ppm, iron concentration 0.3 pp
m, turbidity 5 degrees, and residual chlorine concentration 1.0 ppm.

Analysis Method Total Hardness: Water Test Method 23.2.1, EDTA Method. Iron: tap water test method 46.2.1, 1,10-phenanthroline method Turbidity: tap water test method 3, turbidity test Residual chlorine: measured according to tap water test method, o-tolidine method.

Experimental method The heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 is removed from the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and 3000 ml of experimental water is added thereto and heated. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the push button 48 was operated to sample the solution from the tap hole 41 and immediately measure the concentration.

2. The hollow fiber membrane 5 from FIG.
The filter from which 7 was removed was attached to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and 3000 ml of experimental water was added thereto and heated. Water is 100 ℃
When boiling is reached, maintain boiling for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the push button 48 was operated to sample the solution from the tap hole 41 and immediately measure the concentration.

3. As a filter, a filter to which a gas-impermeable fluorinated resin is attached instead of the air vent material 59 shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and 3000 ml of experimental water is put into the apparatus and heated. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling was completed, the push button 48 was operated to sample the solution from the tap hole 41 and immediately measure the concentration.

4. 3000 ml of experimental water is put into the apparatus of FIG. 3 and heated. When the water reaches 100 ° C., the boiling is maintained for 3 minutes. Immediately after the boiling is over, operate the push button 48,
The solution was sampled from the tap 41 and the concentration was measured immediately.

Results of Experimental Example 2-1 The results of Experimental Example 2-1 are shown in (Table 2).

[0035]

[Table 2]

Even when the above operation was repeated many times, the one using the hollow fiber membrane had a smaller amount of scale adhered to the container than the others. And the flow of hot water is 3000m
1 / min. Was maintained. In addition, the hot water of Experiment 3 removes less free chlorine than the hot water of Experiment 2. This is because in Experiment 3, there is no air bleeding mechanism of the filter module, so that sufficient water does not flow.

As described above, by using activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane filter having an air venting mechanism, residual chlorine, scale components (total hardness), turbidity and iron in water can be efficiently removed, and raw water can be more efficiently removed. Delicious water was made. In the present invention, the switching valve is not used, and the pump and the path for circulation purification and tapping to the outside are separated from the path. When a switching valve is used, the filter is clogged, high pressure is applied to the switching valve, and if the switching valve is broken, hot water may leak out of the hot water supply device, leading to a serious accident. However, if the circulation purification pump and the hot water supply pump and the path are separated, even if a failure occurs in the circulation part, the hot water does not flow out of the apparatus and is safe.

Example 3 Hereinafter, a third example of the present invention will be described based on an experimental example. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the names, operations and constituent materials of each part are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

Experimental Example 3-1. Experimental water, analysis method Same as Experimental example 1.

Experimental method After repeating the operation of Experimental method 4 of Experimental example 1 100 times, the 101st water quality and heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22
Measure the amount of water flow.

2. The operation of Experimental Method 4 of Experimental Example 1 was
After repetition, the air vent material 29 is removed, washed and mounted, and the 101st water quality and the amount of water passing through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 are measured.

3. The operation of Experimental Method 4 of Experimental Example 1 was
After the repetition, the air vent material 29 was replaced with a new one, and the water quality and heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 22 of the 101st time were replaced.
Measure the amount of water flow.

Results of Experimental Example 3-1 The results of Experimental Example 3-1 are shown in (Table 3).

[0044]

[Table 3]

Experimental Example 3-2. Experimental water, analysis method Same as Experimental example 2.

Experimental method After repeating the operation of Experimental method 4 of Experimental example 2 100 times, the 101st water quality and heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45
Measure the amount of water flow.

2. The operation of Experimental Method 4 of Experimental Example 2 was
After repeating this process, the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter is removed and immersed in a 5% citric acid solution for 3 hours.

Then, after being washed lightly with water, it is mounted, and the 101st water quality and the amount of water passing through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 are measured.

3. The operation of Experimental Method 4 of Experimental Example 2 was
After repeating this process, the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter is removed, and the air vent material 29 and other portions are immersed in a 5% citric acid solution for 3 hours. Then, after being washed lightly with water, it is attached, and the 101st water quality and the amount of water passing through the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 45 are measured.

Results of Experimental Example 3-2 The results of Experimental Example 3-2 are shown in (Table 4).

[0051]

[Table 4]

Experimental Example 3-1. As shown by, the performance of the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter was recovered by washing or replacing the air bleeding material to which the dirt had adhered, and the filter could be made to last longer. Experimental example 3-2. By desorbing the air release material as shown in (2), efficient cleaning of the air release material and the hollow fiber membrane can be achieved, and the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter can be easily and long-lasting.

[0053]

As is apparent from the present embodiment, according to the present invention, turbid components such as scale in the hot water and iron can be removed by a filter, and a delicious hot water can be easily supplied. In addition, the air vent material is detachable, and the clogged or exhausted air vent material can be washed or replaced, so that the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter can be used for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water heater according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a heat-resistant hollow fiber membrane filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2.32 Hot water storage container 7 Pump 22.45 Heat resistant hollow fiber membrane filter 14.46 Heater 27.57 Hollow fiber membrane 29.59 Air release material

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-277321 (JP, A) JP-A-4-367780 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27 / 21 101

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hot water storage container, a heater for heating water in the container, a pump for pumping water in the container, a circulation path for circulating hot water from a water pumping path to the container, and provided, Chi lifting Bleed mechanism of heat resistance, heat
And a sexual hollow fiber membranes fixed refractory hollow fiber membrane filter with an epoxy resin, wherein the pump water into the heating 循
Water is circulated in the ring path, and the air bleeding mechanism is a heat-resistant hollow fiber
A water heater characterized by being detachable from the membrane filter .