JP3265334B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gas-liquid contact portion for bringing water or hot water into contact with the exhaust of a hot water supply burner in the middle of a route for supplying water or hot water to a portion to be supplied. On the downstream side of the gas-liquid contact portion, a water pool portion for water-sealing a path portion from the gas-liquid contact portion to the supply target portion in the path when water or hot water is stored is provided, and the water supply portion is provided to the supply target portion. The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus provided with hot water supply control means for controlling a hot water supply operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of hot-water supply device, a water-sealing detection sensor for detecting a water-sealing level of the water-storing portion is provided in a water pool portion, and a hot-water supply control means uses a water-sealing detection sensor to detect a predetermined water level. When the above-mentioned water sealing is detected, the operation of the water heater is permitted, and when the water sealing at the predetermined water level is not detected, the operation of the water heater is not performed.

[0003] Here, the gas-liquid contact section is a section in which water or hot water supplied to the supply section is brought into contact with the exhaust of the hot water supply burner to convert carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide gas) contained in the exhaust of the hot water supply burner into water. Alternatively, it is a device that can be dissolved in hot water, and can be turned into a carbonic acid bath by supplying water or hot water that has passed through the gas-liquid contact portion as a supplied portion, for example, to a bathtub.

[0004] The water reservoir is for sealing a gas-liquid contact portion with respect to a supplied portion in a path for supplying water or hot water. This is provided to prevent the exhaust gas from being erroneously passed.

[0005]

However, according to the above prior art, the hot water supply control means always performs the hot water supply operation based on the detection result of the water sealing detection sensor even if the water sealing detection sensor has a failure. If the detection result of the water seal detection sensor does not match the actual water level, the hot water supply operation will be stopped unnecessarily or the exhaust gas from the hot water supply burner will be erroneously controlled. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that a person who uses the hot water supply device may be uncomfortable or danger when the hot water supply device flows through the hot water supply unit. An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages.

[0006]

A first characteristic configuration of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a water sealing detection means for detecting a water level of the water in the water pool, and changing the water level of the water. Inspection of the detection result of the water sealing detection means accompanying,
An abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality of the water sealing detecting means is provided, and the hot water supply control means is configured not to perform the hot water supply operation when the abnormality is determined by the abnormality determining means. It is in.

A second characteristic configuration of the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention specifies a preferred specific configuration when implementing the first characteristic configuration, wherein the abnormality determining means performs a hot water supply operation to the supplied portion. Is completed, the level of the sealed water is changed to determine the abnormality of the sealed water detecting means.

[0008]

According to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, the abnormality determination means for inspecting the detection result of the water seal detection means as the water level of the water seal changes to determine the abnormality of the water seal detection means is provided. Since it is provided, it is possible to determine the abnormality of the water sealing detection means by comparing the detection result of the water sealing detection means with the actual level of the sealed water. Accordingly, the hot water supply operation can be prohibited.

According to the second characteristic configuration, when the operation of supplying hot water to the supply destination ends, the level of the sealed water is changed to determine the abnormality of the sealed water detecting means. By utilizing the full state of the water pool immediately after the operation is completed and discharging the sealed water from the full state, the level of the sealed water can be changed and the detection result of the sealed detection means can be inspected.

[0010]

According to the first feature of the present invention, the abnormality of the water sealing detection means is determined by comparing the detection result of the water sealing detection means with the actual water level of the water sealing. Since the hot water supply operation can be prohibited as the abnormality is determined,
The hot water supply operation is unnecessarily stopped or the exhaust gas of the hot water supply burner is erroneously passed to the supply destination based on the erroneous detection result of the failed water sealing detection means, and this is unsuitable for the user of the hot water supply device. It is possible to provide a hot water supply apparatus that eliminates inconveniences such as pleasure and danger.

[0011] According to the second characteristic configuration, the level of the sealed water is changed by discharging the sealed water from the full water state by utilizing the full state of the water pool immediately after the end of the hot water supply operation, thereby changing the level of the sealed water. Since the detection result can be inspected, for example, with a simple structure such as providing a drainage means such as a drainage valve,
In addition, it is possible to provide a hot-water supply device that can check the detection result of the water-sealing detection unit at any time with a simple control operation.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hot water supply device for supplying water or hot water to a bathtub B as a supply destination. The hot water supply apparatus heats tap water supplied in the water supply passage W1 to supply hot water to the bathtub B and the hot water tap K, and a reheating unit C for reheating the bathtub water in the bathtub B, A gas-liquid contact portion G for bringing water or hot water into contact with the exhaust of the hot water supply burner 2, a water pool portion F for water-sealing a path from the gas-liquid contact portion G to the bathtub B, and a control portion for controlling the operation of the hot water supply device. H.

The hot water supply section A is provided with a hot water supply heat exchanger 1 to which tap water is supplied in a water supply passage W1, a hot water supply burner 2 for heating the hot water supply heat exchanger 1, and a combustion air of the hot water supply burner 2. A blower fan 3 for blowing air is provided. The hot water supply burner 2 is provided with a fuel control valve 4 for adjusting the amount of fuel supplied to the hot water supply burner 2 and a fuel intermittent valve 5. The rotation speed of the blower fan 3 is controlled to a value uniquely determined according to the fuel supply amount so that the blower amount is such that the combustion state of the hot water supply burner 2 is optimized.

The reheating unit C comprises a reheating heat exchanger 6 provided in a circulation path W5 for circulating bath water in the bathtub B, a reheating burner 7 for heating the reheating heat exchanger 6, and And a blower fan 8 for blowing the combustion air of the firing burner 7.
A circulation pump 9 is provided in the circulation path W5. The reburning burner 7 is provided with a fuel control valve 10 for adjusting a fuel supply amount to the reburning burner 7 and a fuel intermittent valve 11. The blower fan 8 is controlled in the same manner as the blower fan 3 according to the reburning burner 7.

An exhaust duct 12 of the hot water supply unit A is connected to the gas-liquid contact portion G so that the exhaust gas of the hot water supply burner 2 passes therethrough. A hot water supply passage W2 leading to the contact portion G, a water supply passage W3 leading water from the water supply passage W1 to the gas-liquid contact portion G, and a connecting pipe 22 constituting a path portion from the gas-liquid contact portion G to the water pool portion F are provided. It is configured to be connected and relay a route for supplying hot water from the hot water supply unit A to the bathtub B.

The water reservoir F is connected to the connecting pipe 22 and a hot water supply path W4 for guiding the hot water passing through the water reservoir F to the bathtub B, and supplies hot water from the gas-liquid contact part G to the bathtub B. It is configured to relay the route.

The bathtub B is provided with a bathtub level sensor S8 for detecting the level of bathtub water. The bathtub water level sensor S8 is configured to detect the bathtub water level based on the water pressure of the bathtub water.

In the hot water supply apparatus, first, the hot water is burned by the hot water supply burner 2 through the hot water supply path W1, the hot water supply heat exchanger 1, the hot water supply path W2, the connecting pipe 22, the water pool F, and the hot water supply path W4. Hot water is supplied to the bathtub B appropriately, and a hot water supply route is formed.

The water supply channel W1 is provided with a thermistor S1 for detecting a water supply temperature Ti in the water supply channel W1 and a water amount sensor S2 for detecting a water supply amount Q from the water supply channel W1. The hot water supply path W2 is provided with an intermittent valve 13,
The supply of hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 1 to the bathtub B is controlled. The connecting pipe 22 is provided with a thermistor S3 for detecting the actual hot water supply temperature Tx for the bathtub B.

The hot water supply path W2 has a branching hot water supply path W6.
Is provided so that hot water boiled by the hot water supply burner 2 can be supplied to the hot water tap K as needed to perform general hot water supply. The hot water supply path W6 is provided with a water amount sensor S4 for detecting opening of the hot water tap K.

The hot water supply device includes a water supply channel W1, a water supply channel W3, a gas-liquid contact portion G, a communication pipe 22, and a water pool portion F.
And hot water heated by the high-temperature exhaust gas, in which the carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gas of the hot water supply burner 2 is dissolved by passing through the gas-liquid contact portion G by the hot water supply passage W4. A route is formed in which the appropriately supplied carbonic water is supplied.

The water supply passage W3 is provided with an intermittent valve 14 so that the supply of carbon dioxide to the gas-liquid contact portion G is controlled. In addition, when the carbonated hot water supply is performed, the hot water supply is also performed simultaneously from the path in which the hot water supply is performed. It is configured to be supplied.

The control section H is composed mainly of a microcomputer, is connected to thermistors S1 and S3, water level sensors S2 and S4, and a bathtub level sensor S8, and inputs detection information of these sensors. ,
Fuel control valves 4 and 10, fuel intermittent valves 5 and 11, blower fans 3 and 8, circulation pump 9, intermittent valves 13 and 1
4 and the controller 15 are connected to form hot water supply control means 101 for controlling the hot water supply operation to the bathtub B.

The controller 15 includes a hot water supply switch 15a, a carbonated water supply switch 15b, and a target hot water supply temperature T.
target hot water supply temperature setting switch 15c for setting s, and
An additional hot water supply switch 15d and the like are provided.

FIG. 2 shows a gas-liquid contact portion G in this embodiment.
And a water pool F. In the gas-liquid contact part G,
A metal casing is provided with a jet nozzle 16 for jetting water supplied from a water supply channel W3 downward, and a filling layer 17 in which a stainless wire is braided in a three-dimensional lattice shape. Exhaust inlet 1 for connecting duct 12
2a is provided above the packed bed 17 and an exhaust outlet 18 for discharging the exhaust gas is provided in the filled bed 17.
It is provided so as to be located below.

Therefore, the gas-liquid contact portion G is provided with the hot water supply burner 2.
Is discharged into the casing through the exhaust inlet 12a, and when the exhaust descends toward the exhaust outlet 18, the exhaust gas passes through the filling layer 17 to heat the filling layer 17 to a high temperature, and squirts. The water is ejected downward from the nozzle 16 to dissolve carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas into the water, and heat exchange is performed by collecting exhaust heat.

A temperature sensor S5 for detecting the temperature of the gas-liquid contact portion G is provided near the filling layer 17 in the casing. The temperature sensor S5 is also connected to the control unit H.

The lower portion of the gas-liquid contact portion G is configured to collect water introduced from the ejection nozzle 16 and hot water supplied from the hot water supply passage W2, and to guide the collected water to the communication pipe 22.

In the water pool F, a hot water supply path W4 is connected to the bottom of the casing, and a water outlet 19 for the hot water supply path W4 is provided at a position higher than the bottom of the casing. When the water or hot water is stored in the casing, the water outlet 19 is formed in the casing when the water or hot water is stored.
Are separated from each other, so that the path from the gas-liquid contact part G to the bathtub B in the path for supplying carbonic water is sealed with water.

An overflow 21 is provided above the casing of the water pool F. Overflow 2
1 is provided at a position lower than the position where the exhaust outlet 18 is connected at the gas-liquid contact portion G.

In the water pool F, an upper water level sensor S6 and a lower water level sensor S7 as water sealing detection means for detecting the water level of the sealed water, a drain passage W7 for discharging the sealed water, and a discharge valve 23 are provided. Is provided. Upper water level sensor S
6 is provided at the height where the water outlet 19 is provided. The lower water level sensor S7 is provided near the bottom of the water pool F. The upper water level sensor S6, the lower water level sensor S7, and the discharge valve 23 are also connected to the control unit H.

The hot water supply control means 101 is configured to execute the following four types of hot water supply modes. The first hot water supply mode is a hot water supply hot water supply mode in which only hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 1 is supplied to the bathtub B. The second hot water mode is
A carbon dioxide hot water supply mode in which the hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 1 and the hot water passed through the gas-liquid contact portion G are mixed and supplied to the bathtub B.
The third hot water supply mode is a general hot water supply mode in which hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 1 is supplied only to the hot water tap K. The fourth hot water supply mode is an additional heating water supply mode by the additional heating unit C.

In this embodiment, there is no hot water supply mode in which hot water is supplied to the bathtub B and hot water to the hot water tap K at the same time, and the hot water supply mode or the carbonated hot water supply mode is executed. If the hot-water tap K is opened during this, the hot water supply mode or the carbonated hot-water supply mode is stopped, and the general hot water supply mode is executed.

In the hot water supply mode, the controller 15
Of the hot water supply switch 15a. When the hot water supply switch 15a is operated, the blower fan 3
Is driven, the hot water supply burner 2 is ignited, and the thermistor S
1, S3 and the detection result of the water amount sensor S2,
The fuel control valve 4 and the fuel intermittent valve 5 are controlled such that the hot water supply temperature Tx detected by the thermistor S3 approaches the target hot water supply temperature Ts set by the target hot water supply temperature setting switch 15c. The rotation speed of the fan 3 is controlled, and the hot water supply operation is performed. Hot water supply control means 101 monitors bathtub water level sensor S8,
The hot water supply operation ends when the bathtub water level at the predetermined water level is detected.

The carbonated water supply mode is set to the carbonated water supply switch 15.
It is executed by the operation of b. Carbonated water heater switch 15b
Is operated, before the hot water supply burner 2 is ignited, first, the temperature of the gas-liquid contact portion G is checked by the temperature sensor S5, and if the temperature is over the predetermined temperature, the blower fan 3 is driven. By doing so, the gas-liquid contact portion G is cooled. When water is suddenly ejected from the ejection nozzle 16 in a state where the gas-liquid contact portion G is overheated to a predetermined temperature or more, an abnormal sound such as a shack is generated, the water evaporates violently, and a large amount of water is discharged from the exhaust port 18 and the like. This is because water vapor is discharged, which is not preferable for use of the hot water supply device.
Next, after a lapse of a predetermined time, if the temperature of the gas-liquid contact portion G is lower than the predetermined temperature, the intermittent valves 13 and 14 are opened, the hot water supply burner 2 is ignited, and the detection results of the thermistors S1, S3 and the water amount sensor S2 are obtained. Based on the thermistor S
The fuel control valve 4 and the fuel intermittent valve 5 are controlled such that the hot water supply temperature Tx detected at 3 approaches the target hot water supply temperature Ts set by the target hot water supply temperature setting switch 15c. The rotation speed of is controlled,
Carbonated hot water supply operation is performed. Hot water supply control means 101 monitors bathtub water level sensor S8, and when the bathtub water level at a predetermined water level is detected, the carbon dioxide hot water supply operation is terminated.

The general hot water supply mode is executed as hot water tap K is opened. When the hot water tap K is opened, the intermittent valve 13 and the intermittent valve 14 are closed, and the temperature of hot water supplied to the hot water tap K is set to a predetermined hot water temperature based on the detection results of the thermistor S1 and the water amount sensor S2. So that
The fuel control valve 4 and the fuel interrupting valve 5 are controlled, and the rotation speed of the blower fan 3 is controlled accordingly.

The additional heating water supply mode is the additional heating water supply switch 15.
It is executed with the operation of d. Additional heating hot water switch 15d
Is operated, the circulating pump 9 is operated, the blower fan 8 is driven, the reburning burner 7 is ignited, and reburning hot water is supplied. In addition, the combustion amount of the reburning burner 7 is controlled to a constant strength with relatively high thermal power.

The control unit H includes an upper water level sensor S
6. The lower water level sensor S7, the intermittent valve 13, and the discharge valve 23 are connected, and the detection results of the upper water level sensor S6 and the lower water level sensor S7 are inspected as the water level of the sealed water is changed. An abnormality determining means 102 for determining an abnormality of the water level sensor S6 and the lower water level sensor S7 is configured. The abnormality determination means 102 is configured to execute a control operation as shown in FIG. 3 each time the hot water supply operation and the carbonated water supply operation are completed. Since then
A state in which the upper water level sensor S6 or the lower water level sensor S7 detects the presence of the sealed water is called an ON state, and a state in which the presence of the sealed water is not detected is called an OFF state. Each sensor has an ON fault that always outputs only the ON state, and an OFF fault that always outputs only the OFF state.

With the completion of hot water supply or carbonated water supply, the intermittent valve 13 and the intermittent valve 14 are closed, the hot water burner 2 is digested, and the end of the hot water supply operation is confirmed.
The abnormality determination unit 102 checks the detection results of the upper water level sensor S6 and the lower water level sensor S7, and if there is a sensor that outputs an OFF state, an abnormality due to the OFF failure of the upper water level sensor S6 or the lower water level sensor S7. Is determined to have occurred. If no abnormality is determined, the drain valve 23 is opened to discharge the sealed water. As the sealed water is discharged and the lower water level sensor S7 detects the OFF state, the detection result of the upper water level sensor S6 is inspected, and when the upper water level sensor S6 outputs the ON state, the upper water level sensor S6 outputs the ON state. It is determined that an abnormality due to the ON failure of the water level sensor S6 has occurred. If the lower water level sensor S7 outputs the ON state even after a predetermined period of time sufficient to discharge the sealed water after the discharge valve 23 is opened, the lower water level sensor S7 is turned on. It is determined that an abnormality due to a failure has occurred.

If no abnormality is determined, the discharge valve 23 is closed, the intermittent valve 13 is opened, water is injected again using the hot water supply path W2, and the predetermined water level is detected by the upper water level sensor S6. At the same time, the intermittent valve 13 is closed to end the water injection.

When an abnormality is determined, the abnormality determining means 102 displays an alarm indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the operation portion of the hot water supply apparatus, and the hot water supply control means 101 performs the subsequent hot water supply operation. It is configured not to do so.

[Alternative Embodiment] In the above-described embodiment, the ON failure of the lower water level sensor S7 was determined after a lapse of a predetermined time since the discharge valve 23 was opened. In the water heater provided with the bathtub B and the water pool F in a state where the bathtub is higher than the position where the sensor S7 is provided, the bathtub water level sensor S8 is
The bathtub water level sensor S is provided in the bathtub B so as to be lower than the lower water level sensor S7, and when the bathtub water is drained in the bathtub B as shown in FIG.
At 8, the detection result of the lower water level sensor S7 is inspected along with the detection that the water level of the bathtub water has become lower than the position provided with the lower water level sensor S7, and the lower water level sensor S7 May output an ON state, it may be configured to determine that an abnormality has occurred due to an ON failure of the lower water level sensor S7.

The abnormality determining means 102 may be configured to execute a control operation for determining an abnormality every time the hot water supply operation and the carbonated water supply operation are completed,
It may be configured to be executed every arbitrary number of times. In addition, a switch or the like for instructing execution of a control operation for determining an abnormality is provided, and a control operation for determining an abnormality in accordance with an operation instruction of a person using the hot water supply device with the end of the hot water supply operation and the carbonated water supply operation. May be configured to be executed.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the attached drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a water heater.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a gas-liquid contact portion and a water pool portion;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of an abnormality determination unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an abnormality determination unit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B Supply section F Water pool section G Gas-liquid contact section S6 Water seal detection means S7 Water seal detection means 2 Hot water supply burner 101 Hot water supply control means 102 Abnormality determination means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Yoshihisa Fujita, Inventor 1-52-1, Oka, Minami-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Inside Herman Corporation (72) Inventor Kensaku Inoue 1-1-52, Oka, Minami-shi, Minato-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. Harman Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-129628 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24H 1/00 602

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A gas-liquid contact portion (G) for contacting water or hot water with the exhaust of a hot water supply burner (2) is provided in the middle of a path for supplying water or hot water to the portion to be supplied (B). A path portion from the gas-liquid contact portion (G) to the supply target portion (B) in the path when water or hot water is accumulated downstream of the gas-liquid contact section (G) in the path is water-sealed. A hot water supply section provided with a hot water supply section (F), and a hot water supply control means (101) for controlling a hot water supply operation to the supplied section (B). Water-sealing detecting means (S6, S7) for detecting the water level of the water-sealing water, and the detection result of the water-sealing detecting means (S6, S7) is inspected as the water level of the water-sealing changes. An abnormality determining means (102) for determining an abnormality of the detecting means (S6, S7) is provided. Control means (101) is, the abnormality determination means (1
02) A hot water supply device that is configured not to perform a hot water supply operation when an abnormality is determined in 02). 2. The water sealing detecting means (S6, S7), wherein the abnormality determining means (102) changes the water level of the sealed water when the hot water supply operation to the part to be supplied (B) ends. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply apparatus is configured to determine the abnormality of the hot water.