JP3449115B2 - Electric 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 an electric water heater for supplying hot water for beverages at home or office.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since tap water in recent years has been sterilized with chlorine, it contains a large amount of free chlorine and has a lot of chlorine odor. Due to the large amount of chlorine, organic substances and chlorine react with each other in the process of water purification to produce trihalomethane. This trihalomethane is very dangerous because it points out that WHO has carcinogenicity. These pollutants are considered to have a bad effect on the human body, and their presence in tap water is a social problem.
In addition, a so-called musty odor caused by pollution of water sources may be generated from tap water.

Therefore, in the conventional electric water heater, boiling water is maintained for several minutes, the heater is intermittently energized after boiling, and the electric water heater is provided with activated carbon to remove free chlorine, trihalomethane, and musty odor in water. Was decomposed, adsorbed, or released into the atmosphere and removed from water.

[0004]

However, in the water purification method by maintaining boiling, free chlorine, trihalomethane,
In order to sufficiently reduce the musty odor, it is necessary to maintain boiling for a long time, a large amount of steam is generated, and more energy is required to maintain boiling. Further, if even a small amount of free chlorine remains in trihalomethane, it is difficult to sufficiently remove it by boiling only, because this free chlorine reacts with the organic substances contained in water to form.

Further, in the case of intermittently energizing the heater after boiling, it is necessary to lengthen the intermittent boiling time in order to sufficiently remove defective components, and the total amount of steam generated and the power consumption are reduced. Consumption can hardly be reduced compared to what keeps boiling. Even with this method, the production of trihalomethane cannot be suppressed.

With the activated carbon, residual chlorine can be sufficiently removed even before the start of boiling by the catalytic reaction of the activated carbon. In this method, free chlorine can be sufficiently removed, so that the production of trihalomethane can be suppressed. However, since activated carbon has a low adsorptive power at high temperatures, trihalomethane and musty odor adsorbed at low temperatures are redissolved at high temperatures, and therefore, activated carbon alone cannot be sufficiently removed in an electric water heater.

Therefore, even if activated carbon is used, it is necessary to continue boiling in order to remove trihalomethane and musty odor, and there is a problem that a large amount of steam is generated. Further, when a large amount of steam is generated, there is a problem that the humidity rises and moistens the surrounding objects.

Aeration is known as a means for expelling volatile components in water into the air. Aeration is to blow gas into water to bring the gas into contact with water and diffuse volatile components from the water into the air. In general, aeration is performed by blowing air outside the aeration container into the aeration container, and the blown air is discharged outside the aeration container together with volatile components. When the air outside the water heater is blown into the water storage container of the electric water heater, the volatile components in the water storage container dissolve in the blown air and are discharged outside the electric water heater together with the air, so the water inside the water storage container volatilizes. The component is removed. But,
At the same time, there is a problem that odorous components, dust, and the like in the outside air will conversely melt into the water and pollute the water. Further, when the outside air is blown into the electric water heater, there is a problem that steam is generated even before the steam is boiled.

Normally, the water in the water storage container in the electric water heater is heated for use and is heated to a temperature higher than the outside temperature. When external air is blown into the storage container, the blown air comes into contact with high-temperature water in the water storage container to reach a high temperature, and the amount of saturated steam in the air increases, so that the absolute humidity also rises. After this, when the air is discharged to the outside of the electric water heater, it cools down to the temperature of the outside air. Since the amount of saturated steam decreases as the temperature of air cools, the difference between the amount of water dissolved in the hot air and the amount of cooled saturated steam is always steam. For this reason, steam is generated even if the water inside the water storage container is not boiling, which also raises the surrounding humidity.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and by aerating the air in the water storage container into the water in the water storage container, an odor component and dust of the outside air are mixed. The purpose is to purify the water in the water storage container without generating a small amount of steam.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one means of the present invention is to provide a water storage container, a heater for heating the water in the water storage container, and circulate the water in the container. A circulation path, a hot water outlet path for discharging water to the outside, a pump for flowing water to the circulation path, a switching valve for switching the flow to the circulation path and a flow to the hot water outlet path, and air in the container in the circulation path. Since the outside air is not mixed by operating the pump after heating the heater by mixing with a mixer for flowing in, the water does not contaminate the water with odor components or dust, and trihalomethane etc. It can be an electric water heater that volatilizes and purifies .

Further, the electric water heater is capable of more effective water purification by combining activated carbon.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a container for storing water, a heater for heating water in the container for storing water, and a circulation for circulating water in the container. A path, a hot water outlet path for discharging water to the outside, a pump for flowing water to the circulation path, a switching valve for switching the flow to the circulation path and the flow to the hot water outlet path, and the air in the container in the circulation path. a mixing device for flowing provided, and an electric water heater for operating the heater after heating pump Monodea
It

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is an electric water heater in which activated carbon is arranged in the circulation path.

The operation of the present invention will be described below. As a bad ingredient in water, free chlorine, trihalomethane,
Musty odor is mixed. Although trihalomethane and musty odor have different boiling points, they are volatile and move to gas when gas comes into contact with water. Free chlorine forms a reaction equilibrium as shown in (Chemical formula 1) in water and has a pH of 7
In the vicinity, it exists in the state of hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion.

[0016]

[Chemical 1]

Chlorine molecules have high volatility, but hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions are not volatile or are very small, and therefore hardly vaporize when they are brought into contact with a gas. However, since free chlorine is extremely reactive, it reacts with organic substances in water. For example, organic substances called humic substances react with free chlorine to eliminate free chlorine and generate trihalomethane. Free chlorine is consumed and reduced by this reaction.

It is generally known that when water is heated or boiled, free chlorine contained in the water is reduced.
This is because free chlorine is consumed and reduced by the reaction. In addition, since trihalomethane and musty odor, which are one of the reaction products, are volatile, they move to gas by contacting gas with water and are removed from water. By these actions, free chlorine, trihalomethane and musty odor are removed. However, normally, there are odorous components and dust in the air, and if the air containing the odorous components is continuously blown, the odorous components and dust conversely get mixed into the water and pollute the water.

By operating the pump after heating the heater as in the present invention, air can be mixed into the water in the circulation path by the mixer, and the water comes into contact with the air. Here, the volatile components move from the water to the air, and the water is purified.
In addition, since the circulation is after heating the heater, the water temperature is higher than the outside air temperature. As a result, the vapor pressure of water as well as the atmospheric pressure works in the container, so that the pressure in the container becomes higher than that in the outside air. As a result, the outside air does not enter the container, so that the electric water heater can be used to volatilize and purify trihalomethane and the like in the water by generating a small amount of steam without mixing the odor component and dust of the outside air.

Further, when the water temperature rises, water is likely to be vaporized in the pump, causing cavitation. If cavitation occurs, the flow of water will deteriorate and the air will not be effectively drawn in by the mixing device, and it will not be possible to expect clean water even if the pump is operated. By stopping the pump at a predetermined temperature, it is possible to efficiently purify water without performing unnecessary operations. Also, by placing the activated carbon in the circulation path, water comes into contact with the activated carbon by circulation. As a result, free chlorine is removed by the catalytic action of activated carbon.
Removal of free chlorine eliminates the production of trihalomethanes. As a result, the amount of trihalomethane that should be removed is only the amount that has entered the water put in the electric water heater, and is smaller than when the increase in production is added,
Free chlorine and trihalomethane can be removed more efficiently.

In the case of a combination of activated carbon, it is more important to operate the pump at a predetermined temperature and stop it. Since the catalytic action of activated carbon is more effective at higher temperatures, by circulating the activated carbon at a predetermined temperature, the activated carbon can be operated under conditions where it can be effectively used. Also, the adsorption action of activated carbon is effective at low temperatures, but conversely causes elution at high temperatures.
By stopping the pump at a predetermined temperature, the pump can be used only at a temperature equal to or lower than the discharge temperature from the activated carbon, so that only the adsorption action of the activated carbon can be used. As a result, water can be purified more efficiently. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an electric water heater (hereinafter simply referred to as a main body), which is a water storage container 2 having an inner diameter of 150 mm and a depth of 250 mm (hereinafter simply referred to as a container 2).
have. Reference numeral 3 is an inner plug attached so as to seal the mouth of the container 2. Reference numeral 4 is an upper lid that covers the upper portion of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. 5 is a steam passage provided in the upper lid,
One end penetrates the inside plug 3 and communicates with the inside of the container 2, and the other end communicates with the atmosphere. A water leakage prevention valve 6 is arranged in the steam passage 5 and shuts off the steam passage 5 when the vehicle falls over.

Here, the steam passage 5 is complicatedly bent so that the outside air and the air between the water surface in the container 2 and the upper lid 4 (hereinafter referred to as the inside air) are not easily mixed.

Further, when water is contained in the container 2, the internal air has a vapor pressure of water, so that the pressure is higher than that of the external air. Thus, when there is water in the container 2, the components in the inside air move to the outside from the steam passage 5, but the outside air does not enter the inside air portion.

Reference numeral 7 is a motor provided at the bottom between the main body 1 and the container 2, 8 is a pump driven by the motor 7, and its suction port 9 communicates with the bottom of the container 2. A discharge port 10 of the pump 8 communicates with a circulation pipe A 11 that constitutes a part of a circulation path. 12 is a mixing device, and the intake pipe 1
It is connected to 5. Reference numeral 16 denotes an intake port, where the intake pipe 15 and the container 2 communicate with each other. Reference numeral 13 is a circulation pipe B, one end of which communicates with the mixer 12, and the other end of which communicates with the switching valve 17. The switching valve 17 has a communication pipe 14
And a tap pipe 18 is connected. The communication pipe 14 communicates with the container 2. Here, the circulation route of water in the container 2 is
And pump 8, circulation pipe A11, mixing device 12 and circulation pipe B
13, a switching valve 17, and a communication pipe 14. Reference numeral 19 denotes a hot water outlet from which the hot water is discharged to the outside of the electric water heater. The hot water outlet path is a container 2, a pump 8 and a circulation pipe A.
11, mixing device 12, circulation pipe B13, switching valve 17
It is formed of a hot water outlet pipe 18 and a hot water outlet 19.

The water level of the water is lower than the full water level. In this embodiment, the intake port 16 is installed above the full water level of the container 2. As a result, the inside air can be drawn into the water by the mixing device regardless of the amount of water in the container 2. Furthermore, the mixing device 12 is arranged at a height not more than half the height of the container 2. This ensures the length of the circulation pipe B.

The water containing the air by the mixer 12 is 1
After passing through the circulation pipe B of No. 3, the switching valve 17 and the communication pipe 14
Return to container 2 via. If the length of the circulation pipe B of 13 is secured, the contact time between water and air is secured, so that the water purification effect is secured.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a heater for heating, which has a doughnut-shaped central portion and is attached to the lower portion of the container 2. Reference numeral 21 is a temperature detector, which is the lower portion of the container 2 and the heater 2.
It is attached to the center of 0. Reference numeral 22 denotes a start switch for driving the motor 7, which has a variable resistor, and is operated via the rod 24 by the push operation of the push button 23. The movement of the push button 23 is linked to the switching valve 17. Reference numeral 25 is a compression type spring, and this spring 25 constantly urges the rod 24 so as to push it upward. Reference numeral 26 is a control device, which takes in signals from the temperature detector 21 and controls energization of the heater 20 and the motor 7. Further, the intake pipe 15 and the container 2 communicate with each other through 16 intake ports. This makes it possible not only to reliably use the inside air, but also to prevent water from spilling out of the electric water heater even when water flows back into the intake pipe at the time of a fall.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. Container 2
When water is put into the container and then energized, the temperature of the water in the container 2 is measured by the temperature detector 21 and a signal thereof is sent to the control device 26, and the control device starts to energize the heater 20. Further, the controller 26 operates the motor 7 when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. When the motor 7 operates, the pump 8 operates,
The water in the container 2 is caused to flow into the mixer 12 via the circulation pipe A11. The mixing device 12 is configured to suck air through the intake pipe 15 by the flow of water. Inside air is drawn from the intake port 16 and water and air are mixed in the mixing device 12 via the intake pipe 15. The water mixed with air flows into the switching valve 17 via the circulation pipe B of 13.

Normally, the switching valve 17 is opened in the path between the circulation pipe 17 and the communication pipe 14. Therefore, the water mixed with the air flowing into the switching valve 17 passes through the communication pipe 14 to the container 2
Return to. When water mixes air, the water and air effectively contact each other. At this time, volatile components such as trihalomethane and musty odor in the water move into the air and are removed from the water for purification. When the water in the container 2 reaches a predetermined temperature, the operation of the motor 7 is stopped. After this, the water in the container 2 boils, and the energization of the heater 7 ends.

By operating a switch (not shown), it is possible to slightly maintain the power supply to the heater 20 after boiling. Push button 23 when tapping
Through. As a result, the switching valve 17 is switched so that the circulation pipe B of 13 and the hot water outlet pipe 18 communicate with each other. Further, the motor 7 operates. The water in the container 2 purified by this is passed by the pump 8 through the circulation pipe A 11 and the circulation pipe B of the mixers 12 and 13, the switching valve 17 and the hot water outlet pipe 18.
It is discharged to the outside of the electric water heater from 9 and used. Therefore, water can be purified without continuing boiling.

Here, the pump is operated after the water in the container 2 reaches a predetermined temperature. This is because the pressure inside the container is sufficiently higher than that of the outside air due to the vapor pressure of water, so that the outside air is completely prevented from entering the container 2. This makes it possible to provide an electric water heater that volatilizes and purifies trihalomethane and the like in water by generating a small amount of steam without mixing odorous components and dust of the outside air. Further, in this embodiment, the pump is stopped at a predetermined temperature.

The pump has the action of pushing out water, but the pump also has the action of drawing in water.
The water drawn into the pump is in a depressurized state. Under reduced pressure, water boils at a lower temperature than 100 ° C. When boiling occurs, water is vaporized and gas is mixed in the pump. Since a pump that entrains gas cannot transport enough water, the pump stops its operation before entraining gas. In this example, the pump was operated at 30 ° C and stopped at 98 ° C.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows activated carbon placed in the circulation path of an electric water heater. 1 to 26 are the same as in the first embodiment. Reference numeral 27 denotes an activated carbon case, in which activated carbon 29 is arranged. In addition, at least a part of the activated carbon case has a hole to prevent activated carbon from spilling, and water is activated carbon case 2.
The inside of 7 can be passed. Reference numeral 28 denotes a cover, which fixes the activated carbon case 27 near the communication pipe 14.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. Container 2
When water is put into the container and then energized, the temperature of the water in the container 2 is measured by the temperature detector 21 and a signal thereof is sent to the control device 26, and the control device starts to energize the heater 20. Further, the controller 26 operates the motor 7 when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. When the motor 7 operates, the pump 8 operates,
The water in the container 2 is caused to flow into the mixer 12 via the circulation pipe A11. The mixing device 12 is configured to suck air through the intake pipe 15 by the flow of water. Inside air is drawn from the intake port 16 and water and air are mixed in the mixing device 12 via the intake pipe 15. The water mixed with air flows into the switching valve 17 via the circulation pipe B of 13. The normal switching valve 17 is the circulation pipe 17
And open to the path of the communication pipe 14. Therefore, switching valve 1
The water mixed with the air flowing into 7 is poured into the activated carbon case 27 through the communication pipe 14. The water poured into the activated carbon case 27 passes through the activated carbon inside and returns to the container 2. When passing through this activated carbon, it is purified by the action of activated carbon. Here, the activated carbon acts as an adsorbent and as a catalyst that causes the reaction shown in (Chemical Formula 2).

[0036]

[Chemical 2]

Although free chlorine is removed by the catalytic action, the production of trihalomethane can be suppressed when the residual chlorine is reduced. At low temperatures, activated carbon has an adsorbing effect and effectively removes trihalomethane and musty odor in addition to residual chlorine and has a high water purification effect. When the water in the container 2 reaches a predetermined temperature, the operation of the motor 7 is stopped. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon decreases as the temperature rises, and the adsorbed component elutes in water when the water temperature rises. Therefore, by stopping contact with water at the temperature at which elution begins, re-elution into water can be prevented and only the adsorption effect of activated carbon can be utilized.

After this, the water in the container 2 boils and the energization of the heater 7 is terminated. Also, by operating a switch (not shown), the heater 2 is slightly heated after boiling.
The energization to 0 can be maintained. Then, the water in the container is kept warm at a predetermined temperature.

During this heat retention, the activated carbon is also at a substantially heat retention temperature, and the volatile components are discharged from the activated carbon into the air in the container. Volatile components released in the air are pushed by the internal pressure and discharged outside the electric water heater. This makes it possible to regenerate the activated carbon while keeping it warm.

When the hot water is discharged, the push button 23 is pushed. As a result, the switching valve 17 is switched so that the circulation pipe B of 13 and the hot water outlet pipe 18 communicate with each other. Also, the motor 7
Works. The water in the container 2 thus purified passes through the circulation pipe A of 11, the circulation pipe B of the mixers 12 and 13, the switching valve 17 and the hot water discharge pipe 18 by the pump 8 and is discharged from the hot water outlet 19 to the outside of the electric water heater. Used. With these, water can be purified with almost no boiling. Therefore, it is possible to provide an electric water heater that effectively removes and purifies volatile components such as free chlorine and trihalomethane in water by generating a small amount of steam without mixing odor components and dust of the outside air.

[0041]

As is apparent from this embodiment, the first aspect
According to the described invention, the water storage container, the heater for heating the water in the water storage container, the circulation path for circulating the water in the container, the hot water discharge path for discharging the water to the outside, and the circulation path A pump for flowing water, a switching valve for switching the flow to the circulation path and the flow to the hot water outlet path, and a mixer for allowing the air in the container to flow into the circulation path, and operating the pump after heating the heater As a result, the air and water can be brought into contact with each other without entering the outside air, so the water in the container for storing water can be purified without mixing the odorous components and dust of the outside air and generating a small amount of steam. It can be a water heater .

Further, by disposing activated carbon as in the second aspect of the invention, an electric water heater capable of purifying water more effectively can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an electric water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Water storage container 8 pumps 12 Mixer 15 Intake pipe 17 Switching valve 20 heater 29 activated carbon

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Shimizu 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshiyuki Ujino, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Noboru Matsuda 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshitada Nakao 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Invention Person Saori Fujita 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-5-7530 (JP, A) JP-A-6-254539 (JP, A) JP-A-7- 163466 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 6-11629 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47J 27/21 101 C02F 1/20 C02F 1/28 C02F 1/28 C02F 1/74

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water storage container, a heater for heating water in the water storage container, a circulation path for circulating the water in the container, a hot water supply path for discharging water to the outside, and a water supply for the circulation path. A pump for flowing, a switching valve for switching the flow to the circulation path and the flow to the hot water outlet path, and a mixer for allowing the air in the container to flow into the circulation path, and the pump is operated after heating the heater. And an electric water heater. 2. A method according to claim 1 arranged activated carbon in the circulation path
The electric water heater described.