JP3754000B2 - A hot water supply system from a high place and a water heater installed at a high place - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system in which a hot water heater that heats water under water pressure to make hot water is installed at a high place such as the roof of a building, for example, and supplies hot water to a hot water use location located below, The present invention relates to a water heater suitable for constructing the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With reference to FIG. 4, the structure of the conventional system 210 which supplies hot water from a high place is demonstrated. FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional system 210 in which a water heater 220 is installed on the roof of a three-story building 290 and hot water is supplied to a plurality of hot water use locations 231, 232, and 233 below the floor. In addition, the arrow in a figure has shown the direction through which water (warm water) flows. In this system, hot water circulates. In FIG. 4, a part of the reference numerals for the locations where hot water is used is omitted.
A water tank 226 is provided on the roof of the building 290. Between the water storage tank 226 and the water heater 220, a path 202 for sending water from the water storage tank 226 to the water heater 220 is disposed. A pressure pump 228 is installed in the path 202, and water pressure is applied to the water fed into the water heater 220.
The path 202 is connected to one end of a water heater internal water passage 292 a extending through the water heater 220. The water sent to the water heater internal water passage 292a is sent to the water heater internal water passage 292d via the water heater internal water passages 292b and 292c. The water heater internal water channel 292d is connected to one end of a hot water channel 204 extending outside the water heater. The other end of the hot water channel 204 is connected to hot water use locations 231, 232, and 233 located downstairs.
The water heater internal water channels 292 b and 292 c pass through the heating space 302 of the water heater 220. In the heating space 302, the water heater internal channels 292b and 292c are heated. By heating the water heater inner water channels 292b and 292c, the water passing through the water heater inner water channels 292b and 292c is heated and becomes hot water. This hot water is sent to the hot water use locations 231, 232, 233 via the water heater internal water passage 292 d and the hot water passage 204. Hot water that has not been used at the hot water use locations 231, 232, 233 is returned to the water heater internal channel 292 a.
The pressurizing pump 228 applies water pressure to the water (warm water) in the pipe. When the hot water use points 231, 232, 233 are opened, the water (warm water) passes through the water heater 220 and the warm water channel 204 to reach the warm water. It is pumped to the use locations 231, 232, 233.
[0003]
In the hot water supply system 210 described above, the pressurizing pump 228 applies water pressure to the water passages 292 a, 292 b, 292 c, 292 d and the hot water passage 204.
However, since the hot water use locations 231, 232, and 233 are located below the water heater 220, the water pressure in the water heater internal channels 292 b, 292 c, 292 d, etc. tends to decrease. In particular, the water heater internal channels 292b and 292c are formed by bending a long tube for efficient heat exchange, and have high flow resistance. For this reason, when the hot water in the hot water channel 204 flows out from the hot water use locations 231, 232, and 233 vigorously, the water pressure in the water heater internal channels 292b, 292c, and 292d tends to decrease. Even if water pressure is applied to the water heater internal channels 292b, 292c, 292d by the pressurizing pump 228, the water pressure in the water heater internal channels 292b, 292c, 292d may decrease.
[0004]
When the water pressure in the water heater inner water channels 292b, 292c, 292d decreases, the hot water in the water heater inner water channels 292b, 292c, 292d may boil at low pressure. Numerous problems arise when hot water boils at low temperatures. For example, water vapor generated by low-pressure boiling may hinder heat exchange in the heating space 302 and damage the heat exchanger. Alternatively, abnormal noise may occur due to low pressure boiling.
Increasing the pressure of the pressure pump 228 can prevent the occurrence of low-pressure boiling to some extent. However, the pressure loss in the water heater internal channels 292b and 292c is large, and an unrealistically large pressure pump 228 is required to prevent the occurrence of low-pressure boiling by the pressure pump 228.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply system and a water heater that can prevent the occurrence of low-pressure boiling while using a pressurizing pump having a capacity equal to or less than that used in a conventional system.
[0006]
[Means, actions and effects for solving problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a hot water supply system according to claim 1 has been created. This hot water supply system includes a hot water heater that heats water under water pressure to make hot water, and a hot water passage that connects a hot water use location located below the hot water heater and the hot water heater. A back pressure valve is inserted in the hot water channel to close the hot water channel when the water pressure in the hot water channel decreases (throttle the passage cross-sectional area).
If the back pressure valve is inserted into the hot water channel and the water pressure in the hot water channel decreases, the passage cross-sectional area of the hot water channel is reduced, so that even if the water pressure in the hot water channel decreases significantly, the pressure in the water channel in the water heater can be greatly reduced. It can be prohibited to decrease, and low-pressure boiling in the water channel in the water heater can be suppressed. When actually experimenting, it has been confirmed that the occurrence of low-pressure boiling is remarkably suppressed only by inserting a back pressure valve into the hot water channel.
[0007]
Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, the water heater of Claim 2 was created. This water heater is used to supply hot water to a hot water use location located below by turning the water under water pressure into hot water, and the water channel in the water heater through which the water under pressure passes, and the water channel in the water heater Heating means for heating water passing through a predetermined portion to warm water, and a water heater internal water passage downstream from the predetermined portion heated by the heating means, the water pressure in the water heater internal water passage is A back pressure valve (throttle passage cross-sectional area) that closes the water channel in the water heater when lowered is provided.
According to this water heater, even if the water pressure in the hot water channel connected downstream of the water channel in the water heater is significantly reduced, it is prohibited to significantly reduce the pressure in the water channel in the water heater to be heated. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of low-pressure boiling in the heated water heater channel. Experiments have confirmed that the occurrence of low-pressure boiling is remarkably suppressed only by inserting a back pressure valve downstream of the heated water heater internal water channel.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention described in each of the above claims can be suitably implemented in the following forms.
(Mode 1) A hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is a hot water supply section of a single hot water supply apparatus or a composite apparatus.
(Mode 2) The back pressure valve according to claim 1 or 2 is commonly referred to as a primary pressure regulating valve.
(Mode 3) The hot water supply system according to claim 1 is implemented by installing a water heater at a high place such as a rooftop of a building or a veranda of each door. It is particularly effective when implemented in a three-story or higher building.
(Form 4) The water heater of Claim 2 is installed in high places, such as the rooftop of a building, and the veranda of each house.
(Mode 5) The hot water supply system according to claim 1 includes one or more hot water heaters and one or more hot water use locations.
[0009]
【Example】
An embodiment of a hot water supply system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration of the hot water supply system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The hot water supply system 10 is implemented in a seven-story building 100. The height from the first floor of this building 100 to the roof is about 21 m. The hot water supply system 10 includes three water heaters 20, 22, and 24 installed on the roof of the building 100, and a plurality of hot water usage locations 31 to 35 on each floor of the building 100. In addition, in FIG. 1, the code | symbol of some hot water use locations is abbreviate | omitted. Also, the hot water use locations on the 6th and 7th floors of the building 100 are not shown. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction in which water (warm water) flows.
On the roof of the building 100, a water storage tank 26 is disposed. Water is stored in the water storage tank 26. One end of the water supply path 2 is connected to the water storage tank 26. The other end of the water supply path 2 is connected to a water path 88 in the water heater 20. A pressurizing pump 28 is provided in the water supply path 2. The pressurizing pump 28 pressurizes the water in the water supply path 2. The water supply path 2 sends water from the water storage tank 26 to the water heaters 20, 22, and 24.
[0010]
The water heaters 20, 22, and 24 have a plurality of water heater internal channels 88, 90, 91, 92, 94, and 96 that send water and hot water. Hereinafter, all the water channels (warm water channels) in the water heaters 20, 22, and 24 are referred to as water heater internal water channels. The water heater internal water channel 88 is branched into a plurality of water heater internal water channels 90a, 90b, 90c. The water sent from the water supply path 2 is sent to each of the water heaters 20, 22, 24 through three routes branched into the water heater internal water paths 90 a, 90 b, 90 c. Specifically, the water heater 20 internal route that passes through the water heater 20 in the order of the water heater internal water channels 88, 90a, 91a, 92a, 94, and the water heater internal water channels 88, 90b, 91b, 92b, 94 in this order. The water heater 22 is routed through the water heater 22 route and the water heater internal water channels 88, 90c, 91c, 92c, 94 in order of the water heater 24 route.
While the amount of hot water used at the hot water use location is small, only one of the hot water heaters 20, 22, 24 is used. When the amount of hot water used increases, one hot water heater is additionally used. When the amount of hot water used is further increased, all the hot water heaters are used. In order to select a hot water heater to be used, a valve that is opened and closed independently is inserted into each of the water passages 90a, 90b, and 90c in the hot water heater.
A heating space 102 is disposed in the water heater 20. Similarly, a heating space 104 is disposed in the water heater 22, and a heating space 106 is disposed in the water heater 24. The water heater internal water channels 91 a and 92 a are arranged so as to pass through the heating space 102. The water heater internal channels 91 b and 92 b are arranged so as to pass through the heating space 104, and the water heater internal channels 91 c and 92 c are arranged so as to pass through the heating space 106. The water heater internal channels 91 a and 92 a are heated in the heating space 102. The water heater internal water channels 91 b and 92 b are heated in the heating space 104. The water heater internal channels 91 c and 92 c are heated in the heating space 106. As a result, the water is heated and becomes warm water while passing through the water passages 91a, 92a, 91b, 92b, 91c, and 92c. In addition, the detailed structure of the heating space 102,104,106 of the water heater 20,22,24 and the other instrument distribute | arranged in the water heater 20,22,24 is mentioned later.
[0011]
The water heater inner water channel 94 is connected to a hot water channel 4a extending outside the water heater. The warm water channel 4 a is connected to the warm water channel 4 b through the back pressure valve 50. The hot water channel 4a and the hot water channel 4b send hot water supplied from the water heaters 20, 22, and 24 to the hot water use locations 31 to 35, and the like. The structure of the back pressure valve 50 will be described in detail later. A pressure gauge 180 is disposed in the warm water channel 4a, and a pressure gauge 182 is disposed in the warm water channel 4b. The pressure gauges 180 and 182 measure the water pressure in the hot water channels 4a and 4b and display the measured values so that they can be visually recognized from the outside.
The hot water channel 4b is branched into a plurality of routes 6a to 6e on the way. The paths 6a to 6e branched from the hot water path 4b are referred to as floor paths. The floor paths 6a to 6e are arranged for each floor. The floor path 6a is branched for each of the plurality of hot water use locations 35 on the fifth floor. When warm water is used at the hot water use point 35 (for example, when a faucet is opened or a remote control for requesting hot water is operated), the floor path 6a is heated to the hot water use point 35 that has requested hot water. Send. Similarly, each floor path | route 6b-6e sends warm water to the warm water use location 31-34 in each floor.
The other ends of the floor paths 6b to 6e are connected to the warm water return path 8. The hot water return path 8 is connected to a water heater internal water passage 96 in the water heater 20. The warm water return path 8 returns the warm water that has not been used at the hot water usage points 31 to 35 to the hot water heaters 20, 22, and 24. A circulation pump 44 is disposed in the water heater inner water channel 96 in the water heater 20. When the circulation pump 44 is driven, the hot water flows in the hot water return path 8 and the water heater internal water path 96.
The water heater internal water channel 96 communicates with the water heater internal water channel 88 described above. With this configuration, the return hot water from the water heater internal water channel 96 is sent again to the heating spaces 102, 104, 106 of the water heaters 20, 22, 24.
[0012]
Here, the structure in the water heater 20, 22, 24 will be described. Since each water heater 20, 22, and 24 has the same structure, the structure of the water heater 20 is demonstrated here and description of the other water heaters 22 and 24 is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the water heater 20. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction in which water (warm water) flows.
The water heater 20 includes the above-described water channels 88, 90a, 91a, 92a, 94, 96, etc., the heating space 102, the control unit 110, and the like. A freezing prevention heater 54 is disposed in the water heater internal water channel 88. When the water temperature in the water heater 88 is lowered, the heater 54 is driven to prevent freezing. The control unit 110 performs drive control of the freeze prevention heater 54.
In the water heater internal water passage 96, a steam separator 48, an expansion tank 46, a circulation pump 44, and the like are disposed. An air vent valve 52 is disposed above the steam separator 48. The steam separator 48 releases bubbles contained in the return hot water so that the gas is not mixed into the hot water channel. The expansion tank 46 absorbs pressure against the volume change of hot water. The water heater internal water channel 96 is divided into two hands and connected to the circulation pump 44. The circulation pump 44 is operated alternately every 24 hours, for example. When the circulation pump 44 is driven, the return hot water in the water heater internal water channel 96 flows in the direction of the arrow. The control unit 110 performs drive control of the circulation pump 44.
The water heater internal water channel 90a is divided into two water heater internal water channels 91a and 92a. The water (including the return hot water) sent to the water heater internal channels 91a and 92a is heated by another route.
[0013]
The heating space 102 is composed of two heating chambers 40 and 42. A water heater internal water channel 92 a is disposed so as to pass through the heating chamber 40. A water heater internal channel 91a is arranged so as to pass through the heating chamber. A water amount servo 64 is disposed in the water heater inner water passage 92a, and a water amount servo 66 is disposed in the water heater inner water passage 91a. The water quantity servo 64 has a valve mechanism 64a. By driving the valve mechanism 64a, the flow rate of the water heater internal water channel 92a is adjusted. Similarly, the water amount servo 66 has a valve mechanism 66a, and the flow rate of the water heater internal water passage 91a is adjusted. The water amount servo 64 and the water amount servo 66 are driven and controlled by the control unit 110.
The structure of the heating chamber 40 will be described. In addition, since the heating chamber 40 and the heating chamber 42 have the same structure, description of the heating chamber 42 is abbreviate | omitted. In the heating chamber 40, a plurality of burners 68, a heat exchanger 186, and the like are disposed. The burner 68 uses gas as fuel. Gas is supplied from a gas pipe 184. The heat exchanger 186 is configured by combining a plurality of metal plates. The water heater internal water channel 92a is surrounded by (in contact with) the metal plate of the heat exchanger 186. The heat exchanger 186 is disposed at a position heated by the burner 68. When the heat exchanger 186 is heated by the burner 68, the temperature of the metal plate of the heat exchanger 186 increases. Thereby, the water heater internal water channel 92a that is in contact with the metal plate of the heat exchanger 186 is heated, and the water (including the return hot water) in the water heater internal water channel 92a is heated to become hot water.
The water heater internal water passage 91a is similarly heated, and the water (including the return hot water) in the water heater internal water passage 91a is heated to become hot water. The water heater internal water channel 91 a and the water heater internal water channel 92 a merge and are connected to the water heater internal water channel 94.
[0014]
The control unit 110 performs drive control of each device such as the burner 68 and the circulation pump 44. The control unit 110 monitors the water temperature in the water heater internal water channel 88 and the temperature of the return hot water in the water heater internal water channel 96. The control unit 110 adjusts the heating amount of the burner 68 based on each monitored temperature. In addition, the control unit 110 receives an operation signal (a signal for starting the use of hot water or a signal for ending the use of hot water) from a controller such as a remote controller in the hot water use locations 31 to 35. The control unit 110 drives and stops the circulation pump 44 based on the received operation signal. The control unit 110 also performs drive control of each device in the hot water heater 22 and the hot water heater 24 as well as the hot water heater 20. The water heater 22 and the water heater 24 are not provided with a control unit, and the control unit 110 controls the operation of the water heater 22 and the water heater 24.
[0015]
Next, the structure of the back pressure valve 50 will be described. FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the back pressure valve 50.
In the back pressure valve 50, the lower body member 130 and the upper body member 132 constitute a casing 190. The lower main body member 130 and the upper main body member 132 are fixed with screws 134. The lower body member 130 is formed with an input passage 76, an output passage 82, and a valve port 124. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the valve port 124 is closed (the back pressure valve 50 is in a closed state). The input passage 76 is connected to the hot water passage 4 a at the inlet 136. The output passage 82 is connected to the hot water passage 4 b at the outlet 138. The hot water input from the inlet 136 passes through the input passage 76, the valve port 124, and the output passage 82 in this order, and is output from the outlet 138.
A diaphragm 77 is disposed between the lower main body member 130 and the upper main body member 132. A pressure chamber 126 is formed between the diaphragm 77 and the lower main body member 130. A communication path 72 is provided between the pressure chamber 126 and the input passage 76. The communication passage 72 is configured so that the hot water of the input passage 76 can pass therethrough. The hot water in the input passage 76 fills the pressure chamber 126, and the pressure in the pressure chamber 126 and the pressure of the hot water in the input passage 76 are equal.
[0016]
The upper main body member 132 houses the spring 78, the spring contact member 120, the spring contact member 192, and the like. The spring 78 is in contact with the spring contact member 120 at the upper part thereof, and is in contact with the spring contact member 192 at the lower part thereof. A connecting member 194 is in contact with the upper portion of the spring contact member 120. The upper part of the connecting member 194 is in contact with the bolt 122. When the bolt 122 is tightened, the spring contact member 120 moves downward. When the bolt 122 is loosened, the spring contact member 120 moves upward.
A diaphragm 77 is in contact with the lower part of the spring contact member 192. With this configuration, a spring force is applied to the upper portion of the diaphragm 77. The water pressure of the pressure chamber 126 is applied to the lower portion of the diaphragm 77. Further, the atmospheric pressure of the air in the upper main body member 132 is applied to the upper portion of the diaphragm 77.
A shaft 128 is fixed to the spring contact member 192. A valve body 80 is fixed to the lower portion of the shaft 128. A shaft 196 is fixed to the lower portion of the valve body 80. The shaft 128, the valve body 80, and the shaft 196 are integrally movable in the vertical direction.
[0017]
The back pressure valve 50 having the above-described configuration operates as follows. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 126 becomes larger than the spring force acting on the upper portion of the diaphragm 77 and the atmospheric pressure, the diaphragm 77 is pushed upward. When the diaphragm 77 is pushed upward, the spring contact member 192 moves upward. Thereby, the shaft 128, the valve body 80, and the shaft 196 move upward. When the valve body 80 moves upward, the valve opening 124 opens greatly. That is, the passage cross-sectional area between the input passage 76 and the output passage 82 increases. In this case, since the spring contact member 192 moves upward, the spring force acting on the diaphragm 77 is increased. On the other hand, since the passage cross-sectional area between the input passage 76 and the output passage 82 increases, the water pressure in the input passage 76 and the pressure chamber 126 decreases. The spring force and the atmospheric pressure applied in the downward direction are balanced with the pressure in the pressure chamber 126 applied in the upward direction.
In this embodiment, when the back pressure valve 50 is closed, the bolt 122 is adjusted so that a pressure of 0.035 KPa (pressure by a spring force) is applied to the diaphragm 77. For this reason, when the back pressure valve 50 is open, the water pressure of the hot water in the input passage 76 is greater than the atmospheric pressure by 0.035 KPa or more.
When hot water flows out of the hot water channel 4b vigorously, the water pressure in the hot water channel 4b decreases. However, when the water pressure in the hot water channel 4b decreases to the water pressure in the hot water channel 4a, the diaphragm 77 is displaced downward to narrow the passage cross-sectional area between the input passage 76 and the output passage 82. For this reason, the pressure loss at the valve port 124 becomes large, and even if the water pressure in the hot water channel 4b decreases, the water pressure in the hot water channel 4a does not decrease so much. When the water pressure in the hot water channel 4a is lower than the pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure by 0.035 KPa, the valve port 124 is blocked, so that the water pressure in the hot water channel 4a is not further reduced. If the valve port 124 is blocked, the water may be shut off. However, in practice, when the passage cross-sectional area between the input passage 76 and the output passage 82 is reduced to some extent, a decrease in the water pressure in the hot water passage 4b is suppressed. At the same time, the decrease in water pressure in the hot water channel 4a is stopped, so that the valve port 124 is not blocked. Generation of low-pressure boiling can be prevented while preventing water outage.
[0018]
As described above, in the hot water supply system 10 according to the present embodiment, the pressure of hot water input to the back pressure valve 50 is greater than atmospheric pressure. For this reason, the water pressures in the water heater internal channels 94, 91a, 92a, 91b, 92b, 91c, 92c, etc. on the upstream side of the back pressure valve 50 are always higher than the atmospheric pressure. For this reason, it is possible to almost certainly prevent low-pressure boiling from occurring in the water heater inner water channels 94, 91a, 92a, 91b, 92b, 91c, 92c.
[0019]
Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
For example, you may make it arrange | position the back pressure valve 50 in the range X (refer FIG. 2) of the water heater internal water channel 94. FIG. Also in this case, the back pressure valve 50 is adjusted so as to open when the pressure of the input hot water is positive with respect to the atmospheric pressure. According to such a configuration, the hot water in the water heater internal channels 91a, 92a, 91b, 92b, 91c, and 92c upstream from the back pressure valve 50 is always positive, and the water heater internal channels 91a, 92a, 91b, 92b, It is almost certainly prevented from boiling at a low pressure in 91c and 92c. For this reason, bubbles due to low-pressure boiling do not occur, and heat transfer to the warm water is not hindered when the water heater internal channel 92a and the like are heated by the heat exchanger.
In addition, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hot water supply system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the inside of a water heater.
FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a back pressure valve.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional hot water supply system.
[Explanation of symbols]
2. Water supply path 4. Hot water path 8. Return hot water path 10. Hot water supply system 20, 22, 24. Hot water heater 26. Water storage tank 28. Pressure pumps 31-35. 50. ・ Back pressure valve (primary pressure regulating valve)
88..Water heater internal water channel 90..Water heater internal water channel 91..Water heater internal water channel 92..Water heater internal water channel 100..Building

Claims (2)

A hot water heater that heats water under water pressure to make hot water, and a hot water passage that connects the hot water heater and the hot water use location located below the hot water heater,
A hot water supply system from a high place, wherein a back pressure valve is inserted into the hot water channel to close the hot water channel when the water pressure drops. It is a water heater that uses hot water to apply hot water to the hot water usage point located below,
More than the above-mentioned predetermined portion heated by the heating means, the heating means for heating the predetermined portion of the water passage in the water heater and heating the passing water to warm water A water heater provided with a back pressure valve disposed in a downstream water heater internal water channel and closing the water heater internal water channel when the water pressure decreases.

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