JP4633557B2 - Reheating device using hot water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type water heater.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-336894 [Patent Document 1] shows a conventional example of a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type electric water heater. In this conventional apparatus, two temperature sensors that respectively measure the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the first heat exchange member provided in the hot water tank side circulation path, and the second heat exchange provided in the bathtub side circulation path. Two temperature sensors are used to measure the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the member, respectively. In this apparatus, reheating is performed by adjusting a flow rate adjusting valve provided in the circulation path on the hot water storage tank side according to a plurality of reheating modes.
JP 2003-336894 A

  In the conventional apparatus, three or more temperature sensors are used, and a plurality of reheating modes are combined, and at the beginning, the heat exchange amount for reheating is maximized and the reheating is rapidly performed. After getting high to some extent, she slowly pursues. However, in the conventional apparatus, even when there is a person in the bathtub, hot water with the temperature that the bather feels hot is supplied to the bathtub in order to perform rapid reheating with the maximum amount of heat exchange. There was a problem that bathers felt uncomfortable. In addition, since the number of temperature sensors increases, there is a problem that the possibility of malfunction based on the occurrence of temperature sensor abnormality increases. Furthermore, in the conventional apparatus, an abnormality of the temperature sensor cannot be detected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type water heater that can retreat without giving a bather an uncomfortable feeling.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage hot water heater that can achieve the above-described object by using a smaller number of temperature sensors than a conventional apparatus.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type water heater capable of performing reheating control while monitoring whether or not an abnormality has occurred in a temperature sensor.

  An object of the present invention is to improve a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type water heater that replenishes hot water in a bathtub with the amount of heat of hot water in a hot water storage type water heater. In the present specification, “hot water” means water to be reheated, and is not limited to water heated to a temperature equal to or higher than that of natural water. In the reheating apparatus of the present invention, a tank-side circulation path that is provided outside the hot water storage tank of the hot water storage water heater and connects the upper area and the lower area in the hot water storage tank, and a first that is provided in the circulation path A heat exchange member and a tank circulation pump provided in the circulation path and having a controllable flow rate are provided. Moreover, in the apparatus of this invention, it comprises between the 2nd heat exchange member provided so that heat exchange with the 1st heat exchange member and the 2nd heat exchange member was carried out, and it circulates between the interior space of a bathtub. The bathtub side circulation path which forms a path | route, and the bathtub circulation pump provided in the bathtub side circulation path are provided. Furthermore, in the apparatus of the present invention, a pump control device that controls both the tank circulation pump and the bathtub circulation pump, a first temperature sensor that measures the hot water temperature on the outlet side of the second heat exchange member, and a second heat And a second temperature sensor that measures the hot water temperature on the inlet side of the replacement member. Then, the pump control device controls the flow rate of the tank circulation pump so that the outlet-side hot water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor reaches the bathtub going allowable temperature or enters the bathtub going allowable temperature range. In addition, the pump control device sets the tank circulation pump to stop the tank circulation pump when the hot water temperature on the inlet side detected by the second temperature sensor reaches a set temperature lower than the allowable bath going temperature or the allowable bath going temperature range. Control.

  According to the present invention, the tank circulation pump is controlled so that the hot water temperature at the outlet side of the second heat exchange member reaches the allowable temperature in the bathtub or within the allowable temperature range of the bathtub. By setting the permissible temperature or the permissible temperature range of the bathtub to a temperature or temperature range in which the bather does not feel uncomfortable, the bather is not uncomfortable. That is, according to the present invention, in any case, the retreat is not performed at such a high temperature that the bather feels uncomfortable. Further, according to the present invention, although it is possible to reheat only at the bathing allowable temperature or the hot water temperature within the bathing allowable temperature range from the beginning of reheating, it is equivalent to using a small number of temperature sensors compared to the conventional device. With the above-mentioned performance, you can complete the tracking. This is a comparison between a conventional device that uses a large amount of heat at first and then reduces the amount of heat used more and less, and the present invention that uses a heat amount that does not change so much from start to finish. This is because there is no great difference in the time required to obtain the necessary amount of heat.

  In addition, although the above-mentioned allowable bathing temperature or allowable bathing temperature range may be any number of times, 60 ° C is known as the upper limit of the temperature at which the bather does not feel uncomfortable with the temperature of the hot water coming out of the bathtub. As the bathtub going allowable temperature range, for example, a temperature range of 59 ± 1 ° C. is preferable. Within this temperature range, the chasing can be carried out substantially without the bather feeling uncomfortable. Of course, this temperature range may be changed according to the region or the like.

  The set temperature detected by the second temperature sensor (normally set by the user) is a temperature that can be arbitrarily set from a predetermined range (for example, 35 to 48 ° C.).

  Even if it is this invention, when abnormality will generate | occur | produce in the two temperature sensors to be used, malfunction will generate | occur | produce and will give a bather a discomfort. Therefore, the pump control device is provided with sensor soundness determination means. The sensor soundness determination means stops the tank circulation pump at least at the start of reheating, circulates only the bathtub circulation pump for a predetermined time, and then performs the following. That is, the sensor soundness determination means determines whether the first hot water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the second hot water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor are equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor, and chasing is stopped. Then, the sensor soundness determination means retreats if the outlet-side hot water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the inlet-side hot water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor are smaller than a predetermined temperature difference. Allows control to be performed. If such a sensor soundness determination means is provided, the soundness of the two temperature sensors is always determined before the start of the chasing operation. Never give.

  The sensor soundness determination means may determine the soundness of the sensor not only at the beginning of the chasing operation but also every time a predetermined time elapses after starting chasing. In this way, even if an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor after the start of chasing, the chasing operation is stopped by detecting the occurrence of the anomaly, so that the bather is not uncomfortable. can do.

  In addition, for a predetermined period of time, the difference between the allowable temperature at which the bathtub is allowed to go and the maximum temperature that can be set at the set temperature is the maximum heating capacity of the heat exchanger (for example, 1 ° C./minute: this value varies depending on the apparatus). The value is preferably determined by dividing by. If this value is set, even if an abnormality occurs in the temperature sensor immediately before reaching the set temperature, the temperature of the bathtub does not exceed the allowable bath going temperature until the subsequent soundness determination is performed. Therefore, the bather will not feel uncomfortable with the boiling water at an unexpected temperature.

  According to the present invention, the tank circulation pump is controlled so that the hot water temperature at the outlet side of the second heat exchange member reaches the allowable temperature in the bathtub or within the allowable temperature range of the bathtub. By setting the allowable temperature range or the allowable temperature range of the bathtub to a temperature or temperature range in which the bather does not feel uncomfortable, there is an advantage that the bather is not uncomfortable. Further, according to the present invention, although it is possible to reheat only at the bathing allowable temperature or the hot water temperature within the bathing allowable temperature range from the beginning of reheating, it is equivalent to using a small number of temperature sensors compared to the conventional device. The advantage of being able to complete the chasing with the above chasing performance is obtained.

  A reheating apparatus using a hot water type electric water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system of a reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type water heater that replenishes hot water in a bathtub with the amount of heat of hot water in a hot water storage type water heater. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software algorithm used in the system shown in FIG. 1 when the repulse control is realized using a computer.

  In FIG. 1, a member denoted by reference numeral 1 is a hot water storage tank of a hot water storage type electric water heater that heats hot water using midnight power. A lower electric heater (lower heater) 3 used when boiling the water in the hot water storage tank 1 using midnight power is disposed in the lower region of the hot water storage tank 1. In the upper region of the hot water storage tank 1, for example, an electric heater (upper heater) 5 for heating to additionally heat up a deficient amount of hot water using daytime power is disposed. A circulating water inlet 11 to which the lower end of the tank-side circulation path 9 is connected is formed at the center of the lower mirror plate 7 of the hot water storage tank 1, and a hot water outlet 15 is formed at the center of the upper mirror plate 13 of the hot water tank 1. Is formed. A hot water outlet pipe 17 is connected to the hot water outlet 15. The other end of the tank side circulation path 9 is connected to the hot water outlet pipe 17. A first heat exchange member 19 and a tank circulation pump 21 are disposed in the tank side circulation path 9. The tank circulation pump 21 is a pump that can change the circulation amount in accordance with a control command from a control device described in detail later.

  On the outer wall of the hot water storage tank 1, a temperature sensor 25 for detecting the temperature of the feed water is mounted on the lower region, and three remaining hot water amounts are detected on the upper region at intervals in the vertical direction. Sensors 27, 29 and 31 are mounted. In the lower region of the hot water storage tank 1, there is a water supply pipe 35 connected to the water pipe 33, and a pressure switch 37 is arranged in the water supply pipe 35.

  The outlet pipe 17 includes a first electric mixing valve 41 and a second electric mixing valve 43 that mix tap water supplied from the water pipe 33 via the pressure reducing valve 39 and hot water supplied from the outlet pipe 17. Are connected to each other. The outlet of the first electric mixing valve 41 is connected to the bathtub-side circulation path 47 that replenishes the hot water in the bathtub 45 in series with the solenoid valve 49, the bathtub flow sensor 51, the vacuum breaker 53, and the double reverse. It is connected via a stop valve 55. The outlet of the second electric mixing valve 43 is connected to a shower / hot water outlet 57 in the bathroom having a mixing valve function, a hot water outlet 59 in the bathroom, and a hot water outlet 61 in the kitchen via a hot water pipe 63. ing. Tap water is supplied through a water pipe 33 to a shower / hot water outlet 57 in the bathroom, a hot water outlet 59 in the bathroom, and a hot water outlet 61 in the kitchen. A relief valve 44 is connected to the hot water outlet pipe 17.

  A block denoted by reference numeral 67 is a bathroom remote controller disposed in the bathroom, and a block denoted by reference numeral 69 is a kitchen remote controller disposed in the kitchen. These remote controllers 67 and 69 are electrically connected to the control device 23 and used to set the hot water supply temperature and the amount of hot water supply.

  The second heat exchange member 20 that is combined with the first heat exchange member 19 and constitutes the heat exchanger 18 is disposed in the bathtub-side circulation path 47. And in the bathtub side circulation path 47, the 1st temperature sensor 71 which detects the temperature of the hot water on the exit side of the 2nd heat exchange member 20 is arrange | positioned. A second temperature sensor 73 that detects the temperature of hot water on the inlet side of the second heat exchange member 20 is disposed in the bathtub side circulation path 47. Further, in the bathtub-side circulation path 47, between the bathtub 45 and the second temperature sensor 73, a flow switch 75 and a water level sensor 77 used for automatic hot water filling, and a bathtub used for circulating hot water in the bathtub 45. A circulation pump 79 is arranged.

  The controller 23 controls the energization of the lower heater 3 to boil hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 using midnight power, and controls the energization of the upper heater 5 when hot water is insufficient. And a pump control device for controlling the operation of the tank circulation pump 21 and the bathtub circulation pump 79 in order to replenish the hot water in the bathtub using the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 1.

  As shown in the control algorithm of the pump control device shown in FIG. 2, when starting, first, the bathtub circulation pump 79 is driven in step ST1 to circulate only the bathtub water. The circulation time may be about 45 seconds, for example. Even after the circulation time has elapsed, as described later, when it is determined that the temperature sensor is normal, the operation of the bathtub circulation pump 79 is continued. At this time, the tank circulation pump 21 is in a stopped state. By this circulation, the temperature of the hot water in the circulation path in which the first temperature sensor 71 and the second temperature sensor 73 are arranged is made uniform. Next, in step ST2, the soundness of the sensor is determined. In this step, it is determined whether or not the difference between the detected temperature To of the first temperature sensor 71 and the detected temperature Ti of the second temperature sensor 73 is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference α. That is, | To-Ti | ≦ α is determined. Here, the temperature difference α can be set to 5 ° C., for example. If To-Ti is larger than the temperature difference, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in one of the first and second temperature sensors 71 and 73, and the chasing is stopped. Further, if To-Ti is smaller than the temperature difference α, it is determined that both the first and second temperature sensors 71 and 73 are normal, and the process proceeds to step ST3 in order to carry out reheating.

  In step ST 3, the tank circulation pump 21 is driven to circulate hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 using the tank side circulation path 9. Due to this circulation, hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 passes through the first heat exchange member 19, and in the heat exchanger 18, hot water in the bathtub side circulation path 47 is heated via the second heat exchange member 20. The The temperature of the hot water in the bathtub side circulation path 47 is detected by the first temperature sensor 71 and the second temperature sensor 73, respectively. The second heat exchange detected by the first temperature sensor 71 in step ST4 until the hot water temperature Ti detected by the second temperature sensor 73 in step ST5 reaches a predetermined set temperature (for example, 42 ° C.). The flow rate of the tank circulation pump 21 is controlled so that the hot water temperature To on the outlet side of the member 20 falls within the bath allowable temperature range β1 to β2. In the present embodiment, a bath going allowable temperature range of 58 ° C. (β1) to 60 ° C. (β2) is selected. And since the bathing allowable temperature range β1 to β2 is known as 60 ° C. as the upper limit of the temperature at which the bather does not feel uncomfortable with the temperature of the hot water coming out of the bathtub, the bathing allowable temperature range is 59. A temperature range of ± 1 ° C. is preferable. Within this temperature range, the chasing can be carried out substantially without the bather feeling uncomfortable.

  The pump control device detects that the predetermined time γ elapses in step ST6 elapses until the hot water temperature Ti on the inlet side of the second heat exchange member 20 detected by the second temperature sensor 73 reaches the set temperature. Then, control is returned to step ST1. Here, in the present embodiment, the predetermined time γ is set to 12 minutes. Here, the predetermined time γ is the difference between the allowable bath going temperature (or the allowed bath going temperature range) and the maximum temperature that can be set at the set temperature, and the maximum temperature raising capability (for example, 1 ° C / Preferably, the value is divided by minutes (however, this value varies depending on the device). In this way, if the value obtained by dividing the difference between the allowable temperature in the bathtub (or the allowable temperature range in the bathtub) and the maximum temperature that can be set by the set temperature by the maximum temperature rise capacity of the heat exchanger is determined as a certain period of time, Even if an abnormality occurs in the first or second temperature sensor 71 or 73 immediately before the set temperature is reached, the temperature of the bathtub 45 is set to the allowable bathing temperature (or the bathing allowable temperature) until the subsequent soundness determination is performed. Temperature range) is not exceeded. Therefore, the bather will not feel uncomfortable with the boiling water at an unexpected temperature.

  When returning from step ST6 to step ST1, as described above, the operation of the tank circulation pump 21 is stopped, only the bathtub circulation pump 79 is operated, and the soundness determination of the sensor in step ST2 is executed, and a sensor abnormality is detected. If not, the process proceeds to steps ST3 to ST6 again. When the hot water temperature Ti on the inlet side of the second heat exchange member 20 reaches the set temperature (42 ° C. in this example) in step ST5, the reheating operation is finished.

  Thus, if the tank circulation pump 21 is controlled so that the hot water temperature at the outlet side temperature To of the second heat exchange member 20 falls within the allowable temperature range for bathing, the bather is uncomfortable with the allowable temperature range for bathing. By setting the temperature or temperature range so as not to feel uncomfortable, the bather will not be uncomfortable. In addition, although it can only be reheated at the hot water temperature within the allowable temperature range of bathing from the beginning of reheating, it is renewed with reheating performance equal to or higher than that of the conventional apparatus using only two temperature sensors 71 and 73. Can be completed.

  In the said embodiment, since control is performed using the bathtub going allowable temperature range ((beta) 1- (beta) 2), it does not become control of an overshooting taste. Theoretically, however, the control may be performed on the basis of the bathtub going allowable temperature instead of the bathtub going allowable temperature range. In this case, it is preferable to set the allowable bath temperature to 60 ° C. or lower.

  In the above-described embodiment, the determination of the soundness of the sensor is performed within the control. However, from the essence of the present invention, the determination of the soundness of the sensor is incidental.

It is a figure which shows the system of the reheating apparatus using the hot water storage type water heater which replenishes the hot water in a bathtub with the calorie | heat amount of the hot water in a hot water storage type water heater. It is a figure which shows the algorithm of the software used when the chasing control is implement | achieved using a computer in the system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage tank 9 Tank side circulation path 18 Heat exchanger 19 1st heat exchange member 20 2nd heat exchange member 21 Tank circulation pump 47 Bath side circulation path 71 1st temperature sensor 73 2nd temperature sensor 79 Bath circulation pump

Claims (1)

A reheating device using a hot water storage water heater that reheats the hot water in the bathtub with the amount of hot water in the hot water storage water heater,
A tank side circulation path that is provided outside the hot water storage tank of the hot water storage water heater and connects the upper region and the lower region in the hot water storage tank;
A first heat exchange member provided in the circulation path;
A tank circulation pump capable of controlling the flow rate provided in the circulation path;
A second heat exchange member provided so as to be able to exchange heat with the first heat exchange member;
A bathtub-side circulation path that includes the second heat exchange member and forms a circulation path with the internal space of the bathtub;
A bathtub circulation pump provided in the bathtub-side circulation path;
A pump controller for controlling both the tank circulation pump and the bathtub circulation pump;
A first temperature sensor for measuring the hot water temperature on the outlet side of the second heat exchange member;
A second temperature sensor for measuring the hot water temperature on the inlet side of the second heat exchange member,
The pump control device controls the flow rate of the tank circulation pump so that the outlet-side hot water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor reaches a bathing allowable temperature range or a bathing allowable temperature range. The tank circulation pump is configured to stop the tank circulation pump when the inlet-side hot water temperature detected by the second temperature sensor reaches a set temperature lower than the bathtub going allowable temperature or the bathtub going allowable temperature range. The tank circulation pump is stopped and only the bathtub circulation pump is circulated for a predetermined time at the start of reheating and every time a predetermined time elapses after starting reheating. When the hot water temperature on the outlet side detected by the temperature sensor and the hot water temperature on the inlet side detected by the second temperature sensor are equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature difference, the first temperature sensor It is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor, the reheating is stopped, and the hot water temperature on the outlet side detected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor detect If the hot water temperature on the inlet side is smaller than the predetermined temperature difference, it comprises a sensor soundness determination means that allows to perform the chase control,
The predetermined time is the difference between the bath allowable temperature and the maximum temperature that can be set at the set temperature, and the maximum of the heat exchanger composed of the first heat exchange member and the second heat exchange member. A reheating apparatus using a hot water storage type hot water heater, characterized by being determined as a value divided by a heating capacity .

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