JP4839639B2 - Condensate neutralizer and hot water supply apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a condensate neutralizer for neutralizing acidic condensate generated when the temperature of a combustion gas is lower than the dew point using a neutralizing agent, and a hot water supply apparatus including the condensate neutralizer.

  Some hot water supply apparatuses include a so-called latent heat recovery type heat exchanger. In this type of water heater, in addition to the sensible heat of the combustion gas generated by the combustor being recovered by the heat exchanger, the latent heat of the combustion gas (more precisely, the latent heat of water vapor in the combustion gas) is also generated. To be recovered. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency can be increased as compared with a case where latent heat recovery is not performed. When the above-described latent heat recovery is performed, water vapor in the combustion gas is condensed and a large amount of condensed water is generated. Generally, this condensed water absorbs sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, etc. in the combustion gas. It becomes strong acidity of about PH3. If the condensed water is drained into a general pipe with strong acidity, the pipe is not only corroded, but also causes environmental degradation such as water pollution.

  Therefore, conventionally, a means is used in which a neutralizer containing a neutralizing agent is assembled in a hot water supply device, and condensed water generated in the hot water supply device is neutralized using the neutralizer ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to such means, it is possible to prevent the condensed water from being discarded while remaining strongly acidic.

  However, the conventional technique has the following problems.

  That is, the hot water supply device generally has a structure in which main components such as a heat exchanger and a combustor are accommodated in an outer case, and the main components are protected so as not to be directly exposed to wind and rain or sunlight. It is said that. Even in the case where a neutralizer is provided, it is desirable to provide the neutralizer inside the outer case from the viewpoint of protecting the neutralizer and improving the appearance of the entire apparatus. However, even if an attempt is made to install a neutralizer in the outer case of a hot water supply device in this way, neutralization depends on the size and arrangement conditions of other devices and equipment that make up the hot water supply device and the piping attached to them. It may be difficult to make a large installation space for the vessel. In such a case, it is required to reduce the size or thickness of the neutralizer.

  However, the conventional neutralizer only has a structure in which a neutralizer is filled in a container formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape or the like, and while the size and thickness of the neutralizer are reduced, The actual situation is that no special measures were taken to increase the capacity. Conventionally, when the size and the thickness of the neutralizer are reduced, the capacity of the neutralizer is reduced because the volume of the container is reduced. In this case, the neutralization performance is inferior.

  As a hot water supply device, for example, there is a combination of two hot water heaters, that is, a hot water heater for general hot water supply and a hot water heater for floor heating, and these are accommodated in one exterior case. Then, a large amount of condensed water is generated. Therefore, the neutralizer used for these needs to have a higher neutralization performance than usual. However, since such a hot water supply device has a structure in which a considerable number of devices, equipment, and piping are packed in the exterior case, it is more difficult to secure a large space for installing the neutralizer. There is a great need to reduce the size or thickness of the neutralizer. On the other hand, conventionally, as described above, when the neutralizer is reduced in size or thickness, the neutralization performance deteriorates, so that it is not suitable for applications where a large amount of condensed water is generated as described above. It was something.

  The present applicant has previously proposed means for connecting and using a plurality of neutralizers (see Patent Documents 3 and 4). According to such means, it is possible to improve the overall neutralization performance of each of the plurality of neutralizers while reducing the size. However, in such a means, since a plurality of neutralizers are used, the cost of the entire device is higher than when only one neutralizer is used. In particular, since the cost of piping parts for connecting them and the cost required for the piping work are necessary, the cost becomes higher. Moreover, since the said means requires the piping space for connecting a some neutralizer, it is not very suitable for the use installed in a narrow space.

JP 2001-336826 A JP 2003-320380 A JP 2001-304686 A JP 2001-54794 A

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and is a condensed water neutralizer capable of providing excellent neutralization performance even when the width and thickness of the container are reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply apparatus including the same.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

The condensed water neutralizer provided by the first aspect of the present invention includes a neutralizing agent for neutralizing condensed water generated due to a decrease in the temperature of the combustion gas, and a neutralizing agent containing the neutralizing agent. A condensate neutralizer comprising a container that forms a chamber and is provided with an inlet for condensate at a position near one end in the width direction , the upper part and the lower part of the container The portion has an upper wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a plurality of side wall portions that individually form a flow path for condensed water, and a plurality of side wall portions are vertically connected in a region near the other end in the width direction. The inlet for the condensed water is provided in the upper part of the container, and the upper part is an upper stage part of the neutralizing agent storage chamber. The region near the other end in the width direction is the lower portion of the neutralizing agent storage chamber, while the lower portion A region near one end in the width direction is an auxiliary chamber for temporarily storing condensed water that has passed through the lower step of the neutralizing agent storage chamber, and a discharge port for condensed water is provided in the auxiliary chamber. And the bottom wall portion of the upper portion of the container is provided in a form avoiding the region near the other end in the width direction so that the bottom of the region near the other end in the width direction of the upper step portion is opened, and the opening It is set as the structure which has the standing wall which stood up upwards in the position of the width direction one end side of a part, and the upper wall part of the lower part of the said container is connected to the lower part of the said standing wall, and the width direction one end side from this lower part The condensate introduced from the introduction port to a region near one end in the width direction of the upper step portion passes through the upper end of the upright wall and passes through the upper step portion. Proceed to the region near the other end in the width direction, and then the opening Min through the is characterized in that there is a sequence can proceed to the lower portion and the auxiliary chamber.

  According to such a configuration, since the neutralizing agent storage chamber formed inside the container has an upper and lower two-stage structure having an upper stage and a lower stage, each of the width and thickness of the entire container The volume of the neutralizing agent storage chamber can be secured while reducing the size of the neutralizing agent, and a large amount of neutralizing agent can be stored in the neutralizing agent storage chamber. In particular, in the present invention, the condensed water introduced into the container from the introduction port travels from the region closer to one end of the upper step portion of the neutralizing agent storage chamber toward the region closer to the other end, and then from the region closer to the other end to the lower step. In this process, the neutralization treatment can be efficiently performed by contact with the neutralizing agent. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the neutralization performance while reducing the overall width and thickness of the neutralizer. As a result, the installation space is narrow, and it is optimal for applications where a large amount of condensed water must be neutralized.

Furthermore, as an important effect, in the present invention, an upper stage part and a lower stage part are provided in one container. Therefore, unlike the case where a plurality of containers are used, there are advantages that the manufacturing cost of the neutralizer is reduced and parts, work, and space for connecting the plurality of containers to each other can be eliminated.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a certain amount of condensed water is dammed and stored in the upstream region of the standing wall in the direction of condensed water flow. When the condensed water is damped in this way, a state in which a large amount of neutralizing agent is immersed in the condensed water can be obtained, and the neutralization treatment of the condensed water is promoted. Further, the condensed water does not suddenly enter the lower step after exceeding the upper end of the standing wall, but before that, it proceeds from the upper portion to the lower portion in the region near the other end in the width direction of the upper step portion. Therefore, the neutralization process using the neutralizing agent accommodated in the area near the other end is also efficiently performed.
Further, since the condensed water after the neutralization treatment can be stored in the auxiliary chamber, for example, whenever an appropriate amount of condensed water is stored in the auxiliary chamber, the condensed water is forced by using a pump. In other words, it can be discharged to the outside. On the other hand, the auxiliary chamber is provided in a space-efficient manner below the upper stage portion. For example, the auxiliary chamber is located in the width direction of the container rather than the upper stage portion.
It can be prevented from protruding greatly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper part and the lower part of the container are offset from each other in the thickness direction of the container .

According to such a configuration, even if the installation space for the condensate neutralizer has a bent shape, it is possible to install the condensate neutralizer by arranging the container so as to fit the space. The

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, among the plurality of side wall portions forming the lower step portion of the neutralizing agent storage chamber, the side wall portion positioned at the other end in the width direction includes a plurality of horizontal plate portions and a plurality of upright plates. The parts are alternately connected one by one in the vertical direction to form a step shape.

  According to such a configuration, when the condensed water advances along the stepped wall portion when the condensed water enters the lower step portion, the condensed water is neutralized in the vicinity of the stepped wall portion. While coming into contact with the agent, the stairs of the wall part are descended step by step, and gradually descend over time. Therefore, the condensed water can be efficiently brought into contact with the neutralizing agent in the lower part, which is more suitable for increasing the efficiency of the neutralization treatment.

  A hot water supply apparatus provided by the second aspect of the present invention is generated by a heat exchanger having a combustor and a water pipe for performing heat exchange with the combustion gas generated by the combustor, and the heat exchange. A hot water supply device comprising a condensed water neutralizer for neutralizing condensed water, wherein the condensed water neutralizer provided by the first aspect of the present invention is used as the condensed water neutralizer. It is characterized by having.

  According to such a configuration, the same effect as described for the condensed water neutralizer provided by the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show an embodiment of a condensate neutralizer according to the present invention. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the condensed water neutralizer A of the present embodiment includes a container 2 in which a neutralizing agent 1 is accommodated. The neutralizing agent 1 is, for example, granular calcium carbonate.

  The container 2 is a blow molded product made of polypropylene or other synthetic resin. The container 2 includes a header portion H having two inlets 21 for condensed water, a neutralizing agent storage chamber 22, and an auxiliary chamber 23 having a discharge port 24. The neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 includes an upper step portion 22a and a lower step portion 22b that is connected to the upper step portion 22a and positioned below the upper step portion 22a.

  The header part H is provided in the upper part of the one end area | region of the width direction (left-right direction of FIG. 1) of the upper step part 22a, The two cylindrical parts 21a are standingly formed in the upper wall part 40. As shown in FIG. The opening of each cylindrical portion 21a is an inlet 21 for condensed water. The two inlets 21 are used to guide condensed water generated at two locations of the hot water supply apparatus B into the container 2 as described later. The cylindrical portion 21a is used for fitting and connecting a pipe that supplies condensed water. When the condensed water flows into the container 2 from each inlet 21a, the condensed water flows through a fixed path described later while passing through the gap between the neutralizing agents 1, and is neutralized in the process. Then, it is discharged from the outlet 24 to the outside of the container 2.

  The header portion H is also provided with a pair of electrodes 50 for detecting when the level of condensed water rises abnormally. These electrodes 50 are provided, for example, by screwing a screw body made of stainless steel into the upper wall portion 40 of the header portion H, and the lower end tips of these electrodes 50 protrude below the upper wall portion 40. Yes. Although not shown in the drawing, a pair of wiring cords to which a voltage is applied are connected to the upper part of the pair of electrodes 50. The pair of electrodes 50 is not immersed in the condensed water at normal time when the container 2 is not clogged, and is electrically non-conductive between them. On the other hand, when clogging occurs in the container 2 and the liquid level rises abnormally, the tip portions of the pair of electrodes 50 are both immersed in condensed water and are electrically connected. As a result, a predetermined signal is output, and it is possible to determine the abnormality.

  In the header portion H, a portion where the electrode 50 below the upper wall portion 40 protrudes and a peripheral portion thereof are formed as a space portion 41 in which entry of the neutralizing agent 1 is restricted. As shown in FIG. 2B, the opposing side portions 25a ′ of the side wall portions 25a on the upper side of the container 2 are close to each other, and a slit portion 42 narrowed to a narrow width L1 is formed. ing. The slit portion 42 has a width L1 that is substantially the same as, for example, an opening width s1 of a slit 28A described later, and allows condensed water to pass between the space portion 41 and the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22, but accommodates the neutralizing agent. The passage of the neutralizing agent 1 from the chamber 22 to the space 41 is prevented. Since the neutralizing agent 1 is present in the space portion 41, the electrode 50 and the neutralizing agent 1 are brought into contact with each other, and there is an abnormality though the water level of the condensed water is not the original abnormal water level. Although there is a possibility that the water level is erroneously detected, according to the present embodiment, such a fear is avoided. In addition, the effect of protecting the electrode 5 by avoiding the collision of the neutralizing agent 1 with the electrode 5 can be expected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a charging port 43 for the neutralizing agent 1 is provided on the upper portion 22 a of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22. The insertion port 43 is normally closed by a lid 43a. The upper step portion 22a has a bottom wall portion 45a, an upper wall portion 45b, and a plurality of side wall portions connected to these, and can accommodate and hold the neutralizing agent 1 therein. However, the bottom wall portion 45a is not provided in the termination region 220 in the condensed water flow direction in the upper step portion 22a, and the bottom portion is open and communicates with the lower step portion 22b. This termination region 220 corresponds to an example of “the other end region in the width direction of the upper stage” in the present invention.

  A partition portion 44a and a standing wall 44b are provided in the upper step portion 22a. The partition portion 44a is located below the insertion port 43 and extends at an appropriate height in the vertical direction. A gap 48a for allowing condensed water to pass therethrough is formed between the lower end of the partition portion 44a and the bottom wall portion 45a. Further, a gap 48b is provided between the upper end of the partition portion 44a and the upper wall portion 45b to distribute the neutralizer 1 to the left and right of the partition portion 44a when the neutralizer 1 is introduced from the inlet 43. Is formed. The standing wall 44b is formed so as to partition the end region 220 of the upper step portion 22a from the upstream region in the condensed water flow direction, and is connected to one end of the bottom wall portion 45a and stands upward from this one end. is doing.

  Since the upper portion 22a is configured as described above, the condensed water that has traveled downward as indicated by the arrow N1 from the header portion H then passes through the gap 48a below the partition portion 44a as indicated by the arrows N2 and N3. Then, after the upper end of the upright wall 44b is exceeded, the process proceeds to the end region 220 of the upper step portion 22a. In addition, condensed water will be stored in the upstream of the standing wall 44b at the same level as the upper end of the standing wall 44b. Further, the upper wall portion 45b ′ located above the termination region 220 of the upper step portion 22a is inclined so that the height decreases toward the right of the drawing. If the upper wall portion 45b ′ is inclined in this manner, the upper portion of the termination region 220 of the upper step portion 22a can be made compact. Further, in the end region 220, the condensed water hardly progresses in a portion higher than the upper end of the standing wall 44 b, and therefore, if the volume of this portion is reduced so that a large amount of the neutralizing agent 1 is not filled, the condensed water There is no longer a large amount of neutralizing agent 1 that does not come into contact.

  The lower step portion 22b extends downward from the bottom of the termination region 220 of the upper step portion 22a. However, the intermediate portion in the height direction of the lower step portion 22b extends in an oblique direction (in the direction of an arrow 4 that is a flow direction of condensed water described later) that becomes closer to the center in the width direction of the container 2 as the height decreases. The lower step portion 22b is not provided in the entire lower region of the upper step portion 22a, and is provided in a limited manner, for example, below the termination region 220 and in the vicinity thereof. The side wall 27b connected to the bottom 27a of the lower step portion 22b is formed in a staircase shape in which a plurality of substantially horizontal horizontal plate portions 270 and a plurality of upright plate portions 271 standing in a substantially vertical direction are alternately connected one by one. ing.

  The auxiliary chamber 23 is a part for temporarily storing an appropriate amount of condensed water that has passed through the lower stage 22b. The auxiliary chamber 23 is formed so as to be connected to the terminal wall 26 of the lower step portion 22b, and is located below the region near one end in the width direction of the upper step portion 22b and the vicinity thereof. However, in this embodiment, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the lower step portion 22b and the auxiliary chamber 23 are offset in the thickness direction of the container 2 by an appropriate dimension L2 with respect to the upper step portion 22b. According to such a configuration, as will be described later, this condensed water neutralizer A can be appropriately installed by using a bent space in the hot water supply apparatus. The offset dimension L2 can be appropriately selected so as to correspond to the bent shape of the actual space.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary chamber 23 includes a first space portion 23 a close to the end wall 26 and a second space portion opposite to the end wall 26 by an upstanding wall portion 46 that rises from the bottom portion 27 a to the upper wall portion 230. 23b. The condensed water discharge port 24 is formed at the bottom of the second space 23b. The end wall 26 and the standing wall portion 46 are provided with slits 28A and 28B for allowing condensed water to pass therethrough. Condensed water that has traveled to the lower portion of the lower step portion 22b passes through the slits 28A and 28B, and then flows into the second space portion 23b sequentially from the first space portion 23a.

  The slits 28 </ b> A and 28 </ b> B are configured to suppress the passage of the neutralizing agent 1. Explaining this configuration in more detail, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the end wall 26 in which the slit 28 </ b> A is formed is a pair of side wall portions facing the thickness direction of the lower portion of the container 2. Each part 25 b ′ of 25 b is formed by approaching inward in the thickness direction of the container 2. As shown in FIG. 5A, the slit 28A is formed by the above-described portions 25b ′ not contacting each other and having a gap. In the end wall 26, the portions 25b 'are in contact with each other except for the slits 28A and the communication holes 29 described later, as shown in FIG. The opening width s1 of the slit 28A is, for example, 4 mm, and is a constant width in the entire length region in the vertical direction of the slit 28A. The neutralizing agent 1 has a size larger than the opening width s1 (for example, a size that does not pass through the through hole when a sorting operation is performed using a mesh member having a 4 mm square through hole (screen)). Is used. However, the neutralizing agent 1 is cracked or cracked due to an impact during charging into the container 2 or when the container 2 is transported, or is thinned by contact with acidic condensed water. It may pass through 28A.

  The formation method of the slit 28B and the standing wall portion 46 is also the same as that of the slit 28A and the end wall 26 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the standing wall portion 46 is formed by a portion 25 b ″ of each of the pair of side wall portions 25 b of the container 2 approaching inward in the thickness direction of the container 2. Although they are close to each other, a portion that is not joined to each other through a gap is a slit 28B, and the opening width s2 of the slit 28B is, for example, 3 mm, which is larger than the opening width s1 of the slit 28A. This makes the passage of the neutralizing agent 1 more difficult, and the opening width s2 is constant over the entire length in the vertical direction of the slit 28B, and the lower end of the slit 28B is more than the upper end of the slit 28A. The structure is provided so as to be raised by an appropriate dimension L3, which also serves to make it difficult for the neutralizing agent 1 to pass through the slit 28B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a communication hole 29 is formed at the top of the end wall 26. As will be described later, the communication hole 29 plays a role such as smooth discharge of condensed water, and is formed by the same technique as the slit 28A. Further, the communication hole 29 has an opening width that is substantially the same as or smaller than the opening width s1 of the slit 28A, and the size of the neutralizing agent 1 is difficult to pass through.

  Auxiliary discharge ports 49a and 49b are provided in a region near the lower portion of the standing wall portion 46 and in a portion directly below the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 in the bottom portion 27a. These are for removing condensed water accumulated in the first space 23 a and the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 for the purpose of preventing the condensed water from freezing, for example. In normal times, condensed water is not discharged from these auxiliary discharge ports 49a and 49b, and the tip portions thereof or the tip portions of the pipes connected to them are closed.

  A liquid level detector 51 is attached to the auxiliary chamber 23. The liquid level detector 51 includes a pair of electrodes 51a and 51b having different lengths and a base member 51c that supports the upper ends of the electrodes 51a and 51b. It is inserted downward from the upper opening hole 47. The base member 51 is attached to the outer surface portion of the container 2 so as to close the opening hole 47. Although not shown in the drawing, the liquid level detector 51 is further provided with a ground electrode that is conductively connected directly or indirectly to the condensed water, and the electrodes 51a and 51b are connected to the auxiliary chamber 23. When immersed in the condensed water stored inside, an electric current flows through the electrodes 51a and 51b. The tip heights of the electrodes 51a and 51b are provided with a height difference L4. The electrode 51a detects a high liquid level and the electrode 51b detects a low liquid level. These liquid level detection signals are used for drive control of the pump P that forcibly discharges condensed water, as will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid level detector 51 is inclined in the oblique direction because the upper wall portion 230 of the second space 23b is inclined.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a hot water supply device provided with the condensed water neutralizer A described above.

  The hot water supply apparatus B shown in the figure includes two hot water supply apparatus main body portions 9 (9A, 9B). The hot water supply device main body 9 (9A) is, for example, a so-called general hot water supply for supplying hot water to a kitchen or a bathroom, while the hot water supply device main body 9 (9B) is used for floor heating, for example. . The basic structures of the hot water supply device main bodies 9A and 9B are common, and each of the hot water supply device main body portions 9 includes a combustor 91 provided at a lower portion in a can 90 having an exhaust port 99 at an upper portion, and the combustor. The blower 92 which sends combustion air upward from the lower part of 91, the heat exchanger 93 which has the water pipe 93a, and the exterior case 94 which covers these whole are provided. The combustor 91 generates a combustion gas by burning a gas or liquid fuel such as city gas or kerosene. The heat exchanger 93 includes a primary heat exchange unit 93A capable of recovering sensible heat from the combustion gas, and a secondary heat exchange unit 93B capable of recovering latent heat from the combustion gas. The water supplied to the water inlet 930 of the water pipe 93a passes through the secondary heat exchange part 93B and the primary heat exchange part 93A and is heated and then supplied from the hot water outlet 931 to a predetermined hot water supply destination. Below the secondary heat exchange section 93B, a receiving member 95 that receives condensed water generated along with the recovery of latent heat is provided.

  The condensate neutralizer A is installed in the exterior case 94 in the same manner as the two hot water supply device main bodies 9. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, and the condensate neutralizer A is provided at a position lower than the two hot water supply device main bodies 9, but in practice, for example, installation as shown in FIG. 5 is possible. . That is, in the same figure, the condensed water neutralizer A is arranged between the hot water supply device main body 9 and the side wall 94a of the exterior case 94. For example, a plurality of pipes 98a are arranged between the side wall 94a and the upper stage 22a of the condensed water neutralizer A, and between the hot water supply device main body 9 and the lower stage 22b of the condensed water neutralizer A, for example, A control base 98b for controlling each part of the hot water supply device main body 9 is disposed. In the structure shown in FIG. 5, the space for arranging the condensate neutralizer A does not extend straight in the vertical direction, but has a partially bent shape. Since the upper stage 22a and the lower stage 22b are offset, the container A can be suitably installed in such a space. In FIG. 4, the pair of inlets 21 of the condensed water neutralizer A and the outlets of the two receiving members 95 are connected via two pipes 96a. A pump P and a check valve 97 are connected to the discharge port 24 of the condensed water neutralizer A through a pipe 96b. The condensed water neutralized by the condensed water neutralizer A is driven by the driving of the pump P. It is forcibly discharged to the outside of the outer case 94 through the pipe 96b. This condensed water is sent to a drain trap in the bathroom, for example.

  Next, the operation of the condensed water neutralizer A and the hot water supply apparatus B will be described.

  First, the acidic condensed water generated in the secondary heat exchange section 93B of the two hot water supply apparatus main body sections 9 is received by the receiving member 95 and then to the two inlets 21 of the condensed water neutralizer A through the pipe 96a. Each is guided and flows into the container 2. Next, this condensed water flows through the upper stage portion 22a of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 along the path indicated by arrows N1 to N3 in FIG. 1, and reaches the terminal region 220 of the upper stage portion 22a. In the upper stage portion 22a, the condensed water meanders in the vertical direction, which is suitable for increasing the contact frequency between the condensed water and the neutralizing agent 1 by increasing the length of the condensed water flow path. Thereafter, the condensed water flows from the terminal region 220 into the lower step portion 22b of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22, and proceeds in the direction indicated by the arrow N4. Thus, if the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 is divided into two upper and lower stages and condensed water flows from the upper stage to the lower stage, the horizontal width of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 (the horizontal width in FIG. 1). ), And even when the thickness in the direction perpendicular thereto is reduced, the volume of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 can be increased, and the length of the condensed water flow path in the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 can be increased. . Therefore, while reducing the overall width and thickness of the container 2, the amount of condensed water to be treated is large, and it is optimal for applications that require excellent neutralization performance for a large amount of condensed water. .

  When the condensed water flows from the upper step portion 22a to the lower step portion 22b, a part thereof proceeds in the direction of arrow N4 'and reaches the uppermost horizontal plate portion 270. The condensed water then flows downward along the upright plate portion 271 connected to the horizontal plate portion 270 and then reaches the next horizontal plate portion 270, as indicated by an arrow N4 ″. In this way, when condensed water flows, the condensed water comes into contact with many neutralizing agents 1 over time, and neutralization treatment is performed. Further, in this embodiment, the side wall 27b of the lower step portion 22b is formed in a step shape, so that the horizontal width of each portion of the lower step portion 22b in the vertical height direction (the width in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1). ) Does not become extremely large or small as compared with the width of the terminal region 220. In this way, the condensed water is largely biased with respect to the neutralizing agent 1 at various portions of the lower step portion 22b. No progress It is suitable for going. Furthermore, some of the lower portion 22b, since the recessed stepwise, further downsizing of the container 2 is also achieved.

  After the condensed water flows into the vicinity of the bottom of the lower step portion 22b, it passes through the slit 28A as indicated by the arrow N5 and flows into the first space portion 23a of the auxiliary chamber 23. Unlike this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the slit 28 </ b> A is formed over the entire length region in the height direction of the terminal wall 26, before the condensed water reaches the bottom 27 a, As indicated by the arrow Na, a phenomenon occurs that passes through the upper portion of the slit 28A and flows into the first space portion 23a. In this case, there is a possibility that the neutralization process using the neutralizing agent 1 near the bottom portion 27a of the lower step portion 22b is not sufficiently performed. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the slit 28A is provided only in a part near the lower portion of the end wall 26, the condensed water surely reaches the bottom 27a of the lower step portion 23a before passing through the slit 28A. . Thereby, the neutralization process of condensed water is performed more efficiently. However, in the present invention, it is needless to say that the slit 28A may be formed as shown in FIG.

  When the water level subsequently flows into the first space portion 23a and the water level becomes higher than the lower end of the slit 28B, it passes through the slit 28B and flows into the second space portion 23b as shown by the arrow N6. Head for. However, the pump P is normally in an operation-off state, and the condensed water is prevented from being discharged from the discharge port 24. For this reason, condensed water is stored in the 2nd space part 23b. Then, when the liquid level rises to the tip height of the electrode 51a, this is detected using the liquid level detector 51, whereby the drive of the pump P is started and condensed water is discharged from the discharge port 24 to the outside. It is forcibly discharged. Thereafter, when the liquid level of the condensed water is lowered to the height of the tip of the electrode 51b, this is also detected using the liquid level detector 51, and the driving of the pump P is stopped at that time. Therefore, the discharge of the condensed water using the pump P is intermittently performed every time a certain amount of condensed water is stored in the auxiliary chamber 23. When the pump P is continuously operated, its life is likely to be shortened. However, if the pump P is intermittently operated as in this embodiment, the life can be extended. When the liquid level of the condensed water is stored at the tip height of the electrode 51a, the condensed water is stored in the first space portion 23a and the neutralizing agent in addition to the second space portion 23b of the auxiliary chamber 23. A part of the chamber 22 is also stored at the same liquid level, and the storage amount is large. When the storage amount is increased in this way, the amount of condensed water discharged by one operation of the pump P also increases, so that it is more preferable to reduce the number of intermittent operations of the pump P and extend its service life. .

  On the other hand, as described above, the neutralizer 1 is cracked or chipped due to an impact when it is introduced into the container 2 or an impact during transportation, and the size is reduced. Then, it may pass through the slit 28A and flow into the first space 23a. On the other hand, the standing wall portion 46 appropriately prevents the neutralizing agent 1 from proceeding further downstream. Since the slit 28B of the standing wall 46 has a smaller opening width than the slit 28A, even if it is the neutralizing agent 1 that has passed through the slit 28A, the neutralizing agent 1 having a size larger than that of the slit 28B is passed therethrough. Is blocked. In addition, the slit 28B is formed at a position higher than the upper end of the slit 28A, and the neutralizing agent 1 that has passed through the slit 28A is formed at the position where the slit 28B is formed as long as it does not float upward in the first space portion 23a. Not reach. On the other hand, the neutralizer 1 of calcium carbonate has a higher specific gravity than the condensed water. Therefore, it is more reliably prevented that the neutralizing agent 1 passes through the slit 28B and flows into the second space portion 23b. As a result, the neutralizing agent 1 is prevented from flowing into the discharge port 24, and the failure of the pump P due to the ingress of the neutralizing agent 1 is also appropriately avoided.

  When the condensed water flows from the lower step portion 22b through the slit 28A and flows into the first space portion 23a, the communication hole 29 has a so-called air venting action that causes the air in the first space portion 23a to flow into the lower step portion 22b. Cause it to occur. When such an action occurs, the inflow of condensed water from the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 into the first space portion 23a becomes smooth. When the pump P and the check valve 97 are provided at the discharge port 24, the inside of the auxiliary chamber 23 is in an airtight state, and condensed water may not easily flow into the auxiliary chamber 23 from the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22. However, according to the above configuration, such a fear is appropriately solved. The communication hole 29 is formed at a height higher than the tip of the electrode 51 a, and the pump P is driven at a timing before the condensed water stored in the container 2 closes the communication hole 29, so that the condensed water is Since the forced discharge is performed, the communication hole 29 is not immersed in the condensed water in the normal proper use state, so that the above-described air bleeding function cannot be obtained.

  Moreover, when the hot water supply apparatus B is installed in a cold region, the condensed water remaining in the container 2 may freeze. In this case, if the portion where the slit 28A is formed or its vicinity is frozen, the condensed water does not pass through the slit 28A, so it is difficult to discharge the condensed water to the outside. However, in the present embodiment, if the communication hole 29 and its vicinity are not frozen, the condensed water in the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 passes through the communication hole 29 and flows into the auxiliary chamber 23. . Therefore, even when there is freezing as described above, the condensed water neutralizer A can be used appropriately and is convenient.

  As described above, in the condensed water neutralizer A of the present embodiment, the width of the container 2 is increased by forming the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22 of the container 2 in which the neutralizing agent 1 is stored in two upper and lower stages. In addition, it is possible to increase the filling amount of the neutralizing agent 1 while reducing the thickness, and to increase the length of the flow path through which the condensed water flows while in contact with the neutralizing agent 1 to obtain excellent neutralization performance. it can. Further, as described above, the auxiliary chamber 23 is useful for intermittently forcibly discharging the condensed water using the pump P. The auxiliary chamber 23 is arranged below the upper step portion 22a so as to be aligned with the lower step portion 22b. The container 2 is provided with good space efficiency, and there is no problem that the width of the container 2 becomes large and bulky due to the presence of the auxiliary chamber 23. On the other hand, the container 2 is a blow molded product, and the upper step portion 22a and the lower step portion 22b of the neutralizing agent storage chamber 22, the auxiliary chamber 23, and the like can be appropriately formed when the container 2 is blow molded. For this reason, the advantage that the container 2 can be manufactured easily and inexpensively is also obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the condensate neutralizer and the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention can be varied in design in various ways.

In the present invention, neutralizing agent storage chamber of the container and a upper portion and a lower portion, these specific shapes and sizes, have name intended to be particularly limited. The upper step portion and the lower portion, although it is preferable to provide a partition means for meandering the condensed water in their interior as appropriate, partition means may not necessarily be provided. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper and lower steps are offset in the thickness direction thereof, but these are arranged in a straight line without causing such an offset. Of course, it is also possible.

  The number of inlets of condensed water can be one instead of two, and can be increased to three or more. Furthermore, the introduction port does not need to be provided by forming a cylindrical portion in the container, and for example, a simple configuration in which a hole is formed in the wall portion of the container can be employed. The same applies to the outlet of condensed water. As the neutralizing agent, a substance other than calcium carbonate can be used. The condensate neutralizer according to the present invention can be used for various purposes as long as the condensate generated by the temperature decrease of the combustion gas is neutralized. For example, the condensate neutralizer is incorporated in a combustion device different from a hot water supply device. Can also be used.

  As described above, the hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention may not be configured as including two hot water supply apparatus main bodies. Moreover, it can comprise as various hot water supply apparatuses, such as bath hot water supply, hot water supply for floor heating, or hot water supply for snow melting other than a momentary type water heater. Of course, instead of the so-called forward combustion method shown in FIG. 4, for example, a so-called reverse combustion method in which heat exchange is performed while the combustion gas proceeds downward may be employed.

It is principal part sectional drawing which shows an example of the condensed water neutralizer which concerns on this invention. (A) is the left view of FIG. 1, (b) is the partial cross section side view. (A) is IIIa-IIIa sectional drawing of FIG. 1, (b) is IIIb-II Ib sectional drawing of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically an example of the hot water supply apparatus provided with the condensed water neutralizer of FIG. FIG. 5 is a main part explanatory view showing an example of an installation location of a condensed water neutralizer and a peripheral portion in the hot water supply device shown in FIG. 4. Ru fragmentary cross-sectional view showing another example of the condensed water neutralizer according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Condensate neutralizer B Water heater 1 Neutralizer 2 Container 21 Inlet 22 Neutralizer storage chamber 22a Upper stage (of neutralizer storage chamber)
22b Lower part (of neutralizer storage chamber)
23 Auxiliary chamber 24 Discharge port 44b Standing wall 91 Combustor 93 Heat exchanger 220 End region (the other end region in the width direction of the upper stage)

Claims (4)

A neutralizing agent for neutralizing the condensed water generated by the temperature drop of the combustion gas;
Forming a neutralizing agent storage chamber in which the neutralizing agent is stored, and a container provided with an inlet for condensed water at a position near one end in the width direction ;
A condensate neutralizer,
The upper portion and the lower portion of the container individually have an upper wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a plurality of side wall portions that form a flow path for condensed water, and a plurality of side walls in a region near the other end in the width direction. The parts are connected to each other up and down,
The inlet for the condensed water is provided in the upper part of the container, and the upper part is an upper part of the neutralizing agent storage chamber,
The region near the other end in the width direction of the lower portion of the container is the lower step portion of the neutralizing agent storage chamber, while the region near the one end in the width direction of the lower portion is the lower step of the neutralizing agent storage chamber. It is an auxiliary chamber for temporarily storing condensed water that has passed through the section, and a discharge port for condensed water is provided in this auxiliary chamber,
The bottom wall portion of the upper portion of the container is provided in a form avoiding the region near the other end in the width direction so that the bottom of the region near the other end in the width direction of the upper step portion is opened, and the width direction of the opening portion It is configured to have an upright wall standing upward at one end side position,
The upper wall portion of the lower portion of the container is connected to the lower portion of the standing wall, and is provided so as not to block the opening portion by extending from this lower portion to one end in the width direction,
Condensed water introduced from the introduction port to the region near the one end in the width direction of the upper step portion proceeds to the region near the other end in the width direction of the upper step portion by exceeding the upper end of the standing wall, and then the opening portion. The condensed water neutralizer is characterized in that it can pass through the lower stage and the auxiliary chamber sequentially . The condensed water neutralizer according to claim 1 , wherein the upper part and the lower part of the container are offset from each other in the thickness direction of the container . Among the plurality of side wall portions forming the lower step portion of the neutralizing agent storage chamber, the side wall portion located at the other end in the width direction has a plurality of horizontal plate portions and a plurality of upright plate portions alternately in the vertical direction. The condensate neutralizer according to claim 1, wherein the condensate neutralizer is in the form of a stepped connection . A heat exchanger having a water pipe for performing heat exchange with the combustor and the combustion gas generated by the combustor, and a condensed water neutralizer for neutralizing the condensed water generated by the heat exchange. A hot water supply device comprising:
A hot water supply apparatus, wherein the condensed water neutralizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is used as the condensed water neutralizer.

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