JP7568559B2 - Hot water supply equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water heater that adjusts the fluid by driving a valve.

Conventionally, in this type of device, as shown in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the mixing valve, which mixes hot water and cold water to supply hot water at a set temperature, from sticking, the mixing valve has been driven constantly, frequently, or occasionally when the hot water output is stopped to temporarily move the valve, thereby preventing the valve from sticking due to scale, rust, or scale (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-161054

However, the anti-sticking action to prevent the valve from sticking requires the motor to be forcibly driven to change the valve from fully open to fully closed. If someone is in the bathroom late at night, they may suddenly feel as if they are hearing a strange noise coming from the water heater, which could lead to distrust and suspicion of a malfunction.

In addition, if the anti-sticking operation is performed while the hot water supply is in use, hot water at a temperature different from the preset temperature is supplied, causing discomfort to the user.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a hot water supply system which includes a remote control installed in the bathroom, a human detection means provided on the remote control, a presence determination means which determines whether or not there is a person in the bathroom based on the detection result of the human detection means , a flow sensor which detects whether or not there is a flow of hot water to the hot water tap or bathtub, a valve which adjusts the flow rate of hot water flowing through the flow sensor, and a control device which controls a sticking prevention operation that drives the valve to prevent the valve from sticking, and during late night hours, if the presence determination means determines that there is no person in the bathroom and if the flow of hot water is not detected by the flow sensor , the control device performs the sticking prevention operation.

The control device is also configured to perform the anti-sticking operation if the presence-of-person state continues for a predetermined period of time after the presence-of-person determination means determines that no one is present.

In addition, when the control device performs the anti-sticking operation, if the presence determination means determines that a person is in the bathroom, the control device puts the anti-sticking operation on hold.

The valve is a mixing valve that mixes hot water at a high temperature with hot water at a temperature lower than the high temperature to adjust the mixed water to a predetermined temperature.

The valve is a flow rate regulating valve that regulates the flow rate of the hot and cold water to a predetermined flow rate.

This invention performs the anti-sticking operation when no one is in the bathroom late at night and when no hot water is being used. This means that the sound of the motor driving the valve can be heard in the bathroom, and if someone is in the bathroom, there is no need to worry about the water heater breaking down due to a sudden abnormal sound. It also prevents the valve from being driven by the anti-sticking operation, causing the user to feel uncomfortable due to unexpected adjustments in the supply of hot water.

Schematic diagram of the present invention A flow chart showing the counting of the timer means of the present invention. A flowchart showing the control of the sticking prevention operation of the present invention.

An embodiment of a hot water storage type hot water supply system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a hot water storage tank that stores hot water as a fluid for a hot water storage type hot water supply system, 2 denotes a bathtub, 3 denotes a water supply pipe that supplies water to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, 4 denotes a hot water outlet pipe that supplies hot water from the top of the hot water storage tank 1, 5 denotes a heat pump type heating means that heats the water in the hot water storage tank 1, 6 denotes a heating supply pipe that connects the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 to the heating means 5, 7 denotes a heating circulation pump provided in the middle of the heating supply pipe 6, 8 denotes a heating return pipe that connects the heating means 5 to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1, 9 denotes a heating bypass valve provided in the middle of the heating return pipe 8, and 10 denotes a heating bypass pipe that branches off by switching the heating bypass valve 9. This heating bypass pipe 10 is connected in the middle of the water supply pipe 3.

11 is an outside air temperature thermistor provided in the heating means 5 device to detect the outside air temperature, and 12 is a hot water temperature thermistor provided in multiple locations on the top and bottom sides of the hot water tank 1 to detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank 1.

In addition, 13 is a medium-temperature water outlet pipe that discharges hot water from a medium-temperature water outlet port 14 in the middle of the hot water storage tank 1, and 15 is a medium-temperature water mixing valve that mixes high-temperature water from the hot water outlet pipe 4 with medium-temperature water from the medium-temperature water outlet pipe 13.

16 is a water supply bypass pipe bypassed from the water supply pipe 3, 17 is a hot water supply mixing valve that mixes the mixed hot water from the medium temperature water mixing valve 15 with the water from the water supply bypass pipe 16 and controls the mixing ratio to supply hot water at the desired hot water supply setting temperature (predetermined temperature), and 18 is a hot water supply pipe that supplies the hot water mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 17 to the hot water tap 19.

20 is a hot water flow sensor installed in the hot water supply pipe 18 that detects the hot water supply flow rate based on the rotation speed of the internal impeller, 21 is a hot water temperature thermistor that detects the hot water temperature, 22 is a flow rate adjustment valve that adjusts the flow rate so that the hot water supply flow rate detected by the hot water supply flow rate sensor 20 becomes the preset hot water supply set flow rate (predetermined flow rate), 23 is a water supply pressure reducing valve installed in the water supply pipe 3 that reduces the city water pressure to a constant water supply pressure, 24 is a water supply thermistor installed in the water supply pipe 3 that detects the city water temperature, and 25 is a relief valve installed in communication with the top of the hot water storage tank 1 and can be opened and closed manually.

26 is a bath mixing valve that mixes the mixed hot water from the medium temperature water mixing valve 15 with the water from the water supply bypass pipe 16 and controls the mixing ratio to supply hot water at a specified bath set temperature (predetermined temperature), and 27 is a hot water filling pipe that supplies the hot water mixed by the bath mixing valve 26 to the bathtub 2.

28 is a bath flow sensor that detects the amount of water filling the bathtub 2 based on the rotation speed of the internal impeller, 29 is a bath temperature thermistor that detects the temperature of the bath water flowing through the bath circulation circuit 31, and 30 is a filling valve that is installed in this filling pipe 27 and starts and stops filling the bathtub 2 with water.

31 is a bath circulation circuit that connects the bathtub 2 to a bath heat exchanger 32 that exchanges heat between the hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 and the circulating bath water, via a bath supply pipe 31a that runs from the bathtub 2 to the bath heat exchanger 32 and a bath return pipe 31b that runs from the bath heat exchanger 32 to the bathtub 2, allowing circulation.

33 is a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit 31, and 34 is a water level sensor that detects the water level in the bathtub 2 from the water pressure of the hot and cold water, and is provided upstream of the bath circulation pump 33 in the bath circulation circuit 31. This water level sensor 34 detects the water level in the bathtub 2 from the water pressure of the hot and cold water, so if the circulation port of the bathtub 2 is exposed, the water level cannot be detected, so in order to detect the water level, the water level must be higher than the circulation port of the bathtub 2.

35 is a control device that controls the hot water supply and bath, and receives the detection values of the outside air temperature thermistor 11, the hot water storage temperature thermistor 12, the hot water supply flow rate sensor 20, the hot water supply temperature thermistor 21, the water supply temperature thermistor 23, the bath flow rate sensor 28, the bath temperature thermistor 29, and the water level sensor 34, and drives the heating circulation pump 7, the medium temperature water mixing valve 15, the hot water supply mixing valve 17, the flow rate adjustment valve 22, the bath mixing valve 26, and the water filling valve 30.

Here, when the control device 35 drives the medium temperature water mixing valve 15, the hot water mixing valve 17, the bath mixing valve 26, and the flow rate adjustment valve 22, it controls the mixing ratio and flow rate by driving the motor that moves the valves installed inside.

For example, this medium temperature water mixing valve 15 can change the mixing ratio by switching the opening of the valve inside it between the high temperature side (hot water outlet pipe 4 side) and the medium temperature side (medium temperature water outlet pipe 13 side), and can adjust the temperature of the mixed water and discharge it to the hot water supply mixing valve 17.

The hot water mixing valve 17 can change the mixing ratio by switching the opening of the valve inside it between the mixing side (medium temperature water mixing valve 15 side) and the water side (water supply bypass pipe 16 side), and can adjust the temperature of the mixed water to the hot water setting temperature and supply hot water to the hot water supply pipe 18.

The bath mixing valve 26 can change the mixing ratio by switching the opening of the valve inside it between the mixing side (medium temperature water mixing valve 15 side) and the water side (water supply bypass pipe 16 side), and can adjust the temperature of the mixed water to the bath set temperature and supply hot water to the water filling pipe 27.

The flow rate control valve 22 can also adjust the opening of the valve inside to switch the hot water flow rate, allowing the hot water to be dispensed at the set hot water flow rate.

36 is a bathroom remote control installed in the bathroom and capable of communicating with the control device 35, and is provided with an operation unit 37 for starting the water filling operation and setting the set water level, which is the target water level for the water filling operation, and the water filling set amount, which is the target amount, a display unit 38 that displays the settings, an alarm unit 39 that notifies the user that the water filling operation has been completed, and a human presence sensor 40, which is a human detection means that detects whether or not someone is in the bathroom.

The control device 35 also includes a presence determination means 41 that determines whether or not there is a person in the bathroom based on the detection of a human presence sensor 40, which is a human detection means, and a timer means 42 that counts the time when there is no person in the bathroom and no hot water is being used.

In addition, in order to prevent the valves of the medium temperature water mixing valve 15, the hot water mixing valve 17, the bath mixing valve 26, and the flow rate control valve 22, which have valves inside, from sticking, the control device 35 forcibly drives them from the fully open direction to the fully closed direction only once, and then performs a sticking prevention operation to return the valves to their original opening.

The timer means 42 counts the duration when no one is in the bathroom and no hot water is being used, and when the count continues for a predetermined period of time, the anti-stick operation is permitted, and the control device 35 performs anti-stick operation while the anti-stick operation is permitted.

Next, the boiling operation will be described.
When a request for boiling is made, the control device 35 drives the heating circulation pump 7 located in the pipe connecting the hot water storage tank 1 and the heating means 5 to pump water from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1, heat it using the heating means 5, and return it to the top of the hot water storage tank 1, gradually boiling the water in the hot water storage tank 1 into high-temperature water.

Next, the hot water supply operation will be described.
When the hot water tap 19 is opened, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 3, flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 and passes through the water supply bypass pipe 16. The high-temperature water pushed out from the top of the hot water storage tank 1 and the medium-temperature water pushed out from the middle part of the hot water storage tank 1 are mixed in the medium-temperature water mixing valve 15. This mixed water is mixed with the water supply from the water supply bypass pipe 16 in the hot water mixing valve 17, and hot water adjusted so that the hot water set temperature and the temperature detected by the hot water temperature thermistor 21 are the same is supplied from the hot water tap 19.

The operation of various devices during the filling operation will also be described.
When the filling switch on the operation unit 37 of the bathroom remote control 36 is pressed, the control device 35 opens the filling valve 30, supplies water from the water supply pipe 3, flows into the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 and passes through the water supply bypass pipe 16, the mixed water mixed in the medium temperature water mixing valve 15 and the water supply from the water supply bypass pipe 16 are mixed in the bath mixing valve 26, and the hot water adjusted so that the bath set temperature and the temperature detected by the bath temperature thermistor 29 are the same is flowed into the bathtub 2, starting filling the bath. The bath flow rate sensor 28 then detects the flow rate, and when the total accumulated value of the flow rate reaches the set filling amount, the control device 35 closes the filling valve 30, completing the filling operation, and switching to automatic warming operation, which automatically keeps the bath temperature warm.

The reheating operation of the bathtub 2 will also be described.
During automatic warming operation, if the bath temperature detected by bath temperature thermistor 29 falls below the specified reheating temperature, or if the reheating switch on operation unit 37 is pressed, the bath water is circulated between bathtub 2 and bath heat exchanger 32 via bath circulation circuit 31, and heat is exchanged with the hot water in hot water storage tank 1, thereby performing reheating operation to raise the temperature of the bath water in bathtub 2. When the detected value of bath temperature thermistor 29 confirms that the bath temperature has risen to the set bath temperature, the reheating operation is completed.

Next, the permission state of the sticking prevention operation of the timer means 42 and the control device 35 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
First, it is confirmed whether or not there is a person in the bathroom and whether or not the hot water supply is being used (S1), and if there is no person in the bathroom and no hot water supply is being used (Yes in S1), the timer means 42 starts counting (S2). Here, whether or not there is a person in the bathroom is determined by the presence determination means 41 based on the detection value of the human presence sensor 40, and whether or not the hot water supply is being used is determined by the control device 35 based on the detection values of the hot water supply flow rate sensor 20 and the bath flow rate sensor 28.

While the timer is counting, it is checked whether there is anyone in the bathroom and whether the hot water supply is being used (S3). If there is someone in the bathroom or the hot water supply has been used (S3 is No), the count is reset (S4) and the process returns to S1.

In addition, while the timer is counting, it is checked whether there is anyone in the bathroom and whether hot water is being used (S3). If there is no one in the bathroom and no hot water is being used for a specified time (here, 10 minutes) (Yes in S5), the control device 35 determines that there is no one in the bathroom and that the anti-sticking operation is permitted with no hot water being used, and ends the count of the timer means 42 (S6).

The control device 35 checks whether there is anyone in the bathroom and whether hot water is being used even when the anti-sticking operation is permitted (S7), and if there is someone in the bathroom or hot water is being used (Yes in S7), it cancels the anti-sticking operation permission state (S8) and returns to S1.

Next, the sticking prevention operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
First, the control device 35 checks whether it is any time period during the late night hours (here, 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., when hot water is not expected to be used) (S9), and if it is during the late night hours (Yes in S9), the control device 35 checks whether the anti-stick operation is permitted (S10), and if the anti-stick operation is permitted (Yes in S10), starts the anti-stick operation (S11).

When anti-sticking operation is being performed, it continues to check whether the anti-sticking operation permission state has been released (S12), and if the anti-sticking operation permission state has been released (S12 is No), the anti-sticking operation is interrupted and the system waits (S13).

Then, the control device 35 waits for the anti-sticking operation to be permitted, and when the anti-sticking operation is permitted again (Yes in S14), it resumes the anti-sticking operation (S15).

In addition, while the anti-sticking operation is being performed, it continues to check whether the permission state of the anti-sticking operation has been released (S12), and if the permission state of the anti-sticking operation remains released (Yes in S12), the control device 35 forcibly drives the valve from the fully open direction to the fully closed direction only once, and then performs a predetermined anti-sticking operation to return the valve to the original valve opening degree, and when the predetermined anti-sticking operation is completed (S16), the anti-sticking operation is completed (S17).

In this way, the anti-sticking operation is performed late at night when no one is in the bathroom, so the sound of the motor driving the valve can be heard in the bathroom, and if there is someone in the bathroom, there is no need to worry about the water heater breaking down due to a sudden abnormal sound.In addition, since the anti-sticking operation is performed reliably, it is possible to prevent the valve from sticking and becoming unable to adjust the valve.

In addition, the anti-sticking operation is performed when there is no hot water usage during late night hours, so when the valve is being adjusted to provide hot water at the set hot water temperature or bath temperature, the anti-sticking operation will fully open or fully close the valve, preventing hot water at a temperature different from the desired set temperature from being provided, which can be uncomfortable.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications may be made without changing the gist of the invention. For example, the present invention does not mention the order of the anti-sticking operation of the medium temperature water mixing valve 15, the hot water mixing valve 17, the bath mixing valve 26, and the flow rate adjustment valve 22, but the anti-sticking operation may be performed on each valve one by one in order, or all at once.

In addition, in the present invention, the anti-sticking operation is performed on the medium temperature water mixing valve 15, the hot water mixing valve 17, the bath mixing valve 26, and the flow rate adjustment valve 22, but this is not limited to these, and the anti-sticking operation may also be performed on other appliances that have valves that are at risk of sticking due to scale, rust, or scale.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Hot water storage tank 2 Bathtub 3 Water supply pipe 4 Hot water outlet pipe 5 Heating means 13 Medium temperature water outlet pipe 14 Medium temperature water outlet 15 Medium temperature water mixing valve 17 Hot water mixing valve 18 Hot water pipe 35 Control device 36 Bathroom remote control 40 Human presence sensor 41 Presence determination means

Claims (5)

The remote control in the bathroom,
A human detection means provided in the remote controller;
a presence determination means for determining whether or not a person is in the bathroom based on a detection result of the person detection means;
a flow sensor that detects whether or not there is a flow of hot water to the hot water tap or bathtub;
A valve for adjusting the flow rate of hot and cold water flowing through the flow sensor ;
and a control device that controls a sticking prevention operation for driving the valve to prevent the valve from sticking.
This hot water supply device is characterized in that, during late night hours, the control device performs the anti-sticking operation when the presence determination means determines that there is no one in the bathroom and when the flow sensor does not detect the flow of hot water . The hot water supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device performs the sticking prevention operation if the presence determination means determines that no one is present and the absence of anybody continues for a predetermined period of time. The hot water supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device puts the anti-sticking operation on hold if the presence determination means determines that a person is in the bathroom when performing the anti-sticking operation. 4. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is a mixing valve that mixes the hot water at a high temperature with the hot water at a temperature lower than the high temperature to mix mixed water at a predetermined temperature. 4. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is a flow rate adjustment valve that adjusts the flow rate of the hot water to a predetermined flow rate.

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