Neutralizer and water heater

Abstract

To surely prevent freezing due to draining.SOLUTION: In a neutralizer 55, first and second partition walls 75, 76 include first and second lower communication ports 84, 85 for communicating first to third regions 78-80 adjacent to each other in a case body 70 excluding a fourth region 81 including a drain outlet 83, at lower ends, a third partition wall 77 forming the fourth region 81 includes an overflow wall 77A provided with an upper communication port 86 for overflow, at an upper end, the drain introduced into the case body 70 from a drain inlet 73 can be stored in all of the first to third regions 78-80 excluding the fourth region 81 through the first and second lower communication ports 84, 85, and the stored drain can be discharged from the drain outlet 83 by flowing over the overflow wall 77A through the upper communication port 86.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a neutralizer provided for neutralizing and discharging drain water generated when recovering latent heat in a latent heat recovery type water heater, and a water heater provided with the neutralizer.

Background Art

[0002] A latent heat recovery type water heater is provided with a neutralizer for neutralizing and discharging drain water generated when recovering latent heat. As disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, this neutralizer divides the inside of a container filled with a neutralizing agent into a plurality of regions by a plurality of partition walls, and alternately forms openings at the upper end or lower end of the partition walls, and each region is communicated to the most downstream drain port chamber in order. Thereby, the drain water introduced from the inlet flows down through the upper and lower openings in each region in order, is neutralized by the neutralizing agent filled in the container, and is discharged to the outside from the drain port of the drain port chamber.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional neutralizer, when the water level of the drain water does not reach the upper opening, the drain water is stored in each of the plurality of regions communicating with each other through the lower openings. A drain plug for preventing freezing is provided at the bottom of the container, but since the drain plug is provided only in one region here, the drain water remains stored in the region without the drain plug, and sufficient freezing prevention cannot be achieved. On the other hand, providing a drain plug for each region is costly and not practical.

[0005] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a neutralizer and a water heater capable of reliably preventing freezing by draining the drain water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the invention described in claim 1 is a bottomed box-shaped case body in which the internal space is divided into multiple regions by multiple partition walls, and which has an openable and closable drain outlet and a drain outlet to which a drain discharge pipe is connected at the bottom, A neutralizer used in a latent heat recovery type water heater, comprising a cover plate that closes the upper opening of the case body and has a drain inlet, Each partition wall has a lower communication opening at its lower end that connects adjacent areas within the case body, except for the area containing the drain outlet. The partition wall forming the area containing the drain outlet includes an overflow wall with an upper communication opening for overflow at its upper end. The drain introduced into the case body from the drain inlet can be stored in all areas except the area including the drain outlet via the lower communication port, while the stored drain can be discharged from the drain outlet by overflowing the overflow wall via the upper communication port. The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the configuration of claim 1, the upper end of each partition wall is in close contact with the lower surface of the cover plate. The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the configuration of claim 1 or 2, the case body has a shallow protrusion that projects outward, and the lid plate has a shape that closes the upper part of the protrusion and has a drain inlet positioned above the protrusion. To achieve the above objective, the invention described in claim 4 is a water heater comprising a heat exchanger for latent heat recovery and a neutralizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for storing the drain generated in the heat exchanger. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the inventions described in claims 1 and 4, a lower communication port is provided at the lower end of each partition wall to connect adjacent regions, and an upper communication port for overflow is provided at the upper end of the partition wall forming the region including the drain outlet. This allows the drain introduced into the case body from the drain inlet to be stored in all regions except the region including the drain outlet via the lower communication port. As a result, the drain stored in all regions can be discharged from a single drain outlet, ensuring reliable prevention of freezing by draining the drain. According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the above effects, by making the upper end of each partition wall tightly attached to the lower surface of the cover plate, the acidic gas that enters from the drain inlet does not flow directly to the area including the drain outlet, but passes through each area through the lower communication port, just like the drain, and is neutralized. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the airtightness of each area and effectively prevent the discharge of acidic gas. According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the above effects, the case body has a shallow protrusion that projects outward, and the lid plate has a shape that closes the upper part of the protrusion, and the drain inlet is positioned above the protrusion, so that a long path is formed from the drain inlet to the drain outlet, and neutralization by the neutralizing agent can be reliably carried out. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic circuit diagram of a bath water heater. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a neutralizer. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view along line AA. [Figure 4] This is a top-down perspective view of the case body. [Figure 5] (A) is an exploded perspective view from below showing the neutralizer and the base plate, and (B) is a perspective view from below showing the neutralizer attached to the base plate. [Figure 6] (A) is a front view of the connection between the neutralizer and the drain discharge pipe, and (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the neutralizer in a removed state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. (Overall configuration of a bath water heater) Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a bath water heater 1, which is an example of a water heater. This bath water heater 1 has an inner cylinder 2 housed in a casing (not shown), which is divided into a hot water combustion chamber 4 and a bath combustion chamber 5 by a partition member 3. Below each combustion chamber 4 and 5 are a hot water burner 6, 6... consisting of multiple burners and a bath burner 7. Each combustion chamber 4 and 5 is also provided with a spark plug 8 and a flame rod 9. A combustion fan 10 is provided at the bottom of the inner cylinder 2 to supply combustion air to each burner 6 and 7. In the upper part of the hot water combustion chamber 4, there is a primary hot water heat exchanger 11 and a secondary hot water heat exchanger 12 through which the combustion exhaust from the hot water burner 6 passes. In the upper part of the bath combustion chamber 5, there is a primary bath heat exchanger 13 and a secondary bath heat exchanger 14 through which the combustion exhaust from the bath burner 7 passes. Each of the secondary heat exchangers 12 and 14 is housed in an exhaust hood 15 located at the top of the inner cylinder 2. The exhaust hood 15 has an exhaust port 16 for discharging the combustion exhaust that has passed through each of the secondary heat exchangers 12 and 14.

[0010] A gas inlet located on the bottom of the enclosure is connected to a gas pipe 17 to which an external gas pipe is connected. Each hot water burner 6 and bath burner 7 is connected to a gas branch pipe 18, 18... which branches off from the gas pipe 17, and each gas branch pipe 18 is equipped with a gas solenoid valve 19 for opening and closing the gas flow path. In addition, the gas pipe 17 before branching is equipped with a main gas solenoid valve 20 and a gas proportional valve 21 from the upstream side.

[0011] A water supply pipe 22, which is connected to the water inlet on the bottom of the housing, is connected to the inlet of the heat absorption tube of the secondary hot water heat exchanger 12. The water supply pipe 22 is equipped with, from the upstream side, a strainer 23 with a drain plug, a hot water flow rate sensor 24 that detects the amount of water flowing through the water supply pipe 22, a hot water inlet thermistor 25 that detects the inlet water temperature, and a water flow rate control motor 26. The outlet of the heat absorption tube is connected to the inlet of the heat transfer tube of the primary hot water heat exchanger 11, and the outlet of the heat transfer tube is connected to a hot water outlet pipe 27 that is connected to the hot water outlet on the bottom of the housing. The hot water outlet pipe 27 is equipped with a hot water heat exchanger thermistor 28 that detects the outlet temperature from the primary hot water heat exchanger 11, and a hot water outlet thermistor 29 that detects the hot water temperature from the appliance downstream of the outlet pipe 27. A bypass pipe 30 is connected between the upstream side of the hot water outlet thermistor 29 in the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the downstream side of the water flow control motor 26 in the water supply pipe 22, bypassing the primary and secondary hot water heat exchangers 11 and 12. The bypass pipe 30 is equipped with a water distribution valve 31 that controls the bypass flow rate. In this way, a hot water supply circuit A is formed inside the enclosure, where water from the water supply pipe 22 passes through the hot water secondary heat exchanger 12 and the hot water primary heat exchanger 11 in that order, exchanges heat with the combustion exhaust of the hot water burner 6 to heat up, and is then discharged from the hot water outlet pipe 27.

[0012] Meanwhile, a return pipe 35, connected to the bath return port on the bottom of the housing, is connected to the inlet of the heat absorption pipe of the secondary bath heat exchanger 14. The bath return port is connected to the bathtub 37 via an external return pipe 36. A pump 38 is provided downstream of the return pipe 35, a bath return thermistor 39 for detecting the bath return temperature is provided upstream of the pump 38, and a bath water flow switch 40 and a water level sensor 41 are provided downstream of the pump 38. The outlet of the heat absorption tube of the secondary bath heat exchanger 14 is connected to the inlet of the heat transfer tube of the primary bath heat exchanger 13, and the outlet of the heat transfer tube is connected to a supply pipe 42 which is connected to the bath outlet on the bottom of the housing. The bath return outlet is connected to the bathtub 37 via an external supply pipe 43. The supply pipe 42 is equipped with a bath supply thermistor 44 for detecting the bath supply temperature. In this way, a bath circuit B (circulation circuit) is formed inside the housing, in which the hot water from the bathtub 37 is returned by the operation of the pump 38, passing through the return pipe 35, the secondary bath heat exchanger 14, and the primary bath heat exchanger 13 in that order, where it is heated by heat exchange with the combustion exhaust of the bath burner 7, and then returned to the bathtub 37 through the supply pipe 42.

[0013] Furthermore, a drop-off pipe 45 is connected between the downstream side of the bypass pipe 30 in the outlet pipe 27 and the upstream side of the pump 38 in the return pipe 35. This drop-off pipe 45 is equipped with a drop-off water solenoid valve 46 for opening and closing the drop-off pipe 45 and a bath water volume sensor 47 for detecting the amount of water flowing through the drop-off pipe 45, both on the upstream side (outlet pipe 27 side). In addition, two check valves 48, 48 are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the bath water volume sensor 47, and a shut-off valve 49 is connected between the upstream check valve 48 and the bath water volume sensor 47. This valve 49 is connected to a drain pipe 50 that is connected to an overflow port located at the bottom of the housing, and to an inlet pipe 51 that is connected to the downstream side of the strainer 23 in the water supply pipe 22. When the internal pressure of the hot and cold water in the drop-in pipe 45, which has increased due to backflow from the return pipe 35, becomes higher than the back pressure applied from the inlet pipe 51, the hot and cold water that has backflowed from the drop-in pipe 45 is discharged to the overflow port via the drain pipe 50.

[0014] Furthermore, a neutralizer 55 is provided inside the housing to neutralize the condensate generated in the hot water secondary heat exchanger 12 and the bath secondary heat exchanger 14. This neutralizer 55 is connected to a drain receiver 56 and a drain inlet pipe 57 located on the bottom surface of the exhaust hood 15, and is also connected to the drain pipe 50 of the isolation valve 49 and a drain discharge pipe 58. The neutralizer 55 is also equipped with a water level electrode 59 for detecting the water level, and a drain outlet 60 for discharging condensate from the bottom surface of the housing. Details of the neutralizer 55 will be described later. 65 is a controller that receives detection signals from various thermistors and sensors and operates various valves to control the hot water temperature and the filling of the bathtub 37, 66 is a hot water remote control, and 67 is a bath remote control.

[0015] (Normal operation of the bath water heater) In this bathtub water heater 1, normal water supply and water filling are carried out as follows. First, in the water supply circuit A, when the water supply faucet of the external pipe connected to the hot water outlet is opened and water flows into the appliance from the water supply pipe 22, and the water flow is detected by the hot water flow rate sensor 24, the controller 65 rotates the combustion fan 10 for a predetermined time to discharge the combustion exhaust gas stored in the hot water combustion chamber 4 (purging). Then, the main gas solenoid valve 20 and each gas solenoid valve 19 of the gas pipe 17 are opened, the gas proportional valve 21 is opened to a predetermined opening degree, gas is supplied to the hot water burner 6, and the igniter is activated to ignite the hot water burner 6 with the ignition plug 8. As a result, in the hot water secondary heat exchanger 12, the water flowing from the water supply pipe 22 to the heat absorption pipe contacts the combustion exhaust gas of the hot water burner 6 to recover the latent heat. In the hot water primary heat exchanger 11, the hot water flowing from the heat absorption pipe to the heat transfer pipe contacts the combustion exhaust gas of the hot water burner 6 to recover the sensible heat, and the hot water heated with high thermal efficiency is discharged from the hot water outlet through the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the external pipe and flows out from the water supply faucet.

[0016] The controller 65 monitors the outlet temperature by the hot water heat exchanger thermistor 28 of the hot water outlet pipe 27, drives the water distribution valve 31, and controls the flow rate (bypass rate) to the bypass pipe 30 so that the outlet temperature is maintained within a temperature range that can prevent the generation of drain water and overheating in the hot water primary heat exchanger 11. Also, the hot water outlet temperature is monitored by the hot water outlet thermistor 29. The opening and closing control of each gas solenoid valve 19 and the opening degree adjustment of the gas proportional valve 21 are performed so that the hot water outlet temperature becomes the set temperature indicated by the hot water remote controller 66 or the bathtub remote controller 67. At the same time, the air volume is continuously changed by controlling the rotation speed of the combustion fan 10. When the water supply faucet is closed, the controller 65 that has confirmed the stop of the signal from the hot water flow rate sensor 24 closes the main gas solenoid valve 20 and the gas solenoid valve 19 to extinguish the hot water burner 6, and rotates the combustion fan 10 for a predetermined time (post-purging).

[0017] When one presses the automatic switch of the hot water supply remote control 66 or the bath remote control 67, the controller 65 opens the hot water injection solenoid valve 46 of the injection pipe 45 to allow water to flow through the primary and secondary hot water exchangers 11 and 12 of the hot water supply, and burns the hot water supply burner 6. The hot water from the hot water outlet pipe 27 is supplied to the bathtub 37 from the external return pipe 36 through the injection pipe 45 and the return pipe 35. When the water volume detected by the bath water volume sensor 47 provided in the injection pipe 45 reaches the set water volume, the hot water injection solenoid valve 46 is closed to stop the water flow, and the hot water supply burner 6 is extinguished. Next, in the bath circuit B, the pump 38 is operated to circulate the hot and cold water between the primary and secondary bath heat exchangers 13 and 14 and the bathtub 37. At this time, the bath return thermistor 39 and the bath forward thermistor 44 monitor the temperature of the circulating hot and cold water. When it is confirmed that the temperature has dropped from the set temperature, the controller 65 ignites the bath burner 7 and supplies combustion air by the combustion fan 10. Therefore, the bath circulating water circulating between the primary and secondary bath heat exchangers 13 and 14 and the bathtub 37 recovers latent heat when it flows through the heat absorption pipe of the secondary bath heat exchanger 14 and contacts the combustion exhaust of the bath burner 7, and recovers sensible heat when it flows through the heat transfer pipe of the primary bath heat exchanger 13 and contacts the combustion exhaust, and is heated to the set temperature. When the set temperature is reached, the controller 65 stops the combustion of the bath burner 7 and the operation of the pump 38.

[0018] (Description of the neutralizer) Figure 2 is a perspective view of the neutralizer 55, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cross-section taken along the line A-A. This neutralizer 55 includes a vertically long case body 70 with an open upper surface, and a cover plate 71 that closes the upper surface of the case body 70. The case body 70 has a rectangular shape in plan view with a long front and rear, and a shallow-bottomed overhanging portion 72 that protrudes rearward is formed at a position to the right of the rear surface. The bottom surface of the overhanging portion 72 is an inclined surface that slopes downward as it goes forward. The cover plate 71 also has the same plan view shape as the case body 70 including the overhanging portion 72, and a drain inlet 73 to which the drain introduction pipe 57 is connected is provided above the overhanging portion 72. In front of the drain inlet 73, insertion ports 74, 74 of the water level electrode 59 are provided.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the inside of the case body 70 has a first partition wall 75 which is inverted L-shaped in plan view, a second partition wall 76 which is formed in the left-right direction in front of the first partition wall 75, and a third partition wall 77 which is L-shaped in plan view and connected to the front of the second partition wall 76 and the left inner surface of the case body 70, all of which are erected in the vertical direction. These first to third partition walls 75 to 77 divide the inside of the case body 70 into a first region 78 that communicates with the protruding portion 72 behind the first partition wall 75, a second region 79 formed between the first partition wall 75 and the second partition wall 76 in front of the first region 78, a third region 80 on the right side that is surrounded by the front and right sides of the second partition wall 76 and the third partition wall 77 and the inner surface of the case body 70 in front of the second region 79, and a fourth region 81 on the left side that is surrounded by the rear and left sides of the second partition wall 76 and the third partition wall 77 and the inner surface of the case body 70 in front of the second region 79. The drain outlet 60 is provided on the bottom surface of the second region 79. In the case body 70, the portion including the left side of the third region 80 and the fourth region 81 is a shallow bottom section 82 with the bottom surface facing upwards, and a drain outlet 83 to which a drain discharge pipe 58 is connected is provided on the bottom surface of the fourth region 81.

[0020] Furthermore, a first lower communication opening 84 is formed at the lower end of the front and rear portions of the first partition wall 75, and a second lower communication opening 85 is formed at the lower end of the right portion of the second partition wall 76. Thus, the first region 78 and the second region 79 are connected at their lower ends via the first lower communication opening 84, and the second region 79 and the third region 80 are connected at their lower ends via the second lower communication opening 85. Furthermore, each partition wall 75-77 is erected along the entire vertical length inside the case body 70, and its upper end is in close contact with the lower surface of the lid plate 71, thereby closing off each region 78-80 in the upper part of the neutralizer 55. However, the left and right portions of the front of the third partition wall 77 have multiple upper communication openings 86, 86... cut out at their upper ends, forming an overflow wall 77A that connects the third region 80 and the fourth region 81 via the upper communication openings 86.

[0021] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5(A), the drain outlet 60 protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the case body 70 and is closed by inserting the drain plug 90 from below. At the base of the drain outlet 60, one ring-shaped end 91a of a resin strip-shaped connecting band 91 is rotatably attached, and the other ring-shaped end 91b of the connecting band 91 is attached to the middle part of the drain plug 90. Therefore, when the drain plug 90 is removed from the drain outlet 60, it is suspended and supported from the drain outlet 60 by the connecting band 91 without falling. Furthermore, on the bottom surface of the case body 70, behind the drain outlet 60, there is a U-shaped positioning section 92 in a bottom view, which is provided to hold the drain plug 90 in place from both sides by fitting the middle section 91c of the connecting band 91, which is folded in half when the drain plug 90 is inserted into the drain outlet 60, into place. This section is positioned to face forward with both ends pointing towards the drain outlet 60.

[0022] Furthermore, the bottom plate 101 of the housing 100 shown in Figure 5 has an opening 102 formed therein that allows the drain outlet 60 and the positioning part 92 to pass through and be exposed downward from the bottom plate 101 when the case body 70 of the neutralizer 55 is installed on the bottom plate 101. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(A), the drain discharge pipe 58 connected to the drain outlet 83 is positioned vertically below the shallow bottom portion 82 of the case body 70, and its lower end is connected to an overflow port 103 provided on the underside of the bottom plate 101. A branch pipe 61 protruding to the left is formed in the middle of this drain discharge pipe 58, and a drain pipe 50 connected to the cessation valve 49 is connected to this branch pipe 61.

[0023] In the bath water heater 1 configured as described above, a predetermined amount of neutralizing agent is filled into the case body 70 of the neutralizer 55 in the protruding portion 72 and the first to third regions 78 to 80, and the upper opening is closed with a cover plate 71. Then, a drain plug 90 is inserted into the drain outlet 60 to close it, and the drain discharge pipe 58 is connected to the drain outlet 83, and the unit is placed on the bottom plate 101 of the housing 100. At this time, if the connecting band 91 is held in place by the positioning portion 92 at the intermediate portion 91c as shown in Figure 5(A), its rotation is restricted and it does not protrude from the positioning portion 92. Therefore, when the case body 70 is placed on the bottom plate 101, there is no risk of the connecting band 91 being pinched between the case body 70 and the bottom plate 101, and as shown in Figure 5(B), the drain outlet 60 and the positioning portion 92 can be smoothly passed through to the opening 102. Next, connect the drain introduction pipe 57 to the drain inlet 73 of the cover plate 71, connect the drain discharge pipe 58 to the overflow port 103, and connect the drain pipe 50 to the branch pipe 61 of the drain discharge pipe 58 to complete the installation of the neutralizer 55.

[0024] (Explanation of the neutralization and discharge process of drain by a neutralizer) When hot water supply circuit A or bath circuit B is used, the drain generated inside the exhaust hood 15 passes from the drain receiver 56 through the drain introduction pipe 57 and falls into the case body 70 from the drain inlet 73. A filter plate 93 (Figure 3) with multiple slits is provided between the case body 70 and the cover plate 71 at the positions of the protruding portion 72 and the first region 78. Therefore, the drain that falls into the case body 70 through the filter plate 93 flows through the bottom surface of the protruding section 72 to the first region 78, as shown by the dotted arrow in Figure 4, and then flows to the second region 79 via the first lower communication port 84. Furthermore, it flows from the second region 79 to the third region 80 via the second lower communication port 85. Thus, the drain in the case body 70 is stored in the first to third regions 78 to 80, where the water level is approximately the same, and is neutralized by the neutralizing agent in each region 78 to 80. In particular, since the bottom surface of the protruding section 72 also serves as a drain outflow path, neutralization is also achieved by the neutralizing agent filled in the protruding section 72. Furthermore, since the upper parts of each region 78-80 are separated by partition walls 75-77 and are not connected to each other, even if acidic gas enters the case body 70 along with the drain, it cannot pass through each region 78-80 without passing through the first lower communication port 84 and the second lower communication port 85 at the lower end. Therefore, the acidic gas will be reliably neutralized upon contact with the neutralizing agent.

[0025] Then, as shown by the solid arrow, when the water level of the drain inside the case body 70 rises and exceeds the shallow bottom section 82, reaching the upper communication port 86 of the overflow wall 77A of the third partition wall 77, the neutralized drain flows over the overflow wall 77A from the upper communication port 86 and falls into the fourth region 81. Therefore, it is discharged from the drain outlet 83 at the bottom of the fourth region 81 through the drain discharge pipe 58 to the overflow port 103 and out of the device. On the other hand, when draining to prevent freezing, the drain plug 90 can be removed from the drain port 60, allowing the drain accumulated in the case body 70 to be discharged from the drain port 60. As mentioned above, each region 78-80 is connected to each other by the first and second lower communication ports 84 and 85, so the drain from all regions 78-80 can be discharged from a single drain port 60, leaving no drain behind.

[0026] Furthermore, when removing the neutralizer 55 from the housing 100 to replenish the neutralizing agent, the connection between the drain outlet 83 and the drain discharge pipe 58 is released, and as shown in Figure 6(B), the neutralizer 55 can be removed from the housing 100 by lifting it upwards while the drain discharge pipe 58 remains connected to the bottom plate 101. Therefore, it is not necessary to release the connection between the drain discharge pipe 58 and the drain pipe 50 of the isolation valve 49.

[0027] (Effects of the invention relating to the partition wall of the neutralizer) Thus, in the neutralizer 55 and bath water heater 1 of the above configuration, the first and second partition walls 75 and 76 are provided with first and second lower connecting ports 84 and 85 at their lower ends, which connect adjacent first to third regions 78 to 80 within the case body 70, except for the fourth region 81 which includes the drain outlet 83. The third partition wall 77 which forms the fourth region 81 includes an overflow wall 77A with an upper connecting port 86 for overflow formed at its upper end. Drain introduced into the case body 70 from the drain inlet 73 can be stored in all first to third regions 78 to 80 except for the fourth region 81 via the first and second lower connecting ports 84 and 85, while the stored drain can be discharged from the drain outlet 83 by overflowing the overflow wall 77A through the upper connecting port 86. This allows drain water accumulated in all three regions 78-80 to be discharged from a single drain outlet 60, ensuring reliable prevention of freezing through drainage.

[0028] In particular, here, the upper ends of each partition wall 75-77 are in close contact with the lower surface of the cover plate 71, so the acidic gas that enters from the drain inlet 73 does not flow directly into the fourth region 81, but, like the drain, passes through the first lower communication port 84 and the second lower communication port 85 at the lower end, and is neutralized as it passes through each region 78-80. Therefore, the airtightness of each region 78-80 can be ensured, and the discharge of acidic gas can be effectively prevented. Furthermore, the case body 70 has a shallow protruding portion 72 that extends outward, and the lid plate 71 has a shape that closes off the upper part of the protruding portion 72, and the drain inlet 73 is positioned above the protruding portion 72, so that a long path is formed from the drain inlet 73 to the drain outlet 83, ensuring that neutralization by the neutralizing agent is carried out reliably.

[0029] In the invention relating to partition walls, the number and shape of the partition walls and the partitioning structure of the area are not limited to the above form and can be changed as appropriate. The shape of the lower communication opening may also be changed to a semicircular shape, or to a multiple notched shape like the upper communication opening. The number and shape of the upper communication openings may also be changed. Furthermore, the location of the drain outlet is not limited to the above configuration and may be in other areas. The protruding portion can also be provided in a different location or omitted altogether. Furthermore, in the case of a water heater, a secondary heat exchanger for the bath is not required in the bath circuit, and a hot water supply circuit alone is also acceptable without a bath circuit.

[0030] (Effects of the invention relating to the positioning part of the connecting band) In the bath water heater 1 of the above configuration, a drain outlet 60 into which a drain plug 90 is detachably attached is provided on the bottom surface of the neutralizer 55, and the drain plug 90 and the drain outlet 60 are connected by a flexible connecting band 91 in which the middle section 91c is folded in half when the drain plug 90 is attached, and a positioning section 92 is provided on the bottom surface of the neutralizer 55 to hold the middle section 91c of the connecting band 91 when the drain plug 90 is attached, while the bottom plate 101 has an opening 102 that allows the drain outlet 60 and the positioning section 92 to pass through and be exposed on the underside of the bottom plate 101 when the neutralizer 55 is installed. As a result, when installing the neutralizer 55, if the connecting band 91 is held in place by the positioning part 92 with the drain plug 90 attached, the connecting band 91 will not be pinched between the neutralizer 55 and the bottom plate 101. Therefore, draining can be performed reliably.

[0031] In particular, since the positioning section 92 is shaped like a U when viewed from the bottom, with both ends facing the drain outlet 60, the rotation of the connecting band 91 can be reliably restricted, and the protrusion of the intermediate section 91c in the direction away from the drain outlet 60 (in this case, towards the rear) can also be effectively prevented.

[0032] Furthermore, in the invention relating to the positioning part, the shape of the positioning part is not limited to the above form and can be changed as appropriate, and rotation can be restricted not only by a U-shape when viewed from the bottom, but also by having only a pair of left and right walls. The connecting bands may also be C-shaped at both ends instead of ring-shaped, or they may be belt-shaped and wound around the body. They are not limited to a strip shape; they may also be rod-shaped as long as they are flexible. The internal structure of the neutralizer is not limited to the above configuration, and partition walls are not required. Furthermore, in the case of water heaters, a secondary heat exchanger for the bath is not required in the bath circuit, and the bath circuit itself is not required.

[0033] (Effects of the invention relating to the drain discharge pipe) In the bath water heater 1 of the above configuration, the upper end of the drain discharge pipe 58 is detachably connected to a drain outlet 83 provided on the bottom surface of the neutralizer 55, and the lower end of the drain discharge pipe 58 is connected to an overflow port 103 provided on the bottom plate 101. A branch pipe 61 (branch section) is formed between the upper and lower ends of the drain discharge pipe 58, and a drain pipe 50 through which hot water is discharged from the ignition valve 49 is connected to the branch pipe 61. As a result, when removing the neutralizer 55 from the housing 100 for purposes such as replenishing the neutralizing agent, the neutralizer 55 can be removed simply by detaching the drain outlet 83 from the drain discharge pipe 58, eliminating the need to repeatedly attach and detach the drain pipe 50 to the drain discharge pipe 58 when inserting or removing the neutralizer 55. Therefore, even if the hot water discharged from the isolation valve 49 can be discharged together with the drain, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the workability related to inserting and removing the neutralizer 55, while also preventing any hot water remaining in the drain pipe 50 from flowing into the housing 100.

[0034] In particular, in this configuration, a shallow bottom portion 82 is partially formed on the bottom surface of the neutralizer 55, which is spaced upward from the bottom plate 101 when installed on the bottom plate 101. The drain outlet 83 is formed in the shallow bottom portion 82, and the drain discharge pipe 58 is positioned below the shallow bottom portion 82. As a result, the installation of the drain discharge pipe 58 and its connection to the drain pipe 50 can be carried out smoothly within the housing 100, and the neutralizer 55 can be installed on the bottom plate 101 in a space-saving manner.

[0035] Furthermore, in the invention relating to the drain discharge pipe, the shape and position of the drain discharge pipe are not limited to the above-described form, and can be appropriately modified, such as arranging the drain discharge pipe in an inclined manner instead of vertically, or placing it behind or to the side of the neutralizer. The connection configuration of the branch pipe and the drain pipe can also be modified; depending on the position of the drain discharge pipe, the branch pipe can be placed on the front side. Furthermore, the branching point is not limited to a branch pipe; it is also acceptable to provide a connection port in the drain discharge pipe, into which the drain pipe is inserted and connected. Furthermore, the shallow bottom section may be located on the front right side instead of the front left side as described above, or it may be located on the rear or side. It is also possible to omit the shallow bottom section and connect the drain pipe and the drainage pipe below the bottom plate. The internal structure is not limited to the above configuration, and partition walls may not be necessary. Furthermore, the water heater does not need to have a secondary heat exchanger for the bath circuit, nor can it be used in a circulating heating circuit other than the bath circuit (such as a heating circuit).

[0036] Furthermore, common to all inventions, the neutralizer's position is not limited to the right side of the enclosure; it may be on the left or in the center. The size and shape of the neutralizer itself are also not limited to the above forms; it may be a long rectangle, square, or circular in plan view. Moreover, the structure is not limited to two parts, a lid and a case body; the lid can be integrated with the case body, and the neutralizer can be formed by combining multiple parts that are separated at other positions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Bath water heater, 2. Inner cylinder, 4. Hot water combustion chamber, 5. Bath combustion chamber, 6. Hot water burner, 7. Bath burner, 11. Primary hot water heat exchanger, 12. Secondary hot water heat exchanger, 13. Primary bath heat exchanger, 14. Secondary bath heat exchanger, 15. Exhaust hood, 17. Gas pipe, 22. Water supply pipe, 27. Hot water outlet pipe, 30. Bypass pipe, 35. Return pipe, 37. Bathtub, 42. Supply pipe, 45. Drop-in pipe, 49. Edge valve, 50. Drain pipe, 55. Neutralizer, 57. Drain inlet pipe, 58. Drain outlet pipe, 60. Drain outlet 61...Branch pipe, 65...Controller, 70...Case body, 71...Lid plate, 72...Protruding part, 73...Drain inlet, 75...First partition wall, 76...Second partition wall, 77...Third partition wall, 77A...Overflow wall, 78...First area, 79...Second area, 80...Third area, 81...Fourth area, 82...Shallow bottom part, 83...Drain outlet, 84...First lower communication port, 85...Second lower communication port, 86...Upper communication port, 90...Drain plug, 91...Connecting band, 92...Positioning part, 100...Housing, 101...Bottom plate, 102...Opening.

Claims

1. a bottomed box-shaped case body having an internal space divided into a plurality of regions by a plurality of partition walls, the case body having an openable / closable drain outlet at the bottom and a drain outlet to which a drain discharge pipe is connected; a cover plate that closes the upper opening of the case body and has a drain inlet, each of the partition walls has a lower communication port at a lower end that connects adjacent areas in the case body except for an area including the drain outlet, and the partition wall that forms the area including the drain outlet includes an overflow wall having an upper communication port for overflow formed at an upper end; A neutralizer characterized in that drain introduced into the case body from the drain inlet can be stored in all of the areas except for the area including the drain outlet via the lower communication port, while the stored drain can be discharged from the drain outlet by overcoming the overflow wall via the upper communication port.

2. 2. The neutralizer according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of each of the partition walls is in close contact with the lower surface of the cover plate.

3. The neutralizer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the case body has a shallow protruding portion that protrudes outward, and the cover plate has a shape that blocks the upper part of the protruding portion, and the drain inlet is located above the protruding portion.

4. 4. A water heater comprising: a heat exchanger for recovering latent heat; and the neutralizer according to claim 1, which stores drainage generated in the heat exchanger.

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