Water heating apparatus

Abstract

The hot-water appliance (10) comprises a water tank (12) provided with a water tank wall (14). The hot-water appliance (10) further comprises a vacuum vessel (20) enclosing a vacuum space (V). The water tank (12) is entirely comprised in the vacuum space, and the entire water tank wall (14) is subjected to the vacuum. The vacuum vessel (20) is provided with a vacuum vessel wall (22) which is composed of a number of vacuum vessel wall parts which are connected to each other in a gas-tight manner by means of fusion or welding. Furthermore, the hot-water appliance (10) comprises at least one functional tube (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) which extends through the water tank wall (14) and is connected to the water tank wall (14) in a gas-tight manner at the location of a water tank wall connection (18). The functional tube (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) also extends through the vacuum vessel wall (22) and is connected to the vacuum vessel wall (22) in a gas-tight manner at the location of a vacuum vessel wall connection (24).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a hot water device for heating and maintaining hot water at a desired temperature, and it can be connected to a public water supply and to a kitchen faucet. Background Technology

[0002] EP 1173715 describes a hot water device comprising a hot water tank and vacuum insulation. The hot water device described in this patent is specifically designed to store pressurized water at temperatures above 100ºC, such that when the stored water is dispensed, for example, via a drain valve, the instantaneously boiling water is dispensed. The hot water tank contains an electric heating element that heats the water and maintains it at a desired temperature. It also includes a temperature sensor, a supply pipe for connection to a public water supply system, and a drain pipe for connection, for example, to a drain valve. In EP 1173715, a flange is provided on the upper side of the tank, and a removable cover is bolted to the flange. Insulation material is provided on the top of the removable cover to minimize heat loss through the cover. To further limit heat loss at the top and between the hot tank and the cold outer casing, the connection between the tank and the casing is implemented as a thin-walled annular collar, by which the tank is suspended to the casing. Due to the heat resistance of this collar, direct heat conduction loss between the hot box and the cold jacket is limited. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a hot water device that has better efficiency than known hot water devices. That is, using this hot water device, less heat energy is lost when maintaining the hot water in the tank at the storage temperature.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a hot water device. More specifically, the hot water device provided by the present invention includes:

[0005] Water tank, including the tank walls;

[0006] Heating components, which are contained within the water tank;

[0007] A vacuum container encloses a vacuum space, within which a water tank is entirely contained, and the tank walls are entirely constrained by the vacuum. The vacuum container comprises a vacuum container wall consisting of multiple vacuum container wall sections, which are hermetically connected to each other by fusion or welding.

[0008] At least one functional pipe extends through the water tank wall and is airtightly connected to the water tank wall at a connection point with the water tank wall, and the functional pipe also extends through the vacuum container wall and is airtightly connected to the vacuum container wall at a connection point with the vacuum container wall.

[0009] In the hot water device according to the invention, the entire water tank is surrounded by a vacuum casing. This differs from the hot water devices described in the prior art paragraphs, which have insulating material on the tank cover and lack a vacuum casing. With the configuration according to the invention, better insulation is achieved, resulting in less heat loss. Furthermore, the heat conduction loss of the annular connection between the tank and the vacuum casing in the hot water devices described in the prior art paragraphs is absent because the tank is entirely surrounded by a vacuum space.

[0010] Furthermore, since the annular connector between the cover, the housing and the vacuum casing, and the insulation material required above the cover of the hot water device, as described in the preceding paragraphs, are eliminated, the hot water device according to the present invention has a more compact, simplified and lighter construction.

[0011] Furthermore, due to the simplified structure of the hot water device according to the present invention, which is almost entirely composed of metal parts, it is suitable and continuously recyclable and can be produced at low cost.

[0012] The hot water device according to the present invention has particular advantages when using a so-called boiling water device. The volume is typically a maximum of 20 liters, and more specifically, this volume is preferably in the range of 3 to 8 liters. The water temperature maintained in the tank is at least 90ºC, and preferably in the range of 105ºC to 108ºC. The pressure in the vacuum space is preferably 10... -4 mbar, preferably at least 10 -5 mbar.

[0013] Assuming the water tank volume is, for example, 3 liters and the temperature is maintained at 108ºC, the hot water device according to the present invention can achieve a heat loss of approximately 2 W in the hot water tank, of which 0.5 W is conduction loss and 1.5 W is radiation loss.

[0014] In one embodiment, the water tank can be carried independently by at least one functional pipe fitting.

[0015] A functional pipe is defined as a pipe that, under all circumstances, must have a function other than supporting the water tank. A functional pipe can be, for example, a water supply pipe or a drain pipe. Furthermore, this pipe can include several specific components, such as cables, electric heating elements, and / or temperature sensors. The pipe must extend into the water tank and must also pass through the vacuum container wall. Thus, these pipes form a heat conduction path from the water tank to the vacuum container wall. However, it is necessary to have multiple such functional pipes, and by providing these functional pipes with another secondary function (i.e., supporting or carrying the water tank within the vacuum container), no additional heat conduction bridge is generated between the water tank wall and the vacuum container wall for this secondary function.

[0016] In one embodiment, the weight of the water tank can be transferred to the vacuum container wall via at least one functional pipe. In this embodiment, the vacuum container wall can further be used to support the entire hot water unit on a flat surface. In an alternative embodiment, these functional pipes can also be connected to an external fixed object, such that the weight of the hot water unit is directly transferred to the external fixed object via the at least one functional pipe.

[0017] The portion of at least one functional pipe extending between the water tank wall connection and the vacuum container wall connection determines the heat transfer length l from the water tank wall connection to the vacuum container wall connection. h And this part has a wall cross-sectional area A. When using ribbed or telescopic functional fittings, the heat transfer length l h It can be greater than the length of the pipe fitting. In one embodiment, the heat transfer length l, in mm, is... h With mm 2 The ratio between the unit wall cross-sectional areas A satisfies the following formula: l h / A>4mm -1 Assuming the quotient of the heat transfer length divided by the wall cross-sectional area is within this range, heat conduction through the at least one functional pipe can be limited so that heat loss through the at least one functional pipe is negligible.

[0018] The portion of the at least one functional pipe extending between the water tank wall connection and the vacuum container wall connection has a heat transfer length greater than 60 mm. h Similar slight heat loss can also be achieved in other embodiments. Furthermore, the material of the at least one functional tube is preferably stainless steel or a similar metal with a relatively low thermal conductivity. Conversely, when the wall thickness of the stainless steel functional tube is in the range of 0.4 to 1.0 mm and the diameter is less than 8 mm, heat conduction from the water tank to the vacuum vessel wall via the at least one functional tube can be ignored.

[0019] The water tank may include cylindrical water tank sidewalls, and the vacuum container may include cylindrical vacuum container sidewalls. To further increase the efficiency of the hot water equipment, in one embodiment, a laminate of reflective foil and fiberglass cloth may be included at least between the cylindrical water tank sidewall and the cylindrical vacuum container sidewall. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Further description of the invention is set forth in the appended claims and will be further illustrated below with reference to one or more examples in the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the hot water device is shown in summary;

[0022] Figure 2A cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the hot water equipment is shown in summary;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the hot water equipment is shown in summary;

[0024] Figure 4 Showing a summary presentation Figure 3 Examples of embodiments in; and

[0025] Figure 5 Show Figure 4 An example perspective cross-sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following detailed description, corresponding portions of different embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals. This detailed description is not merely related to a few examples presented in the accompanying drawings. The reference numerals indicated in the detailed description and claims are not intended to be limiting, but are merely used to illustrate the various embodiments described in the detailed description by referring to a few examples presented in the accompanying drawings.

[0027] In its broadest sense, the present invention relates to a hot water device 10, comprising a water tank 12 having a tank wall 14. A heating element 28 is contained within the water tank 12. The hot water device 10 also includes a vacuum container 20 enclosing a vacuum space V. The entire water tank 12 is contained within the vacuum space V, and the entire tank wall 14 is confined by a vacuum. The vacuum container 20 has a vacuum container wall 22, which is composed of a plurality of vacuum container sections hermetically connected to each other by fusion or welding. Furthermore, the hot water device 10 includes at least one functional pipe 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 extending through the tank wall 14 and hermetically connected to the tank wall 14 at a tank wall connection 18. This functional pipe 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 also extends through the vacuum container wall 22 and is hermetically connected to the vacuum container wall 22 at a vacuum container wall connection 24.

[0028] As noted above, the advantages of this hot water device in its broadest aspects have been described in the summary paragraph, and the advantages described herein are to be understood as being inserted hereby by reference.

[0029] Presented in summary Figure 1 In an example of an embodiment, the water tank 12 may be supported by a plurality of supports 16. Preferably, these supports 16 are made of a material with poor thermal conductivity and that releases as little gas as possible, so that the vacuum in the vacuum chamber V is not disturbed. Furthermore, it is preferable that the contact area between the supports 16 and the water tank 12 is as small as possible to minimize heat conduction via the supports 16.

[0030] As already described in the foregoing summary paragraph, in one embodiment (multiple examples are shown in...) Figures 2 to 4 In this embodiment, the water tank 12 can be individually supported by at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500. Furthermore, in a further description of this embodiment, the weight of the water tank 12 can be transferred to the vacuum container wall 22 via at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500.

[0031] At least one functional fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500 has a heat transfer length l in the portion extending between the tank wall connection 18 and the vacuum wall connection 24. h And the wall cross-sectional area A. In one embodiment, the heat transfer length l is in mm. h With mm 2 The ratio between the unit wall cross-sectional areas A can satisfy the following equation: l h / A>4 mm -1 .

[0032] In one embodiment, at least one functional fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500 may have a heat transfer length l greater than 60 mm extending between the water tank wall connection 18 and the vacuum container wall connection 24. h Furthermore, the material of at least one functional pipe fitting is preferably one of stainless steel, titanium alloy, or incoloy.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, an example is shown in Figures 1 to 5 In this process, at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500 may have an outer diameter of less than 8 mm.

[0034] Furthermore, preferably, at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500 has a wall thickness between 0.4 and 1.0 mm.

[0035] In one embodiment, the water tank wall connection 18 between the at least one functional pipe and the water tank wall, and the vacuum container wall connection 24 between the at least one functional pipe and the vacuum container wall, may be fusion joints.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the water tank wall connection 18 between the at least one functional pipe and the water tank wall, and the vacuum container wall connection 24 between the at least one functional pipe and the vacuum container wall, may be welded joints.

[0037] In one embodiment, an example is shown in Figures 1 to 5In this process, at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400 and / or 500 may include at least one of the following: a water supply pipe, a drain pipe, a pipe fitting containing an electric heating element, and a pipe fitting containing a temperature sensor.

[0038] In one embodiment, an example is shown in Figures 1 to 5 In this configuration, the water tank 12 may include cylindrical water tank sidewalls, while the vacuum container 20 may have cylindrical vacuum container sidewalls. Furthermore, to reduce radiation loss, at least between the cylindrical water tank sidewall and the cylindrical vacuum container sidewall, a laminate of reflective foil and fiberglass cloth may be included.

[0039] For example, when the laminate includes at least three layers of reflective foil and at least three layers of fiberglass cloth, a significant reduction in radiation loss is achieved.

[0040] In one embodiment, an example is shown in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this system, at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 may be provided with: first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, 502; first bends 104, 204, 304, 404, 504 connecting the first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 to second pipe sections 106, 206, 306, 406, 506; and second bends 108, 208, 308, 408, 508 connecting the second pipe sections 106, 206, 306, 406, 506 to third pipe sections 110, 210, 310, 410, 510. The first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 then extend through the upper side of the vacuum container 20. The third pipe sections 110, 210, 310, 410, and 510 extend through the lower side of the water tank 12. Furthermore, the first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, and 502 extend substantially vertically between the water tank wall 14 and the vacuum container wall 22.

[0041] The advantage of this embodiment is that the first conduit section is particularly long, so that the heat transferred to the vacuum container wall 22 through those first conduit sections is greatly limited.

[0042] In one embodiment, an example is shown in Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The at least one functional pipe includes:

[0043] The first functional pipe fitting is a water supply pipe that extends through and is airtightly connected to the opening of the first vacuum top wall, and extends through and is airtightly connected to the opening of the bottom wall of the first water tank.

[0044] The second functional pipe fitting is a drain pipe that extends through and is airtightly connected to the opening of the second vacuum top wall, and extends through and is airtightly connected to the opening of the bottom wall of the second water tank.

[0045] A third functional pipe is provided for the first heating assembly tube section. This third functional pipe extends through and is airtightly connected to an opening in the third vacuum top wall, and extends through and is airtightly connected to an opening in the third water tank bottom wall; and

[0046] The fourth functional tube is a second heating component tube. The fourth functional tube extends through the fourth vacuum top wall opening and is airtightly connected to it, and extends through the fourth water tank bottom wall opening and is airtightly connected to it. The third and fourth tubes are interconnected via a spiral tube section. The third tube, the fourth tube, and the spiral tube section form an integral one-piece component. The integral one-piece component includes a heating component and a cable connected to the heating component.

[0047] Finally, at least one functional tube may also include a fifth functional tube as a sensor tube, which extends through and is hermetically connected to a fifth vacuum top wall opening, and extends through and is hermetically connected to a fifth water tank bottom wall opening. The sensor tube may include at least one temperature sensor and a cable connected to the temperature sensor.

[0048] In one embodiment, the water tank and the vacuum container may each have a cylindrical configuration. Furthermore, the centers of the openings in the top walls of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth vacuum containers are each located on a common pitch circle. The diameter of this common pitch circle is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical water tank and smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical vacuum container, and the center of the common pitch circle is located on the vertical axis of the cylindrical vacuum container.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the centers of the bottom wall openings (if any) of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth water tanks may each be located in a common vertical plane.

[0050] In the example shown Figure 5 In one embodiment, a spacer 30 made of a material with a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / (mK), such as, for example, a ceramic ring, may be included between the first pipe portion 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 of at least one functional pipe 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and the vacuum container wall 22. Preferably, this spacer 30 may be arranged adjacent to the transition section between the bottom side of the tank and the side wall of the tank.

[0051] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In one embodiment shown, at least one first pipeline section 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 may abut against the tank wall 14 individually at the transition section between the bottom side of the tank and the side wall of the tank.

[0052] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In one embodiment shown, the transition section between the upper side of the water tank and the side wall of the water tank and the upper part of at least the first pipe section 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 may be a distance apart from each other.

[0053] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In one embodiment shown, at least the upper part of the first pipeline section 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 and the upper side of the water tank can be fixed relative to each other by means of a fixing component.

[0054] This fixing component can be a second spacer 32, one example of which is... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the diagram, the second spacer 32 can maintain a distance between the water tank 12 and the upper portions of the first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, and 502 of at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 at the transition section adjacent to the upper side of the water tank and the side wall of the water tank. The second spacer 32 engages the water tank and engages the upper portions of the first pipe sections 102, 202, 302, 402, and 502 of at least one functional pipe fitting 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500.

[0055] In a further description of this embodiment, the engagement of the second spacer 32 with the water tank can be achieved at the top of the water tank 12 at the axial position of the water tank 12. The engagement of the second spacer 32 with the upper part of the first pipe section 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 of at least one functional pipe member 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 can be achieved on one or both upper parts.

[0056] In the illustrated example, the second spacer 32 is implemented as a thin-walled assembly with a small cross-sectional area to minimize heat conduction through the second spacer 32 from the water tank 12 to the first piping sections 102, 402. The second spacer 32 absorbs both pressure and tension, which is related to the stability of the water tank 12 in the vacuum container 20 (especially during the transport of the hot water equipment) to prevent damage.

[0057] This invention is not limited to the numerous embodiments described, nor to the numerous examples shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings and reference numerals are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. This invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hot water device, comprising: - Water tank (12), which includes water tank wall (14); - Heating component (28), which is contained in the water tank (12); - A vacuum container (20) enclosing a vacuum space (V), in which the water tank (12) is entirely contained, the water tank wall (14) being entirely constrained by a vacuum, the vacuum container (20) comprising a vacuum container wall (22) composed of a plurality of vacuum container wall portions, the vacuum container wall portions being airtightly connected to each other by fusion or welding; and - At least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) extends through the water tank wall (14) and is airtightly connected to the water tank wall (14) at a location of the water tank wall connection (18), and the functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) also extends through the vacuum container wall (22) and is airtightly connected to the vacuum container wall (22) at a location of the vacuum container wall connection (24). The at least one functional pipe fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) includes a first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502), a first bend (104, 204, 304, 404, 504) connecting the first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) to a second pipe section (106, 206, 306, 406, 506), and a second bend (108, 208, 308, 408, 508) connecting the second pipe section (106, 206, 306, 406, 506) to a third pipe section (110, 210, 310, 410, 510). The first pipeline section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) extends through the upper side of the vacuum container (20); The third pipeline section (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) extends through the bottom side of the water tank (12); The first pipeline section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) extends substantially vertically between the water tank wall (14) and the vacuum container wall (22).

2. The hot water equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The water tank (12) is carried by at least one functional pipe fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) alone.

3. The hot water equipment according to claim 2, wherein, The weight of the water tank (12) is transferred to the wall (22) of the vacuum container via the at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).

4. The hot water device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The portion of at least one functional fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) extending between the water tank wall connection (18) and the vacuum container wall connection (24) determines the heat transfer length l of heat conduction from the water tank wall connection (18) to the vacuum container wall connection (24). h And this part has a wall cross-sectional area A, where the heat transfer length l is in mm. h With mm 2 The ratio between the unit wall cross-sectional areas A satisfies the following equation: l h / A>4 mm -1 .

5. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The portion of at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) extending between the water tank wall connection (18) and the vacuum container wall connection (24) has a heat transfer length greater than 60 mm. h The material of at least one functional pipe fitting is one of stainless steel, titanium alloy or nickel-iron-chromium alloy.

6. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The at least one functional pipe fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) has an outer diameter of less than 8 mm.

7. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The at least one functional pipe fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) has a wall thickness between 0.4 and 1.0 mm.

8. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The water tank wall connection (18) and the vacuum container wall connection (24) are welded joints.

9. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The water tank wall connection (18) and the vacuum container wall connection (24) are welded joints.

10. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The at least one functional pipe fitting (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) includes at least one of a water supply pipe, a drain pipe, a pipe fitting containing an electric heating component, and a pipe fitting containing a temperature sensor.

11. The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The water tank (12) includes cylindrical tank sidewalls, and wherein, The vacuum container (20) includes a cylindrical vacuum container sidewall, and at least between the cylindrical water tank sidewall and the cylindrical vacuum container sidewall is a laminate of reflective foil and fiberglass cloth.

12. The hot water device according to claim 11, wherein, The laminate comprises at least three layers of reflective foil and at least three layers of fiberglass cloth.

13. The hot water device according to claim 12, wherein, The at least one functional pipe includes: -A first functional pipe fitting for a water supply pipe, the first functional pipe fitting extends through and is airtightly connected to the first vacuum top wall opening, and extends through and is airtightly connected to the first water tank bottom wall opening. -A second functional pipe fitting for the drain pipe, the second functional pipe fitting extends through the second vacuum top wall opening and is airtightly connected to the second vacuum top wall opening, and extends through the second water tank bottom wall opening and is airtightly connected to the second water tank bottom wall opening; -A third functional tube for the first heating assembly tube section, the third functional tube extending through the third vacuum top wall opening and being airtightly connected to the third vacuum top wall opening, and extending through the third water tank bottom wall opening and being airtightly connected to the third water tank bottom wall opening. - A fourth functional tube for the second heating assembly tube section, the fourth functional tube extending through and airtightly connecting to the fourth vacuum top wall opening, and extending through and airtightly connecting to the fourth water tank bottom wall opening, wherein the third functional tube and the fourth functional tube are interconnected via a spiral tube section, wherein the third functional tube, the fourth functional tube, and the spiral tube section form an integral one-piece component, the integral one-piece component including a heating assembly and a cable connected to the heating assembly; and - is a fifth functional tube of the sensor tube, which extends through and is airtightly connected to the fifth vacuum top wall opening, and extends through and is airtightly connected to the fifth water tank bottom wall opening, wherein the sensor tube includes at least one temperature sensor and a cable connected to the temperature sensor.

14. The hot water device according to claim 13, wherein, The water tank (12) and the vacuum container (20) each have a cylindrical configuration, wherein the centers of the top wall openings of the first vacuum container, the second vacuum container, the third vacuum container, the fourth vacuum container, and the fifth vacuum container are located on a common pitch circle. The diameter of the common pitch circle is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical water tank (12) and smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical vacuum container (20), and the center of the common pitch circle is located on the vertical axis of the cylindrical vacuum container (20).

15. The hot water device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, The centers of the bottom wall openings of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth water tanks are each located in a common vertical plane.

16. The hot water device according to claim 1, wherein, A first spacer (30) is included between the first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) of the at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and the wall (22) of the vacuum container, the first spacer being made of a material with a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / (mK).

17. The hot water device according to claim 1, wherein, At least the first pipeline section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) abuts against the tank wall alone at the transition section between the bottom side of the tank and the side wall of the tank.

18. The hot water device according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, The transition section between the upper side of the water tank and the side wall of the water tank is a distance away from the upper part of at least the first pipeline section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502).

19. The hot water device according to claim 18, wherein, At least the upper part of the first pipeline section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and the upper side of the water tank are fixed relative to each other using fixing components.

20. The hot water device according to claim 19, wherein, The fixing component is implemented as a second spacer (32), which maintains a distance between the water tank (12) and the upper part of the first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) of the at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) at the transition section adjacent to the upper side of the water tank and the side wall of the water tank, and the second spacer engages the water tank (12) and the upper part of the first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) of the at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).

21. The hot water device according to claim 20, wherein, The second spacer (32) is joined to the water tank (12) at a position on the upper side of the water tank (12) along the axis of the water tank, wherein the spacer is joined to the upper part of the first pipe section (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) of the at least one functional pipe (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) on one or both upper parts.

22. The hot water device according to claim 16, wherein, The first spacer is a ceramic ring.

Images