Bath water heater

Abstract

To limit pressure applied on valves when operating a functional water production device even if high inlet pressure is applied thereto.SOLUTION: A bath water heater comprises a reheating circulation passage (4), a circulation pump (5) for making bath water circulate by the reheating circulation passage (4), heating means (15) for heating the bath water, a water pouring passage (3) for pouring hot water into the reheating circulation passage (4), an opening / closing valve (26) arranged at the hot water pouring passage (3), and supplying and blocking the supplied hot water, flow rate adjustment means (24) of the supplied hot water, flow rate detection means (25), a bypass passage (30) branched from the hot water pouring passage (3) by a flow passage selector valve (29), and a constant flow rate valve (32) and a functional water production device (31) which are sequentially interposed in the bypass passage (30) from an upstream side. When a flow rate Q detected by the flow rate detection means (25) at the non-operation of the functional water production device (31) is higher than a prescribed reference value, an opening of the flow rate adjustment means (24) is limited to a valve-closing side, and when the detected flow rate Q is lower than the reference value, the opening of the flow rate adjustment means (24) is not limited.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot water supply system for a bath, and more particularly to a hot water supply system for a bath that is equipped with a functional water generating device and that prevents equipment with low pressure resistance from being adversely affected by water pressure. [Background technology]

[0002] The bath equipment has a bathtub and a bath hot water supply device connected to the bathtub to supply hot water to the bathtub and reheat the bath water. The bath hot water supply device is equipped with a reheating circulation passage configured to circulate and heat the bathtub water, a circulation pump for circulating the bathtub water in the reheating circulation passage, a heating means for heating the bathtub water, a hot water supply passage for supplying hot water to the reheating circulation passage, an opening / closing valve provided in the hot water supply passage for supplying and cutting off the hot water, a flow rate adjustment means for adjusting the flow rate of the hot water, and a flow rate detection means.

[0003] A technique for installing a functional water generating device in the molten metal pouring passage, which generates functional water such as ozone water for sterilizing the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage, is known. In this case, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the embodiment, a flow control valve 24, a flow sensor 25, and a molten metal pouring solenoid valve 26 are provided in the molten metal pouring passage 3, and a bypass passage 30 branched off from the molten metal pouring passage 3 by a flow path switching valve 29 is provided, and a constant flow valve 32 and a functional water production device 31 are provided in this bypass passage 30.

[0004] When functional water produced in the functional water production device is used to sterilize the reheating circulation passages 4a, 4b having the circulation pump 5, the flow path switching valve 29 selects the bypass passage 30, and functional water produced in the functional water production device 31 is supplied to the reheating circulation passages 4a, 4b. When functional water is not produced, the flow path switching valve 29 selects the molten metal pouring passage 3, and molten metal is poured through the molten metal pouring passage 3.

[0005] As the above-mentioned functional water generating apparatus, the following is known. A liquid sterilization device is known in which a fine bubble generator is interposed in a reheating circulation passage through which bath water can be circulated with, for example, ozone gas, and a gas generator is provided to supply ozone gas to the fine bubble generator, thereby sterilizing the circulation passage. Other known functional water generating devices include devices that disinfect the inside of the piping of a bathtub system with hypochlorous acid water and devices that disinfect the inside of the piping of a bathtub system with silver ion water.

[0006] Patent document 1 discloses a water supply device having a flow control valve that varies the flow rate by adjusting the valve position, and a flow detection unit that detects the flow rate of water supply, and a water pressure estimation means that estimates the water pressure based on the detected flow rate detected by the flow detection unit during water supply.

[0007] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for setting an initial water flow rate for a water flow control valve in a water heater equipped with a water flow control valve that controls the hot water flow rate by the valve movement time of a gear motor. The relationship between the gear motor valve movement time and the water flow rate is preset for each water pressure, and when the water flow rate fluctuates beyond the set amount during steady-state combustion operation, the gear motor is driven to change the water flow rate by ΔQ, and the water pressure after the water flow rate change is estimated from the time required for this change. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3277104 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-257855 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] As shown in Figure 2, when producing functional water, the flow rate is constant regardless of the inlet water pressure because the bypass passage 30 has a constant flow rate valve 32. Therefore, if the inlet water pressure is high, unexpected water pressure may act on the flow path switching valve 29, the hot water supply solenoid valve 26, and the flow rate adjustment valve 24, and in the worst case scenario, water may leak from these devices. Since the flow rate is constant due to the constant flow rate valve 32, the flow rate adjustment valve 24 cannot be operated based on the detection value of the flow rate sensor 25.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 3, when functional water is not being produced, hot or cold water does not flow through the bypass passage 30, so that the flow rate adjustment valve 24 can be adjusted based on the detection value of the flow rate sensor 25. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to limit the pressure acting on valves when operating a functional water production device, even when high water inlet pressure is applied. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The bath hot water supply device of claim 1 comprises a reheating circulation passage connected to a bathtub and configured to circulate and heat bath water, a circulation pump for circulating the bath water through the reheating circulation passage, a heating means for heating the bath water, a hot water supply passage for supplying hot water to the reheating circulation passage, an on-off valve and a hot water supply flow rate adjustment means and flow rate detection means provided in the hot water supply passage for supplying and cutting off the hot water supply, a bypass passage branched off from the hot water supply passage and connected to the hot water supply passage downstream of the branching point, a constant flow valve and a functional water generation device interposed in the bypass passage from upstream to downstream, and a flow path switching valve interposed in the branching point, wherein when the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means is greater than a predetermined reference value when the functional water generation device is not operating, the opening of the flow rate adjustment means is limited to the closed valve side, and when the detected flow rate is less than the reference value, the opening of the flow rate adjustment means is not limited.

[0012] According to the above configuration, if the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means is greater than a predetermined reference value when the functional water production apparatus is not in operation, the opening of the flow rate adjustment means is limited to the closed valve side, so that even if the functional water production apparatus is operated when the tap water pressure is high, it is possible to reliably prevent unexpected water pressure from acting on valves downstream of the flow rate adjustment means. If the detected flow rate is less than the reference value, the opening of the flow rate adjustment means is not limited, so that even if the functional water production apparatus is operated when the tap water pressure is not high, the flow rate to the functional water production apparatus can be secured and the functional water production apparatus can achieve its function.

[0013] The bath hot water supply device of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, when the functional water generating device is not operating, the detection of the flow rate by the flow rate detection means is performed when the heating means for heating the hot water supplied to the hot water supply passage is in a non-combustion state. According to the above configuration, since the heating means for heating the hot water supplied to the hot water inlet passage is in a non-combustion state, the flow rate is not throttled by control on the water heater side, and the flow rate according to the water pressure can be detected.

[0014] The bath hot water supply device of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1, characterized in that the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage is sterilized by using functional water generated in the functional water production device. According to the above configuration, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage can be sterilized by using functional water.

[0015] The bath water heating device of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 3, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage is cleaned with water or hot water before using the functional water to sterilize the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage. According to the above configuration, before performing sterilization using functional water, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage is washed with water or hot water to wash away grease from the inside of the piping before sterilization, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect.

[0016] The bath hot water supply device of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4, the restriction of the opening degree of the flow control means is performed between cleaning the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage and sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage. According to the above configuration, since the inside of the pipe is cleaned without limiting the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment means, cleaning can be performed with a large flow rate of cleaning water or hot water. Furthermore, the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment means can be limited before sterilization of the inside of the pipe of the reheating circulation passage begins. Effect of the Invention

[0017] As described above, the present invention provides various operational effects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply device including a bath hot water supply device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main components of the pouring passage and the valves provided therein (functional water production state). [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main components of the pouring passage and the valves provided therein (when functional water is not being produced). [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart of a cleaning process and a sterilization process for the reheating circulation passage. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of a water pressure determination and flow rate adjustment valve restriction process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a hot water supply device 1 including a bath hot water supply device will be described. 1, water heater 1 has heating unit 11 that heats tap water or hot water, and water supply passage 20 that supplies tap water to heating unit 11, and supplies the hot water heated in heating unit 11 to hot water supply passage 2. Water heater 1 also has bypass passage 23 that branches off from distribution valve 21 arranged in water supply passage 20 so as to bypass heating unit 11 and is connected to hot water supply passage 2, and tap water can be mixed with the hot water in hot water supply passage 2.

[0020] Heating unit 11 burns fuel gas supplied from fuel supply unit 14 to burner 13 using air supplied from combustion fan 12, and uses the resulting combustion heat to heat clean water supplied from water supply passage 20 in heat exchange units 16a and 16b and supply it to hot water supply passage 2. Heat exchange unit 16a is a secondary heat exchanger that recovers latent heat from the combustion gas, and heat exchange unit 16b is a primary heat exchanger that recovers sensible heat from the combustion gas. By adjusting the distribution ratio of distribution valve 21 that distributes clean water to heating unit 11 side and bypass passage 23 side, hot water adjusted to a hot water target temperature set, for example, from a kitchen remote control, is supplied to, for example, a hot water tap via hot water supply passage 2.

[0021] In addition, for reheating hot water in the bathtub (not shown), the system has a reheating circulation passage 4, a reheating burner 15 provided in the heating section 11, and reheating heat exchange sections 17a and 17b. The heat exchange section 17a is a secondary heat exchanger, and the heat exchange section 17b is a primary heat exchanger. The hot water circulated between the bathtub and the reheating heat exchange sections 17a and 17b by the drive of the circulation pump 5 arranged in the reheating circulation passage 4 is heated in the heat exchange sections 17a and 17b by using the combustion heat of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel supply section 14 to the reheating burner 15. The drain generated in the secondary heat exchangers 16a and 17a is discharged through drain passages 27a and 27b, and a neutralizer 28 is interposed in the middle of the drain passages 27a and 27b.

[0022] The reheating circulation passage 4 has a bath return passage 4a and a bath supply passage 4b. A hot water pouring passage 3 branching off from the hot water supply passage 2 is connected to the bath return passage 4a. A flow rate adjustment valve 24, a hot water pouring flow rate sensor 25, and a hot water pouring solenoid valve 26 are interposed in the hot water pouring passage 3. Hot water heated in the heat exchange sections 16a and 16b of the heating section 11 can be sent via the hot water pouring passage 3 and the reheating circulation passage 4 to fill the bathtub.

[0023] The bath hot water supply device includes the reheating circulation passage 4, a circulation pump 5, a heating means 11, a hot water supply passage 3, a hot water supply solenoid valve 26 for supplying and cutting off the hot water, a flow control valve 24, a hot water supply flow rate sensor 25, and a functional water generation device 31 (ozone water generation device) described later.

[0024] The water heater 1 has a control unit 10 that controls, for example, a hot water supply operation for supplying hot water at a target hot water supply temperature, a bathtub filling operation and reheating operation, and a cleaning process and sterilization process for the reheating circulation passage 4. Also, a water supply flow rate sensor 22 is disposed downstream of the distribution valve 21 in the water supply passage 20. When the water supply flow rate sensor 22 detects a flow rate equal to or greater than a predetermined heating start flow rate, for example, when the hot water tap is opened and hot water flows in the hot water supply passage 2 and clean water is supplied from the water supply passage 20 to the heat exchange sections 16a and 16b, the control unit 10 ignites the burner 13 to start combustion.

[0025] In the water heating apparatus 1, for example, a certain amount of delay time is required from when the hot water tap is opened until the burner 13 is ignited and combustion starts. This delay time is generally about one second, but may be longer than one second depending on, for example, the installation environment of the bath apparatus 1. On the other hand, when the hot water tap is closed and the flow rate detected by the water supply flow rate sensor 22 falls below a predetermined heating stop flow rate, the control unit 10 stops combustion in the burner 13.

[0026] A bypass passage 30 is provided in the hot water supply passage 3, which branches off from a branching point midway and is connected to the hot water supply passage 3 downstream of this branching point, and a flow path switching valve 29 consisting of a three-way valve is disposed at the branching point, and a constant flow valve 32 and a functional water generator 31 are disposed in the bypass passage 30, in that order from the upstream side. The functional water generator 31 dissolves ozone, which is generated when water is electrolyzed, into the hot water flowing through the bypass passage 30, and sterilizes the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 with the ozone water.

[0027] When the hot water supply device 1 is in a normal operating state, the flow path switching valve 29 is switched to a position that communicates with the hot water supply passage 3, and when the hot water supply device 1 is not in a normal operating state but in a maintenance operating state in which the reheating circulation passage 4 is disinfected, and ozone water generated by the functional water production device 31 is supplied to the reheating circulation passage 4 to disinfect the inside of the piping, the flow path switching valve 29 is switched to select the bypass passage 30. Therefore, the hot water supply passage 3 downstream of the bypass passage 30 and the reheating circulation passage 4 are disinfected with ozone water.

[0028] The operation of water heating apparatus 1 described above is outlined below. When the functional water generating device 31 is not operating, if the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 25 is greater than a predetermined reference value, the opening of the flow control valve 24 is restricted to the closed side, and if the detected flow rate is less than the reference value, the opening of the flow control valve 24 is not restricted. Furthermore, when the functional water production device 31 is not in operation, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate sensor 25 when the burner 13 is in a non-combustion state.

[0029] When the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is sterilized using functional water generated in the functional water production device 31, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is washed with water or hot water before the sterilization is performed. The restriction of the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment valve 24 is performed during cleaning of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 and during sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4.

[0030] Next, a flowchart of the cleaning process and the sterilization process for the reheating circulation passage 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 4, and a flowchart of the water pressure judgment and the flow rate control valve limiting process will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the symbols Si (i = 1, 2, ...) in the figures indicate each step. These flowcharts are stored in advance in the control unit 10 having a microcomputer.

[0031] 4 is started, in S1 it is determined whether or not it is time to carry out sterilization processing of the reheating circulation passage 4. The sterilization processing of the reheating circulation passage 4 is started, for example, at midnight every day. If the determination in S1 is No, S1 is repeated, and if the determination in S1 becomes Yes, it is determined in S2 whether the burner 13 is burning or not, and if the determination is Yes, the process proceeds to S4, and if the determination in S2 is No, the burner 13 is burned in S3 and then the process proceeds to S4.

[0032] In S4, the flow path switching valve 29 is held on the molten metal pouring passage side, and in the next S5, hot water is supplied to the molten metal pouring passage 3, and the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is washed with hot water (preferably high temperature water). By this washing, the grease in the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is washed. Next, in S6, water pressure determination and flow rate control valve restriction processing are executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, then in S7, the burner 13 is switched to non-combustion (stopped), and then in S8, the flow path switching valve 29 is switched to the bypass passage side.

[0033] Next, in S9, the functional water production device 31 is operated for a predetermined time to supply ozone water from the bypass passage 30 to the hot water pouring passage 3 and the reheating circulation passage 4 for the predetermined time to sterilize the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4. Next, the functional water production device 31 is stopped and the process returns.

[0034] Next, the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described. When the control of the water pressure judgment and flow rate control valve limiting process is started, in S20, it is judged whether the burner 13 is in combustion or not, and if the judgment is Yes, in S21, the burner 13 is switched to non-combustion (stopped) and then the process proceeds to S22. If the judgment in S20 is No, the process proceeds directly to S22.

[0035] Next, in S22, it is determined whether the flow path switching valve 29 is on the pouring passage side. If the determination in S22 is Yes, the process proceeds to S24. If the determination in S22 is No, the flow path switching valve 29 is switched to the pouring passage side in S23 and then the process proceeds to S24.

[0036] Next, in S24, the flow rate Q of the water flowing through the pouring passage 3 is measured from the detection signal of the flow rate sensor 25. Next, in S25, it is determined whether the flow rate Q is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value. When the flow rate Q is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value because the water pressure of the clean water is high, the water pressure of the clean water is determined to be high in S26, and the opening of the flow rate control valve 24 is restricted to the closed side. In this case, for example, the opening is restricted to 40% of the maximum opening, and then the process returns.

[0037] If the determination in S25 is No, in S27 the water pressure of the tap water is determined to be low, and no restriction is imposed on the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment valve 24. Then the process returns.

[0038] The effects of the bathtub apparatus described above will now be described. If the flow rate Q detected by the flow sensor 25 is greater than a predetermined reference value when the functional water generating device 31 is not in operation, the opening of the flow control valve 24 is limited to the closed side. Therefore, even if the functional water generating device 31 is operated when the tap water pressure is high, it is possible to reliably prevent unexpected water pressure from acting on valves downstream of the flow control valve 24.

[0039] If the detected flow rate Q is less than a reference value, the opening of the flow control valve 24 is not restricted, so that even if the functional water generating device 31 is operated when the tap water pressure is not high, the flow rate to the functional water generating device 31 can be secured and the function of the functional water generating device 31 can be achieved.

[0040] When the functional water production device 31 is not in operation, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate sensor 25 when the burner 13 is in a non-combustion state. Because the burner 13 is in a non-combustion state, the flow rate is not throttled by the water heater control, and the flow rate according to the water pressure can be detected.

[0041] The inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 can be sterilized reliably by using the functional water (ozone water) generated by the functional water generating device 31. Before sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is performed using functional water, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 is washed with water or hot water. Therefore, before sterilization with functional water is performed, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage is washed with water or hot water to wash away grease in the piping and then sterilization is performed, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect.

[0042] The restriction of the opening of the flow rate control valve 24 is performed between cleaning the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 and sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4. Therefore, since cleaning of the inside of the piping is performed without restricting the opening of the flow rate control valve 24, cleaning can be performed with a large flow rate of water or hot water for cleaning. Then, the opening of the flow rate control valve 24 can be restricted before sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage 4 starts.

[0043] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can implement the above-described embodiments in various modified forms, and the present invention encompasses all such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1. Hot water supply equipment, including bath hot water supply equipment 3 Pouring passage 4 Reheating circulation passage 11 Heating section 24 Flow control valve 25 Pouring flow rate sensor 26 Pouring solenoid valve (on-off valve) 29 Flow path switching valve 30 Bypass Passage 31 Functional water generator

Claims

1. a reheating circulation passage connected to a bathtub and configured to circulate and heat bath water, a circulation pump for circulating the bath water through the reheating circulation passage, a heating means for heating the bath water, a hot water supply passage for supplying hot water to the reheating circulation passage, and an opening / closing valve, a hot water supply flow rate adjustment means, and a hot water flow rate detection means provided in the hot water supply passage for supplying and cutting off the hot water; A hot water supply device for a bath includes a bypass passage branched off from the hot water supply passage and connected to the hot water supply passage downstream of the branching point, a constant flow valve and a functional water production device disposed in the bypass passage in this order from the upstream side, and a flow path switching valve disposed at the branching point, A bath hot water supply device characterized in that when the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means is greater than a predetermined reference value when the functional water generating device is not in operation, the opening of the flow rate control means is limited to the closed valve side, and when the detected flow rate is less than the reference value, the opening of the flow rate control means is not limited.

2. The bath hot water supply device as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the functional water generating device is not operating, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection means when the heating means for heating the hot water supplied to the hot water supply passage is in a non-combustion state.

3. 2. The bath hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the functional water generated in the functional water generating device is used to sterilize the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage.

4. The bath hot water supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that before the functional water is used to sterilize the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage, the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage is washed with water or hot water.

5. The bath hot water supply device according to claim 4, characterized in that the restriction of the opening degree of the flow rate adjustment means is performed between cleaning the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage and sterilization of the inside of the piping of the reheating circulation passage.

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