Heat source unit and installation method for heat source unit

Abstract

To provide a heat source unit capable of changing a layout of a tank unit and a heat pump unit of the heat source unit in accordance with an installation environment, etc. and having excellent usability, and an installation method for the heat source unit.SOLUTION: A heat source unit can be divided into a tank unit 2 in which a tank 3 is installed in a tank frame 11 assembled in a frame shape and an HP unit 20 in which a heat pump is installed in an HP frame 21 assembled in a frame shape. Whether the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are stacked vertically for installation or the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are juxtaposed horizontally can be selected. Even when the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are stacked vertically or juxtaposed horizontally, a tank outgoing pipe 4 for sending hot water from the tank 3 side to a water heat exchanger 23 of the heat pump and a tank return pipe 5 for returning hot water from the water heat exchanger 23 to the tank 3 are disposed astride the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat source unit including a tank unit for storing hot water and a heat pump unit for keeping the hot water stored in the tank unit warm, and to a method for installing the heat source unit. [Background technology]

[0002] As a heat source unit equipped with a tank unit for storing hot water and a heat pump unit for keeping the hot water stored in the tank unit warm, for example, there has been devised the heat source unit described in Patent Document 1. In the heat source unit described in Patent Document 1, a heat pump unit having a heat pump is stacked on top of a tank unit having a tank, and the two units are integrated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-220569 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, depending on the installation environment of the heat source unit, it may not be possible to stack the tank unit and the heat pump unit one above the other. The heat source unit described in the cited document 1 cannot accommodate such cases, and has a problem in terms of usability.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a heat source unit and an installation method for a heat source unit that are easy to use and allow the layout of the tank unit and heat pump unit of the heat source unit to be changed depending on the installation environment, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is a heat source unit comprising a tank for storing hot water, a heat pump for heating the hot water in the tank, and a circulation means for circulating the hot water between the tank and the heat pump, which can be divided into a tank unit in which the tank is installed in a tank frame assembled in a frame shape, and a heat pump unit in which the heat pump is installed in a heat pump frame assembled in a frame shape, and it is possible to select whether the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed stacked vertically or whether the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed side by side horizontally, and which is characterized in that a tank supply pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and which sends hot water from the tank side to the heat pump side, and a tank return pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and which returns hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side, are piped across the tank unit and the heat pump unit. The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, openings for piping the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are provided on both the top and bottom and both left and right sides of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, and when the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed stacked vertically, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are piped using the openings provided on the upper or lower surface of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, while when the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed side by side horizontally, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are piped using the openings provided on the left or right side of the tank frame and the heat pump frame. The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the tank unit is one tank unit selected from multiple types of tank units having different tank capacities, and the heat pump unit is one heat pump unit selected from multiple types of heat pump units having different heat media for the heat pump. On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 4 of the present invention is a method for installing a heat source unit including a tank unit in which a tank for storing hot water is installed in a tank frame assembled in a frame shape, a heat pump unit in which a heat pump for heating the hot water in the tank is installed in a heat pump frame assembled in a frame shape, and a circulation means for circulating the hot water between the tank and the heat pump, wherein one tank unit is selected from a plurality of types of tank units having different tank capacities, and one heat pump is selected from a plurality of types of heat pump units having different heat media for the heat pump. The method is characterized by carrying out a first step of selecting a tank unit and a heat pump unit; a second step of selecting whether to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit stacked vertically or to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit side by side horizontally, and installing the tank unit and the heat pump unit in the selected manner; and a third step of piping a tank supply pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and sends hot water from the tank side to the heat pump side, and a tank return pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and returns hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side, across the tank unit and the heat pump unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the system can be divided into a tank unit in which a tank is installed in a tank frame assembled in a frame shape, and a heat pump unit in which a heat pump is installed in a heat pump frame assembled in a frame shape, and it is possible to select whether to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit stacked vertically or to install them side by side horizontally, and a tank supply pipe, which is one component of the circulation means and sends hot water from the tank side to the heat pump side, and a tank return pipe, which is one component of the circulation means and returns hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side, are piped across the tank unit and the heat pump unit. Therefore, the layout of the tank unit and the heat pump unit can be changed depending on the installation environment, etc., resulting in a heat source unit with excellent usability. According to the invention described in claim 2, openings for piping the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are provided on both the top and bottom and both the left and right sides of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, and when the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed stacked vertically, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are piped using the openings provided on the top or bottom of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, while when the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed side by side horizontally, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are piped using the openings provided on the left or right side of the tank frame and the heat pump frame. Therefore, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe that span the tank unit and the heat pump unit can be easily piped, and the assembly work of the heat source unit can be simplified. Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 3, the tank unit is one tank unit selected from a plurality of types of tank units having different tank capacities, and the heat pump unit is one heat pump unit selected from a plurality of types of heat pump units having different heat media. Therefore, the tank unit and the heat pump unit can be appropriately selected depending on the usage mode of the heat source unit, and the layout of the tank unit and the heat pump unit can be appropriately changed depending on the type of the tank unit and the heat pump unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the heat source unit from the front. [Diagram 2] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the heat source unit from the front with the front panel removed. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a heat pump unit is stacked on a tank unit. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory perspective view showing a state in which a tank supply pipe and a tank return pipe have been removed from the state shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view showing the right side of the tank unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tank unit and the heat pump unit are separated. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a first modified example of the heat source unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a second modified example of the heat source unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A heat source unit and an installation method for the heat source unit according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the heat source unit 1 from the front. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the heat source unit 1 from the front with the front panel 30 removed. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing the heat pump unit 20 stacked on the tank unit 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view showing the state in which the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 have been removed from the state shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing the right side of the tank unit 2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the state in which the tank unit 2 and the heat pump unit 20 are separated. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a first modified example of the heat source unit. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a second modified example of the heat source unit.

[0011] The heat source unit 1 includes a tank unit 2 having a tank 3 for storing hot water, a heat pump unit (hereinafter referred to as an HP unit) 20 for heating the hot water in the tank 3, and a tank forward pipe 4 and a tank return pipe 5 for forming a circulation path for circulating the hot water in the tank 3 between the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20. The tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are stacked vertically to form the unit body of the heat source unit 1, and a front panel 30 is attached to the front of the unit body. A right panel 32 is attached to the unit body, particularly to the lower right side of the tank unit 2. The right panel 32 is provided with an inlet, which is one end of a water supply pipe 7 connected to the lower part of the tank 3 to supply tap water into the tank 3, and an outlet, which is one end of a hot water outlet pipe 8 connected to the upper part of the tank 3 to discharge the hot water in the tank 3. Furthermore, 31 is an installation stand that is attached to the bottom of the unit body and is used to fix the unit body on an installation surface.

[0012] The tank unit 2 has a tank frame 11 assembled in a rectangular frame shape, and the top, left side, right side, front, rear, and bottom of the tank frame 11 are open. A tank bottom plate 14 is attached to close the bottom opening of the tank frame 11. A cylindrical tank 3 extending in the vertical direction is installed at a position on the left side of the tank bottom plate 14, and a piping space for a circulation path and the like is secured on the right side of the tank 3. A pump 6 for circulating hot and cold water through the circulation path is installed at a position on the tank bottom plate 14 to the right of the tank 3. Both the tank 3 and the pump 6 are located inside the tank frame 11. The other end of the water supply pipe 7 is connected to the lower side of the right side of the tank 3, and a pump connection pipe 12 that connects the tank 3 and the pump 6 is connected using a quick fastener 15. A pump discharge pipe 13 is drawn out from the pump 6, and the lower end of the tank supply pipe 4 can be connected to the tip of the pump discharge pipe 13. Meanwhile, the other end of the outlet pipe 8 is connected to the upper right side of the tank 3, and the lower end of the tank return pipe 5 can be connected using a quick fastener 15. The capacity of the tank 3 is 22 L, and the vertical height of the tank 3 is approximately the same as the vertical height of the tank frame 11.

[0013] The HP unit 20 has a heat pump including a compressor 22, a water heat exchanger 23, an expansion valve 24, a heat absorption section 25, and a loop-shaped circulation path 26 that connects these in series and allows a heat medium (e.g., alternative fluorocarbon) to circulate. The compressor 22 compresses the heat medium that has absorbed heat in the heat absorption section 25, and sends it to the water heat exchanger 23 at high temperature and high pressure. The water heat exchanger 23 is internally provided with a heat medium flow path and a hot and cold water flow path, and heat exchange occurs between the heat medium and the hot and cold water. The expansion valve 24 reduces the pressure of the heat medium from which heat has been absorbed in the water heat exchanger 23, and sends it to the heat absorption section 25 at low temperature and low pressure. The heat absorption section 25 exchanges heat between the outside air and the heat medium.

[0014] The HP unit 20 also has a heat pump frame (hereinafter referred to as the HP frame) 21 assembled in a rectangular frame shape like the tank frame 11, and the top, left side, right side, front, rear, and bottom of the HP frame 21 are open. The left-right width and front-rear width of the HP frame 21 are the same as those of the tank frame 11. An HP bottom plate 27 is attached so as to close the bottom opening of the HP frame 21, and a heat absorption unit 25 is installed at the rear of the HP bottom plate 27 at a position on the left side. A heat exhaust fan 28 is installed in front of the heat absorption unit 25 at a position on the left side of the HP bottom plate 27. Therefore, a piping space for the heat pump and the circulation path is secured to the right of the heat absorption unit 25 and the fan 28. A compressor 22, a water heat exchanger 23, and an expansion valve 24 are installed in the piping space. That is, the compressor 22, the water heat exchanger 23, the expansion valve 24, the heat absorption section 25, the circulation path 26, and the fan 28 are all located inside the HP frame 21. In addition, a communication port 29 that communicates between the internal space of the HP frame 21 and the internal space of the tank frame 11 is provided in the HP bottom plate 27 below the piping space.

[0015] The tank supply pipe 4 is a pipe having a straight portion extending vertically. The lower end of the tank supply pipe 4 can be connected to the tip of the pump discharge pipe 13, and the upper end of the tank supply pipe 4 can be connected to the lower part of the water heat exchanger 23, using quick fasteners 15. The tank return pipe 5 also has a straight portion extending vertically, and is provided with a straight portion extending horizontally at its lower end. The lower end of the tank return pipe 5 can be connected to the upper side surface of the tank 3, and the upper end of the tank return pipe 5 can be connected to the upper part of the water heat exchanger 23, using quick fasteners 15.

[0016] The heat source unit 1 as described above is assembled as follows. First, the tank bottom plate 14 is attached to the tank frame 11, and the tank 3, pump 6, pump connection pipe 12, pump discharge pipe 13, etc. are installed in the tank frame 11. Also, the right panel 32 is attached to the tank frame 11, and the water supply pipe 7, hot water outlet pipe 8, etc. are installed, and the tank unit 2 is assembled. The tank unit 2 is then moved, for example by lifting it up, and installed in a predetermined installation position via the installation stands 31, 31. Next, the HP bottom plate 27 is attached to the HP frame 21, and the heat pump and fan 28 are installed in the HP frame 21, and the HP unit 20 is assembled. The HP unit 20 is then placed on the tank unit 2, for example by lifting it up, and the tank frame 11 and the HP frame 21 are connected with bolts to integrate the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20. Finally, the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are piped so as to straddle the tank frame 11 and the HP frame 21 through the communication port 29, and then the upper and lower ends of the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are connected to their corresponding locations using quick fasteners 15, completing the assembly of the heat source unit 1.

[0017] In the heat source unit 1 assembled in this manner, when a heat-keeping operation using the heat pump is instructed by a remote control or the like, the heat pump and pump 6 are operated under the control of a control device (not shown), and the hot water in the tank 3 is sent from the pump connection pipe 12 and the pump discharge pipe 13 through the tank supply pipe 4 to the water heat exchanger 23. The hot water is then heated by heat exchange in the water heat exchanger 23, and then returned to the tank 3 through the tank return pipe 5, and the hot water in the tank 3 is maintained at a specified heat-keeping temperature (for example, 65°C).

[0018] Depending on the installation environment, the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 may be arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 7 to form a heat source unit, instead of stacking them vertically. In this case, the tank frame 11 and the HP frame 21 are arranged horizontally, and the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are routed through the right side opening of the HP frame 21 and the left side opening of the tank frame 11, straddling the inside of the tank frame 11 and the inside of the HP frame 21. Then, one end of the tank supply pipe 4 is connected to the lower part of the water heat exchanger 23 and the other end to the pump 6, while one end of the tank return pipe 5 is connected to the upper part of the water heat exchanger 23 and the other end to the upper side of the tank 3, to form a circulation path. In addition, in a heat source unit in which the tank unit 2 and HP unit 20 are installed in this manner, after the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are installed, the top opening, right side opening, and left side opening of the tank frame 11 except for the piping locations, as well as the front and rear can be closed with various panels, and similarly, the top opening, left side opening, and right side opening of the HP frame 21 except for the piping locations, as well as the front and rear can be closed with various panels. Furthermore, the heat source unit may be configured by installing the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 side by side in the horizontal direction after appropriately changing the installation positions of the components in each frame 11, 21, for example by installing the water heat exchanger 23 on the left side in the HP frame 21 as shown in Fig. 8. Of course, whether the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are installed horizontally at a predetermined distance apart as shown in Fig. 7, or adjacent to each other as shown in Fig. 8, can also be appropriately changed depending on the installation environment, etc.

[0019] It is also possible to prepare multiple types of tank units with different tank capacities (e.g., 15 L, 22 L, 40 L, 60 L) and multiple types of HP units with different heat media (e.g., alternative fluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, propane), and to configure the tank unit and HP unit to be adopted according to the difference in the usage form.The layout of the tank units and HP units may be changed as described above according to the type of tank unit and HP unit to be adopted.

[0020] According to the heat source unit 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to divide it into a tank unit 2 in which a tank 3 is installed in a tank frame 11 assembled in a frame shape, and an HP unit 20 in which a heat pump is installed in an HP frame 21 assembled in a frame shape, and it is possible to select whether the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are installed stacked vertically or arranged side by side horizontally, and whether the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are stacked vertically or arranged side by side horizontally, the tank forward pipe 4 that sends hot water from the tank 3 side to the water heat exchanger 23 of the heat pump and the tank return pipe 5 that returns hot water from the water heat exchanger 23 to the tank 3 are piped across the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20. Therefore, the layout of the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 can be changed according to the installation environment, etc., and the heat source unit 1 can be made to be excellent in usability.

[0021] In addition, the top, left side, and right side of the tank frame 11 and the HP frame 21 are open, and a communication port 29 is provided in the HP bottom plate 27, so that when the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are installed stacked vertically, the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are piped using the top opening of the tank frame 11 and the communication port 29 of the HP frame 21, while when the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are installed side by side in the horizontal direction, the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are piped using the openings provided on the left side or right side of the tank frame 11 and the HP frame 21. Therefore, the tank supply pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 that span the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 can be easily piped, and the assembly work of the heat source unit 1 can be simplified.

[0022] Furthermore, the tank unit 2 is one tank unit selected from a plurality of types of tank units having tanks 3 with different capacities, and the HP unit 20 is one HP unit selected from a plurality of types of HP units having different heat pump heat media. Therefore, the tank unit and the HP unit can be appropriately selected according to the usage form of the heat source unit 1, and the layout of the tank unit and the HP unit can be appropriately changed according to the type of the tank unit and the HP unit, making it possible to provide a heat source unit 1 with extremely high versatility.

[0023] Furthermore, in the case where the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20 are stacked and connected vertically, the tank 3 is installed in a position shifted to the left in the tank frame 11, and the heat absorption unit 25 constituting the heat pump is installed in a position shifted to the left in the HP frame 21, and a piping space without the tank 3 or the heat absorption unit 25 is secured on the same right side in the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20. In addition, the tank forward pipe 4 and the tank return pipe 5 are piped in the piping space in the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20. Furthermore, the end of the tank return pipe 5 on the tank 3 side is connected to the side of the tank 3. Therefore, after the installation of the tank unit 2 and the HP unit 20, the work related to the formation of a circulation path for circulating hot and cold water in the tank 3 can be performed by utilizing the piping space, and the work for forming the circulation path and therefore the work for assembling the heat source unit 1 can be performed very easily.

[0024] Additionally, in the case where the HP unit 20 is installed above the tank unit 2, a pump 6 is installed in the piping space of the tank unit 2, and a pump connection pipe 12 is connected to the pump 6 from the lower side of the tank 3, and hot water in the tank 3 is sent from the pump connection pipe 12 to the tank supply pipe 4 side via the pump 6, and the heat pump side end of the tank supply pipe 4 and the heat pump side end of the tank return pipe 5 are connected to the water heat exchanger 23, and further, the tank 3 side end of the tank return pipe 5 is connected to the upper side of the tank 3. Therefore, the relatively heavy tank 3 and pump 6 can be positioned on the lower side, and the installation state of the heat source unit 1 can be stabilized, and in particular the configuration for returning hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side can be simplified, which reduces the number of parts and further simplifies the assembly work.

[0025] The heat source unit of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the overall configuration of the heat source unit, as well as the configurations of the tank unit and the HP unit, can be modified as necessary.

[0026] For example, in the above embodiment, the heat source unit is constructed by stacking the HP unit on the top of the tank unit, but the heat source unit may also be constructed by stacking the tank unit on the top of the HP unit. Also, there is no problem if the tank and the heat absorbing portion are disposed to the right side within the tank frame or the HP frame. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a pump on the tank return pipe side, and to configure the tank side end of the tank supply pipe directly connected to the side of the tank, or the pump may be installed within the HP unit, etc., so that the tank side ends of both the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are directly connected to the side of the tank. In addition, the locations of the compressor, water-heat converter, expansion valve, and other components of the heat pump can be appropriately changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1··heat source unit, 2··tank unit, 3··tank, 4··tank supply pipe (circulation means), 5··tank return pipe (circulation means), 6··pump (circulation means), 11··tank frame, 12··pump connecting pipe, 20··heat pump unit, 21··heat pump frame, 22··compressor (heat pump), 23··water heat exchanger (heat pump), 24··expansion valve (heat pump), 25··heat absorption section (heat pump), 26··circulation path (heat pump), 28··fan, 29··communication port.

Claims

1. A heat source unit including a tank for storing hot water, a heat pump for heating the hot water in the tank, and a circulation means for circulating the hot water between the tank and the heat pump, The system can be divided into a tank unit in which the tank is installed in a tank frame assembled in a frame shape, and a heat pump unit in which the heat pump is installed in a heat pump frame assembled in a frame shape, and it is possible to select whether to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit stacked vertically or to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit side by side in the horizontal direction, A heat source unit characterized in that a tank supply pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and sends hot water from the tank side to the heat pump side, and a tank return pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and returns hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side, are piped across the tank unit and the heat pump unit.

2. Openings for piping the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are provided on both upper and lower surfaces and both left and right sides of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, When the tank unit and the heat pump unit are installed by stacking them vertically, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are arranged by utilizing the openings provided on the upper or lower surfaces of the tank frame and the heat pump frame, The heat source unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the tank unit and the heat pump unit are arranged side by side horizontally, the tank supply pipe and the tank return pipe are piped using the openings provided on the left or right side of the tank frame and the heat pump frame.

3. The tank unit is one tank unit selected from a plurality of types of tank units having different tank capacities, 3. The heat source unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump unit is one heat pump unit selected from a plurality of types of heat pump units each having a different heat medium.

4. A method for installing a heat source unit including a tank unit in which a tank for storing hot water is installed in a tank frame assembled into a frame shape, a heat pump unit in which a heat pump for heating the hot water in the tank is installed in a heat pump frame assembled into a frame shape, and a circulation means for circulating the hot water between the tank and the heat pump, comprising: A first step of selecting one tank unit from a plurality of types of tank units having different tank capacities and selecting one heat pump unit from a plurality of types of heat pump units having different heat media of the heat pump; a second step of selecting whether to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit by stacking them vertically or to install the tank unit and the heat pump unit side by side in a horizontal direction, and installing the tank unit and the heat pump unit in the selected manner; A method for installing a heat source unit, characterized by carrying out a third step of piping a tank supply pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and which sends hot water from the tank side to the heat pump side, and a tank return pipe, which is a component of the circulation means and which returns hot water from the heat pump side to the tank side, across the tank unit and the heat pump unit.

Images