Hot water supply system

Abstract

Even if the inside of the enclosure is divided into upper and lower sections and the heat pump is housed in the upper section, rainwater that enters the upper section will not drip into the lower section. [Solution] The heat pump heat source unit 1 includes a housing 100 whose interior is divided into an upper space and a lower space via a partition plate 103, a tank body 20 housed in the lower space, and a heat pump unit 2 housed in the upper space. The outer surface of the housing 100 is covered with a plurality of panels, and the rear panel 107 has an air intake port 110 for introducing outside air into the heat absorption section 13, located above the partition plate 103. A bent piece 127A that protrudes upward is formed on the rear edge of the partition plate 103, and a packing 128 is interposed between the bent piece 127A and the rear panel 107 along the entire horizontal length of the air intake port 110.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a water supply device that can heat hot water in a tank with a heat pump to supply hot water.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a heat pump heat source machine that heats water to a predetermined temperature using a heat pump and can supply hot water to the outside. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention of a heat pump device in which an evaporation heat exchanger equipped with a fan, a compressor, a condensation heat exchanger for heating hot water, and an expansion valve are housed in an exterior case. This device is used as a heat source for circulating and heating hot water between a hot water storage tank provided outside and the condensation heat exchanger.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a heat pump device, the inside of the housing, which is an exterior case, may be partitioned into an upper space and a lower space via a partition plate, and the heat pump and the tank may be respectively housed in the upper space and the lower space to be unitized. In this case, it can be installed in a space-saving manner, and freedom in layout can be obtained. However, when the heat pump is installed in the upper space in this way, there is a risk that rainwater that has entered the upper space may drip into the lower space. In particular, on the panel of the housing on the side where the evaporation heat exchanger (heat absorber) is installed, a ventilation part for introducing outside air into the heat absorber is formed as the fan rotates. Therefore, rainwater that has entered through the ventilation part is likely to drip into the lower space from between the partition plate and the panel. Thus, if the rainwater that has dripped into the lower space adheres to electrical component parts such as solenoid valves, it may cause a failure.

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a hot water supply device that can prevent rainwater that enters the upper space from dripping into the lower space, even when the inside of the enclosure is partitioned vertically and the heat pump is housed in the upper space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, this disclosure provides a housing in which the interior is divided into an upper space and a lower space via a partition plate, A tank for storing hot water is housed in the lower space, The hot water supply system includes a heat pump housed in the upper space, which has a heat absorption section having a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a fan, and a circulation path for circulating a heat transfer medium between these, and which is capable of circulating the hot water in the tank with the water heat exchanger to heat it. Furthermore, the outer surface of the housing is covered with a plurality of panels, and at least one of the panels has a ventilation section for the upper space, located above the partition plate. The partition plate is characterized in that a bent portion is formed on the edge on the ventilation portion side, projecting upward or downward, and a packing is interposed between the bent portion and the panel on which the ventilation portion is provided, at least along the entire horizontal length of the ventilation portion. Another aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the ventilation portion is an opening that is rectangular or square in shape when viewed from the rear, and at least the lower edge of the opening has a raised portion that protrudes toward the upper space and covers the bent portion and the packing from above. Another aspect of the present disclosure is the above configuration, wherein below the heat-absorbing portion of the partition plate, a recess is formed to collect the drain that has dripped onto the partition plate and to have a discharge hole at its bottom, and the packing has a length greater than or equal to the total length of the recess in the horizontal direction along the edge on the ventilation portion side, A drain port is provided below the partition plate in the housing, and a drain discharge pipe connecting the discharge hole and the drain port is provided in the lower space. In this disclosure, "drain, etc." includes not only drain that drips from the heat-absorbing section, but also other liquids such as rainwater that enters the upper space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, even if rainwater enters the upper space through the ventilation section, the packing prevents it from entering the lower space through the gap between the partition plate and the panel. Therefore, even if the inside of the enclosure is divided into upper and lower sections and the heat pump is housed in the upper space, it is possible to prevent rainwater that enters the upper space from dripping into the lower space. According to another aspect of this disclosure, in addition to the above effects, the raised portion formed on the lower edge of the opening that serves as a ventilation section makes it more difficult for rainwater that has entered through the ventilation section to flow towards the bent section and the packing. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent rainwater from entering the lower space from between the partition plate and the panel. According to another aspect of this disclosure, in addition to the above effects, the packing has a length greater than the total length of the recess in the horizontal direction, and a drain discharge pipe connecting the discharge hole and the drain outlet is provided in the lower space. Therefore, even if rainwater seeps in and temporarily overflows from the recess, the packing, which has a length greater than the total length of the recess, can prevent the drain from seeping into the lower space between the partition plate and the panel. Furthermore, the drain discharged from the discharge hole can be reliably discharged to the outside of the housing via the drain discharge pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a hot water supply system consisting of a heat pump heat source unit and a water heater. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the heat pump heat source unit (the front panel is omitted). [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a rear view of a heat pump heat source unit. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area indicated by line BB in Figure 3. [Figure 6]This is an exploded perspective view of the upper frame and partition plate, including part of the heat pump unit, and the rear panel. [Figure 7] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the CC line portion in Figure 4. [Figure 8] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the DD line. [Figure 9] This is a right-side view of a heat pump heat source unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hot water supply system S consisting of a heat pump heat source unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "heat source unit") 1, which is an example of a hot water supply device of this disclosure, and a water heater 70 connected to the heat source unit 1. The heat source unit 1 comprises a heat pump unit 2, a tank unit 3, a tank drain pipe 4, a heat source side water supply pipe 5, a heat source side hot water outlet pipe 6, and a heat source unit controller 7. The heat pump unit 2 comprises a compressor 10, a water heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 12, a heat absorption section 13, and a loop-shaped circulation path 14 connecting these in series. A heat transfer medium (e.g., a refrigerant alternative) can circulate through the circulation path 14. The heat pump unit 2 is an example of a heat pump according to this disclosure. The compressor 10 compresses the heat transfer medium absorbed in the heat absorption section 13, making it high temperature and high pressure, and sends it to the water heat exchanger 11. The water heat exchanger 11 is equipped with a heat-side pipe 15 and a water-side pipe 16. The heat-side pipe 15 is incorporated into the circulation path 14. The water-side pipe 16 is incorporated into the tank circulation path 28, which will be described later. The expansion valve 12 depressurizes the heat transfer medium from which heat has been removed in the water heat exchanger 11, making it low temperature and low pressure, and sends it to the heat absorption section 13. The heat absorption section 13 has a fan 17 and an evaporative heat exchanger 18, and performs heat exchange between the outside air drawn in by the fan 17 and the heat transfer medium.

[0010] The tank unit 3 comprises a tank body 20, a supply pipe 21, and a return pipe 22. The tank body 20 can store hot and cold water with a predetermined capacity (for example, 25 L), and is provided with a tank temperature sensor 23 for detecting the temperature of the hot and cold water. The tank body 20 is an example of the tank of the present disclosure. The forward pipe 21 is connected to the lower part of the tank body 20. The forward pipe 21 is connected to the upstream end of the water side pipe 16. The forward pipe 21 is provided with a pump 25, a flow switch 26 for detecting water flow, and a forward temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the hot and cold water. The return pipe 22 is connected to the upper part of the tank body 20. The return pipe 22 is connected to the downstream end of the water side pipe 16 of the water heat exchanger 11 of the heat pump unit 2. The return pipe 22 is provided with a return temperature sensor 24 for detecting the temperature of the hot and cold water. The forward pipe 21, the return pipe 22, and the water side pipe 16 form a tank circulation path 28 through which the hot and cold water in the tank body 20 circulates. A forward pipe drain pipe 29 is connected to the forward pipe 21 on the upstream side of the pump 25. A forward pipe drain plug 30 is provided at the downstream end of the forward pipe drain pipe 29.

[0011] The tank drain pipe 4 is connected to the lowermost part of the tank body 20. The tank drain pipe 4 is provided with a throttle part 35 for flow control and a first solenoid valve 36 for opening and closing the flow path in order from the upstream side. A branch part 4a is provided between the throttle part 35 and the first solenoid valve 36, and a branch pipe 4b is connected to the branch part 4a. A drain plug 37 is provided at the outlet of the branch pipe 4b. The heat source side water supply pipe 5 has its upstream end connected to a water inlet 38 provided in the housing. An external water pipe (not shown) is connected to the water inlet 38. The heat source side water supply pipe 5 is provided with a pressure reducing valve 39 for adjusting the water inlet pressure to the tank body 20, a heat source side flow sensor 40 for detecting the water flow rate, and a heat source side inlet water temperature sensor 41 for detecting the temperature of the water, from the upstream side.

[0012] Downstream of the heat source side inlet water temperature sensor 41, the heat source side water supply pipe 5 branches into a first water supply branch pipe 42 and a second water supply branch pipe 43. The first water supply branch pipe 42 is connected to a mixing valve 56 (to be described later) provided in the heat source side hot water pipe 6. The first water supply branch pipe 42 is provided with a check valve 44 and a throttle portion 45 for flow control. A water drain pipe 46 for the water supply pipe is connected between the check valve 44 and the throttle portion 45. A drain plug 47 is provided at the downstream end of the water drain pipe 46 for the water supply pipe. The second water supply branch pipe 43 is connected to the lowermost part of the tank body 20. The second water supply branch pipe 43 is provided with a second solenoid valve 48 for opening and closing the flow path and a check valve 49 from the upstream side.

[0013] The heat source side hot water pipe 6 includes a first partial pipe 55, a mixing valve 56, and a second partial pipe 57. The upstream end of the first partial pipe 55 is connected to the upper part of the tank body 20, and the downstream end is connected to the first inlet of the mixing valve 56. A pressure relief pipe 58 is connected to the first partial pipe 55. A pressure relief valve 59 is provided in the pressure relief pipe 58. An upstream temperature sensor 60 for detecting the hot water temperature in the first partial pipe 55 is provided in the first partial pipe 55 on the downstream side of the pressure relief pipe 58. The mixing valve 56 is an electric type that can drive the valve body in the flow path of the T-shaped port by a motor to adjust the opening degree of the flow path together with the switching of the flow path. The downstream end of the first water supply branch pipe 42 is connected to the second inlet of the mixing valve 56. The upstream end of the second partial pipe 57 is connected to the outlet of the mixing valve 56. A downstream temperature sensor 61 for detecting the hot water temperature in the second partial pipe 57 is provided in the second partial pipe 57. A hot water outlet 62 is provided at the downstream end of the second partial pipe 57.

[0014] The heat source unit controller 7 is composed of a CPU and a memory connected to the CPU. The heat source unit controller 7 is electrically connected to the compressor 10, the expansion valve 12, the fan 17 of the heat pump unit 2, and a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the circulation path 14. The heat source controller 7 is electrically connected to the pump 25, the first and second solenoid valves 36 and 48, and the mixing valve 56, and controls the operation of each component, while also receiving detection signals from each sensor and switch. The heat source controller 7 controls the operation of the heat pump unit 2 and the hot water supply operation in the tank body 20, based on the operation commands set by the remote control 74 (described later) and each detection signal, according to a program stored in a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium including memory connected to the CPU. Note that the first solenoid valve 36 of the tank drain pipe 4 is closed during hot water supply operation.

[0015] The water heater 70 includes a gas burner 71, a heat exchanger 72, a water heater controller 73, and a remote control 74. A water supply pipe 75 is connected to the inlet end of the heat transfer tubes of the heat exchanger 72. The upstream end of the water supply pipe 75 is connected to the hot water outlet 62 of the heat source unit 1 via a connecting pipe 76. A hot water outlet pipe 77 is connected to the outlet end of the heat exchanger 72. An external pipe 78 is connected to the downstream end of the hot water outlet pipe 77. A hot water tap 79 is provided on the external pipe 78. A bypass pipe 80 that bypasses the heat exchanger 72 is connected between the water supply pipe 75 and the hot water outlet pipe 77. Upstream of the bypass pipe 80, the water supply pipe 75 is equipped with a flow sensor 81 for detecting water flow, an inlet water temperature sensor 82 for detecting water temperature, and a water flow control valve 83 for controlling the flow rate in the water supply pipe 75. The hot water outlet pipe 77 is equipped with an outlet water temperature sensor 84 for detecting the outlet water temperature. The bypass pipe 80 is equipped with a bypass control valve 85 for controlling the bypass amount. The gas pipe supplying fuel gas to the gas burner 71 is equipped with a main valve, a proportional valve, and a main valve (none of which are shown) from the upstream side.

[0016] The water heater controller 73 consists of a CPU and memory connected to the CPU. The water heater controller 73 is electrically connected to the water volume control valve 83, the bypass control valve 85, the valves of the gas pipe and the igniter for ignition, and a fan (not shown), and controls the operation of each component, and also receives detection signals from each sensor. The water heater controller 73 controls the operation of the water heater 70 according to a program stored in a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium, including memory connected to the CPU, based on the operation commands set by the remote control 74 and each detection signal. The water heater controller 73 is electrically connected to the heat source unit controller 7, enabling them to communicate with each other. The remote control 74 allows the hot water supply system S to be controlled by switches (not shown) to perform both a heat retention operation and a hot water supply operation. The heat retention operation is the operation of the heat pump unit 2 to heat and maintain the temperature of the hot water in the tank body 20. The hot water supply operation is the operation of supplying the hot water in the tank body 20 via the water heater 70.

[0017] In the hot water supply system S configured as described above, when the heat source controller 7 receives an instruction from the remote control 74 to perform a heat retention operation for the heat pump unit 2, it activates the compressor 10 and expansion valve 12 of the heat pump unit 2 and the pump 25 of the tank unit 3. Then, in the heat pump unit 2, the heat transfer medium is compressed by the compressor 10 to become high temperature and high pressure, releases heat in the water heat exchanger 11, becomes low temperature and low pressure in the expansion valve 12, and circulates through the circulation path 14 while absorbing heat in the evaporative heat exchanger 18 of the heat absorption section 13. Meanwhile, in the tank unit 3, the operation of the pump 25 causes the hot water in the tank body 20 to circulate through the tank circulation path 28. That is, the circulation repeats, with the water flowing from the supply pipe 21 through the water-side pipe 16 of the heat exchanger 11 and returning to the tank body 20 via the return pipe 22. As a result, heat exchange occurs in the heat exchanger 11 between the heat transfer medium flowing through the heat-side pipe 15 and the hot water flowing through the water-side pipe 16, heating the hot water in the tank body 20. After the hot water in the tank body 20 is heated to a high temperature (e.g., 75°C), the compressor 10 is controlled ON / OFF based on the temperature detected by the supply temperature sensor 27 to maintain a predetermined temperature (e.g., 65°C).

[0018] Then, when hot water operation is selected on the remote control 74, the heat source unit controller 7 opens the second solenoid valve 48 while keeping the first solenoid valve 36 closed, and switches the mixing valve 56 to a state where the first section pipe 55 and the second section pipe 57 are in communication. When the hot water tap 79 is opened in this state, tap water is supplied from the water inlet 38 to the heat source side water supply pipe 5. This tap water is supplied from the second water supply branch pipe 43 to the lower part of the tank body 20. Then, due to this supply pressure, the hot water in the tank body 20 is pushed out into the first section pipe 55 of the heat source side hot water outlet pipe 6, and flows through the mixing valve 56 to the second section pipe 57. The hot water flowing through the second section pipe 57 then flows through the connecting pipe 76 to the water supply pipe 75 of the water heater 70, and is discharged from the hot water tap 79 after passing through the heat exchanger 72, the hot water outlet pipe 77, and the external piping 78.

[0019] If the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 84 is lower than the set temperature set by the remote control 74, the water heater controller 73 opens the main valve and the main valve to ignite the gas burner 71 and heat the hot water passing through the heat exchanger 72. At the same time, based on the inlet water temperature obtained from the inlet water temperature sensor 82, it adjusts the opening of the water volume control valve 83, the bypass control valve 85, and the proportional valve to perform hot water temperature control to match the hot water temperature to the set temperature. On the other hand, if the hot water temperature is higher than the set temperature, the heat source controller 7 switches the mixing valve 56 to a state where the first section pipe 55, the second section pipe 57, and the first water supply branch pipe 42 are in communication, thereby increasing the amount of water supplied from the first water supply branch pipe 42. When the hot water tap 79 is closed and the flow sensor 81 detects that water has stopped flowing through the water heater 70, the water heater controller 73 closes the main valve and the source valve to stop the combustion of the gas burner 71.

[0020] Next, the specific structure of the heat source unit 1 will be described. Figure 2 is a front view with the front panel removed, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a rear view of the heat source unit 1. The housing 100 of the heat source unit 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends vertically. However, the housing 100 is divided into a cubic frame-shaped upper frame 101 and a lower frame 102. Here, the upper frame 101 and the lower frame 102 are stacked vertically and joined together with bolts to form a single unit. A partition plate 103 is provided on the lower surface of the upper frame 101, and a bottom plate 104 and legs 105, 105 are provided on the lower surface of the lower frame 102. Therefore, the interior of the housing 100 is divided into a space within the upper frame 101 and a space within the lower frame 102 by the partition plate 103. The space within the upper frame 101 is an example of the upper space in this disclosure. The space within the lower frame 102 is an example of the lower space in this disclosure. The front of the housing 100 is closed by the front panel 106. The rear is closed by the rear panel 107. The left and right sides are closed by the side panels 108, 108. The top is closed by the top panel 109. Panels 106 to 109 are examples of panels in this disclosure. The rear panel 107 is provided with a rear-view square-shaped air intake port 110 that draws in outside air as the fan 17 of the heat absorption section 13 rotates. The front panel 106 is provided with an exhaust port 111 that discharges outside air that has undergone heat exchange in the evaporative heat exchanger 18. The air intake port 110 is an example of a ventilation section and opening in this disclosure. The rear panel 107 is an example of a panel on which a ventilation section in this disclosure is provided.

[0021] In this configuration, the heat pump unit 2 is housed in the upper frame 101, and the tank unit 3 is housed in the lower frame 102. In the upper frame 101, the heat absorption unit 13 is located on the left side, with the fan 17 in front and the evaporative heat exchanger 18 in the rear. To the right of the heat absorption unit 13 is the heat source controller 7. To the right of the heat source controller 7 is the water heat exchanger 11. Behind the heat source controller 7 are the compressor 10 and the expansion valve 12. In the lower frame 102, the tank body 20 is positioned on the left side. The tank body 20 is fixed to the bottom plate 104 via a support base 112 provided on the bottom surface, and fixed to the partition plate 103 via a fitting (not shown) provided on the top surface. The outer periphery of the tank body 20 is covered with an insulating material (e.g., expanded polystyrene) 113.

[0022] The supply pipe 21 is branched and connected to the tank drain pipe 4, which is connected to the center of the bottom surface of the tank body 20, and its upstream end is shared with the tank drain pipe 4. The supply pipe 21 is drawn out to the right side of the tank body 20, then drawn upward via the pump 25, passes through the partition plate 103 and enters the upper frame 101, and is connected to the lower part of the water heat exchanger 11. The return pipe 22 is connected to the right side of the tank body 20 and drawn upward, passes through the partition plate 103 and enters the upper frame 101, and is connected to the upper part of the water heat exchanger 11.

[0023] A pipe connection section 114 is provided at the bottom of the right-side panel 108 of the lower frame 102. In addition to the water inlet 38 and the hot water outlet 62, the piping connection section 114 is provided with a first drain port 115 for draining water from the pressure relief pipe 58, drain plugs 30, 37, and 47, and a second drain port 116 for draining water from the tank drain pipe 4. A drain plug 37, which is branched and connected to the branch pipe 4b of the tank drain pipe 4, and a second drain port 116 from the tank drain pipe 4 are located at the bottom of the pipe connection section 114. The pipe connection section 114 is covered by a cover 117 attached to the side panel 108. The cover 117 has an opening 118 on its rear surface. Each pipe and electrical wiring connected to the pipe connection section 114 is routed to the rear through the opening 118. As shown in Figure 5, the first drain outlet 115 branches into an upper connection port 119 that protrudes upward and a lower connection port 120 that protrudes to the left, inside the side panel 108. The downstream end of the pressure relief pipe 58 is connected to the upper connection port 119. The downstream end of the drain discharge pipe 121 is connected to the lower connection port 120. The drain discharge pipe 121 is housed within the lower frame 102 and extends upward, with its upstream end connected to the partition plate 103. The drain discharge pipe 121 is made of a metal pipe or a corrosion-resistant flexible hose.

[0024] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, in the partition plate 103, a rectangular recess 122 is provided in plan view, extending in the left-right direction, directly below the evaporative heat exchanger 18 of the heat absorption section 13. The bottom surface of the recess 122 is sloped, gradually deepening from the front end towards the rear, with the rear end being the deepest groove 123 along its entire length. In the right-hand portion of the recess 122, a concentrated recess 124 is formed, communicating with the groove 123 and extending forward to the same depth as the groove 123. A discharge hole 125 is formed in the concentrated recess 124. A funnel tube 126 is screwed to the bottom surface of the recess 122 and communicates with the discharge hole 125. The upstream end of the drain discharge pipe 121 is connected to the lower end of the funnel tube 126 and communicates with the concentrated recess 124 via the funnel tube 126.

[0025] Folded pieces 127, 127... are formed on all four sides of the partition plate 103, rising upwards. The folded piece 127 on the rear edge side of the partition plate 103 (hereinafter referred to as "127A" when distinguishing it) is formed to be slightly lower in the center, except for the left and right ends. A packing 128 is attached to the back of the folded piece 127A. The packing 128 is made of a strip of sponge with a vertical width the same as the height of the left and right ends of the folded piece 127A and longer than the left and right width of the air intake 110. When the rear panel 107 is installed, the packing 128 abuts against the rear panel 107 and seals the space between the rear edge folded piece 127A and the rear panel 107. A raised portion 110a is formed on the inner periphery of the air intake port 110, extending forward along its entire circumference. As shown in Figure 7, the raised portion 110a extends forward so as to overlap the bent piece 127A and the packing 128 from above, and its tip is not in contact with the rear surface of the evaporative heat exchanger 18. In addition, the raised portion 110a protrudes inward from the housing 100 so as to extend beyond the bent piece 127A. Furthermore, in the sealed state, the packing 128 is located behind the groove 123 of the recess 122 in a plan view and overlaps the groove 123 in the front-rear direction over its entire length in the left-right direction. The rear edge of the partition plate 103 is an example of the end edge on the ventilation side of this disclosure. The bent piece 127A on the rear edge side is an example of the bent portion of this disclosure.

[0026] The pressure relief valve 59, located in the pressure relief pipe 58, is positioned on the right side of the lower frame 102, above the cover 117. As shown in Figure 9, the right side panel 108 has a window 130 that opens to the right of the pressure relief valve 59. The window 130 is closed by a screw-fastened cover 131. Therefore, by loosening the screws and removing the cover 131, the pressure relief valve 59 shown in Figure 3 can be exposed through the window 130. The pressure relief valve 59 is equipped with a lever 63 for opening and closing operation. When the pressure relief valve 59 is closed, the lever 63 is in a downward position, extending downward to the right of the pressure relief valve 59. By rotating the lever 63 to the right, it is in a sideways position, which opens the pressure relief valve 59. In this sideways position, the end of the lever 63 penetrates the window 130 and protrudes to the right of the outer surface of the side panel 108.

[0027] Therefore, when draining the tank body 20, the worker selects "Start Tank Draining" by operating the heat source controller 7. This opens the first solenoid valve 36 of the tank drain pipe 4. The worker then removes the lid 131 of the side panel 108 to expose the pressure relief valve 59 and rotates the lever 63 to a sideways position. This opens the pressure relief valve 59. As a result, the water stored in the first section pipe 55 and the pressure relief pipe 58 enters the first drain port 115 via the upper connection port 119 and is discharged to the outside from the first drain port 115, opening the inside of the tank body 20 to the atmosphere. Therefore, the water inside the tank body 20 is discharged to the outside through the second drain port 116 via the tank drain pipe 4.

[0028] When the draining of water from the tank body 20 is complete, the first solenoid valve 36 closes. This can be done by having the operator select "Tank water draining complete" using the heat source controller 7, or the heat source controller 7 can automatically close the valve by counting up the pre-set time required for water draining to complete. Next, the worker rotates the lever 63 downwards. This closes the pressure relief valve 59, and the work is completed by screwing the cover 131 onto the window 130. At this time, if the operator forgets to close the valve using lever 63 and attempts to attach the lid 131, the lever 63, in its sideways position, will protrude to the outside of the side panel 108 through the window 130. Therefore, the lid 131 cannot be attached in this state, and the operator must rotate lever 63 to a downward position before attaching the lid 131.

[0029] On the other hand, when the heat pump unit 2 in the upper frame 101 is operated, condensate is generated in the evaporative heat exchanger 18 of the heat absorption section 13 and falls onto the recess 122 of the partition plate 103. The fallen condensate flows into the groove 123 due to the slope of the bottom surface of the recess 122, as shown by the dotted arrow in Figure 7, and from the groove 123 it flows into the collection recess 124 and then enters the funnel tube 126 through the discharge hole 125. The condensate then descends through the drain discharge pipe 121 and enters the first drain port 115 via the lower connection port 120, and is discharged to the outside from the first drain port 115. Thus, the condensate generated in the upper frame 101 can pass through the lower frame 102 and be discharged to the outside from the first drain port 115 along with the drainage from the pressure relief pipe 58.

[0030] Then, when rainwater enters through the air intake 110 of the rear panel 107, the rainwater falls onto the recess 122 between the evaporative heat exchanger 18 and the bent piece 127A, and like the drain, flows from the groove 123 to the collection recess 124, and is discharged to the outside from the first drain port 115 via the discharge hole 125, the funnel pipe 126, and the drain discharge pipe 121. In this case, even if a large amount of rainwater enters through the air intake 110 or the force of the rainwater is strong, the raised portion 110a covers the upper side of the bent piece 127A, and a packing 128 is interposed between the bent piece 127A and the rear panel 107, so there is no risk of rainwater entering the lower frame 102 side from between the partition plate 103 and the rear panel 107. In particular, since the packing 128 is provided along the entire length of the recess 122 including the groove 123 in the left-right direction, it is also possible to prevent drain or rainwater from flowing downward from between the bent piece 127A and the rear panel 107 where there is no packing 128, and flowing along the underside of the partition plate 103 to the center of the lower space. Therefore, rainwater that drips into the lower frame 102 will not adhere to electrical components such as the first solenoid valve 36 and the second solenoid valve 48 and cause malfunctions.

[0031] The heat source unit 1 in the above configuration includes a housing 100 whose interior is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a partition plate 103, a tank body 20 housed in the lower space for storing hot water, and a heat pump unit 2 housed in the upper space, which has a heat absorption section 13 having a compressor 10, a water heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 12, and a fan 17, and a circulation path 14 for circulating a heat transfer medium between these, and is capable of heating by circulating the hot water in the tank body 20 with the water heat exchanger 11. The outer surface of the housing 100 is covered by a plurality of panels 106 to 109, and the rear panel 107 has an air intake 110 for introducing outside air into the heat absorption section 13, located above the partition plate 103. Furthermore, a bent piece 127A that protrudes upward is formed on the rear edge of the partition plate 103, and a packing 128 is interposed between the bent piece 127A and the rear panel 107, extending along the entire horizontal length of the air intake port 110.

[0032] With this configuration, even if rainwater enters the upper frame 101 through the air intake 110, the packing 128 prevents it from entering the lower frame 102 between the partition plate 103 and the rear panel 107. Therefore, even if the inside of the housing 100 is divided into upper and lower sections and the heat pump unit 2 is housed in the upper frame 101, it is possible to prevent rainwater that enters the upper frame 101 from dripping into the lower frame 102.

[0033] The ventilation section is an air intake 110 that is square in shape when viewed from the rear, and a raised portion 110a is formed on the periphery including the lower edge of the air intake 110, which protrudes toward the upper space and covers the bent piece 127A and the packing 128 from above. Therefore, the raised section 110a makes it more difficult for rainwater entering from the air intake 110 to flow towards the bent piece 127A and the packing 128, and more effectively prevents rainwater from entering the lower frame 102 from between the partition plate 103 and the rear panel 107. In particular, since the tip of the raised section 110a protrudes beyond the bent piece 127A into the inside of the housing 100, it is possible to more reliably prevent rainwater entering from the air intake 110 or drain scattered from the evaporative heat exchanger 18 from entering towards the packing 128. Below the heat-absorbing portion 13 of the partition plate 103, a recess 122 is formed to collect the drain that has dripped onto the partition plate 103 and has a discharge hole 125 on its bottom surface. The packing 128 has a length greater than the total length of the recess 122 in the horizontal direction along the rear edge of the partition plate 103. Meanwhile, a first drain port 115 is provided below the partition plate 103 in the housing 100, and a drain discharge pipe 121 connecting the discharge hole 125 and the first drain port 115 is arranged in the lower space. Therefore, even if rainwater seeps in and temporarily overflows from the recess 122, the packing 128, which has a length greater than the total length of the recess 122, prevents the drain from seeping into the lower frame 102 between the partition plate 103 and the rear panel 107. In addition, the drain discharged from the discharge hole 125 can be reliably discharged to the outside of the housing 100 via the drain discharge pipe 121.

[0034] The following describes examples of changes to this disclosure. In the above configuration, the bent portion is formed to be raised upwards, but the bent portion may also be formed to be bent downwards. The vertical width of the bent portion and the vertical width of the packing can be changed as appropriate. In the above configuration, a packing is provided only between the rear panel, which has an air intake, and the bent portion of the partition plate. However, a packing may also be provided between the front panel, which has an exhaust vent that also serves as a ventilation area, and the bent portion of the partition plate. In other words, packing may be provided between multiple panels and the partition plate. Furthermore, the panels on which the ventilation area is provided are not limited to the front and rear, but may also be the left and right panels. The packing may also be interposed between all edges of the partition plate and each panel. The structure of the recess can be modified as appropriate to match the shape of the heat absorber. The recess may be made larger than the above configuration, including the area below the evaporative heat exchanger of the heat absorber. The plan view shape of the recess may also be other shapes such as a square or a circle. The ventilation area may be a rectangular opening when viewed from the rear. Multiple openings extending horizontally may be arranged vertically to form a ventilation area. In this case, a raised section may be provided at the lowest opening. A mesh or frame may be provided at the opening. The forward projection length of the riser portion may be longer or shorter than that of the above configuration. The riser portion may be provided only at the lower edge of the air intake that covers the bent piece and packing. However, the riser portion may be omitted.

[0035] The position and height of the first drain outlet, which serves as the drain, are not limited to the above configuration. The two connection ports may both face upwards or both face left. However, the drain outlet is not limited to the right side panel; it can also be provided on the left side, back, or front panel. The drain outlet can also be provided on the bottom plate. The connection port to which the pressure relief pipe is connected and the connection port to which the drain discharge pipe is connected may be reversed from the configuration described above. The upstream end of the drain discharge pipe may be directly connected to the recess without providing a funnel tube at the discharge hole. In this case, the recess including the discharge hole may be formed in a mortar shape. However, this disclosure is not limited to a structure in which a drain outlet and a pressure relief pipe are connected to a single drain port. Only a drain outlet may be connected to the drain port.

[0036] In the above configuration, the solenoid valve is opened by operating the heat source controller to drain the water from the tank. However, opening the solenoid valve is not limited to the heat source controller. For example, it may be done by operating a remote control connected to the controller, or a dedicated controller may be provided with a switch to open and close the solenoid valve. Either the heat source controller or the water heater controller can be omitted, and the entire hot water supply system can be controlled by a single controller. The tank capacity is not limited to 25L as described above; it may be increased or decreased as appropriate. The heat exchanger of a water heater may consist of a primary heat exchanger that recovers sensible heat and a secondary heat exchanger that recovers latent heat. Alternatively, a drop-in pipe connected to the bathtub may be branched off from the hot water outlet pipe of the water heater, and a valve installed in the drop-in pipe may be used to fill the bathtub with hot water. In this case, a bath heating unit may be installed alongside the hot water supply unit so that the water in the bathtub can be reheated by the bath heating unit. The external heat source connected to the hot water outlet is not limited to a water heater. This disclosure is not limited to a hot water supply system consisting of a hot water supply device and an external heat source, but may also apply to configurations in which an external heat source is not connected to the hot water outlet. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1. Heat pump heat source unit, 2. Heat pump unit, 3. Tank unit, 4. Tank drain pipe, 4a. Branch section, 4b. Branch pipe, 5. Heat source side water supply pipe, 6. Heat source side hot water outlet pipe, 7. Heat source unit controller, 14. Circulation path, 18. Evaporative heat exchanger, 20. Tank body, 25. Pump, 28. Tank circulation path, 36. First solenoid valve, 38. Water inlet, 42. First water supply branch pipe, 43. Second water supply branch pipe, 48. Second solenoid valve, 55. First section pipe, 56. Mixing valve, 57. Second section pipe, 58. Pressure relief pipe, 59. Pressure relief valve, 62. Hot water outlet 63...Lever, 70...Water heater, 100...Housing, 101...Upper frame, 102...Lower frame, 103...Partition plate, 104...Bottom plate, 106...Front panel, 107...Rear panel, 110...Air intake, 110a...Rising section, 111...Exhaust port, 114...Pipe connection section, 115...First drain port, 116...Second drain port, 119...Upper connection port, 120...Lower connection port, 121...Drain discharge pipe, 122...Recess, 123...Groove, 124...Collection recess, 125...Discharge hole, 126...Funnel tube, 127...Bend piece, 128...Packing, S...Hot water supply system.

Claims

1. A housing whose interior is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a partition plate, A tank for storing hot water is housed in the lower space, A hot water supply system comprising a heat pump housed in the upper space and having a heat absorption section with a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a fan, and a circulation path for circulating a heat transfer medium between these, and capable of circulating and heating the hot water in the tank with the water heat exchanger, The outer surface of the housing is covered by a plurality of panels, and at least one of the panels has a ventilation section for the upper space, located above the partition plate. A hot water supply device wherein a bent portion is formed on the edge of the partition plate on the side of the ventilation portion, projecting upward or downward, and a packing is interposed between the bent portion and the panel on which the ventilation portion is provided, at least along the entire horizontal length of the ventilation portion.

2. The hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation portion is an opening that is rectangular or square when viewed from the rear, and at least the lower edge of the opening has a raised portion that protrudes toward the upper space and covers the bent portion and the packing from above.

3. Below the heat-absorbing portion of the partition plate, a recess is formed to collect the drain and the like that dripped onto the partition plate, and has a discharge hole on its bottom surface. The packing has a length greater than or equal to the total length of the recess in the horizontal direction along the edge on the ventilation side, The hot water supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a drain port is provided below the partition plate in the housing, and a drain discharge pipe connecting the discharge hole and the drain port is disposed in the lower space.

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