Water heater

Abstract

One embodiment of a water heater according to the present disclosure comprises: a primary circulation path through which primary water, which is used in heating and cooling, circulates; a heater which is provided to the primary circulation path and heats the primary water; a secondary circulation path through which secondary water, which is used in heating water, circulates; a hot water tank which is provided to the secondary circulation path and stores the secondary water; a heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between the primary water and the secondary water; a thermostat having a sensor which is provided to the heater and senses the temperature of the heater, and a terminal which is provided to a power circuit for supplying power to the heater and which shuts off the power circuit when the temperature sensed by the sensor is higher than the maximum temperature of the primary water; and a heat conduction member which is in contact with the terminal and the hot water tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a water heater.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a water heater that uses hot water heated by a heat pump unit for heating, and further uses another water heat-exchanged with the hot water as hot water for supplying hot water.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, some water heaters of this type are provided with a heater for additionally heating water when the heating of water by the heat pump unit is insufficient. In a water heater equipped with a heater, in order to prevent dry burning in the heater, it is conceivable to use a thermostat to stop the power supply to the heater. The thermostat is configured by connecting a sensor unit provided in the heater and a terminal unit provided in a power supply circuit for supplying power to the heater and switching the power supply to the heater with a capillary tube. When the heater is dry burning, the liquid inside the sensor unit expands, and the expansion of this liquid is transmitted to the terminal unit via the capillary tube. Then, the terminal unit cuts off the power supply circuit due to the expansion of the liquid. As a result, the power supply to the heater is stopped. Since the thermostat functions in this way, the terminal unit is arranged near the heater.

[0005] In addition, in this type of water heater, the cold water cooled by the heat pump unit may be used for cooling. In this case, the heater is cooled by the cold water. As a result, the terminal portion disposed near the heater is also cooled, and condensation occurs on the terminal portion. When condensation occurs on the terminal portion, not only is there a possibility that the power circuit may not be properly interrupted during dry firing of the heater, but there is also a possibility that electric leakage may occur and current may flow to an unintended location, which is not preferable.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a water heater that can suppress condensation from occurring on the terminal portion of a thermostat.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the water heater according to the present disclosure includes a primary circulation path portion through which primary-side water used for heating and cooling circulates, a heater provided in the primary circulation path portion for heating the primary-side water, a secondary circulation path portion through which secondary-side water used for supplying hot water circulates, a hot water storage tank provided in the secondary circulation path portion for storing the secondary-side water, a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the primary-side water and the secondary-side water, a sensor portion provided in the heater for sensing the temperature of the heater, and a thermostat provided in a power circuit that supplies power to the heater and having a terminal portion that interrupts the power circuit when the temperature sensed by the sensor portion becomes higher than the maximum temperature of the primary-side water, and a heat conductive member that contacts the terminal portion and the hot water storage tank.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress condensation from occurring on the terminal portion of the thermostat.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Figure 12

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure. In the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easy to understand, the scale and number in each structure may be different from those in the actual structure.

[0011] In the drawings, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are shown as appropriate. The X-axis indicates one direction in the horizontal direction. The Y-axis indicates the other direction in the horizontal direction. The Z-axis indicates the vertical direction. In the following description, the horizontal direction along the X-axis is referred to as the "first horizontal direction X", the horizontal direction along the Y-axis is referred to as the "second horizontal direction Y", and the vertical direction along the Z-axis is referred to as the "vertical direction Z". The first horizontal direction X, the second horizontal direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are directions that are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, the side (+Z side) in the vertical direction Z toward which the arrow of the Z-axis points is defined as the upper side, and the side opposite to the side (+Z side) in the vertical direction Z toward which the arrow of the Z-axis points (-Z side) is defined as the lower side. Also, in the following description, the side (+X side) in the first horizontal direction X toward which the arrow of the X-axis points is referred to as "one side of the first horizontal direction X", and the side opposite to the side (+X side) in the first horizontal direction X toward which the arrow of the X-axis points (-X side) is referred to as "the other side of the first horizontal direction X". Further, the side (+Y side) in the second horizontal direction Y toward which the arrow of the Y-axis points is referred to as "one side of the second horizontal direction Y", and the side opposite to the side (+Y side) in the second horizontal direction Y toward which the arrow of the Y-axis points (-Y side) is referred to as "the other side of the second horizontal direction Y".

[0012] FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of the water heater 1 in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the water heater 1 includes an air conditioning circuit 10, a hot water supply circuit 20, and a first heat exchanger 30. The air conditioning circuit 10 is a circuit for an air conditioner (not shown) to perform heating operation and cooling operation. The hot water supply circuit 20 is a circuit for supplying heated hot water to the outside.

[0013] The air conditioning circuit 10 includes a primary side circulation path section 11, a primary side pump 12, a heater 13, an outflow pipe 14, a three-way valve 15, and an inflow pipe 16. In the primary-side circulation path section 11, primary-side water W1 used for heating and cooling circulates. The primary-side pump 12 is provided in the primary-side circulation path section 11 and circulates the primary-side water W1 in the primary-side circulation path section 11. The primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 may be the same type of water as the secondary-side water W2 flowing through the secondary-side circulation path section 21 described later, or may be different water. Also, the liquid flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 may be other than water. The heater 13 is provided in the primary-side circulation path section 11 and heats the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11. The heating of the primary-side water W1 by the heater 13 is performed by supplying power to the heater 13.

[0014] The outflow pipe 14 is connected to the primary-side circulation path section 11 and is a pipe for allowing the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 to flow out toward the air conditioner. The connection portion between the primary-side circulation path section 11 and the outflow pipe 14 is located on the downstream side of the heater 13 in the primary-side circulation path section 11. The three-way valve 15 is provided at the connection portion between the primary-side circulation path section 11 and the outflow pipe 14. The three-way valve 15 switches the direction in which the primary-side water W1 flowing from the heater 13 and reaching the three-way valve 15 flows. Specifically, the three-way valve 15 selects whether to allow the primary-side water W1 reaching the three-way valve 15 from the heater 13 side to continue flowing only through the primary-side circulation path section 11, only through the outflow pipe 14, or to be divided and flow through both the primary-side circulation path section 11 and the outflow pipe 14.

[0015] The inflow pipe 16 is connected to the primary-side circulation path section 11 and is a pipe for allowing the primary-side water W1 from the air conditioner to flow into the primary-side circulation path section 11. The inflow pipe 16 is connected to a portion of the primary-side circulation path section 11 that is downstream and away from the position where the three-way valve 15 is provided.

[0016] The hot water supply circuit 20 includes a secondary-side circulation path section 21, a secondary-side pump 22, a hot water storage tank 23, a hot water supply pipe 24, and a water supply pipe 25. In the secondary-side circulation path section 21, secondary-side water W2 used for hot water supply circulates. The secondary-side pump 22 circulates the secondary-side water W2 in the secondary-side circulation path section 21. The hot water storage tank 23 is provided in the secondary side circulation path section 21 and stores the secondary side water W2. The hot water storage tank 23 has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction Z. The secondary side circulation path section 21 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 23. That is, the secondary side water W2 flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 23 from the secondary side circulation path section 21 and flows out from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 23 to the secondary side circulation path section 21. The secondary side water W2 stored in the hot water storage tank 23 is mainly hot water heated in the first heat exchanger 30 described later.

[0017] The hot water supply pipe 24 is a pipe for discharging the secondary side water W2 stored in the hot water storage tank 23 to the outside of the hot water storage tank 23. The secondary side water W2 discharged from the hot water supply pipe 24 to the outside of the hot water storage tank 23 is hot water heated in the first heat exchanger 30. The secondary side water W2 discharged from the hot water supply pipe 24 to the outside is used, for example, for a shower. The discharge port of the hot water supply pipe 24 that opens inside the hot water storage tank 23 is located in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 23. Thereby, it is possible to supply the relatively high-temperature hot water among the secondary side water W2 stored in the hot water storage tank 23 to the outside. The material constituting the hot water storage tank 23 may be metal, may be resin, or may be an inorganic solid material.

[0018] The water supply pipe 25 is a pipe for supplying water as the secondary side water W2 to the secondary side circulation path section 21 inside the hot water storage tank 23. The water supply port of the water supply pipe 25 that opens inside the hot water storage tank 23 is located in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 23. That is, the secondary side water W2 is supplied with water from the water supply pipe 25 to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 23. The water supply pipe 25 is connected to a water pipe (not shown). Thereby, tap water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 23 as the secondary side water W2 from the water supply pipe 25. The temperature of the tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 25 to the hot water storage tank 23 is lower than the temperature of the hot water heated in the first heat exchanger 30. The supply amount of the tap water from the water supply pipe 25 to the hot water storage tank 23 corresponds to the discharge amount discharged from the hot water storage tank 23 to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 24. That is, the same amount of tap water as the hot water discharged from the hot water storage tank 23 to the outside is supplied to the hot water storage tank 23.

[0019] The first heat exchanger 30 is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 and the secondary-side water W2 flowing through the secondary-side circulation path section 21. Specifically, in the first heat exchanger 30, the heat of the primary-side water W1 with a high temperature is transferred to the secondary-side water W2 with a low temperature, thereby heating the secondary-side water W2. The first heat exchanger 30 is, for example, a plate-type heat exchanger. The type of the first heat exchanger 30 is not particularly limited, and it may be a heat exchanger with a method other than the plate type. The first heat exchanger 30 is located downstream of the position where the three-way valve 15 is provided in the primary-side circulation path section 11 and upstream of the connection portion with the inflow pipe 16. Therefore, the primary-side water W1 flowing from the inflow pipe 16 into the primary-side circulation path section 11 does not reach the first heat exchanger 30 before passing through the second heat exchanger 43 and the heater 13 described later.

[0020] The water heater 1 further includes a heating and cooling circuit 40 that heats and cools the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11. In the present embodiment, the heating and cooling circuit 40 includes a refrigerant circulation path section 41, an outdoor unit 42, and a second heat exchanger 43.

[0021] The refrigerant R circulates in the refrigerant circulation path section 41. Examples of the refrigerant R flowing through the refrigerant circulation path section 41 include a fluorine-based refrigerant or a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant with a low global warming potential (GWP: Global Warming Potential). The refrigerant circulation path section 41 is configured such that the refrigerant R circulates between the outdoor unit 42 and the second heat exchanger 43. The refrigerant R flowing through the refrigerant circulation path section 41 is heated or cooled by passing through a compressor and a heat exchanger (not shown) in the outdoor unit 42.

[0022] The second heat exchanger 43 is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 and the refrigerant R flowing through the refrigerant circulation path section 41. The second heat exchanger 43 is, for example, a plate-type heat exchanger. The type of the second heat exchanger 43 is not particularly limited, and it may be a heat exchanger of a type other than the plate type. The second heat exchanger 43 is located upstream of the heater 13 in the primary-side circulation path section 11.

[0023] When the refrigerant R flowing through the refrigerant circulation path section 41 is heated in the outdoor unit 42, the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 absorbs heat from the refrigerant R in the second heat exchanger 43. As a result, the primary-side water W1 passing through the second heat exchanger 43 is warmed to become hot water. On the other hand, when the refrigerant R flowing through the refrigerant circulation path section 41 is cooled in the outdoor unit 42, the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 has heat taken away from the refrigerant R in the second heat exchanger 43. As a result, the primary-side water W1 passing through the second heat exchanger 43 is cooled to become cold water.

[0024] Next, the operation of the water heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, the operation of the water heater 1 when warming the secondary-side water W2 of the hot water supply circuit 20 will be described. When warming the secondary-side water W2, the refrigerant R is heated in the outdoor unit 42, and the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11 is warmed by the refrigerant R in the second heat exchanger 43. The primary-side water W1 warmed in the second heat exchanger 43 passes through the heater 13. In the heater 13, when the temperature of the primary-side water W1 warmed in the second heat exchanger 43 is low, the primary-side water W1 is further heated. The primary-side water W1 that has passed through the heater 13 reaches the first heat exchanger 30 via the three-way valve 15. In the first heat exchanger 30, the secondary-side water W2 flowing through the secondary-side circulation path section 21 is warmed by the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path section 11. The warmed secondary-side water W2 is stored in the hot water storage tank 23.

[0025] When heating the above-described secondary-side water W2, when the air conditioner connected to the outflow pipe 14 and the inflow pipe 16 of the air conditioning circuit 10 is not operating, all of the primary-side water W1 that has passed through the heater 13 flows from the three-way valve 15 toward the first heat exchanger 30. On the other hand, when the air conditioner is in the heating operation state, a part of the primary-side water W1 that has passed through the heater 13 flows from the three-way valve 15 through the outflow pipe 14 toward the air conditioner, and the remainder of the primary-side water W1 flows from the three-way valve 15 toward the first heat exchanger 30. Further, when the air conditioner is in the heating operation state, the primary-side water W1 that has flowed through the outflow pipe 14 toward the air conditioner returns to the primary-side circulation path portion 11 through the inflow pipe 16. Since the air conditioner is in the heating operation state, the temperature of the primary-side water W1 flowing through the inflow pipe 16 is lower than the temperature of the primary-side water W1 in the outflow pipe 14. However, the low-temperature primary-side water W1 that has returned from the inflow pipe 16 to the primary-side circulation path portion 11 returns to the second heat exchanger 43 without passing through the first heat exchanger 30. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of heating the secondary-side water W2 in the first heat exchanger 30 from decreasing due to the primary-side water W1 flowing through the inflow pipe 16.

[0026] Next, the operation of the water heater 1 when the air conditioner is in the cooling operation will be described. When the air conditioner is in the cooling operation, the refrigerant R is cooled in the outdoor unit 42, and the primary-side water W1 flowing through the primary-side circulation path portion 11 is cooled by the refrigerant R in the second heat exchanger 43. The primary-side water W1 cooled in the second heat exchanger 43 passes through the heater 13 and reaches the three-way valve 15. The primary-side water W1 flows only from the three-way valve 15 to the outflow pipe 14 and does not flow toward the first heat exchanger 30. The cold primary-side water W1 supplied from the outflow pipe 14 to the air conditioner is used for the cooling operation of the air conditioner and returns to the primary-side circulation path portion 11 on the downstream side of the first heat exchanger 30 through the outflow pipe 14. Thereby, the cold primary-side water W1 does not pass through the first heat exchanger 30, and the secondary-side water W2 is not cooled by the primary-side water W1 in the first heat exchanger 30.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the water heater 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the water heater 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the water heater 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the water heater 1 includes a housing 50, a thermostat 60, a heat conduction member 70, and a heat insulating material 80. Inside the housing 50, a primary side circulation path section 11, a primary side pump 12, a heater 13, a three-way valve 15, a secondary side circulation path section 21, a secondary side pump 22, a hot water storage tank 23, etc., which are also shown in FIG. 1, are arranged. Also, an electrical component box 90 is arranged inside the housing 50. The electrical component box 90 includes a circuit for supplying power to each part of the water heater 1 and a circuit for controlling the operation of each part of the water heater 1.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the hot water storage tank 23 formed generally in a cylindrical shape is arranged inside the housing 50 such that the axial direction of the hot water storage tank 23 extends in the vertical direction Z. Also, the heater 13 and the electrical component box 90 are arranged adjacent to one side (+X side) in the first horizontal direction X with respect to the hot water storage tank 23 inside the housing 50. Also, the electrical component box 90 is arranged above (+Z side) the heater 13 inside the housing 50.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a partial internal structure of the water heater 1 and is a partially enlarged view in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heater 13 and the thermostat 60 are separated. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the heater 13. The thermostat 60 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is for preventing dry burning of the heater 13. The thermostat 60 has a sensor part 61 and a terminal part 62. The sensor part 61 is provided on the heater 13 to sense the temperature of the heater 13. The sensor part 61 is installed inside the case 131 of the heater 13 through which the primary side water W1 passes. Specifically, the sensor part 61 is arranged near the heat generating part 132 of the heater 13 arranged inside the case 131. The heat generating part 132 generates heat when power is supplied and heats the primary side water W1 passing through the case 131.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the thermostat 60 and the power supply circuit 100. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 is provided in the power supply circuit 100. The power supply circuit 100 is a circuit that supplies the power required for heating the primary-side water W1 to the heater 13. The power supply circuit 100 may be a circuit that supplies power to the heater 13 from the breaker 110 through the terminal portion 62 and the control contactor 120. Note that the control contactor 120 is a circuit that controls the operation of the heater 13. The breaker 110 and the control contactor 120 are arranged in the electrical component box 90 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The terminal portion 62 shuts off the power supply circuit 100 when the temperature sensed by the sensor portion 61 becomes higher than the maximum temperature of the primary-side water W1. The maximum temperature of the primary-side water W1 may be, for example, the boiling point of the primary-side water W1. The terminal portion 62 includes, for example, a physical switch 64 that switches the supply of power to the heater 13.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the thermostat 60 of the present embodiment is configured by connecting the sensor portion 61 and the terminal portion 62 with a capillary tube 63. The inside of the sensor portion 61 and the capillary tube 63 connected thereto is filled with a liquid (not shown). When the sensor portion 61 is heated due to, for example, dry burning of the heater 13, the liquid inside the sensor portion 61 expands, and this expansion of the liquid is transmitted to the terminal portion 62 via the capillary tube 63. Then, the terminal portion 62 shuts off the power supply circuit 100 due to the expansion of the liquid.

[0032] In the thermostat 60, it is preferable that the terminal portion 62 is arranged near the sensor portion 61 so that the response of the terminal portion 62 to the expansion of the liquid inside the sensor portion 61 does not decrease. For this reason, the terminal portion 62 is arranged near the heater 13 into which the sensor portion 61 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal portion 62 is disposed adjacent to one side (+Y side) of the heater 13 in the second horizontal direction Y. In the present embodiment, the terminal portion 62 is fixed to a mounting member 51 for attaching the heater 13 to the housing 50. That is, the terminal portion 62 is fixed to the heater 13 via the mounting member 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal portion 62 is disposed adjacent to one side (+X side) of the hot water storage tank 23 in the first horizontal direction X, similarly to the heater 13.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the terminal portion 62 of the present embodiment has an upper surface 621, an opposing surface 622, and an opposite surface 623. The upper surface 621 of the terminal portion 62 is a surface facing upward (+Z side). The opposing surface 622 is a surface facing the other side (-Y side) of the second horizontal direction Y so as to face the heater 13. The opposite surface 623 is a surface facing the opposite side of the opposing surface 622 in the second horizontal direction Y, that is, a surface facing one side (+Y side) of the second horizontal direction Y. The upper surface 621 of the terminal portion 62 is located between the opposing surface 622 and the opposite surface 623 in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heat insulating material 80 is attached to the hot water storage tank 23. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the heat insulating material 80 is separated from the hot water storage tank 23. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the heat insulating material 80 is separated from the hot water storage tank 23, and is a perspective view seen from a direction different from that of FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 to 11, the heat insulating material 80 surrounds the hot water storage tank 23 and makes it difficult for heat to be transmitted between the inside and outside of the hot water storage tank 23. The heat insulating material 80 may be a foamed plastic that can be manufactured by molding, such as polystyrene foam. The opposing surface 81 of the heat insulating material 80 facing the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23 is formed so as to be in surface contact with the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23. In the present embodiment, the opposing surface 81 of the heat insulating material 80 is formed in a concave curved shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 23 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the heat insulating material 80 surrounding the hot water storage tank 23 is composed of two members. The number of members constituting the heat insulating material 80 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, one, or three or more. The heater 13, the thermostat 60, etc. are arranged outside the above-described heat insulating material 80.

[0035] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a partial internal structure of the water heater 1 and is a partially enlarged view in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the heat conduction member 70 is in contact with the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 and the hot water storage tank 23. The heat conduction member 70 may be composed of a material having a high thermal conductivity. The heat conduction member 70 may be composed of a metal such as copper, aluminum, or iron, for example. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the heat conduction member 70 in the present embodiment is composed of a strip-shaped flat plate. Further, the heat conduction member 70 is configured by bending the flat plate at a middle portion in its longitudinal direction. Thereby, the heat conduction member 70 has a first flat plate portion 71 and a second flat plate portion 72 extending in different directions from each other. In the present embodiment, the heat conduction member 70 composed of a strip-shaped flat plate is bent approximately 90 degrees at a middle portion in its longitudinal direction.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 12, the first flat plate portion 71 is in contact with the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23. Specifically, the first flat plate portion 71 extends in the vertical direction Z, that is, the axial direction of the hot water storage tank 23. Further, the thickness direction of the first flat plate portion 71 faces the first horizontal direction X orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. And the first flat plate portion 71 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 23. For this reason, the contact area of the first flat plate portion 71 with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 23 can be increased as much as possible, and the first flat plate portion 71 can be arranged as close to the hot water storage tank 23 as possible. Thereby, the first flat plate portion 71 is thermally connected to the hot water storage tank 23.

[0037] The second flat plate portion 72 extends from the longitudinal end of the first flat plate portion 71 extending in the vertical direction Z to one side in the first horizontal direction X. In the illustrated example, the second flat plate portion 72 extends from the upper end portion of the first flat plate portion 71, but may extend from the lower end portion of the first flat plate portion 71, for example. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the second flat plate portion 72 contacts the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60. Specifically, the thickness direction of the second flat plate portion 72 faces the vertical direction Z. And the second flat plate portion 72 is in surface contact with the upper surface 621 of the terminal portion 62. Further, the second flat plate portion 72 contacts a region of the upper surface 621 of the terminal portion 62 that is closer to the heater 13 than the opposite surface 623 in the second horizontal direction Y. That is, the second flat plate portion 72 contacts a portion of the terminal portion 62 located on the heater 13 side.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 12, the hot water storage tank 23 is surrounded by the heat insulating material 80, and the thermostat 60 is disposed outside the heat insulating material 80. That is, the heat insulating material 80 is interposed between the hot water storage tank 23 and the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60. For this reason, the heat conducting member 70 is disposed so as to penetrate the heat insulating material 80. Specifically, the second flat plate portion 72 of the heat conducting member 70 penetrates the heat insulating material 80. Also, the first flat plate portion 71 of the heat conducting member 70 is disposed along the facing surface 81 of the heat insulating material 80 facing the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23. In the present embodiment, the above-described heat conducting member 70 is insert-molded into the heat insulating material 80. Note that the heat conducting member 70 may be attached to the heat insulating material 80 after being molded, for example.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 disposed near the heater 13 and the hot water storage tank 23 are thermally connected by the heat conducting member 70. That is, the heat of the hot water storage tank 23 in which the secondary side water W2, which is hot water, is stored is transmitted to the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 through the heat conducting member 70. Therefore, even if the heater 13 is cooled when the primary side water W1 cooled for cooling passes through the heater 13, it is possible to suppress the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 from being cooled. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress dew condensation from occurring on the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60.

[0040] Further, according to this embodiment, the heat conducting member 70 is insert-molded into the heat insulating material 80 surrounding the hot water storage tank 23. Thereby, the positioning of the heat conducting member 70 with respect to the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23 can be easily and correctly performed. By being able to correctly position the heat conducting member 70 with respect to the heat conducting member 70, the heat conducting member 70 can be surely brought into contact with the outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23.

[0041] Further, according to this embodiment, the heat conducting member 70 has a first flat plate portion 71 and a second flat plate portion 72 extending in different directions from each other by bending a strip-shaped flat plate. The outer surface of the hot water storage tank 23 contacts the first flat plate portion 71, and the terminal portion 62 of the thermostat 60 contacts the second flat plate portion 72. Therefore, even if the surfaces of the hot water storage tank 23 and the terminal portion 62 with which the heat conducting member 70 contacts face in different directions from each other, the heat conducting member 70 can be brought into surface contact with each of the surfaces of the hot water storage tank 23 and the terminal portion 62. Accordingly, the heat of the hot water storage tank 23 can be efficiently transmitted to the terminal portion 62.

[0042] Further, according to this embodiment, the heat conducting member 70 is in contact with a portion of the terminal portion 62 located on the heater 13 side. Thereby, the influence of the heat received by the terminal portion 62 from the heater 13 side can be suppressed to a small level. Hereinafter, this point will be described. The portion of the terminal part 62 located on the heater 13 side is more susceptible to thermal influence from the heater 13 compared to portions of the terminal part 62 that are away from the heater 13, such as the opposite surface 623. For this reason, when the heater 13 is cooled by the cold primary-side water W1, the portion of the terminal part 62 located on the heater 13 side is more likely to be cooled than other portions. On the other hand, since the heat conductive member 70 is in contact with the portion of the terminal part 62 located on the heater 13 side, it is possible to effectively suppress the cooling of the said portion of the terminal part 62. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of condensation on the terminal part 62 accompanying the cooling of the heater 13.

[0043] Although the embodiments in the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited only to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and the following configurations and methods can also be adopted.

[0044] The liquid flowing through the primary-side circulation path portion is not particularly limited and may be other than water. That is, the liquid flowing through the primary-side circulation path portion may be referred to as the primary-side liquid.

[0045] Each of the configurations and methods described in this specification can be appropriately combined within a range that does not conflict with each other.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1... Water heater, 11... Primary-side circulation path portion, 13... Heater, 21... Secondary-side circulation path portion, 23... Hot water storage tank, 60... Thermostat, 61... Sensor portion, 62... Terminal part, 70... Heat conductive member, 71... First flat plate portion, 72... Second flat plate portion, 80... Heat insulating material, W1... Primary-side water, W2... Secondary-side water

Claims

1. A primary circulation path section through which primary-side water used for heating and cooling circulates; A heater provided in the primary circulation path section for heating the primary-side water; A secondary circulation path section through which secondary-side water used for hot water supply circulates; A hot water storage tank provided in the secondary circulation path section for storing the secondary-side water; A heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the primary-side water and the secondary-side water; A thermostat provided in the heater for sensing the temperature of the heater and having a terminal section provided in a power supply circuit that supplies power to the heater, the terminal section being configured to cut off the power supply circuit when the temperature sensed by the sensor section becomes higher than the maximum temperature of the primary-side water; A hot water supply machine comprising the terminal section and a heat conductive member that contacts the hot water storage tank.

2. Further comprising a heat insulating material that surrounds the hot water storage tank, The hot water supply machine according to claim 1, wherein the heat conductive member is insert-molded into the heat insulating material.

3. The heat conductive member has a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion that extend in different directions by bending a strip-shaped flat plate at a middle portion in its longitudinal direction, The first flat plate portion contacts the outer surface of the hot water storage tank, The hot water supply machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second flat plate portion contacts the terminal section.

4. The hot water supply machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat conductive member contacts a portion of the terminal section that is located on the heater side.

Images