Hot water storage tank unit

Abstract

To suppress the temperature drop of hot water supplied to a bathtub in a hot water storage tank unit having a bubble supply unit.SOLUTION: A hot water storage tank unit 1 includes a bubble supply passage 22 in which a dissolving tank 25 for dissolving gas in water, a gas introduction valve 28 for opening and closing a gas introduction passage through which the gas is introduced to the dissolving tank 25, and a pressurizing pump 24 disposed on the upstream side of the dissolving tank 25 are provided. An air suction port 29 is provided in the gas introduction valve 28, the dissolving tank 25 is disposed in a corner C, and the air suction port 29 of the dissolving tank 25 is arranged to face at least a hot water storage tank 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a hot water storage tank unit having a bubble supply unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, this type of bubble supply unit has included a dissolution tank for dissolving air in water, a gas introduction valve for opening and closing a gas introduction passage for introducing gas into the dissolution tank, a pressure pump for pumping water into the dissolution tank, and an air suction port for sucking air from the outside, and has been provided in a bathroom or outdoors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when a bubble supply unit is provided in a bathroom as in Patent Document 1, when sucking air mixed in the dissolution tank from the air suction port, relatively warm air can be sucked in. However, when a bubble supply unit is provided in a hot water storage tank unit installed outdoors, it is easily affected by the outside air temperature. When the outside air temperature is low, the temperature of the sucked air also becomes low, and when relatively cold air and hot water are mixed in the dissolution tank, the temperature of the hot water decreases and the temperature flowing into the bathtub becomes low, causing a problem that bathers feel uncomfortable.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to the present invention, the hot water storage tank unit is composed of a top plate, a bottom plate, a front plate, a lower front plate, a pipe connection plate, a rear plate, and left and right side plates, and has a rectangular shape with an inward corner portion formed by the lower front plate and one of the left and right side plates, and the hot water storage tank unit contains a hot water storage tank for storing hot water heated by a heating means, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank, a water supply bypass pipe branching off from the water supply pipe, a hot water outlet pipe for supplying hot water from the top of the hot water storage tank, a mixing valve for mixing water from the water supply bypass pipe and hot water from the hot water outlet pipe, a bath piping for supplying the mixed hot water to the bathtub, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank In a hot water storage tank unit, the hot water storage tank is provided with a molded insulating material of substantially constant thickness that covers the outer circumference of the hot water storage tank to prevent heat from escaping, and a bubble supply path is provided in the middle of the bath piping that branches off from the bath piping and rejoins the bath piping, and the bubble supply path is provided with a dissolution tank for dissolving gas in water, a gas introduction valve for opening and closing a gas introduction path for introducing gas into the dissolution tank, and a pressure pump provided upstream of the dissolution tank, the gas introduction valve is provided with an air intake port, the dissolution tank is located in the corner, and the air intake port of the dissolution tank is positioned at least toward the hot water storage tank.

[0006] Furthermore, the thickness of the molded insulation material in the air intake portion where the melting tank is located was made thinner than the aforementioned approximately constant thickness. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, by taking in air heated by the heat radiated from the hot water storage tank through an air intake, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing an embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] External perspective view of the hot water storage tank unit of this invention. [Figure 3] Internal perspective view of the hot water storage tank unit of this invention. [Figure 4] A perspective view of the main part of the bubble supply unit of this invention. [Figure 5] A perspective view of the dissolution tank mounting bracket of this invention. [Figure 6] Perspective view of the pressure pump mounting bracket of this invention [Figure 7] Top view showing the arrangement of the dissolution tank of this invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Next, a storage-type hot water supply system according to one embodiment of this invention will be described based on the drawings. 1 is a hot water storage tank unit which contains a hot water storage tank 2 for storing hot water, a hot water outlet pipe 3 connected to the top of the hot water storage tank 2, a water supply pipe 4 connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 2, a bath mixing valve 6 that mixes the high-temperature water from the hot water outlet pipe 3 with the low-temperature water from a water supply bypass pipe 5 branched from the water supply pipe 4, and a bath temperature sensor 8 and a bath flow rate sensor 9 that detect the bath flow rate, which are provided on the hot water filling pipe 7 connected downstream of the bath mixing valve 6.

[0010] 10 is a heating means, and inside the heating means 10 is equipped with a compressor, a water refrigerant heat exchanger as a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger as an evaporator that exchanges heat with air and has an outdoor fan. A circulation pump 14 circulates the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 to the heating means 10 via a heating circulation circuit 13 consisting of a heating supply pipe 11 and a heating return pipe 12, and a heat pump control unit controls the driving of these, and carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant in the heating means 10 to constitute a supercritical heat pump cycle. Furthermore, because carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, it is possible to heat low-temperature water to a high temperature of approximately 90°C without an electric heater.

[0011] 15 is a hot water supply valve that connects the hot water supply pipe 7 to the bathtub and supplies hot water to the bathtub, and 16 is a check valve installed on the hot water supply pipe 7 that prevents the hot water from the bathtub from flowing into the hot water storage tank 2.

[0012] 17a is a bathtub circulation path connected to the hot water supply pipe 7, 17b is a first water path connecting the bathtub circulation path 17a and the bathtub, 17c is a second water path connecting the bathtub circulation path 17a, the first switching valve 27A, and the second switching valve 27B, 17d is a third water path connecting the second water path 17c and the bathtub via the second switching valve 27B, and 17e is a reheating path for heating the hot water in the bathtub via the bathtub heat exchanger 30. 18 is a bathtub circulation pump provided in the bathtub circulation path 17. 17a to 17d are bathtub pipes connecting the bathtub and the heating means 10.

[0013] 19 is a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the bathtub, and 20 is a flowing water sensor for detecting whether water flows from the bathtub when the bathtub circulation pump 18 is driven.

[0014] Next, the bubble supply unit 21 for enclosing bubbles in the hot water supplied to the bathtub will be described. 22a is a hot water supply path connecting the bathtub circulation path 17a and the upstream side of the dissolution tank 25, and 22b is a hot water discharge path connecting the downstream side of the dissolution tank 25 and the second switching valve 27B. This is the bubble supply path 22 constituted by the paths of the hot water supply path 22a and the hot water discharge path 22b.

[0015] In the bubble supply path 22, there are provided a water volume servo 23 for controlling the amount of water flowing into the bubble supply path 22, a pressurizing pump 24A arranged on the upstream side for pumping hot water downstream, a pressurizing pump 24B arranged on the downstream side for pumping hot water downstream, a dissolution tank 25 for dissolving air in the pumped hot water, a check valve 26 for preventing backflow to the dissolution tank 25, and a three-way valve 27.

[0016] The dissolution tank 25 is provided with a gas introduction valve 28 which is a valve for opening and closing a gas introduction path for taking air into the dissolution tank 25, and an air suction port 29 for taking in air.

[0017] When the detection values of the bath temperature sensor 8, the bath flow sensor 9, the water level sensor 19, and the running water sensor 20 are input into the controller 200, the controller controls the operations of the bath mixing valve 6, the circulation pump 14, the water filling valve 15, the bath circulation pump 18, the three-way valve 27, the gas introduction valve 28, and the heating means 10 according to a pre-stored program.

[0018] In addition, the controller 200 is communicably connected to a remote controller (not shown), performs the operation instructed by the user via the remote controller, and performs various operations according to a pre-stored program.

[0019] Next, the heating operation will be described. When there is a heating request, the controller 200 drives the circulation pump 14 located in the middle of the heating circulation circuit 13 connecting the hot water storage tank 2 and the heating means 10, pumps water from the lower part inside the hot water storage tank 2, heats it with the heating means 10, and returns it to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2. By continuously performing this operation, the water inside the hot water storage tank 2 gradually boils up to high-temperature water.

[0020] Next, the water filling operation will be described. When the user instructs the water filling operation with a remote controller (not shown), the controller 200 opens the water filling valve 15, supplies water from the water supply pipe 4, flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2, passes through the water supply bypass pipe 5, and the high-temperature water pushed out from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 and the water supply of the water supply bypass pipe 5 are mixed by the bath mixing valve 6. The hot water adjusted so that the preset bath set temperature and the temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 8 are the same flows into the bathtub through the water filling pipe 7, the bath circulation path 17a, and the first water path 17b, and the water filling starts. Then, the controller 200 detects the flow rate flowing through the bath flow sensor 9, and when the total integrated value of the flowing flow rate is diverted by the preset water filling set amount, the controller 200 closes the water filling valve 15 to complete the water filling. In addition, there are two paths in the bath circulation path 17a, one is the path for supplying to the bathtub via the first water path 17b, and the other is the path for supplying to the bathtub via the third water path 17d and the second water path 17c. It is also possible to perform a high-speed water filling operation in which hot water is supplied simultaneously from the two pipes to perform the water filling operation.

[0021] Next, we will explain the bubble supply operation. When the user instructs the bubble supply operation using a remote control (not shown), the control device 200 opens the gas introduction valve 28, switches the first switching valve 27A to connect the first waterway 17b, switches the second switching valve 27B to connect the hot water discharge passage 22b and the second waterway 17c, switches the third switching valve 27C to the bath heat exchanger 30 side, and drives the bath circulation pump 18. As a result, the control device 200 performs the bubble supply operation, which discharges the hot water in the dissolution tank 25 in the following order: hot water discharge passage 22b, second waterway 17c, bath circulation passage 17a, reheating passage 17e, bath heat exchanger 30, reheating passage 17e, bath circulation passage 17a, first waterway 17b, and bathtub. By performing the preparatory operation for the bubble supply operation, the cooled hot water remaining inside the piping is heated and discharged into the bathtub, draining the hot water in the dissolution tank 25 and supplying air to the dissolution tank 25.

[0022] Then, the control device 200 closes the gas introduction valve 28, switches the first switching valve 27A to connect the first waterway 17b and the second waterway 17c, switches the second switching valve 27B to connect the third waterway 17d and the hot and cold water discharge channel 22b, switches the third switching valve 27C to the bath heat exchanger 30 side, drives the pressurizing pump 24A and pressurizing pump 24B, and drives the bath circulation pump 18. As a result, the control device 200 performs a water supply operation for bubble supply operation, circulating the bath water in the following order: first waterway 17b, second waterway 17c, bath circulation channel 17a, reheating path 17e, bath heat exchanger 30, reheating path 17e, bath circulation channel 17a, hot and cold water supply channel 22a, dissolution tank 25, hot and cold water discharge channel 22b, third waterway 17d, and bathtub. By performing the water supply operation for the bubble supply operation, pressurized water from the pressure pump 24 is supplied to the dissolution tank 25, and air is pressurized and dissolved into the hot water in the dissolution tank 25, and the hot water is supplied to the bathtub while containing air.

[0023] By alternating between water supply and air supply operations, a bubble supply operation is performed in which hot water containing air is supplied to the bathtub.

[0024] Next, the hot water storage tank unit 1 will be explained based on Figure 4. The hot water storage tank unit 1 has a roughly rectangular shape, enclosed on all four sides by a top plate 101, a bottom plate 102, a front plate 103, a pipe connection plate 103b which serves as a pipe connection port, a lower front plate 103B which covers the lower front, a right side plate 104, a left side plate 105, and a rear plate 106. Also, 107 is the leg that supports the hot water storage tank unit 1.

[0025] The hot water storage tank 2 enclosed within the hot water storage tank unit 1 is provided with a molded insulating material 108 of approximately constant thickness that covers the outer perimeter of the hot water storage tank 2 in order to prevent heat loss from the hot water inside the tank 2.

[0026] The hot water storage tank unit 1 has an inner corner section C formed by the lower front panel 103B and one of the side panels, either the right side panel 104 or the left side panel 105, and a bubble supply unit 21 is provided in the corner section C.

[0027] Next, the arrangement of the bubble supply unit 21 provided in corner section C will be described in detail based on Figures 5, 6, and 7.

[0028] 109 is a dissolution tank mounting bracket attached to the left side panel 105, and the dissolution tank mounting bracket 109 consists of a wall fixing part 109a that is attached to the left side panel 105 and a tank fixing part 109b that fixes the dissolution tank 25.

[0029] 110 is a pressure pump mounting bracket attached to the base plate 102, and the pressure pump mounting bracket 110 consists of a pump fixing part 110a for fixing the pressure pump 24A, a pump fixing part 110b for fixing the pressure pump 24B, and a floor fixing part 110c that is attached to the base plate 102.

[0030] Next, we will explain in detail the arrangement of the dissolution tank 25. The dissolution tank 25 is located in the inner corner C of the front panel 103 and the left side panel 105, and the air intake port 29 is positioned facing the direction in which the hot water storage tank 2 is located.

[0031] Furthermore, a thin-walled section 108a, which is a reduced-thickness section of the molded insulation material 108, is provided at the location where the air intake port 29 is located.

[0032] Thus, in models where the dissolution tank 25 is located inside the hot water storage tank unit 1, the system is susceptible to the influence of outside temperature. When the outside temperature is low, cold outside air is drawn in through the air intake 29, and when the dissolution tank 25 mixes the cold air with the hot water supplied to the bathtub, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub decreases. However, by drawing in air that has been warmed by the heat radiated from the hot water storage tank 2, the decrease in the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub can be suppressed.

[0033] Furthermore, by reducing the thickness of the molded insulation material 108 near the air intake port 29, heat can be more easily dissipated from the hot water storage tank 2, and by drawing in warm air from the air intake port 29, the temperature drop of the hot water supplied to the bathtub can be suppressed. Preferably, by placing the air intake port 29 in a recess of the molded insulation material 108 in the thin-walled portion 108a, warm air can be efficiently drawn in.

[0034] Furthermore, by installing the bubble supply unit 21, which includes the dissolution tank 25, in the corner section C, maintenance and replacement of the bubble supply unit 21 can be easily performed by removing the lower front panel 103B.

[0035] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and modifications are permitted without altering the gist of the invention. For example, while a heat pump type heating means 10 is used to heat the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2, an electric water heater that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 with an electric heater may also be used. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1. Hot water storage tank unit 2. Hot water storage tank 3. Hot water outlet pipe 4 Water supply pipe 5. Water supply bypass pipe 6. Bath mixing valve 7. Hot water supply pipe 17a Bath supply pipe 17b Bath return pipe 18 Bath circulation pump 21. Bubble supply unit 22. Bubble supply path 24A pressure pump 24B Pressure Pump 25 Dissolution Tanks 28 Gas introduction valve 29 Air intake 101 Top plate 102 Bottom plate 103C lower front plate 104 Right side plate 105 Left side plate 106 Rear plate 108 Molded insulation material C Corner Section

Claims

1. The hot water storage tank unit consists of a top plate, a bottom plate, a front plate, a lower front plate, a pipe connection plate, a rear plate, and left and right side plates. The lower front panel and one of the left and right side panels give it a rectangular shape with an inner corner. Inside the aforementioned hot water storage tank unit A hot water storage tank that stores hot water heated by a heating means, A water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank, A water supply bypass pipe branching off from the aforementioned water supply pipe, A hot water outlet pipe that supplies hot water from the top of the hot water storage tank, A mixing valve that mixes water from the water supply bypass pipe with hot water from the hot water outlet pipe, Bath piping that supplies mixed hot and cold water to the bathtub, The hot water storage tank is equipped with a molded insulating material of approximately constant thickness that covers the outer perimeter of the hot water storage tank to prevent heat from escaping from the hot water inside the tank. A bubble supply path is provided in the middle of the aforementioned bath piping, branching off from the bath piping and merging back into the bath piping. The aforementioned bubble supply path includes: A dissolution tank for dissolving gas in water and A gas introduction valve that opens and closes a gas introduction passage for introducing gas into the aforementioned dissolution tank, A hot water storage tank unit comprising a pressurizing pump located upstream of the dissolution tank, The aforementioned gas introduction valve is equipped with an air intake port. The dissolution tank is positioned in the corner section, A hot water storage tank unit characterized in that the air intake port of the dissolution tank is positioned at least toward the hot water storage tank.

2. The hot water storage tank unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the molded insulation material near the air intake where the dissolution tank is located is made thinner than the substantially constant thickness.

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