Hot water storage tank unit

Abstract

To inhibit a pressurizing pump from being heated to a high temperature due to heat radiation from a heat source 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. The hot water storage tank unit 1 further includes a pressurizing pump mounting base 110 for fixing the pressurizing pump 24 to a bottom plate 102, and the pressurizing pump 24 and the pressurizing pump mounting base 110 are disposed in a corner C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot water storage tank unit having an air bubble supply unit. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Conventionally, this type of air bubble supply unit includes a dissolution tank for dissolving air in water, a gas introduction valve for opening and closing a gas introduction path that introduces gas into the dissolution tank, a pressurization pump for pressure-feeding water to the dissolution tank, and an air suction port for sucking air from the outside, and has been installed inside or outside a bathroom. [[Prior Art Literature]] [[Patent Literature]]

[0003] [[Patent Literature 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-64762 [[Patent Literature 2]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-181903 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] By the way, as in Patent Literature 1, when a separate air bubble supply unit is provided alone in a bathroom, there is no heat-source device in the microbubble unit, and it is not necessary to consider the influence of heat radiation from the heat-source device. However, when a heat-source device is provided in the unit, there has been a problem that heat radiation from the heat source causes the pressurization pump to generate heat, resulting in an abnormal high-temperature state. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[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 surface plate, and left and right side plates, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a corner portion on the inner side formed by the lower front plate, one of the left and right side plates, and the bottom plate ofThe hot water storage tank unit includes 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, bath piping for supplying the mixed hot water to the bathtub, and a molded insulating material of approximately constant thickness covering the outer circumference of the hot water storage tank to prevent the hot water in the storage tank from losing heat, and the bath piping In a hot water storage tank unit, a bubble supply path is provided that branches off from the bath piping and merges with the bath piping, and the bubble supply path includes 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 hot water storage tank unit is provided with a pressure pump mounting base for fixing the pressure pump to the bottom plate, and the pressure pump and the pressure pump mounting base are arranged in the corner. The hot water storage tank unit is provided with at least two pressure pumps, and the two pressure pumps are positioned at approximately equal distances from the center of the bottom plate. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, the effect of heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank on the pressurizing pump can be minimized. [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] An exploded perspective view illustrating the installation of the pressure pump of this invention. [Figure 7] A top view showing the arrangement of the pressurizing pump of this invention. [Figure 8]A left side view showing the arrangement of the pressurizing pump of this invention. [Figure 9] An exploded perspective view illustrating the installation of the pressure pump 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] The hot water storage tank 2 consists of a cylindrical body, an upper end plate that closes the upper end of the body, and a lower end plate that closes the lower end of the body. The upper end plate is roughly shaped like an inverted bowl, and the lower end plate is roughly shaped like a bowl.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 17a represents a bath circulation path connected to the filling pipe 7; 17b represents a first water channel connecting the bath circulation path 17a and a bathtub; 17c represents a second water channel connecting the bath circulation path 17a, a first switching valve 27A and a second switching valve 27B; 17d represents a third water channel connecting the second water channel 17c and the bathtub via the second switching valve 27B; 17e represents a reheating path for heating hot water in the bathtub via a bath heat exchanger 30. 18 is a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation path 17. 17a to 17d are bath pipes connecting the bathtub and the heating means 10.

[0014] 19 is a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the bathtub, and 20 is a water flow sensor for detecting whether water flows from the bathtub when the bath circulation pump 18 is driven.

[0015] Next, a bubble supply unit 21 configured to cause hot water supplied to a bathtub to contain bubbles will be described. 22a is a hot water supply path connecting the bath circulation path 17a and the upstream side of a 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. The bubble supply path 22 is constituted by the path formed by the hot water supply path 22a and the hot water discharge path 22b.

[0016] The bubble supply path 22 is provided with a water servo 23 for controlling the amount of water flowing into the bubble supply path 22, a pressurization pump 24A arranged on the upstream side and configured to pressure-feed hot water toward the downstream, a pressurization pump 24B arranged on the downstream side and configured to pressure-feed hot water toward the downstream, a dissolution tank 25 for dissolving air in the pressure-fed hot water, a check valve 26 for preventing back flow into the dissolution tank 25, and a three-way valve 27.

[0017] The dissolution tank 25 is provided with a gas introduction valve 28, which is a valve for opening and closing a gas introduction path that takes air into the dissolution tank 25, and an air suction port 29 that takes in air.

[0018] 200 is a control device that receives detection values from a bath temperature sensor 8, a bath flow rate sensor 9, a water level sensor 19, and a flowing water sensor 20, and controls the operation of a bath mixing valve 6, a circulation pump 14, a hot water filling valve 15, a bath circulation pump 18, a three-way valve 27, a gas introduction valve 28, and a heating means 10 in accordance with a pre-stored program.

[0019] Further, the control device 200 is communicably connected to a remote controller (not shown), performs an operation instructed by a user via the remote controller, and executes various types of operations in accordance with a pre-stored program.

[0020] Next, the boiling operation will be described. When a boiling request is received, the control device 200 drives the circulation pump 14 provided in the middle of a heating circulation circuit 13 connecting a hot water storage tank 2 and the heating means 10, pumps up water from the lower part inside the hot water storage tank 2, heats the water by the heating means 10, and continues the operation of returning the heated water to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2, whereby the water in the hot water storage tank 2 is gradually boiled into high-temperature water.

[0021] Next, the hot water filling operation will be described. When a user instructs a hot water filling operation via a remote controller (not shown), the control device 200 opens the hot water filling valve 15 to supply water from a water supply pipe 4, the water flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2 and passes through a water supply bypass pipe 5, the high-temperature water pushed out from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 and the supply water from the water supply bypass pipe 5 are mixed by the bath mixing valve 6, and hot water adjusted so that a preset bath set temperature matches the temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 8 flows into a bathtub through a hot water filling pipe 7, a bath circulation path 17a, and a first water path 17b, thereby starting hot water filling. Then, the flow rate is detected by the bath flow rate sensor 9, and when the total integrated value of the flow rate reaches a preset set hot water filling amount, the control device 200 closes the hot water filling valve 15 to complete hot water filling. Further, the bath circulation path 17a has two paths: a path for supplying water to the bathtub via the first water path 17b, and a path for supplying water to the bathtub via a third water path 17d and a second water path 17c, and a high-speed hot water filling operation in which hot water is supplied from two pipes simultaneously to perform the hot water filling operation can also be performed.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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 103A, a lower front plate 103B that covers the lower front, a pipe connection plate 103C that serves as a pipe connection port, 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] The hot water storage tank unit 1 has an inner corner section C formed by the lower front panel 103B, one of the right side panel 104 or left side panel 105, and the bottom panel 102, and a bubble supply unit 21 is provided in the corner section C. To explain the corner section C in more detail, the corner section C is the gap formed between the inner corner portion of the lower front panel 103B, the side panel and the bottom panel 102 and the outside of the molded insulation material 108 covering the bowl-shaped hot water storage tank 2.

[0028] Next, the arrangement of the bubble supply unit 21 provided in corner section C will be described in detail based on Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 110 is a pressure pump mounting base attached to the base plate 102, and the pressure pump mounting base 110 consists of a metal fixing part 110a for fixing the pressure pump 24A, a metal fixing part 110b for fixing the pressure pump 24B, and a floor fixing part 110c that is attached to the base plate 102. Furthermore, 111 is a mounting bracket on side A for fixing the pressure pump 24A to the pressure pump mounting base 110, and 112 is a mounting bracket on side B for fixing the pressure pump 24B to the pressure pump mounting base 110.

[0031] Next, we will explain in detail the arrangement of pressure pumps 24A and 24B. The pressure pumps 24A and 24B are attached to the pressure pump mounting base 110 via mounting brackets A-side 111 and B-side 112, and the pressure pump mounting base 110 is located in the inner corner C of the lower front panel 103B and the left side panel 105.

[0032] Furthermore, the base plate 102 is positioned such that the distance from the center of the base plate 102 to the pressure pump 24A is equal to the distance from the center of the base plate 102 to the pressure pump 24B.

[0033] Furthermore, the pressure pump mounting base 110 is attached to the bottom plate 102 and positioned as far down as possible within the hot water storage tank unit 1.

[0034] In this way, by providing the pressure pump mounting base 110 in the inner corner C of the lower front panel 103B and the left side panel 105, the influence of heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank 2 on the pressure pump 24A and the pressure pump 24B can be minimized, and the pressure pump 24A and the pressure pump 24B can be prevented from entering an abnormal high-temperature state.

[0035] Furthermore, the hot water storage tank 2 stores hot water in layers, and the temperature is relatively lower towards the bottom. This reduces the effect of heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank 2, preventing the pressure pumps 24A and 24B from becoming overheated.

[0036] Furthermore, by ensuring that the distance from the center of the base plate 102 is equal and by positioning it near the legs 107, the pressure pumps 24A and 24B can be stably supported by the legs 107, and the weight of the two pressure pumps 24 can be prevented from being unevenly distributed.

[0037] Next, the method for installing the pressure pump mounting base 110 will be explained based on Figure 9. The metal fitting fixing parts 110a and 110b of the pressure pump mounting base 110 are arch-shaped openings and have screw holes 110d and 110e.

[0038] Furthermore, the A-side mounting bracket 111 has an insertion portion 111a and a fixing portion 111b, and the B-side mounting bracket 112 has an insertion portion 112a and a fixing portion 112b.

[0039] When attaching the A-side mounting bracket 111 to the pressure pump mounting base 110, the insertion portion 111a of the A-side mounting bracket 111 is inserted into the arch-shaped bracket fixing portion 110a of the pressure pump mounting base 110, and the fixing portion 111b and the screw hole 110d are fixed via a screw (not shown).

[0040] Furthermore, when attaching the B-side mounting bracket 112 to the pressure pump mounting base 110, the insertion portion 112a of the B-side mounting bracket 112 is inserted into the arch-shaped bracket fixing portion 110b of the pressure pump mounting base 110, and the fixing portion 112b and the screw hole 110e are fixed together with a screw (not shown).

[0041] Furthermore, the arch-shaped metal fittings fixing parts 110a and 110b are open so that they are at least visible from the direction of the lower front panel, and the lower front panel 103B can be removed so that the insertion parts 111a and 112a can be inserted into the arch-shaped metal fittings fixing parts 110a and 110b from the direction of the lower front panel.

[0042] Thus, when replacing or maintaining the pressure pumps 24A and 24B, the lower front panel 103B can be easily removed to perform the replacement or maintenance.

[0043] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and modifications are permitted without altering the essence of the invention. For example, the heating of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 may be done using a heat pump. Although the heating means 10 is used, an electric water heater that heats the hot water storage tank 2 with an electric heater would also be acceptable. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 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 103A Front plate 103B Lower front plate 104 Right side plate 105 Left side plate 106 Rear plate 109 Dissolution tank mounting bracket 110 Pressure pump mounting base 111 A-side mounting bracket 112 B-side mounting bracket C Corner Section

Claims

[Claim 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, one of the left and right side panels, and the bottom panel form a rectangular prism 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 hot water storage tank unit includes a pressure pump mounting base for fixing the pressure pump to the bottom plate, The pressure pump and the pressure pump mounting base are arranged in the corner section. Inside the aforementioned hot water storage tank unit At least two of the aforementioned pressurizing pumps are provided. A hot water storage tank unit characterized in that the two pressure pumps are each positioned at approximately equal distances from the center of the bottom plate.

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