JP2018054144A - Water heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water device capable of extending the life of a sterilizing device. A hot water device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a circulation circuit that circulates hot water in a bathtub while heating it. The circulation circuit includes a heat exchanger, a return pipe, a forward pipe, a circulation pump, and a sterilizer. The heat exchanger heats hot water. The return pipe is connected to the heat exchanger. The return pipe is located upstream of the heat exchanger in the hot water circulation direction. The going pipe is connected to the heat exchanger. The going pipe is arranged downstream from the heat exchanger in the direction of hot water circulation. The circulation pump circulates hot water. The sterilizer is placed on the return pipe. The sterilizer sterilizes hot water. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water apparatus.

  Conventionally, as an apparatus for sterilizing hot water in a bathtub while heating, a bathtub water purification and sterilization apparatus described in JP-A-2002-005509 (Patent Document 1) is known.

  The bathtub water purification and sterilization apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 includes a circulation pipe, a heat exchanger, a circulation pump, and purification and sterilization means. The circulation pipe is a path through which hot water in the bathtub circulates. The heat exchanger is disposed on the circulation pipe and heats the hot water in the bathtub. The circulation pump is disposed on the circulation pipe and circulates hot water. The purification and sterilization means is disposed on the circulation pipe and sterilizes hot water by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

JP 2002-005509 A

  In the bathtub water purification and sterilization apparatus described in Patent Document 1, hot water heated by a heat exchanger passes through the purification and sterilization means. When hot water having a high temperature passes through the purification and sterilization means, there is a higher possibility that the purification and sterilization means may be damaged by heat than when hot water having a low temperature passes. Therefore, in the bathtub water purification and sterilization apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the life of the purification and sterilization means is shortened.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. Specifically, the present invention provides a hot water device that can extend the life of a sterilization device.

  A hot water device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a circulation circuit that circulates hot water in a bathtub while heating. The circulation circuit includes a heat exchanger, a return pipe, a forward pipe, a circulation pump, and a sterilization apparatus. The heat exchanger heats hot water. The return pipe is connected to the heat exchanger. The return pipe is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the hot water circulation direction. Outward piping is connected to a heat exchanger. The forward piping is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger in the hot water circulation direction. The circulation pump circulates hot water. The sterilizing apparatus is disposed on the return pipe. The sterilization apparatus sterilizes hot water.

  In the hot water apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the sterilization apparatus is disposed on the return pipe. That is, hot water from the bathtub before being heated by the heat exchanger is passed through the sterilization apparatus. As a result, the sterilization apparatus is hardly damaged by heat. Therefore, according to the hot water device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the sterilization device can have a long lifetime.

  The hot water device may further include a pouring circuit for pouring heated water into the bathtub. The pouring circuit is connected to the circulation circuit. In the above hot water device, the return pipe may include a first pipe and a second pipe. The second pipe is connected to the first pipe and has a larger flow resistance than the first pipe. In the above hot water device, the sterilization device may be disposed on the second pipe. In the hot water device, the circulation circuit and the pouring circuit may be connected at a portion where the first pipe and the second pipe are connected.

  According to this configuration, the heated clean water hardly flows into the second pipe side. That is, the heated clean water is difficult to reach the sterilization apparatus. Therefore, according to this structure, even if the hot water apparatus includes a pouring circuit, damage due to heat of the sterilization apparatus can be suppressed, and the life of the sterilization apparatus can be extended.

  In the hot water device, the second pipe may be disposed above the first pipe in the direction of gravity. According to this configuration, the heated clean water hardly reaches the sterilization apparatus. Therefore, according to this structure, even if the hot water apparatus includes a pouring circuit, damage due to heat of the sterilization apparatus can be suppressed, and the life of the sterilization apparatus can be extended.

  In the hot water device, the circulation circuit may further include a heater. The heater is disposed below the sterilization apparatus in the direction of gravity on the return pipe. According to this configuration, the sterilization apparatus can be prevented from freezing by the heat of the heater.

  In the hot water device, the heater may be provided in the circulation pump. According to this configuration, the sterilization apparatus can be prevented from freezing while the circulation pump is prevented from freezing by the heat of the heater.

  The hot water device may further include a pouring circuit for pouring heated water into the bathtub. The pouring circuit is connected to the circulation circuit. In the above hot water apparatus, the circulation pump may be disposed at a portion where the circulation circuit and the pouring circuit are connected. According to this configuration, the assembly of the hot water device can be simplified while preventing the circulation pump and the sterilization device from being frozen by the heat of the heater.

  In the hot water apparatus, the heat exchanger may heat the hot water by heat exchange with the combustion gas. When the hot water is heated by heat exchange with the combustion gas, the temperature of the hot water becomes higher. Therefore, according to this configuration, the life of the sterilization apparatus can be extended even when the temperature of the hot water is high.

  According to the hot water device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the sterilization device can have a long life.

It is a schematic diagram of the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

(Configuration of the hot water device according to the embodiment)
Below, the structure of the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.

  In addition, you may combine arbitrarily at least one part of embodiment described below. In addition, dimensional relationships such as length, width, thickness, and depth are changed as appropriate for clarity of the drawings, and do not represent actual dimensional relationships.

  In addition, the solid line arrow in FIG. 1 respond | corresponds to the gravity direction. In other words, being arranged upward in FIG. 1 means being located above in the direction of gravity. Here, the direction of gravity refers to the direction in which gravity acts.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water apparatus according to the embodiment has a circulation circuit 1. The hot water apparatus according to the embodiment may have a hot water supply circuit 2. The hot water apparatus according to the embodiment may have a pouring circuit 3. The circulation circuit 1 is connected to the bathtub 4. The circulation circuit 1 is a hot water circuit that circulates hot water in the bathtub 4 while heating. The hot water supply circuit 2 is a hot water circuit that heats clean water. The pouring circuit 3 is a hot water circuit for pouring heated water into the bathtub 4.

  The circulation circuit 1 has a heat exchanger 11. The circulation circuit 1 has a return pipe 12 and an outgoing pipe 13. The circulation circuit 1 has a circulation pump 14. The circulation circuit 1 has a sterilization apparatus 15. The circulation circuit 1 may have a heater 16.

  The heat exchanger 11 heats the hot water in the bathtub 4. The heat exchanger 11 may heat the hot water by heat exchange with the combustion gas. That is, the burner 17 may be disposed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 11. However, the configuration in which the heat exchanger 11 heats hot water is not limited to this. For example, the heat exchanger 11 may heat the hot water in the bathtub 4 by arranging a flow path through which a heating medium (for example, hot water having a temperature higher than that of the hot water in the bathtub 4) flows in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 11. Good.

  The return pipe 12 constitutes a flow path through which hot water in the bathtub 4 circulates. The return pipe 12 is arranged upstream of the heat exchanger 11 in the hot water circulation direction of the bathtub 4 (the direction of the dotted arrow in FIG. 1). One end of the return pipe 12 is connected to a circulation adapter 41 provided in the bathtub 4. The other end of the return pipe 12 is connected to the heat exchanger 11.

  The return pipe 12 may include a first pipe 12a and a second pipe 12b. The first pipe 12a and the second pipe 12b are connected to each other. The 2nd piping 12b is located in the downstream in the circulation direction of the hot water of the bathtub 4 rather than the 1st piping 12a. The second pipe 12b has a larger flow path resistance than the first pipe 12a.

  More specifically, the second pipe 12b is disposed above the first pipe 12a in the direction of gravity. However, the configuration in which the flow path resistance of the second pipe 12b is greater than the flow path resistance of the first pipe 12a is not limited to this. The magnitude of the channel resistance is determined by the magnitude of the pressure loss that accompanies hot water.

  The forward piping 13 constitutes a flow path through which hot water in the bathtub 4 circulates. The forward piping 13 is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger 11 in the hot water circulation direction of the bathtub 4. One end of the outgoing pipe 13 is connected to the heat exchanger 11. The other end of the outgoing pipe 13 is connected to the circulation adapter 41 of the bathtub 4.

  The circulation pump 14 circulates the hot water in the bathtub 4 through the return pipe 12, the sterilizer 15, the heat exchanger 11, and the forward pipe 13. The circulation pump 14 is disposed on the return pipe 12 or the outgoing pipe 13. Preferably, the circulation pump 14 is disposed in a portion on the return pipe 12 where the circulation circuit 1 and the pouring circuit 3 are connected (portion where the first pipe 12a and the second pipe 12b are connected). Yes. That is, it is preferable that the circulation pump 14 is disposed on the upstream side in the circulating direction of the hot water in the bathtub 4 relative to the sterilization device 15 on the return pipe 12.

  The sterilization apparatus 15 is an apparatus for sterilizing hot water in the bathtub 4. Specifically, the sterilization apparatus 15 includes a housing 15a and a sterilization lamp 15b. The sterilization lamp 15b is a lamp that emits ultraviolet rays for sterilizing hot water in the bathtub 4. For example, the sterilization lamp 15b is a fluorescent lamp that emits ultraviolet rays. The sterilization lamp 15b may be an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits ultraviolet rays.

  The housing 15a houses a sterilization lamp 15b. More specifically, the sterilization lamp 15b is inserted into a protective tube made of quartz glass or the like disposed inside the housing 15a. In the housing 15a, a flow path through which hot water of the bathtub 4 flows is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the housing 15a and the outer peripheral surface of the protective tube.

  The sterilizer 15 is disposed on the return pipe 12. If this is said from another viewpoint, the sterilization apparatus 15 is arrange | positioned rather than the heat exchanger 11 in the upstream of the circulation direction of the hot water of the bathtub 4. FIG.

  The heater 16 is arranged on the path of the return pipe 12 so as to heat the hot water in the bathtub 4 circulating through the return pipe 12 below the sterilization apparatus in the gravity direction. More specifically, the heater 16 is disposed upstream of the sterilization apparatus 15 in the hot water circulation direction of the bathtub 4. However, the heater 16 is not necessarily arranged upstream of the sterilization apparatus 15 in the hot water circulation direction of the bathtub 4. The heater 16 only needs to be disposed below the sterilization apparatus 15 in the direction of gravity.

  The heater 16 is preferably provided in the circulation pump 14. The heater 16 may be incorporated inside the circulation pump 14 or may be installed outside the circulation pump 14.

  The hot water supply circuit 2 includes a pipe 21 and a pipe 22. The hot water supply circuit 2 has a heat exchanger 23. The pipe 21 and the pipe 22 constitute a water supply passage. One end of the pipe 21 is connected to the water supply. The other end of the pipe 21 is connected to the heat exchanger 23. One end of the pipe 22 is connected to a heat exchanger. The other end of the pipe 22 is connected to a currant or the like.

  The heat exchanger 23 heats clean water from the pipe 21. The heat exchanger 23 has the same configuration as the heat exchanger 11. That is, the burner 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 23, and the heat exchanger 23 may heat clean water by heat exchange with the combustion gas emitted from the burner 24.

  The pouring circuit 3 has a pipe 31. The pouring circuit 3 has a pouring valve 32. The pipe 31 constitutes a water flow path for clean water heated in the hot water supply circuit 2. One end of the pipe 31 is connected to the pipe 22. Thereby, the pouring circuit 3 and the hot water supply circuit 2 are connected. The other end of the pipe 31 is connected to the return pipe 12. Preferably, the other end of the pipe 31 is connected to a portion where the first pipe 12a and the second pipe 12b are connected. Thereby, the pouring circuit 3 and the circulation circuit 1 are connected. The pouring valve 32 is disposed on the path of the pipe 31.

(Operation of Hot Water Device According to Embodiment)
Below, operation | movement of the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, the hot water supply operation will be described. The tap water supplied from the tap water is supplied to the heat exchanger 23 via the pipe 21. The clean water supplied to the heat exchanger 23 is heated in the heat exchanger 23 to become hot water. This hot water is supplied to the currant or the like via the pipe 22.

  Next, the hot water filling operation will be described. As in the case of the hot water supply operation, the clean water supplied from the water supply is supplied to the heat exchanger 23 via the pipe 21. The clean water supplied to the heat exchanger 23 is heated in the heat exchanger 23 to become hot water. During the hot water filling operation, the pouring valve 32 is open. Therefore, this hot water is supplied to the bathtub 4 through the piping 31, the first piping 12a, and the discharge port of the circulation adapter 41. As described above, since the flow path resistance of the second pipe 12b is larger than the flow path resistance of the first pipe 12a, this hot water hardly flows into the second pipe 12b side.

  Further, the chasing operation will be described. The hot water in the bathtub 4 is sucked up by the circulation pump 14 from the suction port of the circulation adapter 41 in the direction of the dotted arrow in FIG. The hot water in the bathtub 4 sucked up is supplied to the heat exchanger 11 via the return pipe 12. The hot water in the bathtub 4 thus sucked up is heated in the heat exchanger 11. The heated hot water in the bathtub 4 returns to the bathtub 4 through the outlet pipe 13 and the discharge port of the circulation adapter 41.

  As described above, the sterilizer 15 is disposed on the return pipe 12. Therefore, the hot water sucked up from the bathtub 4 passes through the sterilization device 15 during the chasing operation. The sterilization lamp 15 b of the sterilization apparatus 15 irradiates the hot water sucked up from the bathtub 4 with ultraviolet rays. Thereby, the sterilization of the hot water of the bathtub 4 is performed.

  In addition, the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment can also perform only disinfection operation | movement, without performing a retreat. That is, the hot water apparatus according to the embodiment does not have to operate the heat exchanger 11 in the above-described reheating operation.

(Effect of the hot water apparatus according to the embodiment)
Below, the basic effect of the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated.

  As described above, the return pipe 12 is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger 11 in the circulation direction of the hot water in the bathtub 4, while the forward pipe 13 is disposed in the hot water of the bathtub 4 rather than the heat exchanger 11. It is arranged on the downstream side in the circulation direction. Therefore, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 4 flowing through the return pipe 12 is lower than the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 4 flowing through the forward pipe 13. In addition, as described above, the sterilization apparatus 15 is disposed on the path of the return pipe 12. As the temperature of the hot water flowing through the sterilization apparatus 15 increases, the sterilization apparatus 15 is more easily damaged by heat. Therefore, according to the hot water device according to the embodiment, the sterilization device 15 is hardly damaged by heat, and the life of the sterilization device 15 can be extended.

Below, the effect in case the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment has the pouring circuit 3 is demonstrated.
As described above, the pouring circuit 3 is connected to the circulation circuit 1 at a portion where the first pipe 12a and the second pipe 12b are connected. As described above, the second pipe 12b has a higher channel resistance than the first pipe 12a. Therefore, the heated clean water from the pouring circuit 3 mainly flows to the first pipe 12a side and hardly flows to the second pipe 12b side. And the sterilizer 15 is arrange | positioned on the 2nd piping 12b from which the heated clean water from the pouring circuit 3 cannot flow easily. Therefore, in this case, the sterilization apparatus 15 is not easily damaged by heat from the heated tap water from the pouring circuit 3, and the life of the sterilization apparatus 15 can be extended.

  Even when the second pipe 12b is arranged above the first pipe 12a in the direction of gravity, the heated clean water from the pouring circuit 3 hardly flows into the second pipe 12b. Therefore, in this case as well, the sterilization apparatus is not easily damaged by the heated water from the pouring circuit 3 and the life of the sterilization apparatus 15 can be extended.

  When the circulation pump is arranged in the portion where the circulation circuit 1 and the pouring circuit 3 are connected (the portion where the first piping 12a and the second piping 12b are connected), the assembly of each piping is easy. It becomes. Therefore, in this case, the assembly of the hot water device according to the embodiment can be simplified.

Below, the effect in case the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment has the heater 16 is demonstrated.
The heater 16 is disposed below the sterilization apparatus 15 in the direction of gravity. Therefore, heat from the heater 16 easily reaches the sterilization apparatus 15. Therefore, in this case, freezing of the sterilization apparatus 15 can be prevented.

  When the heater 16 is provided in the circulation pump 14, the heater 16 can prevent freezing of the circulation pump 14 as well as the sterilization device 15.

  Below, in the hot water apparatus which concerns on embodiment, the effect in case the heat exchanger 11 heats the hot water of the bathtub 4 by heat exchange with combustion gas is demonstrated.

  In this case, the temperature of the hot water in the tub 4 compared to other methods (for example, a method of exchanging heat with a heating medium such as hot water having a higher temperature than the hot water in the tub 4). Tends to rise. That is, the sterilization apparatus 15 is easily damaged by heat.

  However, in the hot water apparatus according to the embodiment, since the hot water in the bathtub 4 whose temperature has become higher in this way does not pass through the sterilization apparatus 15, the heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat with the combustion gas in the bathtub. Even when the 4 hot water is heated, the life of the sterilization apparatus 15 can be extended.

  It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above-described embodiment but by the scope of claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the scope of claims and all modifications within the scope.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circulation circuit, 11 Heat exchanger, 12 Return piping, 12a 1st piping, 12b 2nd piping, 13 Outward piping, 14 Circulation pump, 15 Disinfection device, 15a Case, 15b Disinfection lamp, 16 Heater, 17 Burner 2, hot water supply circuit, 21, 22 piping, 23 heat exchanger, 24 burner, 3 pouring circuit, 31 piping, 32 pouring valve, 4 bathtub, 41 circulation adapter.

Claims (7)

It has a circulation circuit to circulate while heating the hot water in the bathtub,
The circulation circuit is
A heat exchanger for heating the hot water,
A return pipe connected to the heat exchanger and disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the direction in which the hot water circulates;
Outward piping connected to the heat exchanger and arranged downstream in the direction in which the hot water circulates than the heat exchanger;
A circulation pump for circulating the hot water,
A hot water apparatus that is disposed on the return pipe and has a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the hot water. A pouring circuit connected to the circulation circuit and pouring heated water into the bathtub;
The return pipe includes a first pipe and a second pipe connected to the first pipe and having a larger flow resistance than the first pipe.
The sterilizer is disposed on the second pipe,
The hot water apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation circuit and the pouring circuit are connected at a portion where the first pipe and the second pipe are connected.   The hot water device according to claim 2, wherein the second pipe is disposed above the first pipe in the direction of gravity.   The hot water apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation circuit further includes a heater that heats the hot water circulating through the return pipe below the sterilization apparatus in the direction of gravity.   The hot water device according to claim 4, wherein the heater is provided in the circulation pump. A pouring circuit connected to the circulation circuit and pouring heated water into the bathtub;
The hot water apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the circulation pump is disposed at a portion where the circulation circuit and the pouring circuit are connected.   The hot water device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heat exchanger heats the hot water by heat exchange with combustion gas.

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