U.S. patent application number 12/853554 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for water heating apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Paloma Industries, Limited. Invention is credited to Masakazu KOBAYASHI.
Application Number | 20110048344 12/853554 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42751899 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110048344 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOBAYASHI; Masakazu |
March 3, 2011 |
WATER HEATING APPARATUS
Abstract
A water heating apparatus includes: an exhaust gas passage
through which an exhaust gas from a burner flows; a water flow
passage through which water flows; a first heat exchanger
configured to exchange heat between sensible heat contained in the
exhaust gas and water flowing through a heat exchanger tube, and
arranged at upstream side of the exhaust gas passage and downstream
side of the water flow passage; a second heat exchanger configured
to exchange heat between latent heat contained in the exhaust gas
and water flowing through a heat exchanger tube, and arranged at
downstream side of the exhaust gas passage and upstream side of the
water flow passage; and a bypass pipe arranged in the water flow
passage in such a position as to bypass the second heat exchanger
and designed to allow a at least the predetermined minimum amount
of water required for a burner combustion operation to flow
therethrough into the first heat exchanger.
Inventors: |
KOBAYASHI; Masakazu;
(Nagoya-Shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
Paloma Industries, Limited
Nagoya-Shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
42751899 |
Appl. No.: |
12/853554 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
122/7R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 2200/043 20130101;
F24D 2200/18 20130101; F24H 1/0081 20130101; F24D 19/1051 20130101;
Y02B 10/70 20130101; Y02B 30/18 20130101; F24D 17/0052 20130101;
F24D 19/088 20130101; F24D 19/0095 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/7.R |
International
Class: |
F22B 1/18 20060101
F22B001/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2009 |
JP |
2009-195836 |
Claims
1. A water heating apparatus comprising: an exhaust gas passage
through which an exhaust gas from a burner flows; a water flow
passage through which water flows; a first heat exchanger
configured to exchange heat between sensible heat contained in the
exhaust gas and water flowing through a heat exchanger tube, and
arranged at upstream side of the exhaust gas passage and downstream
side of the water flow passage; a second heat exchanger configured
to exchange heat between latent heat contained in the exhaust gas
and water flowing through a heat exchanger tube, and arranged
downstream of the exhaust gas passage and upstream of the water
flow passage; and a bypass pipe arranged in the water flow passage
in such a position as to bypass the second heat exchanger and
designed to allow at least a predetermined minimum amount of water
required for a burner combustion operation to flow therethrough
into the first heat exchanger.
2. The water heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
water drain pipe is connected in the water flow passage at an
intermediate portion between the second heat exchanger and the
first heat exchanger, and the bypass pipe is connected between an
upstream side of the second heat exchanger and the water drain
pipe, in an up-and-down direction.
3. The water heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at
least at a downstream end of the bypass pipe, the bypass pipe has
an inner diameter to allow the predetermined minimum amount of
water to flow therethrough.
4. The water heating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at
least at a downstream end of the bypass pipe, the bypass pipe has
an inner diameter to allow the predetermined minimum amount of
water to flow therethrough.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the entire benefit of Japanese
Patent Application Number 2009-195836 filed on Aug. 26, 2009, the
entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a latent heat-recovery type
water heating apparatus comprising a first heat exchanger and a
second heat exchanger.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] In a latent heat-recovery type water heating apparatus,
there are provided a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat
between sensible heat contained in an exhaust gas and water flowing
through a heat exchanger tube, and a second heat exchanger for
exchanging heat between latent heat contained in the exhaust gas
and water flowing through the heat exchanger tube. The first heat
exchanger is arranged upstream of an exhaust gas passage through
which an exhaust gas from a burner flows, and downstream of a water
flow passage through which water flows, whereas the second heat
exchanger is arranged downstream of the exhaust gas passage and
upstream of the water flow passage, so that high thermal efficiency
is achieved.
[0004] However, according to this water heating apparatus, when
used in winter or in a cold district, there may be a possibility
that water remaining in a heat exchanger tube of a heat exchanger
freezes, which leads the water heating apparatus to become
unavailable. In particular, water is apt to freeze in the second
heat exchanger because water remains, even after drainage of water,
inside the heat exchange tube of the second heat exchanger whose
diameter is smaller for the purpose of recovering latent heat.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-151473 discloses a
second heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchanger tubes
surrounded with a frame-type heat conduction member. The frame-type
heat conduction member is in contact with the heat exchanger tubes
and with a heater, so that heat is transmitted from the heater to
the heat exchanger tubes through the heat conduction member to
thereby prevent the heat exchanger tubes from freezing.
[0005] However, this arrangement of the second heat exchanger
requires to heat the additional heat conduction member and the
heater for a long period of time, which increases the cost.
Further, the heat conduction member can only locally heat the heat
exchanger tubes, and thus heat is not transmitted entirely over the
heat exchanger, resulting that an antifreeze effect is not
sufficiently performed.
[0006] In view of the above, the present invention seeks to provide
a water heating apparatus which is simple in structure without
requiring a heater and a heat conduction member and which can
immediately eliminate a failure due to freezing water in the second
heat exchanger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention as embodied and
described herein as a first embodiment, a water heating apparatus
comprising: an exhaust gas passage through which an exhaust gas
from a burner flows; a water flow passage through which water
flows; a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between
sensible heat contained in the exhaust gas and water flowing
through a heat exchanger tube, and arranged upstream of the exhaust
gas passage and downstream of the water flow passage; a second heat
exchanger configured to exchange heat between latent heat contained
in the exhaust gas and water flowing through a heat exchanger tube,
and arranged downstream of the exhaust gas passage and upstream of
the water flow passage; and a bypass pipe arranged in the water
flow passage in such a position as to bypass the second heat
exchanger and designed to allow a minimum amount of water required
for a burner combustion operation to flow therethrough into the
first heat exchanger.
[0008] Preferably, as a second embodiment, in the water heating
apparatus according to the first embodiment, a water drain pipe may
be connected in the water flow passage at an intermediate portion
between the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger, and
the bypass pipe may be connected between an upstream side of the
second heat exchanger and the water drain pipe in an up-and-down
direction.
[0009] Preferably, as a third embodiment, in the water heating
apparatus according to the first or second embodiment, at least at
a downstream end of the bypass pipe, the bypass pipe may have an
inner diameter to allow the minimum amount of water.
[0010] With the above configuration of the water heating apparatus
according to the first embodiment by simply providing the bypass
pipe, it is possible to use the burner even if the second heat
exchanger freezes, so that the heat exchanger tube of the second
heat exchanger can be entirely heated by the exhaust gas from the
burner. Therefore, even if the second heat exchanger freezes, the
second heat exchanger can be defrosted quickly by the combustion
heat of the burner, which results no influence on the
usability.
[0011] With the above configuration of the water heating apparatus
according to the second embodiment, in addition to the above
advantages of the first embodiment, water does not remain in the
bypass pipe after drainage of water from the water drain pipe.
[0012] With the above configuration of the water heating apparatus
according to the third embodiment, in addition to the above
advantageous effect of the first or second embodiment, it is
possible to prevent water from remaining in the bypass pipe while
ensuring the minimum amount of water supply to the first heat
exchanger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above aspect, other advantages and further features of
the present invention will become more apparent by describing in
detail illustrative, non-limiting embodiments thereof with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a bath/hot water
supply system;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure for
bypassing a second heat exchanger; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of
the structure for bypassing the second heat exchanger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to the accompanying drawings, one exemplary
embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0018] As seen in FIG. 1, a bath/hot water supply system 1 includes
a hot water supply circuit 2 as a water heating apparatus and a
bath circuit 3. A hot water supply combustion chamber 4 which
comprises hot water supply burners 5, a first heat exchanger 6, and
a second heat exchanger 7 is disposed in the hot water supply
circuit 2, so that tap water is heated to supply as hot water. The
bath circuit 3 is disposed in a bath combustion chamber 20 and
comprises a bath burner 21 and a bath heat exchanger 22. The bath
circuit 3 is used for reheating water in the bath, etc.
[0019] In the hot water supply circuit 2, a water supply pipe 8 for
supplying tap water from waterworks is connected at an inlet of the
second heat exchanger 7. A hot water supply amount sensor 9 is
provided in the water supply pipe 8. An outlet of the second heat
exchanger 7 and an inlet of the first heat exchanger 6 are
connected through a connecting pipe 10 for supplying hot water
heated by the second heat exchanger 7 to the first heat exchanger
6. A hot water supply pipe 11 for supplying hot water heated by the
first heat exchanger 6 is connected at an outlet of the first heat
exchanger 6. A hot water supply thermistor 12 is provided in the
hot water supply pipe 11. A reference number 13 indicates a hot
water tap. In the hot water supply combustion chamber 4, the first
heat exchanger 6 is arranged upstream of an exhaust gas passage
through which exhaust gases from the hot water supply burners 5
flow, and the second heat exchanger 7 is arranged downstream of the
exhaust gas passage, so that heat is exchanged between water
flowing through heat exchanger tubes of the first and second heat
exchangers 6, 7 and the exhaust gases from the hot water supply
burners 5. Gas piping 14 for supplying gas to the hot water supply
burners 5 is provided with a gas cock solenoid valve 15, a gas
supply proportional control valve 16, and hot water supply
switching solenoid valves 17 each of which is positioned in a
branch pipe extending to the corresponding hot water supply burner
5. The gas cock solenoid valve 15, the gas supply proportional
control valve 16, and the hot water supply switching solenoid
valves 17 are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the
gas piping 14. A fan 18 is provided at a lower side of the hot
water supply combustion chamber 4, which supplies combustion air to
the hot water supply burners 5 and the bath burner 21.
[0020] In the bath circuit 3, return piping 24 and supply piping 27
are connected between the bath heat exchanger 22 and a bath tub 23.
The return piping 24 is provided with a circulating pump 25 and a
bath thermistor 26. Further, the return piping 24 is connected with
a water filling pipe 28 which is branched from the hot water supply
pipe 11 and equipped with a hot water supply solenoid valve 29 and
a filling water quantity sensor 30. When the hot water supply
solenoid valve 29 provided in the water filling pipe 28 is opened,
hot water heated in the hot water supply circuit 2 can be supplied
to the bath tub 23. A switching solenoid valve 31 is provided in a
branch pipe extending between the gas piping 14 and the bath burner
21. Reference numbers 32, 33, and 34 indicate a controller, a hot
water supply remote control, and a bath remote control,
respectively.
[0021] A bypass pipe 35 for bypassing the second heat exchanger 7
is connected to a water flow passage in the hot water supply
circuit 2. To be more specific, as best seen in FIG. 2, a joint 36
is provided at an intermediate portion of the connecting pipe 10,
and a water drain pipe 37 is connected to the joint 36. The bypass
pipe 35 is connected in an up-and-down direction between the water
drain pipe 37 and the water supply pipe 8. The inner diameter of
the bypass pipe 35 is determined such that an upper end portion
(i.e., downstream end) thereof that is adjacent and connected to
the water drain pipe 37 has a diameter (e.g., 3.0 mm) for obtaining
a minimum amount of water (e.g., 2.5 L/min) required for burning
operations of the hot water supply burners 5 in the hot water
supply circuit 2 and the remaining portion of the bypass pipe 35
has a diameter (e.g., 4.8 mm) greater than that of the upper end
portion. The reason for reducing the diameter of the upper end
portion is that if the inner diameter is too large, the amount of
water supplied to the second heat exchanger 7 becomes smaller,
resulting in a decrease in the thermal efficiency. On the contrary,
the reason for increasing the diameter of the remaining portion is
that if the diameter is too smaller throughout the entire length of
the bypass pipe 35, drainage of water from the bypass pipe 35 may
not be performed reliably.
[0022] According to the bath/hot water supply system 1 configured
as described above, a normal hot water supply is performed in the
following manner.
[0023] The hot water tap 13 provided in the hot water supply pipe
11 is first opened, so that water flows into equipment. When the
hot water supply amount sensor 9 detects the flow of water, the
controller 32 causes the fan 18 to operate for a predetermined
period of time to discharge (i.e., prepurge) exhaust gases
remaining in the hot water supply combustion chamber 4 and the bath
combustion chamber 20. Thereafter, the gas cock solenoid valve 15
and the respective hot water supply switching solenoid valves 17
provided in the gas piping 14 are opened, and the gas supply
proportional control valve 16 is opened at a predetermined degree
of valve opening, so that gas is supplied to the hot water supply
burners 5. An igniter 19 is then actuated and the hot water supply
burners 5 are lit.
[0024] Exhaust gases from the hot water supply burners 5 flow first
through the first heat exchanger 6 where heat can be exchanged with
water flowing inside the heat exchanger tube of the first heat
exchanger 6 and second through the second heat exchanger 7 where
heat can be exchanged with water flowing inside the heat exchanger
tube of the second heat exchanger 7, and finally discharged to the
outside. Accordingly, sensible heat is recovered at the first heat
exchanger 6 and latent heat is recovered at the second heat
exchanger 7, so that heated water can be supplied through the hot
water tap 13. Drainage generated at the second heat exchanger 7 is
neutralized by a neutralizing device 38 before discharge.
[0025] The controller 32 monitors the temperature of hot water by
means of the hot water supply thermistor 12 provided in the hot
water supply pipe 11. The controller 32 further controls opening
and closing of the hot water supply switching solenoid valves 17,
adjusts the gas supply proportional control valve 16 to a desired
degree of valve opening, and controls the rotation speed of the fan
18 to continuously adjust the amount of air supply, such that the
temperature of supplied hot water is adjusted to a setting
temperature that is set through the hot water supply remote control
33 or the bath remote control 34. When the hot water tap 13 is
closed, the controller 32 detects that the hot water supply amount
sensor 9 stops sending a signal and closes the gas cock solenoid
valve 15 and the hot water supply switching solenoid valves 17 to
extinguish the hot water supply burners 5. The controller 32
further operates the fan 18 for a predetermined period of time
(i.e., post purge).
[0026] Meanwhile, in the bath circuit 3, when an automatic bath
fill button on the hot water supply remote control 33 or the bath
remote control 34 is pressed, the controller 32 opens the hot water
supply solenoid valve 29 in the water filling pipe 28 for allowing
water to flow into the hot water supply circuit 2 and then the hot
water supply burners 5 is operated. Hot water from the hot water
supply pipe 11 flows through the water filling pipe 28 and the
return piping 24, and is supplied to the bath tub 23. When the
filling water quantity sensor 30 provided in the water filing pipe
detects that the amount of water reaches the setting amount, the
controller 32 causes the hot water supply solenoid valve 29 to be
closed to stop the supply of hot water, and then extinguishes the
burners 5.
[0027] Next, the circulating pump 25 operates to circulate hot
water from the bath tub 23 within the bath circuit 3. During the
circulation of hot water, the bath thermistor 26 provided in the
return piping 24 monitors the temperature of the hot water, and
when this temperature becomes the setting temperature or lower, the
bath burner 21 is lit. Accordingly, bath circulating water
circulating between the bath heat exchanger 22 and the bath tub 23
is heated up to the setting temperature. When the temperature of
the hot water reaches the setting temperature, the combustion using
the bath burner 21 is stopped and the circulating pump 25 is also
stopped.
[0028] In order to prevent freezing in the winter-time, a valve
(not shown) provided in the water drain pipe 37 can be opened. This
makes it possible to discharge water in the second heat exchanger 7
to the outside through the connecting pipe 10, the joint 36, and
the water drain pipe 37. However, since the second heat exchanger 7
employs a thin heat exchanger tube, water is not completely drain
out and some water remains in the heat exchanger tube, so that the
remaining water may freeze. In this state, even if the hot water
tap 13 is opened, tap water from the water supply pipe 8 does not
flow into the second heat exchanger 7. According to the invention,
since the bypass pipe 35 bypasses the second heat exchanger 7, tap
water flows directly into the first heat exchanger 6 from the
bypass pipe 35 through the connecting pipe 10, so that a flow of
water within the equipment can be ensured and the hot water supply
burners 5 can ignite for combustion. Therefore, hot water can be
supplied even if the second heat exchanger 7 freezes.
[0029] When the hot water supply burners 5 ignite and start the
combustion, the second heat exchanger 7 is entirely heated and the
frozen portion is defrosted. This can restore a flow of water
through the second heat exchanger 7 and therefore latent heat can
be recovered. Since water flows through the bypass pipe 35 having a
smaller diameter, the supply of hot water is restricted until the
frozen second heat exchanger 7 is restored. However, the second
heat exchanger 7 can be defrosted for a short time and the amount
of hot water supply recovers quickly, which has little effect on
the usability.
[0030] According to the bath/hot water supply system 1 configured
as described above, the bypass pipe 35 is arranged in the water
flow passage in such a position as to bypass the second heat
exchanger 7, and is designed to allow at least the predetermined
minimum amount of water required for the burner combustion
operation to flow therethrough into the first heat exchanger 6.
Therefore, by simply providing the bypass pipe 35, it is possible
to use the hot water supply burners 5 even if the second heat
exchanger 7 freezes, so that the heat exchanger tube of the second
heat exchanger 7 can be entirely heated by the exhaust gas from the
burners 5. Therefore, in case where the second heat exchanger 7
freezes, it could be defrosted quickly by the combustion heat of
the hot water supply burners 5, which does not affect on the
usability.
[0031] Further, the water drain pipe 37 is connected in the water
flow passage at an intermediate portion between the second heat
exchanger 7 and the first heat exchanger 6, and the bypass pipe 35
is connected in the up-and-down direction between the upstream side
of the second heat exchanger 7 and the water drain pipe 37.
Therefore, water does not remain in the bypass pipe 35 after
drainage of water from the water drain pipe 37.
[0032] Furthermore, the downstream end of the bypass pipe 35 has a
smaller inner diameter than that of the other part to allow the
predetermined minimum amount of water. Therefore, it is possible to
prevent water from remaining in the bypass pipe 35 while ensuring
the predetermined minimum amount of water supply to the first heat
exchanger 6.
[0033] According to the above exemplary embodiment, the bypass pipe
35 is connected to the connecting pipe 10 through the water drain
pipe 37. However, in the case where the water drain pipe is
arranged in a different position, as best seen in FIG. 3, the
bypass pipe 35 can be directly connected to the joint 36. Further,
the inner diameter of the bypass pipe 35 is not limited to the
reduced diameter that is reduced only at the downstream end of the
bypass pipe 35 corresponding to the minimum amount of water. As
long as water may not remain in the bypass pipe 35, the bypass pipe
35 may have the same inner diameter throughout its length
corresponding to the minimum amount of water.
[0034] Other modifications may be available. For example, a
normally closed solenoid valve may be provided in the bypass pipe
and when the second heat exchanger 7 freezes, the controller 32 may
open the solenoid valve. In this instance, it is possible to
determine that the second heat exchanger 7 is in a frozen state if
the flow rate detected at the water filling pipe 28 is zero or
lower than a predetermined value after the automatic bath fill
button on the remote controller 33 or 34 is pressed, and then the
controller 32 opens the solenoid valve. When the detected flow rate
exceeds the predetermined value, the controller 32 may determine
that second heat exchanger 7 is defrosted and the solenoid valve is
closed.
[0035] Other than the above, the bath/hot water supply system 1
according to the above embodiment includes the hot water supply
circuit 2 provided with a plurality of hot water supply burners 5.
However, the hot water supply circuit may have only one hot water
supply burner 5. Of course, the present invention is not limited to
the bath/hot water supply system 1 as described above including the
bath circuit 3 in addition to the hot water supply circuit 2, and
may be applicable to a single water heating apparatus without a
bath circuit 3.
* * * * *