U.S. patent application number 15/537807 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-21 for hot water supply apparatus provided with pressure reducing valve.
The applicant listed for this patent is KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Si Hwan KIM, Seung Kil SON, Yong Min SONG.
Application Number | 20170363301 15/537807 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56025095 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170363301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SON; Seung Kil ; et
al. |
December 21, 2017 |
HOT WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH PRESSURE REDUCING
VALVE
Abstract
A hot water supply apparatus of the present invention includes:
a direct water inlet pipe into which direct water is introduced; a
heat exchanger for heating direct water introduced through the
direct water inlet pipe with combustion heat of a burner; a hot
water supply pipe for discharging the hot water heated in the heat
exchanger; a bypass pipe connected between the direct water inlet
pipe and the hot water supply pipe so as to mix a part of the
direct water introduced through the direct water inlet pipe with
the hot water discharged through the hot water supply pipe; and a
pressure reducing valve provided on the bypass pipe and configured
to reduce the pressure of water passing through the inside of the
bypass pipe to supply the water to the hot water supply pipe when
hot water is supplied.
Inventors: |
SON; Seung Kil; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Si Hwan; (Seoul, KR) ; SONG; Yong
Min; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD. |
Pyeongtaek-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
56025095 |
Appl. No.: |
15/537807 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 17, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2015/013860 |
371 Date: |
June 19, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 19/1051 20130101;
F24H 1/34 20130101; F24D 2220/042 20130101; Y02B 30/18 20130101;
F24H 9/20 20130101; F24D 2220/044 20130101; F24D 17/0078 20130101;
F24D 17/0005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24D 17/00 20060101
F24D017/00; F24D 19/10 20060101 F24D019/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 17, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0182114 |
Claims
1. A hot water supply apparatus provided with a pressure reducing
valve, the apparatus comprising: a direct water inlet pipe into
which direct water is introduced; a heat exchanger configured to
heat the direct water introduced through the direct water inlet
pipe with combustion heat of a burner; a hot water supply pipe
configured to discharge the hot water heated in the heat exchanger;
a bypass pipe connected between the direct water inlet pipe and the
hot water supply pipe so as to mix a part of the direct water
introduced through the direct water inlet pipe with the hot water
discharged through the hot water supply pipe; and the pressure
reducing valve provided on the bypass pipe and configured to reduce
pressure of water passing through the inside of the bypass pipe to
supply the water to the hot water supply pipe when hot water is
supplied.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure reducing valve is
formed such that, as flow rate of the direct water introduced to
the direct water inlet pipe increases, the flow rate of the water
passing through the inside of the direct water inlet pipe increases
up to a set flow rate and then maintains at a constant flow
rate.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressure reducing valve
includes a direct water flow path, through which water passes,
formed therein and an elastic member which is deformed into a
predetermined shape by supply pressure of the direct water provided
to the direct water flow path such that the elastic member
restricts the flow rate of the water passing through the direct
water flow path and also maintains a constant flow rate.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a hot water supply
apparatus provided with a pressure reducing valve, and more
particular, to a hot water supply apparatus provided with a
pressure reducing valve capable of minimizing a temperature
deviation of hot water while using hot water.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, a hot water supply apparatus is an apparatus for
heating direct water to a predetermined temperature within a short
time of period so that a user can conveniently use hot water.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
conventional hot water supply apparatus.
[0004] Upon review of the conventional hot water supply apparatus,
a flow rate sensor 1 is provided for measuring a flow rate of
direct water introduced through a direct water inlet pipe 5, the
direct water introduced to a heat exchanger 8 is heated by heat
exchanging with combustion heat generated by a burner 7 from
combustion of air provided from a blower 6 and gas, and is
discharged through a hot water supply pipe 9, and a flow adjustment
valve 4 is provided on the hot water supply pipe 9 for adjusting a
flow rate of hot water.
[0005] Further, a bypass pipe 2 is connected between the direct
water inlet pipe 5 and the hot water supply pipe 9 such that the
introduced direct water is directly transferred to the hot water
supply pipe 9 side without passing through the heat exchanger 8,
and therefore a temperature of hot water may be adjusted by mixing
hot water heated by passing through the heat exchanger 8 with the
direct water.
[0006] Further, a mixing valve 3 is provided on the bypass pipe 2
so that a flow rate of direct water transferred through the bypass
pipe 2 is adjusted.
[0007] When a user increases hot water usage flow rate while using
hot water utilizing a hot water supply apparatus 10 with such
constitutions, the flow rate of direct water introduced through the
direct water inlet pipe 5 immediately increases, however, a
temperature increase of the hot water provided to the hot water
supply pipe 9 after passing through the heat exchanger 8 occurs
relatively late, and thus there is a problem in that time is
consumed until hot water having a temperature set by the user is
provided.
[0008] On the contrary, when the user decreases the hot water usage
flow rate while using hot water, the flow rate of direct water
introduced through the direct water inlet pipe 5 immediately
decreases, however, a temperature decrease of the hot water
provided to the hot water supply pipe 9 after passing through the
heat exchanger 8 occurs relatively late, and thus there is a
problem in that time is consumed until hot water having a
temperature set by the user is provided.
[0009] To address such problems, the mixing valve 3 is provided on
the bypass pipe 2. When the flow rate sensor 1 detects that a flow
rate of the direct water introduced through the direct water inlet
pipe 5 is changed, a controller (not shown) controls the degree of
opening of the mixing valve 3 to adjust the flow rate of the direct
water which is mixed in the hot water supply pipe 9 through the
bypass pipe 2, thereby hot water having a temperature set by the
user is provided.
[0010] However, because the mixing valve 3 needs a constitution for
adjusting the degree of opening, there are problems in that a
structure of the valve is complex and the cost of the valve is
high, costs of a system configuration for controlling the mixing
valve 3 increase, and time is consumed until the degree of opening
of the mixing valve 3 is adjusted after the flow rate sensor 1
detects the flow rate.
[0011] As an example of such prior art, `PIPE CONNECTING STRUCTURE
OF WATER HEATER` is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No.
10-1179812.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0012] Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a
hot water supply apparatus provided with a pressure reducing valve
capable of minimizing temperature deviations of hot water provided
to a user even when a hot water usage flow rate is changed.
Technical Solution
[0013] One aspect of the present invention provides a hot water
supply apparatus which includes a direct water inlet pipe into
which direct water is introduced; a heat exchanger for heating the
direct water introduced through the direct water inlet pipe with
combustion heat of a burner; a hot water supply pipe for
discharging the hot water heated in the heat exchanger; a bypass
pipe connected between the direct water inlet pipe and the hot
water supply pipe so as to mix a part of the direct water
introduced through the direct water inlet pipe with the hot water
discharged through the hot water supply pipe; and a pressure
reducing valve provided on the bypass pipe and configured to reduce
a pressure of water passing through the inside of the bypass pipe
to supply the water to the hot water supply pipe when hot water is
supplied.
[0014] As the flow rate of the direct water introduced into the
direct water inlet pipe increases, the pressure reducing valve may
increase a flow rate of the water passing through the inside of the
direct water inlet pipe up to a set flow rate, and then maintains
at a constant flow rate.
[0015] The pressure reducing valve may include a direct water flow
path, through which the water passes, formed therein and an elastic
member which is deformed into a predetermined shape by supply
pressure of the direct water provided to the direct water flow path
so that the elastic member restricts a flow rate of the water
passing through the direct water flow path and also maintains at a
constant flow rate.
Advantageous Effects
[0016] A hot water supply apparatus provided with a pressure
reducing valve according to the present invention can respond to a
change in a hot water usage flow rate of a user with a simple
configuration of providing a pressure reducing valve on a bypass
pipe without providing any separate controller, and minimize
temperature deviations of hot water because a mixing rate is
rapidly changed to accelerate responsibility to changes of the hot
water usage flow rate.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
conventional hot water supply apparatus.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
hot water supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal
structure of a pressure reducing valve according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in
which an elastic member is deformed according to a change in supply
pressure of direct water at the pressure reducing valve of FIG.
3.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a flow rate change according
to supply pressure of direct water at the hot water supply
apparatus of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a temperature change of hot
water according to a flow rate change in the hot water supply
apparatus of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
hot water supply apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
TABLE-US-00001 [0024] 100, 200: Hot water supply apparatus 111,
211: Direct water inlet pipe 112, 212: Hot water supply pipe 113,
213: Bypass pipe 121, 221: Direct water temperature 122, 222: Flow
rate sensor sensor 123, 223: Heat exchanger temperature sensor 124,
224: Hot water temperature sensor 130, 230: Pressure reducing valve
131: Valve body 132 : Cylindrical member 132a: Guide rib 132b:
Guide groove 132c, 132d: Protrusion piece 133: Center column member
134: Elastic member 135: Direct water passing hole 140, 240, 241:
Heat exchanger 150, 250: Burner 160, 260: Blower 214: Heating
supply pipe 215: Heating recycle water pipe 216: Heating water
supply pipe for 270: Circulation pump supplying hot water 271:
Heating water supply 272: Three-way valve temperature sensor
Modes of the Invention
[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
A First Embodiment
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
hot water supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0027] The hot water supply apparatus 100 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention is provided with a pressure
reducing valve 130 in a water heater, and is configured to include
direct water inlet pipes 111a and 111b into which direct water is
introduced, a heat exchanger 140 for heating the direct water
introduced through the direct water inlet pipes 111a and 111b with
combustion heat of a burner 150, hot water supply pipes 112a and
112b for discharging the hot water heated in the heat exchanger
140, a bypass pipe 113 connected between the direct water inlet
pipes 111a and 111b and the hot water supply pipes 112a and 112b so
as to mix a part of the direct water introduced through the direct
water inlet pipe 111a with the hot water discharged through the hot
water supply pipe 112b; and a pressure reducing valve 130, provided
on the bypass pipe 113, for reducing the pressure of water passing
through the inside of the bypass pipe 113 to supply the water to
the hot water supply pipe 112b when hot water is supplied.
[0028] A direct water temperature sensor 121 for measuring a
temperature of direct water and a flow rate sensor 122 for
measuring flow rate of direct water are provided on the direct
water inlet pipe 111a.
[0029] A heat exchanger temperature sensor 123 for measuring a
temperature of hot water heated by heat-exchanging in the heat
exchanger 140 and a hot water temperature sensor 124 for measuring
a temperature of hot water in which direct water provided through
the bypass pipe 113 and hot water are mixed and provided to a user
are provided on the hot water supply pipes 112a and 112b.
[0030] The bypass pipe 113 is connected to supply a part of the
direct water introduced through the direct water inlet pipe 111a to
the hot water supply pipe 112b in order to control a temperature of
the hot water provided through the hot water supply pipe 112b.
[0031] The pressure reducing valve 130 for controlling a flow rate
of the direct water provided through the bypass pipe 113 is
configured to reduce the pressure of the direct water provided from
the direct water inlet pipe 111a so that a constant flow rate of
the direct water is provided to the hot water supply pipe 112b.
[0032] When the hot water usage flow rate of a user is changed, the
flow rate of direct water which passes through the inside of the
pressure reducing valve 130 increases up to a certain extent as the
hot water usage flow rate increases. However, when the hot water
usage flow rate exceeds the certain extent, the flow rate of direct
water which passes through the inside of the pressure reducing
valve 130 is maintained constantly even when the hot water usage
flow rate increases.
[0033] While the flow rate of direct water which passes through the
pressure reducing valve 130 is maintained at the constant flow rate
after being increased by a predetermined flow rate, the remaining
amount of the direct water except an amount of the direct water
which passes through the pressure reducing valve 130 is provided to
the heat exchanger 140. Therefore, when the hot water usage flow
rate is changed, the flow rate provided to the heat exchanger 140
is changed together with the change in the hot water usage flow
rate accordingly, a mixing rate, which is a ratio of the hot water
heated in the heat exchanger 140 and provided to the hot water
supply pipe 112a and the flow rate of the direct water which passes
through the pressure reducing valve 130, is changed together with
the change in the hot water usage flow rate, thereby temperature
deviations of hot water are minimized.
[0034] The pressure reducing valve 130 has a very simple structure
and automatically changes the mixing rate according to the supply
pressure of the direct water, thereby an overall system
configuration is very simply implemented.
[0035] Non-described reference numerals 150 and 160 indicate a
burner and a blower, respectively.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal
structure of a pressure reducing valve according to one embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating a state in which an elastic member is deformed
according to a change of supply pressure of direct water in the
pressure reducing valve of FIG. 3. Hereinafter, referring to FIGS.
3 and 4, a configuration and an effect of the pressure reducing
valve according to one embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0037] The pressure reducing valve 130 is configured to include a
valve body 131 formed as a whole by injection molding, and an
elastic member 134 which is inserted into the inside of the valve
body 131 and restricts a flow path of direct water by being
deformed by the supply pressure of the direct water.
[0038] The valve body 131 is configured to include a cylindrical
member 132 in which the flow path of direct water is formed
therein, and a center column member 133 provided at a center
portion of an inner side of the cylindrical member 132.
[0039] The elastic member 134 is inserted between an inner surface
of the cylindrical member 132 and an outer surface of the center
column member 133, and when the direct water is introduced, the
elastic member 134 is compressed to expand in a lateral direction
as in FIG. 4, thereby a cross-sectional area of the flow path
through which the direct water passes is changed.
[0040] As a configuration for guiding a flow of the direct water,
guide ribs 132a which protrude at regular intervals in a
circumferential direction are formed on the inner surface of the
cylindrical member 132, and guide grooves 132b are formed between
neighboring guide ribs 132a.
[0041] A protrusion piece 132c protruding in a certain length
toward the center axis of the center column member 133 is formed at
an upper part of the guide rib 132a, and a protrusion piece 132d
protruding in a certain length toward the center column member 133
is also formed at an upper part of the guide groove 132b. A direct
water passing hole 135 which is a flow path through which the
direct water passes is formed so that the protrusion piece 132c
protruding from the guide rib 132a and the protrusion piece 132d
protruding from the neighboring guide groove 132b have steps formed
to cross therebetween in a vertical direction.
[0042] In a low pressure state in which the supply pressure of the
direct water is equal to or less than a certain pressure, a cross
section of the elastic member 134 maintains a nearly circular shape
as shown in FIG. 3, and therefore the flow path in which the direct
water flows is widely formed in a space between the elastic member
134 and the outer surface of the center column member 133 and a
space between the elastic member 134 and the inner surface of the
cylindrical member 132 so that the introduced direct water passes
through the flow path intactly.
[0043] On the contrary, when the pressure of the direct water
increases, the elastic member 134 is deformed to a flat elliptical
shape by the supply pressure of the direct water as shown in FIG.
4. Because the flow path through which the direct water flows is
restricted to the space between the elastic member 134 and the
outer surface of the center column member 133 so that the flow path
is narrowly formed, the passing flow rate of the introduced direct
water is restricted to a certain amount or less.
[0044] In the case, the elastic member 134 is deformed only within
a certain extent, and the shape of the cross section thereof is not
changed even when the supply pressure of the direct water further
increases. Therefore, the passing flow rate of the direct water is
constantly maintained.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a flow rate change according
to the supply pressure of direct water in the hot water supply
apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating
a temperature change of hot water according to a flow rate change
in the hot water supply apparatus of the present invention, the
following Table 1 is a table showing a flow rate which passes
through each pipe and a mixing rate, and the following Table 2 is a
table showing relations between a flow rate, temperature, and
mixing rate.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Flow rate of heat Overall flow rate Mixing
flow rate exchanger Mixing rate 3 1.2 1.8 0.40 4 1.5 2.5 0.38 6 1.5
4.5 0.25 8 1.5 6.5 0.19 10 1.5 8.5 0.15 12 1.5 10.5 0.13 14 1.5
12.5 0.11
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Overall Temperature of Temperature of
Temperature of Mixing flow rate heat exchanger hot water direct
water rate 3 61.5 45 20 0.40 4 60 45 20 0.38 6 53.5 45 20 0.25 8 51
45 20 0.19 10 49.5 45 20 0.15 12 48.6 45 20 0.13 14 48 45 20
0.11
[0046] In FIG. 5 and Table 1, the mixing flow rate refers to a flow
rate of direct water which is provided to the hot water supply
pipes 112a and 112b after passing through the bypass pipe 113, of
the direct water introduced through the direct water inlet pipe
111a, and mixes with hot water flowing in the hot water supply pipe
112a, the flow rate of heat exchanger refers to a flow rate of hot
water heated in the heat exchanger 140 and then provided to the hot
water supply pipe 112a, the overall flow rate refers to a flow rate
which is the sum of the mixing flow and the flow rate of heat
exchanger and is equal to the flow rate of direct water introduced
through the direct water inlet pipe 111a, and the mixing rate
refers to a ratio of the mixing flow rate to the overall flow
rate.
[0047] In FIG. 6 and Table 2, the temperature of the heat exchanger
refers to a temperature of hot water measured at the heat exchanger
temperature sensor 123, the temperature of hot water refers to a
temperature of hot water measured at the hot water temperature
sensor 124, and the temperature of direct water refers to a
temperature of direct water measured at the direct water
temperature sensor 121.
[0048] When the overall flow rate is changed from 3 to 14, the
mixing flow rate increases with the increase of the overall flow in
the section where the overall flow rate changes from 3 to 4,
however, in the section where the overall flow rate changes from 4
to 14, because the elastic member 134 of the pressure reducing
valve 130 does not change any more after being compressed as in
FIG. 4, the mixing flow rate is constantly maintained even when the
overall flow rate increases.
[0049] On the contrary, the flow rate of the heat exchanger
increases as the overall flow rate increases, the mixing rate
decreases as the overall flow rate increases.
[0050] In this case, while the temperature of the direct water is
kept constant at 20.degree. C., the temperature of the heat
exchanger decreases from 61.5.degree. C. to 48.degree. C. as the
flow rate of direct water provided to the heat exchanger 140
increases.
[0051] Therefore, even when the overall flow increases from 3 to 14
as a user increases the hot water usage flow rate, the temperature
of hot water provided to the user through the hot water supply pipe
112b is constantly maintained at 45.degree. C. because the mixing
rate decreases from 0.4 to 0.11.
[0052] On the contrary, even when the overall flow rate decreases
from 14 to 3 as the user decreases the hot water usage flow rate,
the temperature of hot water is constantly maintained at 45.degree.
C. because the mixing rate increases from 0.11 to 0.4.
[0053] When the pressure reducing valve 130 is installed on the
bypass pipe 113 as described above, the mixing rate is changed
because the flow rate of the pressure reducing valve 130 is
inherently restricted in a certain manner even when the hot water
usage flow rate of the user is changed, and therefore the
temperature of hot water provided to the user is uniformly
maintained. Thus, because controlling, for example, adjusting of
the opening degree of the mixing valve conventionally, is not
necessary, a configuration of an apparatus becomes simple, and the
flow rate of the pressure reducing valve 130 is restricted at the
same time as the hot water usage flow rate of the user is changed,
thereby immediate responsiveness minimizes the temperature
deviations of hot water.
A Second Embodiment
[0054] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
hot water supply apparatus according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0055] While the first embodiment illustrates the case in which the
pressure reducing valve 130 is applied to a water heater, a hot
water supply apparatus 200 of the second embodiment illustrates a
case in which a pressure reducing valve 230 is applied to a
boiler.
[0056] The hot water supply apparatus 200 includes a main heat
exchanger 241, a heating supply pipe 214 for supplying heating
water, a heating water supply temperature sensor 271 and a
three-way valve 272 which are provided on the heating supply pipe
214, a heating recycle water pipe 215 through which heating return
water flows, a circulation pump 270 provided on the heating recycle
water pipe 215, and a heating water supply pipe for supplying hot
water 216 which is connected to the three-way valve 272 in order to
supply heating water to a heat exchanger for supplying hot water
240 by being connected between the heating supply pipe 214 and the
heating recycle water pipe 215, wherein the hot water supply
apparatus has the same constitution as a boiler capable of heating
and supplying hot water.
[0057] As a constitution for supplying hot water, a direct water
inlet pipe 211, a direct water temperature sensor 221, a flow rate
sensor 222, a heat exchanger temperature sensor 223, a hot water
supply pipe 212, a hot water temperature sensor 224, a bypass pipe
213, and a pressure reducing valve 230 are formed to have the same
constitutions as in the first embodiment.
Modified Embodiment
[0058] In the above embodiments, a configuration in which an
elastic member is provided inside the pressure reducing valves 130
and 230 so that the pressure is reduced because the shape of a
cross section is deformed by supply pressure of the direct water is
exemplified, however the present invention is not limited thereto,
modifications with various structures are possible.
[0059] For example, a valve portion for blocking a flow path
through which the direct water passes is elastically supported by a
spring, and a function of a pressure reducing valve may be
implemented by overcoming the elastic force of the spring according
to the pressure of the direct water and varying the opening degree
of the valve portion.
[0060] In this case, an elastic modulus may be adjusted such that
an amount of compression by which the spring is compressed is
restricted to a certain amount in consideration of the supply
pressure of the direct water, or a stopper may be provided to limit
a moving distance of the valve portion.
[0061] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, and it should be obvious to those skilled in the
art that various other changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Such modified embodiments are within the scope of this
invention.
* * * * *