JPH0566499B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a control device for a water heater.

BACKGROUND ART An example of a conventional water heater will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional water heater with a drain pan installed indoors. In FIG. 3, 1 is a hot water storage tank, 2a is a heating means, 3a is a hot water temperature sensor, 4a is a heating means control circuit, 5 is a drain pan,
6 is a water leakage drain port.

The operation of the water heater constructed from the above-mentioned parts and the phenomena occurring when water leaks will be explained below.

In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on and the hot water temperature sensor 3a detects that the temperature inside the hot water storage tank 1 is low, the heating means control circuit 4a controls the heating means 2a.
Outputs operation signals to. When the temperature inside the hot water storage tank 1 reaches the set temperature, the heating means control circuit 4a stops sending the operation signal to the heating means 2a.

Here, in an abnormal state, if a hole opens due to the life of the hot water storage tank 1 and water starts leaking, the drain pan 5 at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 will catch the leakage water without leaking it to the surroundings, and the drain pan 5 will Water is drained from the provided water leakage drain port 6.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, if the amount of water leaking is small, the water is drained from the water leakage outlet 6 of the drain pan 5, so that the user does not notice the water leakage.
If this condition continues and is left unattended, the hole in the hot water storage tank 1 will gradually become larger, and eventually the drainage from the leakage drain port 6 will no longer be enough, and the water will overflow from the drain pan 5, causing water to leak onto the floor where the water heater is installed. This can lead to secondary disasters.

Additionally, if the user notices water leaking to the floor immediately after it starts, it is possible to minimize the damage by closing the water heater tap, but if the user is out of the house or away for a long time, This has the problem of subsequently causing great damage. Furthermore, since water leakage is not noticed, the heated hot water is discarded as leakage, which is not economical.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention generates a water leakage alarm at an early stage when water starts leaking from a hot water storage tank, thereby prompting the user to take action. Furthermore, the water supply solenoid valve and hot water supply solenoid valve, which are installed separately from the water heater, are closed, and at the same time, the operation of the heating means is stopped to prevent dry heating, resulting in water leakage to the floor even when the user is out or absent for a long time.
This provides a highly safe water heater that prevents future disasters.

In order to solve the above problem, it is possible to make the water leakage outlet of the drain pan 5 sufficiently large to increase the drainage capacity against water leakage. The problem still remains that the hot water that has been heated has to be thrown away, making it extremely uneconomical.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a heating means for heating water in a hot water storage tank, and a heating means located below the hot water storage tank to prevent water from leaking from the hot water storage tank to the surroundings. a water leakage detection sensor provided at the drain port of the drain pan, a control circuit that generates an abnormality alarm based on a signal from the water leakage detection sensor, and a water supply solenoid valve provided at the water supply port of the hot water storage tank; The control circuit has a function of generating an abnormality alarm when water in the hot water storage tank leaks and simultaneously closing the water supply solenoid valve, and an air bleed valve provided at the hot water supply port of the hot water storage tank and the hot water supply piping. The control circuit has a function of notifying an abnormality when water leaks and simultaneously closing the hot water tap, and a function of stopping the heating means when water leakage is detected.

Effects According to the above configuration, the present invention generates a water leak alarm when water leaks from the hot water storage tank, closes the hot water tap and water supply solenoid valve, and stops the heating means that heats the water. It is possible to prevent secondary disasters due to

Embodiment A water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a water heater in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a hot water storage tank, 2a is a heating means, 3a is a hot water temperature sensor, 4a is a control circuit, 5 is a drain pan,
Reference numeral 6 designates a water leakage drain port, 7a a water leakage detection sensor, 10 a water supply port of the hot water storage tank 1, and 9a a separate water supply solenoid valve. 14a is a hot water supply electromagnetic valve, 15 is a hot water supply port of the hot water storage tank 1, and 16 is an air vent valve.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the present invention.

In the water heater constructed as described above, the operation of the control device will be explained below with reference to FIG.

During normal operation, the hot water temperature sensor 3a detects the temperature inside the hot water storage tank 1, and when the hot water temperature is low, the heating means control circuit 4a operates the heating means 2a based on the signal. When the temperature of the hot water reaches the set temperature, the supply of electricity to the heating means 2a is stopped.

The hot water storage tank 1 has a hole due to its lifespan, etc.
When water starts leaking, a water leakage detection sensor 7 installed at the water leakage outlet 6 of the drain pan 5 at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 is activated.
a detects this and outputs the signal to the water leak detection circuit 8a. In response to the water leakage detection signal from the water leakage detection circuit 8a, the alarm generation circuit 11 issues an alarm such as a buzzer, sound, lamp, numerical monitor, etc. to notify the user of the water leakage phenomenon, and at the same time, the water supply solenoid valve 9a and the hot water supply solenoid valve 14a are activated. Close. By closing the water supply solenoid valve 9a, the amount of water leakage is limited to the amount of water in the hot water storage tank 1. Hot water supply solenoid valve 1
By closing 4a, the supply of air from the air vent is reduced, and in the case of water leakage from a small hole in the hot water storage tank 1, the water leakage will stop or the amount will be significantly reduced.
To reduce the risk of water leaking from the drain pan 5. At the same time, a signal to stop the operation of the heating means 2a is output to the heating means control circuit 4a, and energization of the electric heater 2a is stopped regardless of the signal from the hot water temperature sensor 3a. As a result, even after the water supply solenoid valve and the hot water supply solenoid valve 9b are closed, water leaks little by little and the water in the hot water storage tank 1 runs out, but the heating means 2a does not run dry.

Effects of the Invention As explained in the above embodiments, the present invention provides the following effects.

(i) When the water leak detection sensor detects a water leak, it notifies the user of the water leak, allowing the user to take prompt action, and at the same time closes the water supply solenoid valve of the hot water storage tank to reduce the amount of hot water to the amount in the hot water storage tank. The damage caused by water leakage can be minimized.

(ii) By closing the hot water supply tap between the hot water supply port of the hot water storage tank and the air release valve installed in the hot water supply piping, the pressure inside the hot water storage tank is balanced with atmospheric pressure, reducing the amount of water leakage and preventing water leakage. It also prevents secondary disasters such as the drain pan overflowing all at once and the floor getting wet as a result.

(iii) Even if the hot water storage tank has large holes and the water in the hot water storage tank is empty due to unstoppable water leakage, the power to the heating means will be stopped, thereby preventing damage to the equipment itself due to dry heating of the heating means. It can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric water heater in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional electric water heater. 1... Hot water storage tank, 2a... Heating means, 5...
Drain pan, 6...Water leak drain port, 7a...Water leak detection sensor, 10...Water supply port, 9a...Water supply solenoid valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heating means for heating water in a hot water storage tank, a drain pan located below the hot water storage tank to prevent water from leaking from the hot water storage tank to the surroundings, a water leakage detection sensor provided at a drain port of the drain pan, and the The control circuit includes a control circuit that generates an abnormality alarm based on a signal from a water leakage detection sensor, and a water supply solenoid valve provided at the water supply port of the hot water storage tank, and the control circuit generates an abnormality alarm when water in the hot water storage tank leaks. At the same time, the water supply solenoid valve is closed, and a hot water tap is provided between the hot water supply port of the hot water storage tank and the air release valve provided in the hot water supply piping, and the control circuit notifies an abnormality at the time of water leakage, and at the same time, A water heater control device having a function of closing the hot water tap and a function of stopping the heating means when water leakage is detected.