Hot water supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726400-B2
Application number	US-201414446770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 30, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides a hot water supply device. When a hot water supply operation is started in response to an instruction for checking a heat exchange state, a heat exchange state determiner 12 measures a post-boiling temperature Tup, which indicates the rise width of a temperature detected by a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 from the point when the hot water supply operation stopped, and outputs a heat exchange success report if the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than a first threshold temperature. Further, when the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, the heat exchange state determiner 12 outputs a report of clogging of a heat exchanger if the post-boiling temperature Tup is higher than a second threshold temperature Bth, which is higher than the first threshold temperature Ath.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hot water supply device comprising:
a heat exchanger connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe;
a burner that heats the heat exchanger;
a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor that detects a temperature of water in the heat exchanger or the hot water supply pipe in a vicinity of a connection between the heat exchanger and the hot water supply pipe;
a running water sensor that detects a presence of running water in the heat exchanger;
a hot water supply controller that carries out a hot water supply operation in which the burner is turned on to heat water circulating in the heat exchanger in a case where running water is detected by the running water sensor, and turns the burner off to stop the hot water supply operation in a case where the running water is not detected by the running water sensor; and
a heat exchange state determiner which,
in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started in response to a predetermined instruction for checking a heat exchange state, carries out heat exchange success determination processing in which a post-boiling temperature, which is a temperature rise of water in the heat exchanger by residual heat from a time point when the hot water supply operation is stopped, is measured based on a temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor, and the post-boiling temperature and a first threshold temperature are compared, and performs a predetermined successful heat exchange notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is lower than the first threshold temperature, and
in a case where the hot water supply operation stops after the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, carries out heat exchanger clogging determination processing in which the post-boiling temperature is measured and the post-boiling temperature is compared with a second threshold temperature, which is higher than the first threshold temperature, and performs a predetermined heat exchanger clogging notification in a case where the post-boiling temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature.

2. The hot water supply device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification for urging cleaning of the heat exchanger in a case where the post-boiling temperature is the first threshold temperature or higher in the heat exchange success determination processing.

3. The hot water supply device according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in a case where the instruction for checking the heat exchange state is performed, the heat exchange state determiner causes the hot water supply controller to carry out the hot water supply operation such that the temperature detected by the heat exchange outlet temperature sensor becomes a predefined determination temperature, and
the first threshold temperature is set according to the determination temperature.

4. The hot water supply device according to claim 3 ,
wherein, in a case where the post-boiling temperature is the first threshold temperature or higher in the heat exchange success determination processing, the heat exchange state determiner performs a notification for urging cleaning of the heat exchanger.

Assignees

• Rinnai Kk

Inventors

• Mase Naoto

Classifications

• F24H9/2007

  for water heaters · CPC title

• F24H9/20

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24H1/10

  Continuous-flow heaters, i.e. heaters in which heat is generated only while the water is flowing, e.g. with direct contact of the water with the heating medium · CPC title

• F24H9/2028

  Continuous-flow heaters · CPC title

• F24H1/12

  in which the water is kept separate from the heating medium · CPC title