AIR HEATING APPARATUS

Abstract

An air heating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an expansion tank that stores water, a water heater that receives heat from a combustion gas generated by a combustion reaction and heats the water, a heating heat exchanger that receives the water heated by the water heater and exchanges heat between the water and air discharged for heating, a fan that delivers the air to the heating heat exchanger, a circulation supply flow path that is formed to connect the expansion tank, the water heater, and the heating heat exchanger and guides the water in the expansion tank via the water heater to the heating heat exchanger, a hot water tank in which hot water is stored, and a hot water heating flow path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0102754, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 17, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an air heating apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioning systems for heating rooms in the winter season may supply heating by transferring heat formed by burning fuel to air and distributing the heated air to each room. FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating an air conditioning system including an air heating apparatus according to the related art. The air heating apparatus may include an expansion tank 20′, a water heater 30′, a heating heat exchanger 40′, and a fan 50′.

In the case of the air conditioning system according to the related art, since a medium finally heated by combustion heat is air, the air conditioning system may be used for only indoor heating and is difficult to use for hot water heating.

Thus, to use hot water, a hot water heating device for heating the hot water should be provided separately. Since separate ducts connected to the air heating apparatus and the hot water heating device are required, an occupied space becomes large, and thus space utilization is unfavorable, and installation costs increase.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides an air heating apparatus that may perform an indoor heating function and a hot water heating function separately and simultaneously.

The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an air heating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an expansion tank that stores water, a water heater that receives heat from a combustion gas generated by a combustion reaction and heats the water, a heating heat exchanger that receives the water heated by the water heater and exchanges heat between the water and air discharged for heating, a fan that delivers the air to the heating heat exchanger, a circulation supply flow path that is formed to connect the expansion tank, the water heater, and the heating heat exchanger and guides the water in the expansion tank via the water heater to the heating heat exchanger, a hot water tank in which hot water is stored, and a hot water heating flow path of which one end is connected to a first point that is a point positioned downstream of the water heater in the circulation supply flow path and the other end is connected to a second point positioned downstream of the first point in the circulation supply flow path and in which a heating area is disposed inside the hot water tank to heat the hot water in the hot water tank.

As another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a valve part that opens or closes the hot water heating flow path and opens or closes a downstream side of the first point.

As still another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a controller that is electrically connected to the valve part, controls an operation of the valve part, and controls operations of the water heater and the fan.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a circulation pump that is disposed downstream of the expansion tank and upstream of the water heater in the circulation supply flow path and pumps the water in the circulation supply flow path, wherein the controller controls an operation of the circulation pump.

As yet another example, when a current mode corresponds to a heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required and does not correspond to a hot water mode in which use of the hot water is required, the controller may control the valve part to open the downstream side of the first point and close the hot water heating flow path.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a room temperature measurement device that is disposed in a room, is electrically connected to the controller, and transmits information on an acquired room temperature to the controller, wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the room temperature acquired by the room temperature measurement device with a target room temperature.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a discharge duct that is famed to communicate with a room and guides the air discharged from the fan to the room, and a discharge air temperature measurement device that is disposed in the discharge duct and measures a temperature of the air discharged from the fan, wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the discharge air temperature measurement device with a target discharge air temperature.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a suction duct that is formed to communicate with a room and guides the indoor air to the fan, and a suction air temperature measurement device that is disposed in the suction duct and measures a temperature of the air suctioned from the room, wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the suction air temperature measurement device with a target suction air temperature.

As yet another example, when a current mode corresponds to a hot water mode in which use of the hot water is required, the controller may control the valve part to open the hot water heating flow path and close the downstream side of the first point.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a hot water temperature measurement device that is coupled to the hot water tank, is electrically connected to the controller, and transmits information on an acquired temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank to the controller, wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the hot water acquired by the hot water temperature measurement device with a target hot water temperature.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a supply water temperature measurement device that is disposed upstream of the heating area in the hot water heating flow path and measures a temperature of water supplied to the heating area, wherein the controller controls the operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the water acquired by the supply water temperature measurement device with a target supply water temperature.

As yet another example, the air heating apparatus may further include a discharge water temperature measurement device that is disposed downstream of the heating area in the hot water heating flow path and measures a temperature of water discharged from the heating area, wherein the controller controls the operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the water acquired by the discharge water temperature measurement device with a target discharge water temperature.

As yet another example, when a current mode corresponds to the hot water mode and corresponds to the heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required, the controller may operate the fan.

As yet another example, when a current mode corresponds to the hot water mode and does not correspond to the heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required, the controller stops the operation of the fan.

As yet another example, the heating area may be formed in a spiral shape extending upward.

As yet another example, an inside of the hot water tank and an inside of the hot water heating flow path may not communicate with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating an air heating apparatus according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view illustrating an air heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a heating mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is performed;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a hot water mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is performed; and

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the heating mode and the hot water mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are simultaneously performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, it should be noted that identical or equivalent components are designated by an identical numeral even when they are displayed on other drawings. Further, in describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, a detailed description of the related known configuration or function will be omitted when it is determined that it interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be installed in a house. The air heating apparatus may be connected to a duct connected to each room of the house and deliver heated air to each room to perform heating. The air may flow into the air heating apparatus from an outside of the house or may return to the air heating apparatus through the room of the house. The air may flow into the air heating apparatus from the outside of the house, but in the specification of the present disclosure, a description is basically made based on assumption that the air returns.

In the present specification, a front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and an up-down direction are referred to for convenience of description and may be directions perpendicular to each other. However, this direction is determined relative to a direction in which the air heating apparatus is disposed, and the up-down direction may not necessarily refer to a vertical direction.

Further, the wording “flow path” used below may refer to a tubular pipe in which a fluid may flow and may refer to a component that may have various materials and shapes, such as soft tubes and metal pipes.

Further, the expressions “upstream” and “downstream” in the present disclosure may be based on a flow direction of the fluid. For example, when the fluid flows from a left side to a right side, the left side may correspond to an upstream side, and the right side may correspond to a downstream side.

First, a basic component of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a conceptual view illustrating an air heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a side view of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a case 10, an expansion tank 20, a water heater 30, a heating heat exchanger 40, and a fan 50. The expansion tank 20, the water heater 30, the heating heat exchanger 40, and the fan 50 may be arranged inside the case 10.

In briefly describing an overall air heating mechanism, in the air heating apparatus, water stored in the expansion tank 20 is heated in the water heater 30 and is then delivered to the heating heat exchanger 40. The heated water delivered to the heating heat exchanger 40 heats the air delivered from the fan 50, and the heated air is delivered to each room. Hereinafter, respective components will be described in more detail.

<Expansion Tank 20>

The expansion tank 20 may be provided to store the water. The water may flow from an external water source. The expansion tank 20 may be formed to accommodate a volume change due to a change in a temperature of the water. The expansion tank 20 may be of an open type to accommodate volume expansion of the water.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the expansion tank 20 may be connected to a circulation supply flow path 60. The circulation supply flow path 60 may be a flow path for connecting the expansion tank 20, the water heater 30, and the heating heat exchanger 40 to each other. That is, the water may flow from the expansion tank 20 via the water heater 30 into the heating heat exchanger 40.

When the temperature changes or the water flows into or out from the expansion tank 20 in a state in which the expansion tank 20 is filled with the water, an internal pressure of the expansion tank 20 may also change. Accordingly, the water accommodated in the expansion tank 20 may be provided to other components along the circulation supply flow path 60.

A circulation pump 61 may be disposed downstream of the expansion tank 20 and upstream of the water heater 30 in the circulation supply flow path 60. The circulation pump 61 may be provided to pump the water in the circulation supply flow path 60. The circulation pump 61 may be connected to a controller 110.

Further, the expansion tank 20 may be connected to a circulation recovery flow path 70. The circulation recovery flow path 70 may be a flow path that is formed to connect the heating heat exchanger 40 and the expansion tank 20 and guides, to the expansion tank 20, the water heat-exchanged with the air in the heating heat exchanger 40.

A water level detection sensor 24 that detects a water level inside the expansion tank 20 may be disposed inside the expansion tank 20. The water level detection sensor 24 may be connected to the controller 110, which will be described below.

The expansion tank 20 may be connected to a heating water supply flow path 21. The heating water supply flow path 21 may be provided to supply external water to the expansion tank 20. A heating water supplement valve 22 provided to open or close the heating water supply flow path 21 may be disposed in the heating water supply flow path 21. When the water is insufficient in the expansion tank 20, the water may be supplemented through the heating water supply flow path 21.

<Water Heater 30>

The water heater 30 is a component provided to heat and discharge the introduced water. To heat the water, the water heater 30 may generate a combustion reaction and transfer heat generated from the combustion reaction to the water.

The water heater 30 may include a burner 31 and a heat exchanger 32. The burner 31 generates the combustion reaction. Thus, the burner 31 may receive fuel and air and may form a flame using an ignition plug in a mixture of the fuel and the air to generate the combustion reaction. For this reaction, the burner 31 may include a blower that blows the air, a fuel nozzle that injects the fuel, and a spark plug that generates a spark for ignition.

The burner 31 may further include a mixing chamber, and the fuel and the air are mixed in the mixing chamber. The heat and a combustion gas may be generated by the combustion reaction, and these heat and combustion gas may be transferred to the water. The fuel may be natural gas used for power generation as well as methane, ethane, and the like or oil, but the type of the fuel is not limited thereto. The flame famed by the combustion reaction generated by the burner 31 may be disposed in an internal space of a combustion chamber positioned below the burner 31. As an example, the combustion chamber may be a wet-type combustion chamber. As an example, a water pipe through which the water passes may be disposed on a side surface of the combustion chamber in a form surrounding the side surface of the combustion chamber. In a process of dissipating the heat inside the combustion chamber to the outside of the combustion chamber, a portion of the heat may be transferred to the water in the water pipe.

The heat exchanger 32 is disposed to transfer the heat generated by the burner 31 to the water. The heat exchanger 32 may be disposed below the burner 31.

Meanwhile, the heat exchanger 32 may have an integrated heat exchanger structure. The integrated heat exchanger structure may refer to a heat exchanger structure through which different types of heat exchange media circulate. As the heat exchanger 32 has the integrated heat exchanger structure, the heat exchanger 32 may have a structure in which an overall height is reduced while performance is maintained as compared to a heat exchanger used in a general condensing boiler. Thus, despite a narrow internal structure of the air heating apparatus, the overall height of the water heater 30 may be reduced. Accordingly, various components may be easily arranged inside the air heating apparatus, and the entire air heating apparatus may be miniaturized.

<Heating Heat Exchanger 40>

The heating heat exchanger 40 is a component provided for heat exchange between the water and the air. The heating heat exchanger 40 may be provided to receive the water and exchange heat between the water and the air to be discharged for heating.

The heating heat exchanger 40 may include a heat exchange tube through which the water heated by the water heater 30 may flow. The heat exchange tube may be formed in a pipe shape so that the water flows through an inside thereof and the air delivered by the fan 50 may flow therethrough and may be provided to foam a flow path winding in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The heat exchange tube may be made of a material including aluminum and copper.

<Fan 50>

The fan 50 is provided to deliver the air to the heating heat exchanger 40. As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the fan 50 may be disposed below the heating heat exchanger 40 to deliver the air to the upper side so that the air passes through the heating heat exchanger 40, and an outlet through which the air is discharged may be formed to face the upper side. As another example, the fan 50 may be disposed above the heating heat exchanger 40 to deliver the air to the lower side so that the air passes through the heating heat exchanger 40, and the outlet through which the air is discharged may be formed to face the lower side.

The fan 50 includes components such as a motor and a blade and may be electrically connected to the controller 110. Thus, as the fan 50 operates under electrical control, the motor may rotate the blade to deliver the air. The fan 50 may include an impeller or the like to pump the air.

Among an internal space of the case 10, an air delivery space that is an empty space may be formed between the fan 50 and the heating heat exchanger 40.

An air circulation process will be described below on the basis of the fan 50. The air flowing into the fan 50 may be delivered upward or downward. The delivered air passes through the heating heat exchanger 40. While passing through the heating heat exchanger 40, the air may be heated by receiving the heat from the water passing through the heating heat exchanger 40. The heated air may be delivered to each room of the house through a discharge duct 2. The air delivered to each room or cold air flowing into the house from the outside may flow into the fan 50 through a suction duct 3 again. The suction duct 3 may be formed to communicate with the room and guide indoor air to the fan 50.

<Hot Water Heating Flow Path 80 and Hot Water Tank 90>

The air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a hot water heating flow path 80 and a hot water tank 90. The hot water heating flow path 80 may be a flow path for heating hot water in the hot water tank 90. In detail, a heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80 may be disposed inside the hot water tank 90 to heat the hot water in the hot water tank 90. The heating area 81 may be formed in a spiral shape extending upward.

The air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the hot water heating flow path 80 and the hot water tank 90 and thus may perform both indoor heating through the air heating and the hot water heating for use of the hot water.

One end of the hot water heating flow path 80 may be connected to a first point P1, and the other end thereof may be connected to a second point P2. The first point P1 may be a point positioned downstream of the water heater 30 in the circulation supply flow path 60. The second point P2 may be a point positioned downstream of the first point P1 in the circulation supply flow path 60.

The hot water tank 90 may be an indirect tank. This means that the inside of the hot water tank 90 and the inside of the hot water heating flow path 80 do not communicate with each other. Further, the hot water tank 90 may be a storage hot water tank. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the hot water tank 90 may also be a direct water hot water tank.

<Valve Part 100>

The air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a valve part 100. The valve part 100 may be provided to open or close the hot water heating flow path 80. Further, the valve part 100 may be provided to open or close a downstream side of the first point P1. Here, the opening or closing may mean an open state in which the water may pass through a corresponding part and a closed state in which the water is blocked from passing through the corresponding part.

As an example, the valve part 100 may be a three-way valve. In this case, the valve part 100 may include an inlet 101 connected upstream of the first point P1, a first outlet 102 connected to the hot water heating flow path 80, and a second outlet 103 connected downstream of the first point P1. In this case, the valve part 100 may open or close the first outlet 102 and the second outlet 103. A state in which the first outlet 102 is opened may be understood as a state in which the hot water heating flow path 80 is opened. Further, a state in which the second outlet 103 is opened may mean that the downstream side of the first point P1 is opened so that the water may flow into the heating heat exchanger 40 through the circulation supply flow path 60.

However, the three-way valve is merely an example, and valves may be arranged downstream of the hot water heating flow path 80 and the first point P1. That is, the valve part 100 may have various modifications within a range in which both the opening or closing of the hot water heating flow path 80 and the opening or closing of the downstream side of the first point P1 may be performed.

<Controller 110>

The air heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include the controller 110. The controller 110 may include a processor and a memory. The processor serves as a component including an element that may perform a logic operation for performing a control command and may include a central processing unit (CPU) or the like. The processor may be connected to various components, transmit a signal according to the control command to the respective components to perform control, and receive information acquired by the connection to various sensors or acquirers in the form of a signal. Thus, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor may be electrically connected to various components included in the air heating apparatus. Since the processor may be electrically connected to the respective components, the processor may further include a communication device connected with wires or capable of wireless communication to perform mutual communication.

The processor is electrically connected to the components of the integrated air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, performs calculation using received information, and transmits a control signal. Thus, the components may be controlled in an optimal state, and the components may operate in conjunction with each other automatically. Further, information or control data obtained from the circulating water and air, which will be described below, is obtained, integrated and controlled in real time due to the integrated interlocking control of the processor, and thus uniform efficiency may be maintained, and optimal setting suitable for the entire system may be automatically performed.

Control commands performed by the processor may be stored in the memory and utilized. The memory may be a device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a server, a volatile medium, and a non-volatile medium, but the types of the memory are not limited thereto. In addition, data and the like that the processor needs to perform a work may be further stored in the memory.

The controller 110 may be electrically connected to the valve part 100 and provided to control an operation of the valve part 100. Likewise, the controller 110 may be provided to control operations of the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61.

<Heating Mode>

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a heating mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is performed. Hereinafter, an operation of the controller 110 corresponding to the heating mode will be described in detail. In this case, this operation does not correspond to a hot water mode. For reference, it may be understood that lines drawn in bold in FIG. 4 represent flow of the water.

The controller 110 may control the valve part 100 to open the downstream side of the first point P1 and close the hot water heating flow path 80. When the valve part 100 is a three-way valve, it may be understood that the controller 110 opens the second outlet 103 and closes the first outlet 102. In FIG. 4, a black portion in the second outlet 103 may refer to an open state, and an empty portion in the first outlet 102 may refer to a closed state.

Meanwhile, a room temperature measurement device 4 may be disposed in the room. The room temperature measurement device 4 may be disposed in the room, may be electrically connected to the controller 110, and may transmit information on an acquired room temperature to the controller 110.

The controller 110 may control operations of the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the room temperature acquired by the room temperature measurement device 4 with a target room temperature.

As an example, when the acquired room temperature is lower than the target room temperature, heating is required, and thus the controller 110 operates the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61. In this case, the heated air flows into the room to increase the room temperature.

The controller 110 may perform combustion calorie-proportional control. This may mean that the operations of the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 are controlled so that the measured temperature and the target temperature are compared with each other, a difference therebetween is fed back, and thus the required amount of combustion heat is delivered to a target position.

Hereinafter, three methods that may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control will be described in detail. A user may select and use any one method among the three methods.

As an example, as described above, the controller 110 may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control based on the room temperature measured by the room temperature measurement device 4. For example, when the room temperature measured by the room temperature measurement device 4 does not reach the target room temperature, the controller 110 may further increase a combustion calorie of the water heater 30.

As another example, the controller 110 may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control based on a room temperature measured by a discharge air temperature measurement device 5. The discharge air temperature measurement device 5 may be disposed in the discharge duct 2 and may measure a temperature of air discharged from the fan 50. The discharge duct 2 may communicate with the room and guide the air discharged from the fan 50 to the room. The controller 110 may control the operations of the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the discharge air temperature measurement device 5 with a target discharge air temperature.

For example, when the temperature of the air acquired by the discharge air temperature measurement device 5 does not reach the target discharge air temperature, the controller 110 may further increase the combustion calorie of the water heater 30.

As still another example, the controller 110 may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control based on a room temperature measured by a suction air temperature measurement device 6. The suction air temperature measurement device 6 may be disposed in the suction duct 3 and measure the temperature of the air suctioned from the room. The suction duct 3 may be formed to communicate with the room and guide the indoor air to the fan 50. The controller 110 may control the operations of the water heater 30, the fan 50, and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the suction air temperature measurement device 6 with a target suction air temperature.

For example, when the temperature of the air acquired by the suction air temperature measurement device 6 does not reach the target suction air temperature, the controller 110 may further increase the combustion calorie of the water heater 30.

<Hot Water Mode>

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a hot water mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is performed. Hereinafter, an operation of the controller 110 corresponding to the hot water mode will be described in detail. In this case, this operation does not correspond to the heating mode. For reference, it may be understood that lines drawn in bold in FIG. 5 represent flow of the water.

The controller 110 may control the valve part 100 to close the downstream side of the first point P1 and open the hot water heating flow path 80. When the valve part 100 is a three-way valve, it may be understood that the controller 110 opens the first outlet 102 and closes the second outlet 103. In FIG. 5, a black portion in the first outlet 102 may refer to an open state, and an empty portion in the second outlet 103 may refer to a closed state.

That is, in movement of the water corresponding to the hot water mode, the water flowing into the circulation supply flow path 60, passes through the water heater 30, flows into the hot water heating flow path 80 at the first point P1, flows into the circulation supply flow path 60 at the second point P2 again, and then passes through the heating heat exchanger 40.

Meanwhile, a hot water temperature measurement device 91 may be disposed in the hot water tank 90. The hot water temperature measurement device 91 may be coupled to the hot water tank 90 and electrically connected to the controller 110. The hot water temperature measurement device 91 may be provided to transmit information on the acquired temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 90 to the controller 110.

The controller 110 may control the operations of the water heater 30 and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the hot water acquired by the hot water temperature measurement device 91 with a target hot water temperature. For example, when the temperature of the hot water acquired by the hot water temperature measurement device 91 is lower than a target hot water temperature, the hot water needs to be heated, and thus the water heater 30 and the circulation pump 61 are operated. In this case, the water heated by the water heater 30 may flow into the hot water heating flow path 80 to increase the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 90.

Meanwhile, for the hot water, the controller 110 may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control. Hereinafter, two methods that may perform the combustion calorie-proportional control for the hot water will be described in detail. A user may select and use any one method among the two methods.

As an example, the controller 110 may be provided to control the operations of the water heater 30 and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing a temperature of the water acquired by a supply water temperature measurement device 82 with a target supply water temperature. The supply water temperature measurement device 82 may be disposed upstream of the heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80 and provided to measure the temperature of the water supplied to the heating area 81.

As another example, the controller 110 may be provided to control the operations of the water heater 30 and the circulation pump 61 based on a value obtained by comparing a temperature of the water acquired by a discharge water temperature measurement device 83 with a target discharge water temperature. The discharge water temperature measurement device 83 may be disposed downstream of the heating area 81 of the hot water heating flow path 80 and provided to measure the temperature of the water discharged from the heating area 81.

<When Both Heating Mode and Hot Water Mode are Performed>

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the heating mode and the hot water mode of the air heating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are simultaneously performed. Hereinafter, an operation of the controller 110 corresponding to both the heating mode and the hot water mode will be described in detail. When the operation corresponds to both the heating mode and the hot water mode, this operation basically similar to the hot water mode, but there is a difference in whether the fan 50 operates.

When the operation corresponds to the hot water mode and the heating mode requiring the heating of the indoor air, the controller 110 may operate the fan 50. In contrast, when the operation corresponds to the hot water mode and does not correspond to the heating mode, the controller 110 may stop the operation of the fan 50.

According to the present disclosure, as the hot water heating flow path 80 connected to the hot water tank 90 is additionally provided in the air heating apparatus that may perform the heating function, the hot water heating function may be additionally performed. Thus, as compared to a case in which the air heating apparatus and a hot water heating device are separately provided, space utilization may be improved and costs may be reduced.

According to the present disclosure, a hot water heating function may be additionally performed through a hot water heating flow path connected to a hot water tank, and thus, as compared to a case in which an air heating apparatus and a hot water heating device are separately provided, space utilization may be improved, and costs may be reduced.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential features of the present disclosure. Thus, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technology spirit of the present disclosure, but are intended to describe the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the appended claims, and all technical spirits within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An air heating apparatus comprising:

an expansion tank configured to store water;

a water heater configured to receive heat from a combustion gas generated by a combustion reaction and heat the water;

a heating heat exchanger configured to receive the water heated by the water heater and exchange heat between the water and air discharged for heating;

a fan configured to deliver the air to the heating heat exchanger;

a circulation supply flow path formed to connect the expansion tank, the water heater, and the heating heat exchanger and configured to guide the water in the expansion tank via the water heater to the heating heat exchanger;

a hot water tank in which hot water is stored; and

a hot water heating flow path of which one end is connected to a first point that is a point positioned downstream of the water heater in the circulation supply flow path and the other end is connected to a second point positioned downstream of the first point in the circulation supply flow path and in which a heating area is disposed inside the hot water tank to heat the hot water in the hot water tank.

2. The air heating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve part configured to open or close the hot water heating flow path and open or close a downstream side of the first point.

3. The air heating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a controller electrically connected to the valve part and configured to control an operation of the valve part and control operations of the water heater and the fan.

4. The air heating apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a circulation pump disposed downstream of the expansion tank and upstream of the water heater in the circulation supply flow path and configured to pump the water in the circulation supply flow path,

wherein the controller controls an operation of the circulation pump.

5. The air heating apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when a current mode corresponds to a heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required and does not correspond to a hot water mode in which use of the hot water is required,

the controller controls the valve part to open the downstream side of the first point and close the hot water heating flow path.

6. The air heating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a room temperature measurement device disposed in a room, electrically connected to the controller, and configured to transmit information on an acquired room temperature to the controller,

wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the room temperature acquired by the room temperature measurement device with a target room temperature.

7. The air heating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a discharge duct formed to communicate with a room and configured to guide the air discharged from the fan to the room; and

a discharge air temperature measurement device disposed in the discharge duct and configured to measure a temperature of the air discharged from the fan,

wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the discharge air temperature measurement device with a target discharge air temperature.

8. The air heating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a suction duct formed to communicate with a room and configured to guide the indoor air to the fan; and

a suction air temperature measurement device disposed in the suction duct and configured to measure a temperature of the air suctioned from the room,

wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater, the fan, and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the air acquired by the suction air temperature measurement device with a target suction air temperature.

9. The air heating apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when a current mode corresponds to a hot water mode in which use of the hot water is required, the controller controls the valve part to open the hot water heating flow path and close the downstream side of the first point.

10. The air heating apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a hot water temperature measurement device coupled to the hot water tank, electrically connected to the controller, and configured to transmit information on an acquired temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank to the controller,

wherein the controller controls operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the hot water acquired by the hot water temperature measurement device with a target hot water temperature.

11. The air heating apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a supply water temperature measurement device disposed upstream of the heating area in the hot water heating flow path and configured to measure a temperature of water supplied to the heating area,

wherein the controller controls the operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the water acquired by the supply water temperature measurement device with a target supply water temperature.

12. The air heating apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a discharge water temperature measurement device disposed downstream of the heating area in the hot water heating flow path and configured to measure a temperature of water discharged from the heating area,

wherein the controller controls the operations of the water heater and the circulation pump based on a value obtained by comparing the temperature of the water acquired by the discharge water temperature measurement device with a target discharge water temperature.

13. The air heating apparatus of claim 10, wherein, when a current mode corresponds to the hot water mode and corresponds to the heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required, the controller operates the fan.

14. The air heating apparatus of claim 10, wherein, when a current mode corresponds to the hot water mode and does not correspond to the heating mode in which heating of indoor air is required, the controller stops the operation of the fan.

15. The air heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating area is formed in a spiral shape extending upward.