EP2990736A1 - Heat pump hot-water supply device and hot-water storage system equipped with heat pump hot-water supply device - Google Patents
Heat pump hot-water supply device and hot-water storage system equipped with heat pump hot-water supply device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2990736A1 EP2990736A1 EP13883242.3A EP13883242A EP2990736A1 EP 2990736 A1 EP2990736 A1 EP 2990736A1 EP 13883242 A EP13883242 A EP 13883242A EP 2990736 A1 EP2990736 A1 EP 2990736A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- hot water
- water
- refrigerant
- heat pump
- flow rate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 510
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 27
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 19
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 15
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 15
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- OHMHBGPWCHTMQE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C(Cl)Cl OHMHBGPWCHTMQE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000008236 heating water Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 1
- CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ozone Chemical compound [O-][O+]=O CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 1
- KYKAJFCTULSVSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N chloro(fluoro)methane Chemical compound F[C]Cl KYKAJFCTULSVSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052734 helium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001307 helium Substances 0.000 description 1
- SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium atom Chemical compound [He] SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000956 nontoxicity Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
- F24D17/02—Domestic hot-water supply systems using heat pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D19/00—Details
- F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
- F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water
- F24D19/1054—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water the system uses a heat pump
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/212—Temperature of the water
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
- F24H15/238—Flow rate
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/305—Control of valves
- F24H15/31—Control of valves of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/335—Control of pumps, e.g. on-off control
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/375—Control of heat pumps
- F24H15/38—Control of compressors of heat pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
- F24H15/395—Information to users, e.g. alarms
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
- F24H15/40—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers
- F24H15/414—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
- F24H15/421—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based using pre-stored data
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/04—Sensors
- F24D2220/044—Flow sensors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D2220/00—Components of central heating installations excluding heat sources
- F24D2220/08—Storage tanks
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a heat pump hot water dispenser and a hot water storage system including the heat pump hot water dispenser.
- Heat pump devices using natural refrigerants have been actively developed in an attempt to eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons.
- heat pump devices using carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as refrigerant have become popular in recent years.
- CO 2 has an ozone depletion potential of 0 and a global warming potential of 1, and thus has an advantage such that loads on the environment can be reduced.
- CO 2 has no toxicity and no flammability, and thereby is excellent in terms of safety, and has advantages such that CO 2 is easily obtained and is relatively inexpensive.
- CO 2 on a high-pressure side namely, the CO 2 discharged from a compressor
- CO 2 discharged from a compressor has a property of being in a supercritical state. That is, the CO 2 in a supercritical state remains in the supercritical state without being condensed when imparting heat to other fluids (e.g., water, air, and refrigerant) by heat exchange.
- the CO 2 having such a property has less state transition loss and is suitable for use in heat pump devices that are required to achieve an especially high temperature. Consequently, various heat pump hot water dispensers that use CO 2 as refrigerant to heat water to 90 degrees C by utilizing the advantages of CO 2 have been proposed.
- a hot water dispenser "provided with a water heating unit, a hot water tank for storing hot water heated by the water heating unit, a plurality of radiating units for circulating the hot water stored in the hot water tank as a heat source, selecting unit for selecting whether the plurality of radiating units are used or not, and a control unit for controlling a water heating operation that heats water by the water heating unit on the basis of a selection state selected by the selecting unit and stores the heated water in the hot water tank” is disclosed (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).
- This heat pump hot water dispenser uses a circulation pump to control the flow rate of supplied hot water.
- heat pump hot water dispensers use pumps, as described in Patent Literature 1, to feed hot water heated by the water heating units into the hot water tanks, or to circulate hot water stored in the hot water tanks through the heat pump hot water dispensers to raise the temperature of the hot water.
- a pump is embedded in a hot water dispenser or provided by connecting to a hot water dispenser.
- a hot water dispenser is required to prepare against a case where water supplied to the heat pump hot water dispenser is disrupted or the pressure thereof is reduced. Therefore, to protect a compressor or the like during water supply disruption, a water-cooled type cooler that is provided with a water supply disruption detection unit for detecting a pressure on a discharge side of a compressor and that controls operation of the compressor on the basis of the outputs from the water supply disruption detection unit has been proposed (e.g., see Patent Literature 2).
- the pump may be damaged when water supply is disrupted.
- cases where a pump is damaged in the configuration include a case where water supply disruption cannot be detected in an operation (such as a pump operation mode) in which the pressure is not increased, thereby damaging the pump, and a case where an increase in the pressure takes time due to control of a decrease in frequency, thereby damaging the pump before water supply disruption is detected.
- Patent Literature 2 discloses a pressure switch as a method for detecting water supply disruption; however, with such a water supply disruption detection method like a pressure switch, water supply disruption may be erroneously detected or a pump may be damaged.
- Fig. 8 is used to explain a problem of the conventional technique.
- Figs. 8 (a) and 8 (b) illustrate examples of a hot water storage system in which a hot water tank 101 and a hot water dispenser 130 are connected to each other via a water inflow pipe 131 having a valve body 134 and a water outflow pipe 132 having a valve body 135.
- a water supply disruption detection unit formed of the pressure switch described in Patent Literature 2 may erroneously detect an event of a temporary decrease in flow rate, which is recovered in a few seconds, as water supply disruption. Note that, in the present invention, a temporary decrease in flow rate, such that the flow rate of water is decreased and recovered in a few seconds, is not considered as water supply disruption.
- Figs. 8 (c) and 8 (d) illustrate examples of connection pipes (including water outflow pipes and water inflow pipes) to the hot water dispenser 130 and valves provided to the connection pipes.
- a three-way valve 182 is connected to the connection pipes of the hot water dispenser 130 as illustrated in Fig. 8 (c)
- two or more two-way valves two-way valves 183a, 183b
- a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs when the valve is operated for switching flow passages.
- FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the relationship between the opening degrees of valves and the flow rate in switching of flow passages by using the two-way valves 183a and 183b illustrated in Fig. 8 (d) .
- Fig. 9 illustrates an example of the relationship between the opening degrees of valves and the flow rate in switching of flow passages by using the two-way valves 183a and 183b illustrated in Fig. 8 (d) .
- a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs.
- a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs as with Fig. 9 .
- the water supply disruption detection unit formed of the pressure switch described in Patent Literature 2 may erroneously detect the temporary decrease in flow rate as water supply disruption.
- the present invention provides a heat pump hot water dispenser that can perform operations without any trouble even after a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, and provides a hot water storage system provided with the heat pump hot water dispenser.
- a heat pump hot water dispenser of the present invention includes a heat pump cycle device connecting at least a compressor, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator by pipes, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger being configured to allow refrigerant and water to exchange heat, a flow rate detection unit for detecting a flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger, and a control unit for controlling operation of the heat pump cycle device.
- the control unit is configured to determine an occurrence of abnormal water supply disruption and suspend the operation of the heat pump cycle device when a flow rate of water detected by the flow rate detection unit continues to be lower than a threshold for a set time period or longer.
- the present invention is configured in such a manner that when a condition where the flow rate of the water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger is lower than a threshold continues for a set time period or longer, the condition is determined as abnormal water supply disruption, and the operation of the heat pump cycle device is suspended. Therefore, erroneous detections of water supply disruption due to malfunction of the flow rate detection unit caused by noises and due to a temporary decrease in flow rate can be controlled. Furthermore, an advantageous effect can be obtained such that, even if a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, operation can be performed after the temporary decrease in flow rate without any trouble within a range where a pump for circulating water through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger is not damaged.
- Fig. 1 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hot water storage system 100 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that, in Fig. 1 , the directions of water flow are also indicated by dotted arrows.
- the hot water storage system 100 of Embodiment 1 includes a hot water tank 1 and a heat pump hot water dispenser 30 (hereinafter referred to simply as a hot water dispenser 30) that is a unit for heating water in the hot water tank 1. Hot water heated by the hot water dispenser 30 is stored in the hot water tank 1, and the hot water is supplied from the hot water tank 1 to a faucet of a facility (e.g., bathroom or kitchen) that uses hot water.
- a facility e.g., bathroom or kitchen
- a lower portion of the hot water tank 1 is connected to the hot water dispenser 30 via a water inflow pipe 31 for allowing water in the hot water tank 1 to flow into the hot water dispenser 30.
- a temperature sensor 2 is provided at a lower portion of the hot water tank 1 to detect the temperature of water located at substantially the same depth as the portion to which the water inflow pipe 31 is connected. The configuration of the temperature sensor 2 is not limited in particular as long as it can detect a water temperature.
- an upper portion of the hot water tank 1, more particularly, an upper portion located above the portion to which the water inflow pipe 31 is connected is connected to the hot water dispenser 30 via a water outflow pipe 32 in which water flowing out from the hot water dispenser 30 flows.
- the water inflow pipe 31 branches off between the hot water tank 1 and the hot water dispenser 30, and a pipe branching off therefrom is referred to as a water inflow pipe 31 a.
- the water inflow pipe 31 a is connected to a water receiving tank 3 via a water supply pipe 4.
- the water receiving tank 3 stores water to be supplied to the hot water storage system 100.
- the water supply pipe 4 is provided with a water supply valve 5 for controlling the amount of water to be supplied from the water receiving tank 3 to the hot water dispenser 30.
- the water inflow pipe 31 and the water outflow pipe 32 are provided with valve bodies, such as manual valves, to block paths of the water pipes between the hot water dispenser 30 and the hot water tank 1 when the hot water dispenser 30 is maintained or replaced.
- the water inflow pipe 31 is provided with valve bodies 33 and 34 in series, and the water inflow pipe 31 a branches off between the valve bodies 33 and 34.
- the water outflow pipe 32 is provided with a valve body 35.
- a hot water supply pipe 6 the other end of which is connected to a faucet not shown, is connected to an upper portion of the hot water tank 1.
- the hot water supply pipe 6 is provided with a hot water supply pump 7 for feeding hot water stored in the hot water tank 1 to the faucet.
- a return pipe 8 is connected to a lower portion of the hot water tank 1, more particularly, below the portion to which the hot water supply pipe 6 is connected. Note that the hot water supply pump 7 may be provided to the return pipe 8.
- Fig. 2 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating the hot water dispenser 30 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that, in Fig. 2 , the direction of water flow is indicated by dotted arrows, and the direction of refrigerant flow is indicated by solid arrows.
- the hot water dispenser 30 of Embodiment 1 includes a heat pump cycle device (same as a refrigeration cycle device) 50 as a heat source.
- the heat pump cycle device 50 uses CO 2 refrigerant. High-pressure CO 2 refrigerant has a property of being in a supercritical state.
- the CO 2 refrigerant in a supercritical state remains in the supercritical state without being condensed when imparting heat to other fluids (water in Embodiment 1) by heat exchange. Therefore, state transition loss is small, thereby being suitable for heating water to a high temperature.
- a compressor 51 In the heat pump cycle device 50, a compressor 51, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 as a radiator, a pressure reducing device 53, and an evaporator 54 are sequentially connected by pipes to form a refrigerant circuit.
- the compressor 51 is connected to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 via a refrigerant inflow pipe 55.
- the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is connected to the pressure reducing device 53 via a refrigerant outflow pipe 56.
- the pressure reducing device 53 is connected to the evaporator 54 by a pipe, and the evaporator 54 is connected to the compressor 51 by a pipe.
- the refrigerant used in the heat pump cycle device 50 is not limited to CO 2 , and various refrigerants, such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants such as R410A, R407C, R404A and R32, hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants such as R22 and R134a, and natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon and helium, can be used.
- HFC hydrofluorocarbon
- HCFC hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- R22 and R134a hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon and helium
- high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 51 flows into the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, releases heat by exchanging heat with a fluid (water, in Embodiment 1) flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, and then flows out from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52.
- the refrigerant that flows out from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is decompressed by the pressure reducing device 53, then flows into the evaporator 54 and the temperature of the refrigerant is raised therein, and then is sucked into the compressor 51.
- the number of the refrigerant-water heat exchangers 52 is not limited, and a single or a plurality of the refrigerant-water heat exchangers 52 can be provided according to a required heating amount of water.
- the water inflow pipe 31 and the water outflow pipe 32 are connected to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52.
- the water flowing into the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 through the water inflow pipe 31 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, and then is fed into the hot water tank 1 (see Fig. 1 ) through the water outflow pipe 32.
- a water supply pump 36 for feeding water to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is provided to the water inflow pipe 31.
- the water supply pump 36 may be a pump of which the flow rate can be adjusted by varying the rotation speed, or a pump of which the flow rate (rotation speed) is constant.
- the water supply pump 36 may be provided to the water outflow pipe 32.
- the water supply pump 36 may be embedded in the hot water dispenser 30 as illustrated in Fig. 2 , or may be provided to a portion of the water inflow pipe 31 or the water outflow pipe 32 exposed from an outer frame of the hot water dispenser 30.
- the water inflow pipe 31 is provided with a flow rate detection unit 40 for detecting the flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52.
- the flow rate detection unit 40 may be of an arbitrary flow rate sensor of, for example, an electric type, a mechanical type, an ultrasonic type, or a heat type. Note that, in the example of Fig. 2 , the flow rate detection unit 40 uses a volume type flow rate detection device, and thus is provided to a portion between the water supply pump 36 of the water inflow pipe 31 and the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, because the portion is one in which the pressure is the highest.
- the flow rate detection unit 40 is provided to neither an upstream region of the water supply pump 36 where cavitation may occur nor a downstream region of the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 where bubbles may generate.
- a control unit 60 to which information detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 and the temperature sensor 2 is input, and that controls operations of at least the hot water supply pump 7, valve bodies 34 and 35, and the compressor 51.
- the pressure reducing device 53 is formed of an expansion valve capable of adjusting an opening degree
- the operation of the pressure reducing device 53 may be controlled by the control unit 60
- the valve bodies 34 and 35 are capable of adjusting opening degrees
- these valve bodies may be controlled by the control unit 60.
- the control unit 60 is provided in the chassis of the hot water dispenser 30, as illustrated in Fig. 2 ; however, the control unit 60 may be provided to any place.
- the control unit 60 may be realized by the CPU and an analysis program executed by the CPU, or may be realized as a hardware using wired logic. Note that functions to be realized by the control unit 60 may be realized by devices that are physically separated in an arbitrary unit.
- the control unit 60 has a memory unit 61 that is rewritable, and the flow rates detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 can be recorded in the memory unit 61 as described later.
- the hot water dispenser 30 is provided with a notification unit 62 for notifying a user of operation conditions of the hot water dispenser 30 and information that should be notified to the user.
- the notification unit 62 is, for example, a display device, such as a liquid crystal monitor that visually displays information, or a sound output device, such as a speaker or a buzzer that aurally notifies information. Note that, both a display device and a sound output device, or either of them may be provided as the notification unit 62.
- the hot water storage system 100 of Embodiment 1 heats water stored in the hot water tank 1 or water stored in the water receiving tank 3 by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and feeds the water into the hot water tank 1.
- the control unit 60 of Embodiment 1 has at least two operation modes, as operation modes of the hot water dispenser 30, of a circulation mode in which water is circulated between the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and the hot water tank 1, and a hot water storage mode in which hot water heated by the hot water dispenser 30 is stored in the hot water tank 1.
- the hot water storage mode differs from the circulation mode in that water supplied from the water receiving tank 3 is heated by the hot water dispenser 30 and stored in the hot water tank 1, and water is not fed to the hot water dispenser 30 from the hot water tank 1.
- water to be heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) is the water stored in the hot water tank 1.
- the control unit 60 operates the hot water dispenser 30 to start heating of the water stored in the hot water tank 1 when a water temperature detected by the temperature sensor 2 provided at the lower portion of the hot water tank 1 becomes a prescribed heating start temperature or lower.
- the control unit 60 opens the valve bodies 33, 34 and 35, and causes the water supply pump 36 to operate.
- the water stored at a lower portion of the hot water tank 1 is fed to the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) via the water inflow pipe 31. Then, the water is heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and becomes hot water.
- the hot water flows into the hot water tank 1 via the water outflow pipe 32. Then, a detected temperate detected by the temperature sensor 2 reaches a prescribed heating end temperature, the heating of the water stored in the hot water tank 1 is finished.
- the hot water stored in the hot water tank 1 is supplied to a faucet not shown via the hot water supply pipe 6 when the hot water supply pump 7 is operated.
- the control unit 60 starts operation in the hot water storage mode.
- the valve body 33 is closed and the water supply valve 5 is opened.
- the water supply valve 5 is opened, the water stored in the water receiving tank 3 is fed to the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) via the water inflow pipe 31 a.
- the water is then heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and becomes hot water.
- the hot water flows into the hot water tank 1 via the water outflow pipe 32, and then is fed to a faucet not shown via the hot water supply pipe 6.
- Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the determination process for water supply disruption detection of the hot water dispenser 30 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
- Fig. 4 illustrates graphs each indicating an example of the relationship between the flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention and the elapsed time.
- the control unit 60 starts operation of the hot water dispenser 30 (step S1).
- the flow rate detection unit 40 detects periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) a flow rate of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52.
- the flow rates periodically detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 are stored in the memory unit 61 in a ring buffer format, for example. Therefore, the flow rates of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 for a prescribed period extending back from a present time are stored in the memory unit 61.
- the control unit 60 determines whether or not a condition (hereinafter may be referred to as a low flow rate condition) in which the flow rate of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 is equal to or lower than a threshold continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds in Embodiment 1) or longer (step S2).
- a condition hereinafter may be referred to as a low flow rate condition
- the control unit 60 determines whether or not a condition in which the flow rate of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 is equal to or lower than a threshold continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds in Embodiment 1) or longer (step S2).
- the set time T1 to be set in step S2 is variable in accordance with actual connecting pipe paths of the hot water storage system 100 or pumps used in the hot water storage system 100, and the set time T1 in Embodiment 1 is set to a range from 60 to 180 seconds inclusive. The reasons for setting the set time T1 to the range will be explained below.
- the lower limit (60 seconds) of the range of the set time T1 is based on the following two reasons.
- a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs as illustrated in Fig. 9 when the valve is operated for switching flow paths, and the flow rate detection unit 40 may detect water supply disruption, and the detection duration of the decrease in flow rate is less than 60 seconds.
- the flow rate detection unit 40 operates incorrectly due to the effect of noise or the like, and consequently the flow rate cannot be detected temporarily and a decrease in flow rate cannot be detected.
- the duration of detection of the decrease in flow rate is less than 60 seconds.
- the lower limit of the range of the set time T1 is set to 60 seconds.
- the upper limit (180 seconds) of the range of the set time T1 is based on the following reason.
- a pump e.g., a hot water supply pump 7 or a water supply pump 36 embedded in the hot water dispenser 30 or used in the hot water storage system 100 using the hot water dispenser 30 continues the operation in a water supply disruption condition, a cooling effect of the pump by the fluid cannot be obtained.
- Fig. 5 illustrates a graph indicating an example of the relationship between the temperature of a pump and the elapsed time of the operation and indicating a case where the pump is operated under a condition where the flow rate is lower than a threshold. As illustrated in Fig.
- the upper limit of the range of the set time T1 is set to 180 seconds.
- the range of the set time T1 is set to between 60 and 180 seconds inclusive.
- the set time T1 is set in the range of 60 to 180 seconds in the control unit 60 by a maintenance person or the like.
- the setting of the set time T1 in the control unit 60 is made by an arbitrary configuration, such as rewriting a program that the CPU of the control unit 60 executes or switching a signal to the control unit 60 by using an operation switch not shown.
- step S3 of Fig. 3 the control unit 60 allows the notification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected.
- the control unit 60 suspends operations of these devices.
- a suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from the control unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device.
- the compressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device.
- the flow rates of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in the memory unit 61.
- the control unit 60 determines the condition as abnormal water supply disruption and suspends the operation of the hot water dispenser 30
- the control unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension and stored in the memory unit 61, separately in the memory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S4). That is, in Embodiment 1, the control unit 60 and the memory unit 61 function as a recording unit of the present invention.
- control unit 60 is configured to determine whether or not water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a low flow rate condition when the flow rate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore an erroneous detection of water supply disruption caused by determining a temporary low flow rate condition as water supply disruption can be controlled.
- a temporary low flow rate condition is not determined as water supply disruption, and therefore, even when a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, the subsequent operation of the hot water dispenser 30 can be performed without any trouble within a range where a pump used in the hot water storage system 100 is not damaged.
- the control unit 60 properly determines whether or not abnormal water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a detected decrease in flow rate when the flow rate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore abnormal water supply disruption can be detected in a repeatable condition.
- Embodiment 1 when the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 is suspended due to the determination of abnormal water supply disruption, the flow rates detected by the flow rate detection unit 40 before the suspension are recorded as abnormal data. Therefore, a maintenance person can check afterward whether the cause of the abnormal suspension of the heat pump hot water dispenser is water supply disruption, thereby facilitating cause analysis of the abnormal suspension.
- Embodiment 1 explains an example of operation for suspending the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 when abnormal water supply disruption is detected.
- the abnormal water supply disruption may be caused by a configuration related to the conveyance of water from the hot water tank 1 to the hot water dispenser 30, such as a case where a water level 70 in the hot water tank 1 is lower than the connection portion of the water inflow pipe 31, as illustrated in Fig. 6 , or a case where the valve body 33 is failed. If the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 is suspended in such a case, the operation for storing hot water in the hot water tank 1 is suspended, and thereby shortage of hot water is caused and therefore the user may feel inconvenience.
- the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 itself does not have any trouble, and the hot water dispenser 30 may operate without problems when water supplied from the water receiving tank 3 is supplied to the hot water dispenser 30.
- Embodiment 2 operation of the hot water dispenser 30 for solving such problems will be explained. In Embodiment 2, differences from Embodiment 1 will be mainly explained.
- Fig. 6 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hot water storage system 100 of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
- Fig. 6 shows a water level 70 in a hot water tank 1 for explanation; however, the configuration of the hot water storage system 100 illustrated in Fig. 6 is the same as the configuration of Fig. 1 , and a temperature sensor 2, although not being shown, is provided to the hot water storage system 100 of Fig. 6 as with the case of Fig. 1 .
- Fig. 7 is a flowchart explaining operation of a hot water dispenser 30 of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
- a control unit 60 of Embodiment 2 has at least two operation modes, as operation modes of the hot water dispenser 30, of a circulation mode in which water is circulated between the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and the hot water tank 1, and of a hot water storage mode in which hot water heated by the hot water dispenser 30 is stored in the hot water tank 1. The operation will be explained below with reference to Fig. 7 .
- step S10 When the control unit 60 starts operation of the hot water dispenser 30 (step S10), the control unit 60 determines whether the operation mode is a circulation mode or not, that is, determines whether the operation mode is a hot water storage mode or not (step S11).
- the control unit 60 determines whether the operation mode is a circulation mode or not, that is, determines whether the operation mode is a hot water storage mode or not (step S11).
- the hot water dispenser 30 is in a circulation mode (YES in S11)
- the process proceeds to step S15, or when the hot water dispenser 30 is in a hot water storage mode (NO in S11), the process proceeds to step S12.
- step S12 when a flow rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds in Embodiment 2) or longer.
- the control unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S12).
- the control unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and returns to step S10 to continue the operation.
- the control unit 60 determines that water supply disruption occurs, and the process proceeds to step S13.
- step S13 the control unit 60 allows a notification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected.
- the control unit 60 suspends operations of these devices.
- a suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from the control unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device.
- the compressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device.
- Embodiment 2 when water supply disruption is detected during operation in the hot water storage mode, the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 is suspended as with a case of Embodiment 1.
- the flow rates of the water flowing in a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in a memory unit 61, and the control unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension of the hot water dispenser 30 and stored in the memory unit 61, separately in the memory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S14). That is, in Embodiment 2, the control unit 60 and the memory unit 61 function as a recording unit of the present invention.
- step S15 when the flow rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds). When the low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S15), the control unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and returns to step S10 to continue the operation. Meanwhile, when the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer (NO in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16.
- step S16 the control unit 60 allows a notification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected during operation in the circulation mode.
- the control unit 60 suspends operations of these devices.
- a suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from the control unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device.
- the compressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device.
- the flow rates of the water flowing in a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in a memory unit 61, and the control unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension of the hot water dispenser 30 and stored in the memory unit 61, separately in the memory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S17).
- step S17 the control unit 60 waits until a wait time T2 (e.g., 200 seconds) elapses, and then, while not allowing operation in the circulation mode, allows and starts operation in the hot water storage mode (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.
- the notification unit 62 keeps notifying that the water supply disruption condition is detected during operation in the circulation mode.
- the value (200 seconds) of the wait time T2 in step S18 is an example, and the value is set to a time period that is enough for cooling a device (e.g., water supply pump 36 or compressor 51) which is heated due to the water supply disruption down to a temperature at which operation of the device can be performed without any troubles.
- step S19 when the flow rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for 180 seconds while performing the operation in the hot water storage mode.
- the control unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for 180 seconds while performing the operation in the hot water storage mode.
- the control unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and continues the operation in the hot water storage mode in step S19.
- the control unit 60 determines the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and the process proceeds to step S13.
- control unit 60 is configured to determine whether or not water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a low flow rate condition when the flow rate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore the same advantages as in Embodiment 1 can be attained.
- Embodiment 2 even when water supply disruption is detected during operation in the circulation mode, in which hot water stored in the hot water tank 1 is circulated and heated in the hot water dispenser 30, and the operation of the hot water dispenser 30 is suspended, operation in the hot water storage mode, in which hot water heated by the hot water dispenser 30 is stored in the hot water tank 1, can be performed.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a heat pump hot water dispenser and a hot water storage system including the heat pump hot water dispenser.
- Heat pump devices using natural refrigerants have been actively developed in an attempt to eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons. In particular, heat pump devices using carbon dioxide (CO2) as refrigerant have become popular in recent years. CO2 has an ozone depletion potential of 0 and a global warming potential of 1, and thus has an advantage such that loads on the environment can be reduced. In addition, CO2 has no toxicity and no flammability, and thereby is excellent in terms of safety, and has advantages such that CO2 is easily obtained and is relatively inexpensive.
- Furthermore, unlike chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants, CO2 on a high-pressure side, namely, the CO2 discharged from a compressor, has a property of being in a supercritical state. That is, the CO2 in a supercritical state remains in the supercritical state without being condensed when imparting heat to other fluids (e.g., water, air, and refrigerant) by heat exchange. The CO2 having such a property has less state transition loss and is suitable for use in heat pump devices that are required to achieve an especially high temperature. Consequently, various heat pump hot water dispensers that use CO2 as refrigerant to heat water to 90 degrees C by utilizing the advantages of CO2 have been proposed.
- As an example of such a heat pump device, a hot water dispenser "provided with a water heating unit, a hot water tank for storing hot water heated by the water heating unit, a plurality of radiating units for circulating the hot water stored in the hot water tank as a heat source, selecting unit for selecting whether the plurality of radiating units are used or not, and a control unit for controlling a water heating operation that heats water by the water heating unit on the basis of a selection state selected by the selecting unit and stores the heated water in the hot water tank" is disclosed (e.g., see Patent Literature 1). This heat pump hot water dispenser uses a circulation pump to control the flow rate of supplied hot water.
- In general, heat pump hot water dispensers use pumps, as described in
Patent Literature 1, to feed hot water heated by the water heating units into the hot water tanks, or to circulate hot water stored in the hot water tanks through the heat pump hot water dispensers to raise the temperature of the hot water. Such a pump is embedded in a hot water dispenser or provided by connecting to a hot water dispenser. - In addition, such a hot water dispenser is required to prepare against a case where water supplied to the heat pump hot water dispenser is disrupted or the pressure thereof is reduced. Therefore, to protect a compressor or the like during water supply disruption, a water-cooled type cooler that is provided with a water supply disruption detection unit for detecting a pressure on a discharge side of a compressor and that controls operation of the compressor on the basis of the outputs from the water supply disruption detection unit has been proposed (e.g., see Patent Literature 2).
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- Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2004-333051 Page 4,Fig. 1 ) - Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
7-229653 Page 3,Fig. 1 ) - However, if the water supply disruption detection unit and the configuration related to the operation for controlling a compressor on the basis of the water supply disruption detection unit described in
Patent Literature 2 are applied to the heat pump hot water dispenser described inPatent Literature 1, in which the flow rate of supplied hot water is controlled by a pump, the pump may be damaged when water supply is disrupted. Examples of cases where a pump is damaged in the configuration include a case where water supply disruption cannot be detected in an operation (such as a pump operation mode) in which the pressure is not increased, thereby damaging the pump, and a case where an increase in the pressure takes time due to control of a decrease in frequency, thereby damaging the pump before water supply disruption is detected. If the pump is damaged, problems occur such that, even when the operation of the heat pump is resumed after the water supply disruption, hot water heated by the water heating unit cannot be fed into and stored in the hot water tank, or that hot water stored in the hot water tank cannot be circulated through the heat pump hot water dispenser. - Furthermore,
Patent Literature 2 discloses a pressure switch as a method for detecting water supply disruption; however, with such a water supply disruption detection method like a pressure switch, water supply disruption may be erroneously detected or a pump may be damaged. A specific example will be explained with reference to figures.Fig. 8 is used to explain a problem of the conventional technique.Figs. 8 (a) and 8 (b) illustrate examples of a hot water storage system in which ahot water tank 101 and ahot water dispenser 130 are connected to each other via awater inflow pipe 131 having avalve body 134 and awater outflow pipe 132 having avalve body 135. In a case wherehot water tank 101 and thehot water dispenser 130 are connected to each other via awater outflow pipe 132 having a shrine gate shape (an upwardly bent shape indicated by sign 180) as illustrated inFig. 8 (a) or in a case where thehot water tank 101 and thehot water dispenser 130 are connected to each other via awater inflow pipe 131 having an inverse shrine gate shape (a downwardly bent shape indicated by sign 181) as illustrated inFig. 8 (b) , air in the pipe cannot be released and therefore a pump cannot suck water or hot water due to air entrainment in the pump, thereby a temporary decrease in flow rate may occur. In such a case, a water supply disruption detection unit formed of the pressure switch described inPatent Literature 2 may erroneously detect an event of a temporary decrease in flow rate, which is recovered in a few seconds, as water supply disruption. Note that, in the present invention, a temporary decrease in flow rate, such that the flow rate of water is decreased and recovered in a few seconds, is not considered as water supply disruption. - In addition,
Figs. 8 (c) and 8 (d) illustrate examples of connection pipes (including water outflow pipes and water inflow pipes) to thehot water dispenser 130 and valves provided to the connection pipes. In a case where a three-way valve 182 is connected to the connection pipes of thehot water dispenser 130 as illustrated inFig. 8 (c) , or in a case where two or more two-way valves (two-way valves hot water dispenser 130 as illustrated inFig. 8 (d) , a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs when the valve is operated for switching flow passages.Fig. 9 illustrates an example of the relationship between the opening degrees of valves and the flow rate in switching of flow passages by using the two-way valves Fig. 8 (d) . As illustrated inFig. 9 , when the two-way valves way valve 182, a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs as withFig. 9 . In this case, the water supply disruption detection unit formed of the pressure switch described inPatent Literature 2 may erroneously detect the temporary decrease in flow rate as water supply disruption. - Moreover, a problem occurs, in which even if operation of a compressor or the like is suspended to protect devices in a case where such a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, no repeatability is found to identify the cause of the abnormal suspension, thereby making it difficult to find out the cause.
- To address the problems above, the present invention provides a heat pump hot water dispenser that can perform operations without any trouble even after a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, and provides a hot water storage system provided with the heat pump hot water dispenser.
- A heat pump hot water dispenser of the present invention includes a heat pump cycle device connecting at least a compressor, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator by pipes, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger being configured to allow refrigerant and water to exchange heat, a flow rate detection unit for detecting a flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger, and a control unit for controlling operation of the heat pump cycle device. The control unit is configured to determine an occurrence of abnormal water supply disruption and suspend the operation of the heat pump cycle device when a flow rate of water detected by the flow rate detection unit continues to be lower than a threshold for a set time period or longer.
- The present invention is configured in such a manner that when a condition where the flow rate of the water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger is lower than a threshold continues for a set time period or longer, the condition is determined as abnormal water supply disruption, and the operation of the heat pump cycle device is suspended. Therefore, erroneous detections of water supply disruption due to malfunction of the flow rate detection unit caused by noises and due to a temporary decrease in flow rate can be controlled. Furthermore, an advantageous effect can be obtained such that, even if a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, operation can be performed after the temporary decrease in flow rate without any trouble within a range where a pump for circulating water through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger is not damaged.
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- [
Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hotwater storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating ahot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a determination process for water supply disruption detection of thehot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 4] Fig. 4 illustrates graphs each indicating an example of a relationship between a flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 and an elapsed time ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 5] Fig. 5 illustrates a graph indicating an example of a relationship between a temperature of a pump embedded component and an operation elapsed time. - [
Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hotwater storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a flowchart explaining operation of ahot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 8] Fig. 8 illustrates examples of a pipe connection configuration between ahot water dispenser 130 and ahot water tank 101. - [
Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a graph illustrating an example of a relationship between opening degrees of valves and a flow rate when an operation for switching flow passages is performed in a case where two two-way valves are connected to thehot water dispenser 130. - Embodiments in which a heat pump hot water dispenser of the present invention is applied to a hot water storage system provided with a hot water tank will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, in the drawings, the dimensional relationship among the component members may differ from an actual case. In addition, in the drawings, the features denoted by the same signs are the same or corresponding features, and this applies throughout the description. Furthermore, the configurations of the component members described throughout the description are merely examples, and are not limited to the description.
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Fig. 1 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hotwater storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that, inFig. 1 , the directions of water flow are also indicated by dotted arrows. The hotwater storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 1 includes ahot water tank 1 and a heat pump hot water dispenser 30 (hereinafter referred to simply as a hot water dispenser 30) that is a unit for heating water in thehot water tank 1. Hot water heated by thehot water dispenser 30 is stored in thehot water tank 1, and the hot water is supplied from thehot water tank 1 to a faucet of a facility (e.g., bathroom or kitchen) that uses hot water. - A lower portion of the
hot water tank 1 is connected to thehot water dispenser 30 via awater inflow pipe 31 for allowing water in thehot water tank 1 to flow into thehot water dispenser 30. Atemperature sensor 2 is provided at a lower portion of thehot water tank 1 to detect the temperature of water located at substantially the same depth as the portion to which thewater inflow pipe 31 is connected. The configuration of thetemperature sensor 2 is not limited in particular as long as it can detect a water temperature. In addition, an upper portion of thehot water tank 1, more particularly, an upper portion located above the portion to which thewater inflow pipe 31 is connected, is connected to thehot water dispenser 30 via awater outflow pipe 32 in which water flowing out from thehot water dispenser 30 flows. Thewater inflow pipe 31 branches off between thehot water tank 1 and thehot water dispenser 30, and a pipe branching off therefrom is referred to as awater inflow pipe 31 a. Thewater inflow pipe 31 a is connected to awater receiving tank 3 via awater supply pipe 4. Thewater receiving tank 3 stores water to be supplied to the hotwater storage system 100. Thewater supply pipe 4 is provided with awater supply valve 5 for controlling the amount of water to be supplied from thewater receiving tank 3 to thehot water dispenser 30. - The
water inflow pipe 31 and thewater outflow pipe 32 are provided with valve bodies, such as manual valves, to block paths of the water pipes between thehot water dispenser 30 and thehot water tank 1 when thehot water dispenser 30 is maintained or replaced. Specifically, thewater inflow pipe 31 is provided withvalve bodies water inflow pipe 31 a branches off between thevalve bodies water outflow pipe 32 is provided with avalve body 35. - One end of a hot water supply pipe 6, the other end of which is connected to a faucet not shown, is connected to an upper portion of the
hot water tank 1. The hot water supply pipe 6 is provided with a hotwater supply pump 7 for feeding hot water stored in thehot water tank 1 to the faucet. In addition, one end of areturn pipe 8 is connected to a lower portion of thehot water tank 1, more particularly, below the portion to which the hot water supply pipe 6 is connected. Note that the hotwater supply pump 7 may be provided to thereturn pipe 8. - Next, a configuration of the
hot water dispenser 30 will be explained. -
Fig. 2 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating thehot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that, inFig. 2 , the direction of water flow is indicated by dotted arrows, and the direction of refrigerant flow is indicated by solid arrows. Thehot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 1 includes a heat pump cycle device (same as a refrigeration cycle device) 50 as a heat source. InEmbodiment 1, the heatpump cycle device 50 uses CO2 refrigerant. High-pressure CO2 refrigerant has a property of being in a supercritical state. That is, the CO2 refrigerant in a supercritical state remains in the supercritical state without being condensed when imparting heat to other fluids (water in Embodiment 1) by heat exchange. Therefore, state transition loss is small, thereby being suitable for heating water to a high temperature. - In the heat
pump cycle device 50, acompressor 51, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 as a radiator, apressure reducing device 53, and anevaporator 54 are sequentially connected by pipes to form a refrigerant circuit. Thecompressor 51 is connected to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 via arefrigerant inflow pipe 55. The refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is connected to thepressure reducing device 53 via arefrigerant outflow pipe 56. Thepressure reducing device 53 is connected to theevaporator 54 by a pipe, and theevaporator 54 is connected to thecompressor 51 by a pipe. Note that the refrigerant used in the heatpump cycle device 50 is not limited to CO2, and various refrigerants, such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants such as R410A, R407C, R404A and R32, hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants such as R22 and R134a, and natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon and helium, can be used. In this case, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 functions as a condensor. - In the heat
pump cycle device 50, high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 51 flows into the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, releases heat by exchanging heat with a fluid (water, in Embodiment 1) flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, and then flows out from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52. The refrigerant that flows out from the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is decompressed by thepressure reducing device 53, then flows into theevaporator 54 and the temperature of the refrigerant is raised therein, and then is sucked into thecompressor 51. The number of the refrigerant-water heat exchangers 52 is not limited, and a single or a plurality of the refrigerant-water heat exchangers 52 can be provided according to a required heating amount of water. - The
water inflow pipe 31 and thewater outflow pipe 32 are connected to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52. The water flowing into the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 through thewater inflow pipe 31 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, and then is fed into the hot water tank 1 (seeFig. 1 ) through thewater outflow pipe 32. Awater supply pump 36 for feeding water to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 is provided to thewater inflow pipe 31. Thewater supply pump 36 may be a pump of which the flow rate can be adjusted by varying the rotation speed, or a pump of which the flow rate (rotation speed) is constant. Thewater supply pump 36 may be provided to thewater outflow pipe 32. In addition, thewater supply pump 36 may be embedded in thehot water dispenser 30 as illustrated inFig. 2 , or may be provided to a portion of thewater inflow pipe 31 or thewater outflow pipe 32 exposed from an outer frame of thehot water dispenser 30. - The
water inflow pipe 31 is provided with a flowrate detection unit 40 for detecting the flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52. The flowrate detection unit 40 may be of an arbitrary flow rate sensor of, for example, an electric type, a mechanical type, an ultrasonic type, or a heat type. Note that, in the example ofFig. 2 , the flowrate detection unit 40 uses a volume type flow rate detection device, and thus is provided to a portion between thewater supply pump 36 of thewater inflow pipe 31 and the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52, because the portion is one in which the pressure is the highest. The flowrate detection unit 40 is provided to neither an upstream region of thewater supply pump 36 where cavitation may occur nor a downstream region of the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 where bubbles may generate. - Provided in a chassis of the
hot water dispenser 30 is acontrol unit 60 to which information detected by the flowrate detection unit 40 and thetemperature sensor 2 is input, and that controls operations of at least the hotwater supply pump 7,valve bodies compressor 51. When thepressure reducing device 53 is formed of an expansion valve capable of adjusting an opening degree, the operation of thepressure reducing device 53 may be controlled by thecontrol unit 60, and when thevalve bodies control unit 60. InEmbodiment 1, thecontrol unit 60 is provided in the chassis of thehot water dispenser 30, as illustrated inFig. 2 ; however, thecontrol unit 60 may be provided to any place. Thecontrol unit 60 may be realized by the CPU and an analysis program executed by the CPU, or may be realized as a hardware using wired logic. Note that functions to be realized by thecontrol unit 60 may be realized by devices that are physically separated in an arbitrary unit. In addition, thecontrol unit 60 has amemory unit 61 that is rewritable, and the flow rates detected by the flowrate detection unit 40 can be recorded in thememory unit 61 as described later. - Furthermore, the
hot water dispenser 30 is provided with anotification unit 62 for notifying a user of operation conditions of thehot water dispenser 30 and information that should be notified to the user. Thenotification unit 62 is, for example, a display device, such as a liquid crystal monitor that visually displays information, or a sound output device, such as a speaker or a buzzer that aurally notifies information. Note that, both a display device and a sound output device, or either of them may be provided as thenotification unit 62. - Next, operations will be explained.
- The hot
water storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 1 heats water stored in thehot water tank 1 or water stored in thewater receiving tank 3 by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and feeds the water into thehot water tank 1. Thecontrol unit 60 ofEmbodiment 1 has at least two operation modes, as operation modes of thehot water dispenser 30, of a circulation mode in which water is circulated between the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and thehot water tank 1, and a hot water storage mode in which hot water heated by thehot water dispenser 30 is stored in thehot water tank 1. The hot water storage mode differs from the circulation mode in that water supplied from thewater receiving tank 3 is heated by thehot water dispenser 30 and stored in thehot water tank 1, and water is not fed to thehot water dispenser 30 from thehot water tank 1. With reference toFigs. 1 and 2 , overviews of the circulation mode and the hot water storage mode will be explained below. - For the circulation mode, water to be heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) is the water stored in the
hot water tank 1. In thehot water tank 1, the temperature of the water increases toward the upper portion of thehot water tank 1 and the temperature of the water decreases toward the lower portion of thehot water tank 1. InEmbodiment 1, thecontrol unit 60 operates thehot water dispenser 30 to start heating of the water stored in thehot water tank 1 when a water temperature detected by thetemperature sensor 2 provided at the lower portion of thehot water tank 1 becomes a prescribed heating start temperature or lower. When starting heating of the water stored in thehot water tank 1, thecontrol unit 60 opens thevalve bodies water supply pump 36 to operate. The water stored at a lower portion of thehot water tank 1 is fed to the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) via thewater inflow pipe 31. Then, the water is heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and becomes hot water. The hot water flows into thehot water tank 1 via thewater outflow pipe 32. Then, a detected temperate detected by thetemperature sensor 2 reaches a prescribed heating end temperature, the heating of the water stored in thehot water tank 1 is finished. The hot water stored in thehot water tank 1 is supplied to a faucet not shown via the hot water supply pipe 6 when the hotwater supply pump 7 is operated. - When the hot water stored in the
hot water tank 1 is supplied to a faucet not shown via the hot water supply pipe 6, the amount of the water in thehot water tank 1 is decreased. Then, thecontrol unit 60 starts operation in the hot water storage mode. When the amount of the water in thehot water tank 1 is decreased to a prescribed amount and the operation is started in the hot water storage mode, thevalve body 33 is closed and thewater supply valve 5 is opened. When thewater supply valve 5 is opened, the water stored in thewater receiving tank 3 is fed to the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) via thewater inflow pipe 31 a. The water is then heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and becomes hot water. The hot water flows into thehot water tank 1 via thewater outflow pipe 32, and then is fed to a faucet not shown via the hot water supply pipe 6. - Next, the determination operations for water supply disruption detection of the
hot water dispenser 30 will be explained. - Note that the same operations for determining abnormal water supply disruption are used in both of the circulation mode and the hot water storage mode, and the operations of the hot
water storage system 100 and thehot water dispenser 30 will be explained by using the circulation mode, as an example, in which the water stored in thehot water tank 1 is heated by the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52). -
Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the determination process for water supply disruption detection of thehot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.Fig. 4 illustrates graphs each indicating an example of the relationship between the flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 ofEmbodiment 1 of the present invention and the elapsed time. - The
control unit 60 starts operation of the hot water dispenser 30 (step S1). When the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 is started, the flowrate detection unit 40 detects periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) a flow rate of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52. In addition, the flow rates periodically detected by the flowrate detection unit 40 are stored in thememory unit 61 in a ring buffer format, for example. Therefore, the flow rates of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 for a prescribed period extending back from a present time are stored in thememory unit 61. - The
control unit 60 determines whether or not a condition (hereinafter may be referred to as a low flow rate condition) in which the flow rate of the water flowing in the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 detected by the flowrate detection unit 40 is equal to or lower than a threshold continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds in Embodiment 1) or longer (step S2). When, as illustrated inFig. 4 (a) , the low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S2 ofFig. 3 ), thecontrol unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and returns to step S1 to continue the operation of thehot water dispenser 30. Meanwhile, when, as illustrated inFig. 4 (b) , the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer (NO in step S2 ofFig. 3 ), thecontrol unit 60 determines that water supply disruption occurs, and the process proceeds to step S3. - Note that, the set time T1 to be set in step S2 is variable in accordance with actual connecting pipe paths of the hot
water storage system 100 or pumps used in the hotwater storage system 100, and the set time T1 inEmbodiment 1 is set to a range from 60 to 180 seconds inclusive. The reasons for setting the set time T1 to the range will be explained below. - First, the lower limit (60 seconds) of the range of the set time T1 is based on the following two reasons.
- As a first reason, it is observed that, in a case where a three-way valve is connected to a connection pipe of the heat pump hot water dispenser as illustrated in
Fig. 8 (c) or in a case where two or more two-way valves are connected to a connection pipe of the heat pump hot water dispenser as illustrated inFig. 8 (d) , a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs as illustrated inFig. 9 when the valve is operated for switching flow paths, and the flowrate detection unit 40 may detect water supply disruption, and the detection duration of the decrease in flow rate is less than 60 seconds. Therefore, when the lower limit of the range of the set time T1 is set to 60 seconds, an erroneous determination of a temporary decrease in flow rate in the valve operation of the three-way valve or the two-way valves as a water supply disruption condition can be controlled. - Furthermore, as a second reason, there is a case where the flow
rate detection unit 40 operates incorrectly due to the effect of noise or the like, and consequently the flow rate cannot be detected temporarily and a decrease in flow rate cannot be detected. In such a case, the duration of detection of the decrease in flow rate is less than 60 seconds. - For these two reasons, the lower limit of the range of the set time T1 is set to 60 seconds.
- Next, the upper limit (180 seconds) of the range of the set time T1 is based on the following reason.
- If a pump (e.g., a hot
water supply pump 7 or a water supply pump 36) embedded in thehot water dispenser 30 or used in the hotwater storage system 100 using thehot water dispenser 30 continues the operation in a water supply disruption condition, a cooling effect of the pump by the fluid cannot be obtained.Fig. 5 illustrates a graph indicating an example of the relationship between the temperature of a pump and the elapsed time of the operation and indicating a case where the pump is operated under a condition where the flow rate is lower than a threshold. As illustrated inFig. 5 , as the operation time of the pump in a low flow rate condition elapses, the temperature of a component (e.g., a shaft or a substrate) embedded in the pump rises, and the component may be overheated above an operation guarantee temperature and may be damaged thereby. Therefore, as the maximum time for securing a margin (e.g., twice) with respect to a time (e.g., 360 seconds inFig. 5 ) until the temperature of a component embedded in the pump reaches the operation guarantee temperature, the upper limit of the range of the set time T1 is set to 180 seconds. - For the reasons above, the range of the set time T1 is set to between 60 and 180 seconds inclusive. The set time T1 is set in the range of 60 to 180 seconds in the
control unit 60 by a maintenance person or the like. The setting of the set time T1 in thecontrol unit 60 is made by an arbitrary configuration, such as rewriting a program that the CPU of thecontrol unit 60 executes or switching a signal to thecontrol unit 60 by using an operation switch not shown. - The explanations for
Fig. 3 will resume. - In step S3 of
Fig. 3 , thecontrol unit 60 allows thenotification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected. In addition, for protection of the devices such as thewater supply pump 36 and thecompressor 51, thecontrol unit 60 suspends operations of these devices. A suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from thecontrol unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device. For example, thecompressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device. - Furthermore, as described above, the flow rates of the water flowing in the refrigerant-
water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in thememory unit 61. When the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer, and thecontrol unit 60 determines the condition as abnormal water supply disruption and suspends the operation of thehot water dispenser 30, thecontrol unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension and stored in thememory unit 61, separately in thememory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S4). That is, inEmbodiment 1, thecontrol unit 60 and thememory unit 61 function as a recording unit of the present invention. - As described above, the
control unit 60 is configured to determine whether or not water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a low flow rate condition when the flowrate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore an erroneous detection of water supply disruption caused by determining a temporary low flow rate condition as water supply disruption can be controlled. A temporary low flow rate condition is not determined as water supply disruption, and therefore, even when a temporary decrease in flow rate occurs, the subsequent operation of thehot water dispenser 30 can be performed without any trouble within a range where a pump used in the hotwater storage system 100 is not damaged. In addition, thecontrol unit 60 properly determines whether or not abnormal water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a detected decrease in flow rate when the flowrate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore abnormal water supply disruption can be detected in a repeatable condition. - Furthermore, in
Embodiment 1, when the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 is suspended due to the determination of abnormal water supply disruption, the flow rates detected by the flowrate detection unit 40 before the suspension are recorded as abnormal data. Therefore, a maintenance person can check afterward whether the cause of the abnormal suspension of the heat pump hot water dispenser is water supply disruption, thereby facilitating cause analysis of the abnormal suspension. -
Embodiment 1 explains an example of operation for suspending the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 when abnormal water supply disruption is detected. - The abnormal water supply disruption may be caused by a configuration related to the conveyance of water from the
hot water tank 1 to thehot water dispenser 30, such as a case where awater level 70 in thehot water tank 1 is lower than the connection portion of thewater inflow pipe 31, as illustrated inFig. 6 , or a case where thevalve body 33 is failed. If the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 is suspended in such a case, the operation for storing hot water in thehot water tank 1 is suspended, and thereby shortage of hot water is caused and therefore the user may feel inconvenience. Furthermore, if a condition where a water level in thehot water tank 1 is lower than the connection portion of thewater inflow pipe 31 or a condition where thevalve body 33 is failed is the cause of the abnormal water supply disruption, the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 itself does not have any trouble, and thehot water dispenser 30 may operate without problems when water supplied from thewater receiving tank 3 is supplied to thehot water dispenser 30. - In
Embodiment 2, operation of thehot water dispenser 30 for solving such problems will be explained. InEmbodiment 2, differences fromEmbodiment 1 will be mainly explained. -
Fig. 6 is a pipe circuit diagram illustrating a hotwater storage system 100 ofEmbodiment 2 of the present invention.Fig. 6 shows awater level 70 in ahot water tank 1 for explanation; however, the configuration of the hotwater storage system 100 illustrated inFig. 6 is the same as the configuration ofFig. 1 , and atemperature sensor 2, although not being shown, is provided to the hotwater storage system 100 ofFig. 6 as with the case ofFig. 1 . -
Fig. 7 is a flowchart explaining operation of ahot water dispenser 30 ofEmbodiment 2 of the present invention. As with a case ofEmbodiment 1, acontrol unit 60 ofEmbodiment 2 has at least two operation modes, as operation modes of thehot water dispenser 30, of a circulation mode in which water is circulated between the hot water dispenser 30 (refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52) and thehot water tank 1, and of a hot water storage mode in which hot water heated by thehot water dispenser 30 is stored in thehot water tank 1. The operation will be explained below with reference toFig. 7 . - When the
control unit 60 starts operation of the hot water dispenser 30 (step S10), thecontrol unit 60 determines whether the operation mode is a circulation mode or not, that is, determines whether the operation mode is a hot water storage mode or not (step S11). When thehot water dispenser 30 is in a circulation mode (YES in S11), the process proceeds to step S15, or when thehot water dispenser 30 is in a hot water storage mode (NO in S11), the process proceeds to step S12. - In step S12, when a flow
rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, thecontrol unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds in Embodiment 2) or longer. When the low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S12), thecontrol unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and returns to step S10 to continue the operation. Meanwhile, when the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer (NO in step S12), thecontrol unit 60 determines that water supply disruption occurs, and the process proceeds to step S13. - In step S13, the
control unit 60 allows anotification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected. In addition, for protection of the devices such as awater supply pump 36 and acompressor 51, thecontrol unit 60 suspends operations of these devices. A suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from thecontrol unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device. For example, thecompressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device. InEmbodiment 2, when water supply disruption is detected during operation in the hot water storage mode, the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 is suspended as with a case ofEmbodiment 1. - Furthermore, as described in
Embodiment 1, the flow rates of the water flowing in a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in amemory unit 61, and thecontrol unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension of thehot water dispenser 30 and stored in thememory unit 61, separately in thememory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S14). That is, inEmbodiment 2, thecontrol unit 60 and thememory unit 61 function as a recording unit of the present invention. - In step S15, when the flow
rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, thecontrol unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for a set time T1 (180 seconds). When the low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S15), thecontrol unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and returns to step S10 to continue the operation. Meanwhile, when the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer (NO in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16. - In step S16, the
control unit 60 allows anotification unit 62 to notify that abnormal water supply disruption is detected during operation in the circulation mode. In addition, for protection of the devices such as awater supply pump 36 and acompressor 51, thecontrol unit 60 suspends operations of these devices. A suspension method may be a method in which an instruction is directly output to each device from thecontrol unit 60 or a method of suspending via another device. For example, thecompressor 51 may be provided with a high-pressure cutout device, and is suspended via the high-pressure cutout device. - Furthermore, as described in
Embodiment 1, the flow rates of the water flowing in a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 52 are stored periodically (e.g., every 30 seconds) in amemory unit 61, and thecontrol unit 60 stores the last ten flow rates, for example, detected before the operation suspension of thehot water dispenser 30 and stored in thememory unit 61, separately in thememory unit 61 as abnormal data (step S17). - After step S17, the
control unit 60 waits until a wait time T2 (e.g., 200 seconds) elapses, and then, while not allowing operation in the circulation mode, allows and starts operation in the hot water storage mode (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19. At this time, thenotification unit 62 keeps notifying that the water supply disruption condition is detected during operation in the circulation mode. Note that, the value (200 seconds) of the wait time T2 in step S18 is an example, and the value is set to a time period that is enough for cooling a device (e.g.,water supply pump 36 or compressor 51) which is heated due to the water supply disruption down to a temperature at which operation of the device can be performed without any troubles. - In step S19, when the flow
rate detection unit 40 detects a decrease in flow rate, thecontrol unit 60 determines whether or not a low flow rate condition continues for 180 seconds while performing the operation in the hot water storage mode. When the low flow rate condition continues for less than the set time T1 (180 seconds) (YES in step S19), thecontrol unit 60 does not determine the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and continues the operation in the hot water storage mode in step S19. Meanwhile, when the low flow rate condition continues for the set time T1 (180 seconds) or longer (NO in step S19), thecontrol unit 60 determines the condition as abnormal water supply disruption, and the process proceeds to step S13. - As described above, in
Embodiment 2, thecontrol unit 60 is configured to determine whether or not water supply disruption is occurring according to the duration of a low flow rate condition when the flowrate detection unit 40 detects the decrease in flow rate, and therefore the same advantages as inEmbodiment 1 can be attained. - In addition, in
Embodiment 2, even when water supply disruption is detected during operation in the circulation mode, in which hot water stored in thehot water tank 1 is circulated and heated in thehot water dispenser 30, and the operation of thehot water dispenser 30 is suspended, operation in the hot water storage mode, in which hot water heated by thehot water dispenser 30 is stored in thehot water tank 1, can be performed. - Note that, in
Embodiments hot water dispenser 30 is applied to the hotwater storage system 100 having thehot water tank 1 are explained. However, hot water may be directly supplied to a faucet from thehot water dispenser 30 without flowing through thehot water tank 1. Furthermore, numerical values used in the explanations inEmbodiments - 1
hot water tank 2temperature sensor 3water receiving tank 4water supply pipe 5 water supply valve 6 hotwater supply pipe 7 hotwater supply pump 8return pipe 30 heat pumphot water dispenser 31water inflow pipe 31 awater inflow pipe 32water outflow pipe 33valve body 34valve body 35valve body 36water supply pump 40 flowrate detection unit 50 heatpump cycle device 51compressor 52 refrigerant-water heat exchanger 53pressure reducing device 54evaporator 55refrigerant inflow pipe 56refrigerant outflow pipe 60control unit 61memory unit 62notification unit 100 hot water storage system
Claims (8)
- A heat pump hot water dispenser comprising:a heat pump cycle device connecting at least a compressor, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator by pipes, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger being configured to allow refrigerant and water to exchange heat;a flow rate detection unit for detecting a flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger; anda control unit for controlling operation of the heat pump cycle device,the control unit being configured to determine an occurrence of abnormal water supply disruption and suspend the operation of the heat pump cycle device when a flow rate of water detected by the flow rate detection unit continues to be lower than a threshold for a set time period or longer.
- The heat pump hot water dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a recording unit for recording, as abnormal data, a flow rate of water flowing through the refrigerant-water heat exchanger detected by the flow rate detection unit before operation of the heat pump cycle device is suspended, when a flow rate of water detected by the flow rate detection unit continues to be lower than the threshold for the set time period or longer, and the operation of the heat pump cycle device is suspended.
- The heat pump hot water dispenser of claim 1 or 2, wherein the set time period is variable.
- The heat pump hot water dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the control unit has, as operation modes of the heat pump cycle device, a circulation mode in which water is circulated between a hot water tank for storing water that exchanges heat with refrigerant at the refrigerant-water heat exchanger and the refrigerant-water heat exchanger, and a hot water storage mode in which water that exchanges heat with refrigerant at the refrigerant-water heat exchanger is stored in the hot water tank, and
wherein after the control unit determines an occurrence of abnormal water supply disruption while the heat pump cycle device is operating in the circulation mode, the control unit switches the circulation mode to the hot water storage mode. - The heat pump hot water dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a notification unit for issuing a notification of abnormal water supply disruption when the control unit determines an occurrence of the abnormal water supply disruption, and for continuing the notification of the abnormal water supply disruption even after the circulation mode is switched to the hot water storage mode.
- The heat pump hot water dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising a notification unit for issuing a notification of abnormal water supply disruption when the control unit determines an occurrence of the abnormal water supply disruption.
- The heat pump hot water dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the set time period is from 60 to 180 seconds.
- A hot water storage system comprising:the heat pump hot water dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 7; anda hot water tank for storing water that exchanges heat with refrigerant at the refrigerant-water heat exchanger provided to the heat pump hot water dispenser.
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PCT/JP2013/062452 WO2014174678A1 (en) | 2013-04-26 | 2013-04-26 | Heat pump hot-water supply device and hot-water storage system equipped with heat pump hot-water supply device |
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EP2990736A1 true EP2990736A1 (en) | 2016-03-02 |
EP2990736A4 EP2990736A4 (en) | 2016-11-30 |
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JP (1) | JP5972456B2 (en) |
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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ES2735648A1 (en) * | 2018-06-19 | 2019-12-19 | Sedal S L U | LIQUID MIXING DEVICE WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF HIGH DYNAMIC REGULATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF THE SAME (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
EP3336445B1 (en) * | 2016-12-16 | 2020-05-20 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | Hot-water heating apparatus |
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CN108113451A (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2018-06-05 | 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 | Cooking equipment and its control method and its control device |
JP2023022399A (en) * | 2021-08-03 | 2023-02-15 | 有限会社アクアテック | Auxiliary cooling device of condenser |
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JP3048821B2 (en) | 1994-02-17 | 2000-06-05 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Water-cooled cooling device |
JP2004333051A (en) | 2003-05-09 | 2004-11-25 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Water heater |
JP4560724B2 (en) * | 2005-03-29 | 2010-10-13 | 株式会社ノーリツ | Heat recovery equipment |
JP4876762B2 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2012-02-15 | 株式会社デンソー | Heat pump type water heater |
JP2008045841A (en) * | 2006-08-18 | 2008-02-28 | Rinnai Corp | Hot water storage type hot water supply system and cogeneration system |
JP5121548B2 (en) * | 2008-04-18 | 2013-01-16 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Hot water storage water heater |
JP5058324B2 (en) * | 2010-10-14 | 2012-10-24 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigeration cycle equipment |
JP5335036B2 (en) * | 2011-07-06 | 2013-11-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat pump water heater |
-
2013
- 2013-04-26 EP EP13883242.3A patent/EP2990736B1/en active Active
- 2013-04-26 JP JP2015513470A patent/JP5972456B2/en active Active
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP3336445B1 (en) * | 2016-12-16 | 2020-05-20 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | Hot-water heating apparatus |
ES2735648A1 (en) * | 2018-06-19 | 2019-12-19 | Sedal S L U | LIQUID MIXING DEVICE WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF HIGH DYNAMIC REGULATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF THE SAME (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
US11040318B2 (en) | 2018-06-19 | 2021-06-22 | Sedal, S.L.U. | Liquid mixing device with electronic control of high dynamic regulation and operating method thereof |
Also Published As
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EP2990736A4 (en) | 2016-11-30 |
WO2014174678A1 (en) | 2014-10-30 |
JP5972456B2 (en) | 2016-08-17 |
JPWO2014174678A1 (en) | 2017-02-23 |
EP2990736B1 (en) | 2020-01-22 |
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