JP2001262506A - Snow melting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snow melting device capable of developing an optimum snow melting performance to snow falling characteristics in cold regions, melting even a large volume of fallen snow, and coping with a wide range of snow falling strength. SOLUTION: This snow melting device comprises a plurality of heating means 12 and 15 for supplying a heat quantity for snow melting to a same snow melting area 10 and a controller 20 for controlling the operation of the heating means 12 and 15. The controller 20 operates only the heating means 12 for snow melting according to the snow falling conditions judged based on a snow falling detection signal, or operates the heating means 12 and 15 for snow melting so as to develop a necessary snow melting capability according to a wide range of snow falling strength.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a snow melting apparatus for melting snow in the premises of ordinary households and shops, and more particularly to an apparatus which exhibits snow melting performance corresponding to various snowfall strengths (about snowfall). Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In cold regions with a lot of snow, not only public roads but also general homes and shops, especially the approach from the sidewalk to the entrance of general homes, garages or parking spaces, require snow removal during the snow season. It is a major problem in everyday life.

In order to solve this problem, there is a snow melting apparatus in which a heating wire, a hot water pipe, or the like is buried in the ground of the premises as a heating element and a road surface is heated to melt snow. Of these, the "heating wire" generates heat by Joule heat when energized, and the "hot water pipe" generates heat by circulating hot water (actually, antifreeze) heated by burning a kerosene boiler as a heat medium. It is. It is already common in cold regions to increase the road surface temperature by heating these heating elements to melt snow on the road surface. Such a snow melting device is also called a road heating device or a road heating.

An example will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. A general house 40 faces a sidewalk 41 and has an entrance 42
And a parking space 43. In the figure, a snow melting device 45 is buried in the approach to the parking space 43 and the entrance 42, and the range is shown as a snow melting area 50.

[0005] The snow melting apparatus 45 has a subgrade 51 with crushed stones, a subbase 52 with concrete, and a pavement 53 with asphalt. Each of them has a predetermined depth D1 (for example, about 30
0 mm), D2 (about 70 mm), and D3 (about 30 mm). The heating wire 54 as a heating element is
It is laid along with a metal mesh (not shown) on the upper surface of the subgrade section 51 and is buried underground by the subbase section 52 and the pavement section 53. Of course, there is also a snow melting apparatus in which a "hot water pipe" is buried at the position of the heating wire 54, but the basic configuration of the buried portion is the same as that of the "heating wire".

[0006] Such a snow melting apparatus 45 has a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, such as an infrared sensor or a hot-wire resistance type, as a snowfall detection means for detecting snowfall, and an outside air temperature for judging whether it is snowfall or rainfall. And a ground temperature sensor 55 for detecting the ground temperature (illustration of the sensors is partially omitted). The snow melting device 45 determines the presence or absence of snowfall according to a signal from each sensor of the snowfall detection means,
Automatically performs the operation of snow melting (called automatic operation). Alternatively, there is provided a control device (not shown because it is also a general operation) for forcibly performing a snow melting operation at the user's discretion (referred to as manual operation).

[0007]

In the above-described conventional snow melting apparatus 45, the heating wire 54 and the hot water pipe, which are heating elements, are buried in the ground at a depth D2 + D3 of about 100 mm from the surface of the ground. For this reason, even if the snow melting device 45 detects the snowfall and immediately starts the automatic operation or the manual operation, for a while, the heating wire 54 as the heating element is kept on the ground (the roadbed portion 52 and the pavement portion 53) above the heating wire 54. ) Is mainly heated. That is, in order to raise the temperature of the entire snow melting device 45, an operation time and electric energy are required, and during that time, it is not possible to immediately melt the snow that is successively deposited on the ground surface. As described above, it takes time to exhibit the snow melting effect. Of course, the same applies to a snow melting device using a hot water pipe.

Further, snowfall rarely occurs continuously for 24 hours, and snowfall often occurs intermittently. Therefore, the operation of the snow melting device 45 is often intermittent,
Each time, the temperature of the snow melting device 45 decreases. At the time of the next snowfall, it takes time to reheat the entire once cooled road surface, particularly the roadbed portion 52 and the pavement portion 53 again. Because of this, the consumption of electricity or kerosene increases,
High running cost. When the operating state is analyzed throughout the snow season in this way, the energy consumed for increasing the temperature of the snow melting device 45 operated intermittently, particularly the roadbed portion 52 and the pavement portion 53, is often not effectively utilized. . That is, the energy loss is large, and from this point of view, it can be said that the conventional snow melting apparatus 45 is inappropriate as snow melting performance and has low snow melting efficiency. However, the commercial power supply connected to the snow melting device 45 can be used as dedicated snow melting power in cold regions, and in this case, the cost can be reduced compared to a normal commercial power supply.

In particular, the heating capacity of the snow melting apparatus 45 for snow melting is such that the amount of snowfall per unit time (hereinafter, also referred to as snowfall intensity) is standard, for example, when the outside air temperature is reduced.
As fresh snow at 5 ° C. and a snowfall intensity of 2 cm / h, 240 to 25
It is common to install at 0 W / m ² . For this reason,
When a large amount of snow falls, the snow melting ability of the snow melting device 45 is insufficient, and there is a problem that the function cannot be sufficiently exhibited. That is, it is not always possible to obtain the snow melting ability necessary for variously changing snowfall conditions in a cold region. Note that this is not limited to the amount of snowfall per unit time (snowfall intensity), but that the snowmelting device 45 may have insufficient snowmelt capacity due to various fluctuation factors such as snow density, outside air temperature, and wind. Is shown.

Of course, the heating capacity of the heating wire 54 may be increased in advance to increase the snow melting ability of the snow melting device 45. However, in this case, the snow melting equipment generally has a high snow melting capacity that is not required for normal snowfall intensity, such as an increase in contract power and an increase in the size of control devices and kerosene boilers. They are expensive and have high maintenance costs.

As an example of the concept of a snow melting apparatus which solves these problems, there are a snow melting area which is divided and a heater is arranged in each of the small sections to efficiently melt the snow, and a single vehicle is parked. It has been proposed to provide road heating for each section and melt snow at required locations. However, none of them can cope with fluctuations in snowfall intensity, and is an efficient snowmelting device with little waste at a standard snowmelting intensity.

As another snow melting apparatus, there is a snow melting apparatus using energy other than electricity and kerosene. These are houses with underground heat extraction heat exchangers and antifreeze circulation pipes laid, and houses equipped with snow melting equipment using solar heat,
All of these are snow melting devices that are complex and require full-scale installation work. In addition, in these energy supply means, since the ability to supply geothermal or solar heat is also affected by the surrounding environment, it is a snow melting apparatus whose installation place is limited.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional snow melting apparatus by exhibiting the snow melting performance required for snowfall characteristics in a cold region, and is capable of melting a large amount of snow.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow melting apparatus capable of coping with a wide range of snowfall intensity.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A snow melting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of heating means for supplying the same amount of heat for snow melting to the same snow melting area, and operates the heating means in accordance with snowfall conditions to the snow melting area. And a control device for controlling the control device, wherein the control device operates one or a plurality of heating means according to snowfall conditions to melt snow.

According to the present invention, according to the snowfall conditions for the snowmelt region, if the amount of snowfall is standard, for example, only a single heating means is operated to melt the snow. If the amount of snowfall is large, a plurality of heating means are operated to melt snow. From this, from standard snowfall intensity to heavy snowfall intensity,
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a snow melting apparatus that exhibits a necessary snow melting ability in response to a wide range of snowfall intensity.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of heating means for supplying the same amount of heat for melting snow to the same snow melting area, and the operation of the heating means are controlled in accordance with snowfall conditions to the snow melting area. And a control device, wherein the control device is a snow melting device that melts snow by operating one or a plurality of heating means in accordance with snowfall conditions, whereby from a standard snowfall intensity, The required snow melting ability corresponding to a wide range of snowfall intensity can be exhibited up to a large amount of snowfall intensity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of heating means for supplying the same amount of heat for snow melting to the same snow melting area, a ground temperature sensor for detecting a ground temperature in the snow melting area, and a control for controlling the operation of the heating means. And a controller that continuously operates only a single heating means to melt snow or a single heating means in accordance with snowfall conditions determined by a change in the ground temperature of a snow melting region by a single heating means. This is a snow melting device that melts snow by operating a plurality of heating means, including ones, depending on the snowfall conditions based on changes in the ground temperature, operating one or more heating means to achieve various snowfall intensities. It can be operated so as to obtain a good snow melting performance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow melting apparatus in which at least a single heating means is operated by commercial electric power. The required power for melting snow can be obtained with inexpensive electricity dedicated to melting snow. Furthermore, when snowfall intensity is strong,
By using other heating means in combination with the snow melting apparatus, the required snow melting ability can be obtained in each state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow melting apparatus in which at least the heating means other than the single heating means is operated by a power supply means other than the commercial power supply or another energy supply means. At the time of snowfall at or above the snowfall intensity at which snow can be melted with the contracted amount of electric power, other heating means are operated by power supply means other than commercial power or other energy supply means to melt snow. For this reason, even in snowfall conditions that require more energy than the amount of power supplied to a house or facility that has a
The required snow melting ability can be exhibited.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of heating means for supplying the same amount of heat for snow melting to the same snow melting area, and a control device for controlling the operation of the heating means. A snow melting apparatus in which one or a plurality of heating means is selected and operated irrespective of snowfall conditions in the area, and even if the snow remains outside the snow melting area, this snow is placed on the snow melting area. It can melt snow. In particular, even if the snow densities and grain snow that have been left for a long time and the snow density has increased are increased by operating a plurality of heating means and exhibiting high snow melting ability, these snows can be placed on the snow melting area for a short time. Can melt snow.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In FIGS. 1 to 3, a snow melting apparatus 5 provided in a snow melting area 10 has a subgrade 1 covered with crushed stones.
7. It has a roadbed section 18 finished with concrete and a pavement section 19 finished with asphalt. Each is formed at a predetermined depth by civil engineering. Also,
The first heating means 12 provided with the heating wire 11 as a heating element and the second heating means 15 provided with the hot water pipe 14 are buried in the roadbed portion 18.

As described above, such a snow melting apparatus 5 has a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, such as an infrared sensor or a hot-wire resistance type, as a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, and a snowfall sensor for determining whether it is snowfall or rainfall. A temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature and a ground temperature sensor 22 for detecting the ground temperature (sensors are partially omitted) are provided.

The first heating means 12 is connected to a commercial power supply 13 and is used as electric power for snow melting which is common in cold regions. At the same time, the second heating means 15 that circulates the heat medium and heats the snow-melting area 10 heats the antifreeze in a kerosene boiler 16 that is common in cold regions, and circulates this with a pump. The snow melting area 10 can be heated. The first and second heating means 12 and 15 are
The operation is controlled by 0.

Next, an operation method of the snow melting apparatus 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The user determines that it is time for snowfall, and turns on the power of the control device 20 in advance (S1). The control device 20 determines the presence or absence of snowfall and the intensity of the snowfall at regular intervals (S2) based on a signal from a snowfall detection means (it is the same as a conventional one and is common, and is not shown). Therefore, when a standard amount of snowfall is detected (an example is shown in FIG. 3 as the snowfall state A), the first heating means 12 is operated, and in this embodiment, the heating wire 11 is energized to heat the snowmelt region 10. And melts snow (S
3).

At this time, when it is determined that the amount of snowfall is large and the snow melting intensity is equal to or higher than the heating capacity of the first heating means 12, the control device 20 simultaneously operates the second heating means 15 (S4). In the present embodiment, the kerosene boiler 16 is operated to increase the snow melting ability in the same snow melting area 10. In this manner, snow melting performance with a wide range of snowfall intensity from a standard snowfall amount to a large snowfall amount is exhibited.

Of course, as described in the prior art, snowfall is not continuous, so even a conventional snow melting apparatus can melt snow after a long period of time, that is, after snowfall stops. However, in the present embodiment, the snow melting time can be shortened, and a person or an automobile can be passed immediately, so that the snow melting apparatus is easy to use.

In the present embodiment, in a standard snowfall state, the first heating means 12 is operated with less expensive snowmelt power even with commercial power, so that it is usually an inexpensive maintenance cost and an electric type. It can melt snow quietly and without odor.

Further, the second heating means 15 is used for the kerosene boiler 1.
6, the energy is not obtained from the commercial power or the snow melting power, so that the second heating means 15 of the snow melting device 5 is operated to exceed the power supply capacity of the facility and the whole house. There is no. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the amount of power supply contracts and enlarge the power supply equipment.
It is a snow melting device that can be used at low cost.

Further, in the embodiment, the first and second heating means have been described, but a plurality of heating means may be provided.

(Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the snow melting apparatus 5 is the same as that of Embodiment 1, and the description of the basic configuration will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the operation method by the control device 20 is different from the first embodiment.
This point will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 4, when the power of the control device 20 is turned on (S1), when the snowfall is detected (S2), first, the first heating means 12 causes the snow melting region 10 to be turned on.
Is heated (S3). The controller 20 determines the snowfall intensity from the temperature rise of the ground temperature sensor 22 at this time (S
4). Specifically, the amount of heat for snow melting supplied by the first heating means 12 heats the ground and then heats and melts the snow thereon, but when the amount of snowfall is large, it is not possible to melt snow in a short time. The change in the soil temperature and the rising speed are small. At a predetermined time, the change is measured to estimate the amount of snowfall. If the amount of snowfall is the standard amount, the snow melting region 10 is directly heated by the first heating means 12 (S5). When it is determined that the amount of snowfall is large, the control device 20 melts the snow by using the second heating means 15 together (S7). After that, snowfall detection (S
6) Then proceed to the next step depending on the presence or absence of snow.

The snow melting apparatus 5 according to the second embodiment has a simple structure such as a conventionally used ground temperature sensor and a second heating means, but can obtain a necessary snow melting ability based on the judgment of the control device 20. it can.

It is needless to say that even if the snow is melted by a plurality of heating means, the amount of snowfall can be determined from the change in the ground temperature. Of course, since the snowfall intensity changes every moment, in this embodiment, if the snowfall is determined to be standard at this time, the snow is melted only by the first heating means.

The required amount of heat for melting snow is a sensible heat (2.) for raising the temperature of low-temperature snow at a certain snowfall intensity.
1 kJ / kg · K), heat of melting to change from snow to water (340 kJ / kg), and sensible heat (4.2 kJ / kg · K) that raises the temperature slightly so as not to freeze the water again.
However, it is clear that the heat of fusion is an important factor, judging from their sizes. Needless to say, the influence of the snow density, the outside temperature and the wind is of course, and in the present embodiment, these effects are also reflected to some extent in the determination of the snowfall intensity. The ability is gained.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, an operation method as a snow melting apparatus 25 is similar to Embodiments 1 and 2, but the basic configuration is different, and this point will be mainly described.
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Has a first heating means 32 provided with a first heating wire 31 for heating the snow melting region 30. The first heating means 32 is connected to a commercial power supply 33, and is used as electric power for melting snow which is common in cold regions. In addition, a second heating means 35 having a second heating wire 34 for heating the same snow melting region 30 is provided. The second heating means 35 can heat the snow melting area 30 by being supplied with electric power from the generator. In the figure, 26 is a subgrade, 27 is a subgrade, and 28 is a pavement. The heating wires 31 and 34 are alternately arranged in the upper and lower two stages in the roadbed portion 27.

Next, an operation method of the snow melting apparatus 25 will be described as being the same as that of the first embodiment. At this time, it is assumed that the user determines that it is snowfall time and turns on the power of the control device 37 in advance. The controller 37 determines the presence or absence of snowfall and the intensity of the snowfall at regular time intervals based on a signal from a snowfall detection means (not shown because it is the same as a conventional one and is common). Therefore, when a standard amount of snowfall is detected, the first heating means 32 is operated, and in the embodiment, the first heating means 32 is operated.
Is applied to the heating wire 31 to heat the snow melting area 30 to melt the snow.

At this time, when it is determined that the amount of snowfall is large and the snow melting intensity is higher than the heating capacity of the first heating means 32, the control device 37 operates the second heating means 35 at the same time. In the present embodiment, the generator 36 is operated to operate the second heating wire 34, and the generated heat is supplied to the snow melting area 30 as heat for snow melting. By adding this to the amount of heat for snow melting by the first heating wire 31, the snow melting ability in the same snow melting region 30 is enhanced.

The generator 36 may be a micro gas turbine generator. In the case of a so-called cogeneration system (combined heat and power supply), the second heating means 35 is not limited to the electric type such as the second heating wire 34 as in the present embodiment, but utilizes the heat energy obtained therefrom. Therefore, the heat medium may be circulated,
As a whole, energy utilization efficiency can be improved.

Also, as in the third embodiment, the first heating means 3
Since the second and second heating means 35 are both of the electric type, it is easy to arrange them on the same plane,
It is easy to reduce the overall thickness of the heating means. Therefore, the civil engineering work required for installing the snow melting device 25 can be performed in a shallower range, which is simple. That is, the installation work of the snow melting device 25 is simplified, and the period and cost of the installation work can be reduced.
The snow melting device 25 that can be used immediately and is easy to use can also be provided.

As already mentioned, the heat of melting for changing from snow to water is an important factor for the heat of snow melting. Therefore, it is clear that the amount of heat for melting snow is required to be higher than the standard calorific value for snow whose density has increased over time after snowfall, compacted snow that has been sunk during snow removal work, and snow having a high density since snowfall. Conventional snow melting equipment requires an extremely long time to process such snow, and therefore no such snow melting is performed unless there is a special reason.

However, increasing the snow melting ability as in each of the above-described embodiments is not only capable of coping with a large amount of snowfall from fresh snow having a normal snowfall intensity but also having a high density of snow, such as dense snow and rough snow. Alternatively, it is possible to melt snow in a short time, such as snow compacted artificially having high density, and snow remaining around the snow melting device 25.

The other heating means is not limited to the kerosene boiler, the generator, and the micro gas turbine of the above-described embodiment.
Any device that uses energy other than commercial power may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control device controls the other heating means by energy other than the commercial power supply.
Depending on the magnitude of the heating capacity, this may be operated as the first heating means and the heating means using the commercial power supply may be operated as another heating means.

In the above embodiment, when the snow melting ability of the heating means by another energy supply means is sufficiently high, when the amount of snowfall is large, this is operated as the main heating means, and the first heating means is stopped. It is clear that this is acceptable.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is necessary for the control device to operate a single or a plurality of heating means in accordance with snowfall conditions to cope with a wide range of snowfall intensity. It is possible to provide a snow-melting device that exhibits an excellent snow-melting ability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control device continuously operates only the single heating means in accordance with the snowfall condition determined by the change in the ground temperature of the snow melting region by the single heating means. Or a method of melting snow by operating a plurality of heating means including a single heating means, determining snowfall intensity without using special snowfall detection means, and obtaining snowmelt performance at various snowfall strengths. It can be.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, at least a single heating means is operated by commercial electric power. In a normal snowfall state, the exclusive use of commercial electric power or a relatively inexpensive snow melting set in a cold region. The ability to melt snow with electricity is obtained. Further, when the snowfall intensity is high, another heating means is used in combination, so that the snowmelting apparatus can obtain a required snowmelting ability.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the snow melting apparatus is operated by operating at least another heating means other than the single heating means by a power supply means other than the commercial power or another energy supply means. It is possible to obtain a snowmelting device that can provide a required amount of snowmelting by obtaining a heat energy for snowmelting that is equal to or more than the amount of electric power supplied to a house or facility having the same or the amount of electric power contracted as snowmelting electric power.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control device selects and operates one or a plurality of heating means regardless of the snowfall condition to the snowmelt region, thereby controlling the snowfall intensity. And can operate snow melting equipment. Even if it is for processing snow outside the snowmelt area, and especially if it is left for a long time and the snow density is large, such as compact snow or rough snow, it can be melted in a short time by placing it in the snowmelt area It can be a snow melting device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a snow melting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the snow melting apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part showing the structure of the snow melting apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating a snow melting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a snow melting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a principal part showing the structure of the snow melting apparatus according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an external view showing an installation location of a conventional snow melting apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part showing a structure of a conventional snow melting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Snow melting area 11 Heating wire 12 First heating means 13 Commercial power supply 14 Hot water pipe 15 Snow melting device 16 Kerosene boiler 20 Control device 22 Ground temperature sensor 36 Generator

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A control device comprising: a plurality of heating means for supplying heat for snow melting to the same snow melting area; and a control device for controlling operation of the heating means in accordance with snowfall conditions to the snow melting area. Is a snow melting apparatus for melting snow by operating one or more of the heating means according to snowfall conditions. 2. A control system comprising: a plurality of heating means for supplying heat amount for snow melting to the same snow melting area; a ground temperature sensor for detecting a ground temperature in the snow melting area; and a control device for controlling operation of the heating means. Depending on the snowfall condition determined by the change in the ground temperature of the snowmelt area by a single heating means, the apparatus continuously operates only a single heating means to melt snow, or a plurality of heating means including a single heating means. A snow melting device that operates means to melt snow. 3. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a single heating means is operated by commercial power. 4. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least another heating means other than the single heating means is operated by power supply means other than commercial power or other energy supply means. . 5. A heating device for supplying a heat amount for snow melting to the same snow melting region, and a control device for controlling the operation of the heating device, wherein the control device is adapted to a snowfall condition to the snow melting region. Regardless, a snow melting device that operates by selecting one or more heating means.