JP2003247749A - Solar energy utilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple and small solar energy utilizing device with enhanced reliability and reduced power consumption, which allow easy, maintenance and replacement of a pump. <P>SOLUTION: A main heating medium pipe (heating medium pipes 9g, 9n, 9d and 9s) for circulating a heating medium and a circulation pump 3 for forcibly circulating the heating medium are connected between a hot water supply tank 16 having a heat exchanger 10 therein and a floor heating panel 17 as a heating means wherein a heating medium pipe 17a is led. A solar heat collector 12 for heating the heating medium by the solar energy and a heating medium tank 11 for storing the heating medium 21 are connected to the main heating medium pipe. A means for controlling the flow of the heating medium (selector valves 2, 4, and 6) is provided between the hot water supply tank 16 and the main heating medium pipe, between the floor heating panel 17 and the main heating medium pipe, between the solar heat collector 12 and the main heating medium pipe, and between the heating medium tank 11 and the main heating medium pipe, respectively to form a solar energy utilizing device S1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention raises the temperature of a circulating heat medium by using solar energy to heat a hot water supply tank and / or a heat medium tank. Use hot water and / or
Alternatively, the present invention relates to a solar energy utilization device capable of performing heating. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a solar energy utilization apparatus J that uses solar energy for hot water supply and / or heating of a floor heating heat source has a solar heat collector 12,
A heating medium tank 11 connected to the solar heat collector 12 via a heating medium pipe (outgoing pipe 19a, return pipe 19b) and a circulation pump 14, and a circulation pipe 29 provided with a circulation pump 13 in the heating medium tank 11. A hot water supply tank 16 connected via the heat exchanger 10, a floor heating panel 17 around which a heat medium pipe 17a is routed, a boiler 18 as an auxiliary heat source, a pipe 19d, a pipe 19d connecting the floor heating panel 17 and the boiler 18 to each other. 19e,
The pipe 19d is connected to the heat medium tank 11 via a switching valve 24 and a pipe 19c. The heat medium tank 11 is connected to a branch pipe of a pipe 19f that connects the floor heating panel 17 and the boiler 18. The heat medium 21 is sent to the solar heat collector 12 by a circulation pump 14 from an outgoing pipe 19a connected between the solar heat collector 12 utilizing solar energy and the heat medium tank 11. After being heated in the collector 12,
The heat is returned to the heat medium tank 11 by the return pipe 9b and heated. In the case of performing floor heating, the pipe 19c and the pipe 19d serve as a path of the heat medium by controlling the switching valve 24, and then the heat medium 21 is supplied to the heat medium tank 11 and the floor heating panel 17 by the operation of the circulation pump 15. Circulate between and. On the other hand, when sufficient heat collection by the solar heat collector 12 cannot be obtained in rainy weather or the like and the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium tank 11 is not sufficient, the pipe 19c is controlled by controlling the switching valve 24.
And 19e are switched so as to be the path of the heat medium, and the boiler 1
The heating medium 21 is heated by 8. In this case, the heating medium 21
Is circulated by a circulation pump (not shown) built in the boiler 18. When the amount of heat in the heating medium tank 11 becomes insufficient during floor heating at night or the like, the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16 is disposed in the heating medium tank 11 by the circulation pump 13. Into the heat exchanger 10 thus heated, whereby the heat medium 21 can be heated. When the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium tank 11 is higher than that of the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16, the path (the pipe 29) between the circulation pump 13 and the heat exchanger 10 is connected as described above. By circulating the hot water 20 using the hot water 20, the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16 can be heated. [0007] When floor heating is not used, such as in summer, the heating medium tank 11 is heated to store heat energy for additional cooking when the temperature of hot water in the hot water supply tank 16 decreases. I can put it. As described above, since the heat collected by the heat collector is used for floor heating and can also be used for heating the hot water supply tank, the heat collected by the heat collector can be obtained even when floor heating is not used. Heat can be used effectively (see, for example,
No. 42822). In the above-described solar energy utilization apparatus, the heating medium is heated by the solar heat collector 12, the heat is exchanged between the heating medium tank 11 and the hot water supply tank 16, and the floor heating panel 17 is heated. When using independent circulation pumps for heat medium circulation, it is necessary to install a large number of such circulation pumps in the middle of piping, and complicated work such as fixing these circulation pumps is required. Further, even if one of the circulation pumps fails, the circulation path of the heat medium stops functioning.
The operation stops until the repair is completed. Further, when the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16 is to be heated by the solar heat collector 12, once the heating medium tank 1
The heat medium 21 in 1 must be heated to a temperature at which heat can be exchanged. For this reason, the amount of heat and time required to heat the two of the heat medium tank 11 and the hot water supply tank 16 are required, and the quickness in hot water supply is lacking. This becomes more remarkable as the capacity of the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 increases. And in this case, more solar heat collectors 1 for a predetermined hot water supply load
2 becomes necessary, and as a result, the entire apparatus becomes large. In addition, when floor heating is not used, such as in summer, even if the heating medium tank 11 is heated, there is no use of heat energy other than heating of the hot water supply tank 16, so that the capacity of the hot water supply tank 16 is sufficient. The heating time of the heating medium tank 11 is wasted. The same applies to the heating of the hot water supply tank 16 by the boiler 18. If the heat remaining in the heat medium tank 11 is not used for additional cooking after the heating of the hot water supply tank 16 is completed, the energy corresponding to the heat is excessively consumed, which is uneconomical. It is a target. Further, in heating the hot water supply tank 16 using the heat medium tank 11 by the solar heat collector 12, it is necessary to operate at least two of the circulation pumps 13 and 14, which not only increases power consumption but also increases power consumption. In addition, in order to avoid a voltage drop in the power system due to an inrush current, it is necessary to perform control such as shifting the operation timing, which complicates the control of the devices. This problem also occurs in the circulation between the solar heat collector 12 and the floor heating panel 17 and the circulation between the hot water supply tank 16 and the floor heating panel 17. The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a simple and small configuration, and even if the number of pumps for circulating the heat medium is small, the heat medium can be circulated in all pipe paths. In addition to being able to circulate, the circulating heat medium is heated by the solar heat collector, enabling the heating of the water in the hot water supply tank and the supply of the heat medium to the heating means. An object is to provide an excellent solar energy utilization device that has high reliability and low power consumption. [0014] In order to solve the above problems, a solar energy utilization device according to the present invention comprises a main heat medium pipe and a pump for circulating a heat medium between a hot water supply tank and a heating means. And connecting a solar heat collector that heats the heat medium to the main heat medium pipe and a heat medium tank that stores the heat medium, and connecting the heating means between the hot water supply tank and the main heat medium pipe. And the main heat medium pipe, between the solar heat collector and the main heat medium pipe, and between the heat medium tank and the main heat medium pipe to control the flow of the heat medium. Means for circulating a heat medium between the heat medium tank and the solar heat collector, between the hot water supply tank and the solar heat collector, or between the heating means and the heat medium tank. It is characterized by the following. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a solar energy utilization device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings schematically shown. The same components as described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 1, the solar energy utilization device S1 comprises a hot water supply tank 16 having a heat exchanger 10 therein.
The main heating medium pipes (heating medium pipes 9g, 9n, 9d, 9s) for circulating the heating medium and the heating medium are forcibly provided between the heating medium pipe 17a and the floor heating panel 17 as heating means around which the heating medium pipe 17a is routed. A solar heat collector 1 for connecting a circulation pump 3 for circulation and heating the heat medium to the main heat medium pipe by solar energy.
2 and the heating medium tank 11 for storing the heating medium 21, and between the hot water supply tank 16 and the main heating medium pipe, the floor heating panel 1
7 and the main heat medium pipe, between the solar heat collector 12 and the main heat medium pipe, and between the heat medium tank 11 and the main heat medium pipe. Means (switching valve 2,
4, 6), and heat is applied between the heat medium tank 11 and the solar heat collector 12, between the hot water supply tank 16 and the solar heat collector 12, or between the floor heating panel 17 and the heat medium tank 11. It is configured to circulate the medium. Specifically, a heat medium pipe 9a for introducing a heat medium and a heat medium pipe 9b for flowing the heat medium to the hot water supply tank 16 are connected to the solar heat collector 12. The heat medium pipe 9a is connected to the heat medium pipe 9e connected to the floor heating panel 17 side via the switching valve 6, and to the heat medium pipe 9f connected to the heat medium pipe 9g constituting the main heat medium pipe. ing. In addition, the heat medium pipe 9
“e” is connected to the heat medium pipes 9 d and 9 s constituting the main heat medium pipe via the switching valve 4. Further, the heating medium tank 11 is connected to a heating medium pipe 9g constituting the main heating medium pipe through a heating medium pipe 9h, and is connected to a heating medium pipe 9d constituting the main heating medium pipe. The medium pipe 9c and the switching valve 2 are connected. The heating medium tube 9 constituting the main heating medium tube
The circulation pump 3 is provided at d, and the heating medium tube 9g is provided with, for example, a heating medium heating heater 8 as an auxiliary heating heat source.
The heat exchanger 10 is connected to a heat medium pipe 9g and a heat medium pipe 9n, and the heat medium pipe 17
A heat medium pipe 9g and a heat medium pipe 9s are connected to a. Here, as the heat medium, an antifreeze liquid containing propylene glycol as a main component, a rust preventive for metals such as iron and copper used in each pipe, a pigment, and water is generally used. In addition, an electric three-way electric valve is used for each switching valve. The circulating pump 3 and the switching valves 2, 4, 6 are centrally controlled using a computer to automatically control the heating of the heating medium, the water in the hot water supply tank 16, and the supply of the heating medium to the floor heating panel 17. Alternatively, the control state may be displayed on a monitor or the like to serve as a guide for manual operation or the like. Further, the circulation path of the heat medium may be automatically or manually controlled based on the sunshine duration, the air temperature, the timer, the hot water temperature, and the like. The heating means is not limited to the floor heating panel, but may be any heating means in which a heating medium pipe is routed, and for example, a radiant heater or a hot water heater can be applied. The solar energy utilization device S1 of this embodiment
Is a heat medium tank heat storage operation mode for raising the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium tank 11 as described later;
Three basic operation modes can be set: a hot water supply tank heat storage operation mode for raising the temperature of the water in 6 and a floor heating operation mode for performing floor heating. When the auxiliary heating heat source 8 is used, an auxiliary heating operation mode can be added. Further, when one of the hot water supply tank 16 and the heat medium tank 11 uses the other as a heat source, a mutual heating operation mode can be added. Hereinafter, these operation modes will be described. (1) Heat medium tank heat storage operation mode As shown in FIG. 2, the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 flows from the heat medium pipe 9c to the switching valve 2. At this time, the switching valve 2 has selected the heating medium pipe 9 d provided with the heat medium pipe 9 c and the circulation pump 3 as a circulation path, and the heat medium is sent to the switching valve 4 by the circulation pump 3. The switching valve 4 selects a circulation path to the switching valve 6, and the heat medium flows through the heat medium pipe 9e. And the switching valve 6
Has selected a circulation path to the heat medium pipe 9a side, the heat medium heated by the solar heat in the solar heat collector 12 is the heat medium pipe 9a.
b, return to the heat medium tank 11 through the heat medium pipe 9g and the heat medium pipe 9h, and raise the heat medium temperature of the heat medium tank 11. By repeating this operation, the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium tank 11 becomes
It can be heated by solar heat. It should be noted that the location where the heat medium flow path is closed by the switching valve does not flow due to the resistance of the stagnant heat medium. (2) Hot water supply tank heat storage operation mode As shown in FIG. 3, the heat medium sent out by the circulation pump 3 enters the switching valve 4. The switching valve 4 is a heat medium pipe 9 on the switching valve 6 side.
e, and the switching valve 6 selects the circulation path to the heat medium pipe 9a side. The heat medium heated by the solar energy in the solar heat collector 12 is a heat medium pipe 9 b and a heat medium pipe 9.
g into the heat exchanger 10 in the hot water supply tank 16. When passing through the heat exchanger 10, the heat of the heat medium is exchanged with the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16, and the water temperature in the hot water supply tank 16 rises. The heat medium flowing out of the heat exchanger 10 is supplied to the switching valve 2
to go into. At this time, the switching valve 2 selects the heat medium pipe 9d side in which the circulation pump 3 is disposed as a circulation path, and the heat medium is sent out again by the circulation pump 3. By repeating this operation, the water temperature in the hot water supply tank 16 is heated by solar energy. In this operation, only the heat medium staying in the circulation path is repeatedly circulated. However, in the case where the temperature of the heat medium in the heat collecting portion such as the solar heat collector 12 rises too much. In order to avoid the deterioration of the heat medium as much as possible, it is preferable that the heat medium does not exceed its use temperature in combination with the heat medium tank heat storage operation described above. When the temperature of the water in the hot water supply tank 16 decreases at night or the like, if the temperature of the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 is sufficient, the circulation path of the switching valve 6 is connected to the heat medium pipe 9.
f side, and the heat exchanger 1
0, the hot water 10 in the hot water supply tank 16 is heated. Then, when the heat amount of the heat medium in the circulation path decreases, the circulation path is switched as shown in FIG. 5 to replace the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 with a still higher heat amount. When the temperature of the heat medium in the circulation path rises, the circulation path is returned again as shown in FIG. 3 to heat the hot water supply tank 16. By repeating this operation, the water temperature in the hot water supply tank 16 becomes
Heated by 1. Although not particularly shown, the temperature of the heat medium in the circulation path is measured using a temperature sensor such as a thermistor in a heat medium pipe such as the heat medium pipe 9g. Although not particularly shown, a boiler or the like may be provided in addition to the above-mentioned heating means, and a means for heating the hot water 20 in the hot water supply tank 16 may be used in combination. May be. (3) Floor heating operation mode As shown in FIG. 4, the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 enters the switching valve 2 through the heat medium pipe 9c. At this time, the switching valve 2 selects the heat medium pipe 9c and the circulation pump 3 as circulation paths, and the heat medium is sent to the switching valve 4 by the circulation pump 3. The switching valve 4 selects a circulation path (heating medium pipe 9 s) to the floor heating panel 17 side, and the heat medium releases heat when passing through the floor heating panel 17, and the heating medium pipe 9 g and the heating medium pipe Heat medium tank 1 through 9h
Return to 1. By repeating this operation, the heat medium tank 11
The amount of heat inside is used as floor heating. Although not particularly shown, in the above-described floor heating operation, only the switching valve 2 is switched so that the heat exchanger 10 and the circulation pump 3 are in a circulation path, and the heat source for floor heating is used as the heating medium tank 11. Can be changed to the hot water supply tank 16. In FIG. 4, a switching valve is provided at a connection portion A between the heat medium pipe 9f and the heat medium pipe 9g, and the heat medium pipe 9f, the heat medium pipe 9a, and the heat medium pipe 9b are selected as circulation paths. Thus, the heat collection by the solar heat collector 12 and the floor heating panel 1
7 may be performed. (4) Auxiliary heating operation mode As shown in FIG. 5, the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 enters the switching valve 2 through the heat medium pipe 9c. At this time, the switching valve 2 selects the heat medium pipe 9c and the circulation pump 3 as circulation paths, and the heat medium is sent to the switching valve 4 by the circulation pump 3. The switching valve 4 selects a circulation path (heat medium pipe 9e) to the switching valve 6 side.
Further, the switching valve 6 selects a circulation path to the heat medium pipe 9f side. The heat medium is heated by the heat medium heating heater 8 by the heat medium pipe 9g, and returns to the heat medium tank 11 through the heat medium pipe 9h. Then, the temperature in the heat medium tank 11 is increased. By repeating this operation, the temperature in the heating medium tank 11 is heated by the heating medium heating heater 8 which is an auxiliary heat source. Although not specifically shown, in this auxiliary heating operation, the switching valve 2 is simply switched so that the heat exchanger 10 and the circulation pump 3 are in a circulation path, and the auxiliary heating operation by the auxiliary heat source is performed from the heat medium tank 11. The hot water supply tank 16 can be changed. Furthermore, even in the heat collection by the solar heat collector 12 or the floor heating operation, the heating medium can be heated regardless of the main heat source. Further, the heating medium heating heater 8 may be provided in the heating medium tank 11 as in the solar energy hot water supply apparatus S2 shown in FIG. According to this, since it is possible to adopt a configuration that does not require circulation of the heat medium, it is not necessary to operate the circulation pump 3, so that noise due to the operation of the circulation pump 3 can be prevented. In this description, an example in which an electric heater is used as an auxiliary heat source has been described. However, for example, a boiler using oil, city gas, LP gas, or the like as a fuel may be used. (5) Mutual heating operation mode The solar water heater S3 shown in FIG. 6 may be used. That is, the floor heating panel 1 is replaced with the main heating medium pipe 9g in the solar energy utilizing hot water supply device S1.
7, a switching valve 23 connected to the heating medium pipe 9 j, and a heating medium pipe 9 t connected to the switching valve 23 and connected to the heat exchanger 10. . In addition, the heat medium pipe 9 in the solar water heater S1
Instead of c, the heating medium pipe 9k, the switching valve 22 connected to the heating medium pipe 9k, the heating medium pipe 9p connected to the switching valve 22 and also connected to the switching valve 2, and the switching connected to the switching valve 22 Valve 2
The heat medium pipe 9m connected to 3 is also used. In this embodiment, the heat medium 21 in the heat medium tank 11 passes through the heat medium pipe 9k, the switching valve 22, the switching valve 23, and the heat medium pipe 9t, and enters the heat exchanger 10 in the hot water supply tank 16. . When passing through the heat exchanger 10, the heat of the heat medium 21 is exchanged with the hot water 20, and the temperature in the hot water supply tank 20 increases. The heat medium exiting the heat exchanger 10 enters the switching valve 2. At this time, the switching valve 2 selects the circulation pump 3 side as a circulation path, and the heat medium is sent to the switching valve 4 by the circulation pump 3. The switching valve 4 selects a circulation path to the switching valve 6 side, the switching valve 6 selects a circulation path to the heating medium pipe 9f side, and the heat medium passes through the heat medium pipe 9j and the heat medium tank 11 And the temperature of the heat medium tank 11 is increased. By repeating this operation,
The amount of heat in the heat medium tank 11 is used for heating the hot water supply tank 16. In the above-described operation, the heating medium 2
1 is a case where the temperature is higher, and when the temperature of the hot water 20 is higher, the heat source is on the hot water supply tank 16 side and the heating medium tank 11 is heated. If it is possible to select whether to heat the heat medium tank 11 or the hot water supply tank 16 depending on the purpose of use, it is possible to use each other as a spare heat storage source, In addition, it is possible to transfer heat energy. Although the operation of each operation mode has been described in detail above, the start, stop, and switching of each operation mode are controlled by parameters such as the amount of solar radiation, the duration of sunshine, the outside air temperature, the temperature of hot water and the heat transfer medium, and / or Automatically control in combination with a timer. Also, if the control status is displayed on the controller monitor, etc., and manual operation is encouraged, it is advantageous in that the user can efficiently secure thermal energy according to the thermal equipment that he wants to use on that day. is there. Thus, all the operation modes can be supported by one circulation pump, and the heat storage and storage of the solar energy can be performed according to the purpose and the situation by changing the circulation path by the switching valve.
Since heat can be dissipated and moved, the heat medium can be circulated in all piping paths even if the number of heat medium circulation pumps is small with a simple and small configuration. In addition, by maximizing the use of solar thermal energy, heat is stored in the circulation path of the heat medium as much as possible, minimizing the effective use at night, etc., and the consumption of fuel and electric power by using other heating sources. Can be suppressed. Further, since a large amount of power is not required at the time of the operation switching, it is possible to avoid the voltage drop and the noise of the power system as much as possible. As described in detail above, the solar energy utilization device of the present invention connects the main heat medium pipe for circulating the heat medium and the pump between the hot water supply tank and the heating means. A solar heat collector that heats a heat medium and a heat medium tank that stores a heat medium are connected to the main heat medium pipe, and the heating unit and the main heat medium are provided between the hot water supply tank and the main heat medium pipe. A means for controlling the flow of a heat medium is provided between the pipe, the solar heat collector and the main heat medium pipe, and between the heat medium tank and the main heat medium pipe, respectively. Thereby, a heat medium is circulated between the heat medium tank and the solar heat collector, between the hot water supply tank and the solar heat collector, or between the heating means and the heat medium tank. . Thus, the entire piping and the like have a simple and small configuration, and even with the operation of one pump provided in the main heating medium pipe, the circulation of the heating medium in all the pipings is possible, and the flow of the heating medium is controlled. By appropriately changing the circulation path of the heat medium by the means, the use of solar energy can be efficiently performed according to various situations. Further, since only one pump is required, not only the power consumption of the entire apparatus can be minimized, but also maintenance and replacement of the pump and the like can be performed easily and quickly, and reliability can be improved. It is possible to provide a highly efficient solar energy utilization device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating an embodiment of a solar energy utilization device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a state (flow of a heat medium) during a heat medium tank heat storage operation of the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a state during a hot water supply tank heat storage operation of the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a state during a floor heating operation of the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a state of the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention during an auxiliary heating operation. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating another embodiment in circulating the heat medium without passing through the solar heat collector in the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating another embodiment in which an auxiliary heating device in the solar energy utilization device according to the present invention is disposed in the heat medium tank. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating an example of a conventional solar energy utilization device. [Description of Signs] J: Conventional solar energy utilization devices S1, S2, S3: Solar energy utilization device of the present invention 1: Hot water supply tanks 2, 4, 6, 22, 23: Switching valve (controls the flow of heat medium) Means 3: Circulation pump 8: Heat medium heating heaters 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9
j, 9k, 9m, 9n, 9p, 9s, 9t: Heat medium pipe 10: Heat exchanger 11: Heat medium tank 12: Solar heat collector 16: Hot water supply tank 17: Floor heating panel 20: Hot water 21: Heat medium

Claims (1)

Claims 1. A solar heat collector for connecting a main heat medium pipe and a pump for circulating a heat medium between a hot water supply tank and a heating means and heating the heat medium to the main heat medium pipe. A heater and a heat medium tank for storing a heat medium are connected, and between the hot water supply tank and the main heat medium pipe, between the heating means and the main heat medium pipe, and between the solar heat collector and the main heat medium pipe. Between the heat medium pipe, and between the heat medium tank and the main heat medium pipe, provided means for controlling the flow of the heat medium, between the heat medium tank and the solar heat collector, Between the hot water tank and the solar heat collector,
Or a solar energy utilization device characterized by circulating a heat medium between the heating means and the heat medium tank.