JP2007205673A - Hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hot water supply device capable of preventing a hot water shortage in a specific time zone. <P>SOLUTION: On the start of the specific time zone, whether a remaining hot water quantity is not smaller than a certain quantity or not is checked. If the remaining hot water quantity is smaller than the certain quantity, hot water boiling operation by a heat pump unit is immediately started and when the remaining hot water quantity becomes equal to or larger than the certain quantity, hot water boiling operation by the heat pump unit is stopped. A peak shift time is calculated and set at the time of stopping the boiling operation of the heat pump unit, and after elapsing the set peak shift time, the hot water boiling operation by the heat pump unit is started. Even if hot water is used relatively abundantly after starting the specific time zone until the peak shift time elapses, the hot water shortage can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus for boiling hot water in a specific time zone.

  Conventionally, in a hot water supply device that boils and stores hot water in a hot water storage tank at a specific time zone such as a late-night power time zone and supplies hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, power is used at the start of the specific time zone. In order to prevent concentration and to prevent the temperature drop due to heat dissipation after boiling the hot water in the hot water storage tank as much as possible, the boiling is completed immediately before the end of the specific time zone, so that the boiling is completed from the start of the specific time zone. Also, so-called peak shift control is performed to delay the start of boiling.

  Heat pump units and heaters are used to boil hot water in hot water storage tanks, and these have sufficient boiling capacity to raise the water in hot water storage tanks to a set temperature within a specified time period. The peak shift control for delaying the boiling start from the start time of the specific time zone is made possible.

In general, in peak shift control, the peak shift time, which is the boiling start movement time, is obtained based on the boiling capacity, the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank, the feed water temperature, the outside air temperature, etc. Boiling starts after the elapse of the peak shift time obtained at the start of the band. Also, if the hot water in the hot water storage tank is used and the remaining hot water volume decreases or the outside air temperature changes before the peak shift time elapses, the peak shift time may be recalculated to correct the peak shift time. Yes (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2)
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-54861 (page 3, Fig. 8) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-251495 (page 7-8, FIG. 3)

  However, in the conventional hot water supply device, when a specific time period starts, peak shift control is started immediately, and boiling is not started until the peak shift time elapses. For example, the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank is small If hot water is used in a relatively large amount of time before the peak shift time elapses, such as immediately after the start of the specific time zone, the hot water shortage may occur.

  In addition, when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is used and the remaining hot water amount is reduced before the peak shift time elapses in a specific time zone, the peak shift time is recalculated and the peak shift time is corrected. However, in this case, only the peak shift time is shortened, and boiling is not started unless the peak shift time elapses, and the lack of hot water cannot be resolved.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the hot-water supply apparatus which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of the hot water shortage in a specific time slot | zone.

  The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot water storage tank, the boiling means for boiling the hot water in the hot water storage tank, the specific time zone detecting means for detecting the specific time zone for boiling the hot water by the boiling means, Remaining hot water amount detecting means for detecting the remaining hot water amount in the hot water storage tank, and a peak shift for moving the boiling start by the boiling means from the start time of a specific time zone based on at least the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detecting means When it is detected that the peak shift time calculating means for calculating the time and the specific time zone detecting means has entered the specific time zone, the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detecting means is not equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. In this case, the boiling means is immediately started to boil, and when the amount of remaining hot water exceeds a certain level, the boiling means is stopped to boil, and at that time, the peak shift time calculating means Set the peak shift is calculated time, in which and a control means for starting the boiling by the heating-up means after the lapse of the peak shift time.

  The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2 is provided with a setting means that allows the control means to arbitrarily set a fixed amount for determining whether or not the remaining hot water amount is a predetermined amount or more in the hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1. It is.

  According to the hot water supply apparatus of claim 1, when the amount of remaining hot water is not equal to or greater than a certain amount at the start of the specific time period, boiling water is immediately started to be heated by the boiling means, and the remaining amount of hot water is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. If it becomes, the boiling of hot water by the boiling means is stopped, the peak shift time calculated at that time is set, and the boiling of hot water by the boiling means is started after the elapse of this peak shift time. Even if a relatively large amount of hot water is used until the peak shift time elapses immediately after the start of the belt, it is possible to prevent the hot water shortage from occurring.

  According to the hot water supply device of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the hot water supply device of claim 1, it is possible to arbitrarily set a certain amount for determining whether or not the remaining hot water amount is a certain amount or more. Can respond appropriately to the situation.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hot water supply device 11 includes a main body unit 12 and a heat pump unit 13 as a boiling means.

  The main unit 12 is provided with a hot water storage tank 17, and a hot water storage tank 17 connected to a water supply source such as a water pipe via a pressure reducing valve 18 and a check valve 19 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17. A hot water supply pipe 21 is connected to the upper part of 17.

  On the side surface of the hot water storage tank 17, as temperature detection means for detecting the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank 17 at a height position corresponding to each remaining hot water amount such as 60 L, 120 L, 180 L, 350 L, 460 L, etc. in the hot water storage tank 17. The remaining hot water thermistor 22 is provided. The remaining hot water thermistor 22 at a position of 350 L is also used as a hot water hot water temperature thermistor for detecting the temperature of the hot water supplied to the hot water storage tank 17.

  In this hot water storage tank 17, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 17 is boiled to a set temperature, and hot water is discharged from each hot water supply location by pushing up the hot water with the water pressure supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17 and discharging hot water through the hot water supply pipe 21. To do.

  A circulation path 27 is connected to the hot water storage tank 17 of the main unit 12 between the heat pump unit 13 and the hot water storage tank 17.

  The circulation path 27 is connected from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17 to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 17 through the inlet temperature thermistor 28, the circulation pump 29, the heat exchanger 30 of the heat pump unit 13, and the outlet temperature thermistor 31. Then, by the operation of the circulation pump 29, the water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17 is boiled by the heat pump unit 13, and the heated hot water is circulated in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 17 and stored.

  The heat pump unit 13 includes a refrigerant circuit 35 filled with, for example, an HFC (Hydro Fluoro Carbon) refrigerant, and an outdoor unit 36 and a heat exchanger 30 functioning as a condenser are connected to the refrigerant circuit 35. Although not shown, the outdoor unit 36 incorporates a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and the like disposed with respect to the refrigerant circuit 35, and a blower fan that sends outside air to the evaporator. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hot water supply device 11 includes a control device 41 that controls the hot water supply device 11, and the control device 41 includes the amount of remaining hot water in the hot water storage tank 17 based on the detected temperature of each remaining hot water thermistor 22. Is installed in the main body unit 12 and the outdoor unit 36, etc., for detecting the temperature of the hot water supplied to the hot water tank 17 from the detected temperature of the remaining hot water thermistor 22 at the position of 350L. The outside temperature detecting means 44 for detecting the outside temperature from the detected temperature of the outside temperature thermistor (not shown), for example, the specified time zone detecting means 45 for detecting a specified time zone such as a midnight power time zone, the circulation pump 29, and the heat pump unit 13 Is connected.

  The control device 41 has the following functions.

  In the specific time zone detected by the specific time zone detection means 45, the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detection means 42, the feed water temperature detected by the feed water temperature detection means 43, the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means 44 In response to completing the boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 at the end of the specific time zone based on the boiling capacity of the heat pump unit 13 and the like, A function of the peak shift time calculating means 46 for calculating a peak shift time that is a boiling start moving time to move so as to be delayed from the start time.

  When the specific time zone detecting means 45 detects that it has entered the specific time zone, if the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detecting means 42 is more than a certain amount, it is calculated by the peak shift time calculating means 46 at the start time. When the peak shift time elapses, the boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is started after the elapse of this peak shift time. On the other hand, when the amount of remaining hot water does not exceed a certain amount, the boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is started. Start immediately, stop boiling water by the heat pump unit 13 when the remaining hot water amount exceeds a certain amount, set the peak shift time calculated by the peak shift time calculating means 46 at that time, and set the peak shift time After the elapse of time, boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is started, and based on the detection by the remaining hot water detection means 42, the set temperature And function of the control means 47 for stopping the heat pump unit 13 When the raised boiling hot water setting hot water fraction. The predetermined amount for determining whether or not the remaining hot water amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount can be arbitrarily set in advance according to the hot water usage.

  Timer 48 function with clock function.

  A function of the storage means 49 for storing various setting data and detection data. This storage means 49 stores the relationship between peak shift time based on the amount of remaining hot water, feed water temperature, outside air temperature and boiling capacity, the obtained peak shift time, the amount of remaining hot water when this peak shift time is obtained, the feed water temperature, the outside air Stores temperature, etc., respectively.

  The control device 41 is connected to a remote controller 50 as setting means for setting a certain amount for determining whether the boiling temperature, the hot water supply temperature, and the remaining hot water amount are equal to or greater than a certain amount.

  Next, hot water boiling operation by the hot water supply apparatus 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  For example, when the start of a specific time zone such as midnight power time zone is detected by the specific time zone detection means 45 (step 1), first, the remaining hot water amount detection means 42 detects the remaining hot water amount (step 2), and the remaining hot water amount is preset. It is confirmed whether there is more than a certain amount (step 3).

  When the amount of remaining hot water exceeds a certain amount, the peak shift time calculating means 46 of the control device 41 uses the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detecting means 42, the feed water temperature detected by the feed water temperature detecting means 43, and the outside air temperature detecting means 44. The peak shift time is calculated and set on the basis of the outside air temperature detected in step 1, the boiling temperature set by the remote controller 50, the boiling capacity of the heat pump unit 13, and the like (step 4).

  The timer 48 is driven and peak shift control is started (step 5).

  Until the peak shift time elapses from the start time of the specific time zone (step 6), a change in the remaining hot water amount is monitored (step 7).

  When hot water is used during the peak shift time and the amount of remaining hot water decreases, the peak shift time is recalculated at that time and the recalculated peak shift time is set (step 8), and the peak shift control is continued.

  When the peak shift time has elapsed, boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is started (step 9). In the heat pump unit 13, by driving the compressor of the outdoor unit 36, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor is sent to the heat exchanger 30, and the heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is transmitted to the hot water in the circulation path 27. The heat pump cycle in which the refrigerant that has passed through the heat exchanger 30 is sent to the evaporator through the expansion valve of the outdoor unit 36, collects atmospheric heat in the refrigerant, and the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator returns to the compressor is repeated. In the circulation path 27, the circulation pump 29 operates, the hot water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 17 is sent to the heat exchanger 30 of the heat pump unit 13, and the hot water boiled up to a predetermined boiling temperature by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 30. Is circulated in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 17, and hot water is stored from the upper side of the hot water storage tank 17.

  During operation of the heat pump unit 13, based on the detection by the remaining hot water amount detection means 42, it is monitored whether the hot water at the set temperature and the set amount of hot water has been boiled (step 10), and when the boiling is completed, the operation of the heat pump unit 13 is stopped. (Step 11).

  After the operation of the heat pump unit 13 is stopped until the specific time period ends (step 12), the hot water storage tank 17 associated with the use of hot water is detected based on the detection of the remaining hot water thermistor 22 at the 350L position of the remaining hot water detection means 42. Monitor whether there is water supply to the inside (step 13). If there is water supply detection, the heat pump unit 13 is restarted and boiling is completed as described above. If there is no water supply detection and the specific time period ends, boiling control is terminated.

  In addition, when the amount of remaining hot water does not exceed a certain amount at the start of the specific time zone (NO in step 3), boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is immediately started (step 14).

  During the operation of the heat pump unit 13, the remaining hot water amount detecting means 42 detects the remaining hot water amount (step 15), and monitors whether the remaining hot water amount becomes a certain amount or more (step 16). When the remaining hot water amount exceeds a certain amount, the operation of the heat pump unit 13 is stopped (step 17).

  After the operation of the heat pump unit 13 is stopped, the peak shift time is calculated and set by the peak shift time calculation means 46 based on the amount of remaining hot water at that time, the feed water temperature, the outside air temperature, the boiling temperature, etc. Thus, peak shift control is performed.

  In this way, when the amount of remaining hot water does not exceed a certain amount at the start of a specific time period, boiling of hot water by the heat pump unit 13 is started immediately, and when the amount of remaining hot water exceeds a certain amount, Stop the heating, set the peak shift time calculated at that time, and start boiling the hot water by the heat pump unit 13 after the peak shift time, so the peak shift time such as immediately after the start of the specific time zone Even if a relatively large amount of hot water is used before the lapse of time, it is possible to prevent a shortage of hot water from occurring.

  In addition, since it is possible to arbitrarily set a certain amount to determine whether the amount of remaining hot water is a certain amount or more, use of hot water such as in a living environment where a lot of hot water is used immediately after the start of a specific time period Can respond appropriately to the situation.

  The boiling means is not limited to the heat pump unit 13, and a heater may be used, or both the heat pump unit 13 and the heater may be used.

It is a flowchart which shows the peak shift control of the hot water supply apparatus which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a hot-water supply apparatus same as the above. It is a block diagram of a hot water supply apparatus same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

11 Water heater
13 Heat pump unit as boiling means
17 Hot water storage tank
42 Remaining hot water level detection means
45 Specific time zone detection means
46 Peak shift time calculation means
47 Control means
50 Remote control as setting means

Claims (2)

A hot water storage tank,
Boiling means for boiling hot water in the hot water storage tank;
A specific time period detecting means for detecting a specific time period for boiling water with the boiling means;
A remaining hot water amount detecting means for detecting a remaining hot water amount in the hot water storage tank;
Peak shift time calculating means for calculating a peak shift time for moving the boiling start by the boiling means from the start time of the specific time zone based on at least the amount of remaining hot water detected by the remaining hot water detection means;
When the specific time zone detecting unit detects that the specific time zone has been entered, if the remaining hot water amount detected by the remaining hot water amount detecting unit is not equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, boiling by the boiling unit is performed. Start immediately, stop boiling when the amount of hot water exceeds a certain amount, set the peak shift time calculated by the peak shift time calculation means at that time, and elapse of this peak shift time A hot water supply apparatus comprising: control means for starting boiling by the boiling means later. The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that can arbitrarily set a predetermined amount for determining whether or not the remaining hot water amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount by the control unit.

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