JP2014202380A - Hot water supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for a hot water supply system that can supply hot water to a plurality of hot water utilization locations, capable of discriminating the hot water utilization locations where the hot water is used without providing corresponding flow volume sensors in the respective hot water utilization locations.SOLUTION: The specification of the present invention discloses a hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water utilization locations. The hot water supply system comprises two or more remote controllers arranged to correspond to portions near the two or more hot water utilization locations, respectively; and discrimination means for discriminating the hot water utilization locations where the hot water is used on the basis of operation of the remote controllers just before starting supply of the hot water from the hot water supply system.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply system.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water use locations. In this hot water supply system, by using detection means for detecting the flow rate of hot water at each hot water use location, the amount of hot water used at each hot water use location can be detected.

JP 2009-68753 A

  If the flow rate sensor corresponding to each hot water use location can be provided as in the technique of Patent Document 1, it is possible to easily determine in which hot water use location the hot water supplied from the hot water supply system is used. it can. However, providing a flow sensor corresponding to each hot water use location increases the number of parts of the hot water supply system, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost. In a hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water use locations, a technology capable of determining the hot water use location where hot water is used is expected without providing a flow sensor corresponding to each hot water use location. .

  The present specification provides a technique for solving the above problems. In this specification, in a hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water usage locations, it is possible to determine the hot water usage location where hot water is used without providing a flow sensor corresponding to each hot water usage location. Technology.

  The present specification discloses a hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water use locations. The hot water supply system uses hot water based on the operation of two or more remote controllers arranged corresponding to the vicinity of two or more hot water use locations and the remote control just before starting the supply of hot water from the hot water supply system. It is provided with discriminating means for discriminating the hot water use location.

  In general, when hot water supply is started immediately after a user of a hot water supply system operates a remote controller, the hot water is likely to be used at a location where hot water is used in the vicinity of the operated remote controller. In the hot water supply system described above, the hot water use location where hot water is used is determined based on the operation of the remote controller immediately before the supply of hot water is started. Without providing a flow sensor corresponding to each hot water use location, it is possible to determine the hot water use location where hot water is used.

  The hot water supply system can be configured such that the discrimination means discriminates a hot water use location where hot water is used based on a continuous supply time of hot water from the hot water supply system.

  The continuous supply time of the hot water varies depending on the hot water use location where the hot water is used. For example, when hot water is used in a bathroom shower, the continuous supply time of hot water becomes long. On the other hand, when hot water is used in a hot water tap in a kitchen or a washroom, the continuous supply time of hot water is short. In the hot water supply system described above, the hot water use location where hot water is used is determined based on the continuous supply time of hot water. Without providing a flow sensor corresponding to each hot water use location, it is possible to determine the hot water use location where hot water is used.

  The hot water supply system described above can be configured to include detection means for detecting the total flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply system and means for calculating the amount of hot water used for each hot water use location.

  If the flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply system and the hot water usage location where hot water is used are known, the amount of hot water used for each hot water usage location can be calculated. According to said hot water supply system, the usage-amount of the hot water for every warm water utilization location can be acquired, without providing the flow sensor corresponding to each warm water utilization location.

  The hot water supply system described above can be configured to include display means for displaying on a remote controller the amount of hot water used for each location where hot water is used.

  According to the hot water supply system described above, the amount of hot water used for each hot water use location is displayed on the remote control, so that the user of the hot water supply system can appropriately grasp the use status of his / her hot water.

  The above hot water supply system can display on the remote controller a prompt to reduce the amount of hot water used at a hot water usage location when the usage of hot water at a specific hot water usage location exceeds a predetermined value. Can be configured.

  According to said hot water supply system, water saving and energy saving can be implement | achieved by encouraging a user to reduce the usage-amount of the hot water in the hot water use location which uses excessive hot water.

  According to the hot water supply system disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to determine a hot water usage location where hot water is used without providing a flow rate sensor corresponding to each hot water usage location.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the hot water supply system 2 of an Example. It is a flowchart explaining the process which the controller 10 performs when supplying hot water from the hot water supply system 2 is started. It is a flowchart explaining the process which the controller 10 performs when the supply amount of the hot water from the hot water supply system 2 increases.

(Example)
FIG. 1 shows a hot water supply system 2 of the present embodiment. The hot water supply system 2 supplies hot water having a set temperature to a hot water tap A in the kitchen, a hot water tap B in the bathroom, a shower C, a hot water tap D, and a bathtub E in the bathroom. The hot water supply system 2 includes a water heater 4, a kitchen remote controller 6, a bathroom remote controller 8, and a controller 10.

  The water heater 4 includes a water supply amount sensor 12, a distribution valve 14, a heat source device 16, a hot water supply thermistor 18, a hot water valve 20, and a hot water flow rate sensor 22.

  The water supply amount sensor 12 detects the flow rate of the water supplied to the water heater 4 from a water supply source S such as a water supply. The flow rate of water detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 includes all hot water usage points connected to the water heater 4, that is, a kitchen hot water tap A, a bathroom hot water tap B, a bathroom shower C, a hot water tap D and This corresponds to the total flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply system 2 to the bathtub E.

  The water supplied from the water supply source S to the water heater 4 branches and flows into the heat source unit heating path 24 and the heat source unit bypass path 26. The distribution valve 14 is provided at a location where the heat source unit heating path 24 and the heat source unit bypass path 26 are branched. A heat source unit 16 is provided in the heat source unit heating path 24. The heat source unit bypass path 26 joins the heat source unit heating path 24 downstream of the heat source unit 16. Hot water is supplied from the water heater 4 to each hot water use location from the downstream side of the location where the heat source unit heating path 24 and the heat source unit bypass path 26 join. A hot water supply thermistor 18 is provided on the downstream side of the location where the heat source unit bypass path 26 and the heat source unit heating path 24 merge. The hot water supply thermistor 18 detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water heater 4 to each hot water use location.

  The distribution valve 14 can adjust the ratio of the flow rate of water flowing to the heat source unit heating path 24 and the flow rate of water flowing to the heat source unit bypass path 26 by adjusting the opening degree. By adjusting the opening degree of the distribution valve 14, the mixing ratio of hot hot water passing through the heat source unit heating path 24 and low temperature hot water passing through the heat source unit bypass path 26 is adjusted.

  The heat source unit 16 heats water that passes through the heat source unit heating path 24. The heat source device 16 may be one that heats water by gas combustion, for example, or may be one that heats water using a heat pump.

  The controller 10 adjusts the heating capability of the heat source device 16 and the opening of the distribution valve 14 so that the temperature detected by the hot water supply thermistor 18 becomes the hot water supply set temperature. As a result, hot water at the hot water supply set temperature is supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water usage location.

  The hot water valve 20 opens and closes the hot water flow path for supplying hot water from the water heater 4 to the bathtub E. The hot water flow rate sensor 22 detects the flow rate of hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the bathtub E.

  The kitchen remote control 6 includes a display unit and an operation unit. The display unit displays the current time, the current hot water supply set temperature, the operating state, and the like. The operation unit includes a power switch for turning on / off the hot water supply system 2, an operation switch for performing various operations of the hot water supply system 2, a setting switch for setting a hot water supply set temperature, and the like. When the kitchen remote controller 6 is not operated for a predetermined time, the kitchen remote controller 6 shifts to a power saving mode in which display on the display unit is turned off. When an operation is performed on the operation unit in the power saving mode, the mode shifts to a normal mode in which display on the display unit is turned on.

  The bathroom remote control 8 includes a display unit and an operation unit. The display unit displays the current time, the current hot water supply set temperature, the operating state, and the like. The operation unit includes a power switch for turning on / off the power supply of the hot water supply system 2, an operation switch for executing various operations of the hot water supply system 2, a setting switch for setting a hot water supply set temperature, a priority switch for obtaining priority, and the like. ing. When the priority switch is turned on in the bathroom remote controller 8, the operation in the bathroom remote controller 8 is reflected in the operation of the hot water supply system 2 in preference to the operation in the kitchen remote controller 6. When the bathroom remote controller 8 is not operated for a predetermined time, the bathroom remote controller 8 shifts to a power saving mode in which display on the display unit is turned off. When an operation is performed on the operation unit in the power saving mode, the mode shifts to a normal mode in which display on the display unit is turned on.

  When the controller 10 detects the supply of hot water from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location, the controller 10 determines whether the hot water is used in the bathroom or in other locations. Hereinafter, the determination processing by the controller 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S202, the process waits until the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 exceeds a predetermined value (for example, 0.6 liters per minute). When the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 exceeds a predetermined value (YES in step S202), the controller 10 determines that the supply of hot water from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location has been started, and the processing is performed. Proceed to step S204.

  In step S204, the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 is set to the hot water use flow rate F.

  In step S206, it is determined whether hot water is supplied to the bathtub E. Supply of hot water to the bathtub E is performed when an operation for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water from the water heater 4 to the bathtub E, such as hot water operation, additional hot water operation, and lukewarm water (pour water) operation, is performed. Is called. When hot water is supplied to the bathtub E, the use flow rate Fu in the bathtub E can be obtained from the detection value of the hot water flow rate sensor 22. When hot water is supplied to the bathtub E (YES in step S206), the use flow Fu in the bathtub E is subtracted from the use flow F of hot water in step S208, and the process proceeds to step S210. If hot water is not supplied to bathtub E (NO in step S206), the process proceeds directly to step S210.

  In step S210, it is determined whether a remote control operation has been performed on the kitchen remote controller 6 or the bathroom remote controller 8 immediately before the hot water supply from the water heater 4 is started. In the present embodiment, the time when the water supply amount sensor 12 detects a flow rate exceeding a predetermined value (that is, the time when YES in step S202) is set as the time when the hot water supply is started, and the remote control operation is performed during a period 30 seconds before It is determined whether or not has been performed. The remote control operation here includes various modes. Specifically, when the hot water supply system 2 is turned on by turning on the power switch with the kitchen remote controller 6 or the bathroom remote controller 8, the hot water supply set temperature is changed by the setting switch, or the normal mode is changed from the power saving mode. This includes a case where an operation for returning to the home is performed, or a case where the priority is acquired by turning on the priority switch in the bathroom remote controller 8. If a remote control operation has been performed immediately before the supply of hot water from the water heater 4 is started (YES in step S210), the process proceeds to step S212.

  In step S212, it is determined whether or not the remote control operation in step S210 is performed by the bathroom remote control 8. When remote control operation is performed with the bathroom remote controller 8 prior to the start of the supply of hot water from the water heater 4, the hot water supplied from the water heater 4 after that can be used in the shower C or the hot water tap D in the bathroom. High nature. Therefore, if the remote control operation in step S210 is performed by the bathroom remote control 8 (YES in step S212), the process proceeds to step S214, and the hot water usage flow rate F is set to the bathroom usage flow rate Fb. To do. Moreover, it progresses to step S216 and updates the average usage flow Fbave in a bathroom.

  Prior to the start of the supply of hot water from the water heater 4, when remote control operation is performed with a remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller 8 (ie, the kitchen remote controller 6), the hot water is supplied to the kitchen hot water tap A or the bathroom hot water tap B. There is a high possibility of being supplied. Therefore, when the remote control operation of step S210 is not performed by the bathroom remote control 8 (NO in step S212), the process proceeds to step S218, and the hot water usage flow rate F is changed to the usage flow rate Fetc in places other than the bathroom. Set.

  In step S210, if the remote control operation is not performed immediately before the supply of hot water from the water heater 4 is started (NO), the process proceeds to step S220.

  In step S220, it is determined whether or not the continuous supply time of hot water exceeds a predetermined time. In general, the continuous supply time of hot water used in the kitchen tap A and the bathroom tap B of the kitchen is short, and the continuous supply time of hot water used in the bathroom shower C and the hot tap D is long. Accordingly, when the continuous hot water supply time exceeds the predetermined time (YES in step S220), the process proceeds to step S222, and the hot water usage flow F is set to the bathroom usage flow Fb. And a process progresses to step S224 and updates the average usage flow Fbave in a bathroom. Conversely, if the continuous supply time of hot water does not exceed the predetermined time in step S220 (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S226, and the use flow F of hot water is used at a place other than the bathroom. Set to Fetc.

  As described above, by performing the process of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location is used in the bathroom or in a place other than the bathroom. be able to. By integrating the hot water usage flow rate at each hot water use location, the hot water usage (integrated flow rate) at each hot water usage location can be calculated.

  While hot water is used at a certain hot water use location, hot water may be used at other hot water use locations. In such a case, the process which isolate | separates the flow volume detected with the water supply amount sensor 12 for every warm water use location which uses hot water is needed. When the controller 10 detects an increase in the amount of hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location, the controller 10 determines whether the increased amount is used in the bathroom or in a location other than the bathroom. Hereinafter, the determination processing by the controller 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S302, the process waits until the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 increases beyond a predetermined width. When the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 increases beyond a predetermined width (YES in step S302), the controller 10 determines that the amount of hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location has increased. Then, the process proceeds to step S304.

  In step S304, the increment of the flow rate Fall detected by the water supply amount sensor 12 is set to the hot water use flow rate increment Fadd.

  In step S306, it is determined whether the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub E has increased. The increment Fuadd of the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub E can be acquired as an increase in the detected value of the hot water flow rate sensor 22. When the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub E is increasing (YES in step S306), the increment Fuadd of the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub E is subtracted from the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd in step S308. Advances to step S310. If the amount of hot water supplied to bathtub E has not increased (NO in step S306), the process proceeds directly to step S310.

  In step S310, it is determined whether hot water was used in the bathroom before the amount of hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water use location increased. In general, while one of the shower C and the hot water tap D in the bathroom is in use, it is unlikely to start using the other, so in such a case, use of hot water is started in a place other than the bathroom. it is conceivable that. Therefore, if hot water is used in the bathroom before the supply amount of hot water increases (YES in step S310), the process proceeds to step S316, and the hot water use flow rate increment Fadd is used in a place other than the bathroom. Add to flow rate Fetc.

  In step S312, it is determined whether or not an operation has been performed with the bathroom remote controller 8 immediately before the hot water supply amount increases. For example, in the bathroom remote control 8, when an operation for returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode is performed, or an operation for turning on the priority switch is performed in order to obtain the priority, the bathroom shower is subsequently performed. There is a high possibility that the use of hot water at C or hot water tap D will start. For this reason, when operation is performed with the bathroom remote control 8 just before the supply amount of hot water increases (in the case of YES in step S312), the process proceeds to step S318, and the hot water use flow rate increment Fadd is used in the bathroom. Add to flow rate Fb.

  In step S314, it is determined whether or not the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is close to the average usage flow rate Fbave in the bathroom. In the present embodiment, when the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd falls within the range of ± 10% of the average usage flow rate Fbave in the bathroom, it is determined that the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is close to the average usage flow rate Fbave in the bathroom. If the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is close to the average usage flow rate Fbave in the bathroom (YES in step S314), the process proceeds to step S318, and the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is added to the bathroom usage flow rate Fb. When the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is not close to the average usage flow rate Fbave in the bathroom (NO in step S314), the process proceeds to step S316, and the hot water usage flow rate increment Fadd is used as the usage flow rate Fetc in a place other than the bathroom. Add to.

  As described above, according to the hot water supply system 2 of the present embodiment, it is possible to determine where the supplied hot water is used without providing a flow rate sensor corresponding to each hot water use location. The controller 10 integrates the usage flow rate at each hot water use location, for example, the usage amount of hot water in the bathtub, the usage amount of hot water in the bathroom, and the usage amount of hot water in other locations. Each can be calculated and displayed on the kitchen remote controller 6 or the bathroom remote controller 8.

  In addition, a message that prompts users who use a large amount of hot water at a specific hot water use location to reduce the amount of hot water used at that hot water use location, and the amount of hot water used at that hot water use location. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which advice for reduction is displayed on the kitchen remote controller 6 or the bathroom remote controller 8. Specifically, when the amount of hot water used at a specific hot water usage location exceeds a predetermined value, a display prompting the use of hot water at that hot water usage location to be reduced is displayed on the kitchen remote control 6 or bathroom remote control 8. It can be set as the structure displayed.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical usefulness by achieving one of the objects.

2 Hot water supply system 4 Water heater 6 Kitchen remote control 8 Bathroom remote control 10 Controller 12 Water supply amount sensor 14 Distribution valve 16 Heat source machine 18 Hot water supply thermistor 20 Hot water valve 22 Hot water flow rate sensor 24 Heat source machine heating path 26 Heat source machine bypass path

Claims (5)

A hot water supply system capable of supplying hot water to a plurality of hot water use locations,
Two or more remote controls arranged corresponding to the vicinity of two or more hot water use points;
A hot water supply system provided with a discriminating means for discriminating a hot water use location where hot water is used based on an operation of a remote controller immediately before starting the supply of hot water from the hot water supply system.   The hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the discrimination means discriminates a hot water use location where hot water is used based on a continuous supply time of hot water from the hot water supply system. Detection means for detecting the total flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water supply system;
The hot-water supply system of Claim 1 or 2 provided with the means to calculate the usage-amount of the hot water for every warm water utilization location.   The hot water supply system according to claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying the amount of hot water used for each hot water use location on a remote controller.   The hot water supply according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when the amount of hot water used at a specific hot water usage location exceeds a predetermined value, a display prompting the use of hot water at that hot water usage location to be reduced can be displayed on the remote control. system.

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