JP2016080186A - Bath device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an entire energy efficiency of bath device at an indirect heating type bath device by optimizing an interval of additional heating during a heat rising operation, in particular.SOLUTION: An indirect heating type bath device comprises a heat rising operation means for keeping a temperature of bathtub water at a temperature between a set temperature and a lower limit temperature lower than the set temperature only by a hot water temperature descending limit range by transmitting an additional heating instruction to an additional heating processing means when an additional heating interval time elapses upon completion of the additional heating treatment; and an additional heating interval time changing means for calculating a descending time required for decreasing a temperature of the bathtub water to a lower limit temperature on the basis of a hot water reduction rate that is a reduction rate of temperature of the bathtub water during elapsing of the additional heating interval time from completion time of a previous time additional heating, and changing the additional heating interval time to a time in which the additional heating interval time is changed from the descending time or a time changed from the descending time only by an adjustment width.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a combustion-type heating device for heating a heat medium, a heat-medium circulation circuit having a first heat exchanger that heats the heat medium by combustion of the combustion-type heating device, and bathtub water in the bathtub is circulated. A bath apparatus comprising: a bathtub water circulation circuit; and a second heat exchanger that heats the bathtub water by exchanging heat between the heating medium flowing through the heating medium circulation circuit and the bathtub water flowing through the bathtub water circulation circuit. About.

  In Patent Document 1, the heat medium flowing through the circuits 21 and 22 for hot water circulation is heated using the burner 4B, and the heat of the heated heat medium is circulated through the bath heat exchanger 28 through the heat exchanger 28 for reheating. The bath equipment which retreats the bathtub water by telling the bathtub water flowing through the circuits 31 and 32 for use is disclosed. In this bath facility, bath water is not directly heated by a burner, but bath water is heated indirectly via circuits 21 and 22 for hot water circulation.

  The efficiency of such a so-called indirect heating system bath apparatus has been calculated in the form of “dividing the output heat amount by the input heat amount when continuously operating at the rated (maximum) output”, but in recent years, It has been studied to evaluate at an efficiency (for example, an efficiency calculated in an operation state including intermittent operation) in accordance with an actual use state.

JP 2009-144935 A

  The inventors have performed the reheating process by the indirect heating method in the bath apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 above, and in particular, the efficiency according to the actual use state, that is, including the intermittent operation and the like. When evaluating with the calculated efficiency, we found that there is room for improvement in energy efficiency. Specifically, in the heat insulation operation in which the bath water temperature is automatically maintained and the bath water temperature is kept at the set temperature, the bath water circulation pump is operated because the time interval for determining whether or not to perform the bath water is fixed. As a result of the determination, there was a case that no tracking was performed. In this case, the electric power for operating the bathtub water circulation pump was wasted, and the energy efficiency of the entire bath apparatus was deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to optimize the energy efficiency of the bath apparatus by optimizing the reheating interval in the reheating process in the indirect heating method. It is providing the bath apparatus which can improve.

  In order to achieve the above object, the characteristic configuration of the bath apparatus according to the present invention includes a combustion heating apparatus for heating a heating medium and a heating medium having a first heat exchanger that heats the heating medium by combustion of the combustion heating apparatus. Heat exchange is performed between the circulation circuit, the bathtub water circulation circuit in which the bathtub water in the bathtub is circulated, the heat medium that flows through the heating medium circulation circuit, and the bathtub water that flows through the bathtub water circulation circuit. In a bath apparatus including a second heat exchanger for heating, a heating medium circulating means for circulating the heating medium in the heating medium circulating circuit, a bathtub water circulating means for circulating the bathtub water in the bathtub water circulating circuit, A reheating process means for performing a reheating process for operating the combustion-type heating device, the heating medium circulation means, and the bathtub water circulation means to heat the bathtub water to a set temperature when receiving a firing treatment command; At the tracking interval after the tracking process is completed The temperature of the bath water is kept between the set temperature and a lower limit temperature lower than the set temperature by a hot water temperature drop limit width by sending the follow-up process command to the follow-up processing means when the time elapses. Based on the operating means and the hot water temperature decrease rate that is the rate of decrease in the temperature of the bath water during the elapse of the reheating interval time from the end of the previous reheating process, the temperature of the bath water is reduced to the lower limit temperature. It is provided with a tracking interval time changing means for calculating a falling time required to decrease and changing the tracking interval time from the falling time or a time changed from the falling time to an adjustment time width.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, the bath device calculates the descent time based on the hot water temperature decrease rate and changes the reheating interval time to the calculated descent time. It becomes an appropriate interval according to the temperature drop. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the operation of the bathtub water circulation means is wasted because the interval is too short and the drop in hot water temperature is small and no reheating is performed. In addition, the chasing interval becomes too long, causing a large drop in hot water temperature, which does not inconvenience the user of the bath apparatus. Furthermore, if the chasing interval time is changed from the descending time to the time changed by the adjustment time width, even if the bathroom condition changes due to bathroom heating or ventilation, etc., the timing is earlier than the calculated descending time. It is possible to suppress the excessive decrease in hot water temperature by chasing, or chasing at a timing later than the calculated descent time to suppress energy consumption. That is, it is possible to provide a bath apparatus with improved energy efficiency and convenience / comfort.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath device according to the present invention is provided with a detecting means for detecting a bath outlet temperature that is a temperature of the bath water returning from the inside of the bathtub to the second heat exchanger, and the chasing interval time changing means includes: The amount of decrease in hot water temperature obtained from the difference between the set temperature and the bath temperature detected by the detection means at the start of the current reheating process is calculated as the previous reheating process and the current reheating process. The hot water temperature lowering rate is obtained by dividing by a chasing interval time, which is a time interval, and the lowering time is calculated by dividing the hot water temperature lowering limit width by the hot water temperature lowering rate.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, since the hot water temperature decrease rate and the descent time are calculated based on the actually measured bath temperature, the calculated descent time is a value that reflects the situation immediately before the current chasing. It has become. Therefore, a change to a more appropriate tracking interval time can be performed, and energy efficiency can be further increased.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath device according to the present invention is that, when the reheating processing unit receives the reheating processing command, the bath water circulation unit is operated, and the measurement of the bath temperature by the detecting unit is completed. Then, the combustion type heating device and the heat medium circulating means are operated.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, since the combustion heating device and the heat medium circulating means are operated after the bath water circulating means is first operated and the measurement of the bath outlet temperature is completed, the bathtub is not affected by the heated heat medium. It is possible to reliably measure the output temperature. Therefore, the fall time can be calculated more accurately, and the energy efficiency of the bath apparatus can be further enhanced.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath apparatus according to the present invention is that the chasing interval time changing means changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by adding an adjustment time width to the descending time.

  During the operation of the bath apparatus, for example, a bathroom heating apparatus may be operated to increase the temperature in the bathroom. If it does so, the temperature fall of bathtub water will be suppressed and the case where the temperature of bathtub water does not fall to a minimum temperature even if calculated fall time passes can be considered. According to the above characteristic configuration, the chasing interval time changing means changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by adding the adjustment time width to the descending time calculated based on the hot water temperature lowering time. The chasing process can be performed at intervals, and the energy efficiency of the bath apparatus can be further increased.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath apparatus according to the present invention is that the chasing interval time changing means changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by subtracting an adjustment time width from the descending time.

  During operation of the bath apparatus, the temperature in the bathroom may drop due to, for example, opening / closing of a bathroom door or operation of a ventilation fan. If it does so, the temperature fall of bathtub water will be accelerated | stimulated and when the calculated fall time passes, the temperature of bathtub water may fall below a minimum temperature. According to the above characteristic configuration, the chasing interval time changing means changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by subtracting the adjustment time width from the descending time calculated based on the hot water temperature lowering time. Is less than the lower limit temperature, that is, the situation where the bath water cools down excessively can be avoided, and the convenience and comfort of the bath apparatus can be enhanced.

  According to a further characteristic configuration of the bath device according to the present invention, the reheating processing means heats the heat medium to a predetermined first heat medium temperature to retreat the bath water, and the first reheating process. Determining a second heat medium temperature at which the chasing process is completed in a time longer than the time required for one chasing process and equal to or shorter than the longest chasing time, and heating the heat medium to the second heat medium temperature; The second pursuit process for pursuing the bath water is selectively performed.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, in the second tracking process, the second heating medium temperature is determined so as to complete the tracking process in a time longer than the time required for the first tracking process. The operation period in a state where the instantaneous efficiency is high is longer than that in the first tracking process, and the overall thermal efficiency is improved. The chasing interval time is optimized by the first characteristic configuration, and the bath water temperature at the start of the chasing process is kept near the lower limit temperature, so that the energy efficiency of the entire bath apparatus is improved by performing the second chasing process. It can be further increased. The longest chasing time is an upper limit of the time required for the second chasing process, and is a time set in advance as a time that does not impair the convenience of the user.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath device according to the present invention is that the chasing processing means has a second chasing time that is longer than the time required for the first chasing process and is equal to or shorter than the longest chasing time. When determining the second heating medium temperature at which the reheating process is completed in time, the required input heat amount required for heating the bath water to the reheating completion temperature is divided by the second reheating time to be input every hour. The second heat medium temperature is determined based on the amount of heat.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the second heating medium temperature is determined based on the hourly input heat amount obtained by dividing the necessary input heat amount required for heating the bath water to the replenishment completion temperature by the second replenishment time. Therefore, it is possible to accurately obtain the temperature of the heating medium that completes the chasing process in the second chasing time. As a result, the chasing process can be performed as long as possible while keeping the time required for chasing within a range that does not impair the convenience. Can be further enhanced.

  A further characteristic configuration of the bath apparatus according to the present invention is that the replenishing processing means reheats the bath water by heating the heat medium to a third heat medium temperature lower than the first heat medium temperature. Calculate the time required for the soaking process, and if the time is equal to or shorter than the longest chasing time, determine the third heating medium temperature as the second heating medium temperature and perform the second chasing process, If the time is longer than the longest tracking time, the temperature of the heat medium that completes the tracking process in the longest tracking time is determined as the second heating medium temperature and the second tracking process is performed. is there.

The time required for the chasing process varies depending on the temperature and total amount of bathtub water stored in the bathtub. Therefore, when the second tracking process is performed at the third heating medium temperature preset to a temperature lower than the first heating medium temperature, the time required for tracking may become very long. In that case, it takes a long time to reach the set hot water temperature in the automatic hot water operation in which the hot water is refilled to the set hot water temperature after the hot water is charged, and in the subsequent heat insulation operation. There is a risk of damage.
According to the above characteristic configuration, the time required for the follow-up process at the third heat medium temperature is calculated, and when the time is equal to or shorter than the longest follow-up time, the third heat medium temperature is set to the second heat medium temperature. When the second chasing process is performed and the time is longer than the longest chasing time, the temperature of the heat medium for which the chasing process is completed in the longest chasing time is determined as the second heating medium temperature. Since the chasing process is performed, the time required for the chasing process does not become longer than the longest chasing time, and the occurrence of a situation that impairs the convenience of the user can be suppressed.

Schematic configuration diagram of the bath apparatus of the present invention Explanatory drawing which shows control of the bath apparatus which concerns on this invention Explanatory drawing which shows the state of the heat insulation driving | operation which concerns on this invention Explanatory drawing which shows the driving | running state of the bath apparatus which concerns on this invention (1st chasing process) Explanatory drawing which shows the driving | running state of the bath apparatus which concerns on this invention (2nd chasing process)

The present invention relates to a so-called indirect heating type bath apparatus, and more particularly, to a bath apparatus capable of improving the energy efficiency of the entire bath apparatus by optimizing the reheating interval in the heat insulation operation. Hereinafter, embodiments of a bath apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The bath apparatus 100 is configured to supply heat to the heating terminals HU and LU and supply hot water with temperature adjusted to the bathtub 10 and the hot water tap 33, and a heat source G that can heat and supply the heat medium and hot water, and the heat source An operation controller C that controls the operation of G, and a main remote controller R1 and a bathroom remote controller R2 that issue various operation commands to the operation controller C are configured.
Incidentally, the main remote controller R1 is installed in the vicinity of the kitchen, and the bathroom remote controller R2 is provided in the bathroom where the bathtub 10 is installed.

[Configuration related to heat source equipment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat source machine G is surrounded by a casing 51, and heats water from a water supply path L2 connected to a general household water pipe by a gas combustion type hot water supply burner g1. Then, a hot water supply heating unit H1 that supplies hot water after heating to the hot water tap 33 and the bathtub 10, a heat medium that circulates and supplies the hot water to the high temperature heating terminal HU and the low temperature heating terminal LU, and bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10 And a heating medium heating section H2 that heats the heating medium with a gas combustion type heating medium heating burner g2. Incidentally, a bathroom heating dryer is provided as the high temperature heating terminal HU, and a floor heating device is provided as the low temperature heating terminal LU.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water supply burner g1 provided in the hot water supply heating unit H1 is connected to a first gas supply path 21a for supplying general household fuel gas (for example, city gas 13A), A second gas supply path 21b for supplying fuel gas is also connected to the heat medium heating burner g2 provided in the heat medium heating part H2. In each of the first gas supply path 21a and the second gas supply path 21b, there are open / close valves V1 and V3 for intermittently supplying the fuel gas, and electromagnetic gas proportional valves V2 and V4 for adjusting the fuel gas supply amount, respectively. Is provided. The hot water supply heating section H1 and the heat medium heating section H2 are provided with combustion fans 12a and 12b for supplying combustion air to the hot water supply burner g1 and the heat medium heating burner g2, respectively.
Although illustration is omitted, an ignition igniter and a flame rod for detecting ignition are provided in the vicinity of the hot water supply burner g1 and the heating medium heating burner g2.

The hot water supply heating unit H1 and the heating medium heating unit H2 include main heat exchangers EX1 and EX3 that mainly recover sensible heat of the combustion exhaust gas of the burners g1 and g2, and auxiliary heat exchangers EX2 that mainly recover latent heat. EX4. Here, the main heat exchangers EX1 and EX3 and the auxiliary heat exchangers EX2 and EX4 are the auxiliary heat exchanger EX2 in the flow direction of the combustion exhaust gas from the hot water supply burner g1 and the heating medium heating burner g2 to the exhaust passage 22. , EX4 is disposed in a state of being located downstream of the main heat exchangers EX1, EX3. In the present invention, the main heat exchanger EX3 and the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 provided in the heat medium heating unit H2 function as a first heat exchanger.
Thus, in the hot water supply heating section H1, hot water is heated mainly by the latent heat of the combustion exhaust gas of the hot water supply burner g1 in the auxiliary heat exchanger EX2, and then mainly in the hot water supply burner g1 in the main heat exchanger EX1. Heated by sensible heat of combustion exhaust gas. In the heat medium heating section H2, the heat medium is heated mainly by the latent heat of the combustion exhaust gas of the heat medium heating burner g2 in the sub heat exchanger EX4, and then mainly heated in the main heat exchanger EX3. It is heated by the sensible heat of the combustion exhaust gas of the burner g2.

  From the auxiliary heat exchanger EX2 of the hot water supply heating section H1 and the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 of the heating medium heating section H2, acidic condensed water that is combustion generated water, that is, drain, is generated, but the drain is supplied to the drain pan 23. The collected water is neutralized by the neutralizer 24 and then stored in the drain tank 25. The drain tank 25 is provided with a drain sensor S1 for detecting that the drain storage amount is equal to or higher than the upper limit storage amount, and the drain sensor S1 detects that the drain storage amount is equal to or higher than the upper limit storage amount. Then, the drain drain pump P3 is activated, and the drain stored in the drain tank 25 is configured to be discharged to the outside through the drain pipe L1 through the drain port 13 provided on the floor surface of the bathroom. ing. Incidentally, the portion of the drain pipe L1 located outside the heat source machine G (outside of the casing 51) is the inside of the bathtub return outer pipe L7b disposed outside the heat source machine G in the bathtub return path L7 described later. It is arranged.

[Configuration related to hot water supply]
The water supply path L2 is connected to the inlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX2 of the hot water supply heating unit H1. The other end of the hot water supply passage L4 having the hot water tap 33 at one end is connected to the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX1 in the hot water supply heating section H1. Thereby, the hot water supplied from the water supply path L2 is sequentially heated by the sub heat exchanger EX2 and the main heat exchanger EX1, and then supplied from the hot water tap 33 via the hot water supply path L4.

The water supply path L2 is provided with a water supply thermistor S7 for detecting the water supply temperature and a flow rate sensor S8 for detecting the water supply flow rate. A location downstream of the water supply thermistor S7 and the flow rate sensor S8 in the water supply channel L2 is connected to the hot water supply channel L4 through a water supply bypass channel L3 that bypasses the main heat exchanger EX1 and the auxiliary heat exchanger EX2.
The hot water supply passage L4 is provided with a hot water thermistor S4 that detects the temperature of the hot water from the main heat exchanger EX1 upstream of the connection location of the water supply bypass passage L3. The hot water supply thermistor S6 that detects the temperature of hot water as hot water supply, the proportional valve V9 that can adjust the hot water flow rate, and the interruption of general hot water supply are provided downstream from the connection point of the water supply bypass L3 in the hot water supply line L4. An interrupt detection water amount sensor S9 for detection is provided.
In addition, a mixing valve V11 capable of adjusting the mixing ratio of the hot water from the main heat exchanger EX1 and the hot water from the water supply bypass L3 is provided at a connection point between the hot water supply path L4 and the water supply bypass L3.
As described above, the hot water temperature is adjusted to the target hot water temperature set by the main remote controller R1 in such a manner that the flow rate flowing through the feed water bypass passage L3 is adjusted based on the outputs of each thermistor and flow sensor, and the hot water tap Hot water is supplied from 33.

[Configuration related to heat medium circulation]
The heat medium circulation circuit is a reheating heat exchanger EX5 (an example of a second heat exchanger) that exchanges heat between the heat medium flowing out from the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heat medium heating unit H2 and the bath water. ) And the heating medium C1 returning to the inlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 of the heating medium heating unit H2 and the heating medium flowing out from the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heating medium heating unit H2 pass through the high temperature heating terminal HU. The high-temperature heating circuit C2 for returning to the inlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 of the heat medium heating unit H2, and the heat exchanger EX5 and the high-temperature heating for tracking the heat medium flowing out from the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heat medium heating unit H2. The heat medium bypass path L9 that leads the terminal HU to the outlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 of the heat medium heating unit H2 in a bypass state and the heat medium that flows out from the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heat medium heating unit H2 The auxiliary heat of the heating medium heating unit H2 through the low temperature heating terminal LU through the bypass L9 Back to the inlet of the exchanger EX4 and a low-temperature heating circuit C3. Here, the reheating circuit C1 includes a retreating path L11 disposed from the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heat medium heating unit H2 to the reheating heat exchanger EX5, and heat from the reheating heat exchanger EX5. And a reheating return path L10 disposed up to the inlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 of the medium heating unit H2.

The heat medium bypass passage L9 is provided with a bypass thermal valve V12 capable of adjusting the bypass flow rate of the heat medium, and the heat passing through the heat exchanger EX5 is provided in the heat-up path L11 of the heat-up circuit C1. A heating thermal valve V8 capable of adjusting the medium flow rate is provided, and the high temperature heating circuit C2 is provided with a high temperature heating thermal valve V10 capable of adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the high temperature heating terminal HU. The heating circuit C3 is provided with a low temperature heating thermal valve V13 capable of adjusting the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the low temperature heating terminal LU.
Further, between the outlet of the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 and the inlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heating medium heating unit H2, the heating medium that pressure-feeds the heating medium from the auxiliary heat exchanger EX4 to the main heat exchanger EX3 side. A circulation pump P2 is provided.
Further, at the outlet of the main heat exchanger EX3 of the heating medium heating unit H2, a heating medium thermistor S3 for detecting the temperature of hot water flowing out from the outlet is provided, and although not shown, the low temperature heating terminal LU and the high temperature heating terminal are omitted. Inside the HU, a high temperature heating thermistor and a low temperature heating thermistor that detect the temperature of the heat medium that has passed through the HU are provided.
An expansion tank 50 capable of absorbing the expansion of the heat medium is provided at the inlet of the heat medium heating unit H2 to the sub heat exchanger EX4.

[Composition related to pursuit]
The hot water outlet of the reheating heat exchanger EX5 and the circulation adapter 11 mounted on the lower side of the side wall of the bathtub 10 are connected by a bathtub going-out path L8, and the recirculation adapter 11 and the hot water inlet of the reheating heat exchanger EX5 are connected to each other. However, the bathtub return circulation path L7 is connected, and the bathtub return circulation path L7 is provided with a bathtub water circulation pump P1 that sucks hot water from the bathtub 10 and sends it to the reheating heat exchanger EX5.
If description is added, the bathtub going out path L8 will be extended from the heat source machine G to the outside by the bathtub going inner pipe L8a located in the inside of the heat source machine G, and the bathtub connected to the outgoing connection part 11a of the circulation adapter 11 It consists of a forward outer tube L8b. Further, the bathtub return path L7 extends outside the bathtub return inner pipe L7a located inside the heat source machine G and the heat source machine G and is connected to the return connection portion 11b of the circulation adapter 11 outside the bathtub return Tube L7b. And the bathtub water circulation circuit of this invention is comprised with the bathtub return path L7 and the bathtub going-out path L8.

In the bathtub return path L7, in order from the upstream side, a water level sensor S10 that detects the water level in the bathtub 10 by detecting the pressure of hot water in the bathtub return path L7, and the temperature of the bathtub water returning from the bathtub 10 are detected. The bathtub return thermistor S2, the electromagnetic on-off valve V7 for opening and closing the bathtub return path L7, the bathtub water circulation pump P1 described above, and the water flow switch 41 are provided.
Further, a bathtub going thermistor S5 for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied to the bathtub 10 is provided in the bathtub going way L8.

[Configuration related to hot water filling]
A hot water supply passage L5 for supplying hot water from the hot water supply passage L4 to the bathtub 10 is branched from a location between the proportional valve V9 and the interrupt detection water amount sensor S9 in the hot water supply passage L4. The bathtub water circulation pump P1 and the water flow switch 41 are connected in the bathtub return path L7. The hot water filling passage L5 is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve V5 for opening and closing the hot water filling passage L5, an air layer forming hopper 40 communicating with the hot water filling passage L5, and a check valve 42 in order from the upstream side. It has been.
The air layer forming hopper 40 is provided with a drainage channel L6 for draining hot water and an electromagnetic drain valve V6 for opening and closing the drainage channel L6, and the downstream end of the drainage channel L6 is located in the bathtub return channel L7. It is connected between the on-off valve V7 and the bathtub water circulation pump P1.
Therefore, when the on-off valve V5 is opened, the hot water heated by the hot water supply heating unit H1 and supplied via the hot water supply passage L5 is supplied to the bathtub return passage L7, and the hot water supplied to the bathtub return passage L7 is supplied. It will be supplied in a form of diverting toward both sides of the bathtub 10 side and the follow-up heat exchanger EX5 side. That is, the hot water supplied through the hot water supply path L5 is supplied to the bathtub 10 through both the bathtub going-out path L8 and the bathtub return path L7.

[Operation control of heat source machine]
The heat source machine G is equipped with the above-described devices, and as is clear from the above description, a hot water supply process for supplying heated hot water to the hot water tap 33 and a hot water supply for supplying heated hot water to the bathtub 10. The terminal heating process which circulates the process, the heated heat medium to the heating terminals HU and LU, the reheating process for heating the bathtub water in the bathtub 10, and the drain drainage process are performed.

  In other words, as will be described later, the operation controller C installs equipment installed in the casing 51 based on command information from the main remote controller R1 and bathroom remote controller R2 and detection information of sensors installed in the casing 51. Hot water supply operation by hot water supply processing, automatic hot water filling operation by hot water filling processing, etc., heat insulation operation following the automatic hot water filling operation, additional hot water operation to add hot water to the bathtub 10 and high temperature by terminal heating treatment It is configured to execute a heating operation / low temperature heating operation, a manual reheating operation by a reheating process, and a drain draining operation by a drain draining process.

[Configuration related to remote control]
The main remote controller R1 and the bathroom remote controller R2 are configured similarly, and will be described below with the main remote controller R1 as a representative.
As shown in FIG. 1, the main remote controller R1 has an operation switch Sw1 for instructing start and stop of operation, a bath automatic switch Sw2 for instructing an automatic hot water operation command, a hot water supply temperature setting switch Sw3 for setting a hot water supply temperature, and a setting. Bathtub temperature setting switch Sw4 for setting the target hot water temperature as the hot water temperature, water level setting switch Sw5 for setting the target water level of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10, additional hot water switch Sw6 for supplying hot water to the bathtub 10 in addition, manual addition Reminder switch Sw7 for commanding fired operation, display unit 81 for displaying various information such as set temperature, heating operation switch Sw8 for commanding start of operation of heating terminal HU, LU, and notification of completion of hot water filling, etc. A notification device 82 or the like is provided. The main remote controller R1 is connected to the operation control unit C and transmits the above-described command to the operation control unit C.

[Configuration related to temperature sensor]
The outside air temperature thermistor S11 is provided in the heat source unit G and connected to the operation control unit C. The outside air temperature thermistor S11 detects the outside air temperature of a house or the like where the bath apparatus 100 is provided, and transmits it to the operation control unit C.
The bathroom temperature thermistor S12 is provided in the bathroom remote controller R2 and connected to the operation control unit C. The bathroom temperature thermistor S12 detects the room temperature of the bathroom and transmits it to the operation control unit C.

[Details of operation control]
The operation control unit C enters a controllable state when the operation switch Sw1 is operated, and executes a hot water supply operation in which hot water is supplied from the hot water tap 33 when the hot water tap 33 is opened.
Further, when the bath automatic switch Sw2 is turned on and a hot water filling operation command is issued, the operation control unit C supplies hot water into the bathtub 10 to complete the hot water filling at the set hot water temperature. Is configured to run.

  That is, when the hot water filling operation command is instructed, the operation control unit C performs the hot water filling process so that the temperature of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 becomes the target hot water temperature and the water level of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 becomes the target water level. It is configured to perform automatic filling operation.

  In addition, after the automatic filling operation is finished, the operation control unit C keeps the temperature of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 at the set filling temperature until the hot water filling operation command is canceled by turning off the bath automatic switch Sw2. It is comprised so that it may become and the temperature of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 may maintain the hot water filling state which becomes a target water level.

  Further, the operation control unit C cancels the hot water operation command when the reheating switch Sw7 is operated and the reheating operation command is instructed during the heat insulation operation or when the bath automatic switch Sw2 is turned off. In the state where the operation is stopped, when the reheating switch Sw7 is operated and a reheating operation command is instructed, the renewal operation is executed, and when the additional hot water switch Sw6 is operated, the additional hot water operation is executed. Is configured to do.

  In the following, explanation will be given on the automatic hot water filling operation, the heat insulation operation and the chasing operation. First, the determination process performed prior to these operations will be described.

〔Determination process〕
The operation control unit C performs a determination process described below when executing the automatic filling operation, the heat insulation operation, and the reheating operation, and the bathtub based on the on / off information of the water flow switch 41 and the detected water level of the water level sensor S10. The water level in the bathtub 10 is determined and the temperature of the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 is determined based on the temperature detected by the bathtub return thermistor S2.

  That is, in the determination process, the operation control unit C operates the bathtub water circulation pump P1 during the circulation determination set time, and the water flow switch 41 and the bathtub return thermistor S2 operate during the operation of the bathtub water circulation pump P1. After the detection information is read and the water flow switch 41 detects the water flow, the detection information of the water level sensor S10 is read when the set time for standby elapses after the bathtub water circulation pump P1 is stopped. .

[Automatic hot water filling operation (hot water filling process, chasing process)]
When the bath automatic switch Sw2 is turned on, the operation control unit C performs the above-described determination process, and executes the automatic hot water filling operation when the hot water level in the bathtub 10 determined in the determination process is lower than the target water level. Is configured to do.
In the automatic filling operation, the operation control unit C sequentially executes the filling process for supplying hot water to the bathtub 10 and the above-described determination process, and stops the filling process when the detected water level of the water level sensor S10 is equal to or higher than the target water level. Then, after performing a reheating process for reheating so that the temperature of the bath water becomes the target hot water temperature, the automatic hot water operation is terminated.

(Water filling treatment)
In the hot water filling process, the operation control unit C opens the on-off valve V5, ignites the hot water supply burner g1 similarly to the hot water supply process described above, and the target hot water temperature set by the bathtub temperature setting switch Sw4. Based on the detected water amount of the flow rate sensor S8, the detected water temperature of the water supply thermistor S7, the detected temperature of the hot water thermistor S6, etc., the gas proportional so that the detected temperature of the hot water thermistor S6 becomes the target hot water filling temperature. The opening degree of the valve V2 and the opening degree of the mixing valve V11 are adjusted. When the hot water filling process is stopped, the on-off valve V5 is closed, and the combustion of the hot water supply burner g1 is stopped.

(Remembrance process)
Further, in the reheating process, the operation control unit C operates the bathtub water circulation pump P1 and the heat medium circulation pump P2 with the reheating heat valve V8 opened, and supplies hot water in the bathtub 10 to the bathtub return path L7. In addition, after the combustion fan 12a in the heat medium heating section H2 is driven, the on-off valve V1 is opened and the heat medium heating burner g2 is ignited by the igniter. The opening degree of the gas proportional valve V4 is adjusted so that the detected temperature of the thermistor S3 becomes the reheating set heat medium temperature (for example, 80 ° C.). In the operation control unit C, a functional part that executes this chasing process is described as chasing processing means M1.
In the present embodiment, in the tracking process, a selection process that determines whether the first tracking process or the second tracking process is performed, and heat that determines the temperature of the heat medium when the second tracking process is performed. A medium temperature determination process and a tracking time determination process for changing and determining the tracking time are performed. These processes will be described later.

  When the detected temperature of the bathtub return thermistor S2 becomes equal to or higher than the target hot water temperature, the operation control unit C closes the on-off valve V3 to stop the combustion of the heating medium heating burner g2, and the combustion fan 12a. Is stopped and the chasing process is terminated.

[Manual chasing operation]
When the tracking switch Sw7 is operated, the operation control unit C performs the above-described determination process and reads the detected temperature of the bathtub return thermistor S2.

  When the detection temperature of the bathtub return thermistor S2 is lower than the target hot water filling temperature, the above-described chasing process is performed. That is, the operation control unit C operates the heat medium circulation pump P2 and the bath water circulation pump P1 in a state where the reheating heat valve V8 is opened, and the hot water in the bathtub 10 is supplied to the bathtub return path L7 and the bathtub return path L8. At the same time, after the combustion fan 12a in the heat medium heating section H2 is driven, the on-off valve V3 is opened and the heat medium heating burner g2 is ignited by the igniter. Then, the bath water is heated by adjusting the opening of the gas proportional valve V4 so that the detected temperature of the heat medium thermistor S3 becomes the setting heat medium temperature for reheating (for example, 80 ° C.).

  When the detection temperature of the bathtub return thermistor S2 is equal to or higher than the target hot water filling temperature, the on-off valve V3 is closed to stop the combustion of the heating medium heating burner g2, and the combustion fan 12a is stopped to perform manual chasing operation. Exit.

[Details of heat insulation operation]
As described above, the operation control unit C performs the heat retaining operation while the bath automatic switch Sw2 is in the on state after the automatic water filling operation is completed. In the heat insulation operation of the present invention, the chasing interval time is changed based on the hot water temperature decrease rate of the bath water. Further, in the reheating process of the present invention, the first reheating process for reheating the bath water by heating the heat medium to a predetermined first heat medium temperature and longer than the time required for the first reheating process are longest. A second heat treatment process for determining a second heat medium temperature at which the heat treatment process is completed in a time shorter than or equal to the heat time, and heating the heat medium to the second heat medium temperature to reclaim the bath water; Is selectively performed. Details of these processes will be described below.
First, configurations and functions of the respective feature means M1 to M7 and Mm of the present invention provided in the operation control unit C will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the operation control unit C. As illustrated in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state of the heat insulation operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation control unit C includes a selection processing unit M3, a heat medium temperature determining unit M4, and a chasing unit in addition to the chasing control unit M2 that controls each component of the heat source machine G in the chasing processing. A time determination means M5 is provided, and these constitute the tracking processing means M1. The operation control unit C is further provided with a heat retaining operation means M6 for performing a heat retaining operation and a chasing interval time changing means M7 for changing the chasing interval time to an optimum value.
Further, the operation control unit C is provided with a storage unit Mm that stores information that is appropriately used in the chasing processing unit M1. The storage unit Mm includes a water level of the bathtub water and a bathtub stored in the bathtub 10. Information Mm1 indicating the relationship with the amount of water L, information Mm2 indicating the relationship between the hourly input heat amount and the heat medium temperature, information Mm3 indicating the amount of change in the second reheating time due to the outside air temperature, and the second reheating due to the bathroom temperature Information Mm4 indicating the amount of change in time, information Mm5 indicating the amount of change in the second chasing time based on the index relating to the heat insulation performance of the bathtub, information Mm6 relating to the longest chasing time tmax, information Mm7 relating to the minimum heating medium temperature Tmin, hot water temperature drop Information Mm8 related to the limit width ΔΤ and information Mm9 related to the adjustment time width Δτ are included as stored information.

[Heat insulation operation means]
The heat retaining operation means M6 controls each component of the heat source machine G so as to perform the heat retaining operation shown in FIG. 3, and issues a command to perform the reheating to the retreat processing means M1. The functions and operations of the heat retaining operation means M6 and the tracking interval time changing means M7 will be described below with reference to FIG. The horizontal axis of FIG. 3 represents time, and the vertical axis represents the temperature of the bath water, and FIG. 3 represents the transition of the bath water temperature during the heat insulation operation.

  When the chasing interval time τn elapses after the previous chasing process ends, the heat retaining operation means M6 issues a command to the chasing processing means M1 to perform the present chasing process. The chasing processing means M1 first determines the temperature (tubing temperature) 浴槽 n in the bathtub 10 based on the temperature detected by the bathtub return thermistor S2 by the above-described determination process, and then the bathtub water in the bathtub 10 The tracking process for tracking the temperature to the set temperature Τ0 is performed. That is, when the reheating processing means M1 receives a command to perform the reheating process from the heat retaining operation means M6, the bath water circulation pump P1 is operated, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the temperature detection by the bath return thermistor S2 is completed. The heat medium heating burner g2 and the heat medium circulation pump P2 are operated.

  After completion of the current chasing process, the heat retaining operation means M6 starts measuring time again, and based on the new chasing interval time τn + 1 changed by the chasing interval time changing means M7 described below, the chasing interval After the elapse of time τn + 1, a chasing process command is issued. By this operation, the temperature of the bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10 is maintained between the set temperature Τ0 and the lower limit temperature Τ0 'that is lower than the set temperature Τ0 by the hot water temperature drop limit width ΔΤ.

[Measuring interval time change means]
The chasing interval time changing means M7 changes and determines the chasing interval time according to the procedure described below when the temperature of the bath water (tubing temperature) is determined by the determination process.
(1) By dividing the difference between the target hot water filling temperature (set temperature) Τ0 and the bath temperature Τn by the current reheating interval time τn (the time from the previous reheating to the current reheating), Thus, the hot water temperature decrease rate αn is calculated.
Hot water temperature decrease rate αn = (set temperature Τ0−bath temperature Τn) / current renewal interval time τn
(2) Next, the descent time X is calculated by dividing the hot water temperature drop limit width ΔΤ by the hot water temperature decrease rate αn obtained in (1).
Falling time X = Water temperature drop limit width ΔΤ / Water temperature drop rate αn = τn × ΔΤ / (Τ0−Τn)
(3) The next pursuit interval time τn + 1 is determined as the calculated fall time X.
Time interval τn + 1 = Fall time X

Instead of (3) in the previous section, the next pursuit interval time τn + 1 may be determined to be a value obtained by adding the adjustment time width Δτ to the calculated fall time X.
Time interval τn + 1 = fall time X + adjustment time width Δτ
The adjustment time width Δτ in this case is determined as follows. When the high-temperature heating terminal HU (bathroom heating dryer) is operating, the value of the adjustment time width Δτ corresponding to the operation state (set air volume, operation time, set temperature, etc.) is stored in the storage means Mm. It is determined by reading from the information Mm9. Further, the bathroom temperature acquired by the bathroom temperature thermistor S12 is monitored, and if there is a temperature rise exceeding a predetermined amount (or a temperature rise exceeding a predetermined change rate), an adjustment corresponding to the temperature rise is performed. The value of the time width Δτ is determined by reading from the information Mm9 stored in the storage means Mm.
Note that both the adjustment time width Δτ due to the operation of the high-temperature heating terminal HU and the adjustment time width Δτ due to the rise in bathroom temperature may be added to the fall time X.
That is, the next pursuit interval time τn + 1 may be determined to be a value changed from the calculated falling time X by the adjustment time width Δτ.

Instead of (3) in the preceding paragraph, the next pursuit interval time τn + 1 may be determined to be a value obtained by subtracting the adjustment time width Δτ from the calculated fall time X.
Time interval τn + 1 = fall time X−adjustment time width Δτ
The adjustment time width Δτ in this case is determined as follows. When the ventilation fan provided in the bathroom is in operation, the value of the adjustment time width Δτ corresponding to the operation status (set air volume, operation time, etc.) is read from the information Mm9 stored in the storage means Mm and determined. To do. Further, the bathroom temperature acquired by the bathroom temperature thermistor S12 is monitored, and if there is a temperature drop exceeding a predetermined amount (or a temperature drop exceeding a predetermined change rate), an adjustment corresponding to the temperature drop is performed. The value of the time width Δτ is determined by reading from the information Mm9 stored in the storage means Mm.
Note that both the adjustment time width Δτ due to the operation of the ventilation fan and the adjustment time width Δτ due to the decrease in the bathroom temperature may be subtracted from the fall time X.
Also, addition of adjustment time width Δτ due to operation of high temperature heating terminal HU, addition of adjustment time width Δτ due to increase in bathroom temperature, subtraction of adjustment time width Δτ due to operation of ventilation fan, subtraction of adjustment time width Δτ due to decrease in bathroom temperature Of these, some may be combined and added to or subtracted from the falling time X, or all may be added to or subtracted from the falling time X.

As described above, the chasing process is repeatedly performed by the heat retaining operation means M6, and the chasing interval time changing means M7 optimizes the chasing interval time each time.
Next, the first chasing operation and the second chasing operation performed by the chasing processing means M1 will be described.

[Turning control means]
Upon receipt of a command to perform the tracking process, the tracking control means M2 operates the heat medium circulation pump P2 with the tracking thermal valve V8 opened, thereby causing the main heat exchanger EX3 and the auxiliary heat exchanger M2 to operate. The heating medium heated by the heat exchanger EX4 is tracked and circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger EX5. In that state, by operating the bathtub water circulation pump P1, the bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10 is circulated and supplied to the reheating heat exchanger EX5 through the bathtub return path L7 and the bathtub return path L8, and reheating heat exchange is performed. Heat in vessel EX5.

  At the same time, the follow-up control means M2 drives the combustion fan 12a in the heat medium heating section H2, then opens the on-off valve V1, ignites the heat medium heating burner g2 by the igniter, and the heat medium thermistor S3. By adjusting the opening of the gas proportional valve V4 based on the detected temperature, the temperature of the heat medium is controlled so as to become the set heat medium temperature for tracking. The heating medium setting heat medium temperature is set to the first heating medium temperature (for example, 80 ° C.) stored in the storage unit in advance when the first heating process is performed, and the second heating process is performed. In the case where it is determined, the temperature is set to the second heat medium temperature determined by the heat medium temperature determining means M4 described later.

[Selection processing means]
The selection processing means M3 determines whether to perform the first chasing process or the second chasing process in the chasing process based on the operation state of the bath apparatus 100 and the operation on the remote controller.
(1) When there is a command to perform the tracking process while the high-temperature heating operation is being performed, it is determined to perform the first tracking process.
(2) When there is a command to perform a manual chasing operation from the main remote controller R1 or the bathroom remote controller R2, it is determined to perform the first chasing process.
(3) When there is a command to perform the tracking process in a situation other than the above, it is determined to perform the second tracking process.
When it is determined to perform the first chasing process, the selection processing means M3 instructs the chasing control means M2. When it is determined to perform the second tracking process, the selection processing unit M3 instructs the heat medium temperature determining unit M4 to determine the heat medium temperature.

[Heat medium temperature determination means]
The heat medium temperature determining means M4 determines the second heat medium temperature when performing the second tracking process. The second heat transfer medium temperature is longer than the time required for the first reheating process, and the reheating process is completed in a time equal to or shorter than the longest renewal time tmax. It is determined on the basis of the hourly input heat amount obtained by dividing the necessary input heat amount required for heating to the temperature (target hot water filling temperature) by the second reheating time.
Hereinafter, the process which determines 2nd heat-medium temperature is demonstrated.

(1) Calculation of required input heat amount The required input heat amount is the amount of heat required to heat the bath water to the target hot water temperature, and the difference ΔT between the temperature of the bath water determined by the determination process and the target hot water temperature And the amount L of bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10 is calculated. The amount L of bathtub water refers to information Mm1 (information indicating the relationship between the water level of bathtub water and the amount L of bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10) based on the water level of the bathtub water determined by the determination process. Is required. That is,
Necessary input heat amount = amount of bath water L × ΔT × specific heat The required input heat amount is calculated.

(2) Hourly input heat amount By dividing the required input heat amount by the second tracking time, the hourly input heat amount is calculated. The amount of heat input per hour is the amount of heat per unit time that should be input to the bathtub in order to complete the tracking process with the second tracking time. The second pursuit time is set in advance and stored in the storage unit Mm as a time longer than the time required for the first pursuit process and equal to or shorter than the longest pursuit time tmax. That is,
Hourly input heat amount = Necessary input heat amount / second heating time The hourly input heat amount is calculated.

(3) Determination of second heat medium temperature The second heat medium temperature is determined with reference to information Mm2 (information indicating the relationship between the hourly input heat amount and the heat medium temperature) based on the hourly input heat amount. The amount of heat input per hour is the amount of heat per unit time input to the bathtub 10, and varies depending on the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the additional heat exchanger EX5. Therefore, the second heat medium temperature can be determined based on the hourly input heat amount by storing the hourly input heat amount in the information Mm2 as a function of the temperature of the heat medium. The information Mm2 may be in the form of a map or table in addition to the function, or may be information in consideration of the influence of the heat medium flow rate.

  Finally, referring to the information Mm7 (information on the minimum heating medium temperature Tmin), when the determined second heating medium temperature is lower than the minimum heating medium temperature Tmin, the second heating medium temperature is set to the minimum heating medium temperature. The temperature is determined as Tmin. If the temperature of the heating medium is too low, there is a possibility that low-temperature corrosion of the piping may occur in the heating medium circulation circuit such as the heating circuit C1, but the temperature of the heating medium during the second heating process by the above-described processing. Can be avoided too low. If the second heat medium temperature becomes higher than the first heat medium temperature due to the large amount of required heat input, the chasing process is performed at the first heat medium temperature.

[Measuring time determination means]
The chasing time determining means M5 changes and determines the second chasing time, which is the time required for the second chasing process, according to the outside air temperature of the heat source machine G, the bathroom temperature of the bathroom, or the heat insulating performance of the bathtub 10. . Note that the change / determination of the second chasing time by the chasing time determining means M5 is performed prior to the calculation of the hourly input heat amount.
(1) Change according to the outside air temperature of the facility The tracking time determination means M5 provides information Mm3 (information indicating the amount of change in the second tracking time due to the outside air temperature) based on the outside air temperature acquired by the outside air temperature thermistor S11. Referring to and changing the second tracking time. For example, when the outside air temperature is less than 10 ° C., a time obtained by subtracting Δt1 from the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. When the outside air temperature exceeds 30 ° C., a time obtained by adding Δt2 to the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. Then, the heat medium temperature determining means M4 determines the second heat medium temperature based on the changed new second tracking time. It is preferable that the second pursuit time is shortened as the outside air temperature is lower.

(2) Change by bathroom temperature The reheating time determination means M5 refers to the information Mm4 (information indicating the amount of change in the second reheating time by the bathroom temperature) based on the bathroom temperature acquired by the bathroom temperature thermistor S12. Then, the second tracking time is changed and determined. For example, when the bathroom temperature exceeds 30 ° C., a time obtained by adding Δt4 to the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. When the bathroom temperature is lower than 20 ° C., a time obtained by subtracting Δt3 from the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. Then, the heat medium temperature determining means M4 determines the second heat medium temperature based on the changed new second tracking time. It is preferable that the second chasing time is shortened as the bath temperature is lower.

(3) Change due to thermal insulation performance of bathtub The chasing time determination means M5 provides information Mm5 (information indicating the change amount of the second chasing time based on the index related to the thermal insulation performance of the bathtub) based on the index related to the thermal insulation performance of the bathtub. Referring to and changing the second tracking time. The index regarding the thermal insulation performance of the bathtub is stored in the storage means Mm according to the thermal insulation performance of the bathtub 10 used when the bath apparatus 100 is installed, and when the bathtub 10 is replaced by housing reform or the like, the new bathtub 10 It is changed and stored according to the heat insulation performance. For example, when the index is “low insulation”, a time obtained by subtracting Δt6 from the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. When the index is “non-adiabatic”, a time obtained by subtracting Δt5 from the second pursuit time is determined as a new second pursuit time. Then, the heat medium temperature determining means M4 determines the second heat medium temperature based on the changed new second tracking time. The lower the heat insulation performance, the shorter the second chasing time is preferable.

  In the present embodiment, the second tracking time is preset and stored in the storage means Mm as a time longer than the time required for the first tracking process and equal to or shorter than the longest tracking time tmax. It may be a time obtained by adding a predetermined time (for example, 1.5 minutes) to the time required for one tracking process. That is, based on the temperature / water level of the bathtub water determined by the determination process and the first heat medium temperature, the time required for the first reheating process is calculated from the required input heat amount and the input heat amount per hour, and the predetermined time is set to the time. It may be added time.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, the second heat medium temperature is determined based on the hourly input heat quantity obtained by dividing the required input heat quantity by the second tracking time. However, the preset third heat medium temperature is determined. The time required for the chasing process (third chasing time) is calculated when the chasing process is performed at the time, and when the time is equal to or shorter than the longest chasing time tmax, the third heating medium temperature is set to the second heating medium temperature. When the second tracking process is performed and the time is longer than the longest tracking time tmax, the temperature of the heat medium that completes the tracking process at the longest tracking time tmax is determined as the second heating medium temperature. The second tracking process may be performed.

[Calculation of third tracking time]
The third pursuit time is calculated in the pursuit processing means M1 as follows. Based on the third heat medium temperature set in advance and stored in the storage means Mm, information Mm2 (information indicating the relationship between the hourly input heat amount and the heat medium temperature) is referred to obtain the hourly input heat amount. The amount of heat input per hour is the amount of heat per unit time input to the bathtub 10 when the reheating process is performed by heating the heat medium to the third heat medium temperature.
Next, as in the first embodiment, the required input heat amount, which is the amount of heat required to heat the bath water to the target hot water temperature,
Necessary input heat amount = amount of bath water L × ΔT × specific heat The amount L of bathtub water refers to information Mm1 (information indicating the relationship between the water level of bathtub water and the amount L of bathtub water stored in the bathtub 10) based on the water level of the bathtub water determined by the determination process. Is required. Δt is a difference between the temperature of the bath water determined by the determination process and the target hot water temperature.
Then, the third pursuit time is calculated based on the following relationship.
3rd tracking time = required heat input / hourly heat input

[Determination of the second heating medium temperature]
Next, the second heating medium temperature is determined by comparing the calculated third tracking time with the longest tracking time tmax.
When the third tracking time is equal to or shorter than the longest tracking time tmax, the third heating medium temperature is determined as the second heating medium temperature.
When the third chasing time is longer than the longest chasing time tmax, the temperature of the heat medium (the longest chasing temperature) at which the chasing process is completed at the longest chasing time tmax is obtained by the process described below, and the second heat Determine the medium temperature.

The longest chasing temperature is obtained as follows. In the calculation of the above-described third pursuit time, since the required input heat amount has already been obtained, the hourly input heat amount is calculated based on the following relational expression so that the pursuit processing is completed in the longest pursuit time.
Heat input per hour = Necessary heat input / longest reheating time And referring to information Mm2 (information indicating the relationship between hourly heat input and heat medium temperature), the longest reheating temperature as the temperature that realizes the calculated heat input per hour Is determined, and this is determined as the second heat medium temperature.

[Operating condition of the bath equipment related to the reheating process]
With reference to FIG. 4, the operation state of the bath apparatus according to the first chasing process will be described. When 5 seconds have elapsed, the heat medium circulation pump P2 operates at a heat medium flow rate of 12 L / min, and the bathtub water circulation pump P1 operates at a flow rate of 8 L / min. When 15 seconds have elapsed, the heating medium heating burner g2 is ignited, and the opening of the gas proportional valve V4 is adjusted so that the detected temperature of the heating medium thermistor S3 becomes the first heating medium temperature (for example, 80 ° C.). “Gas input” in the figure represents the amount of combustion gas used in the heating medium heating burner g2 in terms of heat (kW). As the heat source machine output (kW), which is the amount of heat output from the heat source machine G, increases, the instantaneous efficiency (the ratio of the heat source machine output to the gas input) increases.

  Near 1 minute 30 seconds (1 minute 15 seconds from the start of combustion), the instantaneous efficiency averages over 60%. When 1 minute and 45 seconds have elapsed (1 minute and 30 seconds from the start of combustion), the temperature detected by the bathtub return thermistor S2 exceeds the target hot water filling temperature, and the heating medium heating burner g2 is extinguished. Thereafter, the heat medium circulation pump P2 is stopped at the time when a little over 2 minutes have elapsed, and the bathtub water circulation pump P1 is stopped at the time when 2 minutes and 45 seconds have elapsed, and the chasing process ends. The time required for the chasing process (burning time of the heating medium heating burner g2) is 1 minute 15 seconds, and the period during which the instantaneous efficiency exceeds 60% is about 15 seconds.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the operation state of the bath apparatus according to the second chasing process will be described. When 8 seconds have elapsed, the heat medium circulation pump P2 operates at a heat medium flow rate of 12 L / min, and the bathtub water circulation pump P1 operates at a flow rate of 8 L / min. When 20 seconds have elapsed, the heating medium heating burner g2 is ignited, and the opening of the gas proportional valve V4 is adjusted so that the temperature detected by the heating medium thermistor S3 becomes the second heating medium temperature (for example, 60 ° C.).

  Near 1 minute 45 seconds (1 minute 25 seconds from the start of combustion), the instantaneous efficiency averages over 60%. When 2 minutes and 40 seconds have elapsed (2 minutes and 20 seconds from the start of combustion), the temperature detected by the bathtub return thermistor S2 exceeds the target hot water filling temperature, and the heating medium heating burner g2 is extinguished. Thereafter, the heat medium circulation pump P2 is stopped when 2 minutes and 50 seconds have elapsed, and the bathtub water circulation pump P1 is stopped when 3 minutes and 30 seconds have elapsed, and the chasing process is completed. The time required for the follow-up process (combustion time of the heating medium heating burner g2) is 2 minutes 30 seconds, which is about twice as long as the first follow-up process. Moreover, the period when the instantaneous efficiency exceeded 60% is about 55 seconds, which is significantly longer than that of the first chasing process, and the thermal efficiency of the chasing process as a whole is improved by approximately 1%.

  In 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, based on the detection information of water level sensor S10, the water level of the bathtub water was determined by the determination process, and the amount L of bathtub water was calculated, However As a structure which does not provide the water level sensor S10 Also good. For example, when the bathtub water circulation pump P1 is activated and the water flow switch 41 detects a water flow, the total amount of hot water that has been supplied to the bathtub 10 in the automatic hot water operation is obtained, and the total amount is the current bath water. The quantity L may be estimated.

  Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in the other embodiments as long as no contradiction arises. The embodiment disclosed in this specification is an exemplification, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. The embodiment can be appropriately modified without departing from the object of the present invention.

  As described above, since the chasing interval time in the heat retaining operation can be optimized, it can be effectively used as a bath device with high energy efficiency.

10: Bathtub 100: Bath apparatus C: Operation control unit C1: Reheating circuit (heat medium circulation circuit)
EX3: Main heat exchanger (first heat exchanger)
EX4: Sub heat exchanger (first heat exchanger)
EX5: Reheating heat exchanger (second heat exchanger)
g2: Heating medium heating burner (combustion heating device)
L7: Bathtub return path (tub water circulation circuit)
L8: Bathtub going way (tub water circulation circuit)
M1: reheating processing means M6: heat insulation operation means M7: reheating interval time changing means P1: bathtub water circulation pump (tub water circulation means)
P2: Heat medium circulation pump (heat medium circulation means)
S2: Bathtub return thermistor (detection means)

Claims (8)

Combustion type heating device for heating medium heating, a heat medium circulation circuit having a first heat exchanger that heats the heat medium by combustion of the combustion type heating device, a bathtub water circulation circuit in which bathtub water in the bathtub is circulated, and In the bath apparatus comprising a second heat exchanger that heats the bathtub water by exchanging heat between the heating medium flowing through the heating medium circulation circuit and the bathtub water flowing through the bathtub water circulation circuit,
A heating medium circulating means for circulating the heating medium in the heating medium circulation circuit;
Bathtub water circulation means for circulating the bathtub water to the bathtub water circulation circuit;
When a reheating process command is received, reheating process means for performing a reheating process for operating the combustion heating device, the heat medium circulating means, and the bathtub water circulating means to heat the bathtub water to a set temperature; ,
By sending the follow-up process command to the follow-up processing means when the follow-up interval time has elapsed since the end of the follow-up process, the temperature of the bath water is set to the hot water temperature from the set temperature and the set temperature. Thermal insulation operation means to keep between the lower limit temperature that is lower by the lowering limit width;
Although the temperature of the bath water is reduced to the lower limit temperature based on the hot water temperature decrease rate, which is the rate of decrease in the temperature of the bath water during the elapse of the reheating interval time from the end of the previous reheating process. A bath apparatus provided with a chasing interval time changing means for calculating a descending time required and changing the chasing interval time from the descending time or the descending time to a time changed by an adjustment time width.   It has a detecting means for detecting a bath outlet temperature which is a temperature of the bath water returning from the inside of the bathtub to the second heat exchanger, and the reheating interval time changing means is configured to start the reheating process at the set temperature and the current reheating process. The amount of decrease in hot water temperature obtained from the difference from the bath temperature detected by the detection means is sometimes divided by the reheating interval time, which is the time interval between the previous reheating process and the current reheating process. The bath apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a hot water temperature decrease rate is obtained, and the descending time is calculated by dividing the hot water temperature decrease limit width by the hot water temperature decrease rate.   The reheating processing means operates the bath water circulation means when receiving the reheating processing command, and after the measurement of the bath outlet temperature by the detection means is completed, the combustion heating device and the heating medium circulation means The bath apparatus according to claim 2 which operates.   The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chasing interval time changing unit changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by adding an adjustment time width to the descending time.   The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chasing interval time changing unit changes the chasing interval time to a time obtained by subtracting an adjustment time width from the descending time.   The reheating processing means includes a first reheating process that heats the heat medium to a predetermined first heat medium temperature to retreat the bath water, and a longest additional time that is longer than the time required for the first reheating process. A second heating process for determining a second heating medium temperature at which the heating process is completed in a time shorter than or equal to the burning time, and heating the heating medium to the second heating medium temperature to track the bath water; The bath apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is selectively performed.   The second heating medium temperature at which the tracking process is completed in a second tracking time that is longer than the time required for the first tracking process and equal to or shorter than the longest tracking time. The second heating medium temperature is determined based on the hourly input heat amount obtained by dividing the required input heat amount required for heating the bath water to the completion temperature by dividing by the second additional time. The bath apparatus according to claim 6.   The reheating processing means calculates a time required for the reheating process when the heat medium is heated to a third heat medium temperature lower than the first heat medium temperature and the bath water is reheated, and the time is When it is the same as or shorter than the longest chasing time, the third heat medium temperature is determined as the second heat medium temperature and the second chasing process is performed, and when the time is longer than the longest chasing time, The bath apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the heat medium that completes the chasing process in the longest chasing time is determined as the second heating medium temperature, and the second chasing process is performed.

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