JP2017198424A - Thermal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of preventing freezing of a heat medium even during motion in a power suppression operation, in a thermal apparatus including a heat pump heat source.SOLUTION: A thermal apparatus includes a heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source, and a tank unit including a tank, and has a normal operation and a power suppression operation. The thermal apparatus has a first heater for heating a heat medium in the tank unit while consuming electric power. A control device is constituted to execute a first anti-freezing operation and a heating operation. The control device suppresses consumption power usable in the heating operation to a first suppressed power in the power suppression operation. The control device changes the consumption power usable in the heating operation to the consumption power obtained by subtracting a first suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power before executing the first anti-freezing operation when the first anti-freezing operation is to be executed during heating operation in the power suppression operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a thermal apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a burner for heating a heat medium, a hot water supply passage through which the heat medium heated by the burner flows, a heater for preventing freezing of the heat medium in the hot water supply passage, and a liquid fuel supplied to the burner. And a control device that adjusts the supply amount of heat. The control device is configured to be capable of antifreezing operation in which the heater is heated to heat the heat medium in the hot water supply passage. The thermal device of Patent Document 1 has a normal operation in which the power supply source is a commercial power supply and a power suppression operation in which the power supply source is a secondary battery. During the power suppression operation, it is necessary to operate the thermal device at a suppression power lower than the maximum power that can be used during normal operation. The thermal device of Patent Literature 1 suppresses the power consumption of the thermal device during the power suppression operation by prohibiting the freeze prevention operation during the power suppression operation.

JP2013-88060A

  As a means for heating the heat medium, there is a thermal apparatus including a heat pump heat source that consumes electric power and heats the heat medium. In such a thermal device, as compared with a thermal device that heats the heat medium with a burner as in Patent Document 1, the electric power required to heat the heat medium becomes larger. It is preferable that such a thermal device also includes a power suppression operation that consumes less power than the normal operation, and can operate in the power suppression operation as necessary, as in the thermal device of Patent Document 1.

  In the power suppression operation of Patent Document 1, the power consumption of the thermal device during the power suppression operation is suppressed by prohibiting the freeze prevention operation. However, if the freeze prevention operation is completely prohibited, the heat medium in the hot water supply channel may freeze during the power suppression operation. When the heating medium in the hot water supply channel freezes, the heating medium cannot flow in the hot water supply channel until the frozen heating medium melts. In such a thermal apparatus, a technology that is compatible with both heat storage in the tank and prevention of freezing of the heat medium while operating in power suppression operation is expected.

  The present specification proposes a technique capable of preventing the heat medium from freezing even in a thermal apparatus equipped with a heat pump heat source while operating in a power suppression operation.

  The thermal device disclosed in this specification includes a heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source that consumes electric power to heat the heat medium, and a tank unit including a tank that stores the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source. In addition, it has a normal operation and a power suppression operation that operates at a suppression power lower than the maximum power consumption during the normal operation. The thermal device is provided in the tank unit and has a first heater that consumes electric power and heats the heat medium in the tank unit. The control device is configured to be capable of performing a first freeze prevention operation for driving the first heater and a heating operation for driving the heat pump heat source and storing the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source in the tank. The control device suppresses the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation to the first suppression power during the power suppression operation. When the first anti-freezing operation is to be performed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the control device reduces the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation before performing the first anti-freezing operation. The power is obtained by subtracting the first suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power.

  During the power suppression operation, the power consumption of the thermal equipment must be kept below the suppression power. In this case, the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation during the power suppression operation is normally suppressed to the first suppression power. The power consumption that can be used for the heating operation is an instruction power when the control device causes the heating operation to be performed, and the power consumption that is actually used during the heating operation (hereinafter referred to as actual power consumption). Control is performed to follow the command power.

  However, even if the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation is suppressed to the first suppression power during the power suppression operation, if the heating operation and the first anti-freezing operation are performed simultaneously, the power consumption of the thermal device is suppressed. May exceed power. For this reason, during the power suppression operation, when the first freeze prevention operation is to be executed during the heating operation, the control device changes the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation from the first suppression power to the first. The power consumption is changed to the power consumption obtained by subtracting the suppression subtraction power (hereinafter referred to as “changed power consumption”). Thereby, when the heating operation and the first anti-freezing operation are executed at the same time, it is possible to prevent the power consumption of the thermal device from becoming larger than the suppression power.

  However, when the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation is changed from the first suppression power to the changed power consumption, it takes some time for the actual power consumption to follow the changed power consumption. For this reason, if the 1st freeze prevention operation is performed at the timing which changes the power consumption which can be used for heating operation, the power consumption of a thermal apparatus may exceed suppression power. According to the above configuration, the control device is in the power suppression operation and, while performing the heating operation, the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation is changed before the first freeze prevention operation is performed. Change to power consumption. In this case, the first anti-freezing operation is performed after the actual power consumption follows the changed power consumption. For this reason, during the power suppression operation, the power consumption of the thermal device can be prevented from becoming larger than the suppression power when the first freeze prevention operation is to be executed during the heating operation. As a result, the heating operation and the freeze prevention operation can be performed simultaneously during the power suppression operation.

The figure which shows typically the structure of the hot water supply system which concerns on an Example. The table which shows the period of the 1st heater in the 1st anti-freezing operation, and the period of the 2nd heater in the 2nd anti-freezing operation. The figure which shows the power consumption which can be used for a heating driving | operation during electric power suppression driving | operation. The figure which shows typically operation | movement of the hot water supply system when switching a some 1st heater from a non-drive to a drive during execution of heating operation during electric power suppression operation. The figure which shows typically operation | movement of the hot-water supply system in the case of performing anti-freezing operation during execution of heating operation during electric power suppression operation. The figure which shows typically operation | movement of the hot-water supply system in the case of performing anti-freezing operation during execution of heating operation in electric power suppression operation in a modification.

  The main features of the embodiments described below are listed. The technical elements described below are independent technical elements and exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Absent.

(Feature 1) The heat equipment is provided in the auxiliary heat source unit including an auxiliary heat source that heats the heat medium by combustion of fuel, and the auxiliary heat source unit, and consumes electric power to heat the heat medium in the auxiliary heat source unit. And a second heater. The control device may be configured to be able to execute a second anti-freezing operation for driving the second heater. When the second anti-freezing operation is to be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the control device reduces the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation before executing the second anti-freezing operation. The power consumption may be changed by subtracting the second suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power. The control device executes the second anti-freezing operation or the first anti-freezing operation while executing the heating operation during the power suppression operation and executing the first anti-freezing operation or the second anti-freezing operation. In the case where the second anti-freezing operation or the first anti-freezing operation is to be performed, the power consumption usable for the heating operation is subtracted from the first suppression power and the first suppression subtraction power and the second suppression subtraction power. The power consumption may be changed. In this case, the control device performs the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation when the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation are to be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation. The start timing of the first anti-freezing operation and the start timing of the second anti-freezing operation may be adjusted so as to be started at different timings.

  When the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation are started at the same timing, the amount of increase in power consumption used in the anti-freezing operation becomes large. If the amount of increase in power consumption is large, the power consumption that can be used for heating operation will be drastically reduced, the actual power consumption cannot follow, and the power consumption of the thermal equipment may exceed the suppression power. Get higher. According to the above configuration, the drive start timing of the first heater and the drive start timing of the second heater are different during the power suppression operation. Thereby, the increase amount of the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 can be made small. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the power consumption of the thermal device exceeds the suppression power during the power suppression operation.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply system 2 according to this embodiment includes an HP (heat pump) unit 4, a tank unit 6, and a burner unit 8.

  The HP unit 4 is a heat source that absorbs heat from outside air and heats water. The HP unit 4 includes a compressor 10, a condenser 12, an expansion valve 14, and an evaporator 16. The HP unit 4 circulates a refrigerant (for example, a fluorocarbon refrigerant) in the order of the compressor 10, the condenser 12, the expansion valve 14, and the evaporator 16, thereby absorbing heat from outside air and heating water. The compressor 10 pressurizes the refrigerant to a high temperature and a high pressure. The condenser 12 cools the refrigerant by exchanging heat with water. An HP forward path 19 and an HP return path 21 are connected to both ends of the water flow path of the condenser 12, respectively. The expansion valve 14 depressurizes the refrigerant to low temperature and low pressure. The evaporator 16 heats the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the outside air. The HP unit 4 further includes a circulation pump 18 that circulates water through the condenser 12, a return thermistor 20 that detects the temperature of water flowing into the condenser 12, and a forward thermistor 22 that detects the temperature of water flowing out of the condenser 12. , An HP controller 24 for controlling the operation of each component of the HP unit 4 is provided.

  The tank unit 6 includes a tank 30, a mixing valve 32, a bypass control valve 34, and a tank outside air temperature thermistor 39 that detects the outside air temperature TO. The tank 30 is a sealed container that is covered with a heat insulating material and stores water therein. The capacity of the tank 30 of this embodiment is, for example, 100 liters. When the circulation pump 18 of the HP unit 4 is driven, the water at the bottom of the tank 30 is sent to the condenser 12 via the tank going path 31 and the HP going path 19. The water heated by the condenser 12 and heated to a high temperature is returned from the top of the tank 30 into the tank 30 via the HP return path 21 and the tank return path 33. A first heater 35 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the tank going-out path 31 and the tank returning path 33 is attached to the tank going-out path 31 and the tank returning path 33. When the water heated by the HP unit 4 flows into the tank 30, a temperature stratification is formed in the tank 30 in which a high-temperature water layer is stacked on a low-temperature water layer. An upper thermistor 36 that detects the temperature of the upper water, an intermediate thermistor 37 that detects the temperature of the intermediate water, and a lower thermistor 38 that detects the temperature of the lower water are attached to the tank 30. In this embodiment, the upper thermistor 36 is disposed at a position 6 liters from the top of the tank 30, the intermediate thermistor 37 is disposed at a position 12 liters from the top of the tank 30, and the lower thermistor 38 is disposed at the tank 30. 30 liters from the top of the. The state in which the tank 30 is filled with water heated by the HP unit is referred to as a “full storage state”.

  Tap water is supplied to the tank unit 6 through the water supply path 40. A pressure reducing valve 42 for reducing the water supply pressure, a water inlet thermistor 44 for detecting the water supply temperature, and a first heater 35 for consuming electric power and heating the water in the water supply passage 40 are attached to the water supply passage 40. The water supply path 40 branches into a tank water supply path 46 that communicates with the bottom of the tank 30 and a tank bypass path 48 that communicates with the mixing valve 32. Check valves 50 and 52 are attached to the tank water supply path 46 and the tank bypass path 48, respectively. In addition, a first heater 35 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the tank water supply path 46 is attached to the tank water supply path 46. In addition, a water-side water amount sensor 54 that detects the flow rate of tap water flowing into the mixing valve 32 and a first heater 35 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the tank bypass passage 48 are attached to the tank bypass passage 48. It has been. The top of the tank 30 and the mixing valve 32 communicate with each other via a tank hot water path 56. In the tank hot water path 56, a check valve 58, a first heater 35 that consumes electric power to heat the water in the tank hot water path 56, and a flow rate of water from the tank 30 that flows into the mixing valve 32 are detected. A hot water sensor 60 is attached.

  The mixing valve 32 mixes the tap water flowing from the tank bypass passage 48 and the water from the tank 30 flowing from the tank discharge passage 56 and sends it out to the first hot water supply passage 62. The mixing valve 32 is driven by a stepping motor to adjust the opening degree on the tank bypass path 48 side (opening side on the water side) and the opening degree on the tank discharge path 56 side (opening side on the hot water side). A mixing thermistor 64 that detects the temperature of the water fed from the mixing valve 32 is attached to the first hot water supply path 62. Further, in the first hot water supply path 62, the first hot water supply path 62 and the downstream side of the hot water supply bypass path 72 are connected to the first and second hot water supply paths 62 to consume water and heat the water in the first hot water supply path 62. A heater 35 is attached.

  Hot water is supplied from the tank unit 6 to hot water supply points such as a kitchen, a shower, and a currant through the second hot water supply path 66. A hot water supply outlet thermistor 68 that detects the temperature of water supplied to the hot water supply location and a check valve 70 are attached to the second hot water supply path 66. Further, in the second hot water supply path 66, the first hot water is consumed in the upstream and downstream sides of the connecting portion of the second hot water supply path 66 and the hot water supply bypass path 72 to heat the water in the second hot water supply path 66. A heater 35 is attached. The first hot water supply path 62 and the second hot water supply path 66 communicate with each other through a hot water supply bypass path 72. The hot water supply bypass path 72 is provided with a bypass control valve 34 and a first heater 35 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the hot water supply bypass path 72.

  The tank unit 6 further includes a tank controller 74. The tank controller 74 controls the operation of each component of the tank unit 6. The tank controller 74 includes a nonvolatile memory 75. The non-volatile memory 75 stores a periodic table 122 (FIG. 2) that is used when a freeze prevention operation described later is executed. The period table 122 will be described in detail later.

  The burner unit 8 includes a burner 80, a heat exchanger 82, a bypass servo 84, a water amount servo 86, and a hot water valve 88. The burner 80 is an auxiliary heat source machine that heats water flowing through the heat exchanger 82 by combustion of fuel gas. Fuel gas is supplied to the burner 80 via a gas supply pipe 81. Water from the first hot water supply path 62 of the tank unit 6 flows into the heat exchanger 82 via the burner forward path 90. The water that has passed through the heat exchanger 82 flows out to the second hot water supply path 66 of the tank unit 6 through the burner return path 92. The burner forward path 90 includes a second heater 83 that consumes electric power to heat the water in the burner forward path 90, a water amount servo 86 that adjusts the flow rate of water flowing through the burner forward path 90, and the flow rate of water flowing through the burner forward path 90. A water amount sensor 91 is attached to detect this. The burner forward path 90 and the burner return path 92 communicate with each other via a burner bypass path 94. A second heater 83 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the burner bypass path 94 is attached to the burner bypass path 94. A bypass servo 84 is attached to a connection portion between the burner forward path 90 and the burner bypass path 94. The bypass servo 84 adjusts the flow rate of water flowing from the burner forward path 90 to the burner bypass path 94. A burner hot water thermistor 96 that detects the temperature of water flowing out from the heat exchanger 82 is attached to the burner return path 92. A hot water path 98 branches off from the burner return path 92. In the burner return path 92, a second heater 83 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the burner return path 92 is attached to the downstream side of the branch portion of the hot water path 98. In addition, a hot water valve 88 and a second heater 83 that consumes electric power and heats the water in the hot water path 98 are attached to the hot water path 98. Hot water is poured from the burner unit 8 to the bathtub, which is a hot water supply location, via the hot water path 98.

  The burner unit 8 further includes a burner controller 100 that controls the operation of each component of the burner unit 8 and a remote controller 76. The remote controller 76 can communicate with the burner controller 100. The remote controller 76 can communicate with the tank controller 74 via the burner controller 100. The remote control 76 accepts various operation inputs from the user via switches, buttons, and the like. In addition, the remote controller 76 notifies the user of various types of information related to the settings and operations of the hot water supply system 2 by display and sound.

  Electric power is supplied from the power supply unit 9 to the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6, and the burner unit 8 of the hot water supply system 2. The power supply unit 9 includes a distribution board 102, a storage battery 104, and a switch 106. The distribution board 102 is connected to a commercial power source 108, and distributes and supplies power supplied from the commercial power source 108 to the switch 106 and the storage battery 104. The storage battery 104 is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. The storage battery 104 can charge the power supplied from the commercial power supply 108 via the distribution board 102, and can discharge the charged power to the switch 106. The storage battery 104 has a built-in protection circuit (not shown), and discharge to the switch 106 is cut off when the electric power to be discharged is equal to or higher than the upper limit discharge electric power (for example, 720 W). The switch 106 supplies power supplied from the commercial power source 108 via the distribution board 102 to the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6 and the burner unit 8, and supplies power supplied from the storage battery 104 to the HP unit 4, The state is switched between the states supplied to the tank unit 6 and the burner unit 8. In a situation where the power supply from the commercial power source 108 is normally performed, the switch 106 supplies the power supplied from the commercial power source 108 via the distribution board 102 to the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6, and the burner unit 8. Supply. In a situation where the power supply from the commercial power supply 108 is not normally performed, the switch 106 supplies the power supplied from the storage battery 104 to the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6 and the burner unit 8. Hereinafter, a state where the power supply source is the commercial power supply 108 is referred to as “normal operation”, and a state where the power supply source is the storage battery 104 is referred to as “power suppression operation”. During the power suppression operation, the hot water supply system 2 operates at a suppression power WS (for example, 700 W) or less that is lower than the maximum power consumption during normal operation.

  The HP controller 24 and the tank controller 74 can communicate with each other. The tank controller 74 and the burner controller 100 can communicate with each other. Therefore, the HP controller 24, the tank controller 74, and the burner controller 100 perform control in cooperation, whereby the hot water supply system 2 can perform various operations such as an antifreezing operation, a heating operation, and a hot water supply operation. Hereinafter, the HP controller 24, the tank controller 74, and the burner controller 100 are collectively referred to simply as a controller.

  Next, the operation of the hot water supply system 2 will be described. The hot water supply system 2 can perform a freeze prevention operation, a heating operation, and a hot water supply operation.

(Anti-freezing operation)
When a long time elapses without performing heating operation or hot water supply operation in a state where the outside air temperature is low, water in each path may stay and the water may freeze inside these pipes. If the water freezes, the heating operation and the hot water supply operation cannot be performed until the frozen water is melted. For this reason, the hot water supply system 2 of a present Example performs antifreezing operation so that the water in each path | route may not freeze. The freeze prevention operation includes a first freeze prevention operation executed by the tank controller 74 and a second freeze prevention operation executed by the burner controller 100 based on an instruction from the tank controller 74.

  Before describing the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation, the periodic table 122 used in each anti-freezing operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the periodic table 122 includes an outside air temperature region 124, a first heater region 126, and a second heater region 128. The outside air temperature region 124 is divided for each outside air temperature TO.

  The first heater region 126 stores the first period of the plurality of first heaters 35 during the first freeze prevention operation. Specifically, the driving time of the plurality of first heaters 35 (hereinafter referred to as first driving time) and the non-driving time of the plurality of first heaters 35 (hereinafter referred to as first non-driving time) are: It is remembered. The first drive time and the first non-drive time are divided according to the outside air temperature in the outside air temperature region 124. For this reason, the first driving time and the first non-driving time are changed according to the outside air temperature TO.

  The second heater region 128 stores the second period of the plurality of second heaters 83 during the second freeze prevention operation. Specifically, the driving time of the plurality of second heaters 83 (hereinafter referred to as second driving time) and the non-driving time of the plurality of second heaters 83 (hereinafter referred to as second non-driving time) are: It is remembered. The second drive time and the second non-drive time are divided according to the outside air temperature in the outside air temperature region 124. For this reason, the second driving time and the second non-driving time are changed according to the outside air temperature TO.

  The first freeze prevention operation will be described. The tank controller 74 performs the first anti-freezing operation when the outside air temperature TO detected by the tank outside air temperature thermistor 39 is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 7 ° C.). In the first antifreezing operation, the tank controller 74 switches driving / non-driving of the plurality of first heaters 35 in accordance with the outside air temperature TO and the first cycle stored in the first heater region 126 of the cycle table 122. Specifically, the tank controller 74 drives the plurality of first heaters 35 to heat the flow path through which water flows in the tank unit 6, thereby preventing water from freezing inside these pipes. Hereinafter, in the first freeze prevention operation, the case where the plurality of first heaters 35 are driven is referred to as “first drive operation”, and the case where the plurality of first heaters 35 are not driven (not driven) is referred to as “first drive operation”. This is called “1 non-driving operation”. In the first freeze prevention operation, the tank controller 74 first executes the first non-drive operation and then executes the first drive operation. For example, when the outside air temperature is 5 ° C., the tank controller 74 repeats the operation of stopping the plurality of first heaters 35 for 110 minutes and then driving them for 10 minutes.

  Next, the second freeze prevention operation will be described. The tank controller 74 instructs the burner controller 100 to execute the second antifreezing operation when the outside air temperature TO is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 7 ° C.). Specifically, the tank controller 74 instructs the burner controller 100 to drive the plurality of second heaters 83 based on the outside air temperature TO and the second period stored in the second heater area 128 of the period table 122. Switch the non-drive instruction. When the burner controller 100 receives the drive instruction, the burner controller 100 drives the plurality of second heaters 83 to heat the flow path through which water flows in the burner unit 8, thereby preventing the water from freezing inside these pipes. To do. Also, the burner controller 100 stops driving the plurality of second heaters 83 when receiving a non-drive instruction. In the second freeze prevention operation, the tank controller 74 first transmits a non-drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 and then transmits a drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83. For example, when the outside air temperature is 5 ° C., the burner controller 100 repeats the operation of stopping the plurality of second heaters 83 for 109 minutes and then driving them for 11 minutes. Hereinafter, in the second freeze prevention operation, the case where the plurality of second heaters 83 are driven is referred to as “second drive operation”, and the case where the plurality of second heaters 83 are not driven (non-drive) is referred to as “second drive”. This is called “2 non-driving operation”.

(Heating operation)
In the heating operation, the hot water supply system 2 drives the HP unit 4 to heat the water in the tank 30. When the heating operation is started, the HP controller 24 drives the compressor 10 to circulate the refrigerant in the order of the compressor 10, the condenser 12, the expansion valve 14, and the evaporator 16, and drives the circulation pump 18. Then, water is circulated between the tank 30 and the condenser 12. As a result, the water sucked from the bottom of the tank 30 is heated to the boiling temperature in the condenser 12 and returned to the top of the tank 30. When the predetermined amount of water in the tank 30 is replaced with water heated to the boiling temperature, the HP controller 24 ends the heating operation. The heating operation may be executed based on a preset start timing or may be executed based on a user instruction input to the remote controller 76. The preset start timing is, for example, a time period in which cheap midnight power can be used.

  Next, power consumption (hereinafter referred to as instruction power WI) that can be used for the heating operation during the power suppression operation will be described with reference to FIG. The command power WI is calculated by the tank controller 74. The tank controller 74 transmits the calculated instruction power WI to the HP controller 24. The HP controller 24 controls the operation of each component of the HP unit 4 so that the actual power consumption (hereinafter referred to as “HP power consumption”) used for the heating operation follows the received command power WI. To do.

  As described above, during the power suppression operation, the hot water supply system 2 operates below the suppression power WS. For this reason, during the power suppression operation, the command power WI is normally suppressed to the first suppression power WS1 ((a) in FIG. 3). However, if the freeze prevention operation (specifically, the first drive operation and / or the second drive operation) is executed in a state where the command power WI is suppressed to the first suppression power WS1, consumption of the hot water supply system 2 is performed. There is a possibility that the power exceeds the suppression power WS. For this reason, in the power suppression operation, when the freeze prevention operation is to be performed during the heating operation, the command power WI is further suppressed. For example, when the first freeze prevention operation is to be performed while the heating operation is being performed, the command power WI is suppressed to the second suppression power WS2 obtained by subtracting the first suppression subtraction power WD1 from the first suppression power WS1 (FIG. 3 (b)). In addition, when the second antifreezing operation is to be performed during the heating operation, the command power WI is suppressed to the third suppression power WS3 obtained by subtracting the second suppression subtraction power WD2 from the first suppression power WS1 (FIG. (C) of 3). In addition, when the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation are to be performed during the heating operation, the command power WI is obtained by changing the first suppression subtraction power WD1 and the second suppression subtraction power WD2 from the first suppression power WS1. The subtracted fourth suppression power WS4 is suppressed ((d) in FIG. 3). The first suppression subtraction power WD1 is the power consumption when driving the plurality of first heaters 35, and the second suppression subtraction power WD2 is the power consumption when driving the plurality of second heaters 83. Thereby, in the power suppression operation, when the freeze prevention operation is to be performed during the heating operation, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 from exceeding the suppression power WS.

  In this embodiment, the tank controller 74 controls the first antifreeze operation and the second antifreeze operation in a coordinated manner. Specifically, during the power suppression operation, the tank controller 74 performs control so that the first drive operation and the second drive operation are not started simultaneously. When the first drive operation and the second drive operation are started at the same time, the amount of increase in power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 is increased. If the amount of increase in the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 is large, the command power WI will be rapidly reduced, the HP power consumption cannot follow, and the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 may exceed the suppression power WS Becomes higher. For this reason, the tank controller 74 makes the start timings of the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation, specifically, the start timings of the first non-driving operation and the second non-driving operation the same. As shown in the period table 122 of FIG. 2, different times are set for the first non-driving operation time and the second non-driving operation time. For this reason, by starting the first non-driving operation and the second non-driving operation at the same time, the first driving operation and the second driving operation can be started at different timings. Thereby, the increase amount of the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 can be made small, and possibility that the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 will exceed the suppression power WS can be reduced.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a change with time of the command power WI when the heating operation and the first freeze prevention operation are performed during the power suppression operation will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, and the scales of the power axis and the time axis are different from the actual scales. As described above, when the plurality of first heaters 35 are switched from the first non-drive operation to the first drive operation during the power suppression operation, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI from the first suppression power WS1 to the second control power WS1. The control power is changed to the suppression power WS2, and the second suppression power WS2 is transmitted to the HP controller 24 as the instruction power WI. As shown in FIG. 4, it takes a certain amount of time for the HP power consumption to follow the second suppression power WS2 after changing the command power WI to the second suppression power WS2. For this reason, when the switching from the first non-drive operation to the first drive operation of the plurality of first heaters 35 and the change from the first suppression power WS1 to the second suppression power WS2 are performed simultaneously, the hot water supply system The power consumption of 2 may exceed the suppression power WS. In order to avoid such a situation, the tank controller 74 instructs at a time a1 that is a first predetermined time x1 before the time a2 at which the plurality of first heaters 35 are switched from the first non-driving operation to the first driving operation. The power WI is changed from the first suppression power WS1 to the second suppression power WS2. The first predetermined time x1 is a time sufficient for the HP unit 4 to reduce the HP power consumption by the amount of the first suppression subtraction power WD1. Thereby, the HP unit 4 can make HP power consumption track the 2nd suppression electric power WS2 before the time a2. As a result, when the plurality of first heaters 35 are switched from the first non-driving operation to the first driving operation, it is possible to prevent the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 from exceeding the suppression power WS. Further, at time a3, the tank controller 74 simultaneously performs switching from the first driving operation to the first non-driving operation of the plurality of first heaters 35 and the change of the command power WI to the first suppression power WS1. . In addition, when the heating operation and the second antifreezing operation are performed during the power suppression operation, the tank controller 74 determines the time at which the plurality of second heaters 83 should be switched from the second non-driving operation to the second driving operation. Also, the command power WI is changed to the third suppression power WS3 at a time before the second predetermined time x2.

(Hot water operation)
In the hot water supply operation, water at a hot water supply set temperature is supplied to the hot water supply location. When the flow rate detected by the water-side water amount sensor 54 and the flow rate detected by the hot water-side water amount sensor 60 (referred to as a hot water supply flow rate) is equal to or greater than the minimum operating flow rate (for example, 2.4 L / min). It is determined that the hot water supply has been started by opening the hot water supply location or hot water to the bathtub. Then, the controller executes the following non-combustion hot water supply operation or combustion hot water supply operation in accordance with the temperature detected by the upper thermistor 36.

  When the temperature detected by the upper thermistor 36 is equal to or higher than the hot water supply set temperature, the controller performs a non-combustion hot water supply operation. In the non-combustion hot water supply operation, the controller prohibits the combustion operation of the burner 80 and adjusts the opening of the mixing valve 32 so that the temperature detected by the mixing thermistor 64 becomes the hot water supply set temperature. Thus, water whose temperature is adjusted to the hot water supply set temperature is supplied to the hot water supply location.

  When the temperature detected by the upper thermistor 36 is lower than the hot water supply set temperature, the controller executes the combustion hot water supply operation. In the combustion hot water supply operation, the controller permits the burner 80 to perform the combustion operation, and mixes so that the temperature detected by the mixing thermistor 64 is lower than the hot water supply set temperature by the minimum heating capacity of the burner 80. The opening degree of the valve 32 is adjusted. In this case, the high temperature water supplied from the upper part of the tank 30 and the low temperature water supplied from the water supply path 40 are mixed in the mixing valve 32 and then heated to the hot water supply set temperature by the burner 80, so Supplied to.

  If the hot water flow rate falls below the minimum operating flow rate during the non-combustion hot water supply operation or combustion hot water supply operation described above, the controller determines that the hot water supply has been terminated due to the closure of the hot water supply location or the end of hot water to the bathtub. To end the hot water supply operation.

  Next, the case where the freeze prevention operation should be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram, and the scales of the power axis and the time axis are different from the actual scales.

  As described above, during the power suppression operation, the power consumption that can be used by the hot water supply system 2 is suppressed to the suppression power WS, and the command power WI of the heating operation is suppressed to the first suppression power WS1. When it is determined at time t1 that the outside air temperature TO is lower than the predetermined temperature, the tank controller 74 starts the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation. In this case, the tank controller 74 sets the plurality of first heaters 35 to the first non-drive operation, and transmits a non-drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 to the burner controller 100. Thereby, the burner controller 100 sets the plurality of second heaters 83 to the second non-driving operation.

  Next, when time t2 arrives, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the third suppression power WS3 obtained by subtracting the second suppression subtraction power WD2 from the first suppression power WS1, and the changed command power WI is as follows: The third suppression power WS3 is transmitted to the HP controller 24. Next, the HP unit 4 causes the HP power consumption to follow the third suppression power WS3. Time t2 is a time that is a second predetermined time x2 before time t3 when the plurality of second heaters 83 should be switched from the second non-driving operation to the second driving operation. Thereby, the HP unit 4 can make the HP power consumption follow the third suppression power WS3 before the time t3 arrives.

  Next, when time t <b> 3 arrives, the tank controller 74 transmits a drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 to the burner controller 100. Thereby, the burner controller 100 sets the plurality of second heaters 83 to the second drive operation. The HP power consumption follows the third suppression power WS3 before time t3. For this reason, even if the plurality of second heaters 83 are switched to the second drive operation at time t3, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 does not exceed the suppression power WS.

  Next, when time t4 arrives, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the fourth suppression power WS4 obtained by subtracting the first suppression subtraction power WD1 and the second suppression subtraction power WD2 from the first suppression power WS1, and after the change The fourth suppression power WS4 is transmitted to the HP controller 24 as the command power WI. Next, the HP controller 24 causes the HP power consumption to follow the fourth suppression power WS4. Time t4 is a time that is a first predetermined time x1 before time t5 when the plurality of first heaters 35 should be switched from the first non-driving operation to the first driving operation. At time t4, the HP power consumption follows the third suppression power WS3 obtained by subtracting the second suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power. For this reason, the HP unit 4 may reduce the HP power consumption by the amount of the first suppression subtraction power WD1. Accordingly, the HP unit 4 can cause the HP power consumption to follow the fourth suppression power WS4 before the time t5 arrives.

  Next, when the time t5 comes, the tank controller 74 sets the plurality of first heaters 35 to the first drive operation. The HP power consumption follows the fourth suppression power WS4 before time t5. For this reason, even if the plurality of first heaters 35 are switched to the first drive operation at time t5, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 does not exceed the suppression power WS.

  Next, when the time t <b> 6 arrives, the tank controller 74 transmits a non-drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 to the burner controller 100. Thereby, the burner controller 100 sets the plurality of second heaters 83 to the second non-driving operation. The tank controller 74 sets the plurality of first heaters 35 to the first non-drive operation. Further, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the first suppression power WS1, and transmits the first suppression power WS1 to the HP controller 24 as the command power WI after the change. Next, the HP unit 4 causes the HP power consumption to follow the first suppression power WS1.

  In the above embodiment, the first drive operation is started after the second drive operation is started. However, in the periodic table 122, the non-driving time of the first heater region 126 is set to be shorter than the non-driving time of the second heater region 128, and after the first driving operation is started, the second driving operation is started. May be. In this case, when the freeze prevention operation is to be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the tank is set to the first predetermined time x1 before the time at which the plurality of first heaters 35 should be switched to the first drive operation. The controller 74 changes the command power WI to a second suppression power WS2 obtained by subtracting the first suppression subtraction power WD1 from the first suppression power WS1. Next, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI from the first suppression power WS1 to the first suppression subtraction power WD1 and the second predetermined time x2 before the time at which the plurality of second heaters 83 should be switched to the second drive operation. It changes to 4th suppression electric power WS4 which subtracted 2nd suppression subtraction electric power WD2.

  During the power suppression operation, the command power WI is normally suppressed to the first suppression power WS1. However, if the heating operation and the first anti-freezing operation (specifically, the first drive operation) are performed simultaneously in a state where the command power WI is suppressed to the first suppression power WS1, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 Exceeds the suppression power WS. Therefore, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI from the first suppression power WS1 to the first suppression subtraction power WD1 when the first freeze prevention operation is to be performed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation. Is subtracted from the second suppression power WS2. As a result, the heating operation and the first driving operation can be executed simultaneously. However, it takes a certain amount of time for the HP power consumption to follow the second suppression power WS2. If the first driving operation is started before the HP power consumption follows the second suppression power WS2, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 exceeds the suppression power WS. According to the above configuration, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI before the first predetermined time x1 from the time when the first drive operation is started. Thereby, HP power consumption can be made to follow 2nd suppression electric power WS2 before the time which starts a 1st drive driving | operation. Therefore, during the power suppression operation, when the first drive operation is performed during the heating operation, it is possible to prevent the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 from exceeding the suppression power WS. For this reason, during the power suppression operation, the first drive operation can be executed while the heating operation is being executed. As a result, during the power suppression operation, it is possible to prevent the water in each path to which the plurality of first heaters 35 are attached from freezing simultaneously with the execution of the heating operation.

  In the above embodiment, the start timing of the first drive operation is different from the start timing of the second drive operation. When the first drive operation and the second drive operation are started at the same time, the amount of increase in power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 is increased. If the amount of increase in power consumption is large, the command power WI will be sharply reduced, the HP power consumption cannot follow, and there is a high possibility that the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 will exceed the suppression power WS. Since the start timing of the first drive operation and the start timing of the second drive operation are different, the amount of increase in power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 when starting each drive operation can be reduced. Thereby, when performing the first freezing prevention operation and the second freezing prevention operation during the heating operation, the possibility that the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 exceeds the suppression power WS can be reduced.

  Here, the correspondence between the description of the embodiment and the description of the claims will be described. Water is an example of a “heating medium”. The hot water supply system 2 is an example of a “thermal device”. A heat pump cycle including the compressor 10, the condenser 12, the expansion valve 14, and the evaporator 16 is an example of the “heat pump heat source”. The burner unit 8 is an example of an “auxiliary heat source unit”. The burner 80 is an example of an “auxiliary heat source”. The first drive operation and the second drive operation are examples of “first freeze prevention operation” and “second freeze prevention operation”, respectively.

(Second embodiment)
Differences from the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, and the scales of the power axis and the time axis are different from the actual scales. Moreover, below, about the structure which is common between Examples, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the second embodiment, the timing for changing the command power WI is different from that in the first embodiment.

  When the time t2 ′ arrives, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the third suppression power WS3. Time t2 ′ is the time at which the second driving operation should be started according to the second period of the period table 122 of FIG. In the second embodiment, when the time t2 'for starting the second drive operation arrives, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the third suppression power WS3. On the other hand, the tank controller 74 does not transmit a drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 to the burner controller 100. Then, when the time t3 ′ after the elapse of the second predetermined time x2 comes from the time t2 ′, the tank controller 74 transmits a drive instruction for the plurality of second heaters 83 to the burner controller 100. Thereby, the burner controller 100 sets the plurality of second heaters 83 to the second drive operation. Since the HP power consumption follows the third suppression power WS3 before the time t3 ′, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 exceeds the suppression power even when the second drive operation is executed at the time t3 ′. Absent.

  Next, when time t4 'arrives, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the fourth suppression power WS4. Time t4 ′ is the time at which the first driving operation should be started according to the first period of the period table 122 of FIG. As in the case of the second drive operation, at time t4 ′, the tank controller 74 changes the command power WI to the fourth suppression power WS4. On the other hand, the tank controller 74 does not switch the plurality of first heaters 35 to the first drive operation. Then, when the time t5 ′ after the first predetermined time x1 has elapsed from the time t4 ′, the tank controller 74 sets the plurality of first heaters 35 to the first drive operation. Since the HP power consumption follows the fourth suppression power WS4 before the time t5 ′, the power consumption of the hot water supply system 2 exceeds the suppression power even when the first drive operation is executed at the time t5 ′. Absent.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the first drive operation and the second drive operation are executed, the command power WI is changed based on the first cycle and the second cycle of the cycle table 122 of FIG. The first drive operation and the second drive operation are executed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the command power WI was changed. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Each embodiment has been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

  In the above embodiment, the power suppression operation is performed when the power supply source is the storage battery 104. However, the power supply source may be the commercial power supply 108 and may be operated with suppressed power lower than the maximum power consumption during normal operation. For example, when a disaster occurs.

  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: HP unit 6: Tank unit 8: Burner unit 9: Electric power supply unit 10: Compressor 12: Condenser 14: Expansion valve 16: Evaporator 18: Circulation pump 19: HP forward path 20: Return thermistor 21: HP return path 22: Forward thermistor 24: HP controller 30: Tank 31: Tank forward path 32: Mixing valve 33: Tank return path 34: Bypass control valve 35: First heater 36: Upper thermistor 37: Middle thermistor 38 : Lower thermistor 39: Tank outside temperature temperature thermistor 40: Water supply path 42: Pressure reducing valve 44: Incoming water thermistor 46: Tank water supply path 48: Tank bypass path 50: Check valve 52: Check valve 54: Water side water amount sensor 56: Tank Hot water supply path 58: Check valve 60: Hot water side water amount sensor 62: First hot water supply Path 64: Mixed thermistor 66: Second hot water supply path 68: Hot water supply outlet thermistor 70: Check valve 72: Hot water supply bypass path 74: Tank controller 75: Non-volatile memory 76: Remote controller 80: Burner 81: Gas supply pipe 82: Heat exchange Unit 83: Second heater 84: Bypass servo 86: Water quantity servo 88: Hot water valve 90: Burner forward path 91: Water quantity sensor 92: Burner return path 94: Burner bypass path 96: Burner hot water supply thermistor 98: Hot water path 100: Burner controller 102: Distribution board 104: Storage battery 106: Switch 108: Commercial power supply

Claims (2)

A heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source that consumes electric power and heats the heat medium, and a tank unit including a tank that stores a heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source. A thermal device having a power suppression operation that operates below a suppression power lower than the power consumption,
A first heater which is provided in the tank unit and consumes electric power to heat the heat medium in the tank unit;
The control device is configured to be capable of performing a first freeze prevention operation for driving the first heater and a heating operation for driving the heat pump heat source and storing the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source in the tank,
The control device suppresses the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation to the first suppression power during the power suppression operation,
When the first anti-freezing operation is to be performed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the control device reduces the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation before performing the first anti-freezing operation. A thermal device that changes power consumption by subtracting first suppression subtraction power from first suppression power. An auxiliary heat source unit including an auxiliary heat source for heating the heat medium by combustion of fuel;
A second heater which is provided in the auxiliary heat source unit and consumes electric power to heat the heat medium in the auxiliary heat source unit;
The control device is configured to be capable of performing a second freeze prevention operation for driving the second heater,
When the second anti-freezing operation is to be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the control device reduces the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation before executing the second anti-freezing operation. Change to the power consumption obtained by subtracting the second suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power,
The control device performs the heating operation during the power suppression operation, and the second anti-freezing operation or the first anti-freezing operation should be executed in the first anti-freezing operation or the second anti-freezing operation. Before performing the second freeze prevention operation or the first freeze prevention operation, the power consumption that can be used for the heating operation is reduced to the power consumption obtained by subtracting the first suppression subtraction power and the second suppression subtraction power from the first suppression power. change,
When the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation are to be executed during the heating operation during the power suppression operation, the control device has a timing at which the first anti-freezing operation and the second anti-freezing operation are different. The thermal device according to claim 1, wherein the start timing of the first anti-freezing operation and the start timing of the second anti-freezing operation are adjusted so as to be started.

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