JP2018021729A - Thermal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of properly operating a heat pump heat source on the basis of power information of a battery of an electric automobile.SOLUTION: A thermal apparatus is operated by power supplied from a commercial power source or a battery of an electric automobile. The thermal apparatus includes a heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source for heating a heat medium, a tank unit including a tank for storing the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source, and a control device communicatable with a power management device capable of inputting power information of the battery. The control device can acquire the power information of the battery from the power management device. The control device can switch a normal operation and a power suppressing operation in which power is supplied from the battery to be operated with suppression power lower than a maximum power consumption in the normal operation. The control device specifies the suppression power on the basis of the power information of the battery, and operates the heat pump heat source on the basis of the specified suppression power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

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

  Patent Document 1 discloses a heat device including a heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source that heats the heat medium, a tank unit including a tank that stores the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source, and a control device. . The control device drives the heat pump heat source to store the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source in the tank.

JP2015-94505A

  Normally, a thermal device operates by being supplied with electric power from a commercial power source. In recent years, for example, when a power failure occurs, a heat pump heat source of a thermal device may be operated by electric power supplied from a battery of an electric vehicle. In the case where power is supplied from the battery to the thermal device, if the discharge power from the battery exceeds the upper limit discharge power, the supply of power from the battery to the thermal device may stop. For this reason, when power is supplied from the battery, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the power consumption of the heat pump heat source. In addition, the electric vehicle includes a hybrid vehicle including both a traveling motor and an engine, and a vehicle including only a motor as a traveling drive source.

  The present specification proposes a technique capable of appropriately operating a heat pump heat source based on electric power information of a battery of an electric vehicle.

  The thermal device disclosed in this specification operates by being supplied with electric power from a commercial power source or a battery of an electric vehicle. The thermal device can communicate with a heat pump unit including a heat pump heat source that heats the heat medium, a tank unit including a tank that stores a heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source, and a power management device that can obtain battery power information. And a control device. The control device can acquire battery power information from the power management device. In addition, the control device can switch between normal operation and power suppression operation in which power is supplied from the battery and operates below the suppression power that is lower than the maximum power consumption during normal operation. In addition, during the power suppression operation, the control device specifies the suppression power based on the power information of the battery, and operates the heat pump heat source based on the specified suppression power.

  According to said structure, when electric power is supplied from a battery, a control apparatus switches to electric power suppression driving | operation. In addition, during the power suppression operation, the control device operates the heat pump heat source using the suppression power specified based on the battery power information. For this reason, for example, during the power suppression operation, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the thermal device from exceeding the upper limit discharge power of the battery.

The figure which shows the structure of the hot water supply system 2 typically. The figure which shows the electric power system of the hot water supply system 2 typically. The flowchart explaining the process performed during electric power suppression driving | operation.

  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.

(Characteristic 1) The electric vehicle may include an engine and a generator capable of generating electric power by driving the engine, and the battery may be capable of charging electric power generated by the generator. The control device may transmit a signal requesting driving of the engine to the power management device when the power amount stored in the battery included in the power information is equal to or less than a predetermined power amount during the power suppression operation.

  When the amount of power stored in the battery is less than or equal to the predetermined amount of power, the heat pump heat source cannot be operated properly. According to said structure, in order for a user to operate a heat pump heat source appropriately, it can know that it is necessary to increase the electric energy stored in the battery. In addition, when the user drives the engine and the amount of power stored in the battery exceeds a predetermined amount of power, the heat pump heat source can be appropriately operated.

  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 gas heat source 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 to the condenser 12, a forward thermistor 20 that detects the temperature of water flowing into the condenser 12, and a return thermistor 22 that detects the temperature of water flowing out of the condenser 12. An HP outside air temperature thermistor 23 that detects the outside air temperature and an HP controller 24 that controls the operation of each component of the HP unit 4 are provided.

  The tank unit 6 includes a tank 30, a mixing valve 32, and a bypass control valve 34. 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. 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. The thermistors 36 a, 36 b, 36 c, 36 d, and 36 e are attached to the tank 30 at predetermined intervals in the height direction of the tank 30. Each thermistor 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e measures the temperature of water at its mounting position. In this embodiment, the thermistor 36a is arranged at a position 6 liters below the top of the tank 30, the thermistor 36b is arranged at a position 12 liters below the top, and the thermistor 36c is located 30 liters below the top. The thermistor 36d is disposed at a position 50 liters below the top, and the thermistor 36e is disposed at a position 70 liters below the top. The tank unit 6 also includes a tank lower thermistor 35 that detects the temperature of water flowing out from the lower portion of the tank 30.

  Tap water is supplied to the tank unit 6 through the water supply path 40. In the water supply path 40, a pressure reducing valve 42 for reducing the water supply pressure and a water inlet thermistor 44 for detecting the water supply temperature are attached. 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. Further, a water-side water amount sensor 54 that detects the flow rate of tap water flowing into the mixing valve 32 is attached to the tank bypass path 48. The top of the tank 30 and the mixing valve 32 communicate with each other via a tank hot water path 56. A check valve 58 and a hot water sensor 60 for detecting the flow rate of water from the tank 30 flowing into the mixing valve 32 are attached to the tank discharge path 56.

  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.

  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. 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. A bypass control valve 34 is attached to 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 nonvolatile memory 75 stores an average power consumption PA of an important load 120 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later.

  The gas heat source unit 8 includes a burner 80, a heat exchanger 82, a bypass servo 84, a water amount servo 86, and a hot water filling 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. A water quantity servo 86 for adjusting the flow rate of water flowing through the burner forward path 90 and a water quantity sensor 91 for detecting the flow rate of water flowing through the burner forward path 90 are attached to the burner forward path 90. The burner forward path 90 and the burner return path 92 communicate with each other via a 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. From the burner return path 92, a hot water filling path 98 branches off. In the burner return path 92, a hot water filling valve 88 is attached to the hot water filling path 98. From the gas heat source unit 8, hot water filling is performed on a bathtub serving as a hot water supply location via a hot water filling route 98.

  The gas heat source unit 8 further includes a burner controller 100 that controls the operation of each component of the gas heat source unit 8 and a remote controller 102. The remote controller 102 can communicate with the burner controller 100. The remote controller 102 can communicate with the tank controller 74 via the burner controller 100. The remote controller 102 accepts various operation inputs from the user via switches and buttons. The various inputs are, for example, instructions for a heating operation described later. In addition, the remote controller 102 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. The various information is, for example, a message indicating that the heating operation described later cannot be performed. The remote controller 102 can communicate with the power management apparatus 192 via the wireless LAN router 190. The power management apparatus 192 is, for example, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller. The power management device 192 is a device provided in the house where the hot water supply system 2 is installed. The power management device 192 manages the supply and consumption of power and fuel in the house where the hot water supply system 2 is installed. The power management device 192 can be connected to an external network. The power management apparatus 192 can display various information and messages regarding power and fuel in the house where the hot water supply system 2 is installed.

  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 hot water supply system 2 can perform various operations such as a heating operation and a hot water supply operation by the HP controller 24, the tank controller 74, and the burner controller 100 performing control in cooperation. Hereinafter, the HP controller 24, the tank controller 74, and the burner controller 100 are collectively referred to simply as a controller.

(Power system of hot water supply system 2)
FIG. 2 shows a power system of a house where the hot water supply system 2 is installed. Electric power is supplied from the battery distribution board 116 to the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6, and the gas heat source unit 8 of the hot water supply system 2. A commercial power supply 110 and a solar power generation device 112 are connected to the battery distribution board 116 via the distribution board 114. Note that the solar power generation device 112 is a device that generates power by receiving sunlight. A general load 118 is also connected to the distribution board 114. Examples of the general load 118 include an air conditioner, a washing machine, and a microwave oven. The battery distribution board 116 is also connected to the electric vehicle 132 via the important load 120, the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6, the gas heat source unit 8, and the charge / discharge stand 130. Note that the solar power generation device 112, the general load 118, the important load 120, and the charging / discharging stand 130 can communicate with the power management device 192 via the wireless LAN router 190. Thereby, the power management apparatus 192 can manage the power used by the general load 118 and the important load 120.

  The electric vehicle 132 will be described. The electric vehicle 132 includes a motor 134 and an engine 138. The outputs of the motor 134 and the engine 138 are combined by the power distribution mechanism 136. The output synthesized by the power distribution mechanism 136 is transmitted to the drive wheels of the electric vehicle 132 via the differential gear 140. Further, the power distribution mechanism 136 can transmit the output torque of the engine 138 to the motor 134. When the output torque of the engine 138 is transmitted to the motor 134, the motor 134 functions as a generator. The electric power generated by the motor 134 is supplied to the battery 144 via the voltage converter 142. Thereby, the battery 144 is charged.

  When power is supplied from the commercial power supply 110 or the solar power generation device 112, the power supplied from the commercial power supply 110 or the solar power generation device 112 is supplied to the general load 118 via the distribution board 114. Moreover, the electric power supplied from the commercial power supply 110 or the solar power generation device 112 is supplied to the important load 120, the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6, and the gas heat source machine via the distribution board 114 and the battery distribution board 116. It is supplied to the unit 8 and the electric vehicle 132. When electric power is supplied to the electric vehicle 132, the battery 144 is charged.

  For example, when power is not supplied from the commercial power supply 110 due to a power failure or the like, power is supplied from the battery 144 of the electric vehicle 132. In this case, the electric power supplied from the battery 144 is supplied to the important load 120, the HP unit 4, the tank unit 6 and the gas heat source unit 8 through the charging / discharging stand 130 and the battery distribution board 116. No power is supplied to the general load 118. In the following, the operation state of hot water supply system 2 when the power supply source includes commercial power supply 110 is referred to as “normal operation”, and the operation of hot water supply system 2 when the power supply source includes battery 144. The state is “power suppression operation”. Generally, the power that can be used during power suppression operation is smaller than the power that can be used during normal operation. For this reason, during the power suppression operation, the hot water supply system 2 needs to operate at the first suppression power PS1 or lower that is lower than the maximum power consumption during the normal operation. The first suppression power PS1 will be described in detail later.

(Operation of hot water supply system 2)
Next, the operation of the hot water supply system 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The hot water supply system 2 can execute a heating operation and a hot water supply operation.

(Heating operation)
In the heating operation, the hot water supply system 2 drives the HP unit 4 to boil 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. Thereby, the water sucked out from the bottom of the tank 30 is heated to the target temperature TA (for example, 45 ° C.) in the condenser 12 and returned to the top of the tank 30. When the target heating water amount TW in the water in the tank 30 is replaced with water heated to the target temperature TA, the HP controller 24 ends the heating operation. The target heating water amount TW is the amount of water heated to the target temperature TA by the heating operation. The HP controller 24 switches the thermistor used to determine the end of the heating operation from the tank lower thermistor 35 and the thermistors 36a to 36e according to the target heating water amount TW. For example, when the target heating water amount TW is 30 liters, the thermistor 36c is used, and when the target heating water amount TW is 100 liters, the lower thermistor 35 is used. During normal 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 102. The preset start timing is, for example, a start time set by a learning function that stores a start time and an end time of a past heating operation. On the other hand, during the power suppression operation, the heating operation is executed only based on a user instruction input to the remote controller 102.

(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. In particular, the hot water supply operation when the hot water supply location is a bathtub is hereinafter referred to as “hot water operation”. 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 filling 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 thermistor 36b or the thermistor 36c. The controller uses either the thermistor 36b or the thermistor 36c depending on the season.

  When the temperature detected by the thermistor 36b or the thermistor 36c 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 thermistor 36b or the thermistor 36c 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 the combustion hot water supply operation described above, the controller determines that the hot water supply has ended due to closing of the hot water supply point or the end of filling of the bathtub. To end the hot water supply operation.

(Processing during power suppression operation)
Next, processing during power suppression operation will be described with reference to FIG. The process in FIG. 3 is a process that is executed when power is restored by supplying power from the battery 144 of the electric vehicle 132 after a power failure occurs. Note that the following processing is processing when power is not supplied from the commercial power source 110 and the solar power generation device 112.

  In step S <b> 12, the controller detects that power has been restored by the power supplied from the battery 144 of the electric vehicle 132. Specifically, the controller receives from the power management device 192 a signal indicating that power has been restored by supplying power from the battery 144. Thereby, the controller switches the hot water supply system 2 from the normal operation to the power suppression operation.

  In step S <b> 14, the controller monitors whether the user has given an instruction to instruct the preparation for the heating operation. The user instructs the execution of the heating operation by operating the remote controller 102. If the user gives an instruction to instruct execution of the heating operation (YES in step S14), the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S <b> 16, the controller acquires various power information from the power management apparatus 192. Specifically, the controller transmits signals requesting transmission of various power information to the power management apparatus 192 via the remote controller 102 and the wireless LAN router 190. Next, the power management apparatus 192 transmits various power information to the controller. The various power information includes, for example, power information of the battery 144, power consumption PI of the important load 120, and the like. Further, the power information of the battery 144 includes the rated power (upper limit discharge power) PR and the storage amount EC of the battery 144.

  In step S <b> 18, the controller determines whether or not the electric power PU that can be used by the hot water supply system 2 is larger than the minimum power consumption PL necessary for performing the heating operation. A controller specifies electric power PU which the hot water supply system 2 can use based on the various electric power information acquired by step S16. Specifically, the controller specifies power PU that can be used by hot water supply system 2 by subtracting power consumption PI of important load 120 from rated power PR of battery 144. In addition, a controller specifies electric power PU which the hot water supply system 2 can use as 1st suppression electric power PS1 of the hot water supply system 2 in electric power suppression driving | operation. If the usable power PU is larger than the minimum power consumption PL (YES in step S18), the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, when the specified usable power PU is equal to or lower than the minimum power consumption PL (NO in step S18), the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S <b> 20, the controller determines whether or not the stored electricity amount EC of the battery 144 exceeds the predicted power consumption amount EP consumed during the heating operation. The predicted power consumption EP includes a first power consumption E1 used by the hot water supply system 2 and a second power consumption used by the important load 120 while the hot water supply system 2 is performing the heating operation. E2 is included.

  A method of calculating the first power consumption amount E1 and the second power consumption amount E2 will be described. First, the controller calculates a predicted completion time TE for completing the heating operation. The controller calculates a predicted completion time TE based on the target heating amount HT specified from the target heating water amount TW and the target temperature TA and the first suppression power PS1 specified in step S18. The controller specifies the second suppression power PS2 that can be used by the HP unit 4 by subtracting the power used by devices other than the HP unit 4 of the hot water supply system 2 from the first suppression power PS1. Next, the controller specifies the heating amount HA per unit time when the HP unit 4 is driven with the second suppression power PS2. Next, the controller divides the target heating amount HT by the heating amount HA to specify the predicted completion time TE of the heating operation. After the completion prediction time TE is specified, the controller specifies the first power consumption E1 by multiplying the completion prediction time TE by the first suppression power PS1. Further, the controller multiplies the predicted completion time TE by the average power consumption PA of the important load 120 stored in the nonvolatile memory 75, thereby specifying the second power consumption amount E2. In the present embodiment, the second power consumption E2 is specified using the average power consumption PA, but the second power consumption E2 is used using the power consumption PI of the important load 120 specified in step S18. May be specified. Next, the controller specifies the predicted power consumption EP by adding the first power consumption E1 and the second power consumption E2.

  When the stored electricity amount EC of the battery 144 exceeds the predicted power consumption amount EP (YES in step S20), the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, when the stored electricity amount EC is equal to or less than the predicted power consumption amount EP (NO in step S20), the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S <b> 22, the controller transmits the predicted completion time TE and the predicted power consumption EP to the remote controller 102. As a result, the remote controller 102 displays the predicted completion time TE and the predicted power consumption EP. As a result, the user can know the completion prediction time TE and the predicted power consumption EP. Further, the user can determine whether or not to perform the heating operation based on the predicted completion time TE and the predicted power consumption EP. Note that the controller may transmit the first power consumption amount E1 to the remote controller 102 instead of the predicted power consumption amount EP. In this case, the user can know the amount of power consumed by the hot water supply system 2.

  In step S24, the controller determines whether or not the user has executed an instruction to execute the heating operation. When the user executes an instruction to execute the heating operation (YES in step S24), the process proceeds to step S26, and the controller executes the heating operation. On the other hand, when there is no instruction to execute the heating operation from the user (NO in step S24), the process returns to step S14.

  In step S28, the controller determines whether or not the heating operation has been completed. Specifically, the controller determines that the heating operation is completed when the target heating amount HT is heated by the heating operation. If it is determined that the heating operation has been completed (YES in step S28), the process returns to step S14. On the other hand, when it is determined that the heating operation is not completed (NO in step S28), the process returns to step S16.

  If the process returns to step S16 via step S28, and if YES is determined in steps S18 and S20, the controller skips steps S22 and S24 and proceeds to step S26. . That is, the controller determines whether or not the heating operation may be continued by executing the processes of steps S16 to S20 until the heating operation is completed. Moreover, a controller updates 2nd suppression electric power PS2 at any time using electric power PU which the hot water supply system 2 specified in step S18 can use. Specifically, when the power consumption PI of the important load 120 decreases during the heating operation, the second suppression power PS2 is increased, and when the power consumption PI increases, the second suppression power is increased. Decrease PS2.

  In step S <b> 32, the controller stops the operation of the HP unit 4. The case where the HP unit 4 is stopped is a case where NO is determined in step S18 or step S20 during the heating operation.

  In step S <b> 34, the controller transmits error information and an error handling method to the power management apparatus 192 via the remote controller 102. Thereby, the power management apparatus 192 displays error information and a method for dealing with the error. The error information is information indicating that the heating operation cannot be executed. The error handling method is, for example, to stop some of the devices in the important load 120 being used when NO is determined in step S18. This is because by stopping some devices of the important load 120, the power consumption PI of the important load 120 is reduced, and the power PU that can be used by the hot water supply system 2 is increased. For example, when it is determined NO in step S20, the engine 138 of the electric vehicle 132 is driven. This is because the battery 144 can be charged with the electric power generated by the motor 134 by the user driving the engine 138 as described above. Note that error information and a method for dealing with the error may be displayed on the remote controller 102.

  During the power suppression operation, if NO is determined in step S18 or S20, the hot water supply system 2 cannot execute the heating operation. That is, the non-combustion hot water supply operation cannot be executed after the hot water in the tank 30 is used up. However, when the fuel gas is supplied to the burner 80 and the electric power necessary for the combustion hot water supply operation is supplied, the combustion hot water supply operation can be performed. Therefore, when it is determined NO in step S18 or S20 during the power suppression operation and the fuel gas is supplied to the burner 80, the controller is configured to execute the combustion hot water supply operation. Preferably it is.

  In addition, during the power suppression operation, when the power generated by the solar power generation device 112 can be used, the heating operation may be performed using the power generated by the solar power generation device 112 and the power of the battery 144. . In this case, the second suppression power PS2 may be specified based on the power information of the solar power generation device 112 in addition to the power information of the battery 144. The power information of the solar power generation device 112 is, for example, the generated power of the solar power generation device 112 and the predicted power generation amount.

  As described above, when electric power is supplied from the battery 144 and the hot water supply system 2 operates, the controller switches to the power suppression operation. During the power suppression operation, the controller drives the HP unit 4 using the second suppression power PS2 specified based on the power information of the battery 144, and executes the heating operation. As a result, even when the heating operation is performed during the power suppression operation, it is possible to suppress the power discharged from the battery 144 from exceeding the rated power PR of the battery 144.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the controller transmits a signal requesting to drive the engine 138 of the electric vehicle 132 to the power management apparatus 192 when the storage amount EC of the battery 144 is equal to or less than the predicted power consumption EP. To do. Thereby, the user can know that it is necessary to drive the engine 138 and increase the storage amount EC of the battery 144 in order to cause the hot water supply system 2 to perform the heating operation.

(Correspondence)
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 first suppression power PS1 and the second suppression power PS2 are examples of “suppression power”. The predicted power consumption EP is an example of “predetermined power consumption”.

  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 addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, a storage battery other than the battery 144 may be connected to the battery distribution board 116. In this case, after a power failure, the power stored in the storage battery may be used preferentially. In other words, it is sufficient that the power stored in the battery 144 of the electric vehicle 132 is supplied after the power stored in the storage battery is exhausted. In addition, even when electric power is supplied from the storage battery, it is preferable to suppress the electric power PU that can be used in the hot water supply system 2.

  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: Gas heat source unit 10: Compressor 12: Condenser 14: Expansion valve 16: Evaporator 18: Circulation pump 19: HP outbound path 20: Outbound thermistor 21: HP Return path 22: Return thermistor 23: HP outside air temperature thermistor 24: HP controller 30: Tank 31: Tank forward path 32: Mixing valve 33: Tank return path 34: Bypass control valve 35: Under tank thermistor 36a: Thermistor 36b: Thermistor 36c : Thermistor 36d: Thermistor 36e: Thermistor 40: Water supply path 42: Pressure reducing valve 44: Inlet 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 Path 58: Check valve 60: Hot water volume Sensor 62: First hot water supply path 64: Mixing 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 80: Burner 81: Gas supply pipe 82 : Heat exchanger 84: Bypass servo 86: Water quantity servo 88: Hot water filling valve 90: Burner outbound path 91: Water quantity sensor 92: Burner return path 94: Burner bypass path 96: Burner hot water supply thermistor 98: Hot water filling path 100: Burner controller 102: Remote control 110: Commercial power supply 112: Solar power generation device 114: Distribution board 116: Battery distribution board 118: General load 120: Important load 130: Charge / discharge stand 132: Electric vehicle 134: Motor 136: Power distribution mechanism 138: Engine 140: differential gear 142 : Voltage converter 144: Battery 190: Wireless LAN router 192: Power management device

Claims (2)

A thermal device that operates with power supplied from a commercial power source or a battery of an electric vehicle,
A heat pump unit comprising a heat pump heat source for heating the heat medium;
A tank unit comprising a tank for storing the heat medium heated by the heat pump heat source;
A control device capable of communicating with a power management device capable of obtaining power information of the battery, and
The control device can acquire the power information of the battery from the power management device,
The control device is capable of switching between normal operation and power suppression operation in which power is supplied from the battery and operates at a suppressed power lower than the maximum power consumption during the normal operation,
The said control apparatus is a thermal apparatus which specifies the said suppression electric power based on the said electric power information of the said battery during the said electric power suppression driving | operation, and operates the said heat pump heat source based on the specified said suppression electric power. The electric vehicle includes an engine,
A generator capable of generating electricity by driving the engine,
The battery is capable of charging the power generated by the generator,
The control device, when the power amount stored in the battery included in the power information is less than or equal to a predetermined power amount during the power suppression operation, sends a signal requesting driving of the engine to the power management device The thermal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

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