JP2021025707A - Storage tank-type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a storage tank-type water heater free from wasteful boiling-up.SOLUTION: A storage tank-type water heater having a first mode for determining a boiling-up heat quantity on the basis of past used heat quantity of a storage tank, before performing a boiling-up operation, having a boiling-up operation for boiling up hot water of the determined boiling-up heat quantity, and setting the first boiling-up heat quantity in the determination, and a second mode in which a boiling-up heat quantity more than the boiling-up heat quantity in the first mode is set, further has a third mode for setting a boiling-up heat quantity less than the boiling-up heat quantity in the first mode, in the determination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water storage tank type water heater.

Patent Document 1 describes a learning control for boiling hot water in a hot water storage tank at midnight in the "Random" mode, in which the average amount of heat supplied per day plus some margin is added. Has been done.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-117661

However, in the boiling control described in Patent Document 1, since the generation of the target value of the boiling water amount is obtained by a predetermined learning control, for example, the idea of some margin does not change. For this reason, some users may think that the boiling is useless.

In the present invention made in view of the above circumstances, the boiling heat amount is determined based on the past heat consumption amount of the hot water storage tank before the boiling operation is performed, and the boiling water of the determined boiling heat amount is boiled. A first mode having an operation and setting a first boiling heat amount at the time of the determination, and a second mode for setting a boiling heat amount larger than the boiling heat amount in this first mode. The hot water storage tank type water heater has a third mode in which a boiling heat amount smaller than the boiling heat amount in the first mode is set at the time of making a decision.

It is possible to provide a hot water storage tank type water heater that does not cause unnecessary boiling.

Configuration diagram of the hot water supply system of Example 1 (A) External view of the remote controller device of the first embodiment (b) Diagram of a display unit displaying a boiling setting screen. Control of hot water supply system of Example 1 1 Flow chart Control of the hot water supply system of the first embodiment 2 Flow chart Control 3 flowchart of the hot water supply system of the first embodiment Control flowchart of the hot water supply system of the second embodiment Control flowchart of the hot water supply system of the third embodiment

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a hot water supply system (water heater) using a heat pump as a heat source for heating water to generate hot water will be described as an example, but a gas combustor may be used as a heat source.

[Hot water supply system]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hot water supply system including the water heater 11 of the first embodiment. The water heater 11 includes a heat pump unit 13 that generates hot water, a hot water storage tank 12 that stores the generated hot water, a hot water storage amount detection unit that detects the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 12, a hot water supply heat exchanger 14, and a repellent. It has a heat exchanger 18.
Further, the water heater 11 includes a remote control device 6 that receives input from the user and outputs information to the user, and a main body side control board 10 as an example of a control unit that operates in response to the input from the remote control device 6. It has an outside air temperature sensor 40 that detects the outside air temperature, and a water level sensor 41 that detects fluctuations in the water level of the bathtub 15.

The heat pump unit 13 can heat water supplied from a water pipe 19 as an example of a fresh water source through a pipe 20 or the like to generate hot water and supply it to a hot water storage tank 12. The heat pump unit 13 performs a boiling operation of supplying hot water to the hot water storage tank 12 at a predetermined time zone (midnight time zone, etc.) every day, for example. The boiling amount in the boiling operation may be one that fills the hot water storage tank 12 each time, or may be changed by learning the amount of hot water used each day.

The hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 can be supplied to the bathtub 15 arranged in the bathroom 50. As the fresh water source, an external water supply source such as a water pipe 19 or well water can be adopted. Fresh water refers to water before use that has not yet been in a state where the user can come into direct contact with it, and includes water from a water supply source and water stored in a hot water storage tank 12, while in a bathtub 15 or the like. Not used water containing dirt as supplied. The water heater 11 includes a general hot water supply circuit 21 that supplies hot water to a general hot water supply terminal (faucet, shower, mixing tap 17, etc.) and a hot water supply circuit that has a hot water supply unit that supplies hot water to the bathtub 15. The flow rate at the time of hot water supply is controlled by the flow rate adjusting valve 31 distributed in the middle of the general hot water supply circuit 21, and the flow rate can be changed by the instruction from the main body side control board 10.

The hot water supply heat exchanger 14 heats the low-temperature water from the water pipe 19 by exchanging heat with the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12, and generates hot water for hot water supply to be used in a place different from the bathtub 15. For example, hot water for showers, currants, etc. in the kitchen or bathroom 50 can be generated. The water heater calculates the amount of residual hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 from each temperature sensor attached to the hot water storage tank 12, and the use of heat by hot water discharge or heat exchange is cumulative from the difference in the amount of residual hot water before and after that. It is possible to grasp the increase and decrease of the flow rate.

[Remote control device 6]
FIG. 2A is an external view of the remote controller device 6. FIG. 2B is a diagram of a display unit displaying a boiling setting screen.
The remote controller 6 is arranged as a bath remote controller 6a in the bathroom and a kitchen remote controller 6b provided in a room other than the bathroom (for example, the kitchen). Each remote controller 6 includes a sounding unit 33, an input unit 4 for receiving input from the user, and a display unit 5 as an output unit for outputting various information.
The input unit 4 includes a hot water command unit 41, a water volume setting unit 42, a target bath temperature setting unit 43, a hot water filling command unit 44, a reheating command unit 45, a selection unit 46, and a menu button 48.
The display unit 5 can display various images (screens), and in FIG. 2, the hot water supply temperature display unit 51 and the target bath temperature display unit 53 are displayed.

When the adding hot water command unit 41 is operated, a predetermined amount of hot water water at a temperature of, for example, indicated on the hot water supply temperature display unit 51 is supplied to the bathtub 15.
When the water amount setting unit 42 is operated, for example, the target bath temperature display unit 53 disappears and the hot water amount display unit is displayed, and the target hot water amount at the time of hot water can be changed through the operation of the level setting unit 49.
When the target bath temperature setting unit 43 is operated, the target bath temperature display unit 53 is displayed, and the target temperature at the time of the hot water filling command and the reheating command can be changed through the operation of the level setting unit 49.
When the hot water beam command unit 44 is operated, hot water is supplied to the bathtub 15 by an amount of hot water having a temperature of about the target bath temperature, which is displayed on the hot water beam amount display unit 52.
When the reheating command unit 45 is operated, a part of the hot water stored in the bathtub 15 is supplied to the repelling heat exchanger 18, which is heated by exchanging heat with the high temperature water in the hot water storage tank 12 and returned to the bathtub 15. ..

When the up, down, left, right buttons (direction buttons) and the enter button belonging to the selection unit 46 are operated, if the parameters whose settings can be changed are displayed on the display unit 5, they can be adjusted. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2A, the hot water supply temperature displayed on the hot water supply temperature display unit 51 and the target bath temperature displayed on the target bath temperature display unit 53 can be adjusted. Through the operation of the selection unit 46 having a button capable of selecting the up / down / left / right directions, it is possible to select an option described later.

By operating the menu button 48, a menu screen (not shown) that transitions to a screen for changing various settings can be displayed on the display unit 5.

Further, when setting the boiling mode, the menu button 48 is operated to display the boiling setting screen as shown in FIG. 2B on the display unit 5, and the item is operated by the selection unit 46. When the enter button 46 is operated by selecting, the boiling mode is confirmed.

[Boiling operation during midnight hours]
The operation of the boiling operation in the midnight time zone will be described. In the boiling operation, the boiling target temperature is calculated by a predetermined formula, and the amount of heat to be boiled is changed by the temperature fluctuating every day to generate hot water according to the usage situation of the user. ..

As the end condition of boiling, each temperature sensor (30a to e) attached to the hot water storage tank 12 and the temperature sensor 30f attached to the pipe in the heat pump unit 13 from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 12 to the heat pump unit 13 are used. doing. Specifically, of the six temperature sensors shown in FIG. 1, a predetermined temperature sensor 30d, a fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top, and a temperature sensor 30f the sixth from the top are set. The boiling is finished when the temperature is reached. Further, the number of temperature sensors is not limited to three, and two to six may be used, or only one may be used. The temperature sensor 30f attached to the heat pump unit 13 measures the temperature of the water (or hot water) flowing into the heat pump unit 13, which is the temperature of the water (or hot water) at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 12. It is almost the same as the one measuring. Therefore, the temperature sensor 30f may be attached to the lowermost portion of the hot water storage tank 12 instead of the heat pump unit 13.

[Boiling mode (first mode) operation that saves the amount of boiling heat]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a mode (first mode) operation in which the water heater of the present embodiment saves the amount of boiling heat and boil. When the boiling setting is set to "saving and boiling mode" by operating the remote controller 6 (steps S100, Y), it is determined that the setting mode is "saving and boiling mode" (steps S200, Y). ) At midnight (steps S300, Y), the calorific value is calculated in the "saving and boiling mode" (steps S400, Y), and the saving boiling operation is performed (step S500). Of the six temperature sensors, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top, the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top, and the sixth temperature sensor 30f from the top are used as conditions for ending the boiling operation. That is, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S600, Y), the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S700, Y), and the temperature is 6 from the top. When the temperature of the second temperature sensor 30f exceeds a predetermined temperature (step S800, Y), the boiling operation is terminated (step S900). The predetermined temperature is variable depending on the target boiling temperature. The range of the target boiling temperature in the first mode is 65 to 90 ° C. For example, when the target boiling temperature reaches 65 ° C from the calorific value calculation, the condition for ending the boiling operation is the fourth from the top. The temperature sensor 30d of the above is "target boiling temperature -10 ° C = 55 ° C" or higher, and the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top is "target boiling temperature -20 ° C = 45 ° C" or higher, the sixth from the top. The temperature sensor 30f of the above confirms that the temperature exceeds "target boiling temperature -30 ° C = 35 ° C". Further, the reason why the lower limit of the target boiling temperature is 65 ° C. is that it is difficult to generate a temperature lower than 65 ° C. due to the performance of the heat pump unit 13 which is a heat source machine. Further, if the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 continues to be in a state where the boiling temperature is lower than 65 ° C., there is a risk that bacteria may grow in the tank.

[Boiling mode (second mode) operation to boil a large amount of heat]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of mode operation in which the amount of heat in the water heater of this embodiment is increased.
When the boiling setting is set to "more boiling mode" by operating the remote controller 6 (step S100, Y), it is determined that the setting mode is "more boiling mode" (step S200, Y) at midnight. When the time zone is reached (steps S300, Y), the calorific value is calculated in the "more boiling mode" (steps S400, Y), and the larger boiling operation is performed (step S500). Of the six temperature sensors, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top, the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top, and the sixth temperature sensor 30f from the top are used as conditions for ending the boiling operation. That is, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S600, Y), the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S700, Y), and the temperature is 6 from the top. When the temperature of the second temperature sensor 30f exceeds a predetermined temperature (step S800, Y), the boiling operation is terminated (step S900). The predetermined temperature is variable depending on the target boiling temperature. The range of the target boiling temperature in the second mode is 70 to 90 ° C. For example, when the target boiling temperature reaches 75 ° C from the calorific value calculation, the condition for ending the boiling operation is the fourth from the top. The temperature sensor 30d of the above is "target boiling temperature -10 ° C = 65 ° C" or higher, and the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top is "target boiling temperature -20 ° C = 55 ° C" or higher, the sixth from the top. The temperature sensor 30f of the above confirms that the temperature exceeds "target boiling temperature -30 ° C = 45 ° C".

[Boiling heat amount to the minimum (reducing the boiling amount) mode (third mode) operation]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of mode operation in which the boiling amount in the water heater of this embodiment is reduced to minimize the boiling heat amount.

For example, if the family structure is reduced and you feel that the amount of remaining hot water is wasteful even in the "saving and boiling mode", you can reduce the amount of remaining hot water as much as possible by selecting this "minimum boiling mode". ..
When the boiling setting is set to "minimum boiling mode" by operating the remote controller 6 (step S100, Y), it is determined that the setting mode is "minimum boiling mode" (step S200, Y) at midnight. When the time zone comes (steps S300, Y), the calorific value is calculated in the "minimum boiling mode" (steps S400, Y), and the boiling operation with the reduced boiling amount is performed (step S500). The condition for ending the boiling operation was that in the normal boiling operation, it was terminated when the temperature reached a predetermined temperature using three temperature sensors, but one by one above the temperature sensor used in normal operation. Three staggered (upper) temperature sensors are used to terminate when a predetermined temperature is reached. Specifically, in normal boiling, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top, the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top, and the sixth temperature sensor 30f from the top are used, but the minimum boiling is performed. In (minimum boiling mode), the third temperature sensor 30c from the top, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top, and the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top are used among the six temperature sensors. That is, the third temperature sensor 30c from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S600, Y), the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top becomes a predetermined temperature or higher (step S700, Y), and 5 from the top. When the temperature of the second temperature sensor 30e exceeds a predetermined temperature (step S800, Y), the boiling operation is terminated (step S900). As a result, as compared with the normal boiling operation, the amount of hot water between the adjacent temperature sensors is not boiled, so that the amount of boiling can be reduced. Specifically, since the boiling operation is completed before the sixth temperature sensor 30f from the top reaches the above-mentioned predetermined temperature or higher, the fifth temperature sensor 30e from the top and the sixth temperature from the top Since the amount of hot water between the sensors 30f that does not boil is generated, the amount of boiling can be reduced as compared with the normal boiling operation. The temperature sensors that are moved upward in the minimum boiling mode are not limited to one, but may be two or three. The predetermined temperature is variable depending on the target boiling temperature. The range of the target boiling temperature in the third mode is 65 to 90 ° C. For example, when the target boiling temperature reaches 65 ° C from the calorific value calculation, the condition for ending the boiling operation is the third from the top. The temperature sensor 30c of the above is "target boiling temperature -10 ° C = 55 ° C" or higher, the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top is "target boiling temperature -20 ° C = 45 ° C" or higher, and the fifth from the top. The temperature sensor 30e of the above confirms that the temperature exceeds "target boiling temperature -30 ° C = 35 ° C".

As described above, the amount of heat of the hot water to be boiled in the boiling operation is determined by a predetermined calculation formula or learning control. For example, in a family of five and a family of two, the target boiling heat is higher in the family of five unless extreme use of hot water is used. Therefore, there may be a case where the target boiling heat amount in the "more boiling mode" of the two-member family is smaller than the target boiling heat amount in the "minimum boiling mode" of the family of five.

The same parts as those of the other examples will be omitted, and different parts will be described.

[Boiling mode (reducing time) operation that minimizes the amount of boiling heat]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of mode operation in which the boiling time in the water heater of this embodiment is reduced to minimize the amount of boiling heat.
When the boiling setting is set to "minimum boiling mode" by operating the remote controller 6 (step S100, Y), it is determined that the setting mode is "minimum boiling mode" (step S200, Y) at midnight. When the time zone is reached (step S300, Y), the boiling time is calculated to be smaller than in the normal time (step S400'). After calculating the boiling time, the boiling operation is performed (step S500). When the current time reaches a predetermined time from the boiling time (step S600', Y), the boiling operation is ended (step S700). As for the boiling time, it may be boiled after the midnight time zone so that the end time is the end of the midnight time zone, so-called peak shift, or it may be boiled at the beginning of the midnight time zone. It may be the case that the boiling is completed when a predetermined time has passed.

The same parts as those of the other examples will be omitted, and different parts will be described.

[Control to switch the amount of boiling heat]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operation capable of automatically switching the amount of heat to be boiled in the water heater of the present embodiment. When the boiling setting is set to "minimum boiling mode" by operating the remote controller 6 (step S100, Y), it is determined that the setting mode is "minimum boiling mode" (step S200, Y) at midnight. In the time zone (step S300, Y), if the minimum boiling operation was performed on the previous day (step S400'', Y), an additional boiling operation was performed due to running out of hot water in the daytime on the previous day. Check if. The additional boiling operation refers to an additional boiling operation that the user manually starts immediately immediately, an operation for preventing running out of hot water that is set in advance, and the like. If the additional boiling operation has been performed after confirmation (step S500'', Y), it is judged that the amount of boiling is smaller than the user's actual usage in this mode, and the normal boiling operation is performed (step S500'', Y). Step S700''). Further, the determination that the boiling amount is small may be made on the condition that the number of times of the additional boiling operation is not limited to one day but a plurality of days such as two consecutive days or three consecutive days. If the presence or absence of the additional boiling operation has not been confirmed (step S500 ″, N), the minimum boiling operation is carried out in the same manner as the previous day (step S800 ″).

Next, if the minimum boiling operation was not performed the day before (step S400'', N), the amount of remaining hot water at the time of midnight was checked, and if it was more than the specified amount (step S400'', N). In step S600'', Y), it is determined that there is excess hot water, and the minimum boiling operation is performed (step S800''). At this time, the determination that there is excess hot water is not limited to one day, and may be conditional on a plurality of days such as two consecutive days or three consecutive days. If the amount of remaining hot water at the time of midnight is less than the specified amount of hot water (step S600'', N), it is judged that there is not enough hot water, and the normal boiling operation is performed as in the previous day (step S600'', N). Step S700'').

4 ... Display unit (output unit)
5 ... Operation unit (input unit)
6 ... Remote control device 6a ... Bath remote control 6b ... Kitchen remote control 10 ... Main unit side control board 11 ... Water heater 12 ... Hot water storage tank 13 ... Heat pump unit 14 ... Hot water supply heat Exchanger 15 ... Bath 16 ... Tank unit 17 ... Mixing tap 18 ... Expulsion heat exchanger 19 ... Water pipe 20 ... Pipe 21 ... General hot water supply circuit 28 ... Hot water supply circulation pump 29 ... Hot water supply temperature sensor 30a ... First temperature sensor 30b from the top ... Second temperature sensor 30c from the top ... Third temperature sensor 30d from the top ... 4th temperature sensor 30e from the top ... 5th temperature sensor 30f from the top ... 6th temperature sensor 31 from the top ... Flow control valve 33 ... Sounding part 40 ... Outside air Temperature sensor 41: Water level sensor (bathing / bath detection unit)

Claims (4)

Before performing the boiling operation, the boiling heat amount is determined based on the past heat consumption of the hot water storage tank, and the boiling water of the determined boiling heat amount is boiled. In a hot water storage tank type water heater having a first mode for setting a first boiling heat amount and a second mode for setting a boiling heat amount larger than the boiling heat amount in this first mode.
A hot water storage tank type water heater having a third mode in which a boiling heat amount smaller than the boiling heat amount in the first mode is set at the time of the determination. The hot water storage tank has a plurality of temperature sensors in the vertical direction, and when the temperature of a temperature sensor selected in advance among these temperature sensors reaches a preset temperature during the boiling operation, the boiling is performed. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the operation is terminated, and the boiling heat amount in the third mode is terminated by a temperature sensor above the temperature sensor selected in the first mode. Hot water storage tank type hot water supply machine. According to claim 1, when the hot water storage tank is in the boiling operation, the boiling time in the third mode is shorter than the boiling time selected in the first mode. The listed hot water storage tank type water heater. When the boiling operation mode is set, the hot water storage tank is boiled with the same amount of boiling heat as the normal boiling operation when an additional boiling operation is performed due to running out of hot water or the like. The hot water storage tank type water heater according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when it is determined that the predetermined amount of hot water is surplus, the boiling operation is performed again with the minimum amount of boiling heat.

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