JP2022016678A - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water heater capable of performing daytime boiling even on the set day.

SOLUTION: A storage-type water heater including a hot-water shortage prevention function performing boiling control in a case when hot water in a hot water storage tank is reduced, and capable of setting on/off the hot-water shortage prevention function, includes: photovoltaic power generation instruction means for manually giving an instruction for boiling hot water in the hot water storage tank by electricity generated by photovoltaic power generation; and HEMS setting means for setting execution of HEMS daytime boiling according to an instruction on the basis of the instruction from a HEMS controller, and the hot-water shortage prevention function is set to "OFF", when the photovoltaic power generation instruction means is operated, or the setting is performed by the HEMS setting means.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a water heater.

In Patent Document 1, as a photovoltaic power generation linked hot water storage type water heater, when the weather information of the next day from the HEMS device is good and it is said that the photovoltaic power generation can be sufficiently performed, the solar power generation can be sufficiently performed from other time zones. In addition, the amount of boiling water in the boiling operation during the time when the electricity charge is cheap (midnight on the day when the information is received) is reduced, and the required amount of boiling operation is performed with the power generated by the solar cell in the daytime of the next day. It is stated that.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-119732

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, for example, it is assumed that the weather forecast at midnight on the previous day predicts that the weather on the next day is not good, and it is determined that the boiling operation by solar power generation is not scheduled. However, if the weather is good contrary to the forecast on the day, there is a problem that even if the user wants to carry out the daytime boiling on the day using the electricity of the solar power generation, the daytime boiling on the day cannot be carried out. there were.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water heater capable of providing a water heater capable of boiling in the daytime even on the set day.

The present invention made in view of the above circumstances is a hot water storage type water supply machine having a hot water shortage prevention function that controls boiling when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is running low, and the hot water running out prevention function can be turned on and off. Then, the photovoltaic power generation instruction means for manually instructing to boil the hot water in the hot water storage tank by the electricity generated by the photovoltaic power generation, and the HEMS daytime boiling according to the instruction from the HEMS controller. It has a HEMS setting means to be set, and when the photovoltaic power generation instruction means is operated or set by the HEMS setting means, the hot water shortage prevention function is set to "OFF".

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water heater capable of providing a water heater capable of boiling in the daytime even on the set day.

Configuration diagram of the hot water supply system of Example 1 External view of the remote control device of the first embodiment (a)-(m) Setting display screen of Example 1

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, 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 supply machine 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 for detecting the outside air temperature, and a water level sensor 41 for detecting 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 via 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 and the like), and a hot water beam circuit having 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, it is possible to generate hot water for a shower, a faucet, or the like in a kitchen or a bathroom 50. 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 or decrease in the flow rate.

[Remote control device 6]
FIG. 2 is an external view of (a) the remote controller 6.
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 control device 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 sprinkling 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, for example, a predetermined amount of hot water water at a temperature as shown 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, the hot water stored in the bathtub 15 is partially 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 decision 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. 2, 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, it is possible to select an option described later.

By operating the menu button 48, the display unit 5 can display a menu screen that transitions to a screen for changing various settings and the like.

[Boiling operation in midnight time zone (bargain time zone)]
The operation of the boiling operation in the midnight time zone (bargain time zone) will be described. In the boiling operation, the boiling target temperature is calculated by a predetermined calculation 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. .. The boiling time is set based on the contents of the electric power contract that the user has contracted in advance. The boiling operation in the midnight time zone is an operation in which the boiling operation is performed in a cheap time zone (for example, from 23:00 to 7:00) when the electricity charge is cheaper than in other time zones, and the electricity is more than in other time zones. The control to boil the liquid in the hot water storage tank to a predetermined temperature A during the low-priced time zone is called the low-priced time zone boiling control. The required amount of heat is calculated from the amount used based on a predetermined formula or learning control. The temperature A of hot water and the amount of hot water are calculated from this required amount of heat.

[Boiling operation during daytime by solar power generation instruction means or HEMS instruction]
The operation of the boiling operation in the daytime time zone will be described. In the daytime boiling operation, when it is decided in advance that the daytime boiling is performed by the solar power generation instruction means or the HEMS (Home Energy Management System) instruction, the boiling amount due to the midnight time zone is reduced, and the boiling amount is originally midnight. The amount of heat that should have been boiled in the time zone is shifted to the daytime time zone and the boiling operation is carried out. Specifically, for example, if the boiling time in the midnight time is 6 hours from 1 o'clock to 7 o'clock, the boiling in the midnight time is from 4 o'clock so that half of the 3 hours are boiled in the daytime. It is set to 7 o'clock, and if the boiling time in the daytime time zone is from 14:00 to 17:00, the remaining 3 hours are controlled to be boiled in that time zone. The solar power generation instruction means manually gives an instruction to boil the hot water in the hot water storage tank by the electric power generated by the solar power generation by the remote control 6. The HEMS setting means sets the HEMS daytime boiling according to the instruction from the HEMS controller. In this case, the HEMS side determines from the weather information of the next day that the water heater can operate to boil the hot water in the hot water storage tank by using the electric power generated by the solar power generation.

[Boiling operation by the hot water shortage prevention function]
The operation of boiling operation by the hot water shortage prevention function will be described. The prevention of running out of hot water can be set by the user from the remote control device 6, and when the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank drops to a predetermined temperature A or less, the electricity charge is not cheap but sunlight. Even if it is not the electricity generated by the electricity, it will automatically boil up during the daytime. This makes it possible to prevent the hot water from running out. The hot water shortage prevention function can be set to turn on and off. Further, when the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank is low, the boiling operation may be automatically performed.

[Manual setting procedure for using solar power generation with remote control 6]
Next, a procedure for manually setting the operation of boiling the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 with the electric power generated by the solar power generation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a screen transition of the remote controller 6 (there are a bath remote controller and a kitchen remote controller, but the kitchen remote controller is more convenient. However, either display may be used and both may be able to operate the remote controller 6).

FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (j) show the menu screens displayed on the display unit 5 when setting whether or not to carry out daytime boiling. To set whether or not to perform daytime boiling, operate the menu button 48 to display and operate the setting screen as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (j) to operate the daytime boiling operation. Carry out a boiling operation in consideration.

Select "Yes" for "Do you want to set boiling using solar power generation?" On the screen (a) to switch to the screen (b).

When "the day" or "the next day" is selected on the screen (b) and the setting is completed, the daytime boiling is performed only once and this setting is canceled. As a result, the user can reliably use the solar power generation by making a judgment based on the weather on the day or the next day.

Here, since the control for boiling up in a time zone other than the cheap time zone is a time zone in which commercial power is expensive, it is premised that the photovoltaic power generation in the power system supplied by this water heater generates electricity.

If "every day" is selected, daytime boiling will be carried out every day at the set time described later.

Next, the time setting for boiling in the daytime will be described. Explain the settable time zone on the screen (c), and press "OK" to display the screen (d) for setting the start time. When the setting is completed, set the end time on the screen (e). .. If the time zone to be set does not meet the settable condition, it may not be possible to set it, or a screen calling attention may be displayed. Check the time setting on the screen (f) (here, from 10:00 to 14:00 on the bar display). As mentioned above, the usage date can be set by setting the photovoltaic power generation instruction means, but if the same day or the next day is set, it may be difficult to tell the exact date to the user, so the daytime boiling at the end of the setting The date and time when the raising is performed may be displayed on the remote control device 6. Specifically, a screen such as the screen (g) is displayed to prompt the user for final confirmation. This allows the user to confirm that the water heater and his / her own recognition match.

When performing the boiling operation in the daytime by the solar power generation instruction means or the HEMS instruction, the amount of boiling heat in the midnight time is shifted to the daytime to reduce the boiling in the midnight time. At this time, if the hot water shortage prevention function is set at the boiling end time in the midnight time zone, the hot water shortage prevention function is automatically set to "off". As a result, the amount of boiling heat during the midnight hours is reduced compared to normal times, so the amount of heat in the hot water storage tank is also small, and the temperature tends to be below the predetermined temperature A at which the hot water shortage prevention function operates. It is possible to prevent the hot water shortage prevention function from being activated. The screen for making the notification is the screen (h).

When the boiling by the photovoltaic power generation instruction means or the daytime boiling by the HEMS command is completed, the hot water shortage prevention function is automatically returned (returned) to the original setting. As a result, the prevention of running out of hot water, which was originally set by the user, can operate normally in parts other than the main daytime boiling.

When the hot water shortage prevention function is restored, a pop-up screen as shown in the screen (k) is displayed on the remote controller 6 to notify the remote controller 6. As a result, even if the hot water shortage prevention setting is automatically changed and turned on, the user can know that fact.

Next, on the screen (i), it is selected whether or not to notify the setting confirmation guidance again. When "Yes" is selected, the screen (l) is displayed at 19:00. This display is a pop-up screen when the photovoltaic power generation instruction means is set. In this embodiment, even if the setting is not completed, the setting is displayed at a predetermined time (19:00) (not shown). This allows you to check if there is a problem with the contents and if you intend to change it if it is set, and if it is not set, it will be midnight when you boil in the daytime the next day. By setting it before, it is possible to carry out daytime boiling the next day. The reason why the notification time is set to 19:00 is that the start of the midnight time zone is 23:00, and it is considered that the setting and canceling operations can be performed if there are 4 hours.

When this notification setting is completed, the screen (j) notifies that the setting for boiling using solar power generation (setting for boiling in a time zone other than the bargain time zone) is completed.

[Control of boiling using solar power generation]
For the boiling operation during the daytime according to the solar power generation instruction means or the HEMS instruction, for example, when "the next day" is set from 12:00 to 14:00 at 10:00 of the day, the weather of the "day" is observed. (For example, the sunny days suddenly spread around 13:00 on "the day"), and I want to carry out daytime boiling (boiling using solar power generation) as much as possible on "the day". In this case, the daytime boiling can be carried out by selecting "the day" in the daytime time zone of "the day", for example, from 14:00 to 16:00.

This is not set by the solar power generation instruction means, and the same applies when it is desired to boil by solar power generation because the weather is good "on that day".

However, on "the day", the entire amount of hot water used on "the day" has already boiled up from the previous day to the midnight time zone of "the day". Therefore, the hot water storage tank 12 is filled with hot water except for the amount used in the morning, and it is not possible to boil hot water using solar power generation as much as the user desires on "the day".

Therefore, the target boiling temperature for daytime boiling using solar power generation of "the day" is set to the temperature of the hot water boiled in the midnight time zone (bargain time zone) of the "day" from the day before the "day" (target boiling). The target temperature B, which is higher than the predetermined temperature A, which is the rising temperature), is set.

That is, apart from the target temperature A that fluctuates depending on the usage situation of the user, the boiling operation can be performed for a predetermined time at the maximum temperature B that the product can carry out. As a result, the required amount of heat is larger than the total amount of heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12, so that further boiling is possible. And even if the boiling operation has already been carried out in the cheap time zone of "the day" from the previous day, the daytime for the user who wants to perform the daytime boiling as much as possible on "the day" by looking at the weather of the day. It is possible to perform boiling operation.

Regarding the amount of hot water to be boiled at temperature B, since the user wants to convert the electricity generated by sunlight into hot water as much as possible, he / she may continue to make hot water at temperature B for a set time. However, for example, it is necessary to provide a stop condition such as stopping the boiling operation when the fourth temperature sensor 30d from the top reaches the temperature B.

Further, although the temperature B is set as the maximum temperature, the heat amount of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 and the temperature sensor to which the temperature B is reached before the boiling operation is stopped are determined in advance, and the difference from the required heat amount at that time. The amount of heat may be calculated, and the temperature B capable of boiling within a set time may be calculated.

When the temperature of the liquid in the hot water storage tank immediately before the daytime boiling control is set to a predetermined temperature A, the daytime boiling operation is performed. As a result, considering the amount of remaining hot water in the hot water storage tank, that is, if a considerable amount of hot water remains, it is not possible to boil hot water any higher, so it is judged that there is still room for boiling. Only when this happens, the boiling operation is carried out.

By the way, if the time when you try to set the daytime boiling of "the day" is near the evening, the amount of power generated by solar power will decrease and it is not yet in the middle of the night, so it will be a boiling operation with a high electricity rate. turn into.

If the judgment is set before a predetermined time (for example, 16:00), boiling is performed at a temperature higher than the predetermined target temperature (for example, the maximum temperature) on the day. In this case, the end time is the time when the sun does not set throughout the year (for example, 16:45). If it is set after the specified time, the daytime boiling is performed at the specified target temperature in the daytime time zone of the day after "the day" (when there is no setting for the next day). As a result, the user can perform the daytime boiling operation on a day when the daytime boiling can be automatically and appropriately performed without thinking deeply. The setting at this time may be the screen as shown in FIG. 3 (m) instead of the screen shown in FIG. 3 (b). When "once" is selected on the screen of FIG. 3 (m), control is performed so as to automatically determine whether it is the current day or the next day.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the remote controller 6 can easily set the boiling of sunlight. Further, even if the boiling of the required amount of hot water has already been completed in the midnight time zone, it is possible to further boil by solar power generation on that day at the request of the user.

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 ... Bathtub 16 ... Tank unit 17 ... Mixing tap 18 ... Expulsion heat exchanger 19 ... Water pipe 20 ... Piping 21 ... General hot water supply circuit 28 ... Hot water supply circulation pump 29 ... Hot water supply temperature sensor 31 ... Flow control valve 33 ... Sounding unit 40 ... Outside air temperature sensor 41 ... Water level sensor (bathing / bath detection unit)

Claims (3)

It is a hot water storage type water heater that has a hot water shortage prevention function that controls boiling when the hot water in the hot water storage tank is running low, and this hot water shortage prevention function can be turned on and off. It has a photovoltaic power generation instruction means for manually instructing to boil hot water in the hot water storage tank, and a HEMS setting means for setting HEMS daytime boiling according to an instruction from the HEMS controller. A hot water storage type water heater that sets the hot water shortage prevention function to "off" when the photovoltaic power generation instruction means is operated or set by the HEMS setting means. The hot water storage type water heater according to claim 1, wherein when the boiling by the solar power generation instruction means or the HEMS daytime boiling is completed, the hot water shortage prevention function is restored. The hot water storage type water heater according to claim 2, which is notified by a pop-up when it automatically returns.

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