JP2555840B2 - Hot water heater control method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot water supply device equipped with a water amount control valve for controlling the amount of water input so as not to exceed an allowable maximum flow rate calculated based on a set temperature, a water input temperature and a maximum heating capacity. The present invention relates to a water heater control method with improved characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a water heater whose hot water discharge operation is started by operating a switch or starting water flow,
Since the opening of the water quantity control valve is set according to the set temperature, there is a problem that the rising time until the hot water is supplied at the start of hot water is long and the cold water is supplied before the hot water is supplied. It was

Conventionally, means for solving the problems at the start of tapping have been proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-302063.
In the publication, the heating means starts heating the heat exchanger by detecting the water flow to the heat exchanger, and the heating capacity of the heating means, the water flow rate,
A water volume control device for a water heater that determines the opening of a water volume control valve that adjusts the volume of water flowing into a heat exchanger according to the inflow water temperature. It is described that the opening of the control valve is set to a smaller opening than the determined opening, and the opening is increased as the hot water temperature rises to change to the determined opening.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method for controlling the water amount control valve, detection is made at the time of re-hot water (hot start) in which hot water is temporarily stopped and hot water is restarted after a short time. Since the hot water temperature is high (near the set temperature), the water quantity control valve is opened immediately, and a stable hot water temperature cannot be obtained, and hot water starts at a temperature higher than the set temperature (over temperature). There is a problem in that the re-spouting characteristics are not improved, such as when the hot water is started at a temperature much lower than the set temperature (undershoot). Therefore, in order to improve the characteristics of re-releasing hot water, it is conceivable to reduce the opening degree of the water amount control valve for a certain period of time at the start of re-releasing hot water, but as a practical problem, excessive overshoot may occur depending on the conditions. Since the actuation speed of the water flow control valve is slow, the fixed time during which the opening is reduced becomes long, which causes a problem of large overshoot. In addition, in order to improve the characteristics of re-outflow hot water, a system for branching from the inlet channel to join the inlet channel, arranging the secondary channel solenoid valve on the secondary channel, and controlling the opening / closing of the secondary channel solenoid valve is provided. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the tapping property under various conditions by simple sequence control.

The object of the present invention is,
An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water heater control method having an immediate hot water discharge function by improving hot water discharge characteristics at the time of starting hot water discharge or re-steaming hot water under various conditions.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the method of controlling a water heater according to the present invention comprises a heat exchanger, a water inlet channel connected to the heat exchanger inlet side, and a heat exchanger outlet side. And a heating means such as a burner, a water quantity control valve for controlling the water quantity Q, a water quantity detecting means for detecting the water quantity Q, and a water temperature detecting means for detecting the water temperature t _C. In the water heater, the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max of the water input amount Q is calculated based on the set temperature t _S , the water input temperature t _C, and the maximum heating capacity of the heating means.
A water heater control method for controlling a water quantity control valve (Q ≦ Q _max ) so as not to exceed _max (Q ≦ Q _max ) (overflow prevention control),
When the hot water supply is stopped, the opening of the water volume control valve is driven to the specified standby position.
And, at the start hot water supply, during the read time T _R to a preset,
Start flow Q ₀ was passed through, reading time T after _R elapses the incoming water Q the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max is smaller than the initial communication water Q
₁ (Q ₁ <Q _max ), set temperature t _S and incoming water temperature t
Variably set proportionally to the deviation _(t S -t _C) with _C, ie, equation _{T = α · (t S -t} C) + β (α, β are constants) lapse of the waiting time T computed by After that, the amount of water input Q is increased to the above-mentioned allowable maximum flow rate Q _max . Further, in the case of restarting hot water discharge during post purge after the hot water discharge operation is stopped, the waiting time T _P during post purge is made shorter than the normal waiting time after the end of the post purge, and is calculated by the following formula. To do. T _p = T−γ (where γ is a positive constant) With the above-described configuration, the hot water supply stop time is long, the hot water supply starts after the water heater has cooled reliably, or the post-purging or the post-purging is performed again. When tapping hot water, restarting tapping with a small flow rate and increasing the flow rate with an appropriate waiting time, it is stable without being affected by fluctuations in tapping conditions including the length of hot spring stop time. You can take a bath.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The water heater has a heat exchanger 1, a water inlet 2 connected to the water inlet side of the heat exchanger 1, a water outlet 3 connected to the water outlet side of the heat exchanger 1, and the heat exchanger 1 bypassing the heat exchanger 1. Inlet 2 and outlet 3
And a water passage temperature sensor (water inlet temperature detecting means) 5 provided in the water inlet passage 2 for detecting the water inlet temperature T _C , and a water inlet amount sensor (water inlet amount detecting means) 6 for detecting the water inlet amount Q. A hot water temperature sensor 7, which is provided in the hot water passage 3 and detects the hot water temperature t _H , a hot water flow rate control valve, that is, a water amount control valve 8, a front plug 9 provided at a hot water supply location, and a heat exchanger 1. A burner 10 and a gas proportional valve 11 are provided.

When hot water is started (cold start) in a state where the heat exchanger 1 is cooled for a long time after the hot water is stopped, when the front plug 9 is opened, the opening of the water amount control valve 8 is reduced. The water flow rate Q is smaller than the allowable maximum flow rate Q _{max. The} initial water flow rate Q ₁ (Q ₁ <Q _max. ) Is passed (flow rate is limited), and the water flow rate sensor 6 detects the water flow rate Q = Q ₁ and passes it. When water is confirmed, combustion of the burner 14 is started, and after a lapse of a predetermined waiting time T ₀ , the opening of the water quantity control valve 8 is increased to increase the water quantity Q to an allowable maximum flow rate Q _max. (Q = Q _{max .} )
Obtain tap water at the set temperature t _S. The allowable maximum flow rate Q _max.
Is calculated on the basis of the set temperature t _S , the incoming water temperature t _C and the maximum heating capacity of the heating means, and is always used when increasing the incoming water amount Q to the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max. Water input Q does not exceed the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max. (Q ≤ Q
_max. ), the water amount control valve 8 is controlled (overflow prevention control). Since the mixing ratio at the confluence of the tap water passage 3 and the bypass passage 4 is fixed to a predetermined value, the gas proportional valve 11 is controlled when a deviation occurs between the set temperature t _S and the tap water temperature t _H. Then, the combustion amount of the burner 10 is adjusted to control the hot water outlet temperature t _H. Further, a mixing valve is provided at the confluence of the bypass passage 4 and the hot water passage 3, and the opening degree of the mixing valve is initially set so that the mixing ratio of the bypass flow rate Q _B and the can body water flow rate Q _H becomes a predetermined value. If there is a deviation between the set temperature t _S and the tap water temperature t _H , the opening degree is adjusted to change the mixing ratio of the bypass flow rate and the can body water flow rate to change the tap water temperature t _H. It may be controlled.

When the hot water supply stop time is relatively short and the hot water is restarted (post-purging) after the end of the post-purge in a state where the heat exchanger 1 is not cooled (hot start), when the front plug 9 is opened, the water amount control valve 8 the opening is made smaller, the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max. initial water inlet quantity Q ₁ is less than the incoming water Q Rohm & (flow restriction), incoming water sensor 6 detects the incoming water Q = Q ₁ and through When the water is confirmed, the burner 10 starts burning, and after the waiting time T elapses, the opening of the water quantity control valve 8 is increased to increase the water quantity Q.
_Is increased to the permissible maximum flow rate Q _max. (Q = Q _max. ), And overflow prevention control (Q ≦ Q _max. ) Is performed to obtain hot water at the set temperature t _S. The standby time T is variably set according to the heat load at that time, and is calculated by the following equation in proportion to the deviation (t _S −t _C ) between the incoming water temperature t _C and the set temperature t _S. T−β = α · (t _S −t _C ) By modifying the equation, T = α · (t _S −t _C ) + β where α and β are constants and are determined by experiments. In addition,
Originally, the heat load is Q · (t _S −t _C ), and when calculating the waiting time T, T = δ · Q · (t _S −t _C ) + β (δ is a constant). In the present invention, since the amount of water input Q is constant (Q = Q ₁ = const.), It may be calculated based on the deviation (t _S −t _C ) between the water input temperature t _C and the set temperature t _S.

Next, when hot water is again discharged during post-purging while the hot water is stopped, the temperature of the hot water in the heat exchanger 1 is higher than that after the post-purging is completed. When the plug 9 is opened, the opening of the water amount control valve 8 is reduced to allow the initial water amount Q ₁ to be smaller than the allowable maximum flow amount Q _{max. When 1} is detected and hot water is confirmed, combustion of the burner 10 is started, the opening time of the water quantity control valve 8 is increased with a waiting time T _P after detection of hot water, and the water quantity Q is allowed to be the maximum allowable flow rate Q _max. (Q = Q _max. ) And overflow prevention control (Q ≦ Q
Q _max. ) Is performed, but it is preferable that the waiting time T _P be shorter than the waiting time T at the time of re-melting after the post-purge by a predetermined time γ. T _P = T−γ where γ is a positive constant and is determined by experiment.

The control operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2. When the tap 9 is closed and tapping is stopped at time T _OFF , the opening of the water quantity control valve 8 is changed to the initial water quantity Q ₁ (for example, 8 l / mi).
n.) is driven to a standby position, and detection is performed by a standby position detection limiter provided in the water amount control valve 8. When the front tap 9 is opened at the time T _S after the end of the post-purge and the hot water re-starting is started, the water amount control valve 8 is at the standby position.
₁ (for example, 8 l / min.) Should be passed, but if there is a fluctuation (for example, decrease) in the water pressure, the initial water flow Q ₁
A different starting flow rate Q ₀ (for example, 7 l / min.) Is passed. It should be noted that the starting flow rate Q ₀ is smaller than the initial water input amount Q ₁ (Q ₀ <Q ₁ ) when the water input pressure decreases (Q ₀ <Q ₁ ), and is larger than the initial water input amount Q ₁ (Q ₀ > Q ₁ ) when the water input pressure increases. If it does not change, it is equal to the initial water input Q ₁ (Q ₀ = Q
₁ ) Predetermined read time T _R (e.g., 0.8 sec.) Starting flow rate Q ₀ (7l / min.) And passed through to start the flow rate Q between
₀ If (7l / min.) Loading starting flow rate Q ₀ a to verify that different from the initial water inlet quantity Q _1, by adjusting the opening degree of the water amount control valve 8 to the initial incoming water quantity Q ₁ (8l / min.) Control and time T
_The initial water flow rate Q ₁ (8 l / min.) Is passed until the standby time T (for example, 3 sec. Or less) elapses from _S. When the amount of water input Q = Q ₀ is detected and the hot water is confirmed when the flow rate is limited, the burner
Combustion of 10 is started, and since the water input Q is small, the hot water outlet temperature t _H
Rises quickly. At time T _ON after the above-described calculated waiting time T has elapsed, the opening amount of the water amount control valve 8 is increased to increase the water intake amount Q to the maximum allowable flow rate Q _max. (For example, 16 l / min.), And shifts to the over-spill prevention control (Q ≦ Q _max.), to suppress the overshooting of the tapping temperature t _H, promptly to equalize the outgoing hot water temperature t _H at the set temperature t _S.

[0012] When starting hot water discharge again during post-purging,
A standby time T _P shorter than the standby time T after the post-purge by a predetermined time γ is adopted, and similarly, the flow rate restriction is shifted to the overflow control. Also, at the cold start,
Although the control for shifting from the similar flow rate restriction to the overflow control is performed by adopting the standby time T _{0, by} setting the standby time T ₀ to a value not shorter than the standby time T (T ₀ ≧ T), The occurrence of undershoot and overshoot of the tap water temperature t _H is prevented. The control operation of the present invention is shown in FIG.
-Shown in the chart.

When the waiting time T is short, the amount of water input Q is set to the maximum permissible flow rate Q while the hot water outlet temperature t _H has not risen sufficiently.
_{As the} cold water is supplied in a state in which the hot water outlet temperature t _H does not rise sufficiently, as shown in FIG. 3, undershoot of the hot water outlet temperature t _H occurs and the immediate hot water discharge function cannot be satisfied. . When the waiting time T is long, the outlet water temperature t is increased before the amount of water input Q is increased to the maximum allowable flow rate Q _{max.
As H} rises excessively, the hot water outlet temperature t _H overshoots. As mentioned above, the water intake Q
By appropriately setting the standby time T for operating the hot water discharge while limiting the flow rate to a flow rate that is smaller than the allowable maximum flow rate Q _{max. By} a predetermined amount, overshoot or undershoot of the hot water discharge temperature t _H does not occur immediately The hot spring operation can be performed. In particular, in the initial stage of hot start, the hot water comes out first, and then the hot water temperature drops. However, since the hot water temperature is controlled by the waiting time T, the hot water temperature fluctuates and the hot water temperature fluctuates quickly. There is no transition to outflow prevention control.

The constants α, β, and γ for calculating the waiting time T _P are obtained by experiments in the above-mentioned embodiment, but from the time T _{OFF when the} tap 9 is closed to stop tapping, the plug is stopped. It is also possible to obtain it as a function of the elapsed time until the time T _{S at} which 9 is opened and re-emergence starts.

[0015]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, since the timing for shifting from the flow rate restriction at the start of re-hot water to the overflow prevention control is controlled by the waiting time, the hot water generated at the initial stage of hot start There is no fear of an early transition due to the effect of temperature fluctuations, and the standby time is variably set according to the heat load at that time, so the transition should be made at the optimal timing according to the hot water supply conditions. You can In addition, stable tapping characteristics can be achieved without changing the tapping temperature due to changes in conditions when tapping the hot water again during post-purging or after post-purging. The hot spring operation can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water heater to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a control operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph of outlet heated water temperature when the standby time is short.

FIG. 4 is a graph of hot water temperature when the standby time is long.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 heat exchanger, 2 water inlet passage, 3 hot water outlet passage, 4 bypass passage 5 water inlet temperature sensor, 6 water inlet amount sensor, 7 hot water outlet temperature sensor 8 hot water outlet flow control valve (water amount control valve), 9 front plug, 10 burner, 11 gas Proportional valve

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water heater comprising a heat exchanger, a water inlet, a hot water outlet, a heating means, a water quantity control valve, a water quantity detecting means, and a water temperature detecting means, the set temperature t _S , A water heater control that calculates an allowable maximum flow rate Q _max of the incoming water quantity Q based on the incoming water temperature t _C and the maximum heating capacity of the heating means, and controls the water quantity control valve so that the incoming water quantity Q does not exceed the allowable maximum flow rate Q _max. The method is to open the water quantity control valve when the hot water supply is stopped.
Drive to a predetermined standby position and set in advance at the start of hot water supply.
Boss was read during the time T _R, is passed through a start-up flow rate Q _0, read
Write open time T _R after the lapse permit incoming water Q maximum flow rate Q water control valve so that a small initial communication water Q ₁ than _max
The water heater is characterized in that the water input amount Q is increased to an allowable maximum flow rate Q _max after a lapse of a standby time T which is variably set proportionally to the deviation between the set temperature t _S and the water input temperature t _C. Control method. 2. The water heater control method according to claim 1, wherein when the hot spring is restarted during the post-purge, the waiting time T _p is set shorter than the normal waiting time T.