JP3584464B2

JP3584464B2 - Instant hot water supply device and operation control method thereof

Info

Publication number: JP3584464B2
Application number: JP2000005984A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 浩志太田; 英也 ▲寿▼山; 秀和福井; 浩之多田; 宏和桑原
Original assignee: Noritz Corp
Current assignee: Noritz Corp
Priority date: 2000-01-07
Filing date: 2000-01-07
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-07
Also published as: JP2001193955A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、給湯配管に接続された末端カランから開栓とほぼ同時に設定出湯温度の湯水を出湯させるために用いられる即時出湯装置に関し、特に、即湯循環回路を形成しその即湯循環回路内の湯水の加熱源として温水暖房装置等の他の循環加熱回路から循環供給される温水を用いたものに係る。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、この種の即時出湯装置においては、上記他の循環加熱回路から熱源として温水を引き込み、この温水と即湯循環回路内の湯水とを熱交換器において液−液熱交換させることにより即湯循環回路内の湯水を加熱させるようになっている。そして、上記他の循環加熱回路が温水暖房装置であると、その温水暖房装置から上記熱交換器への温水の循環供給の断続が開閉弁の開閉作動により行われ、この開閉弁の開閉作動制御により上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を所定温度に保温するようになっている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、上記の如き温水暖房装置において用いられる開閉弁としては熱動弁が一般的に用いられ、この熱動弁はワックスサーモエレメントを内蔵した電動弁であり、その開閉作動、特に開作動が正常に行われているか否かのチェックが必要となる。ここで、温水暖房装置の技術分野においては、上記熱動弁の故障検出のために温水の循環加熱回路の循環ポンプの吐出側に一つの温度検出手段を設け、この温度検出値の上昇度合の如何により上記熱動弁が確実に閉作動したか否かの判定を行うようにする技術が知られている（例えば特開平１１−３２５４８７号公報参照）。
【０００４】
しかしながら、このような熱動弁の故障検出のための技術を上記即時出湯装置における熱交換器への熱源用温水の循環供給を断続させるための開閉弁に適用すると、温度検出値の変化が循環回路を一周してからでないと検出し得ず、熱動弁等の開閉弁の開閉作動のチェックに時間を要することになる。これは、その循環回路の全長が長い程、上記開閉作動のチェックに要する時間が増大することになる。
【０００５】
しかも、例えば給湯配管から比較的高温の出湯が行われて即湯循環回路内の湯水が比較的高温状態になっている場合には、液−液熱交換による吸熱が殆どなく判定のための有意な温度変化が生じないため判定不能の事態もしくは開作動しているのに閉じているとの誤判定を招くおそれがある上に、上記即湯循環回路に給湯配管から比較的高温の出湯が流入した直後には熱交換器で加熱されていないにも拘わらず温度変化ありとの誤判定を招くおそれもある。
【０００６】
さらに、特に装置を設置した後に行う試運転時においては、温水暖房装置の循環加熱回路側では常温状態の水を加熱しながら熱交換器に循環供給する一方、即湯循環回路側でも内部に充満された水を上記熱交換器に通して循環させると、熱源側（循環加熱回路側）が昇温途上にありながら吸熱側（即湯循環回路側）でも循環流動することになって、温度検出手段による温度検出値の変化が微増状態となる。この結果、判定のための有意な温度変化が生じないため、上記と同様に判定不能の事態もしくは開作動しているのに閉じているとの誤判定を招くおそれがある。
【０００７】
本発明は、このような事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的とするところは、即湯循環回路内の湯水が他の循環加熱回路からの温水を熱源とする熱交換器において加熱される即時出湯装置において、その熱源用温水の循環供給を断続させる熱動弁等の開閉弁の開閉チェックをより迅速にかつより正確に行い得るようにすることにある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、本発明は、即湯循環回路の熱交換器入口側及び出口側の双方で温度検出を行い、両温度検出値の温度差に基づいて熱源用温水の循環供給が正常に行われているか否か、つまり、開閉弁が正常に開作動しているか否かを判定すること、又は、特に熱源用温水がまだ常温状態の水である試運転時にはその熱源用温水が所定温度まで昇温するまで即湯循環回路側の循環ポンプを停止させることにより試運転時であっても上記温度差がより顕著に発現するようにすることを基本特定事項とするものである。
【０００９】
具体的には、即時出湯装置に係る第１の発明は、末端カランに給湯する給湯配管の少なくとも一部を含んで構成される即時出湯用の即湯循環回路と、この即湯循環回路内の湯水を循環させる循環ポンプと、上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を循環加熱させることにより設定温度に保温するように運転制御する運転制御手段とを備えた即時出湯装置を対象にして以下の特定事項を備えるものである。すなわち、上記即湯循環回路の途中に配設され他の循環加熱回路から循環供給される温水を熱源として上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を加熱する熱交換器と、この熱交換器への上記温水の循環供給を断続切換えする開閉弁と、上記即湯循環回路の熱交換器への入口側及び出口側の湯水の温度を検出する一対の温度検出手段とを備えるものとする。そして、上記運転制御手段として、上記開閉弁が開作動されかつ上記循環ポンプが作動された状態で、上記一対の温度検出手段による両温度検出値に基づく検出温度差を予め設定した設定温度差と比較することにより上記熱源用温水が熱交換器へ循環供給されているか否かの循環供給不良を判定する循環判定部を備えるものとすることを特定事項とするものである。
【００１０】
この第１の発明の場合、開閉弁が正常に開作動して熱交換器に対し熱源用温水を循環供給していれば、即湯循環回路内の温水は熱交換器を通過することによりその熱源用温水から吸熱し、熱交換器出口側の温度は入口側のそれよりも昇温することになる。逆に、上記開閉弁に開作動異常が生じると熱交換器に対する熱源用温水の循環供給が阻害され、即湯循環回路内の湯水が熱交換器を通過しても昇温度合は限られたものとなる。従って、即湯循環回路の熱交換器入口側と出口側との双方の温度を検出し、それらの温度差に基づいて循環判定部での判定を行うことにより、他の循環加熱回路側の熱源用温水が熱交換器に対し循環供給されているか否かの判定が行い得ることになる。そして、上記の如く即湯循環回路の熱交換器入口側と出口側との双方の温度検出値の温度差に基づいて判定を行うようにしているため、従来の一箇所での温度検出値により判定する技術のように加熱された湯水が循環回路を一周循環して初めて上記温度検出値の変化として表れる場合と比べ、加熱（熱交換器での吸熱）による湯水温度の変化が迅速に検出されることになる。しかも、このような作用を即湯循環回路の全長の長短如何に拘わらず得られることになる。このため、熱源用温水の熱交換器への循環供給不良、すなわち、開閉弁を開作動制御したにも拘わらず故障等により正常に開作動していない開作動異常の発生を迅速に検出することが可能になる。これにより、開閉弁の開閉チェックの判定時間を従来技術よりも大幅に短縮化することが可能になり、開作動異常発生を検出した時の以後の対処も迅速に行い得ることになる。
【００１１】
また、特に試運転時に好適に適用される第２の発明は、上記第１の発明と同様に、末端カランに給湯する給湯配管の少なくとも一部を含んで構成される即時出湯用の即湯循環回路と、この即湯循環回路内の湯水を循環させる循環ポンプと、上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を循環加熱させることにより設定温度に保温するように運転制御する運転制御手段とを備えた即時出湯装置を対象にして、以下の特定事項を備えるものである。すなわち、上記即湯循環回路の途中に配設され他の循環加熱回路から循環供給される温水を熱源として上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を加熱する熱交換器と、この熱交換器への上記温水の循環供給を断続切換えする開閉弁と、上記即湯循環回路の熱交換器への入口側及び出口側の湯水の温度を検出する一対の温度検出手段とを備えるものとする。そして、上記運転制御手段は試運転制御部を備えたものとし、この試運転制御部として、上記開閉弁を開作動させて上記他の循環加熱回路に対し循環加熱要求指令を出力した後に設定遅延時間の経過を待ってから上記循環ポンプの作動を開始させ、この循環ポンプの作動開始後に上記一対の温度検出手段による両温度検出値に基づく検出温度差を予め設定した設定温度差と比較することにより上記熱源用温水が熱交換器へ循環供給されているか否かの循環供給不良を判定する構成とすることを特定事項とするものである。
【００１２】
この第２の発明の場合、上記他の循環加熱回路で循環加熱要求指令に基づき当初は常温状態の水から加熱されて徐々に熱源用温水にまで昇温して行く間（設定遅延時間が経過する間）、即湯循環回路側の循環ポンプの作動が停止され滞留状態になっているため、上記熱源用温水の昇温に伴い熱交換器内の即湯循環回路に滞留する水が加温されることになる。そして、上記設定遅延時間の経過により循環ポンプを作動させて即湯循環回路の熱交換器入口側と出口側との双方の温度を検出すると、開閉弁が正常に開作動していれば両者の温度検出値の温度差は、上記他の循環加熱回路での昇温途上の間にも即湯循環回路を循環させ続ける場合と比べかなり大きい値となって表れることになる。従って、試運転時においても確実に上記他の循環加熱回路側の循環供給不良、すなわち、開閉弁の開作動異常が生じているか否かの判定及び検出が確実に精度よく行い得ることになる。
【００１３】
さらに、上記の試運転時の運転制御方法に係る第３の発明は、末端カランに給湯する給湯路の少なくとも一部を含んで構成される即時出湯用の即湯循環回路と、この即湯循環回路内の湯水を循環させる循環ポンプと、上記即湯循環回路の途中に配設され他の循環加熱回路から循環供給される温水を熱源として上記即湯循環回路内の湯水を加熱する熱交換器と、この熱交換器への上記温水の循環供給を断続切換えする開閉弁とを備えた即時出湯装置についての運転制御方法を対象にして以下の試運転制御に係る特定事項を備えるものである。すなわち、まず、上記給湯路及び即湯循環回路に水を充満させる一方、上記開閉弁を開作動させて上記他の循環加熱回路に水を充満させ、次に、上記他の循環加熱回路での加熱作動によりその循環水が所定温度の温水に到達するまでに要する時間として予め設定した設定遅延時間の経過を待ってから上記循環ポンプの作動を開始させ、この循環ポンプの作動開始直後に上記即湯循環回路内を流れる湯水の熱交換器入口側と出口側との温度差を検出し、この検出した温度差と予め設定した設定温度差とを比較することにより上記温水が熱交換器へ循環供給されているか否かを検出するようにすることを特定事項とするものである。
【００１４】
この第３の発明の場合、上記の第２の発明により得られる作用と同じ作用が得られることになる。
【００１５】
【発明の効果】
以上、説明したように、即時出湯装置に係る第１の発明によれば、従来の一箇所での温度検出値により開閉弁の開閉作動異常を検出する技術と比べ、熱源用温水の循環供給状態、すなわち、開閉弁の開閉チェックを判定するための時間、あるいは、開閉弁の開作動異常に基づく循環供給不良を検出するための時間を大幅に短縮化することができ、開作動異常発生を検出した時の以後の対処も迅速に行うことができることになる。その上に、即湯循環回路の全長の長短如何に影響されることなく、上記の判定あるいは検出をより精度良く行うことができるようになる。
【００１６】
また、即時出湯装置に係る第２の発明もしくはその運転制御方法に係る第３の発明によれば、熱源用温水がまだ常温状態の水である試運転時であっても、開閉弁の開作動異常に基づく熱源側の循環加熱回路から熱交換器への循環供給不良が発生しているか否かの判定及び検出を誤判定することなく確実にかつ迅速に行うことができるようになる。
【００１７】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
【００１８】
図１は、本発明の実施形態に係る即時出湯装置１００が組み込まれたシステムの全体図を示し、２００は給湯装置、３００は他の循環加熱回路としての温水暖房装置である。すなわち、本システムは、温水暖房装置３００から循環供給される温水を熱源として即時出湯装置１００での湯水を加熱するものである。
【００１９】
上記給湯装置２００は、燃料及び燃焼用空気の供給を受けて燃焼する燃焼器２１と、この燃焼器２１により加熱される熱交換器２２と、この熱交換器２２に対し水道管からの水を入水させる入水管２３と、上記熱交換器２２で設定出湯温度まで加熱された湯水を各末端カラン２４に対し出湯させる給湯配管としての出湯管２５とを備えている。この給湯装置２００は、図示省略のコントローラ及びこのコントローラと通信可能なリモートコントローラ（以下、「リモコン」という）を備え、このコントローラはいずれかの末端カラン２４の開栓に基づく最低作動流量の検出を受けて上記燃焼器等の作動を制御することにより、ユーザーがリモコンに設定した設定出湯温度の湯水を出湯管２５に対し出湯させるようになっている。なお、図中２６は逆止弁であり、この逆止弁２６は出湯管２５からの出湯が停止している間、後述の即湯循環回路１からの湯水が逆流しないようにするものである。
【００２０】
上記即時出湯装置１００は、上記出湯管２５の各末端カラン２４側部分を含んで構成される即湯循環回路１と、上記温水暖房装置３００の後述の循環加熱回路３３から循環可能に連通接続された端末循環管路２と、この端末循環管路２を熱源側とし上記即湯循環回路１を吸熱側として液−液熱交換させる熱交換器３と、運転制御手段としてのコントローラ４とを備えたものである。
【００２１】
上記即湯循環回路１は、各末端カラン２４側に上流端が連通接続された往き管１ａと、上流端が上記熱交換器３を介して上記往き管１ａの下流端に連通し下流端が上記出湯管２５に連通接続された戻り管１ｂとを備えたものである。そして、上記即湯循環回路１には、この即湯循環回路１内に湯水を循環させる循環ポンプ５と、この循環ポンプ５の作動により即湯循環回路１内を流れる湯水の流量を検出する水量検出手段６と、上記熱交換器３の入口側の湯水の温度を検出する温度検出手段としての入口側サーミスタ７と、上記熱交換器３の出口側の湯水の温度を検出する温度検出手段としての出口側サーミスタ８とが設けられている。
【００２２】
上記端末循環管路２は、後述の循環加熱回路３３の主往き管３３ｂから下流端が分岐して上流端が上記熱交換器３に接続される往き管２ｂと、この往き管２ｂに対し上流端が上記熱交換器３を介して連通接続されて下流端が後述の主戻り管３３ａに合流する戻り管２ａとからなる。そして、往き管２ｂもしくは戻り管２ａの一方（図例では戻り管２ａ）には開閉弁としての熱動弁９が介装され、この熱動弁９の開閉作動により熱交換器３に対する循環加熱回路３３からの温水の循環供給を断続切換えが行われるようになっている。
【００２３】
上記温水暖房装置３００は、燃料及び燃焼用空気の供給を受けて燃焼する燃焼器３１と、この燃焼器３１により加熱される熱交換器３２と、この熱交換器３２を挟んで閉回路を構成する主戻り管３３ａ及び主往き管３３ｂからなる循環加熱回路３３と、この循環加熱回路３３に上記熱交換器３２で加熱された所定温度の温水を循環させる循環ポンプ３４と、タンク３５と、上記燃焼器３１や循環ポンプ３４等の作動を制御する熱源側コントローラ３６とを備えている。上記循環加熱回路３３の主戻り管３３ａ及び主往き管３３ｂには床下暖房機器や上記の熱交換器３等に温水を循環供給する複数の端末循環管路２等が接続されて、上記循環ポンプ３４の作動により所定温度の温水が各端末循環管路２等に循環供給されるようになっている。また、上記熱源側コントローラ３６は、温水暖房装置側の各種情報に基づいて独自に制御を行う一方、上記コントローラ４からの指令を受けて上記燃焼器３１や循環ポンプ３４の作動制御を行うようにもなっている。
【００２４】
上記コントローラ４は、水量検出手段６からの流量検出値と、入口側サーミスタ７からの温度検出値と、出口側サーミスタ８からの温度検出値と、及び、リモコン４ａにより入力設定された各種指令とを受けて、循環ポンプ５の作動制御と、熱動弁９の開閉作動制御と、熱源側コントローラ３６への指令出力と、上記リモコン４ａへの各種表示処理とを基本処理として行うようになっている。
【００２５】
以下、図２及び図３に示すフローチャートに基づいて上記コントローラ４による制御を詳細に説明する。
【００２６】
まず、図２は即時出湯装置１００等を新設して各配管１ａ，１ｂ，２ａ，２ｂを接続した後に通常運転に入る前の試運転時に実行される試運転制御部４１による制御を示すものである。
【００２７】
まず、前提作業として、給湯装置２００の入水管２３を水道管に接続することにより入水管２３及び出湯管２５とに水を充満させ、即時出湯装置１００の循環ポンプ５を作動させて即湯循環回路１に水を充満させる（ステップＳ１）。水が充満したら上記循環ポンプ５の作動を一旦停止させる。そして、熱動弁９を開作動して温水暖房装置３００の循環加熱回路３３及び各端末循環管路２等に水張りを行う（ステップＳ２及びステップＳ３）。
【００２８】
次に、熱源側に加熱循環要求指令を出力する。すなわち、熱源側としての温水暖房装置３００のコントローラ３６に対し加熱循環要求指令を出力する（ステップＳ４）。これにより、上記コントローラ３６により循環ポンプ３４及び燃焼器３１がそれぞれ作動されて、循環加熱回路３３内の水が熱交換器３２で徐々に昇温されながらその循環加熱回路３３及び各端末循環管路２等に循環されることになる。つまり、上記熱動弁９が正常に開作動されていれば、昇温途上の温水が熱交換器３の熱源側を通過して循環されることになる。そして、この状態を設定遅延時間ｔｄｙだけ継続させる（ステップＳ５）。この設定遅延時間の経過を待つことにより、上記熱交換器３に循環供給される温水は例えば６０℃〜８０℃まで昇温される。すると、この温水を熱源として熱交換器３の即湯循環回路１内に滞留している水が加熱されることになり、次ステップの循環ポンプ５の作動により加熱された湯水が出口側サーミスタ８と接触する一方、入口側サーミスタ７には非加熱の湯水が接触することになる。つまり、上記設定遅延時間ｔｄｙは、熱交換器３に循環供給される温水が熱交換器３内の即湯循環回路１に滞留する水を後述の設定温度差δｔ以上の温度差を生じさせる程度の熱源として昇温するまでに要する時間値が設定されている。このような時間値は予め試験等を行うことにより求めればよい。
【００２９】
このような状態で上記設定遅延時間ｔｄｙが経過すれば、即湯側の循環ポンプ５の作動を開始し（ステップＳ６）、入口側サーミスタ７及び出口側サーミスタ８からの各温度検出値Ｔｅ，Ｔｏに基づいて両者の温度差δｄを検出する（ステップＳ７）。そして、この温度差δｄが設定温度差δｔ（例えば３℃）以上の状態が作動判定時間ｔａ（例えば１０ｓｅｃ）だけ連続しているか否かの判別を行う（ステップＳ８）。この判別において、「ＹＥＳ」ならば熱動弁９が正常に開作動して熱源用の温水が熱交換器３に正常に循環供給されていると判定（熱動弁正常判定；ステップＳ９）する一方、「ＮＯ」ならば熱動弁９の開作動に異常が生じて上記循環供給が不良状態になっていると判定（熱動部異常判定）して熱動部異常判定時の処理を行う（ステップＳ１０）。なお、上記作動判定時間ｔａとしてはゼロを含む微小時間を設定するようにしてもよい。
【００３０】
上記熱動弁異常判定処理としては、リモコン４ａに対し熱動弁９の開作動に異常があることを検出した旨の表示もしくは点滅を行し、試運転を行っている作業者等に報知する。なお、これに加えて、もしくは、単独で、ブザー等の吹鳴を行うようにしてもよい。また、熱動弁正常判定の場合にも、積極的に正常である旨の表示を上記リモコン４ａに行うようにしてもよい。
【００３１】
そして、入口側サーミスタ７の温度検出値Ｔｅが試運転用の設定高温度Ｔｄｈ（例えば４０℃）以上ではないことを確認した後に（ステップＳ１１）、熱動弁９を閉作動し（ステップＳ１３）、熱源側への加熱循環要求指令をＯＦＦにし（ステップＳ１４）、循環ポンプ５の作動を停止する（ステップＳ１５）。上記ステップＳ１１で温度検出値Ｔｅが設定高温度Ｔｄｈ以上であれば、リモコン４ａに対し即湯循環回路１内の湯水温度が末端カラン２４から出湯させるには熱すぎる温度である旨の注意表示を行い、試運転を行っている作業者等に報知させる（ステップＳ１２）。
【００３２】
図３は試運転終了後の通常運転時における通常運転制御部４２による制御が示されている。この通常運転時においては、熱源側である温水暖房装置３００側ではコントローラ３６の制御により循環加熱回路３３には所定の設定温度（例えば８０℃）の温水が循環されている一方、即時出湯装置１００側では後述の各種チェックに加え、出湯管２５からの出湯が停止された期間内に即湯循環回路１内の湯水がユーザー設定の設定出湯温度を維持するように間欠的に熱交換器３による加熱制御が基本制御として行われている。
【００３３】
まず、リモコン４ａの即湯運転スイッチがユーザーによりＯＮ操作されていることを確認した後（ステップＳ２１）、循環ポンプ５を作動させる（ステップＳ２２）。そして、水量検出手段６からの流量検出値に基づいて上記循環ポンプ５の作動能力に応じて定められた所定の設定流量（例えば１．５Ｌ／ｍｉｎ）が所定の設定時間（例えば１０ｓｅｃ）だけ連続して流れているか否かの判別を行い（ステップＳ２３）、「ＮＯ」ならば循環ポンプ５の故障と判定してリモコン４ａに対し故障表示を行う（ステップＳ２４）。
【００３４】
上記ステップＳ２３で「ＹＥＳ」ならば循環ポンプ５は正常に作動していると判定して、熱動弁９を開作動して上記のステップＳ４と同様に熱源側コントローラ３６に対し加熱循環要求指令を出力する（ステップＳ２５及びステップＳ２６）。これにより、熱動弁９が正常に開作動していれば熱交換器３に対し循環加熱回路３３から所定温度の温水が熱源として循環供給され、この温水により即湯循環回路１内の湯水が加熱されることになる。
【００３５】
次に、入口側サーミスタ７の温度検出値Ｔｅが後述の異常判定のための設定上限温度Ｔｄｂ（例えば４０℃）よりも低温側であることを確認し（ステップＳ２７）、低温側であればステップＳ２８以降の熱動弁９の異常判定を行う一方、上記設定上限温度Ｔｄｂ以上であればその熱動弁９の異常判定を行わずに、つまり異常判定を禁止してステップＳ３３以降の即湯循環回路１内の湯水の保温制御を行う。
【００３６】
上記熱動弁９の異常判定は、入口側サーミスタ７及び出口側サーミスタ８からの各温度検出値Ｔｅ，Ｔｏに基づいて両者の温度差δｄを検出する（ステップＳ２８）。そして、この温度差δｄが設定温度差δｔ（例えば３℃）以上の状態が作動判定時間ｔａ（例えば１０ｓｅｃ）だけ連続しているか否かの判別を行う（ステップＳ２９）。この判別において、「ＮＯ」ならばさらにその「ＮＯ」の状態が異常判定時間ｔｂ（例えば３０ｍｉｎ）だけ継続しているか否かの判別を行い、未継続であれば上記ステップＳ２７〜Ｓ２９までの各処理を行う一方、上記異常判定時間ｔｂだけ継続してその時間が経過したのであれば熱動弁９の開作動に異常が生じて上記循環供給が不良状態になっていると判定（熱動弁異常判定）して熱動弁異常判定時の処理を行う（ステップＳ３１）。この熱動弁異常判定処理は上記のステップＳ１０において説明した処理と同じである。そして、後述のステップＳ３６以降の作動停止処理を行う。一方、上記ステップＳ２９の判別において「ＹＥＳ」であれば、熱動弁９が正常に開作動して熱源用の温水が熱交換器３に正常に循環供給されていると判定し（熱動弁正常判定；ステップＳ３２）、ステップＳ３３以降の保温制御を行う。
【００３７】
保温制御は、まず、上記入口側サーミスタ７の温度検出値Ｔｅと出口側サーミスタ８の温度検出値Ｔｏとの平均温度Ｔｎが設定出湯温度Ｔｄ以上の状態が温度判定時間ｔｃ（例えば１０ｓｅｃ）だけ連続しているか否かの判別を行う（ステップＳ３３）。この判別において、「ＮＯ」であれば以上の各ステップを繰り返して熱交換器３での加熱を継続させる一方、「ＹＥＳ」であれば上記ステップＳ１１と同様に入口側サーミスタ７の温度検出値Ｔｅが通常運転用の設定高温度Ｔｄｈ（例えば６０℃）以上ではないことを確認した後に（ステップＳ３４）、作動停止制御を行う。なお、上記温度検出値Ｔｅが設定高温度Ｔｄｈ以上であれば、リモコン４ａに対し即湯循環回路１内の湯水温度が末端カラン２４から出湯させるには熱すぎる温度である旨の注意表示を行いユーザーに報知させた後に（ステップＳ３５）、上記作動停止制御を行う。
【００３８】
上記作動停止制御としては、熱動弁９を閉作動し（ステップＳ３６）、熱源側への加熱循環要求指令をＯＦＦにし（ステップＳ３７）、循環ポンプ５の作動を停止する（ステップＳ３８）。
【００３９】
以上の各ステップの内、ステップＳ２７〜ステップＳ３２が循環判定部４３を構成する。
【００４０】
＜他の実施形態＞
なお、本発明は上記実施形態に限定されるものではなく、その他種々の実施形態を包含するものである。すなわち、上記実施形態では、熱交換器３に循環供給する熱源媒体として温水暖房装置３００からの温水を利用した場合について説明したが、これに限らず、「他の循環加熱回路」として温水暖房装置３００以外の温水が循環供給される装置を利用するようにしてもよい。
【００４１】
また、上記実施形態では開閉弁として熱動弁９を用いた場合について説明したが、これに限らず、開閉弁として上記熱動弁９以外の形式の電磁弁等を用い、これに本発明を適用するようにしてもよい。
【００４２】
さらに、以上説明した技術を別の視点から俯瞰すると、以下のような一次側循環回路側の熱動弁の開閉作動状態を二次側循環回路の熱交換器入口側及び出口側に設けた一対の温度検出手段による検出に基づいて判定する判定制御技術としても把握することができる。すなわち、液−液間で熱交換させる熱交換器（例えば熱交換器３）に対し、加熱源となる第１の液体を循環供給する一次側循環回路（例えば循環加熱回路３３）と、上記第１の液体から吸熱する第２の液体を循環供給する二次側循環回路（例えば即湯循環回路１）とが接続され、上記一次側循環回路には上記熱交換器に対する上記第１の液体の循環供給を断続可能に切換える開閉弁（例えば熱動弁９）が介装される一方、上記二次側循環回路には上記熱交換器の入口側及び出口側のそれぞれに上記第２の液体の温度を検出する温度検出手段（例えば入口側及び出口側サーミスタ７，８）が配設され、上記一対の温度検出手段による両温度検出値の差の大小如何に基づいて上記開閉弁の開閉作動状態を判定するように構成されている判定制御装置（例えばコントローラ４）である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態が適用されるシステムの全体説明図である。
【図２】試運転制御部の制御を示すフローチャートである。
【図３】通常運転制御部の制御を示すフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１即湯循環回路
３熱交換器
４コントローラ（運転制御手段）
５循環ポンプ
７入口側サーミスタ（入口側温度検出手段）
８出口側サーミスタ（出口側温度検出手段）
９熱動弁（開閉弁）
２４末端カラン
２５出湯管（給湯配管）
３３循環加熱回路（他の循環加熱回路）
４１試運転制御部
４３循環判定部
１００即時出湯装置[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an instant hot water tapping device used for tapping hot water at a set tapping temperature almost simultaneously with opening from a terminal curan connected to a hot water supply pipe, and more particularly, to a quick tap water circulation circuit, in which a quick tap water circulation circuit is formed. And hot water circulated from another circulating heating circuit such as a hot water heating device as a heating source of hot water.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in this type of instant tapping device, hot water is drawn in from the other circulating heating circuit as a heat source, and the hot water and hot water in the hot water circulating circuit are subjected to liquid-liquid heat exchange in a heat exchanger. The hot and cold water in the circulation circuit is heated. If the other circulating heating circuit is a hot water heating device, the circulation of hot water from the hot water heating device to the heat exchanger is interrupted by opening and closing the open / close valve. Thus, the hot water in the instant hot water circulation circuit is kept at a predetermined temperature.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a thermal valve is generally used as an open / close valve used in the above-mentioned hot water heating apparatus, and this thermal valve is an electric valve having a built-in wax thermoelement. It is necessary to check whether or not this is being done. Here, in the technical field of the hot water heating device, one temperature detecting means is provided on the discharge side of the circulating pump of the circulating heating circuit of the hot water in order to detect the failure of the thermal valve, and the degree of increase of the detected temperature value is determined. There is known a technique for determining whether or not the thermal valve has reliably closed (see, for example, JP-A-11-325487).
[0004]
However, when such a technology for detecting a failure of the heat valve is applied to an on-off valve for interrupting the circulation of hot water for a heat source to the heat exchanger in the instant hot water supply device, a change in the temperature detection value is circulated. It cannot be detected until the circuit has completed one round, and it takes time to check the opening / closing operation of an on-off valve such as a thermal valve. This means that the longer the entire length of the circulation circuit is, the longer the time required for checking the opening / closing operation becomes.
[0005]
In addition, for example, when hot water is supplied from a hot water supply pipe and hot water in the hot water circulation circuit is in a relatively high temperature state, there is almost no heat absorption due to liquid-liquid heat exchange and significant heat for determination is obtained. In addition, there is a danger that the determination cannot be made because there is no significant temperature change, or a false determination may be made that the valve is closed even though it is open, and a relatively hot tap water flows from the hot water supply pipe into the hot water circulation circuit. Immediately after that, there is a possibility that an erroneous determination that there is a temperature change may be caused even though the heat exchanger is not heated by the heat exchanger.
[0006]
In addition, particularly during a test operation performed after the installation of the apparatus, the circulation heating circuit side of the hot water heating apparatus circulates and supplies the water at a normal temperature to the heat exchanger while heating the water, while the hot water circulation circuit side also fills the inside. When the circulated water is circulated through the heat exchanger, the heat source side (circulation heating circuit side) circulates and flows on the heat absorption side (quick hot water circulation circuit side) while the temperature is rising. The change in the temperature detection value due to is slightly increased. As a result, a significant temperature change for the determination does not occur, which may cause a situation where the determination is impossible or an erroneous determination that the door is closed even though it is open.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to heat hot water in an instant hot water circulation circuit in a heat exchanger using hot water from another circulation heating circuit as a heat source. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to more quickly and more accurately check the opening and closing of an on-off valve such as a thermal valve that interrupts the circulation of hot water for a heat source.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention performs temperature detection on both the inlet side and the outlet side of the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit, and circulates and supplies hot water for a heat source based on the temperature difference between both temperature detection values. It is determined whether or not the operation is performed normally, that is, whether or not the on-off valve is operating normally. The basic specific matter is to stop the circulation pump on the side of the hot water circulation circuit until the temperature rises to the temperature so that the above-mentioned temperature difference becomes more remarkable even during the test operation.
[0009]
Specifically, the first invention of the instant hot water dispenser includes an instant hot water circulation circuit including at least a part of a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water to the terminal curan, and an instant hot water circulation circuit in the instant hot water circulation circuit. The following specific items are applied to an instant hot water supply device including a circulation pump for circulating hot water and operation control means for controlling the operation so as to maintain the temperature at a set temperature by circulating and heating the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit. It is provided with. That is, a heat exchanger which is provided in the middle of the hot water circulation circuit and heats hot water in the hot water circulation circuit by using hot water circulated and supplied from another circulation heating circuit as a heat source; An on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulating supply of hot water and a pair of temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water on the inlet side and the outlet side to the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit. Then, as the operation control means, in a state where the on-off valve is opened and the circulation pump is operated, a detection temperature difference based on both temperature detection values by the pair of temperature detection means and a preset temperature difference are set. It is a specific matter to include a circulation determination unit that determines a circulating supply failure based on the comparison as to whether or not the heat source hot water is circulatingly supplied to the heat exchanger.
[0010]
In the case of the first invention, if the on-off valve is normally opened and the hot water for a heat source is circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger, the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit passes through the heat exchanger, Heat is absorbed from the hot water for a heat source, and the temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger is higher than that at the inlet. Conversely, when the opening / closing valve is abnormally opened, the circulation of hot water for the heat source to the heat exchanger is hindered, and the temperature rise is limited even when hot water in the hot water circulation circuit passes through the heat exchanger. It will be. Therefore, by detecting the temperature of both the inlet side and the outlet side of the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit, and making a determination in the circulation determination unit based on the temperature difference, the heat source in the other circulation heating circuit side It can be determined whether the hot water is being circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger. As described above, since the determination is performed based on the temperature difference between the temperature detection values of both the inlet side and the outlet side of the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit, the temperature detection value at one location in the related art is used. Compared to the case where the heated water and hot water circulates through the circulation circuit and appears as a change in the temperature detection value only as in the determination technique, the change in the water temperature due to heating (heat absorption in the heat exchanger) is detected quickly. Will be. In addition, such an action can be obtained regardless of the length of the entire hot water circulation circuit. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly detect a failure in circulating supply of hot water for a heat source to the heat exchanger, that is, an occurrence of an open operation abnormality in which the open / close valve is not normally opened due to a failure or the like despite being controlled to open. Becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to significantly reduce the determination time of the open / close check of the on-off valve as compared with the related art, and it is possible to promptly perform a subsequent action when the occurrence of the open operation abnormality is detected.
[0011]
A second invention which is preferably applied particularly at the time of a test operation is a hot water circulation circuit for immediate tapping which includes at least a part of a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water to a terminal curan similarly to the first invention. And a circulating pump for circulating hot and cold water in the hot water circulating circuit, and operation control means for controlling the operation so as to maintain the temperature at a set temperature by circulating and heating the hot water in the hot water circulating circuit. The apparatus is provided with the following specific items. That is, a heat exchanger that heats hot water in the hot water circulation circuit using hot water circulated and supplied from another circulation heating circuit disposed in the middle of the hot water circulation circuit as a heat source, An on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulating supply of hot water and a pair of temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water on the inlet side and the outlet side to the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit. The operation control means includes a test operation control unit.As the test operation control unit, after opening the open / close valve and outputting a circulation heating request command to the other circulation heating circuit, The operation of the circulating pump is started after elapse of a lapse of time, and after the operation of the circulating pump is started, the detected temperature difference based on the two detected temperatures by the pair of temperature detecting means is compared with a preset set temperature difference. It is a specific matter to adopt a configuration in which a circulating supply failure is determined as to whether or not the hot water for a heat source is circulatingly supplied to the heat exchanger.
[0012]
In the case of the second invention, the water is initially heated from the normal temperature water and gradually heated to the hot water for the heat source in the other circulation heating circuit based on the circulation heating request command (when the set delay time has elapsed). During this time, the operation of the circulation pump on the side of the hot water circulation circuit is stopped and the state is in a stagnant state, so that the water remaining in the hot water circulation circuit in the heat exchanger is heated as the temperature of the hot water for the heat source rises. Will be done. Then, when the circulation pump is operated and the temperatures of both the inlet side and the outlet side of the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit are detected after the elapse of the set delay time, if the on-off valve is normally opened, the both are opened. The temperature difference between the detected temperature values is considerably larger than that in the case where the hot water circulation circuit is continuously circulated even while the temperature is being increased in the other circulation heating circuit. Therefore, even during the test operation, it is possible to reliably and accurately determine and detect whether or not the circulating supply failure on the other circulating heating circuit side, that is, whether or not the opening / closing valve is abnormally opened.
[0013]
Furthermore, the third invention according to the operation control method at the time of the test operation described above is characterized in that the hot water circulation circuit for immediate hot water supply including at least a part of a hot water supply path for supplying hot water to the terminal curan, and the quick water circulation circuit A circulation pump that circulates the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit, and a heat exchanger that is provided in the middle of the hot water circulation circuit and heats the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit using hot water circulated and supplied from another circulation heating circuit as a heat source. An operation control method for an instant hot water supply device having an on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulating supply of the hot water to the heat exchanger is provided with the following specific items related to test operation control. That is, first, the hot water supply path and the hot water circulation circuit are filled with water, while the open / close valve is opened to fill the other circulation heating circuit with water. After the elapse of a preset delay time set as the time required for the circulating water to reach the hot water of the predetermined temperature by the heating operation, the operation of the circulating pump is started, and immediately after the circulating pump starts operating, the The hot water circulates to the heat exchanger by detecting the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet sides of the heat exchanger flowing in the hot water circulation circuit and comparing the detected temperature difference with a preset temperature difference. It is a specific matter to detect whether or not it is supplied.
[0014]
In the case of the third invention, the same operation as the operation obtained by the second invention is obtained.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the instant hot water supply device, compared with the conventional technology of detecting an open / close operation abnormality of the on-off valve based on a temperature detection value at one location, the circulation supply state of the heat source hot water In other words, the time for determining whether the on-off valve is open or closed or the time for detecting a circulating supply failure based on the on-off operation of the on-off valve can be greatly reduced, and the occurrence of the open-operation abnormality can be detected. After that, the following measures can be taken promptly. In addition, the above determination or detection can be performed with higher accuracy without being affected by the length of the entire length of the hot water circulation circuit.
[0016]
Further, according to the second invention relating to the instant hot water supply device or the third invention relating to the operation control method thereof, even during the test operation in which the hot water for the heat source is still in the normal temperature state, the opening operation of the on-off valve is abnormal. Thus, it is possible to reliably and quickly determine and detect whether or not a circulating supply failure from the circulating heating circuit on the heat source side to the heat exchanger has occurred, without erroneous determination.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a system in which an instant hot water supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated, 200 is a hot water supply device, and 300 is a hot water heating device as another circulating heating circuit. That is, in the present system, the hot water in the hot water supply device 100 is immediately heated using the hot water circulated and supplied from the hot water heating device 300 as a heat source.
[0019]
The hot water supply device 200 includes a combustor 21 that burns by receiving a supply of fuel and combustion air, a heat exchanger 22 that is heated by the combustor 21, and supplies water from a water pipe to the heat exchanger 22. A water inlet pipe 23 for entering water and a tapping pipe 25 as a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water heated to the set tapping temperature by the heat exchanger 22 to each end curan 24 are provided. The water heater 200 includes a controller (not shown) and a remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as a “remote controller”) that can communicate with the controller. The controller detects the minimum operating flow rate based on the opening of one of the terminal curns 24. By controlling the operation of the combustor and the like upon receiving the hot water, the hot water having the set hot water temperature set by the user on the remote controller is supplied to the hot water pipe 25. In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a check valve, which prevents hot water from the hot water circulation circuit 1 (described later) from flowing backward while the tapping from the tapping pipe 25 is stopped. .
[0020]
The instant hot water dispenser 100 is communicably connected to the instant hot water circulation circuit 1, which includes each end curan 24 side portion of the hot water pipe 25, from a circulation heating circuit 33 of the hot water heating device 300, which will be described later. A terminal circulation line 2, a heat exchanger 3 for performing liquid-liquid heat exchange with the terminal circulation line 2 as a heat source side and the hot water circulation circuit 1 as a heat absorption side, and a controller 4 as operation control means. It is a thing.
[0021]
The hot water circulation circuit 1 has a forward pipe 1a whose upstream end is connected and connected to each end curan 24 side, an upstream end which communicates with the downstream end of the forward pipe 1a via the heat exchanger 3, and a downstream end which has a downstream end. And a return pipe 1b connected to the tapping pipe 25. The hot water circulation circuit 1 has a circulation pump 5 for circulating hot water in the hot water circulation circuit 1 and a water flow rate for detecting the flow rate of hot water flowing in the hot water circulation circuit 1 by the operation of the circulation pump 5. Detecting means 6, an inlet thermistor 7 as a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water on the inlet side of the heat exchanger 3, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water on the outlet side of the heat exchanger 3 And the outlet-side thermistor 8.
[0022]
The terminal circulation pipe 2 has a downstream pipe branched from a main pipe 33b of a circulation heating circuit 33 to be described later, an upstream pipe connected to the heat exchanger 3 at an upstream end, and an upstream pipe with respect to the pipe 2b. An end is connected to the return pipe 2a through the heat exchanger 3, and a downstream end is formed of a return pipe 2a that joins a main return pipe 33a described later. A thermal valve 9 as an open / close valve is interposed on one of the going pipe 2b and the return pipe 2a (the return pipe 2a in the illustrated example), and circulating heating of the heat exchanger 3 is performed by opening / closing the thermal valve 9. The circulating supply of hot water from the circuit 33 is intermittently switched.
[0023]
The hot water heating apparatus 300 includes a combustor 31 that receives supply of fuel and combustion air for combustion, a heat exchanger 32 heated by the combustor 31, and a closed circuit with the heat exchanger 32 interposed therebetween. A circulating heating circuit 33 including a main return pipe 33a and a main going pipe 33b, a circulating pump 34 for circulating hot water of a predetermined temperature heated by the heat exchanger 32 through the circulating heating circuit 33, a tank 35, A heat source side controller 36 for controlling operations of the combustor 31 and the circulation pump 34 is provided. The main return pipe 33a and the main outgoing pipe 33b of the circulation heating circuit 33 are connected to a plurality of terminal circulation pipes 2 for supplying hot water to the underfloor heating equipment and the heat exchanger 3 and the like. By the operation of 34, hot water of a predetermined temperature is circulated and supplied to each terminal circulation pipe 2 and the like. Further, the heat source side controller 36 independently performs control based on various information on the hot water heating device side, and controls the operation of the combustor 31 and the circulation pump 34 in response to a command from the controller 4. Has also become.
[0024]
The controller 4 includes a flow rate detection value from the water amount detection means 6, a temperature detection value from the inlet side thermistor 7, a temperature detection value from the outlet side thermistor 8, and various commands input and set by the remote controller 4a. In response to this, the control of the operation of the circulating pump 5, the control of the opening and closing of the thermal valve 9, the command output to the heat source controller 36, and the various display processes on the remote controller 4a are performed as basic processes. I have.
[0025]
Hereinafter, the control by the controller 4 will be described in detail based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0026]
First, FIG. 2 shows the control by the test operation control unit 41 which is executed at the time of the test operation before starting the normal operation after the new hot water supply device 100 and the like are newly installed and the respective pipes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b are connected.
[0027]
First, as a prerequisite work, the water inlet pipe 23 of the hot water supply apparatus 200 is connected to a water pipe to fill the water inlet pipe 23 and the hot water pipe 25 with water, and the circulation pump 5 of the instant hot water supply apparatus 100 is operated to circulate the hot water. The circuit 1 is filled with water (step S1). When the water is full, the operation of the circulation pump 5 is temporarily stopped. Then, the thermal valve 9 is opened to fill the circulation heating circuit 33 of the hot water heating apparatus 300 and the respective terminal circulation pipes 2 (steps S2 and S3).
[0028]
Next, a heating circulation request command is output to the heat source side. That is, a heating circulation request command is output to the controller 36 of the hot water heating device 300 as the heat source side (step S4). Accordingly, the circulation pump 34 and the combustor 31 are operated by the controller 36, and the water in the circulation heating circuit 33 is gradually heated by the heat exchanger 32 while the circulation heating circuit 33 and the respective terminal circulation lines are being heated. It will be circulated to 2nd mag. That is, if the thermal valve 9 is normally opened, the hot water in the process of raising the temperature is circulated through the heat source side of the heat exchanger 3. Then, this state is continued for the set delay time tdy (step S5). By waiting for the elapse of the set delay time, the temperature of the hot water circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 3 is raised to, for example, 60C to 80C. Then, the water staying in the hot water circulation circuit 1 of the heat exchanger 3 is heated by using the hot water as a heat source, and the hot water heated by the operation of the circulation pump 5 in the next step is supplied to the outlet-side thermistor 8. , While the unheated hot and cold water comes into contact with the inlet-side thermistor 7. In other words, the set delay time tdy is such that the hot water circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 3 causes the water staying in the hot water circulation circuit 1 in the heat exchanger 3 to generate a temperature difference equal to or larger than a set temperature difference δt described later. A time value required for raising the temperature as a heat source is set. Such a time value may be obtained by performing a test or the like in advance.
[0029]
When the set delay time tdy elapses in such a state, the operation of the circulation pump 5 on the hot water side is started (step S6), and the respective temperature detection values Te, To from the inlet side thermistor 7 and the outlet side thermistor 8 are detected. The temperature difference δd between the two is detected based on (Step S7). Then, it is determined whether or not the state in which the temperature difference δd is equal to or greater than the set temperature difference δt (for example, 3 ° C.) continues for the operation determination time ta (for example, 10 seconds) (step S8). In this determination, if "YES", it is determined that the thermal valve 9 is normally opened and the hot water for the heat source is normally circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 3 (thermal valve normal determination; step S9). On the other hand, if "NO", it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the opening operation of the thermal valve 9 and the circulating supply is in a defective state (thermal element abnormality determination), and the processing for the thermal element abnormality determination is performed. (Step S10). Note that a minute time including zero may be set as the operation determination time ta.
[0030]
As the above-described thermal valve abnormality determination processing, a display or flashing is made on the remote controller 4a to indicate that the opening operation of the thermal valve 9 is abnormal, and the operator or the like performing the test operation is notified. In addition, you may make it sound a buzzer etc. additionally or independently. Also, in the case of the thermal valve normality determination, a display indicating that the thermal valve is normal may be positively displayed on the remote controller 4a.
[0031]
Then, after confirming that the detected temperature value Te of the inlet-side thermistor 7 is not higher than the set high temperature Tdh (for example, 40 ° C.) for test operation (Step S11), the thermal valve 9 is closed (Step S13), The heat circulation request command to the heat source side is turned off (step S14), and the operation of the circulation pump 5 is stopped (step S15). If the detected temperature value Te is equal to or higher than the set high temperature Tdh in step S11, the remote controller 4a is warned to indicate that the hot and cold water temperature in the hot water circulation circuit 1 is too hot to allow hot water to flow from the terminal curan 24. Then, the operator or the like performing the test operation is notified (step S12).
[0032]
FIG. 3 shows the control by the normal operation control unit 42 during the normal operation after the end of the test operation. During the normal operation, the hot water at a predetermined set temperature (for example, 80 ° C.) is circulated in the circulation heating circuit 33 under the control of the controller 36 on the side of the hot water heating device 300 as the heat source, while On the side, in addition to various checks described later, the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit 1 is intermittently operated by the heat exchanger 3 so that the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit 1 maintains the hot water temperature set by the user during the period when the hot water from the hot water pipe 25 is stopped. Heating control is performed as basic control.
[0033]
First, after confirming that the user has turned on the hot water operation switch of the remote controller 4a (step S21), the circulating pump 5 is operated (step S22). Then, a predetermined set flow rate (for example, 1.5 L / min) determined according to the operation capacity of the circulating pump 5 based on the flow rate detection value from the water amount detection means 6 continuously for a predetermined set time (for example, 10 sec) It is determined whether or not the flow is flowing (step S23). If "NO", it is determined that the circulating pump 5 has failed, and a failure is displayed on the remote controller 4a (step S24).
[0034]
If "YES" in the above step S23, it is determined that the circulation pump 5 is operating normally, and the thermal valve 9 is opened to issue a heating circulation request command to the heat source side controller 36 as in the above step S4. Is output (step S25 and step S26). As a result, if the thermal valve 9 is normally opened, hot water of a predetermined temperature is circulated and supplied from the circulation heating circuit 33 to the heat exchanger 3 as a heat source, and hot water in the hot water circulation circuit 1 is supplied by the hot water. It will be heated.
[0035]
Next, it is confirmed that the temperature detection value Te of the inlet-side thermistor 7 is lower than a set upper limit temperature Tdb (for example, 40 ° C.) for abnormality determination described later (step S27). While the abnormality determination of the thermal valve 9 is performed after S28, if the temperature is equal to or higher than the set upper limit temperature Tdb, the abnormality determination of the thermal valve 9 is not performed, that is, the abnormality determination is prohibited, and the hot water circulation from step S33 is performed. The heat control of the hot and cold water in the circuit 1 is performed.
[0036]
The abnormality of the thermal valve 9 is determined based on the detected temperature values Te and To from the inlet-side thermistor 7 and the outlet-side thermistor 8 (step S28). Then, it is determined whether or not the state in which the temperature difference δd is equal to or larger than the set temperature difference δt (for example, 3 ° C.) continues for the operation determination time ta (for example, 10 seconds) (step S29). In this determination, if “NO”, it is further determined whether or not the “NO” state has continued for the abnormality determination time tb (for example, 30 min). If not, each of the above steps S27 to S29 is performed. On the other hand, if the processing is continued and the time has continued for the abnormality determination time tb, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the opening operation of the thermal valve 9 and the circulating supply is in a defective state (the thermal valve Then, a process at the time of determining a thermal valve abnormality is performed (step S31). This thermal valve abnormality determination processing is the same as the processing described in step S10 above. Then, the operation stop processing of step S36 and thereafter, which will be described later, is performed. On the other hand, if "YES" in the determination in step S29, it is determined that the thermal valve 9 is normally opened and the hot water for the heat source is normally circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 3 (thermal valve). Normal determination; step S32), and the heat retention control after step S33 is performed.
[0037]
In the heat retention control, first, the state in which the average temperature Tn of the temperature detection value Te of the inlet-side thermistor 7 and the temperature detection value To of the outlet-side thermistor 8 is equal to or higher than the set tapping temperature Td is continued for the temperature determination time tc (for example, 10 sec). It is determined whether or not it is performed (step S33). In this determination, if "NO", the above steps are repeated to continue heating in the heat exchanger 3, while if "YES", the temperature detection value Te of the inlet-side thermistor 7 is determined in the same manner as in step S11. Is not higher than the set high temperature Tdh (for example, 60 ° C.) for normal operation (step S34), and then the operation stop control is performed. If the detected temperature value Te is equal to or higher than the set high temperature Tdh, a warning is displayed on the remote controller 4a indicating that the hot and cold water temperature in the hot water circulation circuit 1 is too hot to allow hot water to flow out from the end curan 24. After informing the user (step S35), the operation stop control is performed.
[0038]
As the above operation stop control, the thermal valve 9 is closed (step S36), the heating circulation request command to the heat source side is turned off (step S37), and the operation of the circulation pump 5 is stopped (step S38).
[0039]
Of the above steps, steps S27 to S32 constitute the circulation determination unit 43.
[0040]
<Other embodiments>
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various other embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the hot water from the hot water heating device 300 is used as the heat source medium to be circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A device other than 300 that circulates and supplies hot water may be used.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, the case where the thermal valve 9 is used as the on-off valve has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a solenoid valve of a type other than the thermal valve 9 is used as the on-off valve. You may make it apply.
[0042]
Further, when the above-described technology is viewed from another point of view, the opening and closing operation state of the thermal valve on the primary circulation circuit side as described below is a pair provided on the heat exchanger inlet and outlet sides of the secondary circulation circuit. It can also be grasped as a judgment control technique for making a judgment based on the detection by the temperature detecting means. That is, a primary-side circulation circuit (for example, a circulation heating circuit 33) for circulating and supplying a first liquid serving as a heating source to a heat exchanger (for example, the heat exchanger 3) that performs heat exchange between liquid and liquid, A secondary circuit (for example, a hot water circulation circuit 1) that circulates and supplies a second liquid that absorbs heat from the first liquid is connected to the primary circuit, and the primary circuit is connected to the heat exchanger. An on-off valve (for example, a thermal valve 9) for intermittently switching the circulating supply is interposed, while the secondary circulation circuit is provided with the second liquid at the inlet side and the outlet side of the heat exchanger, respectively. Temperature detecting means (for example, inlet and outlet thermistors 7 and 8) for detecting a temperature are provided, and the open / close operation state of the open / close valve is determined based on the magnitude of the difference between the two detected temperatures by the pair of temperature detectors. Determination control device configured to determine Is (eg, controller 4).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of a system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating control of a test operation control unit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control of a normal operation control unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Hot water circulation circuit
3 heat exchanger
4 Controller (operation control means)
5 Circulation pump
7. Inlet-side thermistor (inlet-side temperature detecting means)
8 Outlet side thermistor (Outlet side temperature detecting means)
9 Thermal valve (open / close valve)
24 terminal curan
25 Hot water supply pipe (hot water supply pipe)
33 Circulation heating circuit (other circulation heating circuit)
41 Test run control unit
43 circulation judgment unit
100 Instant tapping device

Claims

An instant hot water circulation circuit for at least part of a hot water supply pipe for hot water supply to the end curan, a circulation pump for circulating hot water in the instant hot water circulation circuit, and hot water in the instant hot water circulation circuit Hot water circulated from another circulating heating circuit, which is provided in the middle of the hot water circulating circuit and provided with operation control means for controlling the operation so as to maintain the temperature at a set temperature by circulating the hot water. A heat exchanger that heats the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit using the heat source as a heat source,
An on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulation of the hot water to the heat exchanger;
A pair of temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the hot and cold water on the inlet side and the outlet side to the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit,
The operation control means compares a temperature difference detected based on both temperature detection values of the pair of temperature detection means with a preset temperature difference in a state where the on-off valve is opened and the circulation pump is operated. An instant hot water supply device comprising a circulation determination unit for determining whether or not the hot water for heat source is circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger.

An instant hot water circulation circuit for at least part of a hot water supply pipe for hot water supply to the end curan, a circulation pump for circulating hot water in the instant hot water circulation circuit, and hot water in the instant hot water circulation circuit Hot water circulated from another circulating heating circuit, which is provided in the middle of the hot water circulating circuit and provided with operation control means for controlling the operation so as to maintain the temperature at a set temperature by circulating the hot water. A heat exchanger that heats the hot water in the hot water circulation circuit using the heat source as a heat source,
An on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulation of the hot water to the heat exchanger;
A pair of temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the hot and cold water on the inlet side and the outlet side to the heat exchanger of the hot water circulation circuit,
The operation control means includes a test operation control unit, and the test operation control unit opens the open / close valve and outputs a circulation heating request command to the other circulation heating circuit, and then waits for a set delay time to elapse. The operation of the circulating pump is started, and after the operation of the circulating pump is started, the detected temperature difference based on the two temperature detection values by the pair of temperature detecting means is compared with a preset set temperature difference, whereby the hot water for heat source is heated. An instant hot water supply device characterized in that it is configured to judge whether or not circulation supply to the exchanger is circulating or not.

The instant tapping device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The determination of the circulating supply failure by the operation control means detects the circulating supply failure based on the abnormal opening operation of the on-off valve.

A hot water circulation circuit for immediate hot water supply comprising at least a part of a hot water supply path for supplying hot water to a terminal curan; a circulation pump for circulating hot water in the hot water circulation circuit; A heat exchanger for heating hot water in the hot water circulation circuit using hot water circulated and supplied from another circulation heating circuit as a heat source, and an on-off valve for intermittently switching the circulating supply of the hot water to the heat exchanger An operation control method of the instant hot water supply device provided with
As test operation control, while filling the hot water supply path and the hot water circulation circuit with water, the on-off valve is opened to fill the other circulation heating circuit with water, and the heating operation in the other circulation heating circuit is performed. The operation of the circulation pump is started after the elapse of a preset delay time set as the time required for the circulating water to reach the warm water of the predetermined temperature, and then the operation of the circulation pump is started. The hot water is circulated and supplied to the heat exchanger by detecting the temperature difference between the heat exchanger inlet side and the outlet side of the hot water flowing through the inside, and comparing the detected temperature difference with a preset temperature difference. A method for controlling the operation of an instant hot water supply device, comprising detecting whether or not the hot water is present.