JP3921121B2 - Energization control device and electric water heater operation control system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an energization control device that controls energization to an electric water heater and the like, and an operation control system for the electric water heater.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, an electric water heater is configured to heat water using a single-phase 200 volts as a power source and store the heated hot water in a tank. Some electric power is consumed to keep the stored hot water warm, but much electric power is consumed when the water is heated and stored in the tank. For this reason, it is set to heat the water and store the hot water in the tank during a time zone in which a low-cost electricity charge is applied, for example, from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am the next morning. And during the day when the hot water is consumed, the hot water stored in the tank is used, and during the day, only electric power for keeping warm water in the tank is consumed. In addition, although it changes with the models of an electric water heater, when heating water, the electric current of about 30 amperes is required.
[0003]
As such home electric appliances with high power consumption, for example, there are electric cookers such as IH cookers. For example, an IH cooker may have a built-in grill with an electric heater in addition to an IH stove, and the maximum current consumption is about 24 amperes. These electric cookers are mainly used for cooking meals in the morning and night. At home, the electric cooker is continuously used for about 30 minutes for meal preparation, and is hardly used at other times.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described electric cooker and electric water heater, the time zones for consuming electric power hardly overlap each other, so that both are rarely used at the same time. However, it cannot be said that there is no possibility of using both at the same time, so even if both are used at the same time, a contract is made to receive power supply from an electric power company so that electric power can be supplied to the electric cooker and electric water heater. I have to keep it.
[0005]
Electricity charges are almost pay-as-you-go, but most electric power companies set basic charges, and employ a charge system that collects basic charges even if electricity consumption is zero. The basic charge is divided into several stages according to the maximum power to be supplied, and the basic charge is set higher as the supplied power increases.
[0006]
Therefore, in the above example, 6 kilowatts for electric water heaters and 4.8 kilowatts for electric cookers are required, so a contract with a power company is made at a basic charge corresponding to 10.8 kilowatts. There must be. In most electric power companies, the basic charge corresponding to 6 kilowatts is different from the basic charge corresponding to 10.8 kilowatts, and the basic charge corresponding to 10.8 kilowatts is higher.
[0007]
As described above, although the electric water heater and the electric cooker are rarely used at the same time, the same basic charge as when both are used at the same time must always be paid.
[0008]
Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention includes an energization control device that controls energization of a plurality of electric devices that are mainly used in different time zones, and an operation control system that controls the operation of an electric water heater. The issue is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an energization control device according to the present invention branches input power to a plurality of output terminals and energizes to detect power output through a predetermined output terminal among these output terminals. It is characterized by comprising: an amount detecting means; and a restricting means for restricting the electric power output from the remaining output terminals to a predetermined electric power or less when the energizing amount detecting means detects electric power of a predetermined value or more.
[0010]
When an electric device connected to a predetermined output terminal is used, the electric power output from the predetermined output terminal increases. When power output is a predetermined value or more, since the power output from the other output terminal is limited, power output from all of the output terminal is kept constant.
[0011]
In this energization control device, for example, an electric device connected to the predetermined output terminal and an electric device connected to the remaining output terminals are mainly used in different time zones, and This is particularly effective when the continuous use time of an electrical device connected to a predetermined output terminal is shorter than the continuous use time of an electrical device connected to another output terminal.
[0012]
That is, if electrical device connected to the other output terminal is used in a time zone where electric appliances connected to a predetermined output terminal is mainly used, the power output from the other output terminal is limited However, it does not affect the operation of electrical equipment connected to other output terminals. Also, even if an electrical device connected to another output terminal is operating, if the usage time of the electrical device connected to the predetermined output terminal is short, the electrical device connected to the other output terminal The influence on the operation of the equipment can be reduced.
[0013]
By the way, if the power consumption of the electrical device fluctuates in a short cycle, the power supply is frequently limited by the limiting means, and the deterioration of the limiting means and the operation of the electrical equipment connected to the remaining output terminals frequently stop. . In order to solve such a problem, it is only necessary to provide holding means for holding the restricted state for a predetermined time when the power output from the remaining output terminals is restricted by the restriction means.
[0014]
For example, the electric device connected to the predetermined output terminal is an electric cooker, and the electric device connected to the remaining output terminals is an electric water heater.
[0015]
In order to solve the above problems, an electric water heater operation control system according to the present invention has a power supply line that supplies power to at least a heating unit of the electric water heater in a time zone different from the operating time zone of the electric water heater. Branches the power supply line that supplies power to other electrical equipment that is mainly used and the continuous use time is shorter than the usage time of the electric water heater, and to the other electrical equipment via this branched power supply line When the electric power supplied exceeds a predetermined value, the electric water heater is provided with limiting means for limiting the electric power supplied to at least the heating part of the electric water heater regardless of the operating state of the electric water heater.
[0016]
Electric water heaters operate for a long time. When using another electrical device with a short usage time during the operation, the power consumption in the electric water heater is temporarily reduced so that the overall power consumption does not increase. When the use of other electric equipment stops, the power consumption in the electric water heater is restored.
[0017]
For example, you may provide the said restriction | limiting means in the control part of an electric water heater.
[0018]
In addition, in order to solve the problem that the power consumption of the electric water heater is frequently restricted due to the fluctuation of the power consumption of other electrical equipment in a short cycle, the power supply to the heating unit is performed by the above-mentioned limiting means. When the amount is limited, a holding means for holding the limited state for a predetermined time may be provided.
[0019]
The other electric device is, for example, an electric cooker.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a switchboard, to which a breaker 11 for 100 volts and a breaker 12 for 200 volts are attached. The power line 13 output from the breaker 12 for 200 volts is input to the energization control device 2 and branched into the power line 14 and the power line 15. One power line 14 is connected to the IH cooker 3 which is an electric cooker, and the other power line 15 is connected to the electric water heater 4.
[0021]
The electric water heater 4 has a built-in power supply device 41 connected to the breaker 11 for 100 volts, and DC power that has been stepped down and rectified by the power supply device 41 is supplied to the control device 42. On the other hand, the power line 15 is supplied to the heating unit 44 via the current control circuit 43. The heating unit 44 heats tap water supplied from the outside, and is appropriately selected from heaters, heat pumps, and other units that can heat water. The power supply to the heating unit 44 is controlled by a current control unit 43 controlled by the control unit 42.
[0022]
Further, for example, when the breaker 12 is activated and the 200 volt power supplied from the power line 15 is stopped, the current control circuit 43 transmits a message to that effect to the control unit 42. The control unit 42 waits for the power supply of 200 volts to recover, and when a signal indicating that the power supply has been recovered is input from the power supply circuit 43, performs a predetermined return process on the current control circuit 43 and the like.
[0023]
Referring to FIG. 2, a current detection coil 5 that surrounds a conducting wire 14 a on one side of the branched power line 14 is attached to the energization control device 2. The current detection coil 5 is connected to a control unit 51 incorporating a comparator. The value of the current flowing through the conducting wire 14a is proportional to the power output via the power line 14. When the IH cooker 3 is used, the value of the current flowing through the conductor 14a increases, and the control unit 51 can detect that the IH cooker 3 is in use.
[0024]
On the other hand, a circuit breaker 52 is attached to the other power line 15. As shown in FIG. 3, when the control unit 51 determines that the IH cooker 3 is in use, the use of the IH cooker 3 is stopped. The circuit breaker 52 is closed until the electric water heater 4 is not supplied with 200 volt electric power via the power line 15.
[0025]
The electric water heater 4 creates hot water using 200 volt power and stores it in a tank during the time zone when the late-night electricity charge is applied, in this embodiment, from 11 pm to 7 am the next morning. Normally, the IH cooker 3 is not used during the time when the late-night electricity charge is applied, but it may be used in rare cases. In this case, the use of the IH cooker 3 is prioritized. The power supply to the water heater 4 is stopped. When the use of the IH cooker is stopped, the power supply to the electric water heater 4 is resumed.
[0026]
By the way, in the above embodiment, when the IH cooker 3 is used, the power supply itself to the electric water heater 4 is cut off. However, as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may input into the control part 42 of the electric water heater 4 from 51. FIG. This control part 42 is comprised so that the electric power supplied to the heating part 44 via the electric current control part 43 may be reduced, when it detects that use of the IH cooker 3 was started. Then, when the IH cooker 3 is no longer used, the power supply to the heating unit 44 is resumed. The power IH cooker 3 while being used, may be completely stopped the supply of power to the heater 44, but supplied to the heating unit 44 according to the power consumed by the IH cooker 3 Control may be performed so as to decrease.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the present invention can use an electric device that consumes a large amount of electric power, such as an electric cooker or an electric water heater, without increasing the maximum electric power in a contract with an electric power company.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an energization control device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operating state of the energization control device. Diagram showing the embodiment 【Explanation of symbols】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switchboard 2 Current supply control apparatus 3 IH cooker 4 Electric water heater 5 Current detection coil

Claims (8)

With branches the inputted power to a plurality of output terminals, power and power supply amount detecting means for detecting the power output through the predetermined output terminal, the power supply amount detection means is a predetermined value or more of these output terminals And a limiting means for limiting the power output from the remaining output terminals to a predetermined power or less when detected.     The electrical equipment connected to the predetermined output terminal and the electrical equipment connected to the remaining output terminals have different time zones that are mainly used, and the electrical equipment connected to the predetermined output terminals. The energization control device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous use time of the device is shorter than the continuous use time of the electric device connected to the other output terminal.     3. The energization according to claim 1, further comprising a holding unit configured to hold the limited state for a predetermined time when the power output from the remaining output terminal is limited by the limiting unit. Control device.     4. The electric device connected to the predetermined output terminal is an electric cooker, and the electric device connected to the remaining output terminals is an electric water heater. The energization control device described. Other than the power supply line that supplies power to at least the heating part of the electric water heater, it is mainly used in a time zone different from the operating time zone of the electric water heater, and the continuous use time is shorter than the usage time of the electric water heater If the power supply line that supplies power to the electrical equipment is branched and the power supplied to the other electrical equipment via the branched power supply line exceeds a predetermined value, the electricity is supplied regardless of the operating state of the electrical water heater. An operation control system for an electric water heater, comprising limiting means for limiting power supplied to at least a heating section of the water heater.     6. The operation control system for an electric water heater according to claim 5, wherein the limiting means is provided in a control unit of the electric water heater.     The electric water heater according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a holding means for holding the restricted state for a predetermined time when the amount of electric power supplied to the heating unit is restricted by the restriction means. Actuation control system.     The operation control system for an electric water heater according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the other electric device is an electric cooker.

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