JP3987019B2 - Hot water storage water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that uses hot water stored in a hot water storage tank to replenish hot water in a bathtub.

  Conventionally, in this type of electric water heater and heat pump hot water storage type hot water supply device, it is possible to recharge hot water in the bathtub using the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and if there is a reheating instruction, the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank If this temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T1, there is one that drives the bath circulation pump to circulate the bath water to the heat exchanger and performs a reheating operation by heat exchange with the hot water in the hot water storage tank. It was.

In addition, if the hot water storage temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature T1 when a restocking command is issued, the current action such as “The temperature is too low for reheating or hot water supply. The guidance notification to the effect that it cannot be performed is performed by display or voice guidance.
JP 2003-50048 A

  However, in this conventional system, after starting the reheating operation, the amount of stored hot water may decrease to an amount of heat that is insufficient to perform the reheating operation due to the use of hot water supply. Even though it is not performed efficiently, it takes a long time to continue the chasing operation and raise the temperature of the bath water to the user's desired temperature, and the chasing operation continues forever. In addition, the user's convenience is impaired, and no notification is given to the user, so there is a possibility that the user misidentifies it as a failure.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a plurality of hot water temperature sensors for detecting the hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank, and a bath circulation circuit that circulates the hot water in the bathtub provided with a bath circulation pump. A heat exchanger that is provided in the middle of the bath circulation circuit and heats the bath water with the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water supplied to the heat exchanger, A bath return temperature sensor for detecting the bath water temperature after heat exchange , and a remote controller having a display, and the bath circulation pump is driven to circulate the bath water to the heat exchanger for reheating operation. in hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus which, when the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature and bath return temperature sensor for detecting at bath forward temperature sensor during operation reheating is less than the predetermined value, drive the bath circulation pump While Stop operation reheating stopped, the fact that stop operation reheating to the remote control and character display is obtained by further reheating Action after stops operating so that voice guidance.

As described above, according to the present invention , even after starting the reheating operation, the operation can be stopped by detecting that the amount of heat necessary for the renewal is lost, and the reheating operation is automatically stopped. Can be easily recognized, and the user does not mistake it as a failure.

  Further, since the notification sound is simultaneously notified, it is possible to notify the user who is away from the remote controller that the chasing operation has been stopped.

  In addition, since the notification sound is a voice guidance explaining that the chasing driving is stopped, it is possible to reliably notify the user who is away from the remote control that the chasing driving is stopped. it can.

  In addition, since the notification sound is used as voice guidance for explaining a coping method after stopping the chasing driving, it is possible for the user to take an appropriate measure without hesitation in coping after chasing driving.

  In addition, while the reheating operation is stopped, the hot water storage amount display section blinks so that the cause of the renewal operation can be easily stopped along with the character display indicating that the reheating operation is stopped on the display section. It can be guessed.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  This hot water storage type hot water supply device boils and stores hot water in the midnight hours when the unit price of contracted power by time is low, and uses the hot water stored for hot water supply. 1 is a hot water storage tank 2 for storing hot water. 3 is a heat pump unit as a heating means for heating hot water in the hot water storage tank, 4 is a hot water tap provided in a kitchen or a washroom, etc. 5 is a remote control for remotely operating the hot water storage type hot water supply device , 6 is a bathtub.

  The hot water storage tank 2 of the hot water storage tank unit 1 has a hot water discharge pipe 7 connected to the upper end, a water supply pipe 8 connected to the lower end, a heat pump forward pipe 9 constituting a heat pump circulation circuit in the lower part, and a heat pump circulation circuit in the upper part. The heat pump return pipe 10 is connected, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 taken out from the heat pump forward pipe 9 is boiled by the heat pump unit 3 and returned to the hot water storage tank 2 from the heat pump return pipe 10 to be stored in the hot water supply pipe. The hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 is pushed up by the water supply from 8, and the hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2 is pushed out from the hot water discharge pipe 7 to supply hot water.

  The heat pump unit 3 includes a compressor 11, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 12 as a condenser, an electronic expansion valve 13, a forced air-cooled evaporator 14, and hot water in the hot water storage tank 2. A heat pump circulation pump 16 that circulates to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 12 through the heat pump forward pipe 9 and the heat pump return pipe 10 and a heat pump control unit 17 that controls driving thereof are provided in the heat pump circuit 15. Is one in which carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant to constitute a supercritical heat pump cycle. Since carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, low-temperature water can be boiled up to a high temperature of about 90 ° C. without an electric heater.

  Here, the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 12 employs a counter flow system in which the refrigerant and hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 that is heated water are opposed to each other. In the supercritical heat pump cycle, the refrigerant is exchanged during heat exchange. Since it is condensed in the supercritical state, the heated water can be efficiently heated to a high temperature so that the temperature difference between the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 12 inlet temperature and the refrigerant outlet temperature is constant. Further, by controlling the electronic expansion valve 12 or the compressor 11, the water to be heated can be heated in a state where the COP (energy consumption efficiency) is very good.

  Next, 18 is a heat exchanger made of a stainless steel serpentine tube for heating the hot water in the bathtub 6, and is arranged at the upper part in the hot water storage tank 2. A bath circulation circuit 22 comprising a bath return pipe 21 provided with a bath circulation pump 20 is connected so that hot water in the bathtub 6 can be circulated, and the hot water in the bathtub 6 is heated by the high-temperature water in the hot water storage tank 2 for heat insulation. Or it is something that is chased.

  23 is a bath return temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water flowing into the heat exchanger 18 through the bath return pipe 21, and 24 is a bath that flows out of the heat exchanger 18 and flows into the bath 6 through the bath pipe 19. A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of water.

  Next, 25 is a hot water mixing valve composed of an electric mixing valve that mixes hot water from the hot water discharge pipe 7 and low temperature water from the water supply bypass pipe 26 branched from the water supply pipe 9. The mixing ratio is controlled so that the hot water temperature detected by the provided hot water temperature sensor 28 becomes the hot water supply set temperature set by the user using the remote controller 5.

  Reference numeral 29 denotes a hot water filling pipe branched from the hot water supply pipe 27 and communicated with the bath return pipe 21. The hot water filling pipe 29 includes a hot water filling valve 30 for starting / stopping hot water filling to the bathtub 6, and a bathtub 6. A bath flow counter 31 that counts the amount of hot water filling and a check valve 32 that prevents the bath water from flowing back to the hot water supply pipe 27 are provided.

  Next, a plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 33 are arranged in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank 2, and in this embodiment, five hot water storage temperature sensors are arranged and are called 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, 33e from the top. The amount of heat remaining in the hot water storage tank 2 is detected based on the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 33, and the vertical temperature distribution in the hot water storage tank 2 is detected.

  A hot water supply control unit 34 includes a microcomputer that receives the input of each sensor in the hot water storage tank unit 1 and controls driving of each actuator, and constitutes a control unit. The remote controller 5 is connected to the hot water supply controller 34 by radio or wire so that the user can set an arbitrary hot water set temperature and bath set temperature.

  The hot water supply control unit 34 receives outputs of the plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 33a to 33e, and determines whether there is sufficient residual heat in the hot water storage tank 2 based on the detected temperatures. 35 is provided.

  The remote controller 5 is provided with a hot water supply temperature setting switch 36 for setting the hot water supply set temperature and a bath temperature setting switch 37 for setting the bath set temperature, and hot water at the bath set temperature is supplied to the bathtub 6 of the remote control 5. An automatic bath switch 38 that fills the hot water amount set by a hot water amount setting switch (not shown) and keeps it warm for a predetermined time, a reheating switch 39 that repels bathtub water, and hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 A reheating switch 40 for increasing a certain amount even during the daytime period is provided. The remote controller 5 is provided with a dot matrix display unit 41, a speaker 42 for outputting a buzzer sound and voice guidance, and a remote control unit 43 for controlling them.

  Further, a partial area of the display unit 41 is provided with a hot water storage amount display unit 44 for visually displaying the remaining hot water amount in the hot water storage tank 2, and is calculated by the residual heat amount determination unit 35. The number of lighting of the bar display indicating the remaining hot water is changed in the figure simulating the hot water storage tank 2 according to the remaining hot water amount.

  The remote control unit 43 is provided with a character information memory 45 that stores character information to be displayed on the display unit 41 and a voice synthesis IC 46 that stores voice guidance voices notified from the speaker 42.

  Note that 47 is an overpressure relief valve for releasing the overpressure of the hot water storage tank 2, 48 is a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure of the water supply, 49 is a hot water supply flow rate counter for counting the amount of hot water to be supplied, and 50 is a temperature of the water supply. It is a feed water temperature sensor.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
First, when the hot water storage temperature sensor 33 detects that the required amount of heat does not remain in the hot water storage tank 2 in the midnight power time zone, the hot water supply control unit 34 issues a boiling start command to the heatpone control unit 17. To emit. Upon receiving the command, the heat pump control unit 17 starts driving the heat pump after starting the compressor 11, and cools the low temperature water of about 5 to 20 ° C. taken out from the heat pump forward pipe 9 connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 2 as a refrigerant. -Heated to a high temperature of about 70 to 90 ° C by the water heat exchanger 12, returned to the hot water storage tank 2 from the heat pump return pipe 10 connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2, and sequentially stacked from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2 Store hot water. When the hot water storage temperature sensor 33 detects that the necessary amount of heat has been stored, the hot water supply control unit 34 issues a boiling stop command to the heat pump control unit 17, and the heat pump control unit 17 stops the compressor 11 and heat pump circulation. The pump 16 is also stopped to end the boiling operation.

  Next, the hot water supply operation will be described. When the hot water tap 4 is opened, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 8 flows into the hot water storage tank 2. The hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 2 flows into the hot water supply mixing valve 25 through the hot water discharge pipe 7 and is mixed with the low temperature water from the hot water supply bypass pipe 26, and the hot water supply control unit 34 sets the mixing ratio of the hot water supply mixing valve 25. The adjusted hot water at the hot water supply set temperature is supplied from the hot water tap 4. Then, the hot water supply is completed by closing the hot water tap 4.

  Next, the hot water filling operation to the bathtub 6 will be described. When the automatic bath switch 38 of the remote controller 5 is operated, the hot water supply control unit 34 opens the hot water filling valve 30. Then, hot water adjusted to the set temperature by the hot water supply mixing valve 25 is poured from the hot water filling pipe 29 to the bathtub 6 through the hot water return pipe 21, and a bath flow rate counter 31 provided in the middle of the hot water filling pipe 29 is predetermined. When the amount of hot water filling is counted, the hot water supply control unit 34 closes the hot water filling valve 30 and ends the hot water filling operation.

  Next, the bath reheating operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. When the reheating switch 39 of the remote controller 5 is turned on, the start condition of the reheating operation is checked and the remaining heat amount of the hot water supply control unit 34 is checked. The determination unit 35 checks the hot water storage temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 33 attached to the hot water storage tank 2. If the hot water storage temperature in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 18 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature T1 (here, 50 ° C.), the amount of residual heat. However, since the start condition is satisfied and it is determined that there is an amount that can be rerun, the rerun operation is started (step 1, hereinafter abbreviated as S1).

  When the hot water storage temperature in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 18 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T1 (Yes in S1), the hot water supply control unit 40 starts driving the bath circulation pump 20 (S2) and is stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2. Heat exchange between high-temperature water and bathtub water starts bathing operation.

  Then, when it is detected that the difference between the temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 24 and the temperature detected by the bath return temperature sensor 23 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the bath water is efficiently heated ( In S3, the reheating operation is continued until the bath water temperature reaches the target reheating temperature (S4).

  When the temperature detected by the bath return temperature sensor 23 reaches the reheating target temperature, the hot water supply control unit 38 stops driving the bath circulating pump 20 (S5) and ends the reheating operation (S6). .

  Here, in step S3, the difference between the temperature detected by the forward temperature sensor 24 and the temperature detected by the return temperature sensor 23 during the reheating operation becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the bath water is efficiently heated. If it is determined that the amount of heat necessary for chasing has been exhausted (No in S3), this information is transmitted to the remote control unit 43, and the remote control unit 43 sounds a buzzer on the speaker 42 ( In step S7, the character information indicating that the chasing operation is to be stopped is called from the character information memory 44, and a message indicating that the chasing operation is to be stopped is displayed on the display unit 41 (S8). At the same time, the hot water storage amount display unit 44 in the display unit 41 can be displayed in a blinking manner to implicitly inform the user that the remaining heat amount has decreased and cannot be retaken (S9).

  Furthermore, the remote controller 43 calls voice information output at the timing when the chasing operation is stopped from the voice synthesis IC 46, and voice guides from the speaker 42 (S10). At this time, the contents of the voice guidance include the explanation of the cause of stopping the reheating operation such as “The remaining heat amount is insufficient and the reheating operation will be cancelled”, “Please perform the reheating operation” and “ Please wait for a while until the driving is completed. "

  Then, the hot water supply control unit 34 stops the running bath circulation pump 20 and stops the reheating operation (S11). Note that the step of stopping the chasing operation may be performed after it is determined No in Step S3. For example, the purpose can be achieved even if it is changed before and after Step S7.

  Then, after the chasing operation is stopped, the user can recognize that the chasing operation has been stopped by a buzzer sound and voice guidance from the remote controller 5 even at a remote place, and the display unit 41 of the remote controller 5. In addition, the fact that the chasing operation has been stopped is displayed by text information, and the hot water storage amount display section 44 is blinking. Can be recognized.

  Therefore, after starting the reheating operation, it is possible to reliably recognize that the reheating operation has been stopped due to lack of hot water storage, and to allow the user to recognize the midway stop of the reheating operation as a failure. In addition, it is possible to prompt an appropriate countermeasure afterwards, and greatly improve the convenience for the user.

  Then, the user who recognizes that the reheating operation has been stopped due to lack of heat, operates the reheating switch 40 of the remote controller 5 to perform the reheating operation, and adds the amount of heat necessary for the reheating operation of the bath. You can choose to do it yourself. Moreover, when high temperature hot water remains above the heat exchanger 18 in the hot water storage tank 2, it is possible to raise the temperature of the remaining hot water in the bathtub 6 by hot pouring hot water.

  The character information displayed on the display unit 41 indicating that the reheating operation is stopped and the flashing display of the hot water storage amount display unit 44 are continued until any one of the operation switches of the remote controller 5 is operated. Even if the user does not notice the buzzer sound or the voice guidance, it is possible to know at any time that the driving operation has been stopped visually by looking at the remote controller 5.

  It should be noted that the heat exchanger 18 is disposed in the hot water storage tank 2 in the first embodiment, but is not limited to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is good also as a system arrange | positioned outside and circulating hot water storage hot water to the heat exchanger 18. FIG. Further, the heat pump type is adopted as means for heating the hot water storage, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an electric heater may be disposed in the hot water storage tank 2.

  Further, regarding the determination to stop the chasing operation, the method is not limited to the method of the first embodiment. For example, the remaining heat amount determination unit 35 calculates the remaining heat amount based on the temperature detected by the hot water storage temperature sensor 33, and the remaining heat amount. When the temperature falls below a predetermined value, it may be determined that the amount of stored hot water necessary for reheating is lost and the reheating operation may be stopped.

The schematic block diagram of the hot water storage type hot-water supply apparatus of the Example of this invention. The principal part block diagram of the Example. The flowchart explaining the action | operation of the Example.

Explanation of symbols

2 Hot Water Storage Tank 3 Heating Means 5 Remote Control 6 Bath 18 Heat Exchanger 20 Bath Circulation Pump 22 Bath Circulation Circuit 33 Hot Water Temperature Sensor 41 Display Unit

Claims (1)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a plurality of hot water temperature sensors for detecting the hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank, a bath circulation circuit having a bath circulation pump for circulating hot water in the bathtub, and bath water provided in the middle of the bath circulation circuit A heat exchanger that heats the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water supplied to the heat exchanger, and a bath return that detects the temperature of the bath water after the heat exchange. In a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus comprising a temperature sensor and a remote controller having a display unit, and driving the bath circulation pump to circulate bath water to the heat exchanger to perform a reheating operation. with the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature and bath return temperature sensor for detecting at bath forward temperature sensor if more than a predetermined value, stops the firing operation follow by driving stopping the bath circulation pump, The fact that stops reheating operation to serial remote control and character display, further Action after firing operation stop chasing hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus is characterized in that so as to Hear.

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