JP3989769B2 - Hot water heater - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hot water storage type water heater provided with a remote control.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of hot water heater has an electric water heater or heat pump water heater with a remote control with a display unit. Since the hot water heater is in a controlled state for 24 hours, the display part of the remote control is always on, but the display part is turned off for energy saving. There was something like that. (For example, JP2000-220886)
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with such a conventional device, even if the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank is reduced, it is impossible to know when the remote control display is turned off. It sometimes happened.
[0004]
Therefore, if the amount of hot water storage is reduced and the boiling operation is performed while the lamp is turned off, the display may be turned on to indicate that the boiling operation is being performed, but it will increase mainly during midnight hours. However, there is a problem that power is wasted even if the display is performed during a time period when a person does not look at the display portion of the remote control.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating unit for heating hot water in the hot water storage tank, a remote controller including an operation unit and a display unit. Display control means for controlling turning on and off of the display part of the remote control, a clock counter for counting time, hot water storage amount detection means for detecting the hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank, and the hot water storage amount detection means in the hot water storage tank In the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus provided with a reheating control means for causing the heating section to perform a boiling operation when it is detected that the amount of stored hot water is small, when the reheating control means causes the heating section to perform a boiling operation The display unit determines whether or not to display on the display unit that the heating is being increased based on the lighting / extinguishing state of the display unit and the time from the clock counter. Was that provided 示可 not determination means.
[0006]
As a result, appropriate display can be performed according to the on / off state and the time zone when the heating operation is performed, and unnecessary display can be prevented without impairing the user's convenience. .
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the display enable / disable determining means continues the light-off state of the display unit when the display unit is in a light-off state and there is a heating operation in a specific time zone. It was.
[0008]
As a result, when the display unit that the user does not need to display is in an extinguished state, even if there is a heating up operation in a specific time zone such as midnight, that fact is not displayed, so useless display is performed. Absent.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the display unit is in a light-off state and there is a heating operation other than a specific time period, the display availability determination means sets the display unit in a lighting state and performs a heating operation. And a display indicating that the display unit is turned off when the heating operation is completed.
[0010]
As a result, even if the display is in the off state, it is displayed that the boiling is increasing except for a specific time zone, so it is immediately known that the hot water heater is operating by the boiling increase operation during the display, Since the display unit is automatically turned off upon completion of the heating operation, useless power consumption can be suppressed.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the display availability determination means performs a heating operation on the display unit regardless of the time counted by the clock counter when there is a heating operation when the display unit is in a lighting state. The display unit is returned to the normal display state upon completion of the reheating operation, and the display unit is turned off when the display unit is in the off state and outside a specific time period. When there is an increase operation, the display unit is turned on to display that the boiling operation is being performed, and the display unit is returned to the off state upon completion of the heating operation, and the display unit Is turned off, and when there is a heating operation in a specific time zone, the display portion is kept turned off.
[0012]
Thereby, when the display unit that the user may need to display is in a lighting state, when the heating operation is started regardless of the time zone, it is displayed that the heating is being performed, When the reheating operation is completed, it returns to the normal display state, and even if the display is turned off, it is displayed that the reheating is performed outside the specified time zone. As soon as the water heater is operating, the display unit is automatically turned off when the boiling operation is completed, so that unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed, and the user does not need a display. In the case where the display unit is turned off, even if there is a heating up operation in a specific time zone such as midnight, that effect is not displayed, so useless display is not performed without impairing usability.
[0013]
Further, according to the fifth aspect, before the display indicating that the boiling-up operation is being performed, a message indicating that the amount of stored hot water is small is displayed.
[0014]
As a result, since the amount of hot water is reduced and the amount of hot water stored is reduced before performing the warming operation, a message is displayed so that even if the display suddenly lights up from the off state, It can be immediately recognized that the display is lit to do.
[0015]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the operation unit of the remote controller is provided with a display switch for switching the lighting / extinguishing state of the display unit.
[0016]
As a result, when the user does not need the display, the display can be surely turned off by the user's own operation, and even if the display is turned off, if the heating operation is performed except for a specific time period, the fact is displayed. Energy saving without sacrificing usability.
[0017]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the specific time zone can be changed by an operation unit of the remote controller.
[0018]
Thereby, since the specific time zone can be easily changed, it is possible to perform display control that matches the life pattern of the user.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a hot water storage type water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a heat pump unit as a heating unit, 2 is a hot water storage tank unit having a hot water storage tank 3, 4 is a hot water tap installed in a kitchen or the like, and 5 is a remote controller provided in the vicinity of the hot water tap 4.
[0020]
In the heat pump unit 1, a compressor, a condenser as a refrigerant-water heat exchanger, a decompressor, and an evaporator (both not shown) are sequentially connected to form a heat pump circuit. Part 6. Then, hot water is circulated in the condenser by driving the heat pump circulation pump 7 to store hot water in the hot water storage tank 3.
[0021]
8 is a heat pump circulation circuit that connects the hot water storage tank 3 and the heat pump unit 2 so as to circulate, and is composed of a heat pump forward pipe 8a connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 and a heat pump return pipe 8b connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3. The cold water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 is heated by the heat pump unit 2 through the heat pump forward pipe 8a, and the heated hot water is returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 through the heat pump return pipe 8b to enter the hot water into the hot water storage tank 3 from above. The hot water is stored.
[0022]
A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 9 are vertically provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 3 at predetermined intervals, and are referred to as 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d from the top. 10 is a water supply pipe for supplying water to the hot water storage tank 3, 11 is a hot water discharge pipe for discharging hot water in the hot water storage tank 3, and 12 is a mixture of cold water from the water supply pipe 10 and hot water from the hot water discharge pipe 11 so as to reach a set temperature. A mixing valve 13 is a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water having a mixed set temperature.
[0023]
14 is a hot water supply temperature sensor provided downstream of the mixing valve 12, and 15 is a hot water supply flow rate sensor for counting the amount of hot water supply. Reference numeral 16 is a pressure reducing valve for reducing the water pressure to a predetermined pressure, and 17 is a pressure relief valve for releasing an overpressure caused by heating. These constitute the hot water supply circuit 18.
[0024]
Reference numeral 19 denotes a bath circulation circuit, which connects a serpentine tube 20 as an indirect heat exchanger provided in the hot water storage tank 3 and a bathtub (not shown) so as to be circulated by a bath outlet tube 19a and a bath return tube 19b. is there. 21 is a bath circulation pump provided in the bath circulation circuit 19, 22 is a running water sensor that detects the presence or absence of running water, 23 is a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of bath water flowing through the bath circulation circuit 19, and 24 is water pressure of bath water. It is a water level sensor which detects the water level in a bathtub.
[0025]
A hot water filling pipe 25 is branched from the middle of the hot water supply pipe 13 and connected to the bath circulation circuit 19 to fill the bathtub, and 26 is provided in the hot water filling pipe 25 to start and stop the filling of the hot water to the bathtub. A hot water filling valve 27 is a bath flow sensor for counting the amount of hot water filling the bathtub. Reference numeral 28 denotes a two-way valve provided between the hot water filling pipe 25 and the water level sensor 24. When the hot water is filled, the valve 28 is once opened and the air purge of the pipe from the connection position of the hot water filling pipe 25 of the bath return pipe 19b to the bathtub is performed. Then, the valve is closed so that the water level can be filled while the water level sensor 24 monitors the accurate water level.
[0026]
The remote controller 5 sets a display unit 5a composed of a dot matrix type fluorescent display tube for displaying the state of the hot water heater such as the remaining hot water storage amount in the hot water tank 3 and the hot water set temperature, and the hot water set temperature. An operation section 5f having a hot water supply temperature setting switch 5b, a bath temperature setting switch 5c for setting a bath setting temperature, a bath automatic switch 5d for starting an automatic bath operation, and a display switch 5e for switching on / off of the display section 5a is provided. It is what.
[0027]
Reference numeral 29 denotes a main body control unit mainly composed of a microcomputer for controlling the whole hot water storage type water heater, which receives inputs from sensors such as the hot water temperature sensor 14 and the hot water flow rate sensor 15 and receives the mixing valve 12 and the bath. In addition to performing drive control of an actuator such as the circulation pump 21, the actuator is provided so as to be communicable with the remote controller 5 and the heat pump control unit 6.
[0028]
Reference numeral 30 denotes a hot water storage amount detecting means which is provided as a function of the main body control unit 29 and detects the amount of hot water storage based on the detection values of the hot water storage temperature sensors 9a to 9d. The remaining hot water storage amount is detected depending on whether or not is detecting a predetermined temperature or more. For example, if the hot water storage tank 3 has a capacity of 200L and four hot water storage temperature sensors 9a to 9d are provided at intervals of about 40L, the lowest hot water storage temperature sensor 9d detects about 80 ° C. or more. The hot water storage tank 3 is almost full of hot water (the hot water storage tank is filled with hot water, which can be referred to as heat storage), and only the uppermost hot water temperature sensor 9a detects about 80 ° C. or more. And if the other hot water storage temperature sensors 9b-d are detecting about 50 degrees C or less, it can detect that the remaining hot water storage amount is about 40L.
[0029]
A clock counter 31 is provided as a function of the main body control unit 29 and counts time.
[0030]
Reference numeral 32 denotes a heating control means provided as a function of the main body control unit 29 for controlling the boiling of hot water in the hot water storage tank 3, and is based on the late-night power or the time-dependent contract power according to the time counted by the clock counter 31. In the night time zone, a heating start instruction is sent to the heat-pump control unit 6 to start heating, and the amount of hot water storage is detected from the amount that is considered necessary on the next day by a learning calculation using the amount of hot water used for one week until the previous day. Boiling is increased by an amount obtained by subtracting the remaining hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank 3 detected by the means 9. In addition, if the amount of hot water storage falls below the amount considered necessary at night during the daytime, a time limit or a number of times limit will be set to forcibly increase the amount so that expensive daytime power will not be used indefinitely. It is what you are doing.
[0031]
A display control unit 33 is provided as a function of the main body control unit 29, and controls to switch on and off the display unit 5a of the remote controller 5. The display unit 5a is turned on and off by input of the display switch 5e of the remote controller 5. Since the display unit 5a is turned off by operating the display switch 5e, the display is turned off by an operation that the user intends to turn off. On the contrary, when the display unit 5a is turned off, when the hot water supply flow rate sensor 15 detects a predetermined flow rate or higher, the display unit 5a is returned to the turned on state, and when the display unit 5a is turned off. The display unit 5a is returned to a lighting state by operating any one of the switches of the operation unit 5f.
[0032]
34 is provided as a function of the main body control unit 29, and when the heating control unit 31 causes the heat pump unit 1 to perform a heating operation, the display control unit 33 turns the display unit 5 a on and off. Whether or not to display on the display unit 5a a display indicating that heating has been performed from the time from the clock counter 32 (for example, an arrow next to the hot water tank picture drawn on the display unit 5a is blinked) It is a display possibility determination means for determining whether or not.
[0033]
When the hot-water tap 4 is opened, cold water flows into the hot water storage tank 3 from the lower water supply pipe 10 by the water supply pressure applied to the hot water storage tank 3 to push up the boundary layer of the high temperature hot water and the cold water. The hot water that has flowed out into the hot water discharge pipe 11 is mixed with the cold water in the water supply pipe 10 and the hot water supply set temperature by the mixing valve 12 and supplied from the hot water tap 4.
[0034]
Further, when the bath automatic switch 5c is operated, the hot water filling valve 26 is opened, and the cold water flows into the hot water storage tank 3 from the lower water supply pipe 10 by the water supply pressure applied to the hot water storage tank 3, and the boundary layer of the high temperature hot water and cold water is raised. The hot water at the top flows out into the tap pipe 11 and the hot water that has flowed out is mixed with the cold water in the water supply pipe 10 at the mixing valve 12 and the bath set temperature at the mixing valve 12, and the bath circulation circuit 19 is The bath is filled with water. Then, when the hot water filling up to the set water level is confirmed by the water level sensor 24 provided in the bath circulation circuit 19, the hot water filling valve 26 is closed to complete the hot water filling. Then, the bath temperature sensor 23 detects the hot water temperature in the bathtub while driving the bath circulation pump 21 at regular intervals. If the bath temperature is lower than the bath set temperature, the bath circulation pump 21 is continuously driven, and the hot water storage tank The bath water circulated by the serpentine tube 3 is heated to the bath set temperature, and this bath heat-retaining operation is repeated for a predetermined time (for example, 4 hours).
[0035]
When the midnight power or the time-based contract power becomes inexpensive, the heating control unit 32 issues a heating command to the heat pump control unit 6 so that the heat pump control unit 6 drives the heat pump unit 1 and the heat pump circulation pump 7. Is heated until the hot water storage amount detection means 30 detects the amount of hot water used the next day, but if the hot water storage amount detection means 30 is low and the hot water storage amount is not increased, it is estimated that hot water will run out. The boiling increase control means 32 forcibly increases boiling by daytime power.
[0036]
Next, the operation of the characteristic part of the present invention will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0037]
First, when the hot water storage amount detection means 30 detects that the hot water storage amount is small (step 1, hereinafter S1), the display availability determination means 34 indicates to the display control means 33 whether the display state is on or off. Confirm (S2).
[0038]
If the display switch 5e is operated and the display unit 5a is turned off (Y in S2), whether the current time counted by the clock counter 31 by the display availability determination means 34 is a midnight time zone. It is confirmed whether or not (S3). When it is not the midnight time zone, the display unit 5a is turned on (S4), and the character display of “small amount of hot water storage” is displayed on the display unit 5a for a predetermined time (here, 5 seconds) (S5, S6).
[0039]
Next, the boiling control means 31 instructs the heat pump control unit 6 to start boiling (S7), and displays on the display unit 5a that the boiling is being performed by characters, symbols or animation (S8). ), To make it easier for users to know that they are currently heating up.
[0040]
When the hot water storage amount detection means 30 detects that the necessary amount has been increased, the increase control means 31 instructs the heat pump control unit 6 to stop the increase in heating and completes the increase operation (Y in S9). Then, the display availability determination means 34 instructs the display control means 33 to turn off the display on the display unit 5a (S10), and the process returns to S1.
[0041]
In this way, when there is a request for increase in boiling when the display unit 5a is in the extinguished state, it is displayed that the increase in boiling is being performed during the increase in boiling operation, so that when the user looks at the display unit 5a As soon as you know why the hot water heater is operating, and when the reheating operation is completed, the display unit 5a is returned to the original light-off state. Regardless of the intention of the person, the display unit 5a can be continuously turned on without wasting power and energy can be saved.
[0042]
Also, if the display switch 5e is operated when the amount of hot water storage is reduced and the display unit 5a is turned off and it is in the midnight time zone (Y in S1 → Y in S2 and N in Y → S3) ), The display possibility determination means 34 keeps the display 5a off, the boiling increase control means 31 instructs the heat pump control section 6 to start boiling (S11), and the hot water storage amount detection means 30 requires the required amount. When it is detected that the boiling point has been increased, the boiling point increase control means 31 instructs the heat pump control unit 6 to stop the increase of boiling point to complete the boiling increase operation (Y in S12), and returns to S1.
[0043]
In this way, when there is a request for increase in boiling when the display unit 5a is in the off state, and in the midnight time zone, the display unit 5a is continuously turned off to perform the increase in boiling operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary display lighting during a time period when people are not very active, and it is possible to save energy by suppressing unnecessary power consumption.
[0044]
If the display 5a is in a lit state when the amount of hot water storage is reduced, the character display of “small amount of hot water storage” is displayed on the display unit 5a for a predetermined time (here, 5 seconds) regardless of the time (S13, (S14), the heating control means 31 instructs the heat pump control unit 6 to start heating (S15), and displays on the display unit 5a that the heating is being performed by characters, symbols, animations, or the like (S16). ) To make it easier for users to know that they are currently heating up. When the hot water storage amount detection means 30 detects that the necessary amount has been increased, the increase control unit 31 instructs the heat pump control unit 6 to stop the increase in heating and completes the increase operation (Y in S17). Then, the display on the display unit 5a is heated up and returned to the normal display state before the start (S18), and the process returns to S1.
[0045]
In this way, when the display unit 5a is in the display state, when the user looks at the display unit 5a, increase the boiling so that it can be immediately understood why the hot water heater is operating. Since the user may need to display even after the reheating operation is completed, the display unit 5a is reheated and returned to the normal display state before the start. is there.
[0046]
As described above, when the heating control unit 32 causes the heat pump unit 1 to perform the heating operation, the display indicating that the heating is performed from the lighting / extinguishing state of the display unit 5a and the time from the clock counter is displayed. Since the display possibility determination means 34 for determining whether or not to display on the display unit is provided, an appropriate display can be performed according to the lighting / extinguishing state and the time zone when the heating operation is performed. It is possible to prevent unnecessary display without impairing the usability of the device, and to save energy.
[0047]
The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in this embodiment, the heat pump unit 1 is provided separately from the hot water storage tank unit 2 as a heating unit. However, the heat pump and the hot water storage tank 3 are not limited to this. Alternatively, an electric heater may be provided in the hot water storage tank 3.
[0048]
In this embodiment, the clock counter 31, the display control means 33, and the display availability determination means 34 are provided in the main body control unit 29, but even if these are provided in the remote control 5, the main body control unit 29 and the remote control 5 Since the same operation can be performed only by increasing the number of communication procedures, the part where these means are provided is not limited to the main body control unit 29.
[0049]
Further, the hot water storage amount detection means 30 is not limited to that shown in this embodiment. For example, the remaining hot water storage amount is stored from the hot water supply amount detected by the hot water supply flow rate sensor 15 by storing the amount of increased boiling. The amount of hot water stored may be detected by calculating
[0050]
In addition, as in this embodiment, the display unit 5a is not turned off only by operating the display switch 5e. For example, when a state in which the hot water supply flow rate sensor 15 does not detect a predetermined flow rate or more has elapsed for a predetermined time, the display unit 5a May be turned off or the display unit 5a may be turned off when the operation unit 5f has not been operated for a certain period of time.
[0051]
In this embodiment, the display unit 5a of the remote controller 5 is a dot matrix type fluorescent display tube, and is completely turned off when the display unit 5a is turned off. As the liquid crystal display, only the backlight may be turned off by turning off the light, or the backlight and the liquid crystal display itself may be turned off together. In short, power consumption is reduced by turning off the display unit 5a. What is necessary is just to be able to reduce even a little, and it does not preclude turning on some LED elements and the like in the unlit state.
[0052]
In this embodiment, the specific time zone in which the display is not performed in the display-off state even if the heating operation is performed is set in advance to the midnight time zone, but this specific operation is performed by a specific combination operation of the switches of the operation unit 5f. The time zone can be changed. For example, if the hot water supply temperature setting switch 5b is operated while pressing the display switch 5e so that it can be changed to an arbitrary time zone, only an existing operation switch can be used without newly providing a dedicated operation switch. It is possible to change the specific time zone to prevent an increase in cost, and it is possible to perform display control that matches various life patterns of the user, thereby improving usability.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate display according to the on / off state of the display unit and the time zone when the heating operation is performed, which impairs the usability of the user. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary display and to save energy.
[0054]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, no display is performed even if there is a heating-up operation in a specific time zone where display is not required, so unnecessary display is not performed and energy saving can be achieved.
[0055]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the display is in the off state, it is displayed that the boiling is being increased except for a specific time zone, so that it is immediately confirmed that the hot water heater is operating due to the boiling increase operation. In addition, the display unit is automatically returned to the extinguishment state upon completion of the heating operation, so that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved.
[0056]
According to claim 4, when a display unit that may be required for display by a user is in a lit state, when the heating operation is started regardless of the time zone, the heating is performed. Is displayed, and when the reheating operation is completed, it returns to the normal display state, and even if the display is turned off, it is displayed that the boiling is increasing outside the specified time period. As soon as it is confirmed that the hot water heater is operating due to the reheating operation, the display unit is automatically turned off upon completion of the reheating operation, so that unnecessary power consumption can be reduced. When a display that does not require display is turned off, it will not be displayed even if there is a heated operation at a specific time such as midnight, so unnecessary display is performed without impairing usability. Not to Come, it is possible to achieve energy saving by suppressing wasteful power consumption.
[0057]
Further, according to the fifth aspect, since the hot water storage amount is reduced and the hot water storage amount is reduced before the operation is performed, the fact that the hot water storage amount has decreased is displayed. There is an advantage that the person can immediately recognize that the display is lit to perform the heating operation.
[0058]
According to the sixth aspect, when the user does not need the display, the display can be surely turned off by his / her own operation, and the heating operation is performed except for a specific time zone even when the display is turned off. If this is done, a message to that effect can be displayed and energy can be saved without impairing usability.
[0059]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the specific time zone can be easily changed, it is possible to perform display control that matches the actual life pattern of the user and improve usability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Heat pump unit (heating unit)
3 Hot water storage tank 5 Remote control 5a Display unit 5d Display switch 5f Operation unit 30 Hot water storage amount detection means 31 Clock counter 32 Heating control means 33 Display control means 34 Display availability judgment means

Claims (7)

A hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating unit for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a remote control provided with an operation unit and a display unit, display control means for controlling turning on and off of the display unit of the remote control, and time A hot water storage amount detecting means for detecting the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and when the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank is detected by the hot water storage amount detecting means, In the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus provided with a reheating control means for operating, when the reheating control means causes the heating section to reheat, the lighting state of the display unit from the display control means and the state A hot water storage type hot water heater provided with a display possibility determination means for determining whether or not to display on the display section that the heating is being performed from the time from the clock counter. 2. The display enable / disable judging means is characterized in that when the display unit is in an extinguished state and there is a heating operation in a specific time period, the extinguishing state of the display unit is continued. The hot water storage water heater described. When the display unit is in an extinguished state and there is a heating operation other than a specific time period, the display availability determination unit displays that the display unit is in a lighting state and performing a boiling operation. The hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is returned to a light-off state upon completion of the boiling operation. When the display unit is in a lit state, the display propriety determination means displays that the display unit is performing a boiling operation regardless of the time counted by the clock counter. When the heating operation is completed, the display unit is returned to a normal display state, and when the display unit is in a light-off state and there is a boiling operation other than a specific time period, While displaying that the display unit is in a lighting state and performing a reheating operation, the display unit is returned to a light-off state upon completion of the reheating operation, and the display unit is in a light-off state, and 2. The hot water storage type hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein when the heating operation is performed in a specific time zone, the display unit is kept off. 5. The hot water storage type hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating that the amount of stored hot water is reduced is displayed before displaying that the heating operation is being performed. The hot water storage type hot water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operation unit of the remote controller is provided with a display switch for switching the lighting / extinguishing state of the display unit. The hot water heater according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the specific time zone can be changed by an operation unit of the remote controller.

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