JP4362776B2 - Hot water header control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention supplies hot water and water from the same hot water supply source and water supply source to two or more mixing valves corresponding to two or more hot water supply destinations, and changes and controls the mixing ratio of hot water and water by each mixing valve. Relates to a control method of a hot water header used to enable hot water supply to be performed at different temperatures (multiple temperatures) and flow rates for each hot water supply destination, and in particular, control over the hot water flow rate at each hot water supply destination It concerns the method.

  For example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration of a hot water header that supplies hot water at two or more hot water destinations at different temperatures. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the heat source unit 2, the incoming water from the water supply pipe 21 is heated and this hot water is poured into the hot water supply header 3, while being branched from the water supply pipe 21 to enter the hot water supply header 3. By mixing water and hot water at a predetermined mixing ratio based on the set temperature of the hot water supply destination corresponding to each of the mixing valves 3, hot water supply at different temperatures is possible for each hot water supply destination. That is, at least the same number of hot water supply destinations as the number of hot water supply destinations are provided for mixing and hot water supply in which hot water from a hot water supply source and water from a water supply source are mixed and supplied to a hot water supply destination.

  Further, the hot water flow rate at the hot water supply destination in each of the above systems can be adjusted by a flow rate control valve and a flow rate sensor arranged downstream of the mixing valve for each system. That is, a desired set flow rate is preset for each system, for example, by a user setting on the remote controller, and the flow control valve is opened based on the set flow rate and the flow rate detected by the flow sensor. The degree is controlled by, for example, FB control, whereby hot water having a set temperature is discharged at a set flow rate for each system.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-270868 JP2003-302101A

  By the way, in the hot water supply header as described above, since hot water and water from a common hot water supply source and water supply source are received and divided into two or more systems, hot water is supplied depending on the operating status of each system ( The flow rate of hot water or water entering or mixing into the mixing valve of the system of hot water use is fluctuating. For example, when only one of the two or more systems is operating and when all the systems are operating, the hot water flow rate or the incoming water flow rate to the mixing valve of each system is different. For this reason, when hot water supply is continued at a set flow rate under the control of a flow control valve in a certain system, hot water supply is started in another system, or hot water that has been continued in another system is stopped. When the situation fluctuates, the hot water flow rate or the incoming water flow rate that flows into the certain system changes, so the opening degree is automatically changed and adjusted so that the flow rate control valve of the certain system maintains the set flow rate up to that time, Thereby, the hot water at the set flow rate is maintained.

  However, if the automatic control of the flow rate control valve is executed so as to maintain the set flow rate in each system even if the operating situation fluctuates as described above, there is a risk of causing a result contrary to the user's intention to change the tapping flow rate. is there.

That is, even if the user operates the hot water tap slightly to close the hot water flow rate from the hot water tap at the end of the operating system, the upstream flow control valve is set by detecting the flow rate fluctuation. In order to maintain the flow rate, the opening side is automatically controlled. For this reason, although the hot water tap is operated to the closed side, the hot water flow rate is temporarily reduced, and eventually the original hot water flow rate is restored. Furthermore, if the flow control valve reaches the fully open state by repeating the hot water tap operation, a change in the hot water flow rate according to the operation of the hot water tap can be obtained. The flow rate will be maintained. Thereby, contrary to the intention of changing the hot water flow rate on the user side, there is a risk of causing a result of impairing the feeling of use. On the other hand, when the hot water tap is operated to the open side, the flow returns to the original hot water flow rate in the same manner, and there is a possibility that the feeling of use is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is that fluctuations in the operating conditions of hot water use in other systems occur while hot water is used in a system with a hot water header. In addition, the present invention provides a control method that can maintain the flow rate of the hot water in a certain system at a set flow rate, but can change the flow rate according to the intention to change the flow rate of the hot water in the certain system. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises two or more systems having a mixing valve, a flow control valve and a flow sensor, and each system receives hot water and water from a common hot water supply source and water supply source on the upstream side. A hot water header control method configured to supply hot water adjusted to a predetermined temperature by mixing in the mixing valve to different hot water supply destinations on the downstream side is provided with the following specific items.

  That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the flow rate of the hot water supply flow rate from each system is maintained at a flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate required at the downstream hot water supply destination for each hot water supply operation. While changing the position control, the valve position of the flow control valve of each system is changed for each system where hot water supply operation is continued thereafter only when there is no fluctuation of the hot water flow rate in other systems other than its own system. Even if the flow rate sensor detects a flow rate variation, the change of the valve position for maintaining the flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate is prohibited.

  In the invention according to claim 2, when it is determined that the hot water supply flow rate from each system is stable at a flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate required at the downstream hot water supply destination for each hot water supply operation. For each system in which hot water supply operation continues, the flow position of the flow control valve of each system is set for each system where hot water supply operation is continued. In order to maintain the flow rate corresponding to the above, the valve position after the change is stored and updated, and if there is no fluctuation in the hot water supply flow rate in the other system, the valve position of the flow control valve of the own system is The valve position is kept the same as that stored in, and the change of the valve position is prohibited.

  In the case of the above invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the valve position of the flow control valve of its own system during hot water supply operation is prohibited from changing if there is no fluctuation of the hot water supply flow rate in other systems. become. For this reason, when an operation for changing the hot water flow rate (for example, an operation for opening or closing the hot water tap at the hot water supply destination) is performed at the hot water supply destination of the above system, the hot water flow rate is changed according to the change operation. Will be changed. In other words, not only in the case of flow rate fluctuations in other systems but also in the flow rate fluctuations of only one's own system, if flow rate fluctuations occur, the flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate is controlled by the operation control of the flow control valve. In the present invention, when the control of changing the valve position is originally performed so as to maintain, if there is no fluctuation in the hot water flow rate in the other system, even if the flow fluctuation occurs in the own system, the set flow rate is maintained. Therefore, the change control of the valve position is prohibited. As a result, when flow rate fluctuations occur in other systems, the hot water supply flow rate of the own system is maintained at the set flow rate by the change control of the flow control valve of the own system, while the flow rate fluctuations in other systems Otherwise, it is possible to change and adjust the hot water flow rate according to the above change operation at the hot water supply destination of the own system. For this reason, hot water that matches the user's intention to change the flow rate, which appears as the change operation, is realized, and the usability of using hot water is improved.

  In each of the above inventions, when the hot water supply operation is stopped, the valve position of the flow control valve is held at the valve position at that time or the valve position stored at that time for each system to be stopped, and the next hot water supply operation is performed. It is made to wait until resumption (claim 3). In other words, when the hot water supply operation is stopped, the flow control valve of each system is changed to a predetermined standby position, and it is inherently waited until the next hot water supply operation is resumed. Without changing the position, the valve position at the time of operation stop (in the case of claim 1) or the valve position memorized at that time (in the case of claim 2) is held and waited. In this case, when the next hot water supply operation is resumed, the hot water supply flow rate to the hot water supply destination can be quickly set to a flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate, or the hot water supply flow rate to the hot water supply destination is set to the set flow rate immediately after the operation is resumed. It is possible to achieve an optimal flow rate corresponding to

  As described above, according to the hot water header control method of any one of claims 1 to 3, while maintaining the hot water flow rate from each system to the hot water destination at a set flow rate, Change adjustment of the tapping flow rate based on the flow rate changing operation can also be realized accurately. Thereby, the usability of using hot water at a plurality of hot water supply destinations via the hot water header can be improved.

  In particular, according to the third aspect, it is possible to obtain the optimum hot water flow rate at the set flow rate corresponding to each hot water supply destination immediately after the start of the next hot water supply operation, or to obtain the hot water flow rate at the set flow rate quickly. It will be possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a hot water supply system using a hot water supply header to which the control method of the present invention is applied. In this hot water supply system, hot water heated by a common heat source device 2 is passed through a hot water supply header 3 so that two or more (first to third in the illustrated example) hot water supply destinations 4 to 6 are hot water supply destinations. The hot water is distributed at different set temperatures and set flow rates for each branch water supply. As an example of the hot water supply destinations 4 to 6, the first hot water supply destination 4 is a kitchen hot water tap, the second hot water supply destination 5 is a hot water tap of a wash basin, and the third hot water supply destination 6 is a shower tap.

  The heat source unit 2 receives water supplied from a water supply source pipe 21 such as a water pipe and heats it to a predetermined high temperature (for example, 60 to 75 ° C.) by heating means 22 including a combustion burner and a heat exchanger. The hot water is supplied to the hot water supply port 31 of the hot water supply header 3 through the hot water supply passage 23. The heating operation of the heating means is controlled by a built-in heat source unit controller 24. The heat source unit controller 24 is connected to a header controller 7 (described later) so as to be able to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly. The water supply source pipe 21 is branched from the upstream side of the heat source device 2 to supply water to the water supply port 32 of the hot water supply header 3. The heat source unit 2 constitutes a hot water supply source, and the water supply source pipe 21 constitutes a water supply source.

  The hot water supply header 3 includes a hot water supply passage 33, a water supply passage 34, a number of first to third systems 35 to 37 corresponding to the hot water supply destinations 4 to 6, and a controller for controlling the hot water supply operation by each of the systems 35 to 37. Various devices including the (header side controller) 7 are built in the housing 30. Each of the first to third systems 35 to 37 has mixing valves 351, 361, and 371 for mixing hot water and water from the hot water passage 33 and the water inlet passage 34 at a predetermined mixing ratio, and the temperature after mixing. Hot water temperature sensors 352, 362, 372 to be detected, flow rate control valves 353, 363, 373 for controlling the flow rate of hot water after mixing, and flow rate sensors for detecting the flow rate of hot water to be supplied to each hot water supply destination 4-6. 354, 364, and 374, which are disposed on the hot water supply passages following the hot water supply destinations 4-6. The flow control valves 353, 363, 373 are constituted by servo valves.

  The hot water passage 33 has an upstream end connected to the hot water supply port 31 and a downstream side branched so as to supply hot water to the mixing valves 351, 361 and 371. The hot water passage 33 has a flow control valve 331 with a fully-closed function for adjusting the total flow rate of the hot water, a hot water temperature sensor 332 for detecting the hot water temperature, and each mixing valve 351 in the event of a water outage. , 361, 371 are provided with check valves 333, 334, 335 for preventing backflow.

  The upstream side of the water inlet 34 is connected to the water supply port 32, and the downstream side is branched so as to supply water individually to the mixing valves 351, 361, and 371. The inlet channel 34 has a flow control valve 341 with a fully-closed function for adjusting the total incoming water flow rate, an incoming water temperature sensor 342 for detecting incoming water temperature, and each mixing valve 351 in the event of a water outage. , 361, 371 are provided with check valves 343, 344, 345 for preventing backflow.

  In addition, remote controllers 71, 72, 73 are installed in the hot water supply destinations 4-6, respectively. The set temperature for the hot water temperature set by the user and the set flow rate for the hot water flow rate, etc. set by the user in the remote controllers 71, 72, 73 This information is output to the controller 7. In this embodiment, a remote controller is installed for each hot water supply destination. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the set temperature and the set flow rate for each hot water supply destination can be input and set by one remote controller installed in any one of them. May be.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 7 includes a mixing control unit 74 for changing and controlling the mixing ratio with the mixing valves 351, 361, 371 of all the first to third systems as control targets, and the first to third systems. The flow rate control valves 353, 363, and 373 are controlled, and a flow rate control unit 75 that controls the operation thereof is provided.

  The mixing control unit 74 uses each output of the set temperature output from the remote controllers 71 to 73, the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 332, and the incoming water temperature detected by the incoming water temperature sensor 342 as the premise information. On the basis of the temperature after mixing detected by the receiving and tapping temperature sensors 352, 362, 372, a mixing ratio at which the temperature after mixing becomes the above set temperature is calculated, and the mixing valve 351 is located at a position corresponding to the mixing ratio. , 361, 371 are operated. Thereafter, the mixture ratio is increased or decreased so as to maintain the set temperature even if the operating condition fluctuates.

  Next, the flow control by the flow controller 75 will be described. The main control by the flow rate control unit 75 is set for the flow rate control valve 353, 363 or 373 of the system 35, 36 or 37 in the hot water supply operation state under the current operation status of the hot water supply header 3. Convergence control that converges to the appropriate valve position (opening) for circulating the set flow rate, and the operation status in other systems other than one system has not changed, but fluctuations in the tapping flow rate in the above one system Each of the routines includes individual control that prohibits execution of the convergence control for the flow control valve of the one system when it is detected. That is, when the hot water use is started at one of the hot water supply destinations 4, 5 or 6 and the operation is started by the convergence control, control is performed to set the discharged hot water flow rate in the system where the operation is started to the set flow rate. On the other hand, when the hot water flow rate or the incoming water flow rate for one system changes due to fluctuations in operating conditions in any other system other than the one system during hot water supply operation, It is designed to maintain circulation at a set flow rate. The fluctuations in the operating conditions mentioned above include starting the hot water supply operation of the system that has been stopped until that time, stopping the operation of the system that has been in the hot water supply operation so far, or changing the amount of discharged hot water in the system that is in the hot water supply operation. .

  If it demonstrates concretely, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 3, control will be started when the hot-water tap of any hot-water supply destination 4,5 or 6 is opened, and hot-water supply use is started, and the operation | movement at that time (present) is carried out. Under the circumstances, the convergence control (step S1) executed for each system 35, 36 or 37 during hot water supply operation, and the appropriate position of the flow control valves 353, 363 or 373 with respect to the set flow rate by this convergence control (set flow rate The individual control (step S2) executed after acquiring the appropriate opening degree that can be realized is repeated until the hot water supply operation of all the systems 35 to 37 is stopped (NO in step S3, steps S1 and S2). And if the hot water supply operation of all the systems 35-37 is stopped (it is YES at Step S3), the position (opening degree) of flow control valve 353,363, or 373 will be set to each appropriate position acquired and memorized by said Step S1. Hold and wait in this state (step S4), and the process ends.

  The convergence control in step S1 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4 for one system 35, 36, or 37 during the hot water supply operation, the operation of the flow rate control valves 353, 363, or 373 is permitted and converged so that the set flow rate becomes the flow rate (step S11). . The first system 35 will be described as an example. The position (opening degree) of the flow rate control valve 353 is FB-controlled based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 354 so that the flow rate becomes the above set flow rate. This is continued until the detected flow rate becomes substantially the same as the set flow rate (within a predetermined allowable range) (NO in step S12, step S11), and the substantially same state lasts for a predetermined time (for example, 10 to 20 seconds). It is determined that the stable state has been reached (YES in step S13). Then, the current position (current opening) of the flow rate control valve 353 that circulates the set flow rate stably is stored in the storage unit 751 (see FIG. 2) (step S14). The above is executed for each system 35, 36 or 37 in the hot water supply operation, and the current position for realizing the set flow rate set in each remote controller 71, 72 or 73 is stored individually for each flow control valve 353, 363 or 373. To do.

  The details of the individual control in step S2 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 showing one system 35, 36, or 37 that is in the hot water supply operation as in FIG. When the first system 35 is described as an example in the same manner as described above, the flow rate control valve 353 is maintained in the stored position (step S21), and the operation status of the other second system 36 or the third system 37 is maintained. Whether or not has fluctuated is monitored (step S22). The presence or absence of this fluctuation is determined by the fluctuation state of the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 354, 364 or 374. For example, the detected flow rate fluctuates beyond the allowable range described above, or has changed to a significant value by the start of the hot water supply operation that was zero until that time, or the hot water supply operation was the same value as the previous set flow rate. If it is changed to zero by stopping, it is determined that a change in the driving situation has occurred. And when the driving | running condition of the other system | strain 36 or 37 fluctuates (it is YES at step S22), the convergence control of step S1 is performed through step S3 of FIG. 3, and, thereby, the tapping water with a set flow volume is maintained. Thus, the position of the flow control valve 353 is changed and adjusted, and stored and updated to a new appropriate position (see step S14 in FIG. 4).

  On the contrary, when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 354 of the first system 35 fluctuates beyond the allowable range in spite of no fluctuations in the operating conditions in the other systems 36 and 37, that is, deviates from the set flow rate. If such a change is indicated (NO in step S22), execution of an operation that changes the position (opening) of the flow control valve 353 is prohibited (step S23), and the previous storage position (memory open) (Step S21, NO in step S22). In short, the process in step S23 described above prohibits the execution of the convergence control (step S1 in FIG. 3) for the flow rate control valve 353 that attempts to maintain the set flow rate even if the detected flow rate of the flow rate sensor 354 varies. is there. The above processing is performed for each system 35, 36, or 37 during hot water supply operation.

  For example, in the case of the first system 35 by the above prohibition process, when the hot water tap of the hot water supply destination 4 is operated to the closing side by the user, for example, the flow control valve 353 is held at the same position. The hot water flow rate is reduced in accordance with the operation, and the hot water use can be realized as intended by the user to change the hot water flow rate. On the other hand, when the operating condition in the other system 36 or 37 changes, the convergence control is performed on the flow control valve 353 of the first system 35 as a rule, and the discharged hot water flow rate from the hot water supply destination 4 is set to the set flow rate. Can be maintained. That is, while obtaining the advantage of automatic control for maintaining the hot water discharge state at the set flow rate using the flow rate control valves 353, 363, and 373, the advantage of adjusting the hot water flow rate by operating the hot water taps at the ends of the hot water supply points 4, 5, and 6 is obtained. Can also be obtained. Thereby, the usability of using hot water supply at a plurality of hot water supply destinations via the hot water supply header 3 can be improved.

  Further, when the control is terminated and the operation of the hot water supply header 3 is stopped, the flow control valves 353, 363, and 373 are not returned to their original standby positions, and the appropriate values at that time stored in the storage unit 751 are obtained. Since it is held at the position and is made to stand by (the process of the above-mentioned step S4) and the next hot water supply operation is started from the above-mentioned appropriate position, the hot water supply destinations 4, 5, 5 are started immediately after the start of the next hot water supply operation. It becomes possible to obtain an optimal hot water flow rate at a set flow rate corresponding to every 6 or to quickly obtain a hot water flow rate at a set flow rate. The process of step S4 is performed in the same manner when the remote controller 71, 72, 73 is turned off in addition to the operation stop by closing the hot water taps of the hot water supply destinations 4, 5, 6 so that the next hot water supply is performed. The same effect as described above can be obtained at the start of operation.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Other various embodiment is included. That is, in the above embodiment, the hot water supply header 3 is provided with the three systems 35, 36, and 37, but not limited to this, the number of systems may be two or four or more, A hot water header may be configured by adding a branch path for supplying only water to the water inlet 34.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the hot water supply header which applies embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the content of a controller. It is a basic flowchart about flow control. It is a flowchart in the case of performing the process of step S1 in the basic flowchart of FIG. 3 about one system. It is a flowchart in the case of performing the process of step S2 in the basic flowchart of FIG. 3 about one system.

Explanation of symbols

2 Heat source machine (hot water source)
3 Hot water supply headers 4, 5, 6 Hot water supply destination 21 Water supply source pipe (water supply source)
35, 36, 37 System 75 Flow control unit 351, 361, 371 Mixing valve 353, 363, 373 Flow control valve 354, 364, 374 Flow sensor

Claims (3)

Two or more systems having a mixing valve, a flow control valve and a flow sensor are provided, and each system receives hot water and incoming water from a common hot water supply source and water supply source on the upstream side, and hot water adjusted to a predetermined temperature by mixing in the mixing valve. In the control method of the hot water supply header configured to supply hot water to different hot water supply destinations on the downstream side,
While controlling the valve position of the flow rate control valve so that the hot water flow rate from each system maintains a flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate required at the hot water supply destination on the downstream side for each hot water supply operation,
After that, for each system where hot water supply operation continues, the flow rate of the flow control valve of each system detects the flow fluctuation only when there is no fluctuation in the hot water supply flow rate in other systems other than its own system. Even if it does, the change of the valve position for maintaining the flow volume corresponding to the said setting flow volume is prohibited, The hot water header control method characterized by the above-mentioned. Two or more systems having a mixing valve, a flow control valve and a flow sensor are provided, and each system receives hot water and incoming water from a common hot water supply source and water supply source on the upstream side, and hot water adjusted to a predetermined temperature by mixing in the mixing valve. In the control method of the hot water supply header configured to supply hot water to different hot water supply destinations on the downstream side,
Stores the valve position of the flow rate control valve when it is determined that the hot water flow rate from each system is stable at a flow rate that corresponds to the set flow rate required by the downstream hot water supply destination for each hot water supply operation. ,
After that, for each system where hot water supply operation continues, the valve position of the flow control valve of each system is changed to maintain the flow rate corresponding to the set flow rate if there is fluctuation in the hot water supply flow rate in other systems other than its own system While the memory position is updated to the changed valve position, if the hot water flow rate does not vary in the other system, the valve position of the self-system flow control valve is kept the same as the valve position stored at that time. A method for controlling a hot water supply header, characterized by prohibiting a change in the position of the valve. A method for controlling a hot water supply header according to claim 1 or 2,
When stopping the hot water supply operation, hold the valve position of the flow control valve at the valve position at that time or the valve position stored at that time for each system to be stopped, and wait until the next hot water supply operation is resumed. , Control method of hot water header.

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