JP5121882B2 - Boiling control system, boiling control method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention controls a boiling water control system, a boiling control method for controlling a hot water storage water heater that supplies boiled hot water to a hot water supply terminal, and a hot water storage water heater that supplies boiled hot water to a hot water supply terminal. The present invention relates to a program to be executed by a computer.

  Hot water storage type water heaters are widely used as water heaters with low power consumption. In the hot water storage type water heater, the hot water is boiled and stored in advance, and the hot water stored later is used.

  In the hot water storage type water heater, if the amount of hot water boiled in advance is larger than the amount of hot water actually used, the power consumption used for the boiling of hot water that has not been used is wasted. Furthermore, in the hot water storage type water heater, if the amount of hot water boiled in advance is smaller than the amount of hot water actually used, the resident cannot use the hot water immediately.

  Therefore, a hot water storage type hot water heater or the like that performs boiling control by predicting the total amount of hot water used based on past results is disclosed for the purpose of bringing the amount of hot water to be preheated as close as possible to the amount of hot water that is actually used. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2008-82607 A JP 2008-256270 A

  However, the total amount of hot water used in a day usually varies greatly depending on weather fluctuations. In the hot water storage water heaters disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 that predict the total amount of hot water used based on past results, when the outside air temperature etc. fluctuates rapidly, the estimated amount of hot water that is actually used There is a risk that the error will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, boiling up control system capable of creating a more operation plan of excess or deficiency less boiling up operation, and aims to provide a boiling up control method and program To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a boiling control system according to the present invention controls a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that supplies boiling hot water to a hot water supply terminal. In this boiling control system, the forecast acquisition unit acquires weather forecast information. The plan creation unit creates an operation plan for the boiling operation of the hot water storage hot water heater based on the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit. The timekeeping section keeps time. The hot water detection unit detects the flow rate and temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water storage type hot water supply device. The calculation unit calculates the hot water supply load of the hot water storage type hot water heater based on the flow rate and temperature of the hot water detected by the hot water amount detection unit. The environment information detection unit detects surrounding environment information. A memory | storage part matches and memorize | stores the time information measured by the time measuring part, the environmental information detected by the environmental information detection part, and the hot water supply load calculated by the calculation part. The learning unit learns a combination of the environmental information in a specific time zone highly compatible with prediction of the hot water supply load and the total hot water supply load for one day based on the environmental information and the hot water supply load stored in the storage unit. The plan creation unit determines the required amount of hot water to be used for the next day based on the environmental information of the next day included in the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit and the correlation learned by the learning unit. .

  According to the present invention, based on the weather forecast information, an operation plan for the boiling operation of the hot water storage hot water heater is created in consideration of actual weather fluctuations. Thereby, since the estimation error due to weather fluctuation can be reduced, an operation plan for boiling operation with less excess or deficiency can be created.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the boiling control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed function structure of a controller. It is a graph which shows an example of the fluctuation pattern of the hot water supply load of 1 day. It is a graph which shows an example of the external temperature characteristic of the total hot water supply load of 1 day. It is a graph which shows an example of the fluctuation | variation of the outside temperature based on weather forecast information. It is a graph which shows an example of the outside temperature characteristic of the boiling operation efficiency of a heat pump. It is a flowchart of the process which creates the driving | operation plan of boiling operation. It is a graph which shows an example of the comparison display of transition of hot water supply load.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The boiling control system according to this embodiment controls a hot water storage type water heater that supplies boiling hot water to a hot water supply terminal.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the boiling control system 200 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the boiling control system 200 is configured with a hot water storage type hot water heater 100 as a center.

《Hot water storage type water heater》
The hot water storage type water heater 100 includes a heat pump unit 1 and a tank unit 2. The heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2 are connected by a pipe 7 through which hot water flows.

The heat pump unit 1 is a heat pump using, for example, CO ₂ or HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) as a refrigerant. The heat pump unit 1 incorporates a heater (not shown) that heats and heats water at a city water temperature (hereinafter abbreviated as water or low-temperature water) to a target hot water storage temperature. Such heaters include, for example, a compressor and a water heat exchanger (condenser) that exchanges refrigerant heat with water.

  The heat pump unit 1 further includes an air heat exchanger (evaporator) for exchanging heat with the outside air, an expansion valve (both not shown), and the like. In the heat pump unit 1, an outside air temperature sensor 9 that measures the outside air temperature is provided in a portion that takes in outside air.

  It should be noted that an electric heater or other heat source may be used as a heating source of the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 instead of the heat pump unit 1, or they may be used as an auxiliary to the heat pump unit 1. Further, the heat source may be built in the hot water storage tank 3 of the tank unit 2.

  The tank unit 2 includes a hot water storage tank 3, a controller 4, a flow rate sensor 5, a mixing valve 6, temperature sensors 8a and 8b, and the like. These components are housed in a metal outer case 30.

  The hot water storage tank 3 is formed of a metal such as stainless steel or a resin. A heat insulating material (not shown) is disposed outside the hot water storage tank 3. Thereby, the hot water (hereinafter abbreviated as high temperature water) can be kept warm in the hot water storage tank 3 for a long time. Although only one hot water storage tank 3 is shown in FIG. 1, a larger number of hot water storage tanks 3 may be installed.

  The controller 4 performs overall control of the hot water storage type water heater 100. The controller 4 has a CPU and a memory (both not shown). Various functions of the controller 4 are realized by the CPU executing the program stored in the memory.

  The controller 4 is connected to the Internet 20. Thereby, the controller 4 can perform information communication with an external device connected to the Internet 20. The controller 4 accesses the weather forecast center via the Internet 20 and acquires weather forecast information from the weather forecast center.

  The controller 4 is also connected to a home network (not shown) of the house 10. A further detailed configuration of the controller 4 will be described later.

  The flow rate sensor 5 detects the flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water storage type hot water heater 100. The mixing valve 6 is provided to mix the hot water and the city water at the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 so that the supplied hot water has a desired temperature. The temperature sensor 8a detects the temperature of the hot water supplied. The temperature sensor 8 b detects the temperature of the high temperature water in the hot water storage tank 3. The flow sensor 5 and the temperature sensors 8a and 8b are connected to the controller 4 via a home network. The controller 4 inputs detection results of the flow sensor 5 and the temperature sensor 8a, and calculates a hot water supply load supplied from the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 based on the detection results.

《Housing》
The house 10 is provided with rooms 11a to 11d. The rooms 11a and 11b are a living room or a bedroom, and no hot water supply terminal is installed. The room 11c is a bathroom and the room 11d is a kitchen. In addition to this, the house 10 has several rooms.

  In the room 11c as a bathroom, a bathtub 12 and a shower 13 are arranged as hot water supply terminals. A kitchen faucet 14 as a hot water supply terminal is provided in the room 11d which is a kitchen. Hot water is supplied to the bathtub 12, the shower 13, and the faucet 14 from the hot water storage type water heater 100.

  Further, a remote controller (remote controller) 19 as an input / output terminal is installed in the room 11c which is a bathroom. The resident can operate the hot water storage type water heater 100 by operating the remote controller 19. On the display screen of the remote controller 19, the operating state and hot water storage state of the hot water storage type water heater 100 are displayed. The remote controller 19 can also be installed in other places or a plurality of places such as the room 11d.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the controller 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 4 includes a timing unit 50, a hot water detection unit 51, a calculation unit 52, a storage unit 53, a learning unit 55, a forecast acquisition unit 56, a plan creation unit 57, and a control Part 58.

  The time measuring unit 50 measures time. Time information such as the date and the current time is acquired by the time measurement of the time measuring unit 50. The timing unit 50 outputs these timing information to the storage unit 53, the learning unit 55, and the plan creation unit 57.

  The hot water amount detection unit 51 receives the output of the flow sensor 5 and the output of the temperature sensor 8a, and constantly detects the flow rate and temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water storage hot water supply device 100.

The calculation unit 52 calculates the hot water supply load of the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 based on the flow rate and temperature of the hot water detected by the hot water amount detection unit 51. The hot water supply load, that is, the amount of hot water supply is calculated by the following equation.
Hot water supply heat quantity (hot water supply load) = specific heat of water x flow rate x (temperature of hot water-city water temperature) (1)
Here, the flow rate is obtained from the output value of the flow rate sensor 5. Moreover, the tapping temperature is obtained from the output value of the temperature sensor 8a.

  More specifically, each time the hot water supply load is detected (the flow rate sensor 5 detects the hot water flow rate), the calculation unit 52 calculates the hot water supply heat amount using the above equation (1), and calculates the calculated hot water supply heat amount. Time integration (for example, 1 hour) is performed. Thereby, the calculation part 52 calculates the hot water supply load per unit time. The calculation unit 52 creates a fluctuation pattern of the daily hot water supply load as shown in FIG. 3 by repeating this calculation over one day every unit time.

  In the graph of FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents hot water supply load. In FIG. 3, the accumulated hot water supply load for one hour is represented by a bar graph. The hot water supply load is represented by, for example, a heat quantity [MJ] or a hot water temperature converted heat quantity at a predetermined temperature (for example, 40 ° C.).

  Note that the sampling interval of the integrated hot water supply load may be shorter (finer) or longer (rougher) than 1 hour.

  The storage unit 53 stores the timekeeping information timed by the timekeeping unit 50, the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 9, and the hot water supply load fluctuation pattern calculated by the calculation unit 52 in association with each other. That is, in the storage unit 53, the time measured by the time measuring unit 50 is used as a search key, and the outside air temperature detected at that time and the hot water supply load at that time can be searched later. Data is stored.

  The learning unit 55 learns the correlation between the outside air temperature and the daily hot water supply load based on the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load stored by the storage unit 53.

  The hot water supply load is highly correlated with the outside air temperature. For example, the outside air temperature is low in winter, the number of bathing the tub 12 Many made upon, and the number of times to use the shower 13, since the increased number of such hand washing, the amount of hot water is increased overall. Moreover, in the summer when the outside air temperature is high, the chance of bathing in the bathtub 12 is reduced and the frequency of bathing only in the shower 13 is increased, so that the amount of hot water used is reduced overall.

  In addition, since the city water temperature is lower in the winter than in the summer, a larger amount of heat is required to heat the city water in the winter, and the hot water supply load tends to increase.

  FIG. 4 shows a graph showing an example of the outside air temperature characteristic of the total hot water supply load for one day. In the graph of FIG. 4, the horizontal axis is the outside air temperature, and the vertical axis is a value obtained by adding the standard deviation to the average value of the hot water supply load per day. As shown in FIG. 4, the hot water supply load per day (the average value + standard deviation) becomes smaller as the outside air temperature becomes higher.

  The learning unit 55 calculates the total hot water supply load for one day by adding the hot water supply loads included in the daily hot water supply load pattern stored in the storage unit 53, and based on the transition of the outside air temperature on the same day, The average value of the outdoor temperature on that day is calculated.

  Here, as the outside air temperature, the highest temperature of the day may be used. Moreover, you may make it use the outside temperature of the specific time slot | zone with high compatibility with prediction of hot water supply load as outside temperature. In the following, the calculated value of the outside air temperature obtained in this way is particularly set as a representative value of the outside air temperature.

  Subsequently, the learning unit 55 obtains an average value and a standard deviation of the total hot water supply load on the day on which the representative values of the outside air temperatures coincide. Then, the learning unit 55 calculates the sum of the obtained average value and standard deviation. The learning unit 55 learns the correlation between the outside air temperature and the daily hot water supply load by performing this calculation for each outside air temperature. FIG. 4 shows an example of the correlation obtained by learning of the learning unit 55.

  By the way, the memory | storage part 53 has memorize | stored timing information, the external temperature, and the hot water supply load for one year or more, Preferably for several years. If it does in this way, in learning part 55, it will become possible to learn hot water supply load corresponding to a change of the season of one year.

  Even at the same outside air temperature, the fluctuation pattern of the hot water supply load as shown in FIG. 3 tends to be different between a gradually hot season (spring) and a cold season (autumn). For this reason, in this embodiment, time information including month and day information is stored in the storage unit 53 in association with the hot water supply load.

  Learning unit 55, among the storage unit 53 outside air temperature and the hot water supply load stored in the outside air temperature using the ambient temperature and hot water supply load of a predetermined period relative to date of the next day (e.g., 1 month before and after) And learn the correlation between hot water supply load. In this way, it is possible to learn the correlation between the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load suitable for a specific time or a specific season of the year.

  Further, the learning unit 55 may perform learning using the hot water supply load for the last year or the average of the hot water loads for the most recent years. In addition, the weight of the hot water supply load may be increased as it becomes more recent.

  The forecast acquisition unit 56 accesses the weather forecast center or the like via the Internet 20 and acquires weather forecast information. The forecast acquisition unit 56 acquires weather forecast information for each region and each time.

  Note that to obtain the weather forecast information for each region, it is necessary to grasp the installation position of the hot-water storage type water heater 100, this installation position, the hot-water storage type water heater 100, a GPS (Global Positioning System) function It may be provided, or the installation position may be set from a terminal such as the remote controller 19.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a change in the daily outside air temperature included in the weather forecast information acquired in this way. As shown in FIG. 5, the outside air temperature is generally lowered at night without sunlight, lowest at early in the morning before sunrise, elevated subjected the sunrise, the highest at around noon. This tendency is greatly influenced by weather such as sunny, cloudy, and rainy, and daytime temperature rise is less in cloudy and rainy days with little solar radiation. Also, the temperature may rise or fall due to the influence of the wind direction such as south or north.

  The weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit 56 includes, for example, prediction information of fluctuations in outside air temperature as shown in FIG.

  The plan creation unit 57 creates an operation plan for the boiling operation of the hot water storage hot water heater 100 based on the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit 56. More specifically, planning unit 57, the day after the ambient temperature included in the weather forecast information obtained by the forecast acquisition unit 56, the total water supply load of the ambient temperature and one day learned by the learning section 55 Based on the correlation, the required amount of boiling water for hot water used the next day is determined.

  The plan creation unit 57 calculates a required boiling amount (target heat storage amount) to be covered by the hot water storage tank 3 based on the daily hot water supply load corresponding to the outside air temperature of the next day. The plan creation unit 57 may determine, as the target heat storage amount, a value obtained by adding the surplus hot water supply amount to the sum of the average value and the standard deviation of the total daily hot water supply load described above.

  Moreover, the memory | storage part 53 has further memorize | stored the characteristic of the boiling efficiency of the heat pump unit 1 with respect to external temperature. The plan creation unit 57 is based on the temporal change of the outside air temperature on the next day included in the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit 56 and the characteristics of the boiling efficiency of the heat pump unit 1 stored in the storage unit 53. Determine the time zone for boiling operation.

  FIG. 6 shows a graph of the COP (coefficient of performance) of the boiling operation by the heat pump unit 1, that is, the outside air temperature characteristic of the heat pump boiling operation COP. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat pump boiling operation COP (hereinafter abbreviated as “COP”) becomes more efficient as the outside air temperature is higher. This outside air temperature characteristic is stored in the storage unit 53 as a table or a function expression. The plan creation unit 57 predicts a COP corresponding to the outside air temperature during operation based on the table and function formula stored in the storage unit 53.

  The plan creation unit 57 creates the operation plan so that the boiling operation is performed in a time zone where the outside air temperature is predicted to be high during the day as much as possible. In this way, since the boiling operation can be performed with the COP being high, the power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, the plan creation unit 57 may create an operation plan for performing boiling operation at night and in the daytime. In this case, the plan creation unit 57 needs to determine both a time zone for performing daytime boiling operation and a time zone for performing nighttime boiling operation. Planning section 57, based on the characteristics of the boiling-up efficiency of the storage unit 53 heat pump unit 1 which is stored in, for example, as the power consumption of the boiling-up operation is minimized, time for daytime boiling up operation Determine the time zone and the time zone for the night boiling operation.

  The control unit 58 performs various operations such as a boiling operation (hot water storage operation) based on the operation plan created by the plan creation unit 57, a hot water supply operation, and a warming / remedy operation after filling.

  Next, various operations of the boiling control system 200 will be described.

《Hot water storage operation》
First, the hot water storage operation of the hot water storage type water heater 100 will be described.

  The high-temperature water boiled by the heat pump unit 1 that is a heating source flows into the hot water storage tank 3 from above through the pipe 7. From the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3, low-temperature water (city water) corresponding to the volume of the high-temperature water that has flowed in is discharged and returned to the heat pump unit 1 connected by the pipe 7.

  Thus, a hot water circulation circuit is formed between the heat pump unit 1 and the hot water storage tank 3. With this circulation circuit, under the operation plan created by the plan creation unit 57, the low temperature water in the hot water storage tank 3 is successively boiled to a high temperature and returned to the hot water storage tank 3 by the control of the control unit 58 of the controller 4. Hot water is stored. The hot water storage operation, usually, although electricity rates are carried out in an inexpensive night, in case of shortage of daytime hot-water storage amount of heat, it is possible to perform a hot water storage operation (add boiling) is also in the daytime. This makes it possible to prevent hot water from running out.

《Hot-water supply operation》
Next, the hot water supply operation of the hot water storage type water heater 100 will be described.

  The temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water storage tank 3 can be set in advance from the remote controller 19 or the like. When the user opens the faucet 14 that is a hot water supply terminal or operates the remote controller 19 to fill the bathtub 12 with hot water, the mixing valve 6 in the hot water storage hot water heater 100 is controlled under the control of the controller 58 of the controller 4. Thus, the hot water and city water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 are mixed at a desired temperature and supplied to each hot water supply terminal. At this time, in the hot water storage tank 3, city water is supplied from the lower part of the tank by the volume of hot water flowing out from the upper part of the tank and the water pressure. In the hot water storage tank 3, the hot water storage state is maintained in a state where the high temperature water and the low temperature water are separated by the density difference (a temperature boundary layer is formed).

  The hot water usage pattern is determined by this hot water supply operation. The amount of hot water supply at this time can be obtained based on the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 5 and the hot water supply temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8a. The calculation unit 52 calculates a hot water supply load based on the outputs of these sensors. The obtained hot water supply load is sequentially stored in the storage unit 53 in association with the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 9 and the timekeeping information timed by the timekeeping unit 50.

《Insulation and memorial operation》
Next, the heat insulation / remembrance operation of the hot water storage type water heater 100 will be described.

  After the hot water filling to the bathtub 12 is performed, the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 automatically keeps the hot water temperature of the bathtub 12 at a constant temperature, or the memorial for raising the hot water temperature of the bathtub 12 to the target temperature. Operation is possible. In both operations, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is used as a heat source, and heat is exchanged with the bathtub water via a water-water heat exchanger (not shown) built in the tank unit 2 to raise the temperature of the bathtub water. Is called.

  On the primary side of the water-water heat exchanger, a circulation circuit is formed in which high-temperature water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 3 is returned to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 3 through the water-water heat exchanger by a pump. On the other hand, on the secondary side of the water-water heat exchanger, a circulation circuit is formed in which the bath water is returned to the bathtub again through the water-water heat exchanger by a pump (not shown) built in the tank unit 2. ing.

  The heat retaining operation is automatically performed under the control of the control unit 58 of the controller 4. For example, when the water temperature of the bathtub 12 falls below the target temperature by 1 ° C., the heat retaining operation is started, and the water temperature of the bathtub 12 is increased to the target + 0.5 ° C.

  The memorial operation is started, for example, when the user operates the remote controller 19. The memorial operation is performed until the water temperature of the bathtub 12 reaches the target temperature under the control of the control unit 58 of the controller 4. If the resident does not take a bath, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 can be dispensed with by turning off the heat insulation operation. In addition, if the chasing operation is performed immediately before bathing, unnecessary heating can be avoided. Energy saving is realized by such an operation.

《Operation plan creation》
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of processing executed by the controller 4 when creating a boiling operation plan.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, the controller 4 waits until the current time becomes the night time zone start time (step S1; No). Here, the night time zone may be, for example, from 23:00 to 7:00. In this case, the start time of the night time zone is 23:00. If the boiling operation is performed at night time, there is a merit that the electricity charge is reduced and the hot water storage operation can be performed at a low running cost. When the night time zone is from 23:00 to 7 o'clock, the daytime time zone is from 7 o'clock to 23 o'clock.

  When the current time is the night time zone start time (for example, 23:00) (step S1; Yes), the forecast acquisition unit 56 acquires weather forecast information for the next day via the Internet 20 (step S2). The weather forecast information includes, for example, the transition of the predicted value of the outside air temperature on the next day. The acquired weather forecast information is output to the plan creation unit 57.

  Subsequently, the learning unit 55 learns the correlation between the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load per day (step S3). Thereby, for example, a correlation between the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load per day as shown in FIG. 5 is created.

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 calculates the required boiling heat amount Lhp [kWh] for one day (step S4). More specifically, the plan creation unit 57 calculates the daily hot water supply load corresponding to the average value of the outside air temperature on the next day included in the weather forecast information based on the correlation obtained by the learning of the learning unit 55. Calculated as the required boiling heat amount Lhp [kWh] for one day.

Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 obtains the heat pump required operation time Hw [h] using the following equation based on the boiling capacity Qhp [kW] of the heat pump (step S5). Here, Qhp [kW] is a numerical value unique to the heat pump, and is assumed to be known.
Hw = Lhp ÷ Qhp (2)

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 initializes the index i to 1 (step S6).

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 obtains the i-th highest outside air temperature Tao (t (i)) by referring to the outside air temperature fluctuation pattern (for example, see FIG. 5) included in the weather forecast information (step S7). . Here, it is assumed that the graph of FIG. 5 is discretized at a predetermined sampling interval (for example, 1 hour).

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 acquires COP (Tao (t (i))) corresponding to the acquired Tao (t (i)) based on, for example, the characteristics of COP shown in FIG. 6 (step S8). ).

Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 calculates the power consumption amount Whp (i) [kWh] of the heat pump necessary for boiling the hot water storage tank 3 using the following equation (step S9).
Whp (i) [kWh] = Qhp [kW] ÷ COP (Tao (t (i))) × Hw [h] (3)

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 increments the index i by 1 (step S10), and determines whether or not the index i exceeds N (for example, 5) (step S11). If this determination is negative (step S11; No), the plan creation unit 57 returns to step S6.

  Thus, until this determination is affirmative (step S11; Yes), the step S6 → S7 → S8 → S9 → S10 → S11 is repeated, from first to N-th WHP (1) to WHP (N ) Is calculated.

  When it is determined that the index i exceeds N (step S11; Yes), the plan creation unit 57 compares the magnitude relations of Whp (1) to Whp (N), and the time t (i) at which i becomes the minimum. Is obtained (step S12). If the boiling operation is started from this t (i), the required boiling heat amount Whp [kWh] per day can be minimized.

  After step S11 ends, the controller 4 returns to step S1.

  In addition, when performing boiling operation at night and daytime, the plan creation part 57 may create the operation plan which performs boiling operation at night and daytime. In this case, the required boiling heat amount Whp [kWh] for the day includes the power consumption amount Wn (i) [kWh] required for boiling during the nighttime period and the power consumption amount Wd (i for boiling during the daytime period. ) [KWh].

  Here, the ratio of the boiling operation time in the daytime period to the total boiling operation time is the daytime operation rate R. In this case, a value obtained by multiplying the heat pump required operation time Hw by the daytime operation rate R, that is, Hw × R, is a time required for the daytime boiling operation. Further, Hw × (1-R) is the time required for night boiling operation.

Similarly to the above formula (3), if the boiling capacity Qhp [kW] is divided by the COP which is the operation efficiency of the heat pump unit 1 at that time, the power consumption Wn (i) [ kWh] and the power consumption Wd (i) required for daytime boiling can be obtained by the following equation.
Wn (i) [kWh] = Qhp [kW] ÷ COP (Tao (t (i))) × Hw × (1-R) [h] (4)
Wd (i) [kWh] = Qhp [kW] / COP (Tao (t (i))) × Hw × R [h] (5)

  In step S9, the plan creation unit 57 calculates the above formulas (4) and (5) instead of the above formula (3), so that the daytime time zone and the nighttime zone are calculated from the first. The Nth Wn (1) to Wn (N) and Wd (1) to Wd (N) are obtained, and the time t (i) corresponding to the smallest one is obtained for each daytime and nighttime. If it is set as the operation start time, the power consumption can be reduced most.

  Note that the operation start time may be determined only for at least one of the daytime period and the nighttime period. For example, the night time zone may be determined by calculating back the operation start time so that boiling is completed at 7:00 in the morning with emphasis on the peak shift to the morning.

≪Prediction for each hot water load≫
Moreover, if the hot water supply load is separated for each hot water supply terminal, for example, the bathtub 12, the shower 13, the faucet 14, etc., and the amount of hot water can be measured, the fluctuation of the hot water supply load is predicted for each hot water supply terminal and the boiling operation is performed. An operation plan can be created. Separation of each hot water supply load can be realized by providing a flow rate sensor and a temperature sensor for detecting the hot water supply temperature for each hot water supply terminal.

  The hot water amount detection unit 51 detects the flow rate and temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 for each hot water supply terminal. The calculation unit 52 calculates the hot water supply load of the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 for each hot water supply terminal based on the flow rate and temperature of the hot water detected by the hot water amount detection unit 51. The storage unit 53 stores the time measurement information, the outside air temperature, and the hot water supply load in association with each hot water supply terminal. The learning unit 55 learns the correlation between the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load for each hot water supply terminal.

  In this way, for example, prediction specialized for a hot water supply terminal that occupies a large proportion of the hot water supply load becomes possible. For example, only the hot water supply load due to the hot water filling of the bathtub 12 can be handled independently.

  Hot water is filled in the bathtub 12 in the winter, but the hot water supply load changes greatly at the turn of the season in a household with only the shower 13 in the summer. In this case, if detection, storage, learning, and prediction of the hot water amount focused on the bathtub 12 are performed, the switching timing between the hot water filling and the bathing of only the shower 13 is accurately predicted, and an operation plan based on the prediction result is prepared. It becomes possible to create. As a result, it is not necessary to perform excessive boiling, and it is possible to prevent running out of hot water.

≪Operation plan considering heat dissipation loss≫
In addition, a heat dissipation loss of the hot water storage tank 3 can be cited as a matter to be considered in determining the time zone for performing the boiling operation. The heat dissipation loss is a function of the product of the heat dissipation time, the heat storage amount, the ease of heat dissipation (adiabatic efficiency), and the “difference between the outside air temperature and the heat storage temperature”. Since the heat radiation amount increases as the heat radiation time increases, generally, the heat radiation time can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced if the boiling operation is started before the outside air temperature reaches the maximum temperature.

  The plan creation unit 57 can determine the time zone during which the boiling operation is performed in consideration of the heat dissipation loss during the stop of the operation of the hot water storage type water heater 100. Specifically, the plan creation unit 57 may set a time zone in which the boiling operation is performed so that the time from when boiling is completed to when the hot water is used is as short as possible.

  More specifically, planning unit 57, the time the heat pump unit 1 has stopped operating, for example, nighttime radiating time the time until boiling up daytime Add boiling up from the end of the operation is started Calculate the amount of heat dissipation. Further, the plan creation unit 57 adds the calculated heat release amount to the boiling heat amount, and assumes that the operation time Hw × R increases by the added amount, and the power consumption amount Wd required for the daytime boiling operation. Is calculated. Thereby, it becomes possible to obtain the daytime operation start time in consideration of the heat dissipation loss of the hot water storage tank 2.

≪Number of boiling operations≫
Further, depending on the transition state of the outside air temperature, there are cases where the power consumption can be reduced by further dividing the nighttime or daytime boiling operation into a plurality of times. For example, there is a case where the outside air temperature fluctuates drastically and a plurality of outside air temperature peaks exist in one day.

  However, the heat pump unit 1 has a start / stop loss. The start / stop loss is a rise loss that occurs before the heat pump unit 1 stabilizes the cycle. The heat pump unit 1 takes time from the start-up until its operation is stabilized. For this reason, the start / stop loss occurs due to the reason that hot water does not come out at the beginning of startup and low temperature water flows into the hot water storage tank 3. Therefore, when the boiling operation is divided into a plurality of times, it is necessary to consider this start / stop loss.

  The start / stop loss can be estimated by reducing the capacity of the heat pump unit 1 for several tens of minutes after startup, for example. Further, the power consumption based on the start / stop loss can be a fixed value according to the capability of the heat pump unit 1.

  Planning unit 57 calculates the WHP [kWh] in the case of changing the number of boiling up operation from one to several times, by comparing the WHP [kWh] obtained in each time, the lowest power consumption The number of times can be determined as the number of boiling operations.

≪Daytime driving rate R≫
Further, in the case where a large hot water supply load occurs due to the filling of the bathtub 12 or the use of the shower 13 after the evening, when the morning storage is complete, heat is dissipated from the hot water storage tank 3 between the morning and the evening. growing. In such a case, as the daytime operation rate R is increased, the heat radiation time from the hot water storage tank 3 is shortened and the power consumption can be reduced in many cases.

  In addition, during the daytime, the electricity cost becomes higher and the running cost is worsened, while the outside air temperature is high and the COP is improved. Therefore, if it is a moderate daytime operation, the boiling efficiency is improved as a whole, and it may be possible to finally suppress an increase in running cost. Therefore, the plan creation unit 57 may be able to adjust the daytime driving rate R.

  More specifically, the plan creation unit 57 changes the daytime driving rate R in the above formulas (4) and (5) to, for example, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30%,. Each Whp [kWh] at that time and the running cost at that time are calculated. The running cost can be easily calculated by multiplying the power consumption for each time zone by the unit price of the electricity bill for each hour.

  Subsequently, the plan creation unit 57 selects a value of R that is substantially equal to the power consumption amount Whp [kWh] when the running cost is R = 0 (100% at night driving), and the value of R is calculated by the above formula. (4) Input into equation (5) for use.

  In this way, by adjusting the daytime operation rate R, it is possible to achieve both reduction in power consumption and low running cost (boiling operation at a level close to nighttime 100% operation).

≪Switching operation mode≫
However, it is also possible to perform the boiling operation with emphasis on energy saving rather than running cost. For example, by obtaining the daytime driving rate R that minimizes power consumption within the allowable range of the daytime driving rate R, an operation plan emphasizing energy saving can be created.

  It is preferable that the remote controller 19 or the like can be switched between creating an operation plan with an emphasis on energy saving or creating an operation plan with an emphasis on running cost. In this way, it is possible to create an operation plan according to the user's intention and social situation (such as response to global warming).

  For example, when the remote control 19 is provided with a button (for example, referred to as “eco button”) that approves the boiling operation in consideration of the influence on the environment, and the eco button is pressed and approval from the user is obtained, A boiling operation that emphasizes energy saving may be performed.

  In addition, since the direction which consumes hot water immediately after hot water storage reduces the heat dissipation from the hot water storage tank 3, power consumption can be reduced. Therefore, when the peak time of hot water supply load (often due to hot water filling in the bathtub 12) occurs instead of the daytime operation start time (start time of additional boiling in the daytime) determined as described above. The daytime boiling operation may be performed in a time zone immediately before the predicted time. In this case, the learning unit 55 learns a time zone in which the hot water supply load increases based on the timekeeping information and the hot water supply load stored in the storage unit 53. And the plan preparation part 57 performs the boiling operation of the daytime just before the time slot | zone when a hot water supply load increases.

  More specifically, as an operation mode of the hot water storage type hot water heater 100, an operation mode that prioritizes reduction of power consumption (first operation mode) and an operation mode that prioritizes running cost (second operation mode). A switching unit for preparing and switching the operation mode is provided in the remote controller 19 or the like. When the plan creation unit 57 is switched to the first operation mode by the remote controller 19, as described above, at least one of the time zone and the number of times of performing the boiling operation is performed so that the power consumption is reduced. To decide. Moreover, when the plan creation unit 57 is switched to the second operation mode by the remote controller 19, the time zone and the number of times of the boiling operation are performed so that the running cost is reduced as described above. Determine at least one.

≪Comparison display≫
Further, on the display screen of the remote controller 19, the fluctuation pattern of the hot water supply load of the present day is displayed in comparison with the fluctuation pattern of the hot water supply load of the same month in the past or the fluctuation pattern of the past hot water load that approximates the fluctuation of the outside air temperature. You may do it.

  For example, the display screen of the remote controller 19, of the stored hot water supply load in the storage unit, changes the hot water supply load at a predetermined period (e.g. one month before and after) relative to the same date as the day, the day of the hot water supply load The transition may be compared and displayed.

  Further, the display screen of the remote controller 19, of the stored hot water supply load in the storage unit 54, the difference in the variation of the outside air temperature changes and hot water supply load of the date is within a predetermined range associated with, the day hot water You may make it display comparatively with transition of load.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the transition of the hot water supply load comparatively displayed on the remote controller 19 in this way. In FIG. 8, the black circle line indicates the transition of the hot water supply load on that day, and the white circle line indicates the transition of the past hot water supply load. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the hot water supply load on the day is generally larger than the past hot water supply load. The user who sees the comparison display can take a specific action that leads to energy saving, for example, refraining from using hot water.

  As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, based on the weather forecast information, an operation plan for the boiling operation of the hot water storage hot water heater 100 is created in consideration of actual weather fluctuations. Thereby, since the estimation error due to weather fluctuation can be reduced, an operation plan for boiling operation with less excess or deficiency can be created.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the data used for learning by the learning unit 55 is narrowed down to data having substantially the same date, that is, the same period. As a result, the required boiling amount can be estimated more accurately. In order to realize such an estimate, the storage unit 53 stores data for one year or more, preferably several years.

  Further, the learning of the correlation between the outside air temperature and the hot water supply load and the prediction of the required boiling amount can be performed for each hot water supply terminal. In this way, for example, it is possible to accurately predict the switching time between bathing in the bathtub 12 and the shower bath using the shower 13 and the switching time between the presence and absence of the bathtub 12 in memory. Further, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of excessive boiling or hot water shortage.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, based on weather forecast information, the time slot | zone which performs boiling operation with the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 on the conditions with the high efficiency of a heat pump is determined. In this way, hot water can be boiled with high efficiency, so that power consumption can be further reduced.

  Further, according to this embodiment, even when the operating schedule for performing nighttime and daytime and boiling up operation in a time zone performing each boiling up operation is determined on the basis of the weather forecast information . In this way, since the boiling efficiency of the hot water storage type hot water heater is increased, the power consumption can be further reduced.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the fluctuation of the current hot water supply load is compared with the fluctuation of the hot water supply load in the same period (the same month, the same day) and the fluctuation of the hot water supply day on the day when the outside air temperature fluctuation is almost the same. Since it is displayed, the user can be conscious of energy saving.

  Further, based on various environmental information such as humidity as well as the outside air temperature, an operation plan for the boiling operation of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 100 may be created. The environmental information referred to here may include all information related to the environment around the hot water storage type hot water heater 100 and affecting the state of the hot water boiled by the hot water storage type hot water heater 100.

  In the above embodiment, the program to be executed is a computer-readable recording such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and an MO (Magneto-Optical Disk). A system that executes the above-described processing may be configured by storing and distributing the program in a medium and installing the program.

  Further, the program may be stored in a disk device or the like included in a predetermined server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and may be downloaded, for example, superimposed on a carrier wave.

  Further, when the above functions are realized by sharing an OS (Operating System) or when the functions are realized by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the part other than the OS may be stored in the medium and distributed. You may also download it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat pump unit 2 Tank unit 3 Hot water storage tank 4 Controller 5 Flow rate sensor 6 Mixing valve 7 Piping 8a, 8b Temperature sensor 9 Outside air temperature sensor 10 Housing 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Room 12 Bathtub 13 Shower 14 Faucet 19 Remote controller (remote control)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Internet 30 Exterior case 50 Time measuring part 51 Hot water detection part 52 Calculation part 53 Storage part 55 Learning part 56 Forecast acquisition part 57 Plan preparation part 58 Control part 100 Hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 200 Boiling control system

Claims (7)

A boiling control system for controlling a hot water storage type water heater that supplies boiling hot water to a hot water supply terminal,
A forecast acquisition unit for acquiring weather forecast information;
Based on the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit, a plan creation unit that creates an operation plan for boiling operation of the hot water storage water heater,
A timekeeping section for measuring time,
A hot water detection unit for detecting the flow rate and temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water storage type water heater;
A calculation unit for calculating a hot water supply load of the hot water storage type hot water heater based on the flow rate and temperature of the hot water detected by the hot water amount detection unit;
An environmental information detector for detecting surrounding environmental information;
A storage unit that stores time information measured by the time measurement unit, environmental information detected by the environmental information detection unit, and hot water supply load calculated by the calculation unit in association with each other;
A learning unit that learns a combination of environmental information in a specific time zone highly compatible with prediction of hot water supply load and daily hot water supply load based on the environmental information stored in the storage unit and the hot water supply load When,
With
The plan creation unit
Based on the environmental information of the next day included in the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition unit and the correlation learned by the learning unit, the required boiling water amount of hot water used the next day is determined,
A boiling control system characterized by that . The learning unit
Of the environmental information and the hot water supply load stored in the storage unit, using the environmental information and the hot water supply load in a predetermined period based on the date related to the next day, the environmental information of the specific time zone and Learn the combination with the daily hot water supply load,
The boiling control system according to claim 1 . The hot water detection unit
Detecting the flow rate and temperature of hot water supplied from the hot water storage type hot water heater for each hot water supply terminal;
The calculation unit includes:
Based on the hot water flow rate and temperature detected by the hot water amount detection unit, the hot water supply load of the hot water storage type hot water heater is calculated for each hot water supply terminal,
The storage unit
The timekeeping information, the environmental information and the hot water supply load are stored in association with each hot water supply terminal,
The learning unit
Wherein the correlation between the environmental information and the hot water supply load learned for each of the hot-water supply terminal, determines the amount of hot water boiling in accordance with the hot water supply load of the total predicted by adding the hot water supply load for each hot-water supply terminal predicted,
The boiling control system according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized by the above-mentioned. The plan creation unit
Create an operation plan to perform boiling operation at night and daytime, predict the heat dissipation amount by setting the time from the end of boiling at night to the start of additional boiling in the daytime as the heat dissipation time, and the predicted heat dissipation amount during the daytime In addition to the boiling heat amount of the belt, determine the time zone for performing the boiling operation,
The boiling control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein Among the hot water supply loads stored in the storage unit, the transition of the hot water supply load on the day and the transition of the hot water supply load on the day that the difference in fluctuation of the associated environmental information is within a predetermined range. , Further comprising a display unit for comparison display on the same graph ,
The boiling control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein A boiling control method for controlling a hot water storage type water heater that supplies boiling water to a hot water supply terminal,
A forecast acquisition process for acquiring weather forecast information;
Based on the weather forecast information acquired in the forecast acquisition step, a plan creation step for creating an operation plan for boiling operation of the hot water storage water heater,
A calculation step of calculating a hot water supply load of the hot water storage type water heater based on the detected flow rate and temperature of the hot water;
A storage step of storing time-measured time information, detected ambient environment information, and hot water supply load calculated in the calculation step in association with each other;
A learning step of learning a combination of environmental information in a specific time zone highly compatible with prediction of hot water supply load and daily total hot water supply load based on the environmental information stored in the storage step and the hot water supply load When,
Only including,
In the planning process,
Based on the environmental information of the next day included in the weather forecast information acquired in the forecast acquisition step and the correlation learned in the learning step, determine the required boiling water amount of hot water to be used on the next day,
Boiling control method. A program to be executed by a computer that controls a hot water storage type hot water supply device that supplies boiling hot water to a hot water supply terminal,
A forecast acquisition procedure for acquiring weather forecast information;
Based on the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition procedure, a plan creation procedure for creating an operation plan for boiling operation of the hot water storage water heater,
A calculation procedure for calculating a hot water supply load of the hot water storage type water heater based on the detected flow rate and temperature of the hot water,
A storage procedure for storing time-measured time information, detected ambient environment information, and hot water supply load calculated by the calculation procedure in association with each other;
A learning procedure for learning a combination of environmental information in a specific time zone highly compatible with prediction of hot water supply load and daily hot water supply load based on the environmental information stored in the storage procedure and the hot water supply load When,
To the computer ,
In the planning procedure,
A procedure for determining the amount of boiling water required for hot water to be used the next day based on the environmental information of the next day included in the weather forecast information acquired by the forecast acquisition procedure and the correlation learned by the learning procedure. ,
Let the computer run,
program.

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