JP5191444B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply apparatus having a function of notifying the usage status of hot water.

  Conventionally, the flow rate of hot water from the hot water supply device is detected by a flow sensor, and the control unit determines whether or not the detected flow rate of the flow rate sensor exceeds the set flow rate. When the detected flow rate exceeds the set flow rate, There has been proposed a hot water supply apparatus in which a remote control is used to output or display a voice message notifying that usage is excessive (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-201178 A

  According to the hot water supply apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the tip of the hot water discharge pipe is connected to the single water tap and the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus is discharged as it is through the single water tap, Since the hot water flow rate detected by the flow sensor becomes equal to the hot water flow rate from the single tap, it can be correctly determined that hot water is being used excessively.

  However, when the end of the hot water pipe is connected to the mixing tap, the user operates the mixing plug to supply hot water supplied from the hot water pipe and the water inlet pipe so that hot water having a preferable temperature can be obtained. Adjust the mixing ratio with water. Therefore, the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap is greater than the hot water flow rate from the hot water supply device detected by the flow sensor.

  As a result, even if the user uses hot water from the mixing tap at a flow rate exceeding the set flow rate, the detection flow rate of the flow sensor does not exceed the set flow rate and no notification is made that hot water is used excessively. Cases can arise. In this case, the effect of suppressing excessive use of hot water cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a hot water supply device that can suppress excessive use of hot water when hot water supplied from a hot water supply device is mixed with water supplied from a water inlet pipe by a mixing plug and discharged. The purpose is to do.

  The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and is connected to a water inlet pipe and a hot water outlet pipe, and heating means for heating the water supplied from the water inlet pipe and supplying it to the hot water outlet pipe, and the water inlet pipe An incoming water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the water supplied from the hot water, a hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water pipe, and a flow rate detection for detecting the flow rate of the hot water supplied from the hot water pipe. Means and a notification means, connected to the hot water pipe and the water inlet pipe, and mixed with a predetermined ratio of hot water supplied from the hot water pipe and water supplied from the water inlet pipe to discharge hot water It is related with the hot-water supply apparatus which supplies hot water via.

And the 1st aspect of this invention is the temperature of the water detected by the target hot water level detection means which sets the target flow rate and target temperature of the hot water discharged from the said mixing tap, and the said incoming water temperature detection means, Based on the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature detecting means, the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means, and the target temperature, a mixed tap hot water flow rate which is a hot water flow rate from the mixing tap is determined. a mixing valve tapping flow rate calculating means for calculating for, by comparing the mixing valve tapping flow rate and the said target flow rate, and a hot water usage informing means the hot water usage for notification by said notification means, said mixing valve tapping flow rate The calculating means calculates the mixing tap water flow rate by the following equation (1).
Wk = Ws × (Th−Tc) / (Tset−Tc) (1)
However, Wk: Mixing tap outlet flow rate, Ws: Outlet flow rate from the outlet pipe, Th: Detection temperature by the tapping temperature detection means, Tc: Detection temperature by the incoming water temperature detection means, Tset: Target temperature.

  According to the present invention, the mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means calculates the mixing tap hot water flow rate that is a flow rate of hot water supplied from the mixing tap. The hot water use status notifying means compares the mixing tap hot water flow rate with the target flow rate when the mixing tap connection recognition means recognizes that the hot water discharge pipe is connected to the mixing tap. Then, the use status of hot water is notified by the notification means. In this way, by comparing the mixing tap hot water flow rate with the target flow rate, the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap that the user recognizes as the hot water usage flow rate is notified of excess etc. with respect to the target flow rate. Excessive use of can be suppressed.

And the said mixing tap hot water flow rate calculation means can calculate the said mixing tap hot water flow rate by said Formula (1).

Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a target hot water level setting means for setting a target flow rate and a target temperature of hot water discharged from the mixing tap, and a water temperature detected by the incoming water temperature detecting means. And the hot water detected by the tapping temperature detecting means, the target flow rate, and the target temperature, the target flow rate and the target temperature are required for supplying hot water from the mixing tap. The required hot water flow rate calculating means for calculating the required hot water flow rate that is the hot water flow rate from the hot water pipe is compared with the required hot water flow rate and the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means, and Hot water usage status notifying means for notifying by the notifying means, and the required hot water flow rate calculating means calculates the required hot water flow rate by the following equation (2).
Wn = Wset × (Tset−Tc) / (Th−Tc) (2)
However, Wn: Necessary hot water flow rate, Wset: Target flow rate, Tset: Target temperature, Th: Temperature detected by the hot water temperature detecting means, Tc: Temperature detected by the incoming water temperature detecting means.

  According to the present invention, the required hot water flow rate calculating means calculates the required hot water flow rate required for supplying hot water having the target flow rate and the target temperature from the mixing tap. The hot water usage status notifying means compares the required hot water flow rate with the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means, and notifies the hot water usage status by the notifying means. Thus, by comparing the required hot water flow rate with the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detecting means, the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap that the user recognizes as the hot water use flow rate is excessive with respect to the target flow rate. Etc. can be notified and excessive use of hot water can be suppressed.

And the said required hot water flow rate calculation means can calculate the said required hot water flow rate by said Formula (2).

The block diagram of the hot-water supply apparatus of this invention. The block diagram of the bathroom remote control shown in FIG. The block diagram of the kitchen remote control shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which showed the display mode at the time of setting target flow volume with a bathroom remote control and a kitchen remote control. The flowchart of the process which determines the display of an eco lamp based on the hot water flow rate from a mixing tap. Explanatory drawing which showed the display mode of the eco lamp in a bathroom remote control. Explanatory drawing which showed the other display aspect of the eco lamp in a bathroom remote control. The flowchart of the process which determines the display of an eco lamp based on the hot water flow rate from a hot-water supply apparatus. Explanatory drawing which showed the other display mode at the time of setting target flow volume with a bathroom remote control and a kitchen remote control.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Referring to FIG. 1, hot water supply apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a hot water supply apparatus main body 2 and a bathroom remote controller 50 and a kitchen remote controller 70 for remotely operating hot water supply apparatus main body 2.

  The hot water supply device main body 2 includes a burner 3, a fan 4 that supplies combustion air to the burner 3, and a controller 30 that controls the overall operation of the hot water supply device 1. The burner 3 heats the heat exchanger 6 disposed above the burner 3. The heat exchanger 6 is connected between a water inlet pipe 7 whose upstream end is connected to a water pipe or the like and a hot water outlet pipe 8 whose downstream end is connected to a mixing plug 27. The burner 3 and the heat exchanger 6 constitute the heating means of the present invention.

  The burner 3 is composed of three combustion parts (a first combustion part 10a, a second combustion part 10b, and a third combustion part 10c) having different combustion amounts, and a combustion amount range of a plurality of stages is set by a combination of these combustion parts. It can be done. Fuel gas is supplied to the burner 3 through a gas supply pipe 11.

  The gas supply pipe 11 is provided with an original gas solenoid valve 12, a gas proportional valve 13, and switching gas solenoid valves 14a, 14b, and 14c in order from the upstream side. By opening the switching gas solenoid valves 14a, 14b, and 14c with the original gas solenoid valve 12 opened, the fuel gas is supplied to the corresponding first combustion section 10a, second combustion section 10b, and third combustion section 10c. Is supplied. In the vicinity of the burner 3, an ignition plug 16 for igniting the burner 3 and a frame rod 17 for detecting the combustion flame of the burner 3 are provided. Further, an igniter 15 is provided that applies a high voltage to the spark plug 16 to cause a spark discharge.

  A flow rate sensor 18 (corresponding to the flow rate detection means of the present invention) for detecting the flow rate of water supplied to the water intake tube 7 (= the flow rate of hot water discharged from the hot water discharge tube 8) is supplied to the water intake tube 7; A water amount servo 19 for adjusting the flow rate of the water to be supplied is provided. Further, the heat exchanger 6 is bypassed, the bypass pipe 9 that communicates the downstream side and the upstream side of the heat exchanger 6, and the opening degree of the bypass pipe 9 is adjusted, and the bypass ratio (supplied to the heat exchanger side). A bypass servo 24 is provided for changing the ratio of the flow rate of water supplied to the bypass pipe 9 side with respect to the flow rate of water.

  The heat exchanger 6 is provided with two overheat prevention elements (bimetal switch 20 and thermal fuse 21). The tapping pipe 8 includes a can body temperature sensor 22 that detects the temperature of hot water near the outlet of the heat exchanger 6 and a tapping temperature sensor 23 that detects the temperature of hot water supplied from the tapping pipe 8 (the tapping temperature of the present invention). Corresponding to the detecting means).

  The controller 30 is an electronic unit constituted by a microcomputer, a memory 34, and the like. By causing the microcomputer to execute a control program for the hot water supply device 1, the microcomputer 30 performs hot water supply control means 31, hot water use status notification. It functions as means 32, target hot water level setting means 33, mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means 35, and necessary hot water flow rate calculating means 36. In addition, the mixing tap hot water flow rate calculation means 35 is a structure used in 1st Embodiment mentioned later, and the required hot water flow rate calculation means 36 is a structure used in 2nd Embodiment mentioned later.

  The controller 30 includes a flame detection signal of the frame rod 17, a flow detection signal of the flow sensor 18, a temperature detection signal of the can body temperature sensor 22, an overheat detection signal of the bimetal switch 20 and the thermal fuse 21, and a tapping temperature sensor 23. A temperature detection signal is input. Further, the operation of the fan 4, the original gas solenoid valve 12, the gas proportional valve 13, the switching gas solenoid valves 14a, 14b, and 14c, the igniter 15, the water amount servo 19, and the bypass servo 24 is controlled by a control signal output from the controller 30. Be controlled.

  When the hot water supply device 1 is in an operating state, the hot water supply control means 31 is opened when the mixing plug 27 is opened and water supply to the inlet pipe 7 is started, and the flow rate sensor 18 detects a flow rate higher than a predetermined operation flow rate. Then, the ignition process of the burner 3 is performed. The hot water supply control means 31 then rotates the rotational speed of the fan 4 and the gas proportional valve 13 so that the hot water supply temperature from the hot water discharge pipe 8 detected by the hot water temperature sensor 23 becomes the temperature set by the bathroom remote controller 50 or the kitchen remote controller 70. And the opening and closing of the switching gas solenoid valves 10a, 10b, and 10c are controlled to adjust the combustion amount of the burner 3.

  Further, the hot water supply control means 31 limits the amount of water supplied to the water inlet pipe 7 by the water amount servo 19 when the amount of water supplied to the water inlet pipe 7 is too large to supply hot water at the set temperature. The hot water supply control means 31 adjusts the bypass ratio by the bypass servo 24 in order to suppress fluctuations in the hot water temperature when the user uses hot water intermittently.

  The hot water supply pipe 8 is connected to the mixing plug 27 together with the water inlet pipe 7, and the hot water supplied from the hot water supply device 1 through the hot water outlet pipe 8 is mixed with the water supplied from the water inlet pipe 7 by the mixing plug 27. The hot water is discharged. And the mixing ratio of the hot water from the tap pipe 8 and the water from the inlet pipe 7 in the mixing plug 27 is changed according to the operation of the lever 28 by the user.

  Next, the configuration of the bathroom remote controller 50 (corresponding to the first remote controller of the present invention) will be described with reference to FIG. The bathroom remote controller 50 includes an operation switch 51 for switching the hot water supply device 1 between an operation state in which the hot water supply operation is possible and a standby state in which the hot water operation is not possible, and an automatic hot water supply that supplies a predetermined amount of hot water to a bathtub (not shown). An automatic switch 52 for instructing execution of driving, a reheating switch 53 for instructing reheating of hot water in the bathtub, a call switch 54 for instructing the kitchen remote controller 70 to output a ringing tone, An eco-lamp 55 (corresponding to the notification means and the first notification means of the present invention) for performing notification according to the flow rate used, a speaker 56 for outputting sound and buzzer sound, an UP switch 57 for instructing a change in hot water supply temperature A DOWN switch 58 and a display 59 that displays the operating state of the hot water supply apparatus main body 2 and the like are provided.

  Further, under the switch cover 60 of the bathroom remote controller 50, a lukewarm switch 61 for instructing a predetermined amount of water supply to the bathtub, an additional hot water switch 62 for instructing a predetermined amount of hot water supply to the bathtub, automatic hot water The hot water amount switch 63 for instructing the transition to the setting mode of the hot water filling amount in the tension operation and the return from the setting mode, the transition to the volume setting mode of the speaker 56, and the instruction for instructing the return from the setting mode Volume switch 64, priority switch 65 for giving an instruction to prioritize the set temperature by the bathroom remote controller 50 over the set temperature by the kitchen remote controller 70, a setting mode for the warming time of the hot water in the bathtub after the completion of the automatic hot water operation And a warming time switch 66 for instructing a return to the setting mode and a return from the setting mode, a hot water supply temperature to the bathtub during bathing operation (bath temperature) When the bath temperature switch 67 for instructing the transition to the setting mode and the return from the setting mode, and when the switch is not operated and the hot water is not used for a certain time or more, A save switch for instructing the setting of the save mode for turning off the indicator 59, the transition to the setting mode of the target flow rate of the hot water to be used (target value of the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap 27), and the return from the setting mode. 68 is provided. The user can open these switch covers 60 and operate these switches.

  Next, a procedure for setting the target flow rate of hot water using the bathroom remote controller 50 will be described. The user first presses the save switch 68 for a long time (for example, 3 seconds or more). Thereby, bathtub remote control 50 will be in the setting mode of the target flow rate of hot water. Then, the user operates the UP switch 57 or the DOWN switch 58 to set the target hot water flow rate.

  Here, Fig.4 (a) has shown the display state of the indicator 59 in the setting mode of the target flow rate of hot water. When the hot switch is pressed to enter the hot water target flow rate setting mode, as shown at 100, the current target flow rate (in the figure, the initial setting of 7 liters / minute) is displayed blinking. As shown in Table 1 below, the target flow rate is set according to an initial setting and six eco flow levels of 1 to 5 (7 liters / minute to 12 liters / minute).

そして、使用者がＵＰスイッチ５７又はＤＯＷＮスイッチ５８を操作すると、それに応じて、１０１で示したように表示器５９の表示が切替わる（図ではエコ流量レベル２：９リットル/分が表示されている）。また、使用者がセーブスイッチ６８を操作すると、１０２に示したように、表示器５９の表示（図ではエコ流量レベル３：１０リットル/分が表示されている）が点滅から点灯に切替わって、目標流量の設定モードから復帰し、エコ流量レベルが確定する。

Then, when the user operates the UP switch 57 or the DOWN switch 58, the display on the indicator 59 is switched as shown by 101 (in the figure, the eco flow level 2: 9 liters / minute is displayed). ) When the user operates the save switch 68, as shown at 102, the display on the indicator 59 (in the figure, the eco flow level 3: 10 liters / minute is displayed) switches from blinking to lighting. After returning from the target flow rate setting mode, the eco flow rate level is confirmed.

  When the eco flow level is thus determined, the target hot water level setting means 33 sets the third set flow rate from the first set flow rate to the bathroom remote controller 50 according to the eco flow rate level as shown in Table 1 above. Then, each set flow rate data is stored in the memory 34. Note that the range from the first set flow rate to the second set flow rate set according to the eco flow rate level corresponds to the target flow rate and the first target flow rate of the present invention.

  Next, the configuration of the kitchen remote controller 70 (corresponding to the second remote controller of the present invention) will be described with reference to FIG. The kitchen remote controller 70 includes an operation switch 71 for switching the hot water supply device 1 between an operating state and a standby state, an automatic switch 72 for instructing execution of an automatic hot water filling operation, and an eco lamp 73 for performing notification according to the hot water use flow rate. (Corresponding to the notifying means and the second notifying means of the present invention), speaker 74 for outputting sound and buzzer sound, UP switch 75 and DOWN switch 76 for instructing a change in hot water supply temperature, etc. A display 77 that displays the operating state and the like is provided.

  Further, below the switch cover 80 of the kitchen remote controller 70, there are a clock setting switch 81 for instructing a shift to the time setting mode and a return from the time setting mode, a shift to the setting mode for the target flow rate of hot water to be used. The eco switch 82 for instructing the return from the setting mode, the save switch 83 for setting the save mode, the volume switch 84 for instructing the transition to the volume setting mode of the speaker 74 and the return from the setting mode. To the setting mode of the hot water filling amount in the automatic hot water operation, the bath hot water amount switch 85 for instructing the return from this setting mode, to the setting mode of the hot water supply temperature (bath temperature) to the bathtub in the automatic hot water operation Bath temperature switch 86 for instructing the transition and return from this setting mode, and the execution and stop of the chasing operation And reheating the switch 87 is provided for indicating, the user can operate these switches open the switch cover 80.

  Next, a procedure for setting the target flow rate of hot water using the kitchen remote controller 70 will be described. First, the user operates the eco switch 82, so that the kitchen remote controller 70 enters a hot water target flow rate setting mode. Then, the user operates the UP switch 75 or the DOWN switch 76 to set a target hot water flow rate.

  Here, FIG. 4B shows the display state of the indicator 77 in the hot water target flow rate setting mode. When the eco-switch 82 is operated to shift to the hot water target flow rate setting mode, as shown at 110, the current target flow rate (initially set at 4 liters / minute in the drawing) is displayed in a blinking manner. As shown in Table 2 below, the target flow rate is set according to an initial setting and four eco flow levels of 1 to 3 (4 liters / minute to 7 liters / minute).

そして、使用者がＵＰスイッチ７５又はＤＯＷＮスイッチ７６を操作すると、それに応じて、１１１に示したように表示器７７の表示が切替わる（図ではエコ流量レベル２：６リットル/分）。また、使用者がエコスイッチ８２を操作すると、１１２に示したように、表示器７７の表示（図ではエコ流量レベル３：７リットル/分）が点滅から点灯に切替わって、湯の目標流量の設定モードから復帰し、エコ流量レベルが確定する。

Then, when the user operates the UP switch 75 or the DOWN switch 76, the display on the display 77 is switched accordingly as indicated by 111 (in the figure, the eco flow rate level is 2: 6 liters / minute). When the user operates the eco switch 82, as shown at 112, the display on the indicator 77 (in the figure, eco flow level 3: 7 liter / min) is switched from flashing to lighting, and the target hot water flow rate is reached. After returning from the setting mode, the eco flow level is confirmed.

  When the eco flow level is thus determined, the target hot water level setting means 33 sets the third set flow rate from the first set flow rate according to the eco flow rate level for the kitchen remote controller 70 as shown in Table 2 above. Each set flow rate is stored in the memory 34. Note that the range from the first set flow rate to the second set flow rate set according to the eco flow rate level corresponds to the target flow rate and the second target flow rate of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
Next, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the first embodiment of the switching process of turning off / lighting / flashing the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 by the controller 30 will be described. The controller 30 also switches off / on / flashing the eco lamp 73 of the kitchen remote controller 70, but the processing content is the same as in the case of the bathroom remote controller 50, so the description thereof is omitted here.

  The controller 30 starts operation by energizing the hot water supply apparatus main body 2, proceeds from STEP 1 to STEP 2, and turns off the eco lamp 55. In subsequent STEP 3, the controller 30 determines whether or not the eco lamp display is enabled. The user presses the save switch 68 for a long time, and when the current target flow rate is blinking, the user presses the UP switch 57 and the DOWN switch 58 simultaneously to display the eco lamp 55. Can be disabled (always off).

  If the eco lamp display is valid in STEP 3, the process proceeds to STEP 4. If the eco lamp display is invalid, the process branches to STEP 2. In STEP 4, the controller 30 determines whether or not it is in the operating state. If it is in the operating state, the process proceeds to STEP 5, and if it is in the standby state, it branches to STEP 2. In STEP5, the controller 30 determines whether or not the hot water supply hot water is being supplied. If the hot water supply hot water is being supplied, the process proceeds to STEP6, and if not, the process branches to STEP2.

  Therefore, in the loop of STEP2 to STEP5, when the three conditions of (a) eco lamp display are effective, (b) operating state, and (c) hot water supply hot water are satisfied, this loop is exited and STEP6 and STEP7. The process is executed.

  STEP 6 is processing by the mixed tap hot water flow rate calculating means 35, and the mixed tap hot water flow rate calculating means 35 calculates the mixed tap hot water flow rate Wk which is the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap 27 by the following equation (1).

Wk = Ws × (Th−Tc) / (Tset−Tc) (1)
However, Wk: Mixing tap tapping flow rate, Ws: Flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 18 (tapping water flow rate from tapping pipe), Th: Temperature detected by tapping temperature sensor, Tc: Temperature of water supplied from the tapping pipe 7, Tset: Target temperature.

  In the present embodiment, the mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means 35 is configured to supply water supplied from the inlet pipe 7 based on the combustion amount of the burner 3, the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor 18, and the detected temperature of the hot water temperature sensor. Calculate (estimate) the temperature. And the structure which calculates the temperature of the water supplied from the inlet pipe 7 in this way corresponds to the incoming water temperature detection means of this invention. Further, as the incoming water temperature detecting means of the present invention, a temperature sensor may be provided in the incoming water pipe 7, and the temperature of the water supplied from the incoming water pipe 7 may be directly detected by this temperature sensor.

  The target temperature Tset is set to 40 ° C., which is a general temperature of hot water used in the bathroom, by the target hot water level setting means 33. In addition, about the target temperature of hot water, you may make it changeable by a user's operation similarly to the target flow mentioned above.

  The next STEP 7 is processing by the hot water usage status notifying means 32. The hot water usage status notifying means 32 monitors the mixed tap hot water flow rate Wk calculated by the mixed tap hot water flow rate calculating means 35 and turns off / lights / flashes the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 as shown in Table 3 below. Is switched.

図６は、湯使用状況報知手段３２による浴室リモコン５０のエコランプ５５の消灯／点灯／点滅の切替の制御例を示したものであり、縦軸が混合栓出湯流量Ｗkに設定され、横軸が時間ｔに設定されている。また、図中Ｆaは給湯運転が実行される入水管７への入水流量の下限値（作動流量）Ｆbに対応した混合栓２７からの出湯流量、Ｆ1は第１設定流量、Ｆ2は第２設定流量、Ｆ3は第３設定流量である。

FIG. 6 shows an example of control of switching off / lighting / flashing of the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 by the hot water usage status notifying means 32. The vertical axis is set to the mixed tap hot water flow rate Wk, and the horizontal axis is Time t is set. In the figure, Fa is the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap 27 corresponding to the lower limit value (operating flow rate) Fb of the incoming water flow rate to the incoming pipe 7 where the hot water supply operation is executed, F1 is the first set flow rate, and F2 is the second set value. The flow rate, F3, is the third set flow rate.

In the example of FIG. 6, the hot water supply operation is started at t ₁₀ when the mixing tap hot water flow rate Wk becomes Fa or more. The hot water usage status notifying means 32 blinks the eco lamp 55 during the period from the time when the mixed tap water flow rate Wk becomes equal to or higher than the third set flow rate F3 and before the first set flow rate F1 is reached (t _{11 to} t ₁₂ ). . In addition, the hot water use state notifying means 32 lights the eco lamp 55 during the period from the time when the mixed tap water flow Wk becomes equal to or higher than the first set flow rate F1 to the time when it exceeds the second set flow rate F2 (t _{12 to} t ₁₃ ).

The mixing valve tapping flow Wk is while exceeding the second set flow rate F2 (t ₁₃ ~t _14), hot water usage notification unit 32 turns off the eco lamp 55. Further, during a period from mixer tap tapping flow Wk becomes second set flow rate F2 below decreases to below the first set flow rate F1 (t ₁₄ ~t _15), hot water usage notification unit 32, an eco lamp 55 Lights up. Further, the hot water usage status notifying means 32 is an eco lamp 55 during a period from when the mixing tap hot water flow rate Wk further decreases to less than the first set flow rate F1 to less than the third set flow rate (t _{15 to} t ₁₆ ). Blinks. Further, after t ₁₆ when the mixing tap hot water flow rate Wk becomes less than the third set flow rate F 3, the hot water use state notifying means 32 turns off the eco lamp 55.

  In this way, the hot water usage status notifying means 32 switches the eco lamp 55 from off to flashing to on as the mixing tap water flow Wk approaches the appropriate range (F1 ≦ Wk ≦ F2). Therefore, when the user starts using hot water, the user checks the display state of the eco lamp 55 and checks the degree of deviation between the current mixed tap hot water flow rate Wk and the appropriate range, and opens the mixing tap 27. The mixing tap hot water flow rate Wk can be easily adjusted within an appropriate range.

  Further, the hot water usage status notifying means 32 turns off the eco lamp 55 when the mixed tap water flow Wk exceeds an appropriate range (F1 ≦ Wk ≦ F2). In this way, by switching the eco lamp 55 from lighting to extinguishing, it is possible to make the user recognize that the hot water is being used excessively and prompt the user to reduce the hot water usage flow rate.

  Next, another embodiment of switching control of turning off / flashing / lighting of the eco lamp 55 by the hot water use state notifying means 32 is shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).

  In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, as in the case of FIG. 6 described above, the eco lamp 55 is set to the first when the mixed tap water flow rate Wk is in the range from the third set flow rate F3 to the first set flow rate. In addition to the flashing state, when the mixed tap water flow rate Wk is in the range from Fa to the third set flow rate F3, the second flashing is different from the first flashing state (for example, the flashing cycle is different). State.

  Thus, the degree of deviation from the lower limit (first set flow rate) of the target flow rate range of the current mixed tap water flow rate Wk can be further divided and visually recognized by the user.

  Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 7B, the target hot water level setting means 33 has a predetermined amount larger than the second set flow rate in addition to the first set flow rate F1, the second set flow rate F2, and the third set flow rate F3. A fourth set flow rate F4 is set.

  The hot water usage status notifying means 32 turns the eco lamp 55 in a blinking state when the current mixed tap water flow rate Wk is in the range from the second set flow rate F2 to the fourth set flow rate F4 (F2 <Wk ≦ F4). To do. Thereby, a user can classify | categorize and visually recognize the degree of deviation from the upper limit (second set flow rate) of the target flow rate range of the current mixed tap water flow rate Wk.

  A fifth set flow rate that is higher than the fourth set flow rate F4 is further set, and the mixed tap water flow rate Wk is within a range that is greater than the second set flow rate F2 and less than or equal to the fourth set flow rate (F2 <Wk ≦ F4). When the eco lamp 55 is in the third blinking state and the mixing tap water flow rate Wk is in the range of more than the fourth set flow rate F4 and less than or equal to the fifth set flow rate F5 (F4 <Wk ≦ F5), the eco lamp 55 May be a fourth blinking state different from the third blinking state.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the switching process of turning off / lighting / flashing the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 by the controller 30 will be described. The controller 30 also switches off / on / flashing the eco lamp 73 of the kitchen remote controller 70, but the processing content is the same as in the case of the bathroom remote controller 50, so the description thereof is omitted here.

  The processing of STEP 1 to STEP 5 in FIG. 8 is the same as STEP 1 to STEP 5 in FIG.

  STEP 10 is a process by the necessary hot water flow rate calculating means 36, and the required hot water flow rate calculating means 36 is required to discharge hot water at the target temperature from the mixing plug 27 at the target flow rate according to the following equation (2). A required hot water flow rate Wn, which is a hot water supply flow rate from the pipe 8 to the mixing plug 27, is calculated.

Wn = Wset × (Tset−Tc) / (Th−Tc) (2)
However, Wn: Necessary hot water flow rate, Wset: Target flow rate, Tset: Target temperature, Tc: Temperature of water supplied from the inlet pipe 7.

  The target flow rate Wset is set individually for the bathroom remote controller 50 and the kitchen remote controller 70 in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. Then, the target hot water flow rate calculation means 36 substitutes the first set flow rate to the third set flow rate described above for Wset in the above equation, and sets the corresponding required hot water flow rate Wn as the first required set flow rate and the second required set flow rate. The third required set flow rate is calculated.

  The subsequent STEP 11 is a process by the hot water usage status notifying means 32. In the second embodiment, the hot water usage status notifying means 32 compares the detected flow rate Ws of the flow rate sensor 18 with the first required set flow rate, the second required set flow rate, and the third required hot water flow rate, and is shown in Table 4 below. As shown, the lighting / lighting / flashing of the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 is switched.

なお、本実施の形態では、使用者が浴室リモコン５０により目標使用流量を設定するときに、図４を参照して上述したように、目標流量の設定値のみを表示したが、図９（ａ）の１２０に示したように、現状の目標流量の設定値１２１（図では１０リットル/分）を点灯表示すると共に、現状の混合栓出湯流量１２２を点滅表示させるようにしてもよい。この場合、使用者は実際に湯を使用してその流量表示を確認しながら、浴室での目標流量を設定することができる。使用者が目標流量の設定を終了すると、１３０に示したように、現状の混合栓出湯流量１２２が点灯表示に切替わる。

In the present embodiment, when the user sets the target flow rate with the bathroom remote controller 50, only the set value of the target flow rate is displayed as described above with reference to FIG. ) 120, the current target flow rate set value 121 (10 liters / minute in the figure) may be lit on and the current mixed tap water flow rate 122 may be flashed. In this case, the user can set the target flow rate in the bathroom while actually using hot water and checking the flow rate display. When the user finishes setting the target flow rate, as shown at 130, the current mixed tap water flow rate 122 is switched to a lighting display.

  Similarly, when the user sets the target flow rate with the kitchen remote controller 70, as shown at 140 in FIG. 9B, the current target use flow rate setting value 141 (in the figure, 7 liters / minute) is set. In addition to the lighting display, the current mixing tap hot water flow rate 142 may be displayed blinking. In this case, the user can set the target flow rate in the kitchen while actually checking the flow rate display using hot water. When the user finishes setting the target flow rate, as shown at 150, the current mixed tap water flow rate 142 is switched to lighting display.

  In this embodiment, the eco lamp 55 of the bathroom remote controller 50 and the eco lamp 73 of the kitchen remote controller 70 are used as the notification means of the present invention. However, the sound and buzzer sounds are output from the speakers, the characters are displayed on the display, etc. Alternatively, other types of notification means may be used to notify the degree to which the hot water flow rate from the mixing tap 27 deviates from the target flow rate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hot-water supply apparatus, 2 ... Hot-water supply apparatus main body, 3 ... Burner, 7 ... Inlet pipe, 8 ... Outlet pipe, 18 ... Flow sensor, 30 ... Controller, 32 ... Hot water use condition alerting means, 33 ... Target hot water level setting means, 35: Mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means, 36: Necessary hot water flow rate calculating means, 50 ... Bathroom remote control, 55 ... Eco lamp for bathroom remote control, 70 ... Kitchen remote control, 73 ... Eco lamp for kitchen remote control.

Claims (2)

A heating means connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, for heating the water supplied from the inlet pipe and supplying it to the outlet pipe;
Inlet water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of water supplied from the inlet pipe;
Tapping temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied from the tapping pipe;
Flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water pipe;
An informing means,
Hot water supply that is connected to the hot water pipe and the water inlet pipe and supplies hot water through a mixing tap that mixes and supplies hot water supplied from the hot water pipe and water supplied from the water inlet pipe at a predetermined ratio. In the device
Target hot water level setting means for setting a target flow rate and target temperature of hot water discharged from the mixing tap;
Based on the temperature of water detected by the incoming water temperature detection means, the temperature of hot water detected by the hot water temperature detection means, the flow rate of hot water detected by the flow rate detection means, and the target temperature, A mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means for calculating a mixed tap hot water flow rate which is a hot water flow rate from the mixing tap;
Comparing the mixing tap hot water flow rate with the target flow rate, comprising hot water usage status notifying means for notifying the usage status of hot water by the notification means ,
The mixing tap hot water flow rate calculating means calculates the mixing tap hot water flow rate according to the following equation (1).
Wk = Ws × (Th−Tc) / (Tset−Tc) (1)
However, Wk: Mixing tap outlet flow rate, Ws: Outlet flow rate from the outlet pipe, Th: Detection temperature by the tapping temperature detection means, Tc: Detection temperature by the incoming water temperature detection means, Tset: Target temperature.   A heating means connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, for heating the water supplied from the inlet pipe and supplying it to the outlet pipe;
  Inlet water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of water supplied from the inlet pipe;
  Tapping temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied from the tapping pipe;
  Flow rate detecting means for detecting the flow rate of hot water supplied from the hot water pipe;
  An informing means,
  Hot water supply that is connected to the hot water pipe and the water inlet pipe and supplies hot water through a mixing tap that mixes and supplies hot water supplied from the hot water pipe and water supplied from the water inlet pipe at a predetermined ratio. In the device
  Target hot water level setting means for setting a target flow rate and target temperature of hot water discharged from the mixing tap;
  Based on the temperature of water detected by the incoming water temperature detecting means, the temperature of hot water detected by the hot water temperature detecting means, the target flow rate, and the target temperature, the target flow rate and the target temperature A required hot water flow rate calculating means for calculating a required hot water flow rate which is a hot water flow rate from the hot water pipe required for supplying hot water from the mixing tap;
  Comparing the required hot water flow rate with the hot water flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means, comprising hot water usage status notifying means for notifying the hot water usage status by the notification means,
  The required hot water flow rate calculating means calculates the required hot water flow rate according to the following equation (2).
  Wn = Wset × (Tset−Tc) / (Th−Tc) (2)
  However, Wn: Necessary hot water flow rate, Wset: Target flow rate, Tset: Target temperature, Th: Temperature detected by the hot water temperature detecting means, Tc: Temperature detected by the incoming water temperature detecting means.

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