JP5663697B2 - Heat supply equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The technology disclosed here relates to a heat supply device such as a hot water supply device or a heating device. In particular, the present invention relates to a hybrid heat supply device that uses electricity and gas (in detail, combustible gas, the same applies hereinafter).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a hybrid hot water supply apparatus. The hot water supply apparatus includes an electric heat source that consumes electricity to generate heat, a gas heat source that consumes gas to generate heat, and a heat storage unit that stores heat generated by the electric heat source machine. . This type of heat supply apparatus achieves excellent thermal efficiency by using electricity and gas in combination, and secures a supply capacity that can cope with irregular heat demands.

JP 2004-125226 A

  The hybrid heat supply device is designed on the premise of using both electricity and gas. If one supply is interrupted, an error display is displayed to stop the operation. It is configured. However, considering the occurrence of natural disasters, for example, both electricity and gas are not always stably supplied, and even in such a situation, heat supply (hot water supply or heating) can be reliably performed. Desired.

  In consideration of the above situation, a technology that assumes a situation where commercial power cannot be used is provided.

  The technology disclosed herein is embodied in a heat supply device that uses both electricity and gas. The heat supply device includes an electric heat source that consumes electricity to generate heat, a gas heat source that consumes gas to generate heat, and a control unit that controls operations of the electric heat source and the gas heat source. The control means can select a gas operation mode in which use of an electric heat source is prohibited.

  For example, the supply of commercial power may be suddenly interrupted due to the occurrence of a natural disaster. Alternatively, after such a disaster, the supply amount of commercial power may be insufficient nationwide, and the supply of commercial power may be stopped systematically, i.e., after a fixed time period (so-called planned power outage). Assuming such a situation, the heat supply device according to the present technology can prohibit the use of an electric heat source and select a gas operation mode in which only a gas heat source is used. Thereby, the required heat supply can be performed while prohibiting or reducing the use of electricity.

Alternatively, in response to social activities that reduce electricity consumption, it is also conceivable that a user voluntarily uses an electric heat source. Assuming such a situation, the control means has an operation terminal operated by the user in order to forcibly select the gas operation mode, and can select the gas operation mode according to the user's instruction. Is preferred.

  When a planned power outage is assumed, it is preferable that the control means can store a time zone in which the gas operation mode should be selected. Thereby, the user can preset the time zone which becomes a planned power failure, for example in a control means beforehand.

  When an unexpected power failure is assumed, the control means preferably selects the gas operation mode when the supply of commercial power is interrupted. Thereby, even when an unexpected power failure occurs, the apparatus can automatically select the gas operation mode to meet the heat supply required by the user.

  The heat supply apparatus according to the present technology preferably further includes a power storage unit or a power generation unit that supplies power to the control unit. As a result, even if the supply of commercial power is interrupted (that is, a power failure occurs) and power cannot be supplied from other external power sources, control means that require electricity and other devices are operated. The heat supply in the gas operation mode can be continued.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the hot-water supply heating apparatus of an Example. The flowchart which concerns on the change process of an operation mode is shown.

  In one Embodiment of this invention, it is preferable that a heat supply apparatus has a heat pump as an electric heat source. However, the electric heat source is not limited to the heat pump, and may be, for example, an electric heater.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat supply device can include a heat storage means. In this case, the heat storage means preferably stores heat generated by at least one of an electric heat source and a gas heat source. As a heat storage means, although it is an example, the hot water storage tank which stores warm water is employable. However, the heat storage means is not limited to the hot water storage tank, and may be a tank or a container for storing another heat medium. Further, the heat storage means may store other heat such as geothermal heat, solar heat, and power generation heat in addition to the heat generated by the electric heat source or the gas heat source.

  In one Embodiment of this invention, it is preferable to provide a lithium ion cell and another secondary battery as an electrical storage means. Moreover, as a power generation means, a fuel cell or a solar power generation element (solar cell) can be adopted in addition to a generator having a motor. The power storage means and the power generation means are not limited to those dedicated to the heat supply device, and may be a battery device or a power generation device (alternator) mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid car.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the control means includes a normal operation mode in which an electric heat source and a gas heat source are used in combination, a gas operation mode in which the use of the electric heat source is prohibited, and an electric operation in which the use of the gas heat source is prohibited. Preferably any of the modes can be selected. According to such a configuration, an appropriate operation mode can be selected in accordance with a situation where electricity supply is insufficient, a situation where gas supply is insufficient, or other situations.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the heat supply device may be a hot water supply device that supplies hot water, may be a heating device that performs heating, or may be a hot water supply and heating device that performs both hot water supply and heating. Good.

  The hot water supply / room heating device 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply and heating device 10 is a heat supply device that performs both hot water supply and heating. The hot water heater 10 is mainly provided with a heat pump 40, a hot water heater / unit 50, a hot water storage tank 30, a heating terminal 70, a controller 14, a remote controller 12, and a battery power supply 54. The controller 14 is a control unit that controls the operation of the hot water supply / room heating device 10. The controller 14 of the present embodiment is not a single independent unit, but includes a plurality of electronic control units distributed in the heat pump 40 and the hot water supply / heating unit 50, various sensors disposed in each pipe, and the like. ing. The various sensors referred to here include a temperature sensor and a flow rate sensor.

  The hot water storage tank 30 is a sealed container for storing hot water. Although the capacity | capacitance of the hot water storage tank 30 is an example, it is 50 liters. Connected to the hot water storage tank 30 are a water supply pipe 28 for supplying clean water to the hot water storage tank 30 and a hot water discharge pipe 22 for discharging hot water from the hot water storage tank 30. The hot water discharge pipe 22 is connected to the hot water supply / heating unit 50, and sends hot water from the hot water storage tank 30 to the hot water supply / heating unit 50. In the hot water storage tank 30, a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown) are arranged along the height direction. The plurality of temperature sensors are connected to the controller 14, and based on the detection results, the controller 14 can grasp the hot water temperature and the amount of hot water (that is, the amount of heat) in the hot water storage tank 30.

  A water supply pipe 28 is connected to the hot water discharge pipe 22 through a water supply bypass pipe 26. The water supply bypass pipe 26 mixes the clean water of the water supply pipe 28 with the warm water of the hot water discharge pipe 22. A hot water supply side mixing valve 24 is provided at a connection position between the water supply bypass pipe 26 and the hot water discharge pipe 22. The hot water supply side mixing valve 24 is connected to the controller 14, and its operation is controlled by the controller 14. The controller 14 can lower the hot water temperature from the hot water storage tank 30 to the hot water supply set temperature designated by the user by controlling the hot water supply side mixing valve 24.

  The heat pump 40 is a kind of electric heat source that generates electricity by consuming electricity. Commercial power is supplied to the heat pump 40. The heat pump 40 collects heat from the atmosphere and heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank 30. Strictly speaking, the heat pump 40 moves heat between two heat media and does not generate heat. However, for the sake of convenience in this specification, the heat pump 40 is also treated as a heat source that generates heat. The heat pump 40 is connected to the hot water storage tank 30 via a heat storage feed pipe 32 and a heat storage return pipe 34. Hot water in the hot water storage tank 30 is sent to the heat pump 40 through the heat storage feed pipe 32. The sent hot water is heated by the heat pump 40 and then returned to the hot water storage tank 30 through the heat storage return pipe 34. Thereby, hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 30. The hot water in the hot water storage tank 30 is not limited to the heat pump 40, and may be configured to be heated by a hot water supply / heating unit 50, which will be described later, or another heat source such as a fuel cell, a generator, sunlight, or an electric heater.

  The hot water supply / heating unit 50 is a type of gas heat source that generates heat by consuming a combustible gas (also simply referred to as gas) such as city gas. As described above, hot water from the hot water storage tank 30 is sent to the hot water supply / heating unit 50 through the hot water discharge pipe 22. When the hot water temperature from the hot water storage tank 30 is lower than the hot water supply set temperature specified by the user, the hot water supply / heating unit 50 ignites a burner (not shown) to heat the hot water. The heated hot water is supplied to a hot water supply location such as a currant through the hot water supply pipe 16. Alternatively, it is supplied to the bathtub 90 through the bath outlet pipe 84. That is, the bathtub 90 is one of hot water supply points.

  A hot water supply pipe 22 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 16 through a hot water supply bypass pipe 18. The hot water supply bypass pipe 18 can directly send the hot water from the hot water supply pipe 22 to the hot water supply pipe 16. The hot water supply bypass pipe 18 is provided with a bypass control valve 20. The bypass control valve 20 is connected to the controller 14, and its operation is controlled by the controller 14. If heating in the hot water supply / heating unit 50 is unnecessary, the controller 14 can open the bypass control valve 20 to bypass the hot water supply / heating unit 50. Thereby, useless heat dissipation in the hot water supply / heating unit 50 can be avoided. Further, the controller 14 adjusts the opening degree of the bypass control valve 20 to send a part of the hot water to the hot water supply / heating unit 50, and the other part finely adjusts the hot water supply temperature by bypassing the hot water supply / heating unit 50. You can also

  The hot water supply / heating unit 50 can also circulate and heat (warm) the hot water in the bathtub 90. The hot water supply / heating unit 50 is connected to the bathtub 90 via a bath return pipe 82 and a bath outlet pipe 84. The hot water in the bathtub 90 is sent to the hot water supply / heating unit 50 through the bath return pipe 82, heated in the hot water supply / heating unit 50, and then returned to the bathtub 90 through the bath outlet pipe 84. The circulation of the hot water is performed by a bath pump (not shown) of the hot water supply / heating unit 50. In addition, the path | route which circulates the hot water of the bathtub 90 in the hot water supply heating apparatus 10 is provided independently from the path | route connected to the hot water supply pipe | tube 16 mentioned above in consideration of the hygiene aspect.

  The hot water supply / heating unit 50 is connected to the heating terminal 70 and sends the heated heating medium to the heating terminal 70. The heating terminal 70 is, for example, a hot water floor heating panel or a bathroom heater. Moreover, although the heating medium for heating is an example, it is antifreeze. The heating medium is heated by the burner of the hot water supply / heating unit 50 and then sent to the heating terminal 70 through the heating feed pipe 60. The heating medium radiated from the heating terminal 70 is sent to the heat pump 40 through the first heating return pipe 62 and then returned to the hot water supply / heating unit 50 through the second heating return pipe 64. That is, primary heating of the heating medium is performed in the heat pump 40. A first heating return pipe 62 is connected to the second heating return pipe 64 through a heating bypass pipe 66. A heating side mixing valve 68 is provided at a connection position between the heating bypass pipe 66 and the second heating return pipe 64. The heating side mixing valve 68 is connected to the controller 14, and its operation is controlled by the controller 14. For example, when the operation of the heat pump 40 is stopped, the controller 14 can directly send the heating heat medium from the heating terminal 70 back to the hot water supply / heating unit 50 by controlling the heating side mixing valve 68. .

  The controller 14 usually receives supply of commercial power and controls the operation of the hot water supply / room heating device 10. However, when the supply of commercial power is stopped (so-called power failure), power is supplied from the battery power source 54 to the controller 14. The electric power from the battery power source 54 is also supplied from the controller 14 to the sensors in each unit. Although the battery power supply 54 is an example, it has several lithium ion cells built in and can store electric power. In addition, the electric power of the battery power supply 54 is not supplied to the heat pump 40 which is an electric heat source. As will be described in detail later, at the time of a power failure, use of the heat pump 40 is prohibited and only the hot water supply / heating unit 50 is used as a heat source.

  The controller 14 includes a power failure detection sensor 56. The power failure detection sensor 56 is provided in the commercial power supply path, and can detect the occurrence of a power failure. When the power failure detection sensor 56 detects a power failure, the controller 14 can switch the power source from the commercial power source to the battery power source 54. Here, the configuration of the power failure detection sensor 56 is not particularly limited. For example, the power failure detection sensor 56 may monitor the voltage of the supply path for commercial power. Alternatively, the power failure detection sensor 56 may indirectly detect the occurrence of a power failure, for example, a device having a seismometer, or a device for receiving an emergency earthquake warning.

  The remote controller 12 is an operation terminal on which a user performs various operations. The user operates the remote controller 12 to turn on / off the hot water heater 10, specify the hot water set temperature, supply hot water to the bathtub 90 (so-called hot water filling), heat the hot water in the bathtub 90 (so-called reheating), heating Various operations related to driving can be performed. In addition, the remote controller 12 has a liquid crystal panel and can display various information.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hot water supply and heating apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can select a gas operation mode in which the use of the heat pump 40 is prohibited in addition to the normal operation mode in which the heat pump 40 and the hot water supply and heating unit 50 are used together. . The gas operation mode is selected based on a user instruction. That is, the user can forcefully select the gas operation mode by operating the remote controller 12 (YES in S12) (S20). Alternatively, the user can set in advance the time zone for selecting the gas operation mode by using the remote controller 12. In this case, the controller 14 stores the set time zone, and when the current time corresponds to the time zone (YES in S14), the controller 14 automatically selects the gas operation mode (S20). Furthermore, when the controller 14 detects the occurrence of a power failure (YES in S16), the controller 14 automatically selects the gas operation mode (S20). In other cases, the normal operation mode is selected. The selected operation mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the remote controller 12.

  In recent years, there are concerns about the occurrence of natural disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake. When such a situation occurs, the amount of electricity supplied may be insufficient nationwide, and the electricity supply may be stopped systematically, that is, after a predetermined time period. Assuming such a situation, the hot water heater 10 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the gas operation mode is automatically selected according to the planned power outage plan (S14). Furthermore, in response to social activities to reduce electricity consumption, it is conceivable that the user himself / herself himself / herself refrains from using the electric heat source. Assuming such a situation, the hot water supply and heating apparatus 10 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the user can forcibly select the gas operation mode (S12). Furthermore, even when the normal operation mode (S18) is selected, if the occurrence of a power failure is detected, the gas operation mode is automatically selected, and hot water supply or heating is performed only by the hot water supply / heating unit 50. Can do.

  In addition to the normal operation mode and the gas operation mode described above, the hot water supply and heating apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can be configured to be able to select a larger number of operation modes. For example, in the event of an emergency such as the occurrence of a major earthquake, there may be a situation where the supply of gas is stopped or insufficient. In consideration of such a situation, an electric operation mode in which use of the hot water supply / heating unit 50 that is a gas heat source is prohibited may be further prepared. In this case, a gas detection sensor for detecting that the supply of gas has been interrupted may be added so as to correspond to the power failure detection sensor 56 described above. Thereby, the controller 14 can automatically select the electric operation mode when the supply of gas is interrupted.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and achieving one of the objects itself has technical utility.

10: Hot water heater / heater 12: Remote controller 14: Controller 16: Hot water supply pipe 18: Hot water supply bypass pipe 20: Bypass control valve 22: Hot water supply pipe 24: Hot water supply side mixing valve 26: Water supply bypass pipe 28: Water supply pipe 30: Hot water storage tank 32: Heat storage feed pipe 34: Heat storage return pipe 40: Heat pump 50: Hot water supply / heating unit 54: Battery power supply 56: Power failure detection sensor 60: Heating feed pipe 62: First heating return pipe 64: Second heating return pipe 66: Heating bypass pipe 68 : Heating side mixing valve 70: Heating terminal 82: Bath return pipe 84: Bath outlet pipe 90: Bathtub

Claims (2)

A heat supply device using both electricity and gas,
An electric heat source that consumes electricity and generates heat;
A gas heat source that consumes gas and generates heat;
Control means for controlling the operation of the electric heat source and the gas heat source,
The control means is capable of selecting a gas operation mode in which use of an electric heat source is prohibited, and has an operation terminal operated by a user in order to force the gas operation mode to be selected. Feeding device. Heat supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a power generation unit that is required to supply electric power to the control unit.

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