JP5741847B2 - Abnormality judgment method for solar water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar water heater that uses electric power generated by a solar panel (PV panel; Photovoltaic Panel) as a driving power source of a heat collecting pump that forcibly circulates a heat medium between a heat collecting panel and a hot water storage tank. Regarding the abnormality determination method, especially when a heat collection failure (cannot collect heat) occurs, whether the cause is a failure on the facility side for heat collection or a failure on the facility side for power generation. It relates to a technique for enabling determination and detection.

  Conventionally, Patent Document 1 proposes an example in which a solar cell is combined with a solar water heater and a solar cell is used as means for detecting the amount of solar radiation. In this system, a solar cell is installed in the vicinity of the heat collection panel, the amount of solar radiation to the heat collection panel is detected by the solar cell, and the heat collection efficiency is calculated using the detected amount of solar radiation. Based on the above, the operation control of the solar water heater is performed.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a device for monitoring an abnormality of an energy conversion device such as a solar power generation device that generates power from sunlight or a solar water heater that collects heat from solar heat. In this, each output amount of these energy conversion devices is classified according to the direction in which these energy conversion devices face, and the output amounts in the same direction are compared to obtain similarity, and based on this similarity, each energy amount is calculated. It has been proposed to determine whether a conversion device is abnormal.

JP-A-7-139818 Japanese Patent No. 3896063

  By the way, in the present inventor, a solar cell panel is installed in addition to the heat collection panel, and the power generated by the solar cell panel is used as a drive power source for a heat collection pump for forcibly circulating a heat collecting heat medium. Use is under consideration. However, since both the heat collection by the heat collection panel and the power generation by the solar cell panel use natural energy such as sunlight or heat and depend on the weather, either heat collection or power generation It does not fall into a malfunction, and has a characteristic that it is activated together if it is fine, and deactivated together if it is bad weather. Therefore, even if it has fallen into a heat collection failure situation where heat collection cannot be performed for some reason, it is difficult to detect the occurrence of a failure state, and whether it is caused by an abnormality in the heat collection facility or not. It is even more difficult to automatically determine whether there is a cause of the abnormality or which side is defective.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is a solar water heater that uses power generated by a solar cell panel as a drive power source for a heat collecting pump. Solar hot water that can reliably detect the occurrence of a heat collection failure and can automatically determine whether the heat collection failure is caused by a failure at the heat collection facility or a failure at the power generation facility An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus abnormality determination method.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a heat collecting panel for collecting solar heat and heating a heat medium, a hot water storage tank, a heat exchanger for heat exchange heating of hot water in the hot water storage tank, A heat collection circuit that heats and heats hot water in the hot water storage tank to store heat as hot water by circulating a heat medium between the heat collection panel and the heat exchanger by operating a heat pump, and the heat collection The following specific items are provided for an abnormality determination method of a solar water heater that includes a solar battery panel that is installed with a panel and supplies electric power generated by receiving sunlight as a drive power source of the heat collecting pump. It was. That is, when the output from the solar cell panel continues below a predetermined set output, the heat collecting pump is forcibly operated by a commercial power source while the output is continued, and the heat medium is circulated based on the forced operation. The status of the amount of collected heat is monitored, and if the amount of collected heat is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount of collected heat, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the facility related to power generation or power transmission of the solar cell panel. (Claim 1).

  In the case of the present invention, in a solar water heater that saves energy by combining solar cell panels, even if a heat collection failure occurs, the heat collection failure is caused by a failure in the facility on the solar cell panel side. It is possible to reliably and automatically determine that it is a product. By being able to automatically identify, it is possible to notify the user that the cause of the heat collection failure is due to an abnormality in the power generation facility, and this enables accurate countermeasures for recovery. Is possible.

  In the abnormality determination method for the solar water heater of the present invention, in a state where the output from the solar cell panel is equal to or higher than the output capable of driving the heat collection pump, the heat collection pump is forcibly operated, and the heat based on the forced operation is obtained. Monitor the status of the amount of heat collected by circulating the medium, and if the amount of collected heat is less than the preset amount of collected heat, an abnormality will occur on the side of the heat collection panel or heat collection circuit It is possible to determine that it is being performed (claim 2). By doing so, when a heat collection failure occurs, it is possible to reliably and automatically determine that the heat collection failure is caused by an abnormality in equipment on the side such as the heat collection panel. It becomes possible. As a result, when a heat collection failure occurs, it can be automatically determined whether the heat collection failure is caused by the occurrence of a failure in the heat collection side facility or the occurrence of a failure in the power generation side facility. Then, by notifying the user of this information, it is possible to perform the countermeasure process for recovery more accurately. Note that the forcible drive of the heat collecting pump may be performed by a commercial power source or output from a solar cell panel.

  As described above, according to the abnormality determination method for the solar water heater of the present invention, in the solar water heater that combines the solar cell panels to save energy, even if a heat collection failure occurs, It can be reliably and automatically determined that the heat collection failure is caused by the occurrence of a failure in the facility on the solar cell panel side. Then, by notifying the user of the information that the cause of the heat collection failure is the abnormality of the power generation facility, it is possible to accurately perform countermeasure processing for recovery.

  In particular, according to claim 2, in a state where the output from the solar cell panel is equal to or higher than the output capable of driving the heat collection pump, the heat collection pump is forcibly operated, and the heat collection is performed by circulation of the heat medium based on the forced operation. The amount of collected heat is monitored, and if the amount of collected heat is less than the predetermined amount of collected heat, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred on the side of the heat collection panel or heat collection circuit. Thus, when a heat collection failure occurs, it is possible to automatically determine whether the heat collection failure is caused by the occurrence of a failure in the heat collection side facility or the occurrence of a failure in the power generation side facility. It becomes like this.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the solar water heater which applies embodiment which concerns on the abnormality determination method of the solar water heater of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the abnormality determination method of a solar water heater. It is a flowchart of the control which concerns on the abnormal location determination process at the time of heat collection failure generation | occurrence | production.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a solar water heater to which an abnormality determination method according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a heat collecting panel for collecting solar heat by a heat medium (for example, antifreeze liquid) passing through the inside, 2 is a solar cell panel that receives sunlight to generate electricity, 3 is a hot water storage tank, and 4 is heat collecting. A heat collecting circuit 5 for storing the heat of the heat medium as hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 by circulating a heat medium between the panel 1 and the heat exchanger 43 in the hot water storage tank 3, and tap water etc. from the outside A water supply passage for supplying water into the hot water storage tank 3, a hot water discharge passage for supplying hot water to a hot water tap (not shown) using hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 3, and a controller for controlling the operation of the solar water heater It is.

  The heat collection panel 1 is installed, for example, on a roof of a house or a veranda of an apartment house, and a heat collection panel temperature sensor 11 for detecting the temperature Ts of the circulating heat medium is installed in the vicinity of the top position. The heat collection panel temperature sensor 11 will be described in more detail. The heat collection panel temperature sensor 11 detects the temperature of the circulating heat medium by detecting the temperature of the fins constituting the heat collection panel 1. The fin temperature detected by the heat panel temperature sensor 11 is equivalent to the heat medium temperature Ts of the heat medium that has been heated most by heat collection, and the heat medium temperature Ts is detected by detecting the fin temperature. It has become.

  The solar battery panel 2 is installed at a position similar to the heat collection panel 1 and in the vicinity of the heat collection panel 1, and drives the power collected by receiving sunlight from the heat collection pump 41 via the controller 21. It is connected to the heat collection pump so as to be supplied as a power source. In addition to the power supply line from the solar cell panel 2, a power supply line from the commercial power supply 8 is also connected to the controller 21. The controller 21 monitors the output voltage from the solar cell panel 2 and outputs it to the controller 7 and the drive power supply to the heat collecting pump 41 is normally supplied from the solar cell panel 2. A power supply switching function for switching to the commercial power supply 8 at a predetermined time (for example, during an air purge operation described later) is provided.

  The hot water storage tank 3 is an airtight container configured in a hermetic manner by, for example, stainless steel. The hot water storage tank 3 is provided with a hot water storage tank temperature sensor 31 that detects the temperature Tt of hot water or water (hereinafter referred to as “hot water”) near the bottom of the hot water storage tank 3. The upstream end of the water supply channel 5 is connected to an external water pipe or the like, and the downstream end is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 3 via a check valve (not shown). A water supply temperature sensor 51 for detecting a water supply temperature and a water supply flow rate sensor 52 for detecting a water supply flow rate are interposed in the water supply channel 5. Further, the upstream end of the hot water supply passage 6 is connected to the top of the hot water storage tank 3, and a hot water temperature sensor 61 for detecting the temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water storage tank 3 is interposed near the top of the hot water storage tank 3. .

  The heat collection circuit 4 circulates the heat medium between the heat collection panel 1 and the heat storage heat exchanger (for example, a coil type heat exchanger) 43 in the hot water storage tank 3 through the circulation path 42 by the operation of the heat collection pump 41. It is comprised so that it may make it. The heat collection pump 41 is constituted by a variable flow pump such as a DC pump, for example, and its discharge capacity can be adjusted up or down.

  The circulation path 42 is an outgoing path 42 a that leads from the vicinity of the top portion of the high-temperature heat medium that has been passed through the inside of the heat collection panel 1 and led to the inlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger 43 in the hot water storage tank 3. In addition, the heat storage heat exchanger 43 is configured to include a return path 42b for deriving the heat medium having a low temperature as a result of heat exchange from the outlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger 43 and returning it to the bottom of the heat collecting panel 1. A semi-sealed tank 44 is interposed in the return path 42 b, and the top portion of the tank 44 communicates with the bottom portion of the reserve tank 45 via a communication pipe 451. The heat medium overflowing from the tank 44 is released into the reserve tank 45 through the communication pipe 451. An expansion tank is configured by a combination of the tank 44 and the reserve tank 45.

  The above solar water heater is controlled by the controller 7 in response to the output of the input setting signal / operation signal from the remote controller 71 and the output of the detection signals from the temperature sensors 11, 31 and the controller 21. ing. The controller 7 includes an MPU, a memory, and the like, and various controls are performed by executing a program installed in advance and a control circuit. Then, the controller 7 controls the heat collection operation control means 72 for performing the heat collection operation as shown in FIG. 2 and the bubbles generated or invaded in the heat collection circuit 4 for operation control. The air purge control means 73 that periodically activates the heat collection pump 41 every elapse of a predetermined time and whether the heat collection facility or the power generation facility is defective (abnormal occurrence) by detecting a heat collection failure. In addition to the abnormal point determination processing means 74 for determining and detecting, a hot water supply control means (not shown) is provided.

  First, the heat collection operation control by the heat collection operation control means 72 will be briefly described. Based on the hot water temperature Tt detected by the hot water tank temperature sensor 31, for example, it is confirmed that the amount of heat stored in the hot water tank 3 is insufficient. In addition, it is confirmed that the heat medium temperature Ts detected by the heat collecting panel temperature sensor 11 is higher than the hot water temperature Tt by a predetermined temperature difference α ° C. (for example, 6 ° C.). Is confirmed, the heat collecting pump 41 is operated, and the heat collecting operation is started. When the heat collection operation control by the heat collection operation control means 72 is performed, the electric power from the solar cell panel 2 is supplied to the heat collection pump 41 as a drive power supply via the controller 21.

  As a result, a high-temperature heat medium is supplied from the heat collecting panel 1 to the heat storage heat exchanger 43 through the outgoing path 42a, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is heat-exchanged and heated in the heat storage heat exchanger 43. The heated heat medium is returned to the heat collecting panel 1 through the return path 42b. The heat medium returned to the heat collection panel 1 is reheated while proceeding to the top in the heat collection panel 1, and the heat medium that has become high temperature is supplied to the heat storage heat exchanger 43 through the forward path 42a. So that it is circulated. Then, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is heat-exchanged and heated, so that the amount of heat collected by the heat transfer medium moves to the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 and is stored in the hot water storage tank 3 as hot water storage. .

  The air purge operation control by the air purge control means 73 is performed as follows. In other words, the air purge operation is started when, for example, 24 hours have passed without the heat collection operation start condition being satisfied, that is, when, for example, 24 hours have elapsed without performing the heat collection operation. The air purge operation control itself ends when the heat collecting pump 41 is operated for a predetermined short time (for example, 5 minutes). By the operation of the heat collecting pump 41, the heat medium is circulated in the circulation path 42 to forcibly purge the bubbles that may have been generated or intruded within the time that has elapsed without performing the heat collecting operation ( Will be excluded). On the other hand, the fact that the air purge operation is started, that is, that, for example, 24 hours has passed without the heat collection operation being executed, the start condition for the heat collection operation may not be satisfied due to the weather. There is also a possibility that the heat collection operation is disabled due to some abnormality, that is, the heat collection is in a poor state. Therefore, the abnormal point determination processing by the abnormal point determination processing means 74 may be started with the start of the air purge operation. However, in this embodiment, if the normal heat collecting operation is stopped as described below, the abnormal point determination is performed. Monitoring by the abnormal point determination process by the processing means 74 is started. In addition, you may make it always perform monitoring by the said abnormal location determination process continuously.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, whether or not the output voltage of the solar battery panel 2 monitored by the controller 21 is satisfied, that is, the current output voltage is sufficient to drive the heat collecting pump 41. It is determined whether it is 1 threshold value (for example, 0.7V) or more (step S1). If the output voltage is satisfied (YES in step S1), whether or not the state of no heat collection continues by checking whether or not there is a heat collection amount, that is, “there is a heat collection amount” is not detected. It is determined whether or not the state continues for a first set time (for example, 10 days to 30 days) (step S2). The determination regarding the state of heat collection is performed using the air purge operation described above. In other words, the heat collecting pump 41 is operated upon receiving power supply from the commercial power supply 8 by the air purge operation control, whereby the heat medium is circulated through the circulation path 42. At this time, the difference between the heat medium temperature supplied from the hot water storage tank 3 to the heat collecting panel 1 through the return path 42b and the heat medium temperature supplied to the hot water storage tank 3 through the forward path 42a after passing through the heat collecting panel 1 If the temperature β is equal to or higher than a predetermined set value (for example, 5 ° C.), it is determined that “there is a heat collection amount”. On the other hand, if the temperature difference β is less than the set value, “there is a heat collection amount” cannot be detected. Judged as non-detection. The heat medium temperature supplied to the heat collecting panel 1 can be replaced with the hot water temperature Tt detected by the hot water storage tank temperature sensor 31, and the heat medium temperature supplied to the hot water storage tank 3 is the heat collecting panel. Since the temperature can be replaced by the heat medium temperature Ts detected by the temperature sensor 11, the temperature difference β between the heat medium temperature Ts and the hot water temperature Tt can be used as the temperature difference β. The necessity to provide can be omitted. In addition, that said temperature difference (beta) is more than a predetermined set value (for example, 5 degreeC) means that it exists in the predetermined heat collecting amount condition. In this case, since the output voltage from the solar cell panel 2 is satisfied, the heat collection pump may be driven by the output.

  If it is detected that “there is a heat collection amount” while the first set time elapses (NO in step S2), the output voltage on the solar cell panel 2 side is in a satisfied state (step S1). YES), since the amount of heat collected on the side of the heat collecting panel 1 is also present, there is no abnormality and there is no defective portion. Therefore, the process returns first and waits for the start of the next abnormal portion determination process.

  On the other hand, if “there is a heat collection amount” is not detected during the first set time in step S2 (YES in step S2), the output voltage on the solar cell panel 2 side is Although it is in a state of being satisfied, that is, it is possible to collect heat from solar heat, it cannot be detected as a temperature change of the circulating heat medium, so it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the heat collection side equipment. Then, the abnormal process is executed and the process ends (step S3). Here, as the abnormality of the heat collecting side equipment, it is assumed that piping such as the heat collecting panel 1 or the circulation path 42 is clogged, or that a valve installed outside the instrument is in a closed state by mistake. . For this reason, as abnormality processing, it is judged through the remote controller 71 that an abnormality has occurred in the heat collecting side equipment and it has been determined that heat collection has become impossible, and that a service person in charge of maintenance needs to be contacted. Inform the user. The notification may be displayed as character information or the like on the liquid crystal display unit, or announced by an artificial voice using a voice circuit.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the output voltage of the solar cell panel 2 is not satisfied (NO in step S1), the status of the output voltage of the solar cell panel 2 is further analyzed in step S4. That is, it is determined whether or not the output voltage non-satisfaction state where the output voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined second threshold (for example, 0.5 V) continues until a predetermined second set time (for example, 10 days) elapses. (Step S4). If the output voltage becomes higher than the second threshold before the elapse of the second set time without continuing the unsatisfied state of the output voltage (NO in step S4), it is determined that the output voltage is temporary. Again, it returns to step S1 and repeats each process.

  Conversely, if the unsatisfied state of the output voltage continues for the second set time (YES in step S4), it is next determined whether or not “there is a heat collection amount” is detected ( Step S5). In this case, the determination as to whether or not “there is a heat collection amount” is detected using the air purge operation as in the case of the determination process in step S2. Then, for example, during the air purge operation for 5 minutes, it is detected that the temperature difference β is continuously higher than a set value (for example, 5 ° C.) for a predetermined third set time (for example, 1 minute), In addition, if the condition that this detection is obtained twice in the air purge operation that has occurred during the past consecutive set days (for example, 10 days) up to this time, it is determined that “there is a heat collection amount” is detected. (YES in step S5). If it is determined that “there is a heat collection amount” is detected (YES in step S5), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the power generation side facility, an abnormality process is executed, and the process ends (step S6). Here, as the abnormality of the power generation side equipment, one based on defects related to wiring such as erroneous wiring and poor contact is assumed. As abnormality processing, the remote control 71 is used to notify the user that it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the power generation equipment and that heat collection is impossible, and that a service person in charge of maintenance is required. Inform. As the notification, similar to the above, display by character information or announcement by artificial voice may be performed.

  In addition, when the detection of “there is a heat collection amount” is not obtained in the determination in step S5 (NO in step S5), both the power generation side equipment and the heat collection side equipment are in an abnormal state. However, since it is impossible to determine whether the bad weather without the sun in the weather condition has continued for a very long time, the process returns to step S1 again to repeat each process.

  In the case of the above embodiment, energy saving can be achieved by using the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 2 as the drive power source of the heat collecting pump 41. And in the solar water heater which combined the solar cell panel 2 and achieved energy saving, even if a heat collection failure should occur, the occurrence of the heat collection failure situation can be reliably detected, It is possible to reliably and automatically determine whether the heat collection failure is caused by the occurrence of a failure at the heat collection side facility or the failure at the power generation side facility. And based on automatic discrimination, in addition to the occurrence of heat collection failure, it is possible to notify the user of information on which abnormality has occurred in either the heat collection side equipment or the power generation side equipment, thereby enabling recovery Countermeasure processing can be performed accurately.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Other various embodiment is included. That is, in the embodiment, the detection of the heat collection amount is performed based on whether or not the temperature difference β is equal to or higher than the set temperature. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The amount of collected heat may be detected based on whether the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3, that is, whether or not the hot water temperature Tt detected by the hot water storage tank temperature sensor 31 has risen above a predetermined set temperature. Good.

  Moreover, although the heat exchanger 43 was installed in the hot water storage tank 3 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heat exchanger is installed outside the hot water storage tank 3 and is collected with respect to the heat exchanger. While the heat medium in the heat circulation circuit is circulated and supplied to the heat source side, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 3 is circulated and supplied to the heated side by another heat collecting pump, so that the hot water in the hot water storage tank is heat exchange heated by the heat medium. The present invention can also be applied to a solar water heater.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat collection panel 2 Solar cell panel 3 Hot water storage tank 4 Heat collection circuit 11 Heat collection panel temperature sensor (heat medium temperature detection means)
21 Controller (Voltmeter)
41 Heat collection pump

Claims (2)

A heat collecting panel for collecting solar heat to heat the heat medium, a hot water storage tank, a heat exchanger for heat exchange heating of hot water in the hot water storage tank, and the heat collecting panel and the heat by operating a heat collecting pump A heat collection circuit that heats and heats hot water in the hot water storage tank to store heat as hot water by circulating a heat medium between the heat exchanger and the heat collection panel is installed to generate electricity by receiving sunlight. A solar battery panel provided with a solar battery panel for supplying the power as a drive power source for the heat collecting pump,
When the output from the solar cell panel continues below a predetermined set output, the heat collecting pump is forcibly operated by a commercial power source while the output is continued, and heat is collected by circulation of the heat medium based on the forcible operation. The amount of collected heat is monitored, and if the amount of collected heat is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount of collected heat, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the facility related to power generation or power transmission of the solar panel,
An abnormality determination method for a solar water heater characterized by that. An abnormality determination method for a solar water heater according to claim 1,
In a state where the output from the solar cell panel is equal to or higher than the output capable of driving the heat collecting pump, the heat collecting pump is forcedly operated, and the amount of heat collected by the circulation of the heat medium based on the forced operation is determined. An abnormality of the solar water heater that is monitored and determines that an abnormality has occurred on the side of the heat collection panel or the heat collection circuit if the state of the heat collection amount is less than a predetermined heat collection amount state Judgment method.

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