JP5785904B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water heater.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an apparatus that notifies a hot water supply operation to a hot water supply terminal. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes that the amount of tapping water is displayed on the display panel of the remote control device so that it can be visually confirmed during hot water supply, or that a predetermined warning sound or a predetermined voice message is output to the outside through a voice output unit. Has been. Further, in Patent Document 2, when hot water is discharged from a hot water storage tank, it is proposed to display that hot water is being supplied on the display unit.

Japanese Patent No. 4182614 JP 2010-60192 A

  However, the conventional notification cannot be said to be effective in alerting the user, and there is room for improvement. For example, in Patent Document 2, when it is detected that hot water is being supplied, a message indicating that hot water is being supplied is additionally displayed in a portion where nothing is initially displayed in normal times. In such a display method, Since the fact that hot water is being supplied is displayed well without interfering with other display elements, alerting the user is not effective.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water heater that can effectively notify a user of a hot water supply operation with a hot water supply operation to a hot water supply terminal.

The present invention includes a tank for storing hot water, a heat source for heating water for storing the hot water in the tank, and an operation terminal having a display unit, and supplies the hot water supply terminal using the hot water stored in the tank. In the water heater that
A flow rate detection unit for detecting an accumulated hot water supply amount from the start of a hot water supply operation to the hot water supply terminal, and a time measuring means for measuring a hot water supply time from the start of the hot water supply operation,
When the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount within a set time from the start of the hot water supply operation, a pop-up display of the hot water supply usage amount from the start of the hot water supply operation is displayed on the display unit of the operation terminal. When the set time elapses, a different type of notification from the pop-up display is performed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the alerting | reporting regarding a hot water supply operation | movement can be effectively performed to a user with the hot water supply operation | movement to a hot water supply terminal.

1 is a system diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the water heater based on embodiment of this invention. The transition figure of the display screen of the water heater based on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the normal screen in the display part of the water heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The control flow figure of the water heater based on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the modification of the pop-up display in the display part of the water heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The water heater according to the present embodiment is an electric water heater, and includes a tank unit 3 including a tank 1 that stores hot water, and a heat pump unit 2 that is a heat source for heating water for storing hot water in the tank 1. Water supply from a water supply source (for example, a water pipe) is supplied to the water heater by piping. Specifically, the hot water heater heats low temperature water supplied from a water supply source by the heat pump unit 2 to generate hot water, and stores the generated hot water in the hot water storage tank 1.

  In addition, the hot water heater includes a general hot water supply path for supplying hot water to a general hot water supply terminal (faucet, shower, mixer tap, etc.) and a bathtub hot water supply path for supplying hot water to a bathtub terminal provided in the bathtub. The general hot water supply path includes a general hot water supply mixing valve 7 that mixes low temperature water from the water source and hot water in the tank 1 to generate hot water for hot water supply. The general hot water supply mixing valve 7 can change the hot water supply temperature by changing the mixing ratio of the low temperature water and the high temperature water. In addition, a hot water supply flow rate sensor 19 for detecting a predetermined hot water supply flow rate and a hot water supply temperature sensor 14 for detecting a hot water supply temperature are provided in the hot water supply pipe 22 from the general hot water supply mixing valve 7 to the general hot water supply terminal. The hot water supply flow rate sensor 19 functions as a flow rate detection unit that detects the flow rate of hot water supply to the hot water supply terminal.

  Further, the user's house is provided with a hot and cold water mixing faucet for a shower as shown in FIG. 1 and a hot water and hot water mixing faucet in a kitchen or a washroom. Hot water is supplied from a local hot water supply pipe 21 connected to the connection joint 20 for water, and supplied from a local water supply pipe 23 led from a water source.

  Here, among general hot water supply terminals, the shower tends to have a larger hot water flow rate than a faucet or a mixer tap. When hot water is supplied in the shower, the hot water flow rate per unit time and the accumulated hot water supply amount often increase. . As an example, a flow rate of about 8 L / min is assumed in a shower, whereas a flow rate of about 6 L / min is assumed in a faucet or a mixer tap. About this, a faucet, a mixer tap, etc. are often supplied with hot water for the purpose of washing dishes and hand washing, and it can be considered that hot water for such purposes does not require as much hot water as a shower.

  The bathtub hot water supply path includes a bathtub hot water mixing valve 8 that mixes low temperature water from a water source and hot water in the tank 1 to generate hot water for hot water supply. In addition, the hot water heater includes a follow-up heat exchanger that heats the bath water led out from the bathtub 16 by exchanging heat with hot water in the hot water storage tank 1.

  Further, the water heater is configured to control the entire water heater 11 according to the operation terminals 5 and 6 operated by the user to perform hot water supply, chasing, hot water supply and the like, and operation commands from the operation terminals 5 and 6. And a main body side control board 4 to be controlled. The operation terminal 5 is a device generally called a bath remote control, and the operation terminal 6 is a device generally called a kitchen remote control.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration for performing data communication between the main body side control board 4 and the operation terminals 5 and 6.

  The main body side control board 4 has a main body side microcomputer 47 for controlling the operation of each part of the water heater, a main body side data storage means 48 for storing control data in the main body side microcomputer 47, and for communication with the outside of the board. Communication section 49. On the other hand, the operation terminal 5 includes an operation unit 54 for performing an artificial operation, a display unit 55 for displaying various information, an operation terminal side microcomputer 51 for controlling operations, and a microcomputer internal storage device for storing data. And the operation terminal side data storage means 52 for storing data held by the main body side control board 4 and the communication unit 53 for communicating with the main body side control board 4 are provided as main parts. The display unit 55 functions as a notification unit. In addition, a speaker provided in the operation terminal 5 also functions as a notification unit.

  The main body side microcomputer 47 is connected to the hot water supply flow rate sensor 19 and can detect the start of the hot water supply operation and the flow rate at that time based on a signal input from the hot water supply flow rate sensor 19. Moreover, the main body side microcomputer 47 calculates the integrated hot water supply amount by integrating the flow rate detected by the hot water supply flow rate sensor 19, and whether the integrated hot water supply amount exceeds a predetermined value (for example, integrated amount = set time × 4L = 20L). If the accumulated hot water supply amount exceeds a predetermined value, a signal related to the accumulated hot water supply amount exceeding the predetermined value is output to the operation terminal 5 via the communication unit 49. The accumulated hot water supply amount is stored in a microcomputer internal storage device provided in the main body side microcomputer 47.

  The operation terminal 5 includes a time measuring means for measuring time in the operation terminal side microcomputer 1. Specifically, software for measuring a time functioning as a time measuring means is incorporated in the operation terminal side microcomputer 51. When a signal related to the start of the hot water supply operation is input from the main body side control board 4, the time measuring means starts counting time. The time measuring means measures the time during which the hot water supply operation is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit can display a hot water supply status screen 309 for displaying information related to the hot water supply status to the hot water supply terminal and other screens (normal screen 302, setting screens 304 to 308, etc.) Along with the hot water supply operation, a pop-up display is performed in which the hot water supply status screen is replaced with at least a part of display elements of the other screens (normal screen 302, setting screens 304 to 308, etc.). As described above, by performing the pop-up display in accordance with the hot water supply operation, the user can be aware of the hot water supply operation.

  Specifically, the normal screen 302 is normally displayed on the display unit 55, but a hot water supply status screen 309 is displayed along with the hot water supply operation. As described above, the hot water supply operation and the pop-up display are linked to effectively notice the user. Further, by popping up information on the hot water supply status, the user can be more directly aware. Specifically, the information regarding the hot water supply status is the amount of hot water used and the time used for hot water. In this way, it is easy for the user to understand how much they are currently using, and it helps to save money.

  Specific display contents will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The normal screen 302 displays display elements 302A, 302B, 302C, 302D, etc. of the set temperature, the amount of remaining hot water in the tank, the water level of the bathtub, and the current time, but these display elements are displayed along with the hot water supply operation. A hot water supply status screen 309 is displayed so as to be hidden. In the example of FIG. 3, the hot water supply status screen 309 is displayed in a state where all the display elements that are normally displayed on the screen 302 are hidden, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a part of the display elements is displayed. Alternatively, the hot water supply status screen 309 may be displayed. Specifically, among the display elements such as the set temperature, the remaining amount of hot water in the tank, the water level of the bathtub, and the current time, the display elements 302A and 302B for the set temperature, the remaining amount of hot water in the tank, and the water level of the bathtub are displayed. , 302C may be displayed to display the hot water supply status screen 309 while displaying the information related to the hot water supply status at the position where the hot water supply status is displayed, while leaving the display element 302D of the current time. The hot water supply status screen 309 may be displayed in a state where other parts are left. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the hot water supply status screen 309 is displayed so as to overlap the normal screen 302.

  The water heater according to the present embodiment performs notification when the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount within a predetermined time from the start of the hot water supply operation. That is, when the accumulated hot water supply amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the hot water heater performs control for notification to encourage the user to save energy, while the accumulated hot water supply amount is smaller than the predetermined accumulated hot water supply amount. In consideration of comfort in use by the user, notification is not performed (that is, neither pop-up display nor notification different from pop-up display is performed). By doing in this way, according to a user's hot water supply aspect, both energy saving and comfort improvement can be implement | achieved. For example, if a notification is given when the user is using a shower, the user can determine whether to stop or continue using the hot water at that time, which improves usability and increases energy efficiency. Become. On the other hand, for example, in the case of use in a kitchen or a washroom, the flow rate is relatively small, and even if hot water is supplied for a long time, there may be an unavoidable reason such as washing dishes, and the total amount of hot water supply is too large. It is considered difficult. Therefore, the notification to such a small flow rate is not performed because the disadvantage that impairs the user's comfort is increased.

  Further, the notifying means of this hot water supply device provides a plurality of types of notification based on the accumulated hot water supply amount and the hot water supply time, and when the accumulated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount from the start of the hot water supply operation, One of the notifications is performed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the hot water supply operation, a different type of notification from the one notification is performed. Specifically, the notification means can perform pop-up display, alarm sound or sound generation, and blinking of the backlight provided in the display unit 55 as the plurality of types of notification. When the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount, a pop-up display is performed as one of a plurality of types of notification. When the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the hot water supply operation, the alarm sound or voice is sounded and the backlight provided in the display unit 55 is blinked as a different type of notification from the one notification. In this way, it is easy for the user to understand because it is informed by hearing and vision. In particular, the sound of an alarm sound or voice or the flashing of the backlight is more conspicuous than the pop-up display, and strongly urges the user to call attention. Therefore, the pop-up display can be considered as an auxiliary notification having a lower alert level than the alarm. Therefore, the accumulated hot water supply amount is set so that the pop-up display functions as a preliminary notification prior to the alarm.

  Further, in this water heater, as will be described later, the predetermined time, which is the time from the start of hot water supply operation to the alarm, can be set, and the predetermined integrated hot water supply serving as a reference for performing pop-up display is It changes according to the change of predetermined time. Specifically, the predetermined integrated hot water supply amount is changed in proportion to the predetermined time (integrated hot water supply amount = predetermined value × set time). This is based on the following idea. The time from the start of the hot water supply operation and the integrated hot water supply amount are considered to be related. For example, a user who sets a long time until an alarm is considered to have a larger integrated hot water supply amount than a user who sets a short time. If the accumulated hot water supply amount is irrelevant to the time up to the alarm time (for example, constant), for users who tend to have a large amount of accumulated hot water supply in one hot water supply operation (or users who set a long time up to the alarm) The pop-up display is performed at a relatively early stage after the start of the hot water supply operation, and may not function effectively as a preliminary notification prior to the alarm. Conversely, for users who tend to have a small amount of accumulated hot water in a single hot water operation (or users who have set a short time to alarm), the pop-up display will occur at a relatively late stage after the start of the hot water operation, There is a risk that it will not function effectively as a preliminary notification prior to the alarm. In this regard, if the predetermined accumulated hot water supply amount is changed in proportion to the predetermined time, a notice for the user prior to the alarm is provided for both the user who sets the time until the alarm and the user who sets the time short. The pop-up display can be performed with good timing.

  Specifically, the predetermined value used in the above formula for determining the accumulated hot water supply amount is set to 4 in consideration of the flow rate (about 8 L / min) assumed in the shower. In this way, when about half of the time up to the alarm has elapsed, a pop-up is displayed, and it is possible to perform notification more in line with the user's usage.

  In addition, this hot water heater changes at least one of the hot water supply temperature and the hot water supply flow rate when a predetermined hot water supply state continues even after notification by the notification means. In other words, this water heater gives the user awareness in a form that does not affect the actual hot water supply when encouraging the user to save energy, and if the predetermined hot water supply condition continues, the actual hot water supply is also affected. It is something that gives notice. By doing so, the user can be urged to save energy in a plurality of stages. Although the predetermined hot water supply state will be described later, for example, the hot water supply continues for a predetermined time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the hot water supply operation.

  Specifically, the general hot water supply mixing valve 7 functions as a hot water supply temperature changing means capable of changing the hot water supply temperature to the hot water supply terminal. Since the general hot water mixing valve 7 is generally provided in this type of hot water supply device in order to perform hot water supply at a set temperature set by the user, it can be used as a hot water supply state changing means for changing the hot water supply state. In addition, it becomes possible to give the user awareness only by control without adding a functional component such as a flow rate adjusting valve. Some water heaters use a hot liquid in a tank as a heat medium to be introduced into a hot water supply heat exchanger by a pump, and the hot water supply heat exchanger heats the supplied water to supply hot water. In this case, the hot water supply temperature may be changed by using the pump as the hot water supply temperature changing means and changing the amount of heat medium that gives heat to the water supply by changing the rotation speed of the pump. However, the hot water supply state changing means may be provided with a flow rate adjusting valve or the like to reduce or increase the flow rate.

  More specifically, when a predetermined hot water supply state continues even after notification by the notification means, the general hot water supply mixing valve 7 is controlled to lower the hot water supply temperature. In this way, since the amount of heat used is reduced, it is possible to actually save energy while giving the user awareness. The ability of the user to detect with the bodily sensation is very useful for raising awareness of savings.

  Specifically, the hot water supply temperature is controlled to be lower than the set temperature and higher than the water supply temperature. Preferably, the feed water temperature is lowered within a range in which the temperature after the drop is closer to the set temperature than the feed water temperature. For example, the temperature after the decrease may be about 2 ° C. lower than the set temperature.

  By the way, this water heater may give a warning when any abnormality occurs. In addition, there is a case where an inspection of the functional parts (for example, a mixing valve, a temperature thermistor, etc.) is promoted when an abnormality is considered. Such warnings are more urgent than hot water supply information. Therefore, when warning about such a hot water heater is performed or when inspection of functional parts is urged, warning information or information prompting inspection is given priority over the hot water supply information. Thus, safety is ensured in this water heater.

  Next, a method for setting a predetermined time in the water heater according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the operation terminal 5 is described as an example, but the same applies to the operation terminal 6. As shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the display unit of the water heater displays a normal display screen 302 that displays a screen such as a hot water supply set temperature, the user selects a predetermined button (for example, “Tell me” button 303). When the button is pressed long, the display screen 302 of the operation terminal 5 changes to the display screen 304. When the button of the operation unit 301 is operated, the display screens 305 and 306 are sequentially changed. A display screen 306 is a selection screen related to energy saving control. In this state, when “Yes” is selected and “OK” which is one of the buttons on the operation unit 301 is pressed, a display screen for setting a predetermined time is displayed. Transition to 307. If “No” is selected on the display screen 306, energy saving control is not performed during hot water supply. On display screen 307, the user can individually set the hot water usage time. In a specific example, the hot water usage time is 5 minutes. Finally, when “OK” is pressed, a transition is made to a display screen 308 indicating that setting is complete. Thereafter, the screen becomes a normal display screen 302 that displays a screen such as a hot water supply set temperature. The pop-up display screen 309 is a display screen in S3 to be described later, and the usage time and usage amount are displayed in real time.

  Next, the control flow of the water heater according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user opens the faucet and starts hot water supply, the water heater starts energy saving control. The water heater determines whether the hot water supply is equal to or greater than a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount (S1). If YES in S1, it is determined whether the time measured by the time measuring means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (S2). In the case of YES in S2, the energy saving control is terminated because monitoring is no longer necessary. In the case of NO in S2, the pop-up screen shown on the display screen 309 in FIG. 3 is displayed, and the usage time and usage amount are displayed (S3). Then, the time measuring means starts measuring time. It is determined whether or not the time measured by the time measuring means is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (S4). If the measured time is less than the predetermined time (NO in S4), a predetermined key operation for turning off the pop-up display It is determined whether or not there is no hot water supply flow rate (that is, whether hot water supply is completed) (S5). If NO in S5, the determination in S4 is continued. On the other hand, in the case of YES in S5, the energy saving control is terminated because monitoring is no longer necessary.

  Returning to S4, if the measured time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (YES in S4), an alarm sound or sound is generated and the backlight provided in the display unit 55 is blinked (S6). And the hot water supply state after alert | report is continuously monitored.

  In S7, it is determined whether or not the hot water supply state continues for a predetermined time (2 minutes in the specific example). S7 determines whether or not the first monitoring time after notification has elapsed. If the measured time is less than the predetermined time (NO in S7), it is determined whether there is a predetermined key operation for turning off the pop-up display or there is no hot water flow rate (that is, whether the hot water supply is finished). (S8). If NO in S8, the determination in S7 is continued. On the other hand, in the case of YES in S8, the energy saving control is ended because monitoring is no longer necessary.

  Returning to S7, when the first monitoring time after the notification has passed (YES in S7), an alarm sound or sound is generated and the backlight provided in the display unit 55 is blinked (S9). And the hot water supply state after alert | report is continuously monitored.

  In S10, it is further determined whether or not the hot water supply state has continued for a predetermined time (2 minutes in the specific example). S10 determines whether or not the second monitoring time after notification has elapsed. If the measured time is less than the predetermined time (NO in S10), it is determined whether there is a predetermined key operation for turning off the pop-up display or there is no hot water supply flow rate (that is, whether hot water supply is finished). (S11). If NO in S11, the determination in S10 is continued. On the other hand, in the case of YES in S11, the energy saving control is terminated because monitoring is no longer necessary.

  Returning to S10, when the first monitoring time after notification has passed (YES in S10), control is performed to lower the hot water supply temperature (S12). In S12, the alarm sound or voice is sounded and the backlight provided in the display unit 55 is blinked.

  Then, it is determined whether there is a predetermined key operation for turning off the pop-up display or there is no hot water supply flow rate (that is, whether hot water supply has been completed) (S13). If YES in S13, the determination in S13 is continued. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S13, the energy saving control is terminated because monitoring is no longer necessary.

  In the above flow, after S6, the first monitoring time after the notification is provided, and after the notification is performed again (S9), the second monitoring time after the notification is provided, and then the control for lowering the hot water supply temperature is performed. (S12). However, S7 to S9 may be omitted, and control may be performed to lower the hot water supply temperature when a predetermined monitoring time has elapsed after the notification in S6.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention, the structure can be changed suitably.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the heat pump type hot water heater has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may include a hot water storage tank that stores hot water for hot water supply such as a heater type hot water heater, The present invention can also be applied to a water heater that does not have a tank, such as a gas water heater.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pop-up display is described as an example when the integrated hot water supply amount reaches the predetermined integrated hot water supply amount within a predetermined time from the start of the hot water supply operation. What is necessary is just to be performed with it, for example, it may be performed simultaneously with the start of hot water supply.

  In addition, for the water heater according to the above embodiment, a flow rate detection unit that detects an integrated hot water supply amount from the start of the hot water supply operation to the hot water supply terminal, a time measuring unit that measures time from the start of the hot water supply operation, and a predetermined amount from the start of the hot water supply operation It is not essential that the notification by the notification means is a pop-up display when attention is paid to the feature that the notification means is configured to notify when the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount in time. Various notifications as described above can be used.

  Further, for the water heater according to the above embodiment, a flow rate detection unit that detects the accumulated hot water supply amount from the start of the hot water supply operation to the hot water supply terminal, time measuring means that measures the hot water supply time from the start of the hot water supply operation, the accumulated hot water supply amount and A notification means for performing a plurality of types of notification based on the hot water supply time, and when the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount from the start of a hot water supply operation, notification of one of the plurality of types is performed, When paying attention to the feature that, when the predetermined time elapses from the start of the operation, the type of notification is different from the one notification, it is not essential that the notification by the notification means is a pop-up display. Various notifications as described above can be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank 2 Heat pump unit 3 Tank unit 4 Main body side control board 5, 6 Operation terminal 7 General hot water mixing valve 8 Bath hot water mixing valve 14 Hot water temperature sensor 19 Hot water flow rate sensor 55 Display unit 302 Normal screen 309 Hot water status screen

Claims (4)

In a water heater comprising a tank for storing hot water, a heat source for heating water for storing hot water in the tank, and an operation terminal having a display unit, and supplying hot water stored in the tank to a hot water supply terminal ,
A flow rate detection unit for detecting an accumulated hot water supply amount from the start of a hot water supply operation to the hot water supply terminal, and a time measuring means for measuring a hot water supply time from the start of the hot water supply operation,
When the integrated hot water supply amount reaches a predetermined integrated hot water supply amount within a set time from the start of the hot water supply operation, a pop-up display of the hot water supply usage amount from the start of the hot water supply operation is displayed on the display unit of the operation terminal. A water heater that performs a different type of notification from the pop-up display when a set time has elapsed . The hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein the set time is changeable, and the predetermined integrated hot water supply amount is changed in accordance with the change of the set time . The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the hot water supply operation is continued for a certain period of time after the set time elapses from the start of the hot water supply operation, a different type of notification from the pop-up display is performed . The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the notification different from the pop-up display is at least one of an alarm sound, a sound generation, or a flashing of a backlight provided in the display unit .