JP6323358B2 - Hot water storage type electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type electric water heater capable of storing hot water and supplying hot water, and more particularly to a hot water storage type electric water heater that is a control target of demand control.

  As a prior art, for example, a hot water storage type electric water heater as described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the prior art, control for preventing daytime boiling is adopted by learning the amount of boiling water in the past in the past and adding the amount of hot water to the amount of boiling water in the middle of the night. On the other hand, the water heater may be a control target of demand control that comprehensively controls the power consumption of a plurality of electrical devices. In this case, as a method for controlling the hot water supply apparatus, a method is considered in which the above control is applied to learn the amount of hot water to be heated during the power control time period and the amount of hot water is boiled up at midnight.

JP 2007-139339 A

  However, in the control method of the above-described prior art, the amount of stored heat is likely to decrease due to natural heat radiation from the time of boiling at midnight until the hot water is supplied in the daytime. Even if it is a day that does not require heating during the daytime, it may increase at night. For this reason, in the prior art, there is a problem in that waste of power is likely to occur when the total power consumption during the day and night is considered.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When demand control is applied, the present invention can efficiently use electric power in total day and night while maintaining a hot water prevention function and the like. It is to provide a hot water storage type electric water heater that can be used.

  A hot water storage type electric water heater according to the present invention includes a heating device for boiling hot water, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating device, and a hot water supply for filling the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank to the bathtub. A control unit for controlling a hot water storage type electric water heater based on information on a power limit time zone acquired from the demand control unit, and a power control unit for the day, connected to a circuit and a demand control unit for controlling power consumption of a plurality of electrical devices If the user performs a bath filling operation before the time limit expires, the remaining amount after filling is subtracted by subtracting the amount of hot water used for hot water filling from the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank at the time of the hot water filling operation. Residual hot water calorie calculating means for calculating the amount of hot water and hot water filling selection that allows the user to select whether or not to save the amount of hot water used for hot water filling when the residual hot water heat amount is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value. It includes a stage, a.

  According to the present invention, when there is a possibility of running out of hot water after completion of hot water filling, the user can be encouraged to save at least the amount of hot water used for hot water filling. As a result, the possibility of running out of hot water is reduced, and it is unavoidable to stop running during the power limit time period, and it is possible to prevent the operation from being carried out. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows the hot water storage type electric water heater by Embodiment 1 of this invention. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows an example of hot water filling setting control. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the state which displayed the user's choice on the remote control by saving selection control. In Embodiment 2 of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows an example of control when the hot water filling without saving is selected by the user.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used in this specification, common elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, the present invention includes all combinations of configurations that can be combined among the configurations shown in the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a hot water storage type electric water heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the electric water heater 35 includes a tank unit 33, an HP unit 7 that uses a heat pump cycle, and a remote controller 44 that performs an operation operation command or a change operation of a set value. The HP unit 7 and the tank unit 33 are connected to each other via an HP outgoing pipe 14 and an HP return pipe 15 and are electrically connected to each other via a wiring (not shown). A control unit 36 is built in the tank unit 33. The operations of various valves, pumps and the like provided in the tank unit 33 and the HP unit 7 are controlled by a control unit 36 electrically connected thereto. The control unit 36 and the remote controller 44 are connected to be able to communicate with each other. Although not shown, the remote controller 44 includes a display unit that displays information such as the state of the electric water heater 35, an operation unit such as a switch operated by the user, a speaker, a microphone, and the like.

  The HP unit 7 constitutes a heating device for boiling (heating) hot water to be stored in a hot water storage tank 8 described later. The HP unit 7 is formed by connecting the compressor 1, the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3, the expansion valve 4, and the air heat exchanger 6 in a ring shape with a refrigerant pipe 5, and constitutes a heat pump cycle. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 3 is for exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 5 and the low-temperature water introduced from the hot water storage tank 8.

  The tank unit 33 includes various parts, piping, and the like described below, including the hot water storage tank 8. The hot water storage tank 8 stores hot water (hot water) boiled by the HP unit 7. A third water supply pipe 9 c is connected to a water inlet 8 a provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. Water supplied from a water source such as water supply is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure reducing valve 31 and then flows into the hot water storage tank 8 through the third water supply pipe 9c. A hot water supply pipe 21 for supplying hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 to the outside of the tank unit 33 and a hot water supply pipe 13 are connected to the hot water introduction outlet 8d provided in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8. Yes.

  Hot water heated by the HP unit 7 flows into the hot water storage tank 8 from the hot water introduction outlet 8d, and low temperature water flowing through the third water supply pipe 9c flows from the water introduction port 8a, so Hot water is stored so that a difference may occur. A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 42 and 43 are attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank 8 at different heights. These hot water storage temperature sensors 42 and 43 are used when calculating the amount of hot water storage in the hot water storage tank 8. In the present specification, the “heat storage heat amount” means the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 or the amount of heat (heat storage amount) obtained by adding the hot water temperature to the amount of hot water.

  The tank unit 33 includes a heat source pump 12, a bath heat exchanger 20, and a bath circulation pump 29. The heat source pump 12 is a pump for circulating hot water through various pipes to be described later in the tank unit 33, and is provided on the HP outgoing pipe 14. The bath heat exchanger 20 is a heat exchanger for heating secondary water to be heated (tub water, heating water, etc.) using hot water supplied from the hot water storage tank 8 or the HP unit 7. is there. In the present embodiment, as a secondary side configuration of the bath heat exchanger 20, a bath piping 27 and a bath returning piping 28 for circulating hot water (tub water) in the bath 30 are illustrated. The bath heat exchanger 20 is installed in the middle of a circulation path formed by the bath piping 27, the bath return piping 28, and the bathtub 30. The bath return pipe 28 includes a bath circulation pump 29 that circulates bathtub water in the circulation path, a bath return temperature sensor 38 that detects the temperature of the bath water flowing out of the bath 30, and the flow of hot water in the bath return pipe 28. And a flow switch 19 for detecting. The bathing pipe 27 is provided with a bathing temperature sensor 37 for detecting the temperature of hot water flowing out from the bath heat exchanger 20.

  The three-way valve 11 is a flow path switching means having a and b ports through which hot water flows and a c port through which hot water flows out. The four-way valve 18 is a flow path switching means having b and c ports through which hot water flows in and a and d ports through which hot water flows out, and has four paths, ab, ac, bd and c. The flow path is switched between −d. The tank unit 33 includes a water outlet port pipe 10, a hot water inlet pipe 20 a, a first bypass pipe 16, a hot water outlet pipe 20 b, and a second bypass pipe 17. The water outlet port pipe 10 connects a water outlet port 8 b provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8 and the a port of the three-way valve 11. The HP forward piping 14 connects the c port of the three-way valve 11 and the inlet side of the HP unit 7. The HP return pipe 15 connects the outlet side of the HP unit 7 and the c port of the four-way valve 18. The hot water supply pipe 13 connects the d port of the four-way valve 18 and the hot water introduction outlet 8 d of the hot water storage tank 8. The first bypass pipe 16 connects the a port of the four-way valve 18 and a hot water inlet 8 c provided between the central part and the lower part of the hot water storage tank 8. The hot water introduction pipe 20 a branches off from the middle of the hot water supply pipe 13 and is connected to the primary side inlet of the bath heat exchanger 20. The hot water outlet pipe 20 b connects the primary side outlet of the bath heat exchanger 20 and the b port of the three-way valve 11. The second bypass pipe 17 branches from a portion of the HP outgoing pipe 14 between the heat source pump 12 and the HP unit 7 and is connected to the b port of the four-way valve 18.

  The tank unit 33 includes a first water supply pipe 9 a, a second water supply pipe 9 b, a hot water supply mixing valve 22, a bath mixing valve 23, a first hot water supply pipe 24, and a second hot water supply pipe 25. One end of the first water supply pipe 9a is connected to a water source such as a water supply, and the other end of the first water supply pipe 9a is connected to the second water supply pipe 9b and the third water supply pipe 9c via the pressure reducing valve 31. A water supply pipe 9 is constituted by these pipes 9a, 9b, 9c. The second water supply pipe 9b branches from the middle and is connected to the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve 23, respectively. The hot water supply pipe 21 is branched from the middle and connected to a hot water supply mixing valve 22 and a bath mixing valve 23, respectively. In the middle of the second hot water supply pipe 25, there are provided an electromagnetic valve 26 for opening and closing the second hot water supply pipe 25 and a flow sensor 45 for detecting the flow of hot water flowing through the second hot water supply pipe 25.

  The hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the bath mixing valve 23 adjust the flow rate ratio between the hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 21 and the low temperature water supplied from the second water supply pipe 9b so that the user can control the remote control 44. The hot water of the set temperature set by is generated. Then, the generated hot water is caused to flow into the first hot water supply pipe 24 and the second hot water supply pipe 25, respectively. The hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot water supply mixing valve 22 is supplied from a first hot water supply pipe 24 through a hot water tap 34 to a faucet (not shown) such as a shower or a currant. On the other hand, the hot water adjusted to the set temperature by the bath mixing valve 23 passes through the second hot water supply pipe 25, the bath solenoid valve 26, the bath flow sensor 45, the bath feed pipe 27, and the bath return pipe 28 in order. 30.

  The three-way valve 11 has a configuration in which the water outlet pipe 10 and the HP outgoing pipe 14 communicate with each other (ac path) and a mode in which the hot water outlet pipe 20b and the HP outgoing pipe 14 communicate with each other (bc path). It can be switched to either of the following two forms. The four-way valve 18 is configured such that the HP return pipe 15 and the hot water supply pipe 13 communicate with each other (cd path), the HP return pipe 15 and the first bypass pipe 16 communicate with each other (ac path), Four forms consisting of a form in which the first bypass pipe 16 and the second bypass pipe 17 communicate (ab path) and a form in which the hot water supply pipe 13 and the second bypass pipe 17 communicate (bd path) are provided. Switch to any of the forms.

  The control unit 36 controls the operation of the electric water heater 35, and includes a storage circuit in which a control program and the like are stored in advance, an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) that performs an operation based on the control program, and an input of a signal. And an input / output port for performing output. The above-described sensors, the above-described valves, actuators such as pumps, a remote controller 44, and an energy management unit (EMU) 50 are connected to the input / output port. The control unit 36 is configured to be able to communicate with the remote controller 44 and the EMU 50. And the control part 36 performs control of the electric water heater 35 by driving an actuator based on the output of each sensor, information from the EMU 50, or the like. This control includes a boiling operation, a reheating operation, a hot water operation, a heat retaining operation and the like which will be described later.

  The EMU 50 corresponds to the demand control means of the present embodiment, and is connected to a plurality of electric devices and wattmeters installed in a house such as a detached house or an apartment house, and includes a plurality of electric devices including the electric water heater 35. Demand control is performed on In the demand control, for example, the operation of each electric device is controlled according to the power usage state so that the power of the entire house is efficiently used. Moreover, EMU50 is good also as a structure which is connected with operation terminals, such as a tablet and a smart phone, and controls each electric equipment based on the content which the user input into the operation terminal. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which information of a specific time zone (power limit time zone) in which a heating operation to be described later should be restricted is input from the EMU 50 to the electric water heater 35 will be described. The power limit time zone is set as a time zone in which the electricity rate is higher than other time zones, for example, during the daytime.

(Boiling operation)
Next, each operation mode of the electric water heater 35 will be described. First, in the boiling operation, hot water boiled by the HP unit 7 is stored in the hot water storage tank 8. The controller 36 detects the temperature distribution of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 using the hot water storage temperature sensors 42 and 43, thereby calculating the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8, for example, the amount of stored hot water has decreased from a reference value. When the boiling operation is performed. In the boiling operation, the HP unit 7 and the heat source pump 12 are driven with the three-way valve 11 switched to the ac path and the four-way valve 18 switched to the cd path. Thereby, in boiling operation, low temperature water is taken out from the water outlet 8b of the hot water storage tank 8 to the water outlet port 10. This low temperature water is introduced into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3 of the HP unit 7 via the three-way valve 11 and the HP outgoing pipe 14, and is heated by the water refrigerant heat exchanger 3 to become hot hot water. The hot water flowing out of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 3 flows into the hot water introduction outlet 8d of the hot water storage tank 8 via the HP return pipe 15, the four-way valve 18 and the hot water supply pipe 13, and is stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 8. Is done. According to the boiling operation, the amount of stored hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 can be increased.

(Increased operation)
In the reheating operation, for example, in order to avoid running out of hot water during the daytime, the reheating operation is executed during the power limit time period. The reheating operation is likely to cause an increase in power charges and an operation restriction on other electric devices. For this reason, during the demand control by the EMU 50, as a general rule, the boiling operation of the electric water heater 35 is limited.

(Hot water operation)
In the hot water filling operation, when a hot water filling operation is performed by the remote controller 44 or the like, hot water in the hot water storage tank 8 is supplied to the bathtub 30 and hot water is filled in the bathtub 30. In the hot water filling operation, the bath circulation pump 29 is driven and the bath solenoid valve 26 is opened. At this time, the three-way valve 11 closes the end of the hot water outlet pipe 20b, and the four-way valve 18 is held in a state where the end of the hot water supply pipe 13 is closed. As a result, hot hot water flows out from the hot water introduction outlet 8d of the hot water storage tank 8, and the hot water flows through the hot water supply pipe 21, the bath mixing valve 23, the second hot water supply pipe 25 and the bath electromagnetic valve 26 in order. It flows into the forward piping 27 and is further supplied to the bathtub 30 through the forward piping 27. Thereby, the hot water filling of the bathtub 30 can be performed.

  Further, in the hot water filling operation, the hot water temperature applied to the bathtub 30 is controlled to be the temperature set by the user by controlling the bath mixing valve 23 based on the hot water temperature detected by the bath temperature sensor 37. Adjust. Further, the amount of hot water applied to the bathtub 30 is adjusted by controlling the execution time of the hot water filling operation based on the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 45 for bathing. In the hot water filling operation, the above-described path from the hot water storage tank 8 to the bathtub 30 corresponds to a specific example of the hot water supply circuit according to the present embodiment.

(Heat insulation operation)
In the heat insulation operation, the temperature of the bath water is maintained at a temperature set by the user. In the heat retention operation, the three-way valve 11 is switched to the bc path, the four-way valve 18 is switched to the a-b path, and the heat source pump 12 and the bottom circulation pump 29 are driven with the bottom solenoid valve 26 closed. . Accordingly, hot water flows out from the hot water introduction outlet 8d of the hot water storage tank 8, and this hot water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 13, the hot water introduction pipe 20a, the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 20, the hot water outlet pipe 20b, The valve 11, the HP going pipe 14, the heat source pump 12, the second bypass pipe 17, the four-way valve 18 and the first bypass pipe 16 are sequentially returned to the hot water inlet 8 c of the hot water storage tank 8. On the other hand, the bath water in the bathtub 30 circulates between the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 20 through the bath piping 27, the bath return piping 28 and the bath circulation pump 29. As a result, the bathtub water is heated by the bath heat exchanger 20 using the hot water in the hot water storage tank 8. Therefore, in the heat insulation operation, the temperature of the bath water is kept at the temperature set by the user by driving the heat source pump 12 intermittently based on the detection results of the forward temperature sensor 37 and the return temperature sensor 38, for example. Can do.

(Water filling setting control)
Next, the hot water filling setting control executed by the control unit 36 will be described. The hot water filling setting control allows the user to select the amount of hot water used for hot water filling when the hot water filling operation is performed by the user during the power restriction time period, so that the user can use the power efficiently. It is a guide. Note that the information about the power limit time period is acquired from the EMU 50 as described above. In the present specification, the “hot water heat amount” means the amount of hot water or the amount of heat stored by adding the hot water temperature to the amount of hot water, as in the case of “heat storage heat amount”. This also applies to the “remaining hot water calorie” described later.

  In the hot water filling setting control, first, when the user executes the hot water filling operation of the bathtub before the power limit time period of the day ends, the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 at the time of the hot water filling operation is calculated. Then, by subtracting the amount of hot water used for filling from the calculated amount of stored hot water, the amount of remaining hot water after filling is calculated, and when the amount of remaining hot water is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value, The user selects whether to save the amount of hot water used. Here, the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling is predicted based on the hot water amount of the hot water filling and the initial set value of the hot water temperature. The initial set values of the hot water amount and the hot water temperature are values set by the user at the time of the hot water filling operation. In addition, the lower limit value is set in advance as a hot water amount that does not cause hot water shortage even if a hot water supply load within an assumed range occurs after hot water filling, for example.

  Next, a specific example of the hot water setting control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of hot water setting control according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The routine shown in this figure is executed, for example, when the user performs a filling operation by turning on a filling switch (not shown) of the remote controller 44. Moreover, although the case where the amount of hot water is respectively used as the amount of stored hot water and the amount of remaining hot water is illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention may use the amount of stored heat obtained by adding temperature to the amount of hot water as the amount of stored hot water and the amount of remaining hot water.

  In the routine shown in FIG. 2, when the hot water filling switch is turned on, first, step S1 is executed. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the hot water filling is completed before the power limit time period of the day ends. Here, the completion time of the hot water filling is predicted based on, for example, the initial setting values of the hot water amount and hot water temperature set by the user and the current time. In step S1, it is determined whether the hot water filling completion time is earlier than the end time of the power limit time period. If the determination in step S1 is established, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the determination in step S1 is not established, the process proceeds to step S5 described later.

  In step S <b> 2, it is determined whether or not the remaining hot water amount after the hot water filling is completed is equal to or greater than the minimum hot water storage amount using the initial set value. Specifically, in step S2, the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 8 at the time of hot water filling operation is calculated based on the detection results of the hot water storage temperature sensors 42 and 43. Subsequently, the amount of remaining hot water predicted to remain in the hot water storage tank 8 after completion of the hot water filling is calculated by subtracting the amount of hot water used for hot water filling predicted as described above from the hot water storage amount. Then, the magnitude relationship between the remaining hot water heat amount and the minimum hot water storage amount is compared.

  The minimum hot water storage amount corresponds to the above-described lower limit value, and is stored in the control unit 36 in advance. The minimum hot water storage amount is a set value for ensuring the amount of hot water that does not run out after filling, and can be set to any value. For example, take a shower twice after filling. It is preferable to set the amount of hot water that is possible. When the determination in step S2 is established, it is determined that a minimum remaining hot water amount is secured after filling, and the process proceeds to step S3. If the determination in step S2 is not established, the process proceeds to step S6 described later. In addition, when determination of step S2 is not materialized, it is good also as a structure which transfers to step S6, alert | reporting the specific value (the amount of remaining hot water, heat amount, etc.) of the remaining hot water amount after hot water filling to a user.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not the remaining hot water amount calculated in step S2 can be less than the minimum hot water storage amount during the power limit time period. Specifically, in step S3, first, a predicted amount of hot water supply load that occurs between the completion of hot water filling and the end of the power limit time period is calculated as the predicted hot water supply amount. Then, it is determined whether or not a value obtained by subtracting the predicted hot water supply amount from the remaining hot water amount is less than the minimum hot water storage amount.

  As a method of calculating the predicted hot water supply amount, for example, based on the hot water supply result data in which the past hourly hot water supply amount is recorded, the hot water supply result in the power limit time period for the past one week is calculated, May be calculated as the predicted hot water supply amount. The predicted hot water supply amount may be an average value of the actual hot water supply results. The past hot water supply actual data used in the above calculation method may be recorded by the control unit 36 that can directly detect the presence or absence of hot water supply, or transmitted from the control unit 36 to the EMU 50 and recorded by the EMU 50. Also good.

  If the determination in step S3 is established, it is predicted that the remaining hot water amount in the hot water storage tank 8 will be smaller than the minimum hot water storage amount during the power limit time period. The hot water warning guidance is executed by giving notifications such as occurrences of voices and voice notifications. The hot water warning guidance notifies the user that hot water is likely to run out due to the use of hot water after filling, and prompts the user to suppress the amount of hot water used during and after the hot water filling. In the hot water warning guidance, the user may be notified of a specific value of the remaining hot water amount after hot water filling (hot water amount, heat amount, etc.).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S3 is not established, it is determined that it is not necessary to suppress the amount of hot water used, and normal hot water filling is executed in step S5. Here, the normal hot water filling refers to performing the hot water filling operation based on the above-described initial set values of the hot water amount and the hot water temperature.

(Saving selection control)
Next, processing when the determination in step S2 is not established will be described. In this case, since the minimum amount of remaining hot water cannot be secured after filling with hot water, the process proceeds to step S6, and saving selection control is executed. The saving selection control is to allow the user to select whether or not to save the amount of hot water used for filling. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state in which the user's options are displayed on the remote controller 44 by the saving selection control in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the saving selection control, for example, the following four options are presented to the user, and the user selects any one option. In FIG. 3, the fourth option is not shown.
(First option) Decrease the amount of hot water used for hot water filling from the initial setting value (second option) Lower the temperature of hot water used for hot water filling from the initial setting value (third option) Stop the automatic bathing function (the above-mentioned heat-retaining operation) after tensioning (fourth option).

  The amount of decrease in hot water, the amount of decrease in hot water temperature, etc. shown in FIG. 3 show specific examples, and in the present invention, these values may be set arbitrarily or, for example, at least It is good also as a structure which can calculate and select the setting value for ensuring the amount of hot water storage. Further, in the above description, the option of executing the hot water filling is exemplified, but in the present invention, an option of stopping the hot water filling itself may be provided. Thereby, the possibility of hot water shortage can be further reduced.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, when there is a risk of running out of hot water after completion of hot water filling, the user can be encouraged to save at least the amount of hot water used for hot water filling, Moreover, it can be notified that there is a risk of running out of hot water. As a result, the possibility of running out of hot water is reduced, and it is unavoidable to stop running during the power limit time period, and it is possible to prevent the operation from being carried out. it can.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the user is prompted to save money, it is possible to select one of the amount of hot water in the hot water, the hot water temperature, or the stop of the heat retaining operation. As a result, even when measures for preventing hot water shortage are necessary, it is possible to select measures that meet the user's wishes as much as possible, and to improve user convenience. Moreover, in this Embodiment, when the minimum remaining hot water amount cannot be ensured after hot water filling, the information regarding the remaining hot water amount can be alert | reported. Thereby, a user can be made to grasp | ascertain the hot water supply amount which can be used after hot water filling specifically. In particular, in steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 2, it is configured to determine the ease of hot water outbreak based on the past hot water supply result data and the amount of remaining hot water, and perform hot water warning guidance as necessary. . Thereby, it is possible to accurately determine the possibility of running out of hot water in consideration of the user's usage tendency of hot water supply, and the convenience for the user can be further improved.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The feature of this embodiment is that control for the case where hot water filling without saving is selected is added to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control when the user selects hot water filling without saving in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The routine shown in this figure is executed when the user selects the fourth option (normal hot water filling) in step S6 of the first embodiment (FIG. 2).

  In step S11 in FIG. 4, the user selects whether or not to allow boiling during the power limit time period using the remote controller 44 as in the case shown in FIG. When the increase in boiling is permitted in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and normal hot water filling is started. Further, in step S12, a command signal for urging the EMU 50 to perform demand control on another electrical device is output. Upon receiving this command signal, the EMU 50 executes demand control on at least one electric device other than the electric water heater 35, and consumes the electric device so that the power consumption in the same area does not exceed the limit amount. Limit power.

  On the other hand, when the increase in boiling during the power limit time period is prohibited in step S11, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, normal hot water filling is started, and a state in which boiling increase is not performed is maintained until the power limit time period ends.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. First, when the user dares to select a normal hot water filling, priority can be given to the user's wishes, and an alternative to saving at the time of hot water filling can be presented. And when a user permits the boiling increase in a power time limit period, while running out of hot water is suppressed by boiling increase, the power consumption of another electric equipment can be saved by demand control. Further, when the increase in boiling is prohibited, it is possible to save the power consumption of the electric water heater 35 during the power limit time period. Therefore, it is possible to save the power consumption of the entire system that performs demand control while respecting the user's intention, and to realize an easy-to-use electric water heater 35.

  In the first and second embodiments, step S2 in FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the remaining hot water heat amount calculation means, and step S3 shows a specific example of the hot water supply load prediction means. Steps S3 and S4 show a specific example of the notification means, and step S6 shows a specific example of the hot water filling selection means. Furthermore, step S11 in FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the boiling increase selection means. In the first and second embodiments, the HP unit 7 is described as an example of the heating device. However, the present invention may be applied to various heating devices other than the heat pump.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor, 3 Water refrigerant heat exchanger, 4 Expansion valve, 5 Refrigerant piping, 6 Air heat exchanger, 7 HP unit (heating apparatus), 8 Hot water storage tank, 8a Water inlet, 8b Water outlet, 8c Hot water introduction Port, 8d hot water introduction outlet, 9 water supply pipe, 9a first water supply pipe, 9b second water supply pipe, 9c third water supply pipe, 10 water outlet pipe, 11 three-way valve, 12 heat source pump, 13 hot water supply pipe, 14 HP forward piping, 15 HP return piping, 16 1st bypass piping, 17 2nd bypass piping, 18 four-way valve, 19 flow switch, 20 heat exchanger for bath, 20a hot water introduction piping, 20b hot water outlet piping, 21 hot water supply piping, 22 Mixing valve for hot water supply, 23 Mixing valve for bath, 24 1st hot water supply piping, 25 2nd hot water supply piping, 26 Solenoid valve for bathing, 27 Bathing piping, 28 Bathing return piping, 29 Bathing Ring pump, 30 bathtubs, 31 pressure reducing valve, 33 tank unit, 34 hot-water tap, 35 electric water heater, 36 controller, 37 bath temperature sensor, 38 bath return temperature sensor, 42, 43 hot water temperature sensor, 44 remote control, 45 Flow sensor for bath, 50 EMU (demand control means)

Claims (6)

A heating device for boiling hot water;
A hot water storage tank for storing hot water boiled by the heating device;
A hot water supply circuit for performing hot water filling for supplying hot water stored in the hot water storage tank to the bathtub;
A control unit that is connected to a demand control unit that controls power consumption of a plurality of electrical devices, and that controls the hot water storage type electric water heater based on information on a power limit time zone acquired from the demand control unit;
If the user performs a hot water filling operation for the bathtub before the power limit time period of the day ends, the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling is subtracted from the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank at the time of the hot water filling operation. A remaining hot water calorie calculating means for calculating the remaining hot water calorie after the hot water filling,
Hot water filling selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to save the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling when the remaining hot water heat amount is equal to or less than a preset lower limit value;
Hot water storage type electric water heater equipped with.   The hot water filling selecting means includes a first option for reducing the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling from an initial set value, and a second option for reducing the temperature of the hot water used for the hot water filling from an initial set value; A third option for stopping the insulation of the bath water after the hot water filling, and a fourth option for not saving the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling, and any one of the first to fourth options The hot water storage type electric water heater according to claim 1, wherein the user selects one of them.   3. The hot water storage type electric hot water supply according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying information on a hot water amount that can be supplied from the hot water storage tank after completion of the hot water filling when the hot water filling operation is performed by a user. Machine. Hot water supply load prediction means for calculating a predicted amount of hot water supply load that occurs between the completion of the hot water filling and the end of the power limit time period based on past hot water supply performance data,
The said notification means is set as the structure which alert | reports prompting suppression of the amount of hot water supply use, when the value which subtracted the estimated amount of the said hot water supply load from the amount of remaining hot water calories after the said hot water filling is less than the said lower limit. The hot water storage type electric water heater described in 1.   When the user selects not to save the amount of hot water used for the hot water filling, the user determines whether or not to permit the boiling operation to store hot water in the hot water storage tank during the power limit time period. The hot water storage type electric hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a boiling and additional selection means for selection.   When the boiling operation during the power limit time period is permitted by the user, the demand control unit limits the power consumption of at least one electric device other than the hot water storage type electric water heater among the plurality of electric devices. The hot water storage type electric water heater according to claim 5 configured.

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