JP6627432B2 - Hot water storage system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply type hot water supply system.

  The hot water storage type hot water supply system is a device that mainly consumes electric power to generate hot water, stores the hot water in a heat storage tank, and uses the hot water for a heat load for hot water supply. Generally, a hot water supply type hot water supply system uses a cheap electricity unit price in a day, so that all or most of the hot water necessary for a day is batch-boiled in a cheap time zone. Generally, an electric power company provides a plurality of electricity rate menus. The user can select one of the electricity bill menus. The time period when the electricity rate is cheaper depends on the electricity rate menu.

  The water heater disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is configured as follows. The table stores the names of a plurality of power rate menus of a plurality of power companies and the time-based power rate settings of each menu. By operating the remote control, a list of a plurality of electric power companies and a plurality of electric power menus is displayed, and one electric power menu of one electric power company is selected and set. The hot water is boiled using inexpensive electric power based on the time-of-day electricity rate setting in the set electricity rate menu.

JP 2006-200606 A

  When the user changes the contents of the contract with the power company, the electricity rate menu may be changed. In the future, users may switch to another power company due to power liberalization. For these reasons, there is a possibility that a change in the time-based electricity rate setting frequently occurs. In the water heater of Patent Literature 1, when the electricity rate menu is changed, the user needs to perform an operation to change the setting of the electricity rate menu for the water heater on the change day, which causes complication. . If the user forgets to change the setting of the electricity bill menu for the water heater, there is a possibility that the water heater will consume power during the time when the electricity bill is higher in the new electricity bill menu. In that case, the electricity rate increases.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides a hot water supply type hot water supply system that can reliably suppress the electricity rate even when the time-based electricity rate setting is changed. The purpose is to:

A hot water storage type hot water supply system according to the present invention includes a heating means, a heat storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means, a heat storage operation control means for controlling a heat storage operation for increasing a heat storage amount of the heat storage tank, Charge information acquisition means for acquiring time-based charge setting information, which is information on the contents of the charge setting, and scheduled change date information, which is information on the scheduled date on which the time-based electric charge setting is changed, and control relating to heat storage operation Parameter determining means for determining a heat storage operation parameter, which is a parameter, according to time-based charge setting information, wherein the parameter determining means responds to the first time-based charge setting information before the scheduled date has arrived. After the scheduled date has arrived, the parameter determining means according to the second time zone price setting information different from the first time zone price setting information. Determine the heat operation parameter, the heat storage operation includes a main heat storage operation performed during a time period when the unit price of the electric energy is lowest, the heat storage operation parameter includes a main heat storage amount that is a heat storage amount stored in the main heat storage operation, The parameter deciding means is based on the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio, which is the ratio of the unit price of the electric energy rate in the time zone in which the unit price of the electric energy is highest to the unit price of the electric energy rate in the time zone in which the unit price of the electric energy rate is lowest. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the arrival of the scheduled date is smaller than the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the arrival of the day, the amount of heat stored after the arrival of the scheduled date will be compared with the main heat storage amount before the arrival of the scheduled date. If the main heat storage amount is set to a low value and the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled date has increased compared to the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date, the main heat storage amount before the scheduled date has arrived After the scheduled date It is to the main heat storage amount to a higher value.
Also, the hot water storage type hot water supply system according to the present invention includes a heating means, a heat storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means, a heat storage operation control means for controlling a heat storage operation for increasing a heat storage amount of the heat storage tank, and a time zone. Charge information acquisition means for acquiring time-based charge setting information that is information about the content of the separate electric charge setting, and scheduled change date information that is information about the scheduled date at which the time-based electric charge setting is changed; and heat storage operation Parameter determining means for determining a heat storage operation parameter, which is a control parameter related to the time zone-based charge setting information, wherein the parameter determining means determines the first time zone-based charge setting information before the scheduled date has arrived. After the scheduled date has arrived, the parameter determining means sets the second time zone charge setting information different from the first time zone charge setting information. The heat storage operation includes the additional heat storage operation, and the additional heat storage operation is started when the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank falls below the minimum heat storage amount, and the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank becomes the minimum heat storage amount. Is terminated when the amount of additional heat storage is restored to the value obtained by adding the additional amount of heat storage. Regarding the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio, which is the ratio of the unit price of electric energy in the maximum time zone, the parameter determining means compares the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date arrives and the maximum unit price after the scheduled date arrives. When the / minimum unit price ratio is reduced, the additional heat storage amount after the scheduled date arrives is set to a higher value than the additional heat storage amount before the scheduled date arrives, and compared with the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date arrives. The expected date If the highest unit price / lowest unit cost ratio of the expansion is to the low value of the additional amount of heat stored after the arrival of the expected date compared to the additional amount of heat stored before the arrival of the scheduled date.

  According to the hot water supply type hot water supply system of the present invention, it is possible to reliably suppress the electricity rate even when the time-based electricity rate setting is changed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the hot-water storage type hot-water supply system of Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of signals in the hot water supply type hot water supply system according to Embodiment 1. It is a figure for explaining the characteristic operation | movement of the hot-water storage type hot-water supply system of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control operation of the hot-water storage type hot-water supply system of Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control device included in the hot water supply type hot water supply system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a hardware configuration of a control device provided in the hot water supply type hot water supply system of the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be simplified or omitted. In addition, the number, arrangement, direction, shape, and size of the devices, instruments, parts, and the like in the present invention are not limited to the number, arrangement, direction, shape, and size shown in the drawings in principle.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
≪Device configuration≫
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a hot water supply type hot water supply system according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water storage type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment includes a heat storage tank 10, a heating device 2, a circulation pump 31, a reheating pump 32, a bathtub pump 33, a hot-water tap temperature control valve 41, and a hot water stove. Temperature control valve 42, reheating heat exchanger 5, boiling return pipe 301a, boiling return pipe 301b, water supply pipe 302, high temperature outlet pipe 303, temperature control pipe 304, hot water pipe 305, bathtub going pipe 306a, bathtub return The apparatus includes a pipe 306b, a reheating pipe 307a, a reheating return pipe 307b, and a control device 100 for controlling each actuator. The bathtub going pipe 306a and the bathtub return pipe 306b are connected to the bathtub 6. The hot water pipe 305 leads to a hot water tap (not shown) such as a faucet or a shower.

  Hot water is stored in the heat storage tank 10. The heat storage tank 10 in the present embodiment can store hot and cold water by forming a temperature stratification in which the upper side has a high temperature and the lower side has a low temperature. The heating device 2 is an example of a heating unit that heats water to generate hot water. In heat storage tank 10 in the present embodiment, heat storage tank 10 can store low-temperature water before being heated and hot water after being heated by heating device 2, that is, high-temperature water. The heating device 2 consumes electric power when heating water. As the heating device 2, for example, a heat pump type heating device is preferably used. In the present embodiment, the heating capacity (the amount of heat given to water per hour) of the heating device 2 can be set variably. In the case of a heat pump heating device, for example, the heating capacity can be changed by changing the operating speed of the compressor of the heat pump by inverter control. The heating device in the present invention is not limited to a device using a heat pump, but may be, for example, a device using an electric heater.

  When the low-temperature water supplied from the water supply or the like flows into the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 through the water supply pipe 302, the inside of the heat storage tank 10 is maintained in a full state. The heat storage operation is an operation that increases the amount of heat stored in the heat storage tank 10. At the time of the heat storage operation, it becomes as follows. The water led out from the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 boils and goes to the heating device 2 through the piping 301a. Hot water heated by the heating device 2 flows into the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 through the return pipe 301b. Inside the heat storage tank 10, the temperature boundary layer between high-temperature water and low-temperature water gradually moves downward.

  The high-temperature outlet pipe 303 connects the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 to the hot-water tap temperature control valve 41 and the hot water temperature control valve 42. The hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 can be supplied to the hot water temperature control valve 41 and the hot water temperature control valve 42 through the high-temperature outlet pipe 303. The temperature control pipe 304 branches off from the water supply pipe 302. The temperature control pipe 304 is connected to the hot water valve temperature control valve 41 and the hot water temperature control valve 42. The low temperature water supplied from the water supply pipe 302 can be supplied to the hot water tap temperature control valve 41 and the hot water temperature control valve 42 by the temperature control pipe 304. By mixing the hot water supplied from the high-temperature lead-out pipe 303 and the low-temperature water supplied from the temperature control pipe 304 with the hot-water temperature control valve 41, the hot-water supply temperature to the hot water tap can be adjusted. By mixing the hot water supplied from the high-temperature outlet pipe 303 and the low-temperature water supplied from the temperature control pipe 304 with the hot-water temperature control valve 42, the temperature of the hot water to the bathtub 6 can be adjusted.

  Hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot-water tap temperature control valve 41 passes through a hot-water pipe 305 and is supplied to the hot water tap. The hot water temperature control valve 42 is connected to the bathtub 6 via a bathtub going pipe 306a. The reheating heat exchanger 5 reheats the hot water in the bathtub 6 by heating the hot water circulating from the bathtub 6. The additional firing aims at keeping or warming the hot water in the bathtub 6. The secondary flow path of the additional heat exchanger 5 is connected in the middle of the bathtub outgoing pipe 306a. The bathtub return pipe 306 b branches off from the bathtub going pipe 306 a between the hot water temperature control valve 42 and the additional heat exchanger 5, and is connected to the bathtub 6. When the hot water is supplied to the bathtub 6, the hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot water temperature control valve 42 is guided to the bathtub 6 through the bathtub going pipe 306a and the bathtub return pipe 306b.

  The additional heating pipe 307a connects between the upper part of the heat storage tank 10 and the inlet of the primary flow path of the additional heat exchanger 5. The additional heating return pipe 307b connects between the outlet of the primary flow path of the additional heating heat exchanger 5 and the lower or intermediate part of the heat storage tank 10. At the time of reheating, it becomes as follows. Hot water in the bathtub 6 is guided to the additional heat exchanger 5 through the bathtub return pipe 306b. The hot water heated by the additional heat exchanger 5 returns to the inside of the bathtub 6 through the bathtub going pipe 306a. Hot water for a heat source derived from the heat storage tank 10 is guided to the additional heat exchanger 5 through the additional heating piping 307a. The hot water for the heat source whose temperature has been reduced by the heat exchange in the additional heating heat exchanger 5 returns to the heat storage tank 10 through the additional heating return pipe 307b.

  The circulation pump 31 for circulating hot and cold water during the heat storage operation is desirably connected in the middle of a relatively low-temperature boil-out pipe 301a. The reheating pump 32 for circulating hot water for the heat source to the reheating heat exchanger 5 at the time of reheating is desirably connected in the middle of a relatively low temperature reheating return pipe 307b. It is desirable that the bathtub pump 33 for circulating the hot water in the bathtub 6 to the heat exchanger 5 during the additional heating be connected in the middle of the relatively low-temperature bathtub return pipe 306b.

  The control device 100 controls the operations of the heating device 2, the circulation pump 31, the reheating pump 32, the bathtub pump 33, the hot water temperature control valve 41, and the hot water temperature control valve 42. Control device 100 controls various operation operations performed by hot water supply type hot water supply system 1. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 100 controls the hot water temperature control valve 42 so that automatic hot water can be performed.

  The heat storage tank 10 is provided with hot water storage temperature sensors 501a to 501f at intervals in the height direction. In the illustrated configuration, the number of hot water storage temperature sensors 501a to 501f is six, but the number of hot water storage temperature sensors is not limited to this. A sufficient number of temperature sensors may be provided to measure the temperature distribution inside the heat storage tank 10 with higher accuracy.

  The boiling return pipe 301b is provided with a boiling temperature sensor 502 for detecting the temperature of the hot water heated by the heating device 2, that is, the boiling temperature. The water supply pipe 302 is provided with a water supply temperature sensor 504 for detecting a water supply temperature. At the upper part of the heat storage tank 10, a derived temperature sensor 503 for detecting the temperature of the high-temperature water derived from the heat storage tank 10 is provided. The faucet pipe 305 is provided with a faucet temperature sensor 505 for detecting the temperature of hot water supplied to the faucet.

  The bathtub return temperature sensor 506 for detecting the bathtub return temperature flowing from the bathtub to the additional heat exchanger 5 is provided in the bathtub return pipe 306b. The bathtub return temperature sensor 506 may be used as a means for detecting the bathtub temperature by drawing hot water in the bathtub 6 into the bathtub return pipe 306b by the bathtub pump 33. The bathtub return temperature sensor 506 may be used as means for detecting the temperature of the hot water at the time of automatic hot water.

  The additional heating return pipe 307b is provided with an additional heating return temperature sensor 507 for detecting the temperature of hot water returning from the additional heating heat exchanger 5 to the heat storage tank 10, that is, the additional heating return temperature. Instead of detecting the additional heating return temperature with the additional heating return temperature sensor 507, the control device 100 controls the rotation speed of the additional heating pump 32, the rotation speed of the bathtub pump 33, the temperature of hot water for a heat source, and the bathtub return temperature. From the above, the additional heating return temperature may be estimated.

  The hot water pipe 305 is provided with a hot water flow sensor 601 for detecting the amount of hot water used by the hot water tap. The bathtub going pipe 306a is provided with a hot water flow sensor 602 for detecting the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub 6 by the hot water beam.

  The control device 100 is connected to the remote controller 50 so as to be capable of bidirectional data communication. Remote controller 50 is an example of an operation terminal provided in hot water supply type hot water supply system 1. Communication between control device 100 and remote controller 50 may be wired communication or wireless communication. The remote controller 50 may be installed in, for example, a bathroom, a kitchen, or the like.

  The control device 100 may be communicably connected to another device. For example, as in the present embodiment, the control device 100 may be connected to a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller 60 so as to be capable of bidirectional data communication. The HEMS controller 60 is an example of a controller of the energy management system. The HEMS controller 60 is connected to each device (not shown) used in a house in addition to the control device 100 so as to be capable of bidirectional data communication. Communication between the HEMS controller 60 and each device including the control device 100 may be wire communication or wireless communication. The HEMS controller 60 can configure a system that comprehensively manages energy supply and demand in a house by controlling devices used in the house as a whole. The HEMS controller 60 may be connected to an external server computer 80 via a communication line 70 such as the Internet so as to perform data communication. The server computer 80 may be capable of distributing information provided by a power supplier (hereinafter, referred to as a “power company”) that supplies power used by the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a signal flow in hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a characteristic operation of the hot water storage type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the appearance of remote controller 50 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 50 according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 50a including switches operated by a user and a display device 50b capable of displaying information. The remote controller 50 may include a voice announcement device or the like. By operating the operation unit 50a of the remote controller 50, the user can perform instructions such as setting of hot water supply temperature, heat storage operation, hot water operation, additional heating operation, and reservation, and the like. Information such as the hot water supply set temperature can be displayed on the display device 50b of the remote controller 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, control device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a heat storage amount calculation unit 101, a required heat amount setting unit 104, a heat storage operation control unit 105, a valve control unit 106, a target temperature setting unit 107, and a pump control unit 108. , A parameter determination unit 109, a date and time detection unit 110, and a charge information acquisition unit 111.

  Control device 100 includes hot water storage temperature sensors 501a to 501f, boiling temperature sensor 502, derived temperature sensor 503, water supply temperature sensor 504, hot water temperature sensor 505, bathtub return temperature sensor 506, reheating temperature sensor 507, hot water tap. Information detected by the flow rate sensor 601 and the hot water flow rate sensor 602 is input. The control device 100 controls the heating device 2, the circulation pump 31, the additional heating pump 32, the bathtub pump 33, the hot water temperature control valve 41, and the hot water temperature control valve 42 based on the input information.

  The target temperature setting unit 107 controls the target hot water supply temperature to the hot water tap, the target temperature of hot water to be supplied to the bathtub 6, and the heat retention or additional heating of the bathtub 6 based on information input to the remote controller 50 by the user. A target temperature, that is, a target bathtub temperature is set. The date and time detecting unit 110 has a timer function for detecting time and time and a calendar function for detecting date.

  The heat storage amount calculation unit 101 calculates an effective heat storage amount for the hot water plug load among the heat storage amounts of the hot water in the heat storage tank 10 based on the information on the temperature distribution detected by the hot water storage temperature sensors 501a to 501f. For example, in the case of a hot water tap load, the thermal energy of the hot water in the heat storage tank 10 is mixed with low-temperature water supplied from the water supply pipe 302 and used. In this case, the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 may calculate the heat storage amount by integrating the heat energy with respect to the volume of the heat storage tank 10 using the water supply temperature of the water supply pipe 302 as a reference temperature of the heat energy. In addition, the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 may calculate the heat storage amount by integrating the heat energy only in a hot water region having a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 45 ° C.).

  Further, the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 calculates the heat storage amount of the hot water in the heat storage tank 10 based on the information detected by the hot water storage temperature sensors 501a to 501f and the target temperature set by the target temperature setting unit 107. Then, the heat storage amount effective for additional heating may be calculated. In the additional heating, the high-temperature hot water guided to the additional heating heat exchanger 5 through the additional heating pipe 307a supplies heat to the bathtub system in the additional heating heat exchanger 5, and the temperature is reduced. 307b is returned to the heat storage tank 10. Therefore, of the heat energy of the hot water in the heat storage tank 10, the heat energy that is effectively used in the additional heating is a portion obtained by subtracting the additional heating return temperature from the hot water storage temperature. In view of such a matter, the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 integrates the heat energy with respect to the volume of the heat storage tank 10 using the additional heating return temperature returning from the additional heat exchanger 5 to the heat storage tank 10 as a reference temperature of the heat energy. In this way, the heat storage amount effective for additional heating may be calculated.

  Here, since the reheating temperature of the additional heating continues to change from the start to the end of the additional heating, it is strictly necessary to calculate the heat storage amount when the hot water of each part of the heat storage tank 10 is actually used for the additional heating. It is necessary to use the reheating temperature. However, it is difficult to predict the reheating temperature in actual operation. Therefore, the additional heating return temperature used for the heat storage amount calculation may be predicted based on information detected by the target temperature setting unit 107 and information detected by the bathtub return temperature sensor 506. For example, assuming that the bath tub temperature is constant at the target bath tub temperature, a re-heating temperature may be predicted by adding a predetermined temperature difference depending on the performance of the re-heating heat exchanger to this. Further, assuming that the bath tub temperature is constant at the average value of the current bath tub temperature and the target bath tub temperature, and by adding a predetermined temperature difference depending on the performance of the additional heating heat exchanger 5, from the start to the end of additional heating. The average reheating temperature may be predicted. The above-mentioned predetermined temperature difference depending on the performance of the additional heating heat exchanger 5 may be determined at the design stage, or assuming deterioration over time, assuming that the output of the additional heating return temperature sensor 507 during the additional heating operation is different from the output. The learning may be performed based on a difference from the output of the bathtub return temperature sensor 506.

  The necessary heat amount setting unit 104 is configured to calculate a heat storage amount (hereinafter, referred to as a “minimum heat storage amount”) required to avoid running out of hot water with respect to the hot water load based on past user's hot water load results or a predetermined design value. Is set). The required heat amount setting unit 104 may set the minimum heat storage amount, for example, as follows. When calculating the minimum heat storage amount based on the past hot water load of the user, information detected by the hot water temperature sensor 505, information detected by the hot water flow sensor 601 and detected by the bathtub return temperature sensor 506 Based on the hot water temperature and the information detected by the hot water flow sensor 602, the daily hot tap load results are stored and learned at predetermined time intervals. The minimum heat storage amount may be calculated as the amount of heat that does not cause running out of hot water for the learned tap load at a predetermined time interval. The minimum heat storage amount may be calculated in consideration of the fact that the heat storage operation with a predetermined heating capacity can be performed simultaneously. The minimum heat storage amount may be calculated by subtracting the amount of heat that can be stored in the time interval from the total load in the predetermined time interval. When the minimum heat storage amount is set based on a predetermined design value, for example, the minimum heat storage amount is set to be large during a time period (for example, 17:00 to 23:00) in which a large amount of hot water load is generally predicted, In other time zones, the minimum heat storage amount may be set small. When the minimum heat storage amount is set to be large, for example, a heat amount equivalent to 300 L in terms of 42 ° C. may be set as the minimum heat storage amount. When the minimum heat storage amount is set small, for example, a heat amount equivalent to 50 L in 42 ° C. conversion may be set as the minimum heat storage amount.

  Also, the necessary heat amount setting unit 104 predicts the heat storage amount required for the additional heating based on the past reheating results of the user, the current temperature of the bathtub 6 and the state of the hot water amount, or both information. Good. The additional firing load is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of the bathtub 6 from the current temperature to the target bathtub temperature. The additional firing load is obtained, for example, by multiplying the amount of hot water in the bathtub 6 (for example, 200 L) by the difference between the target bathtub temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) and the current bathtub temperature (for example, 30 ° C.). L) and specific heat (for example, 1 cal / g ° C.).

  In this case, for example, a general value (for example, 200 L) may be used for the amount of hot water in bathtub 6, or a value set by remote control 50 by the user may be used. In the case of a system in which hot water is directly discharged from the heat storage tank 10 to the bath 6, a flow meter may be provided in the discharge path, and the integrated value of the flow rate may be used as the amount of hot water in the bath 6. Further, in this system, for example, a water level detecting means such as a pressure sensor is provided in the bathtub return pipe 306b, and when the hot water is directly discharged from the heat storage tank 10 to the bathtub 6, the correlation between the integrated flow rate and the water level is initially learned. After that, a value that can be estimated by calculating backward from the water level of the bathtub 6 may be used as the amount of hot water in the bathtub 6.

  Further, in the case of a system that learns and stores the past reheating load, the reheating load of the current day may be predicted in the form of the maximum value or the average value of the learning result within the past predetermined period. Here, the learning of the additional heating load may be performed based on a value calculated from the amount of hot water in the bathtub 6 and the temperature difference between the time when the additional heating operation is started and the time when the additional heating operation is completed, or the learning based on the bathtub return pipe 306b or the bathtub. The flow rate circulating through the pipe 306 a is directly detected by the flow meter, or the value detected indirectly from the control signal to the bathtub pump 33, and the flow rate of the inlet / outlet of the secondary flow path of the additional heat exchanger 5. The learning may be performed based on a value calculated from the temperature difference. In addition, when predicting the heat storage amount required for additional heating, the additional heating load itself may be used as the necessary heat storage amount, or a value obtained by subtracting the amount of heat that can be generated by the heating device 2 during the additional heating operation from the additional heating load, The required heat storage amount may be used.

  The heat storage operation control unit 105 controls the heat storage operation by controlling the operations of the heating device 2 and the circulation pump 31. The heat storage operation control unit 105 may control the circulating flow rate of water during the heat storage operation by controlling the operation speed of the circulation pump 31. The parameter determination unit 109 determines a heat storage operation parameter that is a control parameter related to the heat storage operation. The processing performed by the parameter determination unit 109 will be described later.

  The valve control unit 106 operates the hot water tap temperature control valve 41 based on the target hot water supply temperature set by the target temperature setting unit 107 so that the temperature of hot water flowing out of the hot water temperature control valve 41 approaches the target hot water supply temperature. Control. The valve control unit 106 also controls the hot water temperature control valve 42 based on the target bath temperature set by the target temperature setting unit 107 so that the temperature of the hot water flowing out of the hot water temperature control valve 42 approaches the target bath temperature. Control the operation of. The pump control unit 108 controls operations of the additional heating pump 32 and the bathtub pump 33. The pump control unit 108 may control the circulation flow rate of the hot water for the heat source by controlling the operation speed of the additional heating pump 32 during additional heating. The pump control unit 108 may control the circulating flow rate of the bathtub water by controlling the operation speed of the bathtub pump 33 during additional heating.

  The charge information obtaining unit 111 obtains information on the content of the time-based electricity rate setting (hereinafter, referred to as “time-based rate setting information”). The hourly electricity rate setting is usually set in accordance with the electricity rate menu of the electric power company. In the time-zone-specific electricity rate setting, for example, one day, that is, 24 hours, is divided into a plurality of time zones, and a different unit price of the electric energy is set for each time zone. An example of time-based electricity rate setting will be described below.

(Example 1) It is divided into two, a time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 and a time zone from 7:00 to 23:00. The unit price of the electricity charge in the time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 is A yen / kWh, and the unit price of the electricity amount in the time zone from 7:00 to 23:00 is B yen / kWh. In this case, A circle <B circle may be satisfied.

(Example 2) It is divided into two, a time zone from 22:00 to 8:00 and a time zone from 8:00 to 22:00. The unit price of the electricity amount in the time zone from 22:00 to 8:00 is C yen / kWh, and the unit price of the energy amount in the time period from 8:00 to 22:00 is D yen / kWh. In this case, the C circle may be smaller than the D circle.

(Example 3) Four time zones from 23:00 to 7:00, from 7:00 to 10:00, from 10:00 to 17:00, and from 17:00 to 23:00. Divided into The electricity charge unit price in the time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 is E yen / kWh, the electricity charge unit price in the time zone from 7:00 to 10:00 is F yen / kWh, and the time from 10:00 to 17:00 It is assumed that the unit price of the electricity amount of the band is G yen / kWh, and the unit price of the electricity amount in the time period from 17:00 to 23:00 is H yen / kWh. In this case, E circle <F circle = H circle <G circle.

(Example 4) Four time zones from 23:00 to 7:00, a time zone from 7:00 to 13:00, a time zone from 13:00 to 16:00, and a time zone from 16:00 to 23:00. Divided into The electricity charge unit price in the time zone from 23:00 to 7:00 is I yen / kWh, the electricity charge unit price in the time zone from 7:00 to 13:00 is J yen / kWh, and the time from 13:00 to 16:00 It is assumed that the unit price of the energy charge for the band is K yen / kWh, and the unit price of the energy charge for the time period from 16:00 to 23:00 is L yen / kWh. In this case, I circle <J circle = L circle <K circle.

  Depending on the electricity rate menu of the electric power company, there may be a contract in which the time-based electricity rate setting differs depending on the season or month, such as a peak shift plan. For example, in the summer season (for example, from July to September), the above-described (Example 4) hourly electricity rate setting is applied, and in the other seasons (for example, from October to June), the time of (Example 1) is used. There may be an electricity rate menu that is contracted to apply the electricity rate setting by band.

  The time-zone-based fee setting information acquired by the fee information acquisition unit 111 may include information on a time at which the time zone is divided and information on a unit price of a power amount in each time zone. The time-based charge setting information obtained by the charge information obtaining unit 111 may include information on the unit price of the power amount at every predetermined time (for example, every hour) in a day.

  The remote controller 50 may be configured such that the user can input the time-based charge setting information by operating the remote controller 50. In that case, the fee information acquisition unit 111 can acquire the time-based fee setting information by communicating with the remote controller 50. The remote controller 50 may be configured so that the user can input the name of the power company contracted by the user and the name of the electricity rate menu or select the name from the list.

  The configuration may be such that a user operates an operation terminal (not shown) that can communicate with the HEMS controller 60 to input time-based charge setting information. In this case, when the user operates the operation terminal, the HEMS controller 60 can acquire the time-based charge setting information. The operation terminal may include, for example, a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The operation terminal may be configured such that the user can input the name of the electric power company contracted by the user and the name of the electricity bill menu or select the name from the list. The HEMS controller 60 may acquire the time-based charge setting information from an external server computer 80 such as a power company via the communication line 70. The HEMS controller 60 collates the contents of each electricity bill menu of each electricity company received from the external server computer 80 or the like with the name of the electricity company and the electricity bill menu input or selected by the user, so that the time zone You may acquire separate charge setting information. When the HEMS controller 60 has acquired the time-zone-specific fee setting information, the fee-information acquiring unit 111 can acquire the time-zone-specific fee setting information through communication with the HEMS controller 60.

  When the control device 100 is connected to the external server computer 80 via the communication line 70 so as to be able to perform data communication, the charge information acquisition unit 111 outputs the information received from the external server computer 80 via the communication line 70. , The time-based charge setting information may be acquired. In this case, the charge information acquisition unit 111 can acquire the time-based charge setting information from the external server computer 80 without the intervention of the HEMS controller 60.

  When a user changes the contents of a contract with a power company, an applied electricity bill menu may be changed. When the applied electricity rate menu is changed, the content of the hourly electricity rate setting may be changed. It is conceivable that the user will switch from one power company to another. When the power company contracted by the user is changed, the content of the time-based electricity rate setting may change. Further, as described above, depending on the electricity rate menu of the electric power company, there may be a case where the electricity rate setting for each time zone is different depending on the season or month. In such a case, even if the user has not changed the contract contents with the power company, the contents of the hourly electricity rate setting may change depending on the season or month. In these cases, the charge information acquiring unit 111 acquires in advance information on the scheduled date on which the time-based electricity rate setting is changed (hereinafter, referred to as “change scheduled date information”).

  The scheduled change date information acquired by the fee information acquisition unit 111 may include, for example, information on the date itself of the scheduled date on which the hourly electricity rate setting is changed. The scheduled change date information obtained by the charge information obtaining unit 111 may include, for example, information on the number of days indicating how many days after today the time-based electric charge setting is changed. In the following description, the scheduled date on which the hourly electricity rate setting is changed will be referred to as “scheduled date of change”.

  The remote controller 50 may be configured so that the user can input the scheduled change date information by operating the remote controller 50. In this case, the charge information acquisition unit 111 can acquire the scheduled change date information by communicating with the remote controller 50. The remote controller 50 may be configured so that the user can input time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date. In this case, the fee information acquisition unit 111 can acquire, by communication with the remote controller 50, time-based fee setting information applied after the scheduled change date. The remote controller 50 may be configured so that the user can input the name of the power company and the name of the electricity rate menu after the scheduled change date or select the name from the list.

  The user may operate an operation terminal capable of communicating with the HEMS controller 60 so that the user can input the scheduled change date information. In this case, when the user operates the operation terminal, the HEMS controller 60 can acquire the scheduled change date information. The operation terminal may be configured such that the user can input the name of the power company and the name of the electricity rate menu after the scheduled change date or select the name from the list. The HEMS controller 60 may acquire scheduled change date information from an external server computer 80 such as a power company via the communication line 70. When the HEMS controller 60 acquires the scheduled change date information, the fee information acquisition unit 111 can acquire the scheduled change date information by communicating with the HEMS controller 60.

  The HEMS controller 60 may acquire the time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date from the external server computer 80 such as a power company via the communication line 70. The HEMS controller 60 collates the content of each electricity bill menu of each electricity company received from the external server computer 80 or the like with the name of the electricity company and electricity bill menu input or selected by the user after the scheduled change date. By doing so, the time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date may be acquired. When the HEMS controller 60 acquires the time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date, the charge information acquisition unit 111 communicates with the HEMS controller 60 to set the time zone applied after the scheduled change date. You can get separate charge setting information.

  When the control device 100 is connected to the external server computer 80 via the communication line 70 so as to be able to perform data communication, the charge information acquisition unit 111 outputs the information received from the external server computer 80 via the communication line 70. And at least one of the scheduled change date information and the time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date. In this case, the charge information acquiring unit 111 transmits at least one of the scheduled change date information and the time zone-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date from the external server computer 80 without using the HEMS controller 60. Can be obtained.

The configuration of the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment has been described above. Next, the operation of hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment will be further described.
≪Basic operation≫
First, a basic operation of the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment will be described.
[Heat storage operation]
At the time of the heat storage operation, it becomes as follows. The low-temperature water stored in the lower part of the heat storage tank 10 is boiled by the circulation pump 31 and drawn into the piping 301 a, and is guided to the heating device 2. It is guided to the heating device 2 through the boiling pipe 301a. The heating device 2 generates high-temperature hot water by heating the guided low-temperature water. The target temperature of the hot water to be heated by the heating device 2, that is, the target value of the boiling temperature, may be set as follows. The target value of the boiling temperature may be set as a temperature at which Legionella can be sterilized. The target value of the boiling temperature may be set as a temperature at which a required amount of heat storage can be secured with the amount of hot water limited by the capacity of the heat storage tank 10. The heat storage operation control unit 105 controls the operations of the heating device 2 and the circulation pump 31 so that the boiling temperature detected by the boiling temperature sensor 502 substantially matches the target value.

[Batch boiling]
The heat storage operation performed by the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment includes batch boiling. Batch boiling is an example of a main heat storage operation that is a heat storage operation that is performed during a time period when the unit price of the electric energy charge is lowest. In the following description, the time zone in which the unit price of the electric energy charge is the lowest is referred to as “cheap time zone”. For example, in the above-described (Example 1), (Example 3), and (Example 4) time-based electricity rate setting, an eight-hour time period from 23:00 to 7:00 corresponds to a bargain time period. In the above-described (Example 2) time-based electricity rate setting, the 10-hour time period from 22:00 to 8:00 corresponds to the discounted time period.

  The heat storage amount (hereinafter, also referred to as “main heat storage amount”) stored by batch boiling may be set as follows. The heat storage amount that can cover the entire amount of the assumed daily load may be set as the main heat storage amount. For example, when considering the balance with energy saving, about 80% of the heat storage amount that can cover the entire expected load of the day may be set as the main heat storage amount. For example, the heat storage amount when the entire amount of the heat storage tank 10 is filled with hot water having a lower boiling temperature such as 65 ° C. to 70 ° C. may be set as the main heat storage amount. The operation end time of the batch boiling may be set to the end time of the bargain time zone or a time close thereto. By setting the operation end time of the batch boiling as late as possible, the time during which a large amount of hot water is stored in the heat storage tank 10 can be shortened, so that heat loss can be suppressed.

[Minimum heat storage boiling]
The heat storage operation performed by the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment includes the minimum heat storage amount boiling. The minimum heat storage boiling is performed in order to avoid running out of hot water in the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1. The minimum heat storage boiling is an example of the additional heat storage operation. When the heat storage tank of the heat storage tank 10 falls below the minimum heat storage amount set by the necessary heat amount setting unit 104, the heat storage operation control unit 105 starts the minimum heat storage amount boiling. When the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank 10 recovers to a value obtained by adding a predetermined additional heat storage amount to the minimum heat storage amount, the heat storage operation control unit 105 ends the minimum heat storage amount boiling. During the bargain hours, batch boiling is mainly performed. Therefore, the minimum heat storage boiling is mainly performed in a time period other than the bargain time period.

[Bath operation]
The hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 flows out of the high-temperature outlet pipe 303 according to a request on the load side where the hot water is used, and is guided to the hot-water tap temperature control valve 41 or the hot water temperature control valve 42. Hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot-water tap temperature control valve 41 passes through a hot-water pipe 305 and is supplied to the hot water tap. At this time, the valve control unit 106 controls the hot water temperature control valve 41 such that the hot water supply temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 505 becomes a temperature set by the user with the remote controller 50. The hot water whose temperature has been adjusted by the hot water temperature control valve 42 is guided to the bath tub 6 through the bath tub outgoing pipe 306a and the bath tub return pipe 306b. At this time, the valve control unit 106 controls the hot water temperature regulating valve 42 such that the hot water temperature detected by the bathtub return temperature sensor 506 becomes the temperature set by the user with the remote controller 50.

[Reheating operation]
The hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 is forcibly operated by the user or automatically when the bathtub temperature periodically detected by the bathtub return temperature sensor 506 becomes lower than the target temperature by a predetermined amount or more. In order to raise the temperature of the bathtub by the reheating operation, the temperature is guided to the reheating heat exchanger 5 through the additional heating pipe 307a. At approximately the same time as this timing, the bathtub water stored in the bathtub 6 is guided to the additional heat exchanger 5 through the bathtub return pipe 306b. The hot water from the heat storage tank 10 whose temperature has been lowered by applying heat to the bathtub water in the additional heat exchanger 5 returns to the heat storage tank 10 through the additional heating return pipe 307b. Further, the bath water whose temperature has risen due to the heat received by the additional heating heat exchanger 5 returns to the bath tub 6 through the bath tub outgoing pipe 306a. Next, the additional heating operation is forcibly performed by a user operation or automatically when the bathtub temperature detected by the bathtub return temperature sensor 506 becomes higher than the target temperature by a predetermined amount or more.

<< Characteristic operation of Embodiment 1 >>
Hereinafter, a characteristic operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3, which is a diagram for explaining the characteristic operation of the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment, shows an example in which the user operates the remote controller 50 to input time-based charge setting information and scheduled change date information. Is shown. In this case, the charge information acquiring unit 111 can acquire the time-based charge setting information and the scheduled change date information from the remote controller 50. The present invention is not limited to this example, and the fee information acquiring unit 111 may acquire the time-based fee setting information and the scheduled change date information by another method described above.

  The parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter according to the time-zone-based charge setting information. In the present embodiment, the heat storage operation parameters determined by the parameter determination unit 109 in accordance with the time zone-specific charge setting information include the start time of the batch boiling, the end time of the batch boiling, the heat storage amount stored in the batch boiling, It includes at least one of the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in boiling and the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage boiling. The heat storage operation control unit 105 controls the heat storage operation based on the heat storage operation parameters determined by the parameter determination unit 109. The heat storage operation control unit 105 in the present embodiment controls one or both of batch boiling and minimum heat storage amount boiling based on the heat storage operation parameters determined by the parameter determination unit 109.

  The charge information acquisition unit 111 can acquire time-based charge setting information applied before the scheduled change date and time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date. In the following description, the following is performed. The time zone-based charge setting information applied before the scheduled change date is also referred to as “first time zone-based charge setting information”. The time-based charge setting information applied after the scheduled change date is also referred to as “second time-based charge setting information”.

  In the following description, the time zone in which the electricity charge unit price is the highest is referred to as “excessive time zone”. For example, in the above-described (Example 1) time-based electricity rate setting, a 16-hour time period from 7:00 to 23:00 corresponds to an overtime time period. In the above-described (example 2) time-based electricity rate setting, a 14-hour time period from 8:00 to 22:00 corresponds to an overtime time zone. In the above-described (Example 3) time-based electricity rate setting, a seven-hour time period from 10:00 to 17:00 corresponds to an overtime time zone. In the above-described (Example 4) time-based electricity rate setting, a three-hour time period from 13:00 to 16:00 corresponds to an overtime time zone.

  The graph in FIG. 3 shows an example of a daily change in the amount of heat stored in the heat storage tank 10. The broken line graph shows an example of the change in the amount of stored heat before the scheduled change date. The solid line graph shows an example of a change in the amount of stored heat after the scheduled change date. The graph in FIG. 3 shows an example in which the discount time zone after the scheduled change date is expanded compared to the discount time zone before the scheduled change date. The graph in FIG. 3 shows an example in which the overtime period after the scheduled change date is smaller than the overtime period before the planned change date. The graph in FIG. 3 shows an example in which the electricity charge unit price is set in two stages as in (Example 1) or (Example 2) described above. Not limited to such an example, the unit price of the electric energy charge may be set in three stages as in (Example 3) or (Example 4) described above. Further, the unit price of the electric energy charge may be set in four stages or four or more stages.

  In a period before the scheduled change date arrives, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter according to the first time-zone-based charge setting information. In the period after the scheduled change date has arrived, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter according to the second time-zone-based charge setting information. The content of the second time-based charge setting information is different from the content of the first time-based charge setting information. For this reason, the heat storage operation parameters determined by the parameter determination unit 109 after the scheduled change date (in this embodiment, the start time of the batch boiling, the end time of the batch boiling, the heat storage amount stored in the batch boiling, the batch boiling Of at least one of the heating capacity of the heating device 2 and the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage boiling during the temperature increase, the value of the heat storage operation parameter determined by the parameter determination unit 109 before the scheduled change date arrives. It will be different from the value.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pattern of the heat storage amount change of one day before the scheduled change date is different from the pattern of the heat storage amount change of one day after the scheduled change date. This is because the value of the thermal storage operation parameter determined by the parameter determination unit 109 before the scheduled change date is different from the value of the thermal storage operation parameter determined by the parameter determination unit 109 after the planned change date. .

  In the case of the present embodiment, the parameter determining unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter in accordance with the time-zone-specific fee setting information acquired by the fee-information acquiring unit 111. The timing of the heat storage operation can be appropriately controlled. For this reason, the electricity bill can be reliably suppressed. Further, when there is a plan to change the hourly electricity rate setting, control can be performed as follows based on the scheduled change date information acquired by the fee information acquisition unit 111. In the period before the scheduled change date arrives, the parameter determination unit 109 sets the heat storage operation parameter in accordance with the first time zone price setting information (time zone price setting information applied before the scheduled change date). To determine. In the period after the scheduled change date has arrived, the parameter determination unit 109 sets the heat storage operation parameter in accordance with the second time zone price setting information (time zone price setting information applied after the scheduled change date). decide. Therefore, even in a period before the hourly electricity rate setting is changed or in a period after the hourly electricity rate setting is changed, the timing of the heat storage operation and the like can be appropriately controlled according to the change. . For this reason, it is possible to reliably suppress the electricity bill even in a period before the hourly electricity rate setting is changed or in a period after the hourly electricity rate setting is changed.

  According to the present embodiment, there is no need for the user to change the setting of the electricity rate menu for hot water storage type hot water supply system 1 on the scheduled change date. The user does not need to remember the expected change date. Therefore, the burden on the user can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation of hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment. In step S4101 of FIG. 4, the date and time detecting unit 110 determines whether or not the current date is after the scheduled date of change by comparing the scheduled date information acquired by the fee information acquiring unit 111 with the current date. I do. If the current date is before the scheduled change date, the process moves from step S4101 to step S4102. In step S4102, the parameter determination unit 109 reads the first time-zone-based fee setting information (time-zone-based fee setting information applied before the scheduled change date) acquired by the fee information acquisition unit 111. If the current date is after the scheduled change date, the process moves from step S4101 to step S4103. In step S4103, the parameter determination unit 109 reads the second time-zone-based fee setting information (time-zone-based fee setting information applied after the scheduled change date) acquired by the fee information acquisition unit 111.

  The process moves from step S4102 or step S4103 to step S4104. In steps S4104 to S4107, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameters based on the time zone-based charge setting information read in step S4102 or step S4103. That is, when the current time is before the scheduled change date, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter based on the first time zone-based charge setting information read in step S4102. If the current date is after the scheduled change date, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage operation parameter based on the second time-zone-based charge setting information read in step S4103.

  In step S4104, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heat storage amount to be stored in the batch boiling. If the amount of heat stored in the batch heating is too small, the number of times the minimum heat storage boiling is performed in an overtime period increases, and the electricity rate may increase. On the other hand, in order to increase the amount of heat stored by batch boiling, it may be necessary to increase the boiling temperature and the temperature of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10. Generally, the higher the boiling temperature, the lower the efficiency of the heating device 2. The higher the temperature of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10, the greater the heat loss from the heat storage tank 10. From these facts, if the amount of heat stored in the batch boiling is too large, the power consumption in the cheap time zone increases, and the electricity rate may increase.

  In step S4104, the parameter determination unit 109 may determine the heat storage amount to be stored by batch boiling, that is, the main heat storage amount, as described below. In the following description, the ratio of the energy charge unit price in the overtime period to the electricity charge unit price in the undervalued period will be referred to as “maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio”. The parameter determination unit 109 may set the main heat storage amount to a lower value when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small compared to when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large. In this case, the main heat storage amount determined by the parameter determining unit 109 changes as follows before and after the scheduled change date. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled change date is smaller than the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled change date, the change will be made compared to the main heat storage amount before the scheduled change date. The amount of main heat storage after the scheduled date has reached a low value. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled change date is larger than the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled change date, the change will be made compared to the main heat storage amount before the scheduled change date. The amount of main heat storage after the scheduled date has reached a high value. By doing as above, the following effects can be obtained. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the electricity charge unit price during the overtime period is not so high, so even if the number of times the minimum heat storage boiling is performed during the overtime period increases, the electricity charge Is difficult to rise. In this case, it is more advantageous to suppress the boiling temperature and the temperature of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank 10 by setting the main heat storage amount to a relatively low value in order to suppress the electricity bill. On the other hand, if the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large, the unit price of the energy charge in the overtime period is high. Is easy to rise. In this case, by setting the main heat storage amount to a relatively high value to suppress the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling in the comparatively high time zone, it is more advantageous to suppress the electricity bill.

  The process moves from step S4104 to step S4105. In step S4105, the parameter determination unit 109 determines the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in batch boiling. As the heating capacity of the heating device 2 is reduced, the efficiency of the heating device 2 is improved. In addition, the lower the heating capacity of the heating device 2 is, the lower the power consumption is, so that the power peak of the household can be suppressed. There is the above advantage by lowering the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in the batch boiling. On the other hand, if the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in the batch boiling is too low, the required amount of heat storage may not be able to be secured in the bargain time zone.

  In step S4105, the parameter determination unit 109 may determine the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in batch boiling as described below. In the following description, the length of the bargain time zone is referred to as “bargain zone length”. The parameter determination unit 109 may set the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in the batch boiling to a lower value when the bargain zone length is relatively long than when the bargain zone length is relatively short. In this case, the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in the batch boiling determined by the parameter determining unit 109 changes as follows before and after the scheduled change date. If the bargain belt length after the scheduled date of change is longer than the bargain belt length before the scheduled date of the change, the scheduled date of the scheduled change will be compared with the heating capacity before the scheduled date of the change. The subsequent heating capacity will be low. If the bargain belt length after the scheduled date of change is shorter than the bargain belt length before the scheduled date of the change, the scheduled date of the scheduled change will be compared with the heating capacity before the scheduled date of the change. The subsequent heating capacity becomes a high value. By doing as above, the following effects can be obtained. When the bargain zone length is relatively long, even if the heating capacity of the heating device 2 is relatively low, it is easy to secure the heat storage amount required for batch boiling in the bargain time zone. In this case, by making the heating capacity of the heating device 2 relatively low, the efficiency of the heating device 2 is improved and the power peak of the household can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the bargain zone length is relatively short, if the heating capacity of the heating device 2 is low, the heat storage amount required by batch boiling may not be able to be secured in the bargain time zone. . In this case, by making the heating capacity of the heating device 2 relatively high, it is possible to secure the amount of heat storage required for batch boiling even during a relatively short discount period.

  The process moves from step S4105 to step S4106. In step S4106, the parameter determination unit 109 determines a start time and an end time of the batch boiling. As the start time and the end time of the batch boiling are delayed, the time during which the high-temperature hot water is stored in the heat storage tank 10 is shortened, so that there is an advantage that heat loss from the heat storage tank 10 can be suppressed. On the other hand, in order to suppress the electricity bill, it is necessary to end the batch boiling by the end time of the bargain time zone (hereinafter referred to as “bargain zone end time”).

  In step S4106, the parameter determination unit 109 may determine the start time and the end time of the batch boiling as described below. The parameter determining unit 109 may set the batch boiling end time earlier when the bargain ending time is relatively earlier than when the bargain ending time is relatively later. In this case, the end time of the batch boiling determined by the parameter determining unit 109 changes before and after the scheduled change date as follows. If the bargain zoning time after the scheduled change date arrives earlier than the scheduled bargain ending time before the scheduled change date, the batch barrage boiling time before the scheduled change date will arrive. As a result, the end time of the batch boiling after the scheduled change date comes becomes earlier. If the bargain ending time after the scheduled change date arrives later than the scheduled bargain ending time before the scheduled change date, the batch discount boiling time before the scheduled change date arrives Thus, the end time of the batch boiling after the scheduled change date comes becomes a later time. The parameter determining unit 109 may determine the end time of the batch boiling to be the same time as the bargain ending time. The parameter determination unit 109 calculates the main heat storage amount determined in step S4104, the heating capacity of the heating device 2 in the batch boiling determined in step S4105, and the current heat storage amount calculated by the heat storage amount calculation unit 101. The start time of the collective boiling can be determined by performing the back calculation from the end time of the collective boiling based on the calculation. By doing as above, the following effects can be obtained. The start time and end time of the batch boiling can be adjusted according to the change of the end time of the bargain time zone. Therefore, the time during which the hot water is stored in the heat storage tank 10 can be shortened as much as possible while suppressing the electricity bill.

  The process moves from step S4106 to step S4107. In step S4107, the parameter determination unit 109 determines an additional heat storage amount for the minimum heat storage amount boiling. If the additional heat storage amount is too large, the possibility that the hot water added by the minimum heat storage amount boiling becomes excessive increases. The surplus hot water added by the minimum heat storage boiling using the power of the electricity price unit price that is not inexpensive is disadvantageous for suppressing the electricity price. On the other hand, if the additional heat storage amount is too small, the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling may increase. When the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage boiling is increased, the number of times of starting and stopping the heating device 2 or the like is increased, which may be disadvantageous in reliability of the heating device 2 or the like.

  In step S4107, the parameter determination unit 109 may determine the additional heat storage amount for the minimum heat storage amount boiling as follows. When the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the parameter determination unit 109 sets the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage amount boiling to a higher value than when the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large. Good. In this case, the additional heat storage amount determined by the parameter determination unit 109 changes as follows before and after the scheduled change date. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled change date is smaller than the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled change date, the change is made compared to the additional heat storage amount before the scheduled change date. The amount of additional heat storage after the scheduled date has reached a high value. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled change date is larger than the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled change date, the change will be made compared to the additional heat storage amount before the scheduled change date. The amount of additional heat storage after the scheduled date has reached a low value.

  By determining the additional heat storage amount for the minimum heat storage amount boiling as described above, the following effects can be obtained. If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the electricity charge unit price during the overtime period is not so high, and the hot water added by the minimum heat storage boiling using the electricity during the overtime period becomes excessive. However, the impact on electricity price rise is relatively small. In this case, by setting the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage amount boiling to a relatively high value, the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling can be suppressed, and the burden on the heating device 2 and the like can be reduced. In step S4104, if the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the heat storage amount of batch boiling is determined to be a relatively low value. In the present embodiment, when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the heat storage amount of the batch heating is determined to be a relatively low value, whereas the additional heat storage of the minimum heat storage boiling is determined. The amount is determined to be relatively high. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress an increase in the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling.

  On the other hand, when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large, the unit price of the electric energy charge in the overtime period is high, and if the hot water added by the minimum heat storage boiling using the electricity in the overtime period becomes excessive, The impact on electricity rates is relatively large. In this case, by setting the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage amount boiling to a relatively low value, it is possible to suppress excess hot water added by the minimum heat storage amount boiling. As a result, an increase in the electricity rate can be suppressed more reliably. In step S4104, when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large, the heat storage amount of the batch boiling is determined to be a relatively high value. According to the present embodiment, when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large, the heat storage amount of the batch heating is determined to be a relatively high value. Even if the value is determined to be extremely low, it is possible to reliably suppress an increase in the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling.

  Hereinafter, specific numerical examples will be described. It is assumed that the total of the assumed daily load is 700 L in terms of a predetermined temperature. When the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively small, the heat storage amount of the batch boiling is set to a heat storage amount equivalent to 500 L in a predetermined temperature conversion, and the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage boiling is set to 50 L in a predetermined temperature conversion. Amount. In this case, the number of times of the minimum heat storage amount boiling expected in a time period other than the bargain time period is (700L-500L) / 50L = 4 times. On the other hand, when the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio is relatively large, the heat storage amount of the batch heating is set to a heat storage amount equivalent to 600 L in a predetermined temperature conversion, and the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage boiling is converted to a predetermined temperature conversion. The heat storage amount is equivalent to 25 L. In this case, the number of times of execution of the minimum heat storage amount boiling expected in a time period other than the bargain time period is (700L-600L) / 25L = 4 times. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of times of performing the minimum heat storage amount boiling regardless of the ratio of the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio. In addition, when the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio is large, by reducing the additional heat storage amount of the minimum heat storage amount boiling, it is possible to suppress the excess hot water added by the minimum heat storage amount boiling. For this reason, an increase in the electricity bill can be suppressed more reliably.

  The process moves from step S4107 to step S4108. In step S4108, heat storage operation control unit 105 determines whether or not the current heat storage amount calculated by heat storage amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or greater than the minimum heat storage amount. If the current heat storage amount is lower than the minimum heat storage amount, the process moves from step S4108 to step S4109. In step S4109, the heat storage operation control unit 105 performs the minimum heat storage amount boiling. After the start of the minimum heat storage amount boiling, the heat storage operation control unit 105 restores the current heat storage amount calculated by the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 to a value obtained by adding the additional heat storage amount determined in step S4107 to the minimum heat storage amount. Then, the minimum heat storage boiling is completed.

  If the current heat storage amount is equal to or more than the minimum heat storage amount in step S4108, the process proceeds to step S4110. In step S4110, heat storage operation control section 105 determines whether or not the minimum heat storage amount boiling is being performed. When the minimum heat storage amount boiling is being performed, the process proceeds from step S4110 to step S4111. In step S4111, the heat storage operation control unit 105 determines whether or not the current heat storage amount calculated by the heat storage amount calculation unit 101 is equal to or greater than a value obtained by adding the additional heat storage amount determined in step S4107 to the minimum heat storage amount. to decide. If the current heat storage amount has not reached the value obtained by adding the additional heat storage amount to the minimum heat storage amount, the process moves from step S4111 to step S4112. In step S4112, heat storage operation control unit 105 continues the minimum heat storage amount boiling.

  If the minimum heat storage amount boiling is not being performed in step S4110, the process moves to step S4113. In step S4113, heat storage operation control unit 105 determines whether batch boiling is being performed. If batch boiling is not being performed, the process moves from step S4113 to step S4114. Also, when the current heat storage amount is equal to or more than the value obtained by adding the additional heat storage amount to the minimum heat storage amount in step S4111, the process proceeds to step S4114. In step S4114, heat storage operation control section 105 determines whether or not the current time is a time in the bargain time zone. If the current time is not the time of the bargain time zone, the process moves from step S4114 to step S4117. In step S4117, the heat storage operation control unit 105 does not perform the heat storage operation. If the minimum heat storage amount boiling is being performed in step S4117, the heat storage operation control unit 105 ends the minimum heat storage amount boiling.

  If the current time is a time in the bargain time zone in step S4114, the process moves to step S4115. In step S4115, heat storage operation control section 105 determines whether there is any record of the completion of batch boiling on the day. If there is a record of completing the batch boiling on the day, there is no need to perform the batch boiling, so the heat storage operation control unit 105 proceeds to step S4117, and does not perform the batch boiling.

  If it is determined in step S4115 that no batch boiling has been completed on that day, the flow shifts to step S4116. In step S4116, heat storage operation control unit 105 determines whether or not the current time is after the start time of the batch boiling determined in step S4106. When the current time is before the start time of the batch boiling, the batch storage boiling control does not need to be performed yet, so the heat storage operation control unit 105 proceeds from step S4116 to step S4117, and performs the batch boiling. Don't do it. If the current time is after the start time of the batch boiling, the process moves from step S4116 to step S4118. In step S4118, heat storage operation control unit 105 performs batch boiling.

  If batch boiling is being performed in step S4113, the process moves to step S4119. In step S4119, heat storage operation control section 105 determines whether or not the current time is a time in the bargain time zone. If the current time is in the bargain time zone, the process moves from step S4119 to step S4120. In step S4120, heat storage operation control unit 105 determines whether the current heat storage amount calculated by heat storage amount calculation unit 101 is less than the main heat storage amount determined in step S4104. If the current heat storage amount is less than the main heat storage amount, the heat storage operation control unit 105 proceeds from step S4120 to step S4118 via step S4116, and continues batch boiling.

  If the current time is not the time of the bargain time zone in step S4119, that is, if the bargain time zone has ended, or if the current heat storage amount has reached the main heat storage amount in step S4120, the process proceeds to step S4121. . In step S4121, the heat storage operation control unit 105 records that there is a record of batch boiling on the day. The process moves from step S4121 to step S4122. In step S4122, heat storage operation control unit 105 ends the batch boiling.

  The control device 100 includes information on the name of the electricity rate menu corresponding to the electricity rate setting by time zone, information on the time zone division of the electricity rate setting by time zone, and the electric energy in each time zone of the electricity rate setting by time zone. At least one of the charge unit information and the change information on the scheduled change date (hereinafter, referred to as “charge change information”) is notified by a notification unit such as a display device 50 b of the remote controller 50 or a voice announcement device of the remote controller 50. May be notified to the user. Thereby, the user can easily know that the change of the time-based electricity rate setting is appropriately reflected in the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1. The charge change information includes, for example, information on the name of the electricity rate menu corresponding to the electricity rate setting by time zone, information on the time zone division of the electricity rate setting by time zone, and information on the time zone of the electricity rate setting by time zone. The information before and after the change may be included for at least one of the information on the unit price of the electric energy charge.

  If the control device 100 notifies the user of the charge change information by a notification means such as the display device 50b of the remote control 50 or the voice announcement device of the remote control 50, the control device 100 automatically ends the notification of the charge change information after the scheduled change date. May be. This can prevent the charge change information from being unnecessarily notified after the scheduled change date, and can prevent the user from feeling annoying. In this case, a numerical value of a period (for example, 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, etc.) in which the notification of the charge change information is continued can be set in advance by the user operating the operation unit 50a of the remote controller 50. Good.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the control device 100 included in the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment. Each function of the control device 100 is realized by a processing circuit. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the processing circuit of the control device 100 includes at least one processor 1001 and at least one memory 1002. When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 1001 and at least one memory 1002, each function of the control device 100 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of software and firmware is described as a program. At least one of software and firmware is stored in at least one memory 1002. At least one processor 1001 reads out and executes a program stored in at least one memory 1002 to realize each function of control device 100. The at least one processor 1001 is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). For example, the at least one memory 1002 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), a non-volatile erasable memory such as an electrically erasable erasable memory (EEPROM). Alternatively, a volatile semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or the like can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the hardware configuration of the control device 100 included in the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the processing circuit of the control device 100 includes at least one dedicated hardware 1003. When the processing circuit includes at least one dedicated hardware 1003, the processing circuit includes, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and an FPGA (Field). -Programmable Gate Array) or a combination thereof. The function of each unit of the control device 100 may be realized by a processing circuit. In addition, the functions of the respective units of the control device 100 may be collectively realized by a processing circuit.

  In addition, a part of each function of the control device 100 may be realized by dedicated hardware 1003, and the other part may be realized by software or firmware. The processing circuit may realize each function of the control device 100 by hardware 1003, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

  Further, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the operation of the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 is controlled by a single control device, and the configuration in which the operation of the hot water supply type hot water supply system 1 is controlled by the cooperation of a plurality of control devices. Is also good.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 hot water storage type hot water supply system, 2 heating device, 5 additional heating heat exchanger, 6 bath tub, 10 thermal storage tank, 31 circulation pump, 32 additional heating pump, 33 bath tub pump, 41 hot water tap temperature control valve, 42 hot water temperature control valve , 50 remote control, 50a operation unit, 50b display device, 60 HEMS controller, 70 communication line, 80 server computer, 100 control device, 101 heat storage amount calculation unit, 104 necessary heat amount setting unit, 105 heat storage operation control unit, 106 valve control unit , 107 target temperature setting section, 108 pump control section, 109 parameter determination section, 110 date / time detection section, 111 charge information acquisition section, 301a boiling out pipe, 301b boiling return pipe, 302 water supply pipe, 303 high temperature derivation pipe, 304 Temperature control piping, 305 hot water supply 306a Bathtub going piping, 306b Bathtub returning piping, 307a Additional heating piping, 307b Additional heating returning piping, 501a-501f Hot water storage temperature sensor, 502 Boiling temperature sensor, 503 Derived temperature sensor, 504 Water supply temperature sensor, 505 Hot water temperature Sensor, 506 bathtub return temperature sensor, 507 additional heating return temperature sensor, 601 tap water flow sensor, 602 hot water flow sensor, 1001 processor, 1002 memory, 1003 hardware

Claims (6)

Heating means;
A heat storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means,
Heat storage operation control means for controlling the heat storage operation to increase the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank,
Charge information acquisition means for acquiring time-based charge setting information that is information about the content of the time-based electricity price setting and scheduled change date information that is information about the scheduled date at which the time-based electricity price setting is changed,
Parameter determining means for determining a heat storage operation parameter, which is a control parameter related to the heat storage operation, in accordance with the time zone-based charge setting information;
With
Before the scheduled date, the parameter determining unit determines the heat storage operation parameter according to the first time zone-based charge setting information, and after the scheduled date, the parameter determining unit determines the first time. Determine the heat storage operation parameter according to the second time zone charge setting information different from the time zone charge setting information,
The heat storage operation includes a main heat storage operation performed during a time period when the unit price of the electric energy charge is lowest,
The heat storage operation parameter includes a main heat storage amount that is a heat storage amount to be stored in the main heat storage operation,
Regarding a maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio, which is a ratio of a power amount unit price in a time zone in which the power amount unit price is the highest to a power amount unit price in a time zone in which the energy amount unit price is the lowest, the parameter determining means: When the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled date has been reduced compared to the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date, the main heat storage amount before the scheduled date has arrived. Then, the main heat storage amount after the scheduled date arrives is set to a low value, and the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled date arrives is larger than the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date arrives. In this case, a hot water supply type hot water supply system that sets the main heat storage amount after the scheduled date to a higher value than the main heat storage amount before the scheduled date. Heating means;
A heat storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means,
Heat storage operation control means for controlling the heat storage operation to increase the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank,
Charge information acquisition means for acquiring time-based charge setting information that is information on the content of the time-zone-based electric charge setting and scheduled change date information that is information about a planned date on which the time-based electric charge setting is to be changed;
Parameter determining means for determining a heat storage operation parameter, which is a control parameter relating to the heat storage operation, according to the time-zone-based charge setting information,
With
Before the scheduled date arrives, the parameter determining means determines the heat storage operation parameter according to the first time zone-based charge setting information, and after the scheduled date arrives, the parameter determining means sets the first time. Determine the heat storage operation parameter according to the second time zone charge setting information different from the time zone charge setting information,
The heat storage operation includes an additional heat storage operation,
The additional heat storage operation is started when the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank falls below the minimum heat storage amount, and is ended when the heat storage amount of the heat storage tank recovers to a value obtained by adding the additional heat storage amount to the minimum heat storage amount. And
The heat storage operation parameter includes the additional heat storage amount,
Regarding the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio, which is the ratio of the power unit price in the time zone in which the power unit price is the highest to the power unit price in the time zone in which the unit price is the lowest, If the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled date has been reduced compared to the maximum unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date, the additional heat storage amount before the scheduled date has arrived. Then, the additional heat storage amount after the scheduled date arrives is set to a high value, and the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio after the scheduled date arrives is larger than the highest unit price / minimum unit price ratio before the scheduled date arrives. In this case, a hot water supply type hot water supply system that sets the additional heat storage amount after the scheduled date has reached a lower value than the additional heat storage amount before the scheduled date has arrived.   3. The charge information acquisition unit according to claim 1, wherein the charge information acquisition unit can acquire information from an operation terminal capable of performing an operation of inputting at least one of the time zone charge setting information and the scheduled change date information. 4. Hot water storage system. The charge information acquisition means includes the time zone pricing information, at least one of the said change date information, according to claims 1 can be obtained through a communication line to any one of claims 3 Hot water storage system. Information on the name of the electricity rate menu corresponding to the electricity rate setting by time zone, information on the time zone division of the electricity rate setting by time zone, and the electricity rate unit price in each time zone of the electricity rate setting by time zone The hot water supply type hot water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising: a notification unit configured to notify a user of information on a change on the scheduled date with respect to at least one of the information. The hot water supply type hot water supply system according to claim 5 , wherein the notification unit ends notification of the change information after the scheduled date.

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