JP6760173B2 - Hot water supply system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water supply system.

Patent Document 1 describes a hot water supply device. The hot water supply device described in Patent Document 1 includes a drain plug that automatically opens and closes. This drain plug is automatically closed before the bathtub is filled with hot water.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-152980

The drain plug that can be opened and closed automatically may freeze in a low temperature environment such as winter. A drain plug that has frozen cannot operate properly. For example, in Patent Document 1 described above, there is a possibility that the drain plug cannot be closed due to freezing before the hot water is poured into the bathtub.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply system capable of preventing a drain plug that is automatically closed before hot water filling of a bathtub from becoming inoperable due to freezing.

The hot water supply system according to the present invention can supply hot water to a bathtub, and has an automatic water heater having a function of filling the bathtub with hot water, a drain plug provided in the bathtub, and a driving means for opening and closing the drain plug. A drain plug, a control means capable of performing a first control for causing the drive means to close the drain plug and a second control for causing the water heater to supply a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub, and a control means for opening or closing the drain plug. A determination means for determining whether or not the condition is provided. The control means executes the first control before the water heater fills the bathtub with hot water, and executes the second control when the determination means determines that the drain plug is open after the first control is executed. To do.

The hot water supply system according to the present invention can prevent the drain plug that is automatically closed before the hot water is poured into the bathtub from becoming inoperable due to freezing.

It is an overall block diagram of the hot water supply system of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the control device of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the control device of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the hot water supply operation of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the hot water beam operation of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control of the antifreeze operation of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control of the antifreeze operation of Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the notification by the remote controller of Embodiment 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control of the antifreeze operation of the modification of Embodiment 1.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same part or the corresponding parts. In the present disclosure, duplicate description will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. It should be noted that the present invention may include any combination of configurations that can be combined among the configurations described in the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the hot water supply system of the first embodiment. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes a hot water storage type water heater 1. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment may include, for example, an immediate hot water supply type water heater instead of the hot water storage type water heater 1. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a hot water supply system including the hot water storage type water heater 1 will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water storage type water heater 1 has a heat pump unit 2 and a tank unit 10. The heat pump unit 2 and the tank unit 10 are connected by piping and electrical wiring (not shown).

The heat pump unit 2 is a device for heating water. The tank unit 10 is a device including a hot water storage tank 11 for storing water inside. The heat pump unit 2 in the present embodiment is an example of a heating means for heating low-temperature water led from the hot water storage tank 11.

The heat pump unit 2 includes a compressor 3, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 4, an expansion valve 5, and an air heat exchanger 6. The compressor 3, the water refrigerant heat exchanger 4, the expansion valve 5, and the air heat exchanger 6 are sequentially connected in an annular shape by the refrigerant pipe 7 to form a heat pump cycle. The heat pump unit 2 uses this heat pump cycle to heat water.

The water refrigerant heat exchanger 4 is a device for exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing on the primary side and the water flowing on the secondary side. A high-temperature refrigerant compressed by the compressor 3 is guided to the primary side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 4 via the refrigerant pipe 7. Further, low temperature water is guided from the hot water storage tank 11 to the secondary side. The low-temperature water guided to the secondary side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 4 is heated by the high-temperature refrigerant flowing on the primary side. In this way, the heat pump unit 2 heats the low-temperature water led from the hot water storage tank 11 of the tank unit 10.

A water inlet 11a and a water outlet 11b are provided at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11. Further, a hot water introduction port 11c is provided between the central portion and the lower portion of the hot water storage tank 11. A hot water introduction outlet 11d is provided above the hot water storage tank 11.

The tank unit 10 includes a pressure reducing valve 12. The pressure reducing valve 12 is for adjusting the pressure of water flowing through the pipe. One end of the first water supply pipe 13a is connected to the pressure reducing valve 12. The other end of the first water supply pipe 13a is connected to the water introduction port 11a of the hot water storage tank 11. Further, one end of the second water supply pipe 13b is connected to the pressure reducing valve 12. The other end of the second water supply pipe 13b is connected to an external water source of the hot water storage type water heater 1. The water source is, for example, a water supply.

Low temperature water is supplied to the second water supply pipe 13b from the water source. The low-temperature water supplied from the water source to the second water supply pipe 13b is regulated to a predetermined pressure by the pressure reducing valve 12. The low-temperature water regulated by the pressure reducing valve 12 flows through the first water supply pipe 13a and flows into the hot water storage tank 11 from the water introduction port 11a. In this way, low-temperature water is supplied from the water source to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11 via the pressure reducing valve 12, the first water supply pipe 13a, and the second water supply pipe 13b.

High-temperature water heated by the heat pump unit 2 flows into the upper part of the hot water storage tank 11 from the hot water introduction outlet 11d. High-temperature water flows into the hot water storage tank 11 from the hot water introduction outlet 11d, and low-temperature water flows into the hot water storage tank 11 from the water introduction port 11a. In this way, water is stored in the hot water storage tank 11 so that a temperature difference occurs between the upper part and the lower part. For example, water at 80 ° C. is stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 11. For example, water at 10 ° C. is stored in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11.

A plurality of temperature sensors are attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank 11 at different heights. As an example, a first hot water storage temperature sensor 14 and a second hot water storage temperature sensor 15 are attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank 11. Not limited to this, three or more temperature sensors may be attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank 11. The first hot water storage temperature sensor 14 is attached to the upper part of the surface of the hot water storage tank 11. The second hot water storage temperature sensor 15 is attached to the lower part of the surface of the hot water storage tank 11. These plurality of temperature sensors are for obtaining information on the water stored in the hot water storage tank 11. The information on the water stored in the hot water storage tank 11 includes the amount and temperature distribution of the water.

Further, the tank unit 10 includes a bath heat exchanger 16 and a bath circulation pump 17. The bath heat exchanger 16 is a heat exchanger for heating the heating target water flowing on the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16 by the high temperature water flowing on the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. is there.

High-temperature water is supplied from the hot water storage tank 11 or the heat pump unit 2 to the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. The water to be heated flowing on the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16 includes water in the bathtub 50 outside the hot water storage type water heater 1 and water for heating. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the water in the bathtub 50 flows to the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16.

One end of the bath return pipe 18 is connected to the inflow port on the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. The other end of the bath return pipe 18 is connected to the bathtub 50 via the bathtub adapter 51. The bathtub adapter 51 is attached to the wall surface of the bathtub 50. Further, one end of the bath going pipe 19 is connected to the outlet on the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. The other end of the bath going pipe 19 is connected to the bathtub 50 via the bathtub adapter 51.

The bath circulation pump 17 is a pump for circulating the water in the bathtub 50 to the bath return pipe 18, the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16, and the bath going pipe 19. The bath circulation pump 17 is provided in the bath return pipe 18. By driving the bath circulation pump 17, water circulates in the bathtub 50, the bathtub adapter 51, the bath return pipe 18, the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16, and the bath going pipe 19. In this way, the water in the bathtub 50 is supplied to the secondary side of the bath heat exchanger 16.

A bath return temperature sensor 20 is installed in the bath return pipe 18. The bath return temperature sensor 20 is provided between the bath circulation pump 17 and the bathtub 50. The bath return temperature sensor 20 detects the temperature of the water flowing out from the bathtub 50 to the bath return pipe 18. Further, a bath going temperature sensor 21 is installed in the bath going pipe 19. The bath temperature sensor 21 detects the temperature of water after heat exchange through the bath heat exchanger 16.

The tank unit 10 includes a three-way valve 23 and a four-way valve 24 as an example of the flow path switching means. Further, the tank unit 10 includes a pump 25, a solenoid valve 26, a hot water supply mixing valve 27, and a bath mixing valve 28.

The three-way valve 23 has an inflow port a port and a b port. Further, the three-way valve 23 has a c port which is an outlet. The four-way valve 24 has an inflow port a port and a b port. Further, the four-way valve 24 has a c port and a d port which are outlets.

The pump 25 is a device for flowing water through various pipes included in the hot water storage type water heater 1. The solenoid valve 26 is a device that opens or closes a flow path in a pipe provided with the solenoid valve 26. In the present embodiment, the solenoid valve 26 is provided to control the supply of water from the tank unit 10 to the bathtub 50. The hot water supply mixing valve 27 has a first inflow port, a second inflow port, and an outflow port. Similarly, the bath mixing valve 28 has a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet.

One end of the water outlet pipe 29 is connected to the a port of the three-way valve 23. The other end of the water outlet pipe 29 is connected to the water outlet 11b. The water outlet pipe 29 is a pipe that guides the low-temperature water stored in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11 from the water outlet 11b to the three-way valve 23. One end of the water outlet pipe 30 is connected to the b port of the three-way valve 23. The other end of the water outlet pipe 30 is connected to the outlet on the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. The water outlet pipe 30 is a pipe that guides the water flowing out from the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16 to the three-way valve 23.

One end of the heat pump going pipe 31 is connected to the c port of the three-way valve 23. The other end of the heat pump going pipe 31 is connected to the inflow port on the secondary side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 4 of the heat pump unit 2. The heat pump forward pipe 31 is a pipe that guides water from the tank unit 10 to the heat pump unit 2. The pump 25 is provided in the heat pump going pipe 31 as an example.

One end of the heat pump return pipe 32 is connected to the outlet on the secondary side of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 4. The other end of the heat pump return pipe 32 is connected to the a port of the four-way valve 24. The heat pump return pipe 32 is a pipe that guides water from the heat pump unit 2 to the tank unit 10. The heat pump unit 2 and the tank unit 10 are connected by a heat pump forward pipe 31 and a heat pump return pipe 32.

Further, one end of the first bypass pipe 33 is connected to the b port of the four-way valve 24. The other end of the first bypass pipe 33 is connected to the heat pump going pipe 31 between the water refrigerant heat exchanger 4 and the pump 25. One end of the second bypass pipe 34 is connected to the c port of the four-way valve 24. The other end of the second bypass pipe 34 is connected to the hot water introduction port 11c provided in the hot water storage tank 11.

One end of the hot water supply pipe 35 is connected to the d port of the four-way valve 24. The hot water supply pipe 35 is a pipe for sending the high-temperature water heated by the heat pump unit 2 to the primary side of the hot water storage tank 11 and the bath heat exchanger 16. The other end of the hot water supply pipe 35 is connected to the hot water introduction outlet 11d.

Further, one end of the water introduction pipe 36 is connected in the middle of the hot water supply pipe 35. The other end of the water introduction pipe 36 is connected to the inflow port on the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. The water introduction pipe 36 is a pipe for allowing high-temperature water to flow into the primary side of the bath heat exchanger 16. Here, the connection portion between the hot water supply pipe 35 and the water introduction pipe 36 is referred to as a first connection portion 35a as shown in FIG. In the hot water supply pipe 35 in the present embodiment, a second connection portion 35b is formed between the other end of the hot water supply pipe 35 connected to the hot water introduction outlet 11d and the first connection portion 35a.

One end of the first hot water supply pipe 37 is connected to the second connection portion 35b. The first hot water supply pipe 37 is a pipe for supplying the high-temperature water heated by the heat pump unit 2 or the high-temperature water stored in the hot water storage tank 11 to the outside of the hot water storage type water heater 1. The other end of the first hot water supply pipe 37 is branched into two as shown in FIG. One of the other ends of the first hot water supply pipe 37 branched into two is connected to the first inflow port of the hot water supply mixing valve 27, and the other is connected to the first inflow port of the bath mixing valve 28.

One end of the third water supply pipe 13c is connected to the pressure reducing valve 12. That is, one end of the first water supply pipe 13a, one end of the second water supply pipe 13b, and one end of the third water supply pipe 13c are connected to the pressure reducing valve 12.

The other end of the third water supply pipe 13c branches into two. One of the other ends of the third water supply pipe 13c branched into two is connected to the second inlet of the hot water supply mixing valve 27, and the other is connected to the second inlet of the bath mixing valve 28. The third water supply pipe 13c is a pipe for supplying low-temperature water from the water source to the hot water supply mixing valve 27 and the bath mixing valve 28.

In the present embodiment, the pressure reducing valve 12, the first water supply pipe 13a, the second water supply pipe 13b, and the third water supply pipe 13c form a water supply pipe for supplying low-temperature water from the water source to the hot water storage type water heater 1. are doing.

One end of the second hot water supply pipe 38 is connected to the outlet of the hot water supply mixing valve 27. The other end of the second hot water supply pipe 38 is connected to the faucet 40 outside the hot water storage type water heater 1 via the hot water supply plug 39. The faucet 40 is an example of a hot water outlet terminal used by the user. The faucet 40 is provided in, for example, a shower and a curan.

Further, one end of the third hot water supply pipe 41 is connected to the outlet of the bath mixing valve 28. The other end of the third hot water supply pipe 41 is connected in the middle of the bath going pipe 19 between, for example, the bath heat exchanger 16 and the bath going temperature sensor 21. The solenoid valve 26 is provided in the third hot water supply pipe 41 as an example. The solenoid valve 26 opens or closes the flow path in the third hot water supply pipe 41.

A flow rate sensor 42 is provided between the solenoid valve 26 and the bath mixing valve 28 in the third hot water supply pipe 41. The flow rate sensor 42 is a device that detects the flow rate of water in the third hot water supply pipe 41.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bathtub 50 is provided with a drain plug 52 for controlling drainage and water stoppage of water in the bathtub 50. A drain pipe 53 is connected to the bathtub 50 via the drain plug 52. By supplying water to the bathtub 50 with the drain plug 52 closed, water is stored in the bathtub 50. When the drain plug 52 is opened while the water is stored in the bathtub 50, the water stored in the bathtub 50 is discharged to the drain pipe 53.

The hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes a drive device 54 as an example of a drive means for opening and closing the drain plug 52. The drive device 54 is connected to the drain plug 52 via, for example, a wire or the like. The drive device 54 is, for example, an electric motor. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes a drain plug 52 and a drive device 54 as an example of an automatic drain plug. In the following description, the drain plug 52 and the drive device 54 are also simply referred to as an "automatic drain plug".

An open / close detection device 55 is connected to the drain plug 52 as an example. The open / close detection device 55 is a means for detecting the state of the drain plug 52. The open / close detection device 55 measures the operating amount or position of the drain plug 52. The open / close detection device 55 determines whether the drain plug 52 is open or closed based on the operating amount or position of the drain plug 52. The open / close detection device 55 is an example of the determination means. The open / close detection device 55 has a function of transmitting a signal including information on the drain plug 52. The open / close detection device 55 transmits an open signal when the drain plug 52 is open. Further, the open / close detection device 55 transmits a closing signal when the drain plug 52 is closed.

Further, for example, a temperature sensor 56 is attached to the drain plug 52. The temperature sensor 56 detects the temperature of the drain plug 52. The temperature sensor 56 may be provided in the vicinity of the drain plug 52. The temperature sensor 56 may detect the temperature at a place separated from the drain plug 52 by a certain distance. The temperature sensor 56 has a function of transmitting a signal including information on the detected temperature. The temperature sensor 56 in the present embodiment is an example of a temperature detecting means for detecting at least one of the temperature of the drain plug 52 and the temperature of a place separated from the drain plug 52 by a certain distance.

Further, the hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes a control device 60 that links the hot water storage type water heater 1 and the automatic drain plug. The control device 60 is an example of a control means for controlling the hot water supply system. The control device 60 is built in, for example, the tank unit 10 of the hot water storage type water heater 1. The control device 60 may be provided outside the hot water storage type water heater 1.

The control device 60 is electrically connected to each component constituting the hot water storage type water heater 1. Further, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the automatic drain plug and each component connected to the automatic drain plug. In the present embodiment, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the drive device 54, the open / close detection device 55, and the temperature sensor 56 by the communication line 57. The control device 60 controls the drive device 54. Further, the control device 60 operates based on the signals received from the open / close detection device 55 and the temperature sensor 56.

A remote controller 70 is electrically connected to the control device 60 by wire or wirelessly. The control device 60 and the remote controller 70 are connected by, for example, the remote controller communication line 71. The control device 60 and the remote controller 70 can communicate with each other.

The remote controller 70 has a display unit 70a and an operation unit 70b. The display unit 70a displays information such as the status of the hot water storage type water heater 1. The display unit 70a is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal. The operation unit 70b is a switch or the like for the user to operate the hot water storage type water heater 1. Further, the remote controller 70 may be provided with a speaker, a buzzer, a microphone, and the like.

The user can operate the hot water storage type water heater 1 by the operation unit 70b. The remote controller 70 transmits an operation instruction corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 70b by the user to the control device 60. The control device 60 controls each component constituting the hot water storage type water heater 1 based on the operation instruction received from the remote controller 70. In addition, the user can change the set value of the hot water storage type water heater 1 by operating the operation unit 70b. The set value of the hot water storage type water heater 1 includes the temperature of water supplied to the outside by the hot water storage type water heater 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the control device 60 of the first embodiment. As described above, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the drive device 54, the open / close detection device 55, the temperature sensor 56, and the remote controller 70. Further, the outside air temperature sensor 8 may be electrically connected to the control device 60. The outside air temperature sensor 8 is an example of an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outside air. The outside air temperature sensor 8 is provided in, for example, a heat pump unit 2 installed outdoors. As an example, the control device 60 operates according to the temperature of the outside air detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the bath circulation pump 17, the three-way valve 23, the four-way valve 24, and the pump 25. The control device 60 controls the bath circulation pump 17, the three-way valve 23, the four-way valve 24, and the pump 25.

Further, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 26, the hot water supply mixing valve 27, the bath mixing valve 28, and the heat pump unit 2. The control device 60 controls the solenoid valve 26, the hot water supply mixing valve 27, the bath mixing valve 28, and the heat pump unit 2.

The control device 60 is electrically connected to various sensors provided in the hot water storage type water heater 1. In the present embodiment, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the first hot water storage temperature sensor 14 and the second hot water storage temperature sensor 15. The control device 60 monitors the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 11 based on the temperature distribution in the hot water storage tank 11 detected by the first hot water storage temperature sensor 14 and the second hot water storage temperature sensor 15. The control device 60 controls the start and stop of heating of water by the heat pump unit 2 based on the information obtained by the first hot water storage temperature sensor 14 and the second hot water storage temperature sensor 15.

Further, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the bath return temperature sensor 20, the bath going temperature sensor 21, and the flow rate sensor 42. The control device 60 receives signals including detection result information from each of the bath return temperature sensor 20, the bath going temperature sensor 21, and the flow rate sensor 42, and operates according to the received signals.

The control device 60 may be electrically connected to the hot water supply temperature sensor 43. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply temperature sensor 43 is provided in the second hot water supply pipe 38 and detects the temperature of the water flowing through the second hot water supply pipe 38. The control device 60 may operate in response to a signal received from the hot water supply temperature sensor 43.

Further, the control device 60 may be electrically connected to the hot water supply water flow sensor 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply water flow sensor 44 is provided in the second hot water supply pipe 38 and detects the presence or absence of water flow in the second hot water supply pipe 38. The control device 60 may operate in response to a signal received from the hot water supply water flow sensor 44.

The control device 60 has, for example, a control unit 60a and a storage unit 60b, as shown in FIG. The storage unit 60b is an example of a storage means. Various set values, programs, and the like for controlling the hot water supply system of the present embodiment are stored in advance in the storage unit 60b. The control unit 60a controls various devices constituting the hot water supply system based on the settings, programs, and the like stored in the storage unit 60b.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 60 of the first embodiment. Each function of the control device 60 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 200. The processing circuit may include a processor 201 and a memory 202. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as dedicated hardware 200, and the processing circuit may further include a processor 201 and a memory 202. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a part of the processing circuit is formed as dedicated hardware 200, and the processing circuit further includes a processor 201 and a memory 202.

Next, the operation of the hot water supply system of the present embodiment will be described. First, the hot water supply operation by the hot water storage type water heater 1 will be described. The hot water supply operation is an operation of supplying water having a set temperature to a hot water outlet terminal such as a faucet 40 by using the water stored in the hot water storage tank 11. The set temperature of the water supplied to the hot water outlet terminal is set by the remote controller 70. This set temperature is also referred to as "hot water supply temperature" below. The hot water supply temperature set by the remote controller 70 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 60b of the control device 60.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hot water supply operation according to the first embodiment. The hot water supply operation shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the user opening the faucet 40. When the faucet 40 is opened, low-temperature water flows from the water source into the second water supply pipe 13b. The low-temperature water that has flowed into the second water supply pipe 13b passes through the pressure reducing valve 12. A part of the low-temperature water that has passed through the pressure reducing valve 12 is supplied from the water introduction port 11a to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11 via the first water supply pipe 13a. Further, a part of the low temperature water that has passed through the pressure reducing valve 12 is supplied to the hot water supply mixing valve 27 via the third water supply pipe 13c.

When the low-temperature water is supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11, the high-temperature water stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 11 is taken out from the hot water introduction outlet 11d. The high-temperature water taken out from the hot water introduction outlet 11d is supplied to the hot water supply mixing valve 27 via the first hot water supply pipe 37.

In the hot water supply mixing valve 27, the high temperature water and the low temperature water supplied to the hot water supply mixing valve 27 are mixed. The water mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 27 is supplied to the faucet 40 via the second hot water supply pipe 38 and the hot water supply tap 39. The hot water supply operation ends when the user closes the faucet 40.

In the hot water supply operation, the control device 60 controls the hot water supply mixing valve 27 so that the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature sensor 43 becomes the hot water supply temperature set by the remote controller 70. As a result, water having a hot water supply temperature is supplied to the faucet 40.

Next, the hot water beam operation by the hot water storage type water heater 1 will be described. The hot water filling operation is an operation in which hot water is poured into the bathtub 50 using the water stored in the hot water storage tank 11. The hot water operation is an operation of supplying water having a set temperature set by the remote controller 70 to the bathtub 50. This set temperature is also referred to as "hot water temperature" below. The hot water temperature set by the remote controller 70 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 60b of the control device 60.

In the present disclosure, the water supplied by the hot water storage type water heater 1 to the bathtub 50 by the hot water supply operation is also referred to as "hot water". The hot water storage type water heater 1 is an example of a water heater having a function of filling the bathtub 50 with hot water.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the hot water operation of the first embodiment. The hot water operation is started by operating the operation unit 70b of the remote controller 70, for example. The operation performed by the user to cause the hot water storage type water heater 1 to perform the hot water filling operation is also hereinafter referred to as "hot water filling operation". The time when the hot water filling operation is started is not limited to the time when the hot water filling operation is performed.

In the hot water operation, the control device 60 opens the solenoid valve 26. When the solenoid valve 26 is opened, low-temperature water flows from the water source into the second water supply pipe 13b. The low-temperature water that has flowed into the second water supply pipe 13b passes through the pressure reducing valve 12. A part of the low temperature water that has passed through the pressure reducing valve 12 is supplied from the water introduction port 11a to the lower part in the hot water storage tank 11 via the first water supply pipe 13a. Further, a part of the low temperature water that has passed through the pressure reducing valve 12 is supplied to the bath mixing valve 28 via the third water supply pipe 13c.

When the low-temperature water is supplied to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 11, the high-temperature water stored in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 11 is taken out from the hot water introduction outlet 11d. The high-temperature water taken out from the hot water introduction outlet 11d is supplied to the bath mixing valve 28 via the first hot water supply pipe 37.

In the bath mixing valve 28, the supplied high-temperature water and low-temperature water are mixed. The water mixed by the bath mixing valve 28 is supplied to the bathtub 50 via the third hot water supply pipe 41, the solenoid valve 26, the bath return pipe 18, and the bath going pipe 19.

In the hot water filling operation, the control device 60 controls the bath mixing valve 28 so that the temperature detected by the bath return temperature sensor 20 and the bath going temperature sensor 21 becomes the hot water filling temperature. As a result, hot water having a hot water temperature is supplied to the bathtub 50. The control device 60 closes the solenoid valve 26 when the amount of hot water flowing into the bathtub 50 reaches the set amount. As a result, the hot water operation is completed. The amount of hot water to be set is set in advance by, for example, the remote controller 70.

Next, the characteristic operation of the hot water supply system of the present embodiment will be described. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment has a feature that the automatic drain plug is operated before the hot water filling operation by the hot water storage type water heater 1, and a feature that the automatic drain plug can be prevented from not moving properly due to freezing. ,have. This characteristic operation is referred to as "freezing prevention operation". Hereinafter, the antifreeze operation will be described with reference to the flowchart.

6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the control of the antifreeze operation of the first embodiment. The control of the antifreeze operation is executed by the control device 60. First, the control unit 60a of the control device 60 determines whether or not the hot water filling operation has been performed by the user (step S101). The control unit 60a executes the process of step S101 based on the signal received from the remote controller 70.

When the hot water filling operation is not performed by the user, the control unit 60a determines whether the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8 is equal to or less than a preset reference value (step S102). This reference value is hereinafter referred to as "reference temperature". The reference temperature is preset as the temperature at which the automatic drain plug may freeze. The reference temperature is, for example, 5 ° C.

Information on the reference temperature is stored in advance in, for example, the storage unit 60b. The control unit 60a executes the process of step S102 based on the signal received from the outside air temperature sensor 8 and the information stored in the storage unit 60b.

When the control unit 60a determines in step S102 that the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8 is not equal to or lower than the reference temperature, it determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or lower than the preset reference value (step S103). ). This reference value is hereinafter referred to as "reference drain plug temperature". The reference drain plug temperature is preset as a temperature at which the automatic drain plug may freeze. The reference drain plug temperature is, for example, 5 ° C.

When it is determined in step S103 that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is not equal to or lower than the reference drain plug temperature, the antifreeze operation ends. The processes of steps S102 and S103 may be executed simultaneously or in reverse order.

When the hot water filling operation is performed by the user, the control unit 60a executes the closing control (step S104). This closing control is a control that causes the driving device 54 to close the drain plug 52. The closing control is an example of the first control executed by the control means. The control unit 60a executes the closing control before causing the hot water storage type water heater 1 to perform the hot water filling operation. The control unit 60a also controls closing when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8 is determined to be equal to or lower than the reference temperature and when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is determined to be equal to or lower than the reference drain plug temperature. To execute.

When the closing control is executed in step S104, the control unit 60a determines whether or not the open / close detection device 55 has received the open signal (step S105). As described above, the open / close detection device 55 transmits an open signal when the drain plug 52 is open. Further, the open / close detection device 55 transmits a closing signal when the drain plug 52 is closed. When the control unit 60a receives the open signal in step S105, that is, when the drain plug 52 is open, the control unit 60a executes a hot water supply notification instruction to the remote controller 70 (step S106).

Upon receiving the hot water supply notification instruction, the remote controller 70 notifies that hot water is supplied from the hot water storage type water heater 1 to the bathtub. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of notification by the remote controller 70 according to the first embodiment. As an example, the display unit 70a of the remote controller 70 displays that "anti-freezing operation is being executed" and "hot water is discharged from the bathtub adapter 51". The remote controller 70 may perform notification by emitting a sound from a speaker or buzzer provided in the remote controller 70, for example. The remote controller 70 in the present embodiment is an example of the notification means for notifying the user.

The control unit 60a executes the hot water supply control after executing the hot water supply notification instruction in step S106 (step S107). This hot water supply control is a control for causing the hot water storage type water heater 1 to supply a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub 50. The hot water supply control in the present embodiment is an example of the second control executed by the control means. In other words, the control device 60 of the present embodiment is an example of a control means capable of executing the first control and the second control.

When the hot water supply control is executed by the control unit 60a, the hot water storage type water heater 1 supplies a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub. This preset amount is hereinafter referred to as "supply hot water amount". The amount of hot water to be supplied is set in advance in the storage unit 60b, for example. For example, assuming that there is 2 [L] of water in the bath going pipe 19, the amount of hot water supplied is set to 3 [L], which is larger than this 2 [L]. As a result, hot water is reliably supplied to the bathtub 50.

Here, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50 by the hot water storage type water heater 1 when the hot water supply control is executed is referred to as "supply hot water temperature". The control unit 60a of the present embodiment executes the hot water supply control in step S107 so that the hot water supply temperature becomes higher than the hot water filling temperature. As an example, the control unit 60a executes hot water supply control so that the hot water supply temperature is 5 ° C. higher than the hot water filling temperature. Further, as an example, the control unit 60a executes hot water supply control so that the hot water supply temperature becomes 60 ° C. or lower. The temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub in step S107 is stored in, for example, the storage unit 60b.

The control unit 60a executes the closing control again after executing the hot water supply control in step S107 (step S108). When the closing control is executed in step S107, the control unit 60a determines whether or not an open signal has been received from the open / close detection device 55 as in step S105 (step S109). When the control unit 60a receives the open signal in step S109, that is, when the drain plug 52 is open, the control unit 60a executes the hot water supply control again (step S110).

The control unit 60a executes the closing control again after executing the hot water supply control in step S110 (step S111). When the closing control is executed in step S111, the control unit 60a determines whether or not an open signal has been received from the open / close detection device 55 (step S112).

When the open signal is received in step S112, that is, when the drain plug 52 is open, the control unit 60a determines whether the number of executions of the closing control has reached a preset number (step S113). This number of times is hereinafter referred to as "set number of times". The set number of times is set in advance in the storage unit 60b, for example. The number of times of setting is, for example, five times.

When the control unit 60a determines in step S113 that the number of times the closing control is executed is less than the preset number of times, the control unit 60a determines that the number of times the closing control is executed is less than the preset number of times. A temperature higher than this is set as the hot water temperature (step S114). The control unit 60a again executes the hot water supply control in step S110 so that the hot water having the hot water outlet temperature is supplied from the hot water storage type water heater 1 to the bathtub 50. That is, the supply hot water temperature rises when the process of step S110 is repeatedly executed. As an example, the hot water supply temperature in the second and subsequent steps S110 is 5 ° C. higher than the hot water supply temperature in the previous step S110.

When the control unit 60a determines in step S113 that the number of times the closing control is executed has reached a preset number of times, the control unit 60a executes an abnormality notification instruction to the remote controller 70 (step S115). Upon receiving this abnormality notification instruction, the remote controller 70 notifies that the automatic drain plug is abnormal. After executing the abnormality notification instruction in step S115, the control unit 60a ends various processes being executed (step S116). As a result, for example, when hot water is discharged from the bathtub adapter 51 by the hot water supply control, the hot water from the bathtub adapter 51 is stopped. When step S116 is executed, the antifreeze operation is completed.

Further, when the open signal is not received in step S109, that is, when the drain plug 52 is closed, the control unit 60a executes a notification stop instruction to the remote controller 70 (step S117). When the remote controller 70 receives the notification stop instruction, the remote controller 70 stops the notification that has been performed in response to the hot water supply notification instruction in step S106. As a result, the state of the display unit 70a of the remote controller 70 returns to the normal state. After executing the notification stop instruction in step S117, the control unit 60a ends various controls being executed in the same manner as in step S116 (step S118).

After step S118, the control unit 60a determines whether or not the hot water filling operation has been performed by the user in step S101. Further, the control unit 60a determines whether or not the hot water filling operation has been performed by the user in step S101 even when the open signal is not received in step S105 (step S119). The anti-freezing operation ends. When there is a hot water filling operation, the control unit 60a and the hot water storage type water heater 1 start the hot water filling operation (step S120). When the hot water operation starts, the anti-freezing operation ends. The control of the antifreeze operation is not limited to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, some processes from step S101 to step S120 may be omitted.

The hot water supply system of the above embodiment includes a control device 60 capable of executing closing control which is an example of the first control and hot water supply control which is an example of the second control. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the control device 60 executes the closing control before the hot water storage type water heater 1 performs the hot water filling operation. Further, the control device 60 executes the hot water supply control when the drain plug 52 is opened after the closing control is executed. By executing the hot water supply control, a preset amount of hot water is supplied to the bathtub 50. As a result, the temperature of the drain plug 52 rises, and the drain plug 52 that freezes and becomes immobile is thawed. According to the above embodiment, a hot water supply system capable of preventing the drain plug 52, which is automatically closed before the bathtub 50 is filled with hot water, from becoming inoperable due to freezing can be obtained.

The operation of the control device 60, which is an example of the control means, may be performed by, for example, a plurality of devices. Further, a repeater may be provided between the control device 60 built in the tank unit 10 and the automatic drain plug. A part of the operation of the control device 60 in the above embodiment may be performed by this repeater.

Further, in the above embodiment, the open / close detection device 55 determines whether the drain plug 52 is open or closed, and transmits the determination result as an open signal or a close signal. The open / close detection device 55 may transmit, for example, a signal including information on the operating amount or position of the drain plug 52 to the control device 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 60 may have a determination unit 60c that determines the state of the drain plug 52 based on the information received from the open / close detection device 55, for example. The determination unit 60c is an example of the determination means. As described above, the hot water supply system of the above embodiment may be provided with any determination means for determining the state of the drain plug 52 or any detection means for detecting the state of the drain plug 52.

In the above embodiment, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50 by the hot water storage type water heater 1 when the hot water supply control is executed is supplied to the bathtub 50 when the hot water storage type water heater 1 is in hot water operation. It is higher than the temperature of hot water. As a result, the drain plug 52 that has been frozen and has become immobile is more reliably thawed. Further, in the above embodiment, the control device 60 repeats the closing control and the hot water supply control. By repeating the hot water supply control and the closing control, the drain plug 52 that has been frozen and has become immobile is more reliably thawed.

In the above embodiment, when the hot water supply control is repeatedly executed, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50 when the second and subsequent hot water supply controls are executed is the temperature of the previous hot water supply control. The temperature is higher than the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50. By supplying hot water to the bathtub by the hot water supply control, the frozen and stuck drain plug 52 is more reliably thawed.

In addition, steps S110 to S112 in the above-described embodiment may be omitted. That is, when the hot water supply control is repeated, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub 50 when the second and subsequent hot water supply controls are executed is supplied to the bathtub 50 when the previous hot water supply control is executed. It may be higher than the temperature of the hot water.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control device 60 is an example of the notification means that the automatic drain plug is abnormal when the drain plug 52 is opened after the closing control is executed a preset number of times. Notify the remote controller 70. In the above embodiment, for example, the user of the hot water supply system can recognize that the cause of the drain plug 52 not moving is not freezing.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in step S102 and step S104, the closing control is executed when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8 is equal to or lower than the reference temperature. In the above embodiment, the antifreeze operation is executed according to the temperature of the outside air. For example, when the temperature of the outside air is low, it is possible to prevent the drain plug 52 from being stuck due to freezing even if the hot water filling operation is not performed. Further, when the temperature of the outside air is high, hot water is not wasted.

In the above embodiment, as shown in step S103 and step S104, the closing control is executed when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or lower than the reference drain plug temperature. In the above embodiment, the antifreeze operation is executed according to the temperature around the drain plug 52 or the drain plug 52. For example, when the temperature of the drain plug 52 is a temperature at which the drain plug 52 is likely to be frozen, the anti-freezing operation is executed even if the hot water filling operation is not performed. Further, when the temperature of the drain plug 52 is high, hot water is not wasted.

In the above embodiment, the control device 60 notifies the remote controller 70 that hot water is supplied from the hot water storage type water heater 1 to the bathtub 50 when executing the hot water supply control. This prevents the user from coming into contact with hot water.

Further, in the storage unit 60b of the control device 60, for example, an anti-freezing mode and an anti-freezing mode may be set in advance as a plurality of operation modes. The hot water supply system of the above embodiment may be configured so that the antifreeze mode and the antifreeze mode can be selected by the user. The remote controller 70 may function as a selection means for selecting the antifreeze mode and the antifreeze mode.

The anti-freezing permission mode is an operation mode in which execution of hot water supply control is permitted after closing control is executed. When the antifreeze permission mode is selected, the hot water supply system is in the permission state. In the hot water supply system in the permitted state, the hot water supply control is executed after the closing control is executed as in the above-described embodiment. The anti-freezing prohibition mode is an operation mode in which execution of hot water supply control is prohibited after the closing control is executed. When the anti-freezing prohibition mode is selected, the hot water supply system is in the prohibited state. In the hot water supply system in the prohibited state, the hot water supply control is not executed after the closing control is executed. For example, a user who uses a hot water supply system in a place where the temperature is high can reduce wasteful consumption of hot water by prohibiting the hot water supply system.

Further, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control of the freeze prevention operation of the modified example of the first embodiment. The freeze prevention operation is an operation for preventing the drain plug 52 from becoming stuck due to freezing. Hereinafter, this freeze prevention operation will be described with reference to the flowchart.

In the freeze prevention operation, the control unit 60a of the control device 60 determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or lower than a preset reference value (step S201). This reference value is preset as the temperature at which the automatic drain plug may freeze. As an example, this reference value is the same as the reference drain plug temperature described above. If it is determined in step S201 that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is not equal to or lower than the reference drain plug temperature, the freeze prevention operation ends.

When the control unit 60a determines in step S201 that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or lower than the reference drain plug temperature, the control unit 60a executes a hot water supply notification instruction to the remote controller 70 (step S202). The remote controller 70 that has received the hot water supply notification instruction notifies that hot water is supplied from the hot water storage type water heater 1 to the bathtub.

The control unit 60a executes the hot water supply notification instruction in step S202, and then executes the hot water supply control which is an example of the second control (step S203). When the hot water supply control is executed by the control unit 60a, the hot water storage type water heater 1 supplies a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub.

When the hot water supply control is executed in step S203, the control unit 60a determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or higher than the reference drain plug temperature which is a preset reference value (step S204). If the control unit 60a determines in step S204 that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is not equal to or higher than the reference drain plug temperature, the control unit 60a executes the process of step S202 again.

When the control unit 60a determines in step S204 that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or higher than the reference drain plug temperature, the control unit 60a ends the hot water supply control (step S205). As a result, the supply of hot water to the bathtub is stopped. After finishing the hot water supply control in step S205, the control unit 60a executes a notification stop instruction to the remote controller 70 (step S206). The remote controller 70 that receives the notification stop instruction stops the notification. When the process of step S206 is executed, the freeze prevention operation ends.

In the freeze prevention operation described above, the control device 60 executes hot water supply control, which is an example of the second control, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 56 is equal to or less than a preset reference value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the drain plug 52 from becoming stuck due to freezing. The above-mentioned processes from step S201 to step S206 of the antifreeze operation may be executed between steps 101 and S104 of the antifreeze operation, for example. By combining the antifreeze operation and the antifreeze operation, it is possible to more reliably prevent the drain plug 52 from becoming immobile due to freezing. Further, in step S201 described above, the control unit 60a may determine, for example, whether the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 8 is equal to or less than a preset reference value. The antifreeze operation may be performed depending on the outside air temperature.

1 Hot water storage type water supply machine, 2 Heat pump unit, 3 Compressor, 4 Water refrigerant heat exchanger, 5 Expansion valve, 6 Air heat exchanger, 7 Coolant piping, 8 Outside temperature sensor, 10 Tank unit, 11 Hot water storage tank, 11a Water Introductory port, 11b water outlet, 11c hot water inlet, 11d hot water inlet, 12 pressure reducing valve, 13a 1st water supply pipe, 13b 2nd water supply pipe, 13c 3rd water supply pipe, 14 1st hot water storage temperature sensor, 15 2nd Hot water storage temperature sensor, 16 Bath heat exchanger, 17 Bath circulation pump, 18 Bath return piping, 19 Bath return piping, 20 Bath return temperature sensor, 21 Bath return temperature sensor, 23 Three-way valve, 24 Four-way valve, 25 Pump, 26 Electromagnetic valve, 27 Mixing valve for hot water supply, 28 Mixing valve for bath, 29 Water outlet piping, 30 Water outlet piping, 31 Heat pump going piping, 32 Heat pump return piping, 33 1st bypass piping, 34 2nd bypass piping, 35 feed Hot water pipe, 35a 1st connection, 35b 2nd connection, 36 Water introduction pipe, 37 1st hot water supply pipe, 38 2nd hot water supply pipe, 39 Hot water tap, 40 faucet, 41 3rd hot water supply pipe, 42 Flow sensor, 43 Hot water supply temperature sensor, 44 hot water supply water flow sensor, 50 bathtub, 51 bathtub adapter, 52 drain plug, 53 drain pipe, 54 drive device, 55 open / close detection device, 56 temperature sensor, 57 communication line, 60 control device, 60a control unit, 60b Storage unit, 60c judgment unit, 70 remote controller, 70a display unit, 70b operation unit, 71 remote controller communication line, 200 dedicated hardware, 201 processor, 202 memory

Claims (11)

A water heater that can supply hot water to the bathtub and has the function of filling the bathtub with hot water.
An automatic drain plug having a drain plug provided in the bathtub and a driving means for opening and closing the drain plug,
A control means capable of executing a first control for causing the drive means to close the drain plug and a second control for causing the water heater to supply a preset amount of hot water to the bathtub.
A determination means for determining whether the drain plug is open or closed, and
With
When the control means executes the first control before the water heater performs hot water filling to the bathtub, and the determination means determines that the drain plug is open after the first control is executed. Is a hot water supply system that executes the second control. The temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub by the water heater when the second control is executed is higher than the temperature of the hot water supplied to the bathtub when the water heater performs hot water filling. The hot water supply system described. The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means executes the first control again after executing the second control. When the determination means determines that the drain plug is open after the first control is executed again, the control means executes the second control again.
When the second control is repeatedly executed, the temperature of the hot water supplied by the water heater to the bathtub when the second control is executed for the second time or later is the temperature when the second control is executed last time. The hot water supply system according to claim 3, wherein the temperature of the hot water supplied by the water heater to the bathtub is equal to or higher than that of the water heater. When the determination means determines that the drain plug is open after executing the first control a preset number of times, the control means notifies the notification means that the automatic drain plug is abnormal. The hot water supply system according to claim 3 or 4. Equipped with an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outside air,
The hot water supply according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means executes the first control when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than a preset reference value. system. Equipped with an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outside air,
The hot water supply according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means executes the second control when the temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than a preset reference value. system. A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the drain plug or a place separated from the drain plug by a certain distance is provided.
The hot water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means executes the first control when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than a preset reference value. .. A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the drain plug or a place separated from the drain plug by a certain distance is provided.
The hot water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means executes the second control when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is equal to or lower than a preset reference value. .. Selection to select between the permitted state in which the execution of the second control is permitted after the execution of the first control and the prohibited state in which the execution of the second control is prohibited after the execution of the first control is executed. The hot water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising means. The hot water supply according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control means notifies the notification means that hot water is supplied from the water heater to the bathtub when the second control is executed. system.

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