JP7005309B2 - Hot water storage type hot water supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply device.

A hot water storage type hot water supply device that performs boiling operation using electric power during the night time is widely used. Further, in houses, facilities, etc., surplus electric power generated by a photovoltaic power generation device is sold to an electric power company. If the end time of the boiling operation in the night time zone is later than the power generation start time of the photovoltaic power generation device, the amount of power sold will decrease. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for terminating the boiling operation in the night time zone before the start of power generation of the photovoltaic power generation device by advancing the start time and the end time of the boiling operation in the night time zone. ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-242125

In the technique of Patent Document 1, if the boiling operation in the night time zone is performed ahead of schedule, the boiling operation may be started at the start time of the night time zone (for example, 23:00). For this reason, as a result of the plurality of hot water storage type hot water supply devices of a plurality of houses starting the boiling operation all at once at the start of the night time zone, the electric power demand may be concentrated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water storage type hot water supply device which is advantageous in suppressing the concentration of electric power demand.

The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to the present invention includes a hot water storage tank, a heating means for heating water by consuming electric power, and a control means for controlling a boiling operation for heating the water in the hot water storage tank by the heating means. It is possible to switch between the first boiling time zone and the second boiling time zone, which has an earlier end time than the first boiling time zone, as the time zone for performing the night boiling operation, which is the boiling operation in the nighttime zone. The time zone from the start of the night time zone to the predetermined time is the boiling prohibited time zone, and the control means sets the second boiling time zone while avoiding the boiling prohibited time zone and at the sunrise time. In the early season, the end time of the boiling prohibited time zone is automatically set so that the end time of the boiling prohibited time zone is earlier than the season when the sunrise time is late, and the end time of the second boiling time zone is set. , It is a time after the start time of the first boiling time zone.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hot water storage type hot water supply device which is advantageous in suppressing the concentration of electric power demand.

It is a figure which shows the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an external view which shows an example of a remote control device. It is a figure which shows the example of the time zone which the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus by Embodiment 1 performs a night boiling operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Common or corresponding elements in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify or omit duplicate descriptions.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hot water storage type hot water supply device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water storage type hot water supply device according to the first embodiment includes a hot water storage tank unit 1 having a built-in hot water storage tank 10 and a heat pump unit 60 as a heating means for heating water. The heat pump unit 60 heats water by consuming electric power and operating the heat pump cycle. The hot water storage tank unit 1 and the heat pump unit 60 are connected to each other via a heat pump inlet pipe 41, a heat pump outlet pipe 42, and electrical wiring (not shown). Further, the hot water storage tank unit 1 has a built-in control unit 70 as a control means. The operation of various valves, pumps, etc. included in the hot water storage tank unit 1 and the heat pump unit 60 is controlled by a control unit 70 electrically connected to these.

In the hot water storage tank 10, it is possible to form a temperature stratification in which the upper side is high temperature and the lower side is low temperature due to the difference in water density depending on the temperature. The water supply pipe 2 is connected to a water source such as water supply. The water from the water supply pipe 2 flows into the lower part of the hot water storage tank 10 through the tank lower pipe 40, so that the inside of the hot water storage tank 10 is maintained in a full state.

The heat pump inlet pipe 41 connects the lower part of the hot water storage tank 10 and the water inlet of the heat pump unit 60. The heat pump outlet pipe 42 connects between the hot water outlet of the heat pump unit 60 and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 10.

The hot water storage type hot water supply device can carry out boiling operation. The boiling operation is an operation in which the water in the hot water storage tank 10 is heated by the heat pump unit 60. At the time of boiling operation, it becomes as follows. A circulation pump (not shown) arranged in the middle of the heat pump inlet pipe 41 and a heat pump unit 60 are operated. The low temperature water in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 10 flows into the heat pump unit 60 through the heat pump inlet pipe 41. The low temperature water is heated in the heat pump unit 60 to become hot water, that is, high temperature water. This high temperature water flows into the upper part of the hot water storage tank 10 through the heat pump outlet pipe 42. High-temperature water is gradually stored in the hot water storage tank 10 from top to bottom.

A hot water supply mixing valve 22 is provided in the hot water storage tank unit 1. The hot water supply mixing valve 22 has an a port which is a water side inlet, a b port which is a hot water side inlet, and a c port which is an outlet. The water supply branch pipe 12 branched from the water supply pipe 2 is connected to the a port of the hot water supply mixing valve 22. The tank upper pipe 43 connects the upper part of the hot water storage tank unit 1 and the b port of the hot water supply mixing valve 22. The hot water supply pipe 3 connects the outlet of the hot water supply mixing valve 22 and the hot water supply tap 34. The water heater 34 supplies hot water to, for example, a bathtub, a shower, a sink, a wash basin, and the like. A hot water supply flow rate sensor 46 for detecting the hot water supply flow rate and a hot water supply temperature sensor 47 for detecting the hot water supply temperature are arranged in the hot water supply pipe 3.

When the user opens the hot water tap 34, the hot water in which the low temperature water from the water supply branch pipe 12 and the high temperature water from the hot water storage tank 10 are mixed by the hot water supply mixing valve 22 passes through the hot water supply pipe 3 and the hot water tap 34. Is supplied to. The control unit 70 controls the operation of the hot water supply mixing valve 22 so that the temperature detected by the hot water supply temperature sensor 47 becomes equal to the preset temperature.

The control unit 70 and the remote controller device 80 can communicate in both directions by wired communication or wireless communication. The control unit 70 and the remote control device 80 may be able to communicate with each other via a network. The remote control device 80 is an example of a user interface. In the present embodiment, the remote control device 80 may be installed on a wall such as a kitchen, a living room, or a bathroom. Alternatively, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone may be configured to have a function as a user interface such as the remote control device 80. A plurality of remote control devices 80 may be able to communicate with the control unit 70.

Further, the control unit 70 is connected to the communication control device 51 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The communication control device 51 may be, for example, a home gateway that can be connected to a network system capable of communicating with other devices other than the hot water storage type hot water supply device and the Internet via a network in the house. The control unit 70 can receive information from the outside via the communication control device 51.

In the present embodiment, the house or facility in which the hot water storage type hot water supply device is used (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “house”) is provided with a photovoltaic power generation device (not shown). The hot water storage type hot water supply device and other electric devices in the house can be operated by the electric power generated by the solar power generation device. When the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation device is surplus, the surplus electric power can be reverse-flowed to the electric power system of the electric power company. That is, the surplus power can be sold.

The control unit 70 can receive information regarding the operating state of the photovoltaic power generation device via the communication control device 51. Further, the control unit 70 can receive information from, for example, a controller of a home energy management system that integrates and manages electric devices in a house via a communication control device 51.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of the remote control device 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control device 80 includes a display unit 81 that displays information such as the state of the hot water storage type hot water supply device, an operation unit 82 having a switch or the like operated by the user, and a speaker 83. By operating the remote control device 80, the user can remotely control the hot water storage type hot water supply device and make various settings. The display unit 81 has a function as a notification means for notifying information. The remote control device 80 in the present embodiment includes a display unit as a notification means, but as a modification, other notification means such as a voice guidance device may be provided.

Of the boiling operations, the boiling operation performed during the night time is hereinafter referred to as "night boiling operation". The night time zone is, for example, a time zone from 23:00 pm to 7:00 am the next morning. The daytime time zone is a time zone other than the nighttime time zone, for example, a time zone from 7:00 am to 23:00 pm. The unit price of electricity purchased from an electric power company may be cheaper during the night time than during the daytime.

By operating the remote controller 80, the setting of the disclosure time and the end time of the night time zone may be changed. Further, the control unit 70 may automatically set the disclosure time and the end time of the night time zone by receiving the electric power contract information from the electric power company or the like via the communication control device 51.

The control unit 70 can detect the amount of remaining hot water and the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 10 by detecting the hot water storage temperature distribution in the vertical direction by a plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors (not shown) provided in the hot water storage tank 10. The control unit 11 can calculate the required amount of heat to be generated in the night boiling operation. The control unit 11 may calculate the required heat amount according to, for example, the data obtained by learning the amount of hot water used in the past, the amount of remaining hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 before the night boiling operation, and the like. The control unit 70 controls the night boiling operation so that the required amount of heat is generated and stored in the hot water storage tank 10 by the end time of the night time zone.

The heating capacity of the heat pump unit 60 is the amount of heat given to water per unit time, and the unit is watts. The control unit 70 can calculate the required operating time of the night boiling operation based on the required amount of heat and the heating capacity of the heat pump unit 60.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a time zone in which the hot water storage type hot water supply device according to the first embodiment performs a night boiling operation. The control unit 70 can switch between the first boiling time zone and the second boiling time zone whose end time is earlier than the first boiling time zone as the time zone for performing the night boiling operation. The user can switch the setting between the first boiling time zone and the second boiling time zone by operating the remote control device 80. The first boiling time zone is set as the default mode, and the second boiling time zone may be set when the user operates the remote control device 80.

In the example of FIG. 3, the start time of the night time zone, that is, the end time of the daytime zone is set to 23:00, and the end time of the night time zone, that is, the start time of the daytime zone is set to 7:00. The control unit 70 may set the first boiling time zone so that the night boiling operation ends at the end time of the night time zone. That is, the control unit 70 may set the time retroactive from the end time of the night time zone to the required operation time as the start time of the first boiling time zone. In order to shorten the time for storing hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 as much as possible and reduce the amount of heat dissipated from the hot water storage tank 10, it is advantageous to end the night boiling operation at the latest possible time. In the example of FIG. 3, the required operation time of the night boiling operation is 5 hours, and the first boiling time zone is set from 2 o'clock to 7 o'clock so that the night boiling operation ends at 7 o'clock. ..

The time zone in which power is generated by the photovoltaic power generation device is hereinafter referred to as "PV power generation time zone". As shown in FIG. 3, the start time of the PV power generation time zone may be earlier than the end time of the night time zone. In particular, in the early sunrise (mainly in the summer), the start time of the PV power generation time zone is earlier than the end time of the night time zone.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first boiling time zone and the PV power generation time zone partially overlap. In this overlapping time zone, at least a part of the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation device is consumed by the night boiling operation. As a result, the amount of electric charge sold decreases, which is not suitable for users who want to give priority to electric charge sales.

The control unit 70 sets the second boiling time zone so that the end time of the second boiling time zone is earlier than the end time of the first boiling time zone. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the end time of the second boiling time zone is before the start time of the PV power generation time zone. A user who wants to give priority to selling electricity selects a second boiling time zone with the remote control device 80 instead of the first boiling time zone. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation device from being consumed by the night boiling operation, and it is possible to increase the amount of electric power sold.

Note that, unlike the example of FIG. 3, the end time of the second boiling time zone may be later than the start time of the PV power generation time zone. Even in that case, the amount of electric charge sold can be increased as compared with the first boiling time zone.

The time zone from the start time of the night time zone to the predetermined time is set as the boiling prohibited time zone. The control unit 70 sets the second boiling time zone while avoiding the boiling prohibition time zone. For example, the control unit 70 sets the end time of the boiling prohibition time zone as the start time of the second boiling time zone. In the example of FIG. 3, one hour from 23:00 to midnight is set as a boiling prohibited time zone.

For example, assuming that a plurality of hot water storage type water heaters of a plurality of households start a night boiling operation all at once at the start of a night time zone, electricity demand may be concentrated. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even if the second boiling time zone is selected, the night boiling operation is executed in the boiling prohibited time zone which is the initial time zone of the night time zone. Can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the power demand of a plurality of households from concentrating.

In the early hours of the night, many people have not yet gone to bed, so the power consumption of other electrical equipment in the house is high. In the present embodiment, by prohibiting the execution of the night boiling operation during the boiling prohibition time zone, it is possible to suppress the night boiling operation and the use of other electric devices at the same time. Therefore, it is advantageous in suppressing the maximum demand power. For example, in an actual power contract, the basic charge is determined by the maximum demand power for the past year, so suppressing the maximum demand power is advantageous for suppressing the electricity charge.

The remote control device 80 may be configured so that the user can change the setting of the boiling prohibition time zone. For example, the user may be able to input the end time of the boiling prohibition time zone or the length of the boiling prohibition time zone from the remote controller 80. As a result, the boiling prohibited time zone can be set more appropriately according to the lifestyle of the user and the like.

In the following description, the time zone in which the power consumption of other electric devices in the house where the hot water storage type hot water supply device is used exceeds the threshold value is referred to as a "high power consumption time zone". The control unit 70 may receive information about the high power consumption time zone via the communication control device 51 and set the second boiling time zone while avoiding the high power consumption time zone. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the concentration of power demand more reliably.

The control unit 70 lowers the power consumption when performing the night boiling operation during the second boiling time zone to be lower than the power consumption when performing the night boiling operation during the first boiling time zone, and also lowers the power consumption when performing the night boiling operation during the first boiling time zone. The length of the upper time zone may be longer than the length of the first boiling time zone. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the concentration of power demand more reliably.

The control unit 70 is configured so that the upper limit power can be set for each of the divided time zones in which the night time zone is divided into a plurality of divided time zones, and the control unit 70 sets the power consumption during the night boiling operation to be equal to or less than the upper limit power for each divided time zone. It may be controlled so as to suppress it. For example, the upper limit power may be relatively large for the divided time zone in which the majority of people are considered to be sleeping, and the upper limit power may be relatively decreased in the divided time zone in which many people are considered to be awake. .. The user may be able to input the upper limit power for each divided time zone with the remote controller 80.

Instead of the user selecting the first boiling time zone or the second boiling time zone, the control unit 70 may automatically switch between the first boiling time zone and the second boiling time zone. .. For example, it may be as follows. The control unit 70 acquires weather forecast information for the next morning via the communication control device 51, and predicts whether or not photovoltaic power generation will be performed the next morning based on the information. When the weather forecast for the next morning is sunny and it is expected that solar power generation will be performed the next morning, the control unit 70 sets the second boiling time zone. On the other hand, when the weather forecast for the next morning is rain and it is predicted that solar power generation will not be performed the next morning, the control unit 70 sets the first boiling time zone.

Further, the control unit 70 has the first boiling time zone and the second boiling based on the weather forecast information, the information received from the electric power company or the like via the communication control device 51, the sunrise time information, and the like. The time zone may be automatically switched, or the end time of the boiling prohibited time zone or the length of the boiling prohibited time zone may be automatically set. For example, the control unit 70 may set the end time of the boiling prohibited time zone earlier or shorten the length of the boiling prohibited time zone in the season when the sunrise time is early than in the season when the sunrise time is late. May be good. By doing so, in the season when the sunrise time is early, the end time of the night boiling operation in the second boiling time zone can be earlier than in the season when the sunrise time is late, so that the nighttime in the second boiling time zone can be completed. It is possible to prevent the overlap between the boiling operation and the PV power generation time zone as much as possible.

Information on whether the first boiling time zone is set or the second boiling time zone is set is displayed on the display unit 81 of the remote controller 80, or voice guidance is provided from the speaker 83. The user may be notified. For example, when the state in which the first boiling time zone is set changes to the state in which the second boiling time zone is set, a notification to that effect may be given. This improves the usability of the user.

In the present embodiment, the heat pump unit 60 is exemplified as a heating means for heating water by consuming electric power, but for example, a hot water storage type hot water supply device using an electric heater provided inside a hot water storage tank as a heating means is also described above. Needless to say, the same effect as the above can be obtained.

1 Hot water storage tank unit, 2 Water supply pipe, 3 Hot water supply pipe, 10 Hot water storage tank, 12 Water supply branch pipe, 22 Hot water supply mixing valve, 34 Hot water tap, 40 Tank lower pipe, 41 Heat pump inlet pipe, 42 Heat pump outlet pipe, 43 Tank upper Piping, 46 Hot water flow sensor, 47 Hot water temperature sensor, 51 Communication control device, 60 Heat pump unit, 70 Control unit, 80 Remote control device, 81 Display unit, 82 Operation unit, 83 Speaker

Claims (5)

With a hot water storage tank
A heating means that consumes electricity to heat water,
A control means for controlling the boiling operation of heating the water in the hot water storage tank by the heating means,
Equipped with
As the time zone for performing the night boiling operation, which is the boiling operation in the night time zone, the first boiling time zone and the second boiling time zone whose end time is earlier than the first boiling time zone are set. Switchable,
The time zone from the start of the night time zone to the predetermined time is a boiling prohibited time zone.
The control means sets the second boiling time zone while avoiding the boiling prohibition time zone, and ends the boiling prohibition time zone in the season when the sunrise time is early, rather than the season when the sunrise time is late. The end time of the boiling prohibited time zone is automatically set so that the time will be earlier.
The hot water storage type hot water supply device whose end time of the second boiling time zone is a time after the start time of the first boiling time zone. The control means can receive information on a high power consumption time zone, which is a time zone in which the power consumption of other electric devices in a house or facility where the hot water storage type hot water supply device is used exceeds a threshold value.
The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control means avoids the high power consumption time zone and sets the second boiling time zone. The control means lowers the power consumption during the night boiling operation in the second boiling time zone to lower than the power consumption during the night boiling operation in the first boiling time zone, and at the same time, the first. (Ii) The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the boiling time zone is made longer than the length of the first boiling time zone. The upper limit power is set for each of the divided time zones in which the night time zone is divided into a plurality of divided time zones.
The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means suppresses the power consumption during the night boiling operation to the upper limit power or less. The hot water storage according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a notification means for notifying information as to whether the first boiling time zone is set or the second boiling time zone is set. Type hot water supply device.

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