JPH07150512A - Control method of road surface snow melting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the running cost of a road surface snow melting device by stopping or starting a heat source apparatus to keep hot water in a hot water storage tank within an aptitudinal temperature range in compliance with the surrounding environment (wind speed and outside air temperature). CONSTITUTION:Hot water 16 heated by a heat source apparatus 10 is circulated to a hot water storage tank 14, and the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 is circulated via a road surface pipe 22b, provided at the snow melting road surface, to melt snow. At this time, the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank 14 is controlled as follows. The road surface radiation quantity at the snow melting time is set first, and the road surface radiation quantity at the preheating time corresponding to the outside air temperature and near the snow melting road surface is determined. At the time of snowfall or non-snow fall, an aptitudinal temperature range (upper limit value and lower limit value) in the hot water storage tank 14 corresponding to the above- mentioned road surface radiation quantity is determined. The heat source apparatus 10 is stopped or started, or the heating capacity of the heat source apparatus 10 is increased or decreased to keep the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 14 within the aptitudinal temperature range.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a snow melting device on a road surface, and particularly hot water heated by a heat source device is circulated to a hot water storage tank by a circulation pump, and a part of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is fed by a water supply pump. The present invention relates to a method for controlling a road snow melting device having a structure in which a road pipe provided on a snow melting road is circulated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a snow melting device of this type,
For example, Yuichi Kobayashi et al., “Air Heat Source Heat Pump Type Road Heating Demonstration Test”, “Cold Region Technology Symposium '87 Proceedings” (November 18, 1987, 19,
20th), pages 209 to 214, an example of which is proposed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the construction of an example of this conventional road surface snow melting apparatus, and its control method is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as a control flow chart. This conventional device is a four-element control type device, and controls the on / off of the heat source device by measuring the outside air temperature, the road surface temperature, the presence or absence of snowfall, and the road surface moisture with a sensor. For this reason,
The temperature of hot water flowing through the road surface pipe was not actively controlled. In the figure, 10 is a heat source machine, and a hot water boiler, an electric heat pump or the like is usually used. In this conventional example, the heat source device 10 is an electric type heat pump, and the heat source device 10 supplies heated hot water to the hot water storage tank 14 through the upstream circulation pipe 12a.
The hot water 16 stored in the hot water storage tank 14 is returned to the heat source device 10 by the circulation pump 18 provided in the downstream circulation pipe 12b. On the other hand, a part of the warm water 16 stored in the hot water storage tank 14 is supplied to the upstream water supply pipe 22 by the water supply pump 20.
a, through the road surface pipe 22b and the downstream pipe 22c buried in the snow melting road surface, the water is returned to the hot water storage tank.

Hot water 1 in a hot water storage tank 14 which is a heat pump system
The temperature control of 6 is performed by the temperature sensor 24 and the hot water temperature control device 26.
Mainly with. As can be understood from the control flow shown in FIG. 3A, the appropriate temperature (or target temperature) of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 14 is set to T ₀ (° C.), and the temperature sensor 24 is used to store the hot water in the hot water storage tank. Downstream water supply pipe 2 in 14
Current temperature T (℃) near the inflow of hot water returned from 2c
Is measured, the measured temperature T is compared with the set temperature T ₀ by the hot water temperature control device 26, and a start / stop signal corresponding to the result of the comparison is output to the heat source device 10. That is, the control device 26 generates a signal that stops the heat source device 10 when the hot water temperature is higher and drives the heat source device 10 when the hot water temperature is lower.

On the other hand, in the temperature control on the snow melting road surface in the road heating system, the outside air temperature, snowfall, road surface moisture and road surface temperature are detected by respective sensors (in the figure, these sensors are collectively shown as a sensor unit 28). Then, this information is processed by the road surface temperature control device 30 and the control signal obtained as a result controls the start / stop of the water supply pump 20, and the road surface temperature is changed to the snow melting road surface temperature T _{1 in} case of snowfall, for example, 4 ° C. To
Under other conditions, the road surface preheating temperature T _{2 is,} for example, 2 ° C.
In addition, it is configured to control.

The temperature control of the snow melting road surface is conventionally performed according to the control flow shown in FIG. 3B, for example. According to this control method, when the outside air temperature measured by the sensor is equal to or higher than a certain temperature, a signal for stopping the water pump 20 is output. If the outside air temperature is below a certain temperature, the measurement results of the snowfall sensor and the road surface moisture sensor are non-snow, and there is no water content on the road surface (the absence of water content on the road surface does not mean that there is no possibility of freezing. In that case, the water supply pump 20 is set to the preheating operation mode. When the temperature measured by the road surface temperature sensor is higher than the set temperature during non-snowfall, for example, 2 ° C, the water pump 2
When 0 is stopped and the temperature is lower than the set temperature, on the contrary, the water pump 20 is put into an operating state and the road surface temperature is set to this set temperature.

On the other hand, when it is determined that it is snowing or there is water on the road surface, the water supply pump 20 is operated in a snow melting mode, and the road surface temperature is monitored by the road surface temperature sensor while the road surface temperature is set to snow melt. The water pump 20 is operated until the temperature reaches, for example, 4 ° C.

As described above, in the above-described conventional method for controlling the snow melting device on the road surface, the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is constantly controlled to the constant target value T ₀ regardless of the presence or absence of snowfall. In the road heating system, the snow-melting road surface temperature during snowfall is set in advance to a constant set temperature T _1, for example, 4 ° C., and the road surface preheat temperature during non-snowfall is set to a constant set temperature T ₂
For example, the temperature is set to 2 ° C., respectively, and when the snowfall or the non-snowfall occurs, the water pump is controlled to start and stop so that the road surface temperature becomes the respective set temperature.

[0009]

However, in this conventional device and its control method, temperature control suitable for the surrounding environment of the installation location of this device is not performed, that is,
Amount of heat radiation from the road surface that changes according to environmental changes (This is called road surface load or road surface heat load. Unit is kcal / m ²
h (kilocalories / square meter · hour). ), The temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is kept constant.

Therefore, according to the conventional apparatus and control method, the heat source machine is turned on / off so that the hot water temperature in the hot water tank is always kept at the constant temperature T _0. For example, when the road surface is dry and it is not snowing, the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is set to the set temperature T _0.
Even if the lower temperature is much more advantageous in operating efficiency of the heat source device and heat efficiency of the heat pump, the heat source device is operated to perform extra warm water heating. In view of the total running cost, this conventional device and control method have been uneconomical.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems as much as possible.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling a snow melting device for a road surface, which can reduce the running cost by adjusting the temperature of hot water in a hot water storage tank to a temperature level suitable for the surrounding environment of the area where the snow melting device is installed. It is in.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, the method for controlling a road surface snow melting device of the present invention has the following features.

In this method, the hot water heated by the heat source device is circulated to the hot water storage tank by the circulation pump, and a part of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is circulated by the water pump through the road surface pipe provided on the snow melting road surface. Control the snow melting equipment on the road.

In this control, (a) a step of setting a road surface heat radiation amount in the snow melting mode (hereinafter, this road surface heat radiation amount is referred to as a first road surface load Q _SN ) according to a region, and (b) snow melting Wind speed V near the road
_a and the outside air temperature T _a near the snow melting road surface,
A step of determining a road surface heat radiation amount in the antifreezing and preheating modes (hereinafter, this road surface heat radiation amount is referred to as a second road surface load Q _V ), and (c) a first road surface load Q _SN described above during snowfall.
The second road surface load Q _V
Corresponding to the upper limit value T _H of the proper temperature range of the hot water in the hot water tank
And a step of determining the lower limit value T _L , respectively (d)
In order to bring the current temperature T of the hot water in the hot water storage tank into the proper temperature range of the hot water, the step of starting or stopping the heat source machine or increasing or decreasing the heating capacity of the heat source machine. It is characterized by including.

According to the control method of the present invention, the road surface heat radiation amount Q (general term for road surface load) at present is determined according to the surrounding environment of the installation area of the road surface snow melting device. This road surface heat radiation amount Q is set to the first value in the snow melting mode determined according to the region.
Road surface load Q _SN and second road surface load Q for anti-freezing and preheating mode in consideration of wind speed and outside air temperature in the area
_V , and if the first road surface load is registered in the memory in advance as a value determined for each area, the first road surface load can be read from the memory only by setting this area.

On the other hand, since the second road surface load is given as a function of the wind speed and the outside air temperature, this equation is registered in an appropriate memory, and the measured wind speed and outside air temperature (these wind speeds and outside air temperatures are , And it is preferable to use the average value within a certain period of time).
Alternatively, the value calculated by this formula for each expected wind speed and outside air temperature is stored in advance in a table in an appropriate memory as the value of the second road surface load and corresponds to the corresponding wind speed and outside air temperature. The second road surface load may be read from the memory.

Further, by experience, an equation giving the upper and lower temperature limits (lower limit value T _L and upper limit value T _H ) corresponding to the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) of the hot water in the hot water storage tank It has been demanded. The formula giving the lower limit is a function of the first or second road load (Q _SN or Q _V ), and the formula giving the upper limit is this lower limit and the first or second road load (Q _SN or Q _V). ) And the function. The expressions for giving these upper and lower limits are registered in an appropriate memory, and each time the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are determined, these expressions are used to set the lower limit _TL and the upper limit. The value T _H can be calculated. Alternatively, these first expected
And the upper and lower limits corresponding to the second road load (Q _SN and Q _V ) are calculated using these formulas, and these values are stored in an appropriate table memory or other memory in a freely readable manner. You may keep it. In this way, when the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are obtained, the lower limit value and the upper limit value corresponding to these values can be read from the memory.

In this way, the current road surface load (Q
_SN or Q _V ) corresponding to the upper limit value T _H and lower limit value T
The temperature range between _L can be obtained as an appropriate temperature range of hot water in the hot water storage tank. Next, the actual temperature T of the hot water in the hot water storage tank at the present time is measured to determine whether or not this temperature T is within the determined appropriate temperature range. If the result of this determination is the measured temperature T is higher than the upper limit value T _H of the proper temperature range, to stop the heat source apparatus. As a result, the temperature of the hot water falls, and the temperature falls within the appropriate temperature range. On the other hand, as a result of the judgment, this measured temperature T
Is lower than the lower limit value T _L of the appropriate temperature range, the heat source device is started or its heating capacity is increased to raise the hot water temperature to the appropriate temperature range. The start, stop, or increase / decrease of the heating capacity of the heat source device can be performed by rotation control of the heat source device, combustion amount control, or inverter control in the case of an electric heat source device.

As described above, according to the control method of the present invention, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank can be brought within an appropriate temperature range according to the surrounding environment at the present time, that is, the road surface load state at the present time. .

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the heat source functional force Q of the heat source machine be provided before the step (c).
_G is defined as the heat source functional force Q _GH according to the heat collection source temperature T _x when the heat source unit is of the heat pump type, or substantially to the heat collection source temperature T _x when the heat source unit is of the boiler type. Includes steps to define boiler capacity as unaffected Q _GB . And in this step (C),
The upper limit value T _H described above may be determined by using the lower limit value T _L and any of the determined heat source functional forces Q _GH or Q _GB . By doing so, it is possible to set the upper and lower limit values corresponding to the heat source functional power, according to the type of heat source machine used. still,
The heat collection source temperature is the outside air temperature when collecting heat from air, the water temperature when collecting heat from water, and the ground temperature when collecting heat from the ground.

Further, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the step (c) described above, the upper limit value T _H is set in accordance with the magnitude of the first or second road surface load (Q _SN or Q _V ). The first limit temperature T _HH that can prevent over-operation of the heat source machine is fixed, and the lower limit value T _L is fixed to the second limit temperature T _LL for ensuring the snow melting rise time of the road surface snow melting device within the allowable time, _{Alternatively} , it is preferable to include a step of fixing the lower limit value _TL to the third limit temperature _TLH for avoiding unnecessary heating of the snow melting road surface. In this case, these first, second and third
Each limit value can be determined in advance depending on the operating conditions of the road surface snow melting device and the heat source machine to which the present invention is applied. After the value and the lower limit value are obtained, the upper limit value T _H is compared with the first limit temperature T _HH, and if the upper limit value T _H ≧ the first limit temperature T _HH , the upper limit value is forcibly set to the first limit temperature T _HH . 1 _Set to the limit temperature T _HH . Also for the lower limit value T _L , when T _L ≦ T _LL is compared with the second and third limit temperatures (T _LL and T _LH ), this lower limit value T _L is forced to be the second limit temperature T _LL. Set to. Also, T _L ≧ T _LH
If it is, the lower limit value T _L is forcibly set to the third limit temperature T _LH .

According to this structure, the upper limit value T _H determined according to the road surface load is too high, or the lower limit value T _L is too low, which causes the operation of the road surface snow melting device. It is possible to avoid an unfavorable state (excessive operation of the heat source device, delay of the rising time of the device or useless heating of the snow melting road surface).

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the measured current temperature T of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is lower than the lower limit value T _L and the heat source device is stopped, the heat source device is started. It is preferable to bring the heat source device into a low speed heating state. Moreover, this case the current temperature T is higher than the upper limit value T _H and the heat source machine is in operation, it is preferable to stop the heat source apparatus. Further, this current if lower than the temperature T is an upper limit value T _H and the heat source machine is in operation, the first or second road load described above (Q _SN or Q _V) is a heat source function force Q _G and region-dependent When the product is less than the product of the coefficient f ₁ , the heat source machine is heated at a low speed, or the first or second road surface load (Q _SN or Q _V ) is the heat source functional force Q _G and the region dependent coefficient f.
When it is larger than the product of ₁ and _1, it is preferable to bring the heat source device into a high-speed heating state. If constituted in this way, according to the operation or stop state of the heat source device and / or the comparison result of the measured temperature T of the hot water and the upper limit value or the lower limit value,
The heating control of the hot water to the hot water storage tank can be performed by the heat source device in consideration of the operating conditions of the heat source device in addition to the ambient environment conditions, that is, fine control.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the road surface temperature set value T _G for calculating the second road surface load is set.
Have set up, and compares the set value T _G and the outside air temperature T _a, when the outside air temperature T _a is the road set temperature T _G above, so that control of the road snow melting device is not malfunctioning In addition, it is preferable to set the above-mentioned second road surface load Q _V to Q _V = 0. Thus, when the second road load Q _V obtained in actual measured wind speed and the outside air temperature is negative, by forcing to zero (0) setting the Q _V, control malfunction Can be prevented.

In carrying out the present invention, it is preferable to make the following settings.

First, the first road load Q _SN is set to 1 to 300 kc
A value within the range of al / m ² h is suitable.

When A and B are constants and coefficients determined depending on the roadbed structure, T _g is a road surface set temperature (° C.), and T _a is an outside air temperature (° C.),
The second road surface load Q _V is Q _V = (A + B · V _a ) · (T _g −T _a ) kcal /
It is preferably m ² h.

When the heat source machine is a heat pump type, when C and D are coefficients unique to this heat source machine and E is a constant unique to this heat source machine, the heat source functional force Q is obtained.
_G is Q _G = Q _GH = (C · T _x ² + D · T _x + E) kcal
/ M ² h is preferable. In this case, when it is difficult to express the heat source functional force Q _G of the heat pump of the heat source device by the above equation, the heat source functional force Q _G corresponding to the heat collecting source temperature T _x is obtained in advance and measured. The heat source functional force Q _G corresponding to the heat source temperature T _x may be used.

Further, F is a heat transfer resistance R (m ² h ° C./kcal) between the snow melting road surface and the hot water, and a hot water flow rate I (l / m ² h).
Heat capacity of antifreeze in road and road pipe C _f (kcal / ℃)
l) as a coefficient, and when the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are represented by Q, the lower limit _TL is _TL = (T _g + F · Q) ° C. Is preferred.

S _a is the snow melting area (m ² ), G is the specific heat C _f (kcal / ° Cl) of the antifreeze in the road pipe,
A coefficient depending on the volume W (l) of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank and the operation duration time (H) of the heat source machine, Q _e as surplus heat (kcal / h) of the heat source machine, and the first and second road surface loads When (Q _SN and Q _V ) is represented by Q, the upper limit value _TH is _TH = ( _TL + G · Q _e ) ° C. and Q _e = (Q _G −Q) · S _a kcal / h. Is preferred.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

First, FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG.
The basic explanation of the control method of the road surface snow melting apparatus of the present invention will be given with reference to, and then the concrete examples will be explained.

[Basic Description] FIG. 1A is a basic conceptual diagram of a road surface snow melting apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
(B) is the control flow.

The road surface snow melting device to which the present invention is applied mainly includes a heat source device 10, a hot water storage tank 14, and a circulation pipe 12.
(Upstream circulation pipe 12a and downstream circulation pipe 12b)
And the circulation pump 18 and the water supply pipe 22 provided therein.
(Upstream water supply pipe 22a, road surface pipe 22b, and downstream water supply pipe 22c), and water supply pump 2 provided therein.
0 and a temperature measuring device (also referred to as a temperature sensor) 24 for measuring the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank. The hot water heated by the heat source device 10 is circulated in the hot water storage tank 14 by the circulation pump 18. A road pipe 22 in which a part of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 is provided on the snow melting road surface by a water pump 20.
It has a structure of circulating through b.

The road surface snow melting apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes a main sensor section 50 for measuring the ambient environmental conditions of the area where the snow melting apparatus is installed or installed. As the main sensor section, wind speed measurement is performed. Device (wind speed sensor) 5
2. A heat collecting source temperature measuring device (heat collecting source temperature sensor) 53, an outside air temperature measuring device (outside air temperature sensor) 54, and a snowfall measuring device (snowfall sensor) 56 are provided. Further, based on the measurement results of the respective devices 52, 53, 54, 56 and the temperature sensor 24, the heat source device 10 is started or stopped, or the heating ability of the heat source device is increased or decreased. Therefore, a control signal generating unit 100 for generating a control signal is provided.

The control signal generating section 100 of the road snow melting device having such a configuration is composed of a microcomputer. Therefore, CPU (central processing unit), memory, input / output device,
Other required components are provided, and all or a part of these components, depending on the design, will be explained later with snowfall determining means,
It can be shared by the road surface heat radiation amount determining unit, the upper and lower limit temperature determining unit, and the control signal generating circuit, or each of them may be provided separately. Here, the memory in the CPU and the memory outside the CPU, if any, are collectively referred to as a memory unit. In this memory part, information obtained in advance necessary for processing by the road surface snow melting device is stored in a readable and rewritable manner, or a keyboard or other suitable measuring means such as a sensor is used. The required information from the external input section, if necessary, A / D
Through the converter, it is possible to read and write in a freely rewritable manner, and it is also possible to read out and rewritably write information obtained in the control signal generating section. Since the processing relating to the writing and reading of information to and from the memory unit is a well-known matter in a control device using a microcomputer, a detailed description thereof will be omitted unless particularly necessary.

Further, the road snow melting device is provided with a timer 60 and an external input device 70 such as a keyboard or a ten-key pad, and external information from these is sent to the control signal generator 100 through the A / D converter 82. It is configured to allow input. Further, the control signal generator 100 is configured to be able to respectively supply control signals to the heat source device 10 and the circulation pump 18 via the D / A converter 84. And
As a matter of course, these electric components described above are supplied with predetermined electric power from a power source (not shown) so that they operate in a necessary synchronization with each other. Since the point configuration itself does not have the characteristics of the present invention, its description is omitted.

The basic operation of this road surface snow melting device will be briefly described. Turn on the device. Main sensor 50
The wind speed sensor 52, the heat collection source temperature sensor 53, the outside air temperature sensor 54, and the snowfall sensor 56 operate to send information to the control signal generation unit 100. On the other hand, as in the conventional case, the sensor unit 28
Since the road surface temperature measuring device (road surface temperature sensor) 32 and the road surface moisture measuring device (moisture sensor) 34 are also operated, the information from the outside air temperature sensor 54 and the snowfall sensor 56 is combined with the information from the sensors 32 and 34. The water is sent to the control device 30, and the water pump 20 is controlled as in the conventional case.

Next, when the input device 70 is operated to input the set area information of the road surface snow melting device, the control signal generator 100 causes the road surface heat radiation amount (in the snow melting mode) corresponding to the designated area ( Hereinafter, this road surface heat radiation amount is referred to as the first road surface load Q.
_{Called SN} . ) Is set to a specific value (step 1 (hereinafter, step is simply represented by S. Therefore, step 1 is S
1). Since this first road load Q _SN is known in advance based on experience, it is
If it is stored in the memory unit of the control signal generation unit 100, it can be read out.

On the other hand, since the wind speed sensor 52 and the outside air temperature sensor 54 input the information of the wind speed V _a near the snow melting road surface and the outside air temperature T _a near the snow melting road surface to the control signal generating section 100, Road surface heat radiation amount in the antifreezing and preheating modes (hereinafter, this road surface heat radiation amount is referred to as the second road surface load) according to the wind speed V _a (for example, an average wind speed for a certain period) and the outside air temperature T _a (for example, an average temperature for a certain period). Q _V ) is defined (S2). This second road load Q
_{Since V} is obtained as _a function of the wind velocity V _a and the temperature T _a , information related to this functional expression is stored in the memory unit of the control signal generation unit 100, and these information V _a and T _a are input. When this is done, the second road load can be determined by reading the information related to this equation and performing the necessary calculations. Alternatively, both of these information V _a and T _a
The second road surface load corresponding to various combinations of the above values is obtained in advance, and these are stored in the memory unit as a table, and can be directly read from the memory unit when both information are input. You can also keep it like this.

Further, since the snowfall information is input from the snowfall sensor 56 to the control signal generator 100, it is possible to determine whether or not there is snowfall. As a result of this determination, the upper limit value _TH and the lower limit value T _L of the appropriate temperature range of the hot water in the hot water tank are set according to the first road load Q _SN during snowfall, and the above-mentioned second road load Q Q during non-snowfall. Determine the upper limit value _TH and the lower limit value _TL of the appropriate temperature range of the hot water in the hot water storage tank according to _V (S
3). As described above, the equations for obtaining the upper and lower temperature limits (lower limit value T _L and upper limit value T _H ) corresponding to the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) of the hot water in the hot water storage tank are obtained. ing. Information about the equations for giving the lower limit value and the upper limit value is stored in the memory unit of the control signal generating unit 100, and this information is stored each time the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are determined. The lower limit value T _L and the upper limit value T _H can be calculated by reading out and calculating. Alternatively, the upper limit value and the lower limit value corresponding to the expected first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are calculated in advance by using these equations, and these calculated values are read out to the memory unit. You may store it in the table freely. In this way, when the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q _V ) are obtained, the lower limit value and the upper limit value corresponding to these values can be read from the memory section.

Next, the current temperature T of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 is input to the control signal generator 100 by the temperature sensor 24. In order to bring the present temperature T into an appropriate temperature range according to the surrounding environment of the hot water 16, the heat source device 10 is started or stopped, or the heat source device 1
The heating ability of 0 is increased or decreased (S4). Therefore, it is determined whether or not this temperature T is within the determined appropriate temperature range. If the result of this determination is the measured temperature T is higher than the upper limit value T _H of the proper temperature range, the control from the signal generating unit 100 to the heat source unit 10 a control signal for stopping the heat source apparatus 10 to the heat source apparatus 10 send. On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when the measured temperature T is lower than the lower limit value T _L of the proper temperature range, the control signal generating unit 100 sends a control signal for starting the heat source device or increasing the heating capacity thereof. Send to 10. Then, the heat source device 10 is controlled by these control signals.
The current temperature T can be reliably brought into the proper temperature range by operating in a direction to bring the temperature T of the warm water 16 into the proper temperature range and repeating the steps S1 to S4 described above.

[Description of Specific Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the control signal generator 100. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the road surface load required by the present invention and the appropriate temperature range of the hot water in the hot water storage tank according to the environment. 6 to 9 are a series of control flows provided for explaining a specific embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Configuration Example of Control Signal Generating Unit To facilitate understanding of the present invention, first, a configuration example of the control signal generating unit 100 of the road surface snow melting device will be described.

The control signal generator 100 includes a memory unit 11
0, a snowfall determination means 120, a road surface heat radiation amount determination unit 130, an upper and lower limit temperature determination unit 140, and a control signal generation circuit 150.

The memory section 110 includes the control signal generating section 100.
A configuration that allows rewriting and readable writing of information known in advance, information newly input from the outside, information obtained by internal processing, and other information necessary for the processing executed inside the computer. As described above, in addition to the CPU memory, the
It may also include a memory provided outside. As the memory, RAM, ROM, or any other memory according to the design can be used.

As the information written in the memory section 110, for example, wind speed information, heat source temperature information, outside air temperature information, snowfall information, road surface temperature information, road surface temperature setting information, road surface moisture information, timer information from the timer 60, Various designation information from the input device 70, hot water temperature information, information regarding formulas required to obtain the first and second road surface loads, or information regarding the first and second road surface loads themselves, and upper limit values and lower limit values Information about the above formula or information about the upper limit value and the lower limit value itself, first, second and third limit temperature information, heat source functional information and other information.

The snowfall determination means 120 is means for determining the presence or absence of snowfall based on the signal from the snowfall sensor 56.

The road surface heat radiation amount determining unit 130 determines the first road surface heat radiation amount (first road surface heat load) Q _SN and the second road surface heat radiation amount (second road surface heat radiation amount) Q _V. Control means malfunction prevention means 1 for preventing malfunction of control of the road surface snow melting device, further comprising means 132 and 134.
It has 36. This first road surface load Q _SN is a road surface heat radiation amount in the snow melting mode according to a region, and therefore it is known in advance which region and how much.
Therefore, the value of the first road surface load Q _SN corresponding to the planned area of the road surface snow melting device is written in the memory unit 110. This Q _SN is approximately 1 to 300 kcal / m ²
If you set it in the range of h, you can cover most of the planned installation area. By the way, in the Sapporo area, the first road surface load Q _SN is about 230 kcal / m ² h.
The above-mentioned Q _SN and Q _V are collectively referred to simply as road surface load Q
Sometimes called.

The second road surface load Q _V is the road surface heat radiation amount in the antifreezing and preheating modes, and the average wind speed V near the snow melting road surface measured by the wind speed sensor 52 described above.
It is an amount that depends on _a (m / s) and the average outside air temperature T _a (° C.) near the snow melting road surface measured by the above-described outside air temperature sensor 56, and is given by the following equation by experience ( For example, Document: Revised Group 11 "Handbook of Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering II Air Conditioning", Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineering, II-1
(Page 36, published in 1987).

Q _V = (A + B · V _a ) · (T _g −T _a ).
kcal / m ² h where A and B are constants and coefficients determined depending on the roadbed structure, and T _g is the road surface set temperature (° C.).

Further, the control malfunction prevention means 136 of the road surface heat radiation amount determining section 130 compares the road surface temperature set value T _G for the calculation of the second road surface load with the outside air temperature T _a, and the outside air temperature T _a. Is equal to or higher than the road surface set temperature T _G , the above-mentioned second road surface load Q _{V is set} to Q _V = 0. This means 13
If the second road surface load Q _V obtained by the actual measured wind speed and the outside air temperature becomes negative according to 6, the Q
By forcibly setting _V to zero (0), it is possible to prevent the control of the road surface snow melting device from malfunctioning.

The upper and lower limit temperature determination unit 140 determines the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L of the appropriate temperature range of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 according to the determination result of the snowfall determination means 120 described above.
Are respectively determined based on the upper and lower limit value information written in the memory unit 110 described above. This determination unit 140
Is the heat source functional force output means 141 and the upper and lower limit value output means 1
43, magnitude comparison means 145 and limit temperature fixing means 14
7 and further, the limit temperature fixing means 147 has a first
Temperature comparison means 149 is provided.

The heat source functional output means 141 takes into consideration the capacity Q _G of the heat source device 10 to be used in addition to the surrounding environment,
It is means provided for controlling the temperature of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14. Whether or not the heat source functional power is affected by the heat collection source temperature T _x greatly differs depending on whether the heat source device 10 is a heat pump type or a boiler type. Therefore, in the case of the heat pump type heat source device, the capacity of the heat pump type heat source device is large. Q _GH (kcal
/ M ² h), and in the case of a boiler type heat source machine, the capacity of the boiler type heat source machine is output as Q _GB (kcal / m ² h). In this case, it is preferable that the heat source functional force Q _{GH be} a heat source functional force that depends on the heat collection source temperature T _x . For example, the heat source functional power Q _GH is preferably given by the following equation theoretically obtained by experience.

Q _GH = (C · T _x ² + D · T _x + E) k
cal / m ² h, where C and D are unique coefficients of this heat source machine, and E is a unique constant of this heat source machine.

[0056] In this case, the heat pump having a difficult characteristic to be expressed as a function of the heat source temperature T _x adopts the Q _GH, which is previously obtained values of the heat source function force to adopt the heat source temperature T _x a memory unit Alternatively, the heat source functional force corresponding to the measured heat collection source temperature T _x can be read from the memory unit and given.

In the case of the boiler type, the capacity Q _GB is determined by the standard of the heat source machine.

The upper and lower limit value output means 143 outputs a lower limit value T _L which depends on the road surface temperature set value T _G and the road surface load Q (Q _SN or Q _V ), and at the same time, the lower limit value T _L and the heat source functional power. and outputs a Q _G (Q _GH or Q _GB) and the upper limit value T _H which is largely dependent on. The road surface temperature set value T _G is a value set for calculating the road surface heat radiation amount Q _V and can be set as a value according to the environment, and this value is preliminarily stored in the memory unit 110 in a freely readable manner. Alternatively, it may be input from the outside.

Since the lower limit value T _L and the upper limit value T _H are theoretically given based on experience, for example, by the following equations, it is preferable to set the lower limit value and the upper limit value obtained according to these equations. is there.

T _L = (T _g + F · Q) ° C. However, F is a heat transfer resistance R (m ² h ° C. /
kcal), the hot water flow rate I (l / m ² h), and the specific heat C _f (kcal / ° Cl) of the antifreeze liquid in the road pipe.

T _H = (T _L + G · Q _e ) ° C. Q _e = (Q _G −Q) · S _a kcal / h where S _a is the snow melting area (m ² ). _Let G be a coefficient that depends on the specific heat C _f (kcal / ° C. l) of the antifreeze in the road surface pipe, the volume W (1) of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and the operating duration (H) of the heat source machine. Let Q _{e be} the surplus heat (kcal / h) of the heat source machine.

The magnitude comparison means 145 is a means for comparing the magnitudes of the heat source functional force Q _G and the road surface load Q. The reason for making this comparison is that the heat source functional force Q _G is smaller than the road surface load Q. This is because the control of the road surface snow melting device may be in a malfunction state in some cases, and this is for avoiding this. The result of this comparison is sent to the limit temperature fixing means 147.

The limit value temperature fixing means 147 determines the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L according to the comparison result from the magnitude comparing means 145 and based on the limit temperature information written in the memory section 110. When the temperature is out of the proper temperature range, the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L are limited. These restrictions fix the upper limit value T _H to the first limit temperature T _HH that can prevent the excessive operation of the heat source device 10,
Further, the lower limit value T _L is fixed to the second limit temperature T _LL for ensuring the snow melting time of the road surface snow melting device within the allowable time, or the lower limit value T _L is avoided for unnecessary heating of the snow melting road surface. The third limit temperature T _{LH is} to be fixed.

In this case, the limit temperature fixing means 147 compares the upper limit value T _H and the first limit temperature T _HH with each other,
It is preferable to include first temperature comparing means for comparing the lower limit value T _L and the second and third limit value temperatures (T _LL and T _LH ).

The information on the first, second and third limit temperatures ( _THH , _TLL and _TLH ) can be set in advance depending on the type of the snow melting device on the road surface and the heat source machine used for it. These pieces of information are preliminarily stored in the memory unit 110 in a readable manner. Then, the magnitude comparison means 145 compares the heat source functional force Q _G and the road surface load Q with each other, and then the limit temperature fixing means 147 accesses the memory unit 110 to obtain the limit temperature information (T _HH , T _LL and T
_LH ) is read. In the first temperature comparison means 149 of the limit value temperature fixing means 147, the upper and lower limit value information ( _TL and _TH ) from the upper and lower limit value output means 143 and the memory section 110.
Temperature information ( _THH , _TLL and _TLH ) read from
Compare with. When the upper limit value T _H is higher than the corresponding limit temperature T _HH , this upper limit value is fixed to this limit value temperature T _HH . The lower limit temperature T _LL to which the lower limit value T _L corresponds
If it is lower than T _LH and higher than T _LH , the lower limit value is fixed to the limit temperature T _LL and T _LH , respectively. If with such configuration, as previously described, or too much road load Q (Q _SN or Q _V) upper limit T _H obtained in accordance with the high temperature, or the lower limit value T _L is a low temperature It is possible to avoid that the snow melting device on the road surface becomes unfavorable for its operation (excessive driving of the heat source device, delay of the rising time of the device or unnecessary heating of the snow melting road surface) due to excessive occurrence. I can.

Next, the control signal generating circuit 150 comprises a second temperature comparing means 152 and a control signal generating means 154. In the second temperature comparison means 152 of this circuit 150,
The current temperature T of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 measured by the hot water temperature measuring device (warm water sensor) 24 is determined by the above-mentioned upper and lower limit temperature determination unit 140, and the appropriate temperature range ( _TL <the temperature comparison whether the T <T _H) in. The result is sent to the control signal generating means 154, from which the warm water 16 is supplied in accordance with the result of the above temperature comparison.
Control signal for bringing the temperature of the heat source into the above-mentioned proper temperature range or maintaining the temperature range of the heat source machine 10
Therefore, it is sent to the drive unit (not shown). If in this way, when the current temperature T of the hot water 16 measured hot water storage tank 14 is higher than the upper limit value T _H is a stop or a warming capability heat source apparatus 10 to lower the temperature of hot water A control signal for reducing the amount can be output from the control signal generating means 154 to the heat source device 10. On the other hand, when the current hot water temperature T is lower than the lower limit value T _L, a control signal for activating it or increasing its heating capacity is output to the heat source device 10 in order to increase the hot water temperature. Can be done. Therefore, when the measured current temperature T of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 is too high or too low, the existing temperature T is automatically controlled to fall within the appropriate temperature range determined by the ambient environment conditions. Can be maintained at or within its temperature range.

Description of One Embodiment of Control Method for Road Snow Melting Apparatus One embodiment of the control of the present invention will now be described with reference to the control flow charts of FIGS. Control signal generator 10
It is assumed that necessary information that is known before the operation of the device is written in the memory unit 110 of 0. As such information, for example, the first road surface load Q _SN (variable constant: for example, 1
˜300 kcal / m ² h), information about the equation necessary to calculate the second road surface load Q _V , road surface set temperature T _g (variable constant: 2 ° C.), heat source functional force Q _G necessary for calculation Information about formula, boiler capacity (variable constant: eg 0
~ 100%), upper limit value _TH , lower limit value _TL and excess heat Q
Information on the equations necessary to calculate _e , respectively, first, second and third temperature limit values T _HH , T _LL and T
_LH (variable constant: for example, _THH , _TLL, and _TLH are both 0
˜50 ° C.), heat transfer resistance R (for example, 0.1367 m ² h ° C./kcal) between the road surface and hot water in the road surface pipe, operation duration (variable constant: for example, 0 to 5.0 hours), antifreeze liquid Specific heat C _f (for example, 0.5 to 1.0 kcal / ° C)
l), a variable coefficient f ₁ depending on the regional characteristics (for example, 0 to 2.0
0), snow melting area S _a (for example, 1 to 500 m ² ), necessary coefficients, constants, and other information.

In this embodiment, an example in which the heat collecting source is air and the heat collecting source sensor 53 and the outside air temperature sensor 54 are commonly used (thus, T _a = T _x ). It is also assumed that a road snow melting device is installed in the Sapporo area. Therefore, the first road surface load Q _SN is set to 230 kcal / m ² h. The second road surface load Q _V is calculated using the equation Q _V = (A + B · V _a ).
The second road surface load determining means 13 according to (T _g −T _a ).
4 and the lower limit value T of the proper temperature range
_L is the excess heat Q _e according to the equation T _L = (T _g + F · Q)
The formula _{Q e = (Q G -Q)} · S according _a, and the upper limit value T _H of the proper temperature range, wherein _{T H = (T L + G} · Q e)
Then, the upper and lower limit value output means 143 performs the calculation.
Further, in this embodiment, for example, T _{g is set} to 2 ° C., T _{HH is set} to 37 ° C., T _{LH is set} to 30 ° C., and T _LL is set to 20 ° C.

When the power source (not shown) of the road surface snow melting device is turned on, the control of the present invention starts (starts), and this control is continuously performed until the power source is turned off. When the control operation starts, the wind speed sensor 52 outputs the wind speed information V _a , the outside air temperature sensor 54 outputs the outside air temperature information _Ta , the snowfall sensor 56 outputs the snowfall information, and the temperature sensor 24 receives the hot water temperature information T in the hot water tank 14. It is input to the control signal generator 100 via the / D converter 82 (S10). These pieces of information are rewritably written in the memory unit 110 at regular time intervals as required.

From the external input device 70, for example, area designation, that is, Sapporo area designation information, hot water flow rate I (for example, 20
1 / m ² h), hot water storage tank capacity W (for example, 8000 l),
Snow melting area S _a (for example, 360 m ² ) and road surface temperature T
Enter the specified information of _g, the information that the heat source device is a heat pump type, and other required information. The area designation signal is input to the first road surface load determining means 132 of the control signal generation unit 100. When this designation signal is input, information (230 kcal / m) of the specific first road surface load Q _SN corresponding to the above-mentioned designation signal is input from the memory unit 110.
² h) is read and the read information is sent to the upper and lower limit temperature determination unit 140 (S12).

On the other hand, in the second road surface load determining means 134,
When the information of the outside air temperature T _a and the designation information of the road surface set temperature T _g come in, Q _V = (A + B.
The information of V _a ) · (T _g −T _a ) is read out, the calculation of this equation is performed, the second road surface load information Q _V is calculated, and the result Q _V is output, and once necessary, once. The data is stored in the memory unit 110 (S14). In this example,
For example, if f ₁ = 1 then A = 13.25 and B =
Set to 3.4.

Further, the heat source functional force output means 141 of the upper and lower limit temperature determining section 140 has the heat source machine designation information and the outside air temperature T _a.
Information is read, the information is read from the memory unit 110. And by specifying the heat source unit 10 is a heat pump, a heat source function force Q _G from the memory unit 110 to calculate a Q _GH formula ^{_{(Q G = CT a 2 +}} DT a +
E) is read out, calculation is performed to calculate and output the heat source functional force Q _G, and the memory unit 1 is temporarily
10 (S16). In this embodiment, C =
-1.61, D = -1.93, and E = 244.44.
And

Next, the information on the road surface set temperature T _g read when the second road surface load Q _V is obtained and the information on the measured outside air temperature T _a are input to the control malfunction preventing means 136, and this means is inputted. At 136, the levels of both temperatures T _g and T _a are compared (S18). As a result of this temperature comparison, when the outside air temperature T _a is lower than the road surface set temperature T _g , the process proceeds to the next step (S20) of the presence or absence of snowfall. But T _a
Is equal to or higher than T _g , the second
Road load Q _V is Q _V <0, and consequently, the control of the road surface snow-melting device is malfunctioning performed here, in order to prevent this, forcibly sets the Q _V = 0 (S20).

Next, from the snowfall sensor 56, the snowfall determination means 1 of the control signal generation unit 100 is supplied with the measurement information indicating whether it is snowfall or non-snowfall.
Since it is input to 20, the snowfall determination means 120
In the decision on whether to snow or not based on the measurement information,
The determination result is output (S22). When it is determined to be snowfall, a command to turn on the snowfall delay timer 60 is sent from the snowfall determination means 120 to the timer 60 via the D / A converter 84, and after the heat source device 10 and the circulation pump 18 are stopped, After the elapse of a certain time t, the timer 60 is set to stop the water pump (S24).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the snowfall has not occurred, it is determined whether the timer 60 is up (S26).

After step (S24) and after step (S24)
If it is determined in 26) that the time has not expired (the stop delay time t of the water pump set by the timer has not elapsed), these pieces of information are used as the upper and lower limit temperature determination unit 1.
40 is sent to the upper and lower limit value output means 143. In the upper / lower limit value output means 143, the road surface load Q is set to the first road surface load Q _SN.
Is set, and this is stored in the memory unit 110 as required (S28 in FIG. 7). When the time is up in S26 (when the stop delay time t of the water pump set by the timer has elapsed), it is not snowing, so the road load Q is set to the second road load Q _V. (S30 of FIG. 7). It should be noted that such a timer 60 may be appropriately provided according to the design, and by providing the timer 60, the number of times the heat source device itself is turned on / off is reduced, or the heat source device is turned off in the case of snow melting after the remaining snow. In the case where the heat source device is delayed, or when it snows, it is possible to operate the heat source device for at least about 10 minutes after the heat source device is started. If the timer 60 is not provided, Q may be designated as Q _SN during snowfall and Q may be designated as Q _V during non-snowfall.

The first or second determined in this way
Based on the road surface load (Q _SN or Q _V ) information, the upper and lower limit value output means 143 outputs the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L.
Is required. Here, an example will be described assuming that the first road surface load Q _SN is set. First, the road surface temperature T
_{When g} is input and the information of the first road surface load Q _SN is specified, the _{equation for calculating the} lower limit value T _L from the memory unit 110 T _L = T
The information of _g + F · Q is read out, Q is set to Q _SN , and the operation of this equation is performed to obtain T _L = T _g + F · Q _SN (S3
2). Next, the equation Q _e = (Q _G −Q) · S _a for calculating the surplus heat Q _e is read from the memory unit 110, and the heat source functional force Q _G = Q _GH already obtained and the first road surface load are obtained. Q _SN
By using the information of the Q seeking Q the _SN and Q _G performed to operation on Q _GH excess heat _{Q e = (Q GH -Q SN} ) · S a, in accordance with this required memory Store in the section 110 (S
34). Next, the lower limit value T _L and the surplus heat Q _e obtained here are used to access the memory unit 110 to read out information relating to the formula for obtaining the upper limit value, and perform an operation to obtain the upper limit value T _H = T _L + G · Q. _e = T _g + F · Q _SN + G ((Q
_GH- Q _SN ) ・ S _a ) = T _g + (FG−S _a ) Q _SN + G
· Determine the _{S a · Q GH (S36)} . And stores the upper limit value T _H in the memory unit 110 if desired. In this embodiment, for example, F = 0.161 and G = 1/8000.
And

Here, referring to FIG. 5, the road surface heat load, that is, the first and second road surface loads (representatively represented by Q).
The relationship between (kcal / m ² h) and the temperature (° C.) to be set for the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 will be described. In FIG. 5, the road heat load Q is plotted on the horizontal axis and the temperature is plotted on the vertical axis. Since the above-mentioned lower limit value T _L is a linear function of Q, its possible values are, for example, on the line of the straight line T _L consisting of the solid line portion and the dotted line portions on both sides thereof in the figure, and T _g and F are constant values. Therefore, if the road surface load Q is determined, it is uniquely determined. On the other _{hand, T g, F, G,} S a is a constant value, further, the heat source function force since a fixed value once the type of heat source unit 10, is a linear function of the upper limit value T _H is also road load Q . Therefore, for example, the value of the upper limit value T _H is on the line of the straight line T _{H including} the solid line portion and the broken line portion, and is uniquely determined when the road surface load Q is determined. For example, the lower limit value T _L is such that the second road surface load Q _SN is 100, 140, 20.
0, 240, respectively, T _L1 , T _L2 , T _L3 , T
Takes the value of _L4 . Further, the upper limit value T _H takes values of _{TH 1} , TH ₂ , _{TH 3} , and _{TH 4} , respectively, with respect to the value of the second road surface load.

Next, both information of the heat source functional power Q _G and the road surface load Q (Q _SN here) are sent to the magnitude comparison means 145, and the magnitudes of the both are compared here (S38 in FIG. 8). If Q _G ≧ Q as a result of this comparison, it means that the heat source functional force Q _G is large and the heat source device 10 is operating in the direction of increasing the heating temperature at the present time. It is sent to the limit temperature fixing means 147.

Then, in the first temperature comparing means 149 of this means 147, the upper limit value T _H already obtained and stored in the memory section 110 and the inside of the hot water storage tank 14 stored in the memory section 110 in advance are stored. First limit temperature T of warm water 16
_HH can be read and the size of both can be compared (S40 in FIG. 8). As a result of this comparison, when T _H ≧ T _HH , as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the first road load Q _SN is 20.
0 or 240 (kcal / m ² h),
Corresponding to each, the temperature T _{H of the} warm water 16 is T _H3 (about 3
8 ° C) or T _H4 (about 40 ° C) or the first limit temperature T
Since the temperature becomes higher than _HH = 37 ° C., the limit value fixing means 147 forcibly sets these values T _H3 or T _H4 to T _HH (downward in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 5) (S42). ).

After this step S42, when it is judged that T _H <T _HH , or the result of the comparison in step S38 is judged as Q _G <Q (here, the first road surface load Q _SN ). At this time (meaning that no erroneous operation occurs in the control), the process _proceeds to the comparison step (S44) of the next lower limit value T _L and the second limit temperature T _LL . As an example of the case where T _H <T _HH , FIG. 5 shows that Q _SN is 100 or 140, for example.
Temperature T _{H1 at} (kcal / m ² h) (about 32.5
C.) or T _H2 (about 35 ° C.).

The first temperature comparing means 149 carries out the processing of step S44. Therefore, the information of the lower limit value T _L already obtained and stored in the memory unit 110,
Information about the second limit temperature T _LL of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 stored in advance in the memory unit 110 can be read and the two temperatures are compared (S44). As a result of this comparative judgment,
For example, when Q is 100 (kcal / m ² h), T
_When it is determined that _L ≤T _LL , the lower limit value T _L is lower than the second limit temperature T _LL = 20 ° C., for example, T _{L1 in} FIG.
Since the temperature (about 18 ° C.) as shown in (3) is reached, there is a risk that the snow melting time of the snow melting device will increase. Therefore, in order to keep this rising time within an allowable time arbitrarily determined according to the design, the limit value temperature fixing means 147 forces the limit value T _L to the second value.
The temperature is raised to the limit temperature T _LL and fixed (the direction is shown by the arrow in FIG. 5) (S46).

On the other hand, when Q (here, the first road surface load Q _SN ) is 140, ²⁰⁰ and 240 (kcal / m ² h), the lower limit values T _L are T _L2 (about 24.5 ° C.) and T _{L3, respectively.}
(About 34 ° C) and T _L4 (about 41 ° C), so T _L
Since> T _LL , at this point, the lower limit value T _L may be the temperature that has already been obtained.

By the way, if the lower limit value T _L is too high, the heat source device 10 will uselessly heat the snow on the road surface. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid this useless heating in advance. Therefore, in the first temperature comparing means 149 of the limit value temperature fixing means 147, the lower limit value T _L and the third value
The limit temperature T _LH is compared (S48). In this embodiment, T _LH is preset to 30 ° C. and registered in the memory unit 110. Therefore, T _LH and T _L are read from the memory unit 110 and this comparison is performed. In FIG. 5, the first
Road surface load Q _SN is 200 or 240 (kcal / m ² h)
Then, since the corresponding temperatures are T _L3 (about 34 ° C.) and T _L4 (about 41 ° C.), it means that T _L ≧ T _LH is satisfied, and therefore, in the limit temperature fixing means 147. This lower limit value T _L is forcibly fixed to the third limit temperature T _LH (30 ° C.) (downward in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 5).
(S50). Further, if it is determined in this comparison that T _L <T _LH , it means that T _LL or T _L = T _L2 already determined in the previous step (eg, S46) instead of the high temperature. , And proceed directly to the next step (S52).

Thus, steps S36 to S4
The processing by the limit value temperature fixing means 147 up to 6 is summarized as follows for each value of the road surface load Q illustrated.

[0085] road load ^{(kcal / m 2 h):} 100 140 200 240 lower limit _{T L (℃): T LL} T L2 T LH T LH maximum value _{T H (℃): T H1} T H2 T HH T HH above If the above process is performed for all continuous road surface loads Q from 80 to 260 (kcal / m ² h),
The suitable temperature range of the hot water obtained in this example is the polygonal line I (upper limit value) shown by the solid line and the polygonal line II shown by the solid line in FIG.
The temperature is between (lower limit). For example, the polygonal line I is Q
= 180 (kcal / m ² h), the straight line T _H and the upper line from this value are fixed to the first limit temperature T _HH . The polygonal line II has Q = 110 (kca
l / m ² h) until a straight line is fixed to the second threshold temperature _{T LL, Q = 110~170 (kcal} / m 2 h) and the straight line T _L up to the third threshold temperature T of the upper from the value _It consists of a straight line fixed to the _LH .

The polygonal lines I and II of the lower limit value and the upper limit value shown in FIG. 5 are merely examples, and actually, they are polygonal lines or straight lines of various shapes other than those shown in FIG. .

Next, the control of the actual temperature T of the hot water 16 in the hot water storage tank 14 will be described.

Up to step S50 described above, an appropriate temperature range to be controlled as the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank is determined for the value of the road surface load Q. Then, in the second temperature comparing means 152 of the control signal generating circuit 150,
The measured current hot water temperature T and the determined upper and lower limit values T
A temperature comparison with _H and _TL is made. In this example, Q = Q _SN = 230 (kcal / m ² h), and T ₁ was T ₁ = 45 ° C., T ₂ = 32 ° C. and T ₃
Description will be made assuming three cases of = 25 ° C. These temperature points are plotted and shown in FIG.

First, the lower limit value T _L is read from the memory section 110, and this lower limit value T _L is compared with the measured temperature T (S52). In this embodiment, with this Q value, T _L is the second limit temperature T _LH (30 ° C.), so T
₃ < _TLH . Therefore, in this case, the warm water temperature T ₃
Is lower than the lower limit value T _LH of the appropriate temperature range, it is checked in the next step S54 whether or not the heat source device 10 is operating. If not, the control signal generating means 15
4 sends a start signal to a drive unit (not shown) of the heat source device 10 (S56), and then a control signal for driving the heat source device 10 in a low rotation or low combustion state from the control signal generation unit 154 to the drive unit. To (S58). This step S58
After that, and when it is determined in step S54 that the heat source device 10 is in operation, the process proceeds to comparison with the next upper limit value T _H.

When the measurement temperature T is T ₁ (45 ° C.) and T ₂ (32 ° C.), T _L = T _LH (30
Since ° C.) than is the high temperature, the process proceeds to compare the next upper limit value T _H after the determination of the step S52.

Before comparing with this upper limit value, the heat source functional capacity Q _G from the memory unit 110 in the magnitude comparison means 145.
Information is read out and Q _G and road load Q are read again here.
(Here, Q _SN ) is compared (S60).

As a result of this comparison, when the heat source functional force Q _G is larger than the road surface load Q, there is no possibility of a control malfunction, so the measured temperature T and the first limit temperature T _H are compared. Perform (S62). In this embodiment, the upper limit value T _H is T
_HH (37 ° C). Therefore, the measured temperature T is T ≧ T
_H (= T _HH ) is the case where T is T ₁ (45 ° C.). Therefore, when the measured temperature is T ₁ , the heat source device 10 is over-operated, so when it is determined that the heat source device 10 is in operation (S64), the control signal generation means 154.
Outputs a control signal for stopping the operation of the heat source device 10 to the drive unit of the heat source device 10 (S66). After S66 and when it is determined in step S64 that the heat source device 10 is stopped, it is determined whether or not this control is repeatedly performed (S76). Returning to S10, if not repeated, this control ends.

On the other hand, when the measured temperature T is T ₂ (32 ° C.) or T ₃ (25 ° C.), T <T _H (= T _HH ), and the hot water temperature T is low. There is no fear of operation. However, in the case of T = T ₃ , since it has already been determined in step S52, this step S52
It is when T = T ₂ that the determination is made at 62. Therefore,
In this case, this T ₂ satisfies T _LH <T ₂ <T _HH , so the hot water temperature T is within the appropriate temperature range, and the temperature may be maintained as it is. Therefore, it is next determined whether the heat source device 10 is in operation (S68), and if it is not in operation, the first step S is performed through step S76.
Return to 10 or terminate this control. If it is determined in step S68 that the heat source device 10 is operating, the operating state of the heat source device 10 is checked again. In this case, in step S70 in the magnitude comparing means 145, the road surface load Q (the first road surface load Q _{SN in} this embodiment) is compared with the quantity Q _G · f ₁ obtained by multiplying the heat source functional power by the regional coefficient f _1. I do. Since this f ₁ is given by an approximate expression based on the heat source functional force Q _G , fine adjustment is necessary depending on the installation area of the road surface snow melting device, and therefore this determination step S
It is introduced only in 70.

As a result of the determination in step S70, Q ≦
In the case of Q _G · f ₁ , it means that the heating capacity of the heat source device is larger than the road load, that is, the amount of heat consumed on the snow melting road surface. If continuous operation is performed in the combustion state, the temperature of the hot water may rise, resulting in a dangerous or useless heating state. Therefore, in this case, the comparison result is compared with the control signal generator 150.
To the control signal generation circuit 154 of the heat source device 10
A control signal for slowing down the rotation of the heat source device or bringing it into a low combustion state is output to the drive unit of (S74).

As a result of the determination in step S70, Q>
In the case of Q _G · f ₁ , the heating capacity of the heat source device is smaller than the road surface load. Therefore, if the operating state of the heat source device 10 is continued as it is, the hot water temperature will drop, and snow melting will be hindered. May come. Therefore, in this case, the comparison result is used as the control signal generation circuit 15 of the control signal generation unit 150.
4, and outputs a control signal for driving the heat source device 10 to rotate the heat source device at a high speed or in a high combustion state (S72). After such steps S72 and S74, the process returns to the first step S10.

If it is determined in the determination in step S60 that Q _G <Q, there is no rise in the hot water temperature, and therefore, it is sufficient to continue to step S 68 already described.

As described above, the first step S10
Since the ambient environment changes every second, the various values obtained by measuring the ambient conditions also change. Therefore, since the and second road load Q _V of road load Q, the upper limit and the lower limit of the appropriate temperature range (T _H and T _L) also varies, perform control of the road snow melting apparatus which follows this change This is to allow it.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but many modifications can be made. For example, although the numerical conditions have been described in the above-described embodiments, these numerical conditions are merely preferable examples, and the objects and effects of the present invention can be achieved even if they are values other than these values. Alternatively, the numerical conditions may be set according to the environment. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the road surface load Q is set to the first road surface load Q _SN has been described, but even when the road surface load Q is set to the second road surface load Q _V , the lower limit value _{TL is set.} , The excess heat Q _e and the values of the upper limit value T _H change, but the control flow itself is the same as in the case of Q _SN , so an explanation of the control flow when the road surface load Q is set to the second road surface load Q _V Is omitted. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the second road surface load Q _V , the heat source functional force Q _G , the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L are stored in the memory unit, and the information regarding these calculation formulas is stored, and is obtained from the outside. An example of obtaining these values by calculation using the information obtained was explained.
Each value of the second road surface load Q _V , the heat source functional force Q _G , the upper limit value _TH and the lower limit value T _L is calculated in advance for each information obtained from the outside, and these calculated values are related to the outside information. It may be stored in a table form in the memory unit. By doing so, it is possible to immediately read the corresponding data, that is, the value from the memory unit in response to the external wind speed and temperature information without performing the calculation for obtaining these values after inputting the external information. Also, the configuration of the control device itself is simplified.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example of the flow of processing has been described, but the processing order does not necessarily have to be the order shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, and may be arbitrarily changed according to the design. May be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the heat collecting source temperature sensor and the external temperature sensor are shared is explained, but both are provided separately, and T _a and T _x are measured and Q is measured.
_The control may be performed by obtaining _V and Q _G.

In the above embodiment, the heat source functional force Q
As an example, the heat source functional power Q _GH of the heat pump type heat source machine was described as _G. However, when the heat source machine is a boiler type, naturally the heat source functional power Q _GH is the heat source functional capacity Q _{GB of the} boiler.
You can change to.

Although the hot water storage tank 14 has not been particularly described, in the embodiment of the present invention, the hot water storage tank is divided into three chambers whose interiors are communicated with each other in order. ing. The hot water storage tank of this structure is a hot water storage tank of the structure proposed by the present applicant in the application on the same date as the present application. In this invention, the case of using this hot water storage tank and the conventional
Since the control method is substantially the same as in the case of the one-room hot water storage tank, the description of the hot water storage tank itself is omitted.

[0103]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the method for controlling a road surface snow melting device of the present invention, the road surface load is determined according to the ambient environment conditions such as wind speed, heat collecting source temperature, outside air temperature, and the presence or absence of snowfall. Then, determine an appropriate temperature range for the hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank that corresponds to this road surface load, and if the measured actual hot water temperature is outside this appropriate temperature range, bring this actual hot water temperature into the appropriate temperature range. To control the heat source machine. Therefore, according to the present invention, the road surface (heat) load is constantly observed by following changes in the ambient environment such as the heat collection source temperature, the outside air temperature, the wind speed, and the snowfall state, and the inside of the hot water storage tank corresponding to this road surface load is observed. The hot water temperature is variably controlled. In this way, since the operating state of the road surface snow melting device can be controlled, excessive operation can be prevented, and hot water heating can be performed correspondingly even when the road surface load is low. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an economical advantage that the running cost of the road surface snow melting device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a structural conceptual diagram for explaining a basic structural example of a device itself to which a method for controlling a road surface snow melting device of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a control method of the present invention. It is a figure of a basic control flow.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a conventional road surface snow melting apparatus and a control method thereof.

3A and 3B are control flow charts for explaining a control method in the conventional device having the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a control signal generation unit for explaining the control signal generation unit for carrying out the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a hot water temperature setting example in the hot water storage tank, which is used for explaining the control method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control flow chart of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a control flow chart following FIG. 6 of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a control flow chart following FIG. 7 of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a control flow diagram following FIG. 8 of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Heat source machine 12a: Upstream reflux pipe 12b: Downstream reflux pipe 14: Hot water tank 16: Hot water 18: Reflux pump 20: Water pump 22a: Upstream water pipe 22b: Road surface pipe 22c: Downstream water pipe 24: Hot water temperature measuring device 28 : Sensor part 30: Road surface temperature control device 50: Main sensor part 52: Wind speed measuring device 53: Heat collection source temperature measuring device 54: Outside air temperature measuring device 56: Snowfall measuring device 60: Timer 70: Input device 82: A / D conversion Device 84: D / A converter 100: Control signal generation unit 110: Memory unit 120: Snowfall determination unit 130: Road surface heat release amount determination unit 132: First road surface load determination unit 134: Second road surface load determination unit 136: Control malfunction Preventing means 140: Upper and lower limit temperature determining section 141: Heat source functional output means 143: Upper and lower limit value outputting means 145: Large / small ratio Means 147: limit temperature fixing means 149: first temperature comparing means 150: control signal generating circuit 152: second temperature comparing means 154: control signal generating means

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Seiji Nagata 5373 North Kitajojo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Inside 373 Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Masaki Mikami 5-373 Kita 4jo Higashi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Address: Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Gen Onoda, 1-3-2 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Stock company, Kinmon Mfg. Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Hidetaka, 1-3-2 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Shares Company Kinmon Works (72) Inventor Keizo Okawa 1-32 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Kinmon Works (72) Inventor Ichiro Takasaki 1-3-2 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Kinmon Factory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A structure in which hot water heated by a heat source device is circulated to a hot water storage tank by a circulation pump, and a part of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is circulated through a road pipe provided on a snow melting road surface by a water supply pump. In controlling the road snow melting device, (a) a step of setting a road surface heat radiation amount in the snow melting mode (hereinafter, this road surface heat radiation amount is referred to as a first road surface load Q _SN ) according to an area; wherein according to the ambient temperature T _a in the vicinity of the melting snow road and wind speed V _a in the vicinity of the snow melting road surface, anti-freezing and the road surface heat radiation amount of the preheating mode (hereinafter, the road surface heat radiation amount second
Referred to as the road surface load Q _V. ) Determining the appropriate temperature range of the hot water in the hot water tank according to the first road surface load Q _SN during snowfall and the second road surface load Q _V during non-snowfall. a step of determining the upper limit value T _H and the lower limit value T _L, respectively, (d) the current temperature T of the hot water of the hot water storage tank, to within the appropriate temperature range of hot water, start or stop the heat source apparatus Or a step of increasing or decreasing the heating capacity of the heat source machine. 2. The road snow melting device control method according to claim 1, wherein, before the step (c), the heat source functional force Q _G of the heat source device is set to a value when the heat source device is a heat pump type. Whether to determine the heat source functional power Q _GH according to the heat collection source temperature T _x ,
Alternatively, when the heat source machine is a boiler type, the method includes a step of defining the boiler capacity Q _GB that is not substantially affected by the heat collection source temperature T _x, and the step (c) further includes the step of setting the upper limit value T _H to the upper limit value T _H. The lower limit value T _L and any specified heat source functional capacity (Q _GH
Or a step of determining with Q _GB) and, according to the size of the first or second road load (Q _SN or Q _V), the said upper limit value T _H can prevent excessive operation of the heat source unit 1 Fixed to the limit temperature T _HH , the lower limit value T _L
Is fixed to a second limit temperature T _LL for ensuring the snow melting rise time of the road surface snow melting device within an allowable time, or the lower limit value T _L for avoiding unnecessary heating of the snow melting road surface. 3 The step of fixing at the limit temperature T _LH , and F is a heat transfer resistance R (m ² h ° C./kca) between the snowmelt road surface and the hot water.
l), the hot water flow rate I (l / m ² h) and the specific heat C _f (kcal / ° C l) of the antifreeze in the road surface pipe, and the first and second road surface loads (Q _SN and Q).
_V ) is represented by Q, the lower limit value T _L is T _L = (T _g + F · Q) ° C., S _a is the snow melting area (m ² ), and G is the antifreeze liquid in the road surface pipe. Specific heat of C _f (kcal /
° C. l), wherein a coefficient depending on the hot water storage tank storing hot water volume W (l) and operating duration of the heat source device (H), the Q _e the excess heat of the heat source unit (kcal / h), and the first And the second road surface load (Q _SN and Q _V ) is represented by Q, the upper limit value _TH is _TH = ( _TL + G · Q _e ) ° C and Q _e = (Q _G −Q) · S _a kcal / h. A method for controlling a road surface snow melting device. 3. A method of controlling the road snow melting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said step and said the step of (d) comparing the current temperature T and the upper limit value T _H of the hot water in the hot water tank Comparing the current temperature T with the lower limit value T _L , and if the current temperature T is lower than the lower limit value T _L and the heat source device is stopped, start the heat source device and the method comprising the machine to slow warming state, wherein when the current temperature T is high and the heat source unit than the upper limit value T _H is in operation, a step of stopping the heat source machine, the current temperature T If There and the heat source unit lower than the upper limit value T _H is in operation, the first or the second road load (Q _SN or Q _V) is the heat source function force Q _G and region-dependent coefficients f ₁ If the product is less than or equal to Or the first or the second road surface load (Q _SN or Q _V ) is the heat source functional power and the region dependent coefficient f.
If it is larger than the product of ₁ , the step of bringing the heat source device into a high-speed heating state is included. 4. The road snow melting device control method according to claim 1, wherein before the step (c), the heat source functional force Q _G of the heat source device is set to the heat source device when the heat source device is of a heat pump type. Determining the heat source functional power Q _GH according to the heat collecting source temperature T _x , or defining as the boiler capacity Q _GB that is not substantially affected by the heat collecting source temperature when the heat source machine is a boiler type; depending was compared with the adoption heat source temperature T _x a track temperature setpoint T _G to be set for the calculation of the second road load, when blood collection heat source temperature T _x is the road set temperature T _G above Includes a step of setting the second road surface load Q _V to Q _V = 0 in order to prevent an erroneous operation of the control of the road surface snow melting device, the first road surface load Q _SN being a constant according to a region, and A and B depends on the roadbed structure When a constant and a coefficient are used, T _g is a road surface set temperature (° C.), and T _a is an outside air temperature (° C.), the second road surface load Q
_V is Q _V = (A + B · V _a ) · (T _g −T _a ) kcal / m
² h, and when the heat source device is a heat pump type, when the intrinsic coefficients of the heat source device are C and D and the intrinsic constant of the heat source device is E, the heat source functional force Q _G Q _G = Q _GH = (C · T _x ² + D · T _x + E) kcal /
m ² h, or the Q _G is set to a value corresponding to the heat source machine temperature T _x .