JPH08110087A - Method and apparatus for controlling temperature of hot water in bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a method and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of hot water in a bathtub in which the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is rapidly arrived at the set temperature as fast as possible by expediting the shifting operation from a stand-by time to a heat keeping operation. CONSTITUTION: A method for controlling the temperature of a bathtub water comprises the steps of coupling a bathtub 12 to a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 18 for reheating bathtub water) by a circulating passage (bathtub forward tube 8 and a bathtub return tube 10), and circulating the hot water in the bathtub to the exchanger by a pump (circulation pump 28) provided in the passage. The pump is operated after a predetermined time is elapsed from when the hot water in the bathtub reaches the set temperature, the exchanger is operated when the circulating water is detected in the circulating passage, the operation of the exchanger is maintained if the temperature of the water is lower than the set temperature after the exchanger is started, and when the temperature of the hot water is the set temperature or higher, the pump and the exchanger are stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention controls the temperature of hot and cold water in a bathtub by heating and supplying tap water to a bathtub by a heat exchanger and circulating hot water stored in the bathtub to the heat exchanger for heating. A method and an apparatus thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a bath device for heating and circulating hot and cold water in a bathtub through a heat exchanger to control reheating to control the temperature in the bathtub, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-9333 "Forced circulation bathtub". There is an automatic temperature controller. This device connects a bathtub and a heat exchanger with a circulation pipe, heats and circulates the hot and cold water in the bathtub through the heat exchanger, and detects the temperature detected by a temperature detector installed in the circulation pipe and installs it in the bathroom etc. It is a forced circulation type bath kettle that controls the operation of the pump and the combustion of the burner by comparing the temperature set by the temperature setting device. Then, in the temperature controller of the forced circulation type bath kettle, the following temperature control operation is performed.

A. After reaching the set temperature, the pump is operated after a certain time (standby time) has elapsed. b. The temperature detected by the temperature detector is compared with the set temperature after a lapse of a predetermined time after the operation of the pump. c. When the detected temperature is lower than the allowable temperature of the set temperature, the pump is continuously operated and the burner is burned. d. If the detected temperature is within the allowable temperature of the set temperature, stop the pump operation. e. When the pump operation is stopped, after the pump operation is stopped, a fixed time (similar to the fixed time in the case of a)
After the passage of, the pump is operated, and then the processes of b to d are performed.

[0004]

By the way, in this temperature controller, the pump is operated after a lapse of a certain time from when the set temperature is reached, and the hot water is circulated to stir the hot water in the bathtub. After averaging the temperatures, the temperature is detected, and it is determined whether or not the reheating operation is started based on the result of comparison between the detected temperature and the set temperature. For this reason, if a certain period of time has elapsed after reaching the set temperature, the hot water temperature by the pump circulation is increased before the reheating operation, even though the temperature of the hot water greatly decreases from the set temperature during that time. Since a considerable amount of time is required for stirring and the like, the substantial waiting time after the set temperature is reached and before the transition to the reheating operation is long, and the start of the reheating operation is delayed. Normally, even if the heat exchanger starts operating during reheating, it takes a long time for the heated water to circulate in the bathtub through the circulation path.Therefore, the start of reheating and the temperature of the hot water that the bather can experience There is a considerable time difference between the rise and the rise, which can be frustrating depending on the season.

Although the temperature changes of hot and cold water are different in summer and winter, in that case, it is necessary to change the allowable temperature and the waiting time. It is terrible to demand such a setting from the user, and it is troublesome for the administrator to make the change.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of hot and cold water in a bathtub that makes the temperature of hot and cold water in the bathtub reach the set temperature as quickly as possible by speeding up the transition operation from the standby time to the heat retention operation. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

A method for controlling the temperature of hot water in a bathtub according to the present invention is a bathtub (12) and a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 18 for reheating), which is a circulation path (bathtub forward pipe 8 and bathtub return pipe). Tube 1
0), the hot water in the bathtub is controlled by circulating the hot water in the bathtub to the heat exchanger by the pump (circulation pump 28) provided in the circulation path, and the hot water in the bathtub is set to the set temperature. After a certain amount of time has passed from the time when the heat exchanger reached the temperature, the pump is operated, and when circulating water is detected in the circulation path, the heat exchanger is operated. Is lower than the set temperature, the operation of the heat exchanger is maintained, and when the temperature of the hot water is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the operation of the pump and the heat exchanger is stopped.

Further, according to the method for controlling the temperature of hot water in the bathtub of the present invention, the bathtub and the heat exchanger are connected by a circulation path, and the hot water in the bathtub is circulated through the heat exchanger by a pump provided in this circulation path. A method of controlling the temperature of hot and cold water in a bathtub, in which the pump is operated after a certain time has elapsed since the hot and cold water in the bathtub reached the set temperature, and when circulating water is detected in the circulation path, circulation is performed. The temperature of hot water immediately before the detection of running water is compared with the set temperature, and if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is activated, and after the operation of this heat exchanger starts, the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature. In this case, the operation of the pump and the heat exchanger is maintained, and when the temperature of the hot water is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the operation of the pump and the heat exchanger is stopped.

Further, the temperature control device for hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention includes a bathtub (12) and a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 18 for reheating).
Is connected by a circulation path (bathtub forward pipe 8 and bathtub return pipe 10), and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is circulated by a pump (circulation pump 28) provided in this circulation path to circulate the hot water in the bathtub through a heat exchanger. A controller, which is a temperature sensor (32) provided in the circulation path to detect the temperature of hot water, and a running water sensor (3) provided in the circulation path to detect the presence of running water in the circulation path.
4) and, when a certain time has passed since the hot water in the bathtub reached the set temperature, the pump is operated, and when the running water sensor detects circulating running water, the heat exchanger is operated,
After the operation of this heat exchanger is started, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is fetched and compared with the set temperature.If the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the operation of the heat exchanger is maintained and the temperature of the hot and cold water is above the set temperature. And a control means (control unit 60) for stopping the operation of the heat exchanger.

Further, the temperature control device for hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention includes a bathtub (12) and a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 18 for reheating).
Is connected by a circulation path (bathtub forward pipe 8 and bathtub return pipe 10), and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is circulated by a pump (circulation pump 28) provided in this circulation path to circulate the hot water in the bathtub through a heat exchanger. A controller, which is a temperature sensor (32) provided in the circulation path to detect the temperature of hot water, and a running water sensor (3) provided in the circulation path to detect the presence of running water in the circulation path.
4) and, when a certain period of time has passed since the hot water in the bathtub reached the set temperature, the pump is operated, and when the running water sensor detects circulating running water, the temperature sensor detects the circulating running water before detection. The detected temperature is compared with the set temperature, and if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated, and after the operation of this heat exchanger, the detected temperature and the set temperature detected by the temperature sensor are compared. In comparison, if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, continue the operation of the heat exchanger,
When the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, a control unit (control unit 60) for stopping the operation of the heat exchanger is provided.

In the temperature control apparatus for hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention, the detected temperature is set during the temperature control time from hot water supply to heat retention.
It is characterized in that it is continuously detected and its value is updated.

Further, in the temperature control device for hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention, the detected temperature detected immediately before the operation of the pump is stored in the storage means, the pump is operated, and when the running water is detected, it is stored. It is characterized in that the detected temperature is read from the means and compared with the set temperature.

Further, the detected temperature is a step value in which the detected value obtained by the temperature sensor is converted into a digital value by the analog / digital converter (72) and the resolution of the analog / digital converter is used as a unit. Is characterized by.

The set temperature is a step value having a temperature range with the resolution of an analog-digital converter for converting the detected temperature into a digital unit, and an interval in the temperature range is set between the step values. It is characterized by having done.

[0015]

In the method for controlling the temperature of hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention, after the hot and cold water in the bathtub reaches the set temperature, the circulation pump is operated after a certain period of time to circulate the hot and cold water in the bathtub in the circulation path. . When there is this circulating water, the heat exchanger is operated. The circulating running water is used as a condition for starting the operation of the heat exchanger, which means that when no running water is detected, there is no hot water in the bathtub, and for safety, the operation of the heat exchanger is prohibited.
Then, when the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature, the reheating operation is continued, and when the temperature of the hot water is higher than the set temperature, the reheating operation is stopped. In this way, prior to the temperature detection and the control based on the comparison between the detected temperature and the set temperature, the prior reheating operation can speed up the heating operation when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is low, The set temperature can be quickly controlled. When the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is higher than the set temperature, the reheating operation may be stopped based on the comparison between the detected temperature and the set temperature, without any inconvenience. In this warming operation, the set temperature may be set at the time of transition to the warming operation in addition to the set temperature for hot water supply and reheating, and the same warming operation should be performed even if the set temperature is changed. You can

Further, in this method of controlling the temperature of hot water in the bathtub, the detected temperature detected immediately before the detection of the circulating water is compared with the set temperature before the operation of the heat exchanger is started. When the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated to heat the hot and cold water until the detected temperature reaches the set temperature. As described above, by comparing the detected temperature and the set temperature before the operation of the heat exchanger, it is possible to prevent unnecessary heating and efficiently perform the heat retaining operation.

In the temperature control apparatus for hot and cold water in the bathtub according to the present invention, after the hot and cold water in the bathtub reaches the set temperature, the circulation pump is operated after a predetermined time to circulate the hot and cold water in the bathtub in the circulation path. . The flowing water switch operates the heat exchanger when circulating flowing water is detected. Then, when the detected temperature of the hot water detected by the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature, this reheating operation is continued, and when the detected temperature of the hot water is higher than the set temperature, the reheating operation is stopped. Let In this way, prior to the temperature detection and the control based on the comparison between the detected temperature and the set temperature, the prior heating operation can accelerate the heating operation when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is low, and The set temperature can be quickly controlled. In this case, when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is higher than the set temperature, the reheating operation is stopped according to the comparison result between the detected temperature and the set temperature.

In this temperature control device for hot water in the bathtub, before the operation of the heat exchanger is started, the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor immediately before the detection of circulating water is compared with the set temperature. When the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated to heat the hot and cold water until the detected temperature reaches the set temperature. As described above, before the operation of the heat exchanger, the detected temperature and the set temperature are compared to shift to the additional heating operation, so that the waste heat is operated such that the heat exchanger is operated when the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature. Can be prevented, and the heat retention operation can be efficiently performed.

The detected temperature is an important factor in controlling the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub. In order to ensure the accuracy of temperature control, the temperature is continuously detected during the temperature control time from hot water supply to heat retention, and the value is updated.

Further, when the pump is operated and running water is detected, the latest detected temperature is compared with the set temperature to enhance the accuracy of determination as to whether or not to shift to the reheating operation. . Therefore, the detected temperature detected immediately before the operation of the pump is stored in the storage means, the pump is operated, and when the running water is detected, the detected temperature is read from the storage means and compared with the set temperature. is there.

The detected value obtained by the temperature sensor is an analog value which continuously changes depending on the temperature of the hot water. It is very troublesome to compare the detected value, which is an analog value, with the set temperature, and is not suitable for the temperature control of hot water in the bathtub which causes a gradual temperature change of about 1 ° C. Therefore, the detected temperature is a step value in which the resolution obtained by the analog-digital converter is used as a unit while the detected value obtained by the temperature sensor is converted into a digital value by the analog-digital converter. This step value can set a temperature range in which the temperature is sensible, such as 1 ° C.

Also, regarding the set temperature, a temperature range that can be sensed is appropriate. Therefore, the set temperature is set to a step value having a temperature width whose unit is the resolution of the analog-digital converter that digitally converts the detected temperature, and an interval is set between the step values in the temperature width. The temperature interval set between the set temperatures is for the purpose of clarifying whether or not the set temperature and the detected temperature are the same when comparing the set temperature and the detected temperature, and preventing a comparison error between the two. For example, assuming that the set temperature is set in units of 1 ° C., the width of the set temperature is set to the resolution of the analog / digital converter. If this resolution is 0.5 ° C, then 0.5
In the step of ° C, the set temperature and the interval temperature are set alternately. That is, the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter is used as a unit, and the temperature range of 0.5 ° C is set as the temperature interval,
In addition, there is a set temperature having a temperature range of 0.5 ° C. By analog-digital converting the detected temperature against the set temperature set in this way and comparing them, it is possible to easily and highly accurately determine whether the two match or not.
Unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to set the allowable temperature with respect to the absolute set temperature and the required accuracy setting, and it is possible to realize the temperature control adapted to the human sense of temperature.

[0023]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show one embodiment of the method for controlling the temperature of hot and cold water in the bathtub and the apparatus therefor according to the present invention. The temperature control device for hot water in the bathtub is composed of the hot water supply / reheating device 2 used for a bath or the like. This hot water supply / reheating device 2 includes a hot water supply circuit 4 and a reheating circuit 6, and is connected to a circulation port 14 of a bathtub 12 as a container for storing hot water through a bathtub going pipe 8 and a bathtub return pipe 10. There is. When hot water is supplied to the bathtub 12,
Hot water is supplied through the bathtub outflow pipe 8 forming a part of the hot water supply circuit 4, and at the time of additional heating, the bathtub outflow pipe 8 forming the additional heating circuit 6,
Hot water HW in the bathtub 12 is reheated through the bathtub return pipe 10 forming a circulation path.

In the case of this embodiment, the hot water supply / reheating apparatus 2 is provided with a hot water supply heat exchanger 16 as a first heating source and a reheating heat exchanger 18 as a second heating source. There is. The reason why the two heat exchangers 16 and 18 are installed in this way is that the heating of the feed water W from the water supply side and the sewage side, that is, the bathtub 1
This is because the heating of the hot and cold water HW in 2 is separated and the heating is performed independently.

The hot water supply circuit 4 is provided in the bathtub 1 from the clean water side.
2 is a circuit for supplying hot water. That is, the water supply W from the water supply system such as a water supply is supplied to the pipeline 20, and the pipeline 2
0 to the heat exchanger 16 for hot water supply. The hot water obtained in the hot water supply heat exchanger 16 reaches the pressure feed hopper 24, which is a means for separating the hot water from the sewage side, through the opening / closing solenoid valve 22. The hot water supplied to the pressure feeding hopper 24 is the first switching valve 26.
After that, it reaches the bathtub outflow pipe 8 and is supplied to the bathtub 12.

The reheating circuit 6 is a circuit for reheating the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 to keep it warm, and is a closed circuit open to the atmosphere formed between the bathtub 12 and the reheating heat exchanger 18. A circulation pump 28 is provided as a pressure-feeding means for circulating hot water. Hot water discharged from the bathtub 12 to the bathtub return pipe 10 by the operation of the circulation pump 28 passes through the second switching valve 30 and is heated by the heat exchanger 1 for additional heating.
8, the hot water heated by the heat exchanger 18 for reheating is passed from the bathtub going pipe 8 to the bathtub 12 via the switching valve 26.
Leading to. A temperature sensor 32 as a means for detecting the temperature of the hot water in the bath 12 through the circulating running water and a water level sensor 34 as a means for detecting the water level in the bath 12 are installed in the bathtub return pipe 10 forming the circulation path. . The water level sensor 34 is composed of, for example, a pressure sensor. In addition, a running water switch 38 is installed in a pipe line 36 connecting the circulation pump 28 and the reheating heat exchanger 18 as a means for electrically detecting the presence or absence of circulating running water.

A hot water supply burner 40 is installed as a heat source on the hot water supply heat exchanger 16 side, and the hot water supply burner 40 receives a gas G as a fuel through a hot water supply gas proportional valve 42 as a control valve. Is being supplied. The hot water supply burner 40 is provided with a hot water supply frame rod 44 and a hot water supply igniter 46.

Further, a reheating burner 50 is installed as a heat source on the side of the reheating heat exchanger 18, and the reheating burner 50 is used as a fuel through a reheating gas on-off valve 52 as a control valve. The gas G is supplied independently of the hot water supply burner 40. Also, for the reburning burner 50,
Reheating frame rod 54 and reheating igniter 5
6 are installed.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a control circuit of the hot water supply / reheating device 2. This control circuit is a control means for performing hot water supply control and heat retention control, and a microcomputer is used for the control unit 60. The control unit 60 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 62, a ROM 64 as a storage unit, a RAM 66, and an EEPROM 68. The ROM 64 stores various control programs for hot water supply, reheating, etc., and the RAM 66 stores data in the middle of calculation and detection data.
68 shows fixed data obtained during control, for example,
The set temperature and the like are stored, and the data is updated as needed.

The control unit 60 is provided with a detection signal from the temperature sensor 32 and the water level sensor 34, and a multiplexer 70 is installed as a means for taking in these detection signals in a time division manner.
A control signal is given from U62. Further, since these detection signals are analog signals, an analog / digital converter (A / D) 72 is installed as a converting means to a digital signal for performing digital processing.
That is, the temperature detection signal and the water level detection signal are fetched at regular time intervals, converted into digital signals, and added to the CPU 62 as digital data.

Further, the control section 60 is provided with an input / output circuit 74 for taking in signals from various sensors and the like and giving a control output to various drive circuits. Output signals from the running water switch 38, the hot water supply frame rod 44, and the reheating frame rod 54 are applied to the input / output circuit 74.

The control output of the control unit 60 is output through the input / output circuit 74, and each control output is an open / close solenoid valve drive circuit 76, a pump drive circuit 78, and switching valve drive circuits 80, 8.
2, gas proportional valve drive circuit 84, gas on-off valve drive circuit 8
6. Added to igniter drive circuits 88, 90. As a result, the opening / closing solenoid valve 22 has an opening / closing solenoid valve drive circuit 76, the circulation pump 28 has a pump drive circuit 78, the switching valves 26 and 30 have switch valve drive circuits 80 and 82, and the gas proportional valve 42 has gas. A drive output is given to the proportional valve drive circuit 84, the gas on-off valve drive circuit 86 to the gas on-off valve 52, an igniter drive circuit 88 to the hot water igniter 46, and an igniter drive circuit 90 to the reheating igniter 56.

In this control circuit, a remote control device 92 is installed as a remote control means for the control section 60. A remote controller control unit 94 is connected to the input / output circuit 74 of the controller 60, and the remote controller controller 94 includes a remote controller input unit 96, a voice output unit 98, and a display unit 1.
00 is connected. The remote control input unit 96 is supplied with a water level setting input as well as a temperature setting input. The temperature can be set by the user at any temperature, for example, 42 ° C, 4
It is set in units of 1 ° C such as 3 ° C. A numerical value and its unit are displayed on the display unit 100, and the set temperature is stored in the RAM 66 as digital data D42 and D43 representing the target value.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration example of the temperature sensor 32 and the AD conversion section. A thermistor 102 as a temperature detecting element is used for the temperature sensor 32, and a reference resistor 104 is connected in series to the thermistor 102. In these series circuits, the resistor 104 is set to the power source side and the thermistor 102 side is set to the ground side. The reference voltage Vdd is applied. Then, the connection point between the resistor 104 and the thermistor 102 is set to the temperature detection output point P, and the output point P
Is the thermistor 102 whose resistance value changes with temperature.
A voltage corresponding to the resistance value of, that is, a temperature detection output is obtained. This detection output passes through the multiplexer 70 and is applied to the sample hold circuit 106.

The sample and hold circuit 106 is means for sampling and holding the detection output that changes every moment according to a constant timing signal from the CPU 62, that is, the sampling pulse SP. This sample timing is synchronized with the temperature detection timing on the CPU 62 side. In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the sample and hold circuit 106 is equivalently shown, and the switch 108 is opened and closed by the sampling pulse SP.
During the closing time, the detection output which is the current value is held in the capacitor 110. That is, the holding voltage VH represents the current detected temperature. This holding voltage VH is analog data and is applied to the voltage comparator 112 for digitization.

The voltage comparator 112 converts the detection output into digital data of several bits by comparing the detection output with the reference voltages V1, V2 ... Vn. A reference voltage setting circuit 114 is provided as means for setting the reference voltages V1, V2 ... Vn. In this embodiment, the reference voltage Vdd is divided into n by the resistance ratio of the voltage dividing resistor 116, and the difference voltage Vm is calculated. The reference voltages V0, V1, V2 ... Vn (= Vdd) stepwise as a unit are obtained. This division unit is the resolution of analog-digital conversion.

In this embodiment, the reference voltages V0, V
1, V2, ..., Vn are voltages with Vm set to several tens of millivolts and stepped at temperature intervals of 0.5 ° C. in terms of temperature conversion. Here, the step of 0.5 ° C. means, for example, that the temperature range of 39 ± 0.25 ° C. is V39, 40 ± 0.
The temperature range of 25 ° C. is set to V40 ..., And the voltage corresponding to the temperature as an absolute value is not set.

Then, in this way, the reference voltage setting circuit 11
The tap selector 118 serves as a selection means for selectively extracting the reference voltages V0, V1, V2, ...
Is provided. This tap selector 118 has a C
A tap select pulse TS is added from the PU 62, and the tap select pulse TS causes each reference voltage V0,
V1, V2 ... Vn are cyclically selected and output.

In the voltage comparator 112, the reference voltages V0, V1, V2 ... Vn selected in this way are sequentially compared with the detection output, that is, the holding voltage VH, and an output showing the magnitude relation is output. can get. This output is analog / digital conversion data.

A successive conversion register 120 is provided as a means for storing the successive conversion data. The successive conversion register 120 is a means for temporarily storing digital data obtained by successive conversion. An A / D result register 122 is provided as a means for storing digital data from the successive conversion register 120. The A / D result register 122 stores digital data from the successive conversion register 120, and always stores new data.

Then, the comparison register 124 stores the A / D
The data in the result register 122 has been transferred, and the content thereof is the same as the data in the A / D result register 122 and the previous data is stored. The data processing here is A /
The new data in the D result register 122 is compared with the current data on the side of the comparison register 124, and if the difference between them is the resolution range, that is, the error range, the comparison register 1
The current data stored in 24 is confirmed as true data. A confirmation register 126 is installed as a means for storing the confirmation data, and the detection output digital data is stored in the confirmation register 126. These data processes are executed by the CPU 62, and 128 is its internal bus.

The operation will be described based on the above configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart showing the general operation. Initial setting is done by turning on the power,
After this initial setting, it is determined in step S1 whether or not the hot water supply operation is being performed. In the case of the hot water supply operation, the process proceeds to step S2 and the hot water supply operation is executed, and in step S3 it is determined whether the water level in the bathtub 12 is the predetermined water level. As shown in FIG. 2, this predetermined water level is set to the remote control device 92, and it is determined whether or not it is the set water level. In the hot water supply operation, when the water level of the bathtub 12 reaches a predetermined water level, the hot water supply operation is stopped.

If it is determined in step S1 that it is not the hot water supply operation, the process proceeds to step S4 (FIG. 6) to perform the heat retention operation. This warming operation is an operation of keeping the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 12 at the set temperature, and is an operation of always keeping the optimum hot water temperature.

FIG. 5 shows the hot water supply operation in step S2, showing the open state of the hot water supply circuit 4.
The clean water W is heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 16, and then is supplied from the bathtub going pipe 8 to the bathtub 12 through the opening / closing solenoid valve 22, the pressure feeding hopper 24, and the switching valve 26. In this case, as shown by the broken line, the bathtub return pipe 10 is also filled with the hot water HW in the bathtub 12, and as a result, the temperature sensor 32 detects the temperature of the hot water HW and the water level sensor 34 detects the water level in the bathtub 12. To be done. In this hot water supply operation, normally, in order to expect a temperature decrease due to heat dissipation and shorten the reheating time during hot water supply, hot water is supplied at a temperature higher by 0.5 ° C than the set temperature, and the water level shifts to a predetermined level. At this time, after the temperature is detected when the hot water supply is completed, the hot water in the bathtub 12 is automatically controlled to the set temperature by automatically shifting to the reheating operation similarly to the heat retaining operation.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the heat retaining operation in step S4 of FIG. The warming operation is an operation of maintaining the set temperature by boiling the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 to which hot water or hot water is supplied to the set temperature.
The warming operation shows the hot water heating operation after the hot water supply operation and the hot water heating operation.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, that is, a waiting time (waiting time Tb shown in FIG. 12) has elapsed after the hot water supply / heating, or the subsequent heating. The standby time is a time set after the set temperature is reached in consideration of the heat retention of the hot water temperature. After the waiting time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S12 and the additional heating operation is performed. Then, in step S13, the heat retention time is monitored, and before the heat retention time elapses, the process returns to step S11.
After the heat retention time has elapsed, the heat retention operation is stopped. The heat retention operation is based on the assumption that there are a plurality of bathers, and the time during which a plurality of bathers can bathe can be managed to some extent, so the heat retention time is set in advance. That is, reheating is repeatedly performed before the heat retention time elapses, and the heat retention operation is stopped after the heat retention time elapses.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a reheating operation in this heat retention operation, showing an open state of the reheating circuit 6. This reheating operation is a process for reheating the hot water in the bathtub 12, and the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 is circulated and heated by the circulation pump 28 in the reheating heat exchanger 18. That is, the hot and cold water HW of the bathtub 12 is drawn by the circulation pump 28 through the bathtub return pipe 10 and is pressure-fed to the reheating heat exchanger 18 to be heated, and the heated hot and cold water is passed through the switching valve 26 and the bathtub forward pipe. Return from 8 to bath 12. By repeating such pressure-feeding circulation, the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 is heated to the set temperature.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the additional heating operation in the flowchart of FIG. In step S21, the circulation pump 28 is operated to circulate the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 in the reheating circuit 6 before starting the reheating operation. This hot water circulation is detected by the running water switch 38.
Therefore, in step S22, it is determined whether or not running water is detected. If running water cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step S23. That is, when running water cannot be detected despite the drive of the circulation pump 28, it is determined to be abnormal, and in step S23, the abnormality is displayed or announced by the display unit 100 or the voice output unit 98.

If running water is detected, step S2
Move to 4. In step S24, RA is detected before running water is detected.
The current detected temperature stored in M66 is read. This detected temperature is stored in the RAM 66 before the flowing water is detected, is the latest temperature, and represents the temperature of hot and cold water in the circulation path.

Then, in step S25, it is determined whether the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature. When the detected temperature exceeds the set temperature, the process proceeds to step S26, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and the determination of step S25 is continued until the predetermined time elapses. If the detected temperature exceeds the set temperature even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the process is shifted to step S33 to stop the circulation.

If the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the process proceeds to step S27 to start the additional combustion.
That is, after starting the ignition operation, the gas on-off valve 52 is opened to ignite the reburning burner 50. As a result of this additional combustion, the process proceeds to step S28, it is determined whether the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, and when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the process proceeds to step S29 and the time Take measurements. This time measurement is performed by the CPU 62, for example, by measuring a clock pulse. The purpose of this time measurement is to confirm that the temperature rise has been maintained for a predetermined time because the detected temperature fluctuates.

Therefore, in step S31, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, and the process returns to step S28 until the predetermined time elapses, and the detected temperature and the set temperature are compared. In step S28, when the detected temperature becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S30, the time measurement is stopped, and the measured time is reset. That is, in this case, the clock pulse measurement is returned to zero to continue the operation.

Then, when the detected temperature reaches or exceeds the set temperature in step S28 and the temperature continues for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S31 to stop the additional combustion. That is, the hot water H in the bathtub 12
When the temperature of W reaches the set temperature, the additional heating operation is stopped. After the stop of the additional combustion, step S3
3, the operation of the circulation pump 29 is stopped after a certain time delay from the stop of the additional heating combustion, and the additional heating operation is stopped.

In this embodiment, when flowing water is detected, the process proceeds to step S27 through steps S24 and S25 to start additional combustion, but FIG.
As shown in, after the running water is detected in step S22, the process may proceed to step S27 to start the additional combustion. In this case, after the reheating operation, the detected temperature is compared with the set temperature in step S28, and if it is determined that there is no need as a result of the reheating, the process proceeds to step S32 and the additional combustion is performed. Since it can be stopped, there is no inconvenience, and the heat retention operation can be further speeded up.

Next, FIG. 10 shows the temperature detection and the calculation of the detected temperature (average value). In this temperature detection operation, the temperature of the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 during hot water supply and heat retention is detected. In step S41, the detected value of the temperature sensor 32 is fetched every predetermined time, and in step S42, the detected value is AD-converted. Then, in step S43, the AD conversion value is stored in the A / D result register 122, and the process proceeds to step S44.

In step S44, the confirmation register 126
It is determined whether or not the previous detection value is stored in. Since there is no previous detection value in the initial operation, the process proceeds to step S45,
The values are stored in the confirmation register 126 and the comparison register 124. Since the temperature detection operation is performed during hot water supply as well, when the hot water supply operation is changed to the additional heating operation, the confirmation register 126 always has the pre-detection value, but the power supply is turned off after the hot water supply operation is completed. There may be such a state of no data when stopped.

In step S44, the confirmation register 1
If the previous detection value is stored in 26, step S
In step 46, it is determined whether the difference from the value in the comparison register 124 is within a predetermined value. If the detected value is within the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S47 and the confirmation register 1
When the value of 26 is updated and exceeds the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S48, the detected value is abandoned, and the confirmation register 1
Maintain 26 pre-detection values. This is to prevent an erroneous operation due to the detected value when an extreme detected value occurs with respect to the previous value, and for example, a difference of “2” or more in the AD conversion value occurs with the predetermined value. In the case, that is, a difference of 1 ° C. or more is set.

Then, in step S49, the value of the confirmation register 126 is transferred to the RAM 66. This is performed regardless of whether the value of the confirmation register 126 has been updated, and the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50,
It is determined whether the previous value data is stored in the RAM 66. If there is previous value data, the process proceeds to step S51 to update the oldest data, and if there is no previous value data, the process proceeds to step S52 and the number n of the data stored in the RAM 66 is planned. The detection value fetched this time is stored in the entire storage area. This is the detected temperature, i.e.
This is a preparatory operation for obtaining the average value. Further, the planned number n is the number for obtaining the average value, for example, n =
Set to 10.

When the process proceeds to step S53, the average value is obtained by excluding the maximum value and the minimum value out of n. That is, the average value is obtained by adding the detected values after removing the maximum value and the minimum value and dividing by n-2, and this is taken as the detected temperature.

Then, the process shifts to step S54, the detected temperature of the RAM 66 previously stored is updated with the calculated detected temperature, and the latest detected temperature is always stored in the RAM 66.

Here, the temperature detection is performed as shown in FIG.
A description will be given with reference to (B) and (C). FIG. 11A
As shown in, the AD conversion data of the first detection value is D
a. This data Da is stored in the confirmation register 126. It is determined whether or not there is data stored in the confirmation register 126, and if there is no data (initial operation), the data Da is stored in the confirmation register 126 and the comparison register 124. Further, it is determined whether or not there is previous value data in the RAM 66. If there is no previous value data, the data Da
Are stored in the RAM 66. In this case, the planned number is 1
The data Da is stored in each area. Then, in this case, both the maximum value and the minimum value are Da, and the detected temperature is Da × 8/8, which is Da.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the AD conversion data of the second detection value is set to Di. Since the previous detection data is Da, the data Da and the current data Di are compared, and the difference between them is within the range of the predetermined value e (for example,
2) or less) is determined. When the value is within the predetermined value, the data Da stored in the confirmation register 126 is changed to the data Di.
To RAM 66 and transfer to RAM 66. Assuming that the magnitude relationship between Da and Di is Da <Di, the maximum value is Di and the minimum value is Da in the data stored in the RAM 66.
The average value is obtained by removing Da and Di. In this case, as in the case of the first time, the detected temperature is Da × 8/8,
It becomes Da.

As shown in FIG. 11C, it is assumed that the kth temperature detection is performed. The latest data Dk is transferred to the RAM 66, and the data Dk, Di, Df, Dh, D
b, Dc, Dj, Dd and De are stored. In this case, assuming that the maximum value is Df and the minimum value is Di, the average value is obtained by excluding these values and dividing the added value ΣD of the other data by (n−2). If n = 10, (D
k, Dh, Db, Dc, Dj, Dd, DeDa + Da)
/ 8 = Dx, and the detected temperature in this case is Dx.
This detected temperature Dx updates the previous detected temperature stored in the RAM 66 and is stored as the latest detected temperature. By repeating such an operation, the latest detected temperature is always stored in the RAM 66.

Next, FIG. 12 shows the operation timing in the case of shifting from the heating operation during hot water supply to the heat retention operation.

The time Ta represents the reheating operation time,
During this time, as shown in FIG. 12 (A), the gas on-off valve 52 is opened, and gas combustion for reheating is being performed. When the hot water HW in the bathtub 12 reaches the set temperature, the gas on-off valve 52 is closed and the combustion operation is stopped.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, after the time Td has passed from the closing of the gas on-off valve 52, the circulation pump 28
Stops. The reason why the stop of the operation of the circulation pump 28 is delayed by the time Td from the closing of the gas on-off valve 52 in this way is to avoid the post-additional boiling due to the heat of the additional heating heat exchanger 18, and the additional heating heat exchanger. This is because the temperature inside 18 is lowered.

Further, after the circulation pump 28 is stopped, FIG.
(C), the running water detection of the running water switch 38 is stopped.

Then, a waiting time Tb of a predetermined time is started after the gas on-off valve 52 is stopped. This waiting time Tb is
For example, it is set to about 30 minutes. When the waiting time Tb elapses, the circulation pump 28 is operated to circulate the hot water HW in the bath 12 in the reheating circuit 6. The time Te is the stop time of the circulation pump 28, and this stop time Te is shorter than the standby time Tb.

When the pump circulation is started, as shown in FIG. 12C, the running water switch 38 detects the running water at the same time as the operation of the circulating pump 28 is started. Assuming that the time at which the flowing water is detected is to, the set temperature and the detected temperature are compared at this time to. The detected temperature used for this comparison is the RAM 66 immediately before the time point to.
Is the detected temperature stored in, that is, the detected temperature updated as a result of the calculation immediately before the pump circulation.

By the way, temperature detection is always performed,
The detection is performed, for example, every 0.5 seconds, and if the average value is calculated, for example, in units of 10 temperature acquisitions, the detected temperature to be compared is from about 5 seconds before the time point to the time point. It is an average value temperature based on the temperature uptake just before to.

Then, as a result of the comparison between the detected temperature and the set temperature, when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, time t
During the time Tf after o, the ignition operation is started, and the gas on-off valve 52 is opened as shown in FIG. As a result, the reheating operation, that is, the heat retention operation is started, and the time T
c is the heat retention operation time. This heat retention operation continues until the detected temperature reaches the set temperature.

Next, FIG. 13 shows a comparison operation between the set temperature and the detected temperature. In FIG. 13, the straight line L shows the transition of the detected temperature, which actually fluctuates greatly, but is shown as a straight line for ease of explanation. The arrow UP indicates the upward direction and the arrow DN indicates the downward direction. Is. Also,
Regarding the temperature, in order to facilitate the explanation, 39 ° C. to 43 ° C. is shown as a typical value.

The set temperature is arbitrarily set in units of 1 ° C., and its value is displayed on the display unit 100 together with the unit. The set temperature has, for example, a temperature range T1 of 0.5 ° C., and the temperature range T2 = 0.5 ° C. is set as a non-set temperature even between the set temperatures. In this case, set temperature = 38.75 to 39.25 ° C., non-set temperature = 39.25
℃ ~ 39.75 ℃, set temperature = 39.75 ~ 40.25
℃, non-set temperature = 40.25 ℃ ~ 40.75 ℃ ...
Is set. That is, the set temperature is 39 ° C, 40
Even if the temperature is set as ℃, 41 ℃, 42 ℃, etc., the set temperature itself has a range of 0.5 ℃, not a temperature value as an absolute value.

On the other hand, the hot water temperature is an analog value which is continuously converted, and the detected temperature is also continuous. However, because of the analog-to-digital conversion, the acquisition of the detected temperature takes a fixed time interval, for example, 10
It is performed every 0 ms and is taken as a continuous value. Then, the temperature is captured by converting the resistance value change of the thermistor 102 into a voltage value, and is captured in units of about 20 mV at 0.5 ° C. intervals. As a result, the detected temperature A
The D-converted value is captured at 20 mV intervals corresponding to 0.5 ° C. intervals and converted into digital data. In FIG. 13, d38.5 to d43 represent detection data indicating detected temperatures. Theoretically, the voltage value representing the detected temperature may coincide with the horizontal line in FIG. 13, but this is taken in as upper data as an error in data processing.
For example, the data on the line representing 40.25 ° C. is d40.5
Becomes

The AD conversion value representing the detected temperature thus fetched is compared with the AD conversion value of the set temperature.
In the example of FIG. 13, the set temperature is 41 ° C. and the AD
If the conversion value is D41, the AD conversion value d3 of the detected temperature
Compared with 8.5-d43. As a result of the heat retention operation, when the detected temperature of the hot water reaches d41, it coincides with the AD conversion value D41 representing the set temperature, and after the coincidence has passed for a predetermined time,
The heat retention operation is stopped.

Further, when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 12 is lowered during the waiting time and the detected temperature is lowered to, for example, d40,
The heating operation is performed, and the additional heating operation is performed until the detected temperature reaches the set temperature D41.

As described above, the set temperature has a constant temperature width T1.
(= 0.5 ° C.), and a constant temperature width T2 (= 0.5 ° C.) is set between the set temperatures. Moreover, the temperature widths T1 and T2 are T1 = T2, and the resolution in analog-digital conversion (for example, 20 m
V). In addition, since a certain temperature range is set between the set temperatures, the operation during analog-digital conversion is stabilized, and after the lapse of a certain time, the reheating operation or its stop is performed. The safety of operation can be improved without repeating the fire extinguishing of 50.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained. a. After a certain period of time has passed since the hot and cold water in the bathtub reached the set temperature, the pump is operated, and when circulating water is detected in the circulation path, the heat exchanger is operated to advance the reheating operation. , Compare the temperature of hot water after the reheating operation with the set temperature, and if the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature, it is decided to continue the reheating, Compared to the temperature control method that precedes stirring of hot water and temperature detection, the heat retention operation can be performed as quickly as possible. b. When a certain amount of time has passed since the hot water in the bathtub reached the set temperature, the pump was operated and circulating water was detected in the circulation path, the temperature and setting of the hot water detected before pump circulation were set. If the temperature of the hot and cold water is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated to advance the reheating operation, and after this reheating operation, the temperature of the hot and cold water is lower than the set temperature. In this case, since the heating operation is continued, the heat retaining operation can be performed as quickly as possible as compared with the conventional control method of shifting to the heating operation after stirring and temperature detection. In such a control operation, when a hot water supply operation or a water heater using solar heat is used in combination to maintain the hot water in the bathtub at a high temperature, it is possible to prevent a transition to an unnecessary reheating operation. c. The detected temperature is a step value with the resolution of the analog / digital converter as the unit, and the set temperature is the analog / digital
Since it is a step value having a temperature width with the resolution of the digital converter as a unit, and an interval with the temperature width as a unit is set between the step values, the reliability of the comparison operation between the two is improved,
A comparison operation in units of 1 ° C. can be realized, and temperature control at a sensible temperature can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bath according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of a temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bath according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an analog / digital conversion unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an initial operation.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing the operation of the hot water supply circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a heat retention operation operation.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing an operation operation of an additional heating circuit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a reheating operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another additional firing operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing temperature detection.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between detected data and detected temperature in a RAM.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing a heat retention operation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a comparison operation of a set temperature and a detected temperature.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Bathtub Return Pipe (Circulation Path) 10 Bathtub Return Pipe (Circulation Path) 12 Bathtub 18 Heat Exchanger for Reheating 28 Circulation Pump 32 Temperature Sensor 34 Flowing Water Sensor 60 Control Unit (Control Means) 72 Analog / Digital Converter

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling the temperature of hot and cold water in a bathtub, comprising connecting a bathtub and a heat exchanger by a circulation path, and circulating hot water in the bathtub to the heat exchanger by a pump provided in the circulation path. After a lapse of a certain time from when the hot water in the bath reaches a set temperature, the pump is operated, and when circulating water is detected in the circulation path, the heat exchanger is operated, After the operation of the heat exchanger is started, when the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature, the operation of the heat exchanger is maintained, and when the temperature of the hot water is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the pump and A method for controlling the temperature of hot water in a bathtub, which comprises stopping the operation of the heat exchanger. 2. A method for controlling the temperature of hot water in a bathtub, wherein the bathtub and the heat exchanger are connected by a circulation path, and hot water in the bathtub is circulated to the heat exchanger by a pump provided in the circulation path. When the hot water in the bath reaches a set temperature, a certain period of time elapses, the pump is operated, and when circulating water is detected in the circulation path, immediately before detection of the circulating water. When the temperature of hot water is compared with the set temperature, and when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated, and after the operation of the heat exchanger is started, the temperature of the hot water is lower than the set temperature. The operation of the pump and the heat exchanger is maintained, and the operation of the pump and the heat exchanger is stopped when the temperature of the hot water is equal to or higher than the preset temperature. Temperature control method. 3. A temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bathtub, which connects a bathtub and a heat exchanger by a circulation path, and circulates the hot and cold water of the bathtub through the heat exchanger by a pump provided in the circulation path, A temperature sensor installed in the circulation path to detect the temperature of the hot water, a water flow sensor installed in the circulation path to detect that there is running water in the circulation path, and the hot water in the bath reaches a set temperature. After a certain period of time has elapsed from the time of reaching, the pump is operated, and when the flowing water sensor detects circulating flowing water, the heat exchanger is operated, and after the operation of the heat exchanger is started, the temperature sensor is activated. If the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the operation of the heat exchanger is maintained, and if the temperature of the hot water is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the heat exchange is performed. Stop working A temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bathtub, comprising: 4. A temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bathtub, wherein a bathtub and a heat exchanger are connected by a circulation path, and hot water in the bathtub is circulated to the heat exchanger by a pump provided in the circulation path. A temperature sensor installed in the circulation path to detect the temperature of the hot water; a running water sensor installed in the circulation path to detect the presence of running water in the circulation path; When a certain period of time has passed from the time when the circulating water flow was reached, and when the running water sensor detected circulating running water, the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor was set before the circulating running water was detected. Compared with the temperature, if the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the heat exchanger is operated, after the operation of this heat exchanger, the detected temperature and the set temperature detected by the temperature sensor are compared, Inspection A control means for maintaining the operation of the heat exchanger when the output temperature is lower than the set temperature, and stopping the operation of the heat exchanger when the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature. A device for controlling the temperature of hot water in the bathtub. 5. The detected temperature detected immediately before the operation of the pump is stored in a storage means, the pump is operated, and when the running water is detected, the detected temperature is read out from the storage means. The temperature control device for hot water in a bathtub according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the temperature is compared with the set temperature. 6. The temperature of hot water in the bathtub according to claim 3, wherein the detected temperature is continuously detected during the temperature control time from hot water supply to heat retention and the value is updated. Control method. 7. The detected temperature is a step value in which the detected value obtained by the temperature sensor is converted into a digital value by an analog / digital converter and the resolution of the analog / digital converter is used as a unit. The temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bath according to claim 3 or 4. 8. The set temperature is a step value having a temperature width whose unit is a resolution of the analog-digital converter that digitally converts the detected temperature, and the temperature width is a unit between the step values. The temperature control device for hot and cold water in a bathtub according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an interval is set.