JPWO2018105080A1 - Hot water storage water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The circulation pump (103) supplies hot water taken from below the hot water storage tank (101) to the heat pump unit (200). The heat pump unit (200) heats the supplied hot water and generates hot hot water. The hot water storage tank (101) stores hot water in different temperature zones by introducing the generated hot water from above. The temperature sensors (102a to 102f) detect the temperature of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank (101). The control device (300) circulates the hot water supplied from the circulation pump (103) to the hot water storage tank (101), thereby equalizing the temperature of the hot water stored. A control apparatus (300) alert | reports about the temperature sensor (102a-102f) which detected abnormal temperature among the temperature sensors (102a-102f) in the state in which the temperature of the hot water was equalized.

Description

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

  Conventionally, in a hot water storage water heater represented by a heat pump hot water supply device, the hot water in the hot water storage tank is taken out from the bottom, and the hot water obtained through the heat pump heating means is returned to the top of the hot water storage tank to raise the water. I am driving. By this boiling operation, hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank in a state where hot hot water is gradually stacked from the top (laminated hot water). In the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus, the temperature distribution in the hot water storage tank is grasped by a plurality of temperature sensors installed in the hot water storage tank, and the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank is estimated.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of a hot water storage system (cogeneration system) that accurately estimates a heat storage amount (residual hot water amount) in a hot water storage tank (hot water storage tank). In this hot water storage system, the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank is accurately estimated by estimating the temperature distribution between the temperature sensors using a multi-order function derived from the production and consumption of hot water.

Japanese Patent No. 5245807

  However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the accuracy (temperature detection accuracy) of the temperature sensor is low, the estimated value of the temperature distribution is adversely affected, and as a result, the estimated heat storage amount becomes inaccurate. was there. That is, the output temperature of the temperature sensor installed in the hot water storage tank is used as the reference temperature for estimating the temperature distribution. Therefore, when the accuracy of the temperature sensor is low, the estimated temperature distribution is inaccurate, and the finally estimated heat storage amount is also inaccurate. In addition, although it improves to some extent by installing a highly accurate (high temperature detection accuracy) temperature sensor, the subject that cost becomes high will arise instead.

  Therefore, there has been a demand for a technique that can accurately estimate the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank while suppressing an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus that can accurately estimate the amount of heat stored in a hot water storage tank.

In order to achieve the above object, a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
Heating means for generating hot water;
A hot water storage tank for storing hot water in different temperature zones by entering hot water generated by the heating means from above;
A plurality of temperature sensors that are installed side by side in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank and detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank;
A pump for supplying hot water taken from below the hot water storage tank;
The heating means, and a control device for controlling the pump,
The control device includes:
Control means for equalizing the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank by circulating hot water supplied from the pump to the hot water storage tank;
An informing means for informing about a temperature sensor that detects an abnormal temperature among the plurality of temperature sensors in a state in which the temperature of the hot water is made uniform by the control means.

  In the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is made uniform by the control means, and a plurality of temperature sensors detect the same temperature in this state. Thus, if there is a temperature sensor that detects an abnormal temperature among the installed temperature sensors, the abnormality can be notified. If the abnormality is not reported or the temperature sensor that detects the abnormal temperature is replaced, the temperature distribution of the hot water stored in the stacked hot water (hot water in different temperature zones) is accurately determined in normal boiling operation. As a result, the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank can be accurately estimated.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Block diagram for explaining a connection configuration of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus Schematic diagram for explaining the operation path of hot water during boiling operation Schematic diagram for explaining the operation path of hot water during homogenization operation Schematic diagram showing an example of the temperature relationship acquired by the temperature sensor The block diagram for demonstrating the connection structure of the hot water storage type hot-water supply apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in this specification, common elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

<Configuration of hot water storage type hot water supply device>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 is roughly composed of a hot water storage unit 100 and a heat pump unit 200. The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 is connected to a bathtub 400 and a remote controller 500.

  The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 stores hot water heated by a heat pump unit 200 as a heating means in a hot water storage tank 101 in the hot water storage unit 100. The heat pump unit 200 includes, for example, a compressor, a water refrigerant heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an air heat exchanger. These are connected in a ring shape to form a refrigeration cycle circuit (also referred to as a refrigerant circuit) for circulating the refrigerant.

  The hot water storage unit 100 mainly includes a hot water storage tank 101, a temperature sensor 102 (102a to 102f), a circulation pump 103, switching valves 104 and 105, and a control device 300.

  The temperature sensors 102 (102a to 102f) are installed at intervals in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank 101, and detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 101 (hot water having different temperature zones). As will be described later, the control device 300 grasps the temperature distribution of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 102. And the control apparatus 300 estimates the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank 101 based on the grasped temperature distribution.

  Circulating pump 103 supplies hot water taken out from the bottom (downward) of hot water storage tank 101 to heat pump unit 200 during boiling operation, and returns the hot water heated by heat pump unit 200 to the top (upper) of hot water storage tank 101. . Further, as will be described later, the circulation pump 103 does not allow hot water taken out from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 to pass through the heat pump unit 200 during the uniform operation (operation to equalize the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101). Return to the top of the hot water storage tank 101.

  The switching valve 104 is a three-way valve and includes three water inlets / outlets a to c. The water inlet / outlet a is connected to the heat pump unit 200 via the circulation pump 103 and the heat source unit forward pipe 112. The water inlet / outlet b is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 via the tank bottom intake pipe 111. The water inlet / outlet c is connected to the top of the hot water storage tank 101.

  The switching valve 105 is a four-way valve and includes four water inlets / outlets a to d. The water inlet / outlet a is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 via a tank bottom water inlet pipe 115. The water inlet / outlet b is connected to the heat pump unit 200 via the heat source unit return pipe 113. The water inlet / outlet c is connected to the top of the hot water storage tank 101 via the tank top water inlet pipe 114. The water inlet / outlet d is connected to the heat source unit forward pipe 112 via the heat source unit bypass pipe 116.

  In addition, city water is supplied to the hot water storage unit 100 through the water supply end 121. The water supply end 121 is connected to the inlets of the mixing valves 122 and 123. The outlet of the mixing valve 122 is connected to the hot water supply end 125 via the flow rate sensor 124. The outlet of the mixing valve 123 is connected to the bathtub 400 via the electromagnetic valve 126. The bath circulation pump 127 circulates hot water in the bathtub 400. The water level sensor 128 detects the water level of the bathtub 400.

  The control device 300 controls the operation of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1 as a whole. The control device 300 is electrically connected to the remote controller 500. Details of the control device 300 will be described later.

  The remote controller 500 is used by a user to check the operation of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1 and the operating state of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1. As an example, the remote controller 500 includes a display unit, an operation unit, a speaker, and a microphone. For example, the operation unit receives a user operation and notifies the control device 300 of the operation content. Further, the display unit displays the operation state of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1 based on the information obtained from the control device 300. As will be described later, when an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 is detected, the display unit displays a message for informing the abnormality. At that time, an alarm sound may be output from the speaker. That is, the abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 is notified by the display unit or the speaker.

  Next, the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 will be described focusing on the control apparatus 300. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a connection configuration of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 300 that controls the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 includes a measurement unit 301, a calculation unit 302, a control unit 303, and a storage unit 304.

  The control device 300 having such a configuration is connected with a temperature sensor 102 (102a to 102f), a flow rate sensor 124, and a water level sensor 128 as inputs. In addition, a remote controller 500 is connected to the control device 300 as an input / output. Further, the controller 300 is connected with actuators such as a heat pump unit 200, a circulation pump 103, switching valves 104 and 105, mixing valves 122 and 123, and an electromagnetic valve 126 as outputs.

  The measurement unit 301 measures various amounts according to information input from the temperature sensor 102, the flow rate sensor 124, and the water level sensor 128.

  The calculation unit 302 calculates a control operation based on the various quantities measured by the measurement unit 301. For example, the calculation unit 302 calculates the operation of the heat pump unit 200 from the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 101. In addition, as will be described later, calculation for detecting an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 and calculation for obtaining a calibration value for calibrating the temperature sensor 102 are also performed.

  The control unit 303 controls actuators such as the heat pump unit 200, the circulation pump 103, the switching valves 104 and 105, the mixing valves 122 and 123, and the electromagnetic valve 126 based on the control operation calculated by the calculation unit 302.

  The storage unit 304 stores various information such as predetermined constants and setting values transmitted from the remote controller 500. For example, the storage unit 304 predicts a temperature to be detected by the abnormal temperature sensor 102 using the temperature obtained from the normal temperature sensor 102 when detecting an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102, as will be described later. The correction formula for storing is stored. Further, as will be described later, when a calibration value for calibrating the temperature sensor 102 is obtained, the storage unit 304 also stores the calibration value. The calculation unit 302 and the control unit 303 can refer to information stored in the storage unit 304 or perform rewriting as necessary.

  In addition, such a measurement part 301, the calculating part 302, and the control part 303 are comprised by the microcomputer, for example. Further, the storage unit 304 is configured by a semiconductor memory, for example.

<Boiling operation>
The boiling operation of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described. During the boiling operation, the control valve 300 controls the switching valves 104 and 105 as follows.

  The control device 300 opens the water inlets / outlets a, b of the switching valve 104 and closes the water inlet / outlet c. Further, the control device 300 opens the water inlets and outlets b and c of the switching valve 105, and closes the water inlets and outlets a and d.

  With the control of the switching valves 104 and 105 in this way, the control device 300 operates the circulation pump 103. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the hot water is sequentially led from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 to the switching valve 104, the circulation pump 103, the heat pump unit 200, the switching valve 105, and the top of the hot water storage tank 101. In this way, the control device 300 can heat the hot water taken out from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 by the heat pump unit 200 that is a heating means, and send the heated hot water to the top of the hot water storage tank 101. By such a boiling operation, hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 101 in a state where hot hot water is gradually stacked from the top (laminated hot water).

<Uniform operation>
After the above-described boiling operation, a uniform operation for equalizing the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 101 will be described. During the homogenization operation, the control valve 300 controls the switching valves 104 and 105 as follows.

  The control device 300 opens the water inlets / outlets a, b of the switching valve 104 and closes the water inlet / outlet c. In addition, the control device 300 opens the inlet / outlet ports c and d of the switching valve 105, and closes the inlet / outlet ports a and b.

  With the control of the switching valves 104 and 105 in this way, the control device 300 operates the circulation pump 103. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, hot water is sequentially introduced from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 to the switching valve 104, the circulation pump 103, the switching valve 105, and the top of the hot water storage tank 101. That is, the control device 300 circulates the hot water taken out from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 101 to the top of the hot water storage tank 101 without passing through the heat pump unit 200, so that the temperature of the hot water stacked and stored in the hot water storage tank 101 is increased. Can be made uniform.

<Notification of abnormal temperature sensor>
After performing the above-described homogenization operation and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 reaches the same temperature, the control device 300 measures the temperature of the hot water using the temperature sensor 102. Here, the temperatures acquired by the temperature sensors 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f are sequentially set as temperatures Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te, and Tf.

  Control device 300 (arithmetic unit 302) calculates average value Tm of the acquired temperatures using these temperatures Ta to Tf. Here, the controller 300 excludes the temperature T ′ having the largest deviation from the average value Tm, and again calculates the average value T′m (trim average value) of the remaining temperatures.

  In the control device 300, when the deviation between the average value T′m and the temperature T ′ is outside the operation guarantee range of the temperature sensor 102 (when it is larger than the reference value), the temperature T ′ is an abnormal value. And the abnormality of the target temperature sensor 102 is notified through the connected remote controller 500. For example, the control device 300 controls the remote controller 500 to display a message for notifying the abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 on the display unit of the remote controller 500 and output an alarm sound from the speaker of the remote controller 500.

  As described above, in the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 is made uniform by the homogenization operation, and the temperature sensors 102 a to 102 f detect the same temperature in this state. As a result, it is possible to detect the temperature sensor 102 whose accuracy has been significantly impaired among the installed temperature sensors 102 and to report the abnormality.

  FIG. 5 shows, as an example showing the relationship between the temperatures acquired by the temperature sensor 102, when the temperature sensor 102c acquires an abnormal temperature, that is, when temperature Tc = temperature T ′. That is, the control device 300 (calculation unit 302) first calculates the average value Tm using the temperatures Ta to Tf. Subsequently, the control device 300 excludes the temperature Tc (= temperature T ′) having the largest deviation from the average value Tm, and uses the remaining temperatures Ta, Tb, Td to Tf to calculate the average value T′m (trim (Average value) is calculated. When the deviation between the average value T′m and the temperature Tc (= temperature T ′) does not fall within the operation guarantee range of the temperature sensor 102, the control device 300 detects an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 c through the remote controller 500. Inform.

  When such an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102c is detected (notified), in a normal boiling operation, the control device 300 (calculation unit 302) uses the alternative temperature ETc instead of the temperature Tc acquired by the temperature sensor 102c. You may make it ask. For example, the control device 300 uses the correction formula stored in the storage unit 304 and uses the temperature acquired by the surrounding temperature sensor 102 (for example, the temperature sensors 102b and 102d) operating normally, to use the temperature sensor 102c. Finds the temperature that should be detected (that is, the alternative temperature ETc of the abnormal sensor).

  In this case, using the alternative temperature ETc instead of the temperature Tc acquired by the temperature sensor 102c and Ta, Tb, Td to Tf acquired by other temperature sensors 102, the hot water stacked and stored in the hot water storage tank 101 is used. As a result, the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 101 can be accurately estimated.

<Calibration of temperature sensor>
In addition, when no abnormality is detected in the temperature sensor 102 (or when the temperature sensor 102 in which the abnormality is detected is replaced), the control device 300 (calculation unit 302) performs the temperature sensor as follows. 102a to 102f are calibrated.

  When the uncertainty of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 102 is an uncertainty σ, the uncertainty σ ′ of the average value of the temperatures detected by the N temperature sensors 102 is expressed by the following Equation 1.

  Therefore, the control device 300 (calculation unit 302) uses the average value Tm of the post-homogenization operation temperature and the uncertainty σ ′ to calibrate the temperatures Ta to Tf acquired by the temperature sensors 102a to 102f. By respectively obtaining and calibrating, it is possible to reduce the uncertainty of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 102. For example, when calibrating the temperature Ta (temperature sensor 102a), the control device 300 obtains the calibration value Aa by the following equation 2.

  Aa = (Tm−Ta) · σ ′ (Expression 2)

  The control apparatus 300 calculates | requires calibration value Ab-Af with temperature Tb-Tf (temperature sensor 102b-102f) by the same type | formula, respectively.

  The control device 300 stores the calibration values Aa to Af thus obtained in the storage unit 304. And the control apparatus 300 calibrates the temperature Ta-Tf which the temperature sensors 102a-102f acquired at the time of normal boiling operation using calibration value Aa-Af, respectively.

  In this case, by correcting Ta to Tf acquired by the temperature sensor 102 using the calibration values Aa to Af, the temperature distribution of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 101 can be accurately grasped, and as a result, the hot water storage The amount of heat stored in the tank 101 can be accurately estimated.

  The above-described homogenization operation includes the possibility of reducing the amount of hot water that can be used in the hot water storage tank 101. For this reason, it is assumed that the uniform operation (notification or calibration) is performed as an initial operation when the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1 is first installed in the use environment, for example. That is, by performing the uniform operation as the initial operation, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the measurement function of the hot water storage type hot water supply device 1 without impairing the convenience for the user.

  Further, in order to further improve the accuracy of the measurement function of the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1, the above-described temperature sensor 102 may be calibrated a plurality of times while repeating the above-described boiling operation and the above-described uniformizing operation. Good. In this case, calibration in various temperature zones can be performed, and the uncertainty of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 102 can be further reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the temperature is made uniform by circulating the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 without using the heat pump unit 200 using the circulation pump 103 has been described as the homogenizing operation. However, this is an example, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 may be made uniform by another method. For example, the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank 101 may be made uniform by a pump operation. In other words, the uniform operation may include an operation for reducing the uncertainty of detection by the temperature sensor.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the case where the control device 300 notifies the abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 using the remote controller 500 has been described. However, the control device 300 may include notification means.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the control device 310 that controls the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 includes a measurement unit 301, a calculation unit 302, a control unit 303, a storage unit 304, and a notification unit 311. Yes. Note that the measurement unit 301 to storage unit 304 have the same configuration as the control device 300 in FIG.

  The notification unit 311 notifies the abnormality when detecting the abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 in the same manner as described above. For example, the notification unit 311 includes a display unit and a speaker. When an abnormality of the temperature sensor 102 is detected, the notification unit 311 displays a message for notifying the abnormality or outputs an alarm sound.

  Also in this case, when the hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 detects the temperature sensor 102 in which the accuracy is remarkably impaired among the installed temperature sensors 102, the abnormality can be notified.

  In the above embodiment, the programs executed by the control devices 300 and 310 are CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), MO (Magneto-Optical Disk), USB memory, and memory. It is also possible to store and distribute in a computer-readable recording medium such as a card. Then, by installing such a program on a specific or general-purpose computer, it is possible to cause the computer to function as the control devices 300 and 310 in the above embodiment.

  Further, the above program may be stored in a disk device included in a server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and may be downloaded onto a computer, for example, superimposed on a carrier wave. The above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing a program while transferring it via a communication network. Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by executing all or part of the program on the server device and executing the program while the computer transmits and receives information regarding the processing via the communication network.

  Note that when the above functions are realized by sharing an OS (Operating System) or when the functions are realized by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS are stored in the recording medium and distributed. It may also be downloaded to a computer.

  Various embodiments and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the broad spirit and scope. Further, the above-described embodiment is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the embodiments but by the claims. Various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably adopted for a hot water storage type hot water supply device used in homes and facilities.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus, 100 Hot water storage unit, 101 Hot water storage tank, 102 (102a-102f) Temperature sensor, 103 Circulation pump, 104, 105 Switching valve, 111 Tank bottom intake pipe, 112 Heat source machine return pipe, 113 Heat source machine return pipe , 114 Tank top inlet pipe, 115 Tank bottom inlet pipe, 116 Heat source machine bypass pipe, 121 Water supply end, 122,123 Mixing valve, 124 Flow rate sensor, 125 Hot water supply end, 126 Solenoid valve, 127 Bath circulation pump, 128 Water level sensor, 200 heat pump unit, 300, 310 control device, 301 measurement unit, 302 calculation unit, 303 control unit, 304 storage unit, 311 notification unit, 400 bathtub, 500 remote control

Claims (5)

Heating means for generating hot water;
A hot water storage tank for storing hot water in different temperature zones by entering hot water generated by the heating means from above;
A plurality of temperature sensors that are installed side by side in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank and detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank;
A pump for supplying hot water taken from below the hot water storage tank;
The heating means, and a control device for controlling the pump,
The control device includes:
Control means for equalizing the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank by circulating hot water supplied from the pump to the hot water storage tank;
An informing means for informing about a temperature sensor that has detected an abnormal temperature among the plurality of temperature sensors in a state in which the temperature of the hot water is made uniform by the control means;
Hot water storage water heater. A switching valve for switching the hot water supply destination by the pump to any of the heating means and the hot water storage tank;
The control means controls the switching valve during the boiling operation, and switches the hot water supply destination to the heating means, thereby supplying the hot water passing through the heating means to the hot water storage tank, and during the uniform operation. By controlling the switching valve and switching the hot water supply destination to the hot water supply tank, hot water that does not pass through the heating means is supplied to the hot water storage tank,
The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1. The notification means includes
Obtain an average value of the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors, specify the temperature having the largest deviation from the average value,
Calculate the trim average value excluding the specified temperature,
When a deviation between the calculated trim average value and the specified temperature is larger than a reference value, the abnormality of the temperature sensor corresponding to the specified temperature is notified.
The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1. The control device includes:
In addition to the temperature sensor that has detected the abnormal temperature, a calculation unit that calculates a temperature that should be detected by the temperature sensor that has detected the abnormal temperature is further provided based on the temperature detected by the adjacent temperature sensor.
The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1. The control device includes:
Calculation means for calculating calibration values for calibrating the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors based on the temperatures detected by the plurality of temperature sensors in a state where the temperature of the hot water is made uniform by the control means. Further comprising
The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1.

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