Storage-type water heater

Abstract

Executing initialization mode resets the initial configuration information, which is necessary for executing group mode, thereby mitigating the disadvantages of exiting group mode. [Solution] In a storage-type water heater, the control device 27 has an initialization mode in which it can select whether or not to initialize the setting information stored in the memory unit 43, and a group mode in which the server 3 issues instructions for heating operation to multiple storage-type water heaters 2, including the storage-type water heater 2, via a network, and the storage-type water heaters 2 perform heating operation according to the instructions of the server 3. The setting information includes first setting information which is necessary for executing the group mode, and second setting information which is not necessary for executing the group mode. When the initialization mode is selected and operated, the second setting information is initialized, but the first setting information is not initialized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a storage water heater belonging to a hot water supply system having a plurality of storage water heaters such as in a multi-family housing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, this type of storage water heater includes a storage tank and heating means, and connects the storage tank and the heating means with a heating forward pipe that sends water from the lower part of the storage tank to the heating means and a heating return pipe that sends water from the heating means to the storage tank to form a heating circulation circuit. A circulation pump provided in the heating circulation circuit circulates the hot water in the storage tank and the heating means to heat the water in the storage tank. The hot water boiled up by the boiling operation is stored in the storage tank, and hot water at a set temperature is supplied while sequentially mixing the high-temperature water in the storage tank and the supplied water to achieve economical hot water supply.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 1 describes a system that calculates the required boiling heat amount and the required boiling temperature of a heat pump unit in the late-night time zone, and calculates the start time of the boiling operation to complete the boiling of the required boiling heat amount by the end time of the late-night time zone.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a hot water supply control system that controls a plurality of heat pump water heaters installed in a predetermined target area (for example, a multi-family housing), each having a storage tank, receives electricity at high voltage from an electric power company, and has a high-voltage collective power reception mode for supplying to each household. The overall control unit selects a predetermined number of heat pump water heaters to be the operation target of the boiling operation from among the plurality of heat pump water heaters, and performs boiling operation control on the operation target to prevent the power consumption required for the boiling operation from temporarily concentrating and to disperse the power consumption. This control has been known.

[0005] Furthermore, a hot water control system was known that, in cases where a heat pump water heater does not receive a heating operation instruction from the central control unit due to a communication failure, subtracts the number of heat pump water heaters from a predetermined number and selects only the heat pump water heaters corresponding to the control unit on the water heater side that is able to communicate, based on the result of subtracting the above-mentioned target for operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-145072 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-124963 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Incidentally, as described in Patent Document 2, if there are few heat pump water heaters with communication problems (or not connected to the central control unit), it is possible to distribute the heating operation without concentrating it on a specific time period. However, if, for example, when tenants move in and out, an initialization mode is performed to delete the previous tenant's personal information, and then the number of unconnected heat pump water heaters due to forgetting to connect to the central control unit increases, the power consumption will be concentrated due to the heating operation of multiple unconnected heat pump water heaters, resulting in high power consumption at specific times and leading to soaring electricity bills. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, a storage-type water heater is installed in each household and has a hot water storage tank; a server is connected to the storage-type water heater via a network so as to be able to communicate with it; a remote control has an operation unit for inputting setting information relating to the storage-type water heater and the server, and a storage unit for storing the setting information input by the operation unit; and a control device is connected to the remote control so as to be able to communicate with it. The control device includes a boiling operation control means for controlling the boiling operation that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank, and the control device has an initialization means that allows the user to select whether or not to initialize the setting information stored in the storage unit. In a storage-type water heater having a mode and a group mode in which the server issues instructions for the heating operation to a plurality of storage-type water heaters, including the storage-type water heater, via the network, and the storage-type water heaters perform the heating operation according to the instructions of the server, the setting information includes first setting information which is necessary for the execution of the group mode and second setting information which is not necessary for the execution of the group mode, and when the initialization mode is selected and operated, the second setting information is initialized, but the first setting information is not initialized.

[0009] Furthermore, the storage-type water heater is configured to be connected to the server via a network router, and the first configuration information includes configuration information relating to the connection between the storage-type water heater and the network router.

[0010] Furthermore, the initialization mode is executed when power is restored after a power outage lasting a predetermined period of time or longer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this invention, when the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3 are connected via a network, even if the initialization mode is executed, the first setting information, which is the information necessary for executing the group mode, is not initialized. This prevents the communication between the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3 from being interrupted, and also prevents the start times of the water heating operation from being concentrated in a specific time period due to the interruption of communication between the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of a hot water supply system illustrating an embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of a storage-type water heater showing an embodiment of this invention. [Figure 3] A display screen of a water heater remote control illustrating an embodiment of this invention. [Figure 4] A flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of this invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] First, we will describe a hot water supply system 1 constructed with a plurality of storage-type hot water heaters 2, including one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, and a server 3. 2 is a storage-type water heater installed in each unit (Figure 1 shows three storage-type water heaters, but there may be three or more for apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings), and 3 is a server (management device) that can communicate with the control device 27 of each storage-type water heater 2, and is installed and operated by the manufacturer of the storage-type water heater 2 and the operator of each unit. Server 3 controls the control device 27 of each storage-type water heater 2 as a group. Server 3 may be a platform such as an IoT platform. Multiple storage-type water heaters 2 may be installed in an apartment building that has a high-voltage bulk power supply contract with the power company.

[0014] 4 is a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) device that connects to server 3 via a network and is used to manage the power consumption within the house.

[0015] 5 is a network router connected to the HEMS device 4 and has wireless LAN (Local Area Network) functionality such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The network router 5 is also wirelessly connected to the water heater remote control 29.

[0016] The control device 27 of the hot water storage type water heater 2 is connected to the water heater remote controller 29 by wire or wirelessly, and receives instructions from the server 3 via the water heater remote controller 29, the network router 5, the HEMS device 4, and the network.

[0017] Next, a hot water storage type water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 2. Inside the hot water storage type water heater 2, there are a hot water storage tank 6 for storing hot water, a hot water outlet pipe 7 connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 6, a water supply pipe 8 connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 6, a hot water mixing valve 10 for mixing high-temperature water from the hot water outlet pipe 7 and low-temperature water from a hot water bypass pipe 9 branched from the water supply pipe 8, and a hot water temperature sensor 12 and a hot water flow rate sensor 13 provided in a hot water supply pipe 11 connected to the downstream of the hot water mixing valve 10.

[0018] 14 is a heat pump type heating means, which is composed of a compressor 15, a water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 16 as a condenser, an electronic expansion valve 17, and an air heat exchanger 19 as an evaporator that exchanges heat with air and has an outdoor fan 18.

[0019] The hot water in the hot water storage tank 6 is circulated to the heating means 14 via a heating circulation circuit 22 composed of a heating forward pipe 20 and a heating return pipe 21, and is provided with a circulation pump 23 and a heating control unit 24 for controlling their driving. Carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant in the heating means 14 to constitute a supercritical heat pump cycle. Also, since carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, it is possible to boil low-temperature water up to a high temperature of about 90 °C without an electric water heater.

[0020] Here, the water-cooled medium heat exchanger 16 adopts a counter-flow method in which the refrigerant and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 6 as the heated water flow in opposite directions. In the supercritical heat pump cycle, since the refrigerant is condensed while remaining in the supercritical state during heat exchange, the heated water can be efficiently heated to a high temperature. By controlling the expansion valve 17 or the compressor 15 so that the temperature difference between the inlet temperature of the heated water at the water-cooled medium heat exchanger 16 and the outlet temperature of the refrigerant becomes constant, when the inlet temperature of the heated water at the water-cooled medium heat exchanger 16 is as low as about 5 to 20 °C, it is possible to heat the heated water in a state where the COP (energy consumption efficiency) is very good.

[0021] Also, a switching valve 25 is provided in the middle of the heating return pipe 21. During freeze prevention, by switching the switching valve 25 to communicate with the heating bypass pipe 26 connected to the water supply pipe 8 at the lower part of the hot water storage tank 6, freezing is prevented by the circulation of a short-circuit in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 6. This switching valve 25 is arranged at the branch point from the heating return pipe 21 to the heating bypass pipe 26.

[0022] Also, when circulating warm water that has not been sufficiently heated at the initial stage of heating by the heating means 14, the hot water is not returned to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 6, but is returned to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 6 through the bypass circulation path via the heating bypass pipe 26. When circulating hot water that has been sufficiently heated thereafter, the switching valve 25 is switched to the upper part side of the hot water storage tank 6.

[0023] 27 is a control device composed of a microcomputer or the like, which controls the heating control unit 24 to perform temperature control of hot water supply such as boiling-up operation and boiling-up addition operation of the hot water storage tank 6 by the heating circulation circuit 22, and operation control such as filling the bathtub, reheating, and heat preservation.

[0024] Also, the control device 27 is provided with boiling-up operation control means 28 for controlling the boiling-up operation.

[0025] The water heater remote control 29 includes an operation unit which is a switch that includes a temperature setting switch 30 for setting the water heater temperature and a water filling switch 31 for instructing the bath to be filled with hot water, a display unit 32 which is made of a dot matrix type fluorescent display tube, and a remote control unit 33 which is made of a microcomputer that controls the display unit 32 and communicates with the control device 27. The remote control unit 33 is also provided with a storage unit 43 which stores setting information entered by the user when they operate the water heater remote control 29.

[0026] Furthermore, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 16 of the heating circulation circuit 22 is equipped with an inlet water temperature sensor 34 on the inlet side to detect the inlet water temperature, and an outlet temperature sensor 35 on the outlet side to detect the hot water temperature after heating. Of the multiple hot water temperature sensors 36 provided in the hot water storage tank 6 that detect the temperature of the hot water stored in the tank 6, the heating operation is terminated when either the uppermost hot water temperature sensor 36 or the outlet temperature sensor 35 continuously detects the target heating temperature.

[0027] 37 is a relief valve that communicates with the top of the hot water storage tank 6 and allows air to escape from the hot water storage tank 6 and the heating circulation circuit 22, and 38 is a pressure reducing valve installed in the water supply pipe 4.

[0028] Furthermore, 39 is a hot water supply valve that connects the hot water supply pipe 40 to the bathtub and supplies hot water to the bathtub, 41 is a bath temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the bath water supplied to the bath, and 42 is a bath flow sensor that detects the flow rate that has passed through the hot water supply pipe 40.

[0029] Next, we will explain the independent heating operation performed by the control device 27 of the storage-type water heater 2 installed in each household, when the group mode described later is not set and no instruction for the start time of the heating operation has been sent from the server 3 via the network. When the amount of heat stored in the hot water decreases or when there is a request to heat water during the nighttime hours, the heating operation control means 28 connects the switching valve 25 to the upper side of the hot water storage tank 6 and drives the circulation pump 23 located in the middle of the piping connecting the hot water storage tank 6 and the heating means 14 to pump water up from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 6, heat it with the heating means 14, and return it to the top of the hot water storage tank 6, thereby gradually heating the water in the hot water storage tank 6 to a high temperature.

[0030] Furthermore, if the group mode described later is set and the server 3 has instructed the start time of the water heating operation via the network, the control device 27 of the storage-type water heater 2 installed in each household will perform the water heating operation in accordance with the instructions from the server 3. When the server 3 sends an instruction via the network to start the water heating operation, the water heating operation control means 28, upon reaching the instructed start time for the water heating operation, connects the switching valve 25 to the upper side of the hot water storage tank 6, drives the circulation pump 23 located in the piping connecting the hot water storage tank 6 and the heating means 14, and continues the operation of pumping water from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 6, heating it with the heating means 14, and returning it to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 6, thereby gradually heating the water in the hot water storage tank 6 to a high temperature.

[0031] Next, we will explain how to set the mode and enter setting information. The user can operate the water heater remote control 29 to switch various modes and settings ON / OFF, and to input various setting information. The input setting information is then stored in the storage unit 43. The storage unit 43 consists of read / write non-volatile semiconductor memory such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or flash memory, or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). In this example, user information and settings are entered by operating the water heater remote control 29. However, it is also possible to enter user information and settings using a terminal device (in this case, a mobile phone or smartphone) that can connect to the water heater remote control 29 via a network.

[0032] Next, we will explain the group mode among the various modes. To configure group mode, it is necessary to allow LAN communication and HEMS communication, which are required for group mode to function. When the group mode is set on the water heater remote control 29 and the storage-type water heater 2 and the server 3 are linked via a network, the server 3 extracts information such as the operating history and stored heat amount of the storage-type water heater 2 installed in each household via the network, and controls multiple storage-type water heaters 2 via the network based on the extracted information. In this embodiment, the group mode will be described as the high-voltage bulk power reception mode.

[0033] High-voltage bulk power reception and high-voltage bulk power reception mode refer to a system where a management association of an apartment building or other multi-unit dwelling, or a bulk power reception business, acts as a consumer and contracts with a power company to receive a large volume of high-voltage power at a lower unit price from the power company. This power is then converted to low voltage and supplied to each household. Therefore, if the power demand of each household is concentrated at the same time, the power supply will increase, requiring a higher electricity contract. To address this, server 3 controls the system via the network to stagger and distribute the start times of the water heating operations of each household's storage-type water heater 2. The start times of the water heating operations can be staggered for each individual household, or for groups of 1 to 10 households.

[0034] Next, we will explain the various settings that can be configured using the terminal device or the water heater remote control 29. The various setting information includes first setting information which contains the ON / OFF status of LAN settings and HEMS settings, which are necessary for executing group mode, as well as the selected mode information (group mode settings) and the address information of the wireless communication destination, and second setting information which contains the user's personal information set by the user on a mobile terminal or water heater remote control 29, such as the installation location (latitude, longitude), prefecture code, and city / ward code, as well as the learning history of the storage-type water heater 2 and stored information which stores the user's set water heating temperature and set water volume.

[0035] Next, we will explain the configuration information included in the first configuration information. The primary configuration information is necessary for the water heater remote control 29 to connect with the server 3. If the LAN setting and HEMS setting, which are the primary configuration information, are turned OFF, the water heater remote control 29 will not be able to receive instructions for heating operation from the server 3. In this case, the control device 27 of the storage-type water heater 2 installed in each unit will perform heating operation independently. Therefore, if the management association of an apartment building or other multi-unit dwelling or the bulk power supply provider has a contract for high-voltage bulk power supply, it is desirable to keep the LAN setting and HEMS setting ON. If the high-voltage bulk power supply mode is selected on the water heater remote control 29, the LAN setting and HEMS setting may be set to ON all at once.

[0036] Furthermore, the first setting information includes the selection history of the mode information set on the water heater remote control 29, and if group mode (high-voltage bulk power reception mode) is set, the mode history is stored as information necessary for group mode.

[0037] Furthermore, we will explain the configuration information included in the second set of settings. The second set of information consists of personal information and stored information, which are not necessary for running group mode. In particular, regarding personal information, if the occupant changes, and the water heater remote control 29 and the terminal device remain linked, it may be possible to illegally obtain the new occupant's information or operate the storage-type water heater 2 without authorization. Therefore, it is recommended to perform initialization using the initialization mode described later when the occupant changes.

[0038] Next, we will explain the initialization mode based on the remote control screen shown in Figure 3. The initialization mode allows the user to choose whether or not to initialize the settings stored in the memory unit 43 of the water heater remote control 29 after a power outage caused by turning off the power to the water heater 2 has continued for a predetermined period of time or longer (in this case, 24 hours or more), and the user has restored power by turning the power on again (Figure 3(a) and (b)). The initialization mode is executed when the user selects "Yes" on the screen displayed on the display unit 32 (Figure 3(c)).

[0039] When initialization mode is executed, the settings information is divided into those to be initialized and those that are not, based on the previous mode history and the types of settings information, and the settings information is initialized accordingly.

[0040] Next, the operation of the embodiment when the initialization mode is performed will be explained in detail based on the flowchart in Figure 4. The system starts counting the time since the power switched from the ON state to the OFF state, monitors the count when it switches from the OFF state to the ON state (S1), and if 24 hours have passed since the switch from the OFF state to the ON state (S1 is Yes), proceed to S2.

[0041] The water heater remote control 29 and the terminal device are linked, and it is confirmed whether the user's personal information is stored in the storage unit 43 (S2). If the water heater remote control 29 and the terminal device are linked (S2 is Yes), the initialization mode selection screen shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the display unit 32 of the water heater remote control 29 (S3).

[0042] If the user selects "Yes" in the initialization mode shown in Figure 3 and allows the initialization mode to run (S4 is Yes), the system checks whether the group mode (in this case, high-voltage bulk power reception mode) is set (S5). If the group mode is not set (S5 is No), the system deletes the first and second configuration information and performs initialization (S6).

[0043] Furthermore, it is checked whether group mode (in this case, high-voltage bulk power reception mode) is set (S5), and if group mode is set (S5 is Yes), an initialization mode is executed which deletes only the second setting means without deleting the first setting information (S7).

[0044] In this way, when the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3 are connected via a network, even if initialization mode is executed, the initial setting information, which is necessary for executing group mode, is not initialized, thereby preventing the communication between the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3 from being interrupted.

[0045] Furthermore, when a new resident moves in, the connection between the water heater remote control 29 and the server 3 is not interrupted by the execution of the initialization mode, preventing users from forgetting to set up group mode. It also prevents multiple storage-type water heaters 2 that have not been set up in group mode from independently performing heating operations during the night, thus preventing a concentration of operation during the nighttime hours.

[0046] Furthermore, if the number of storage-type water heaters 2 that are not in group mode increases in an apartment building, it is possible to prevent the concentration of heating operations of multiple storage-type water heaters 2 during nighttime hours, which would result in high electricity bills.

[0047] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and modifications are permitted without altering the gist of the invention. For example, in the embodiments, the group mode was described as high-voltage bulk power reception and high-voltage bulk power reception mode, but it is sufficient that the server 3 instructs the storage-type water heater 2 to perform a heating operation via the network. It is sufficient that the system does not delete the first setting information, which is necessary for executing the group mode, in the initialization mode when a unit is removed from the group due to a change in residents or other reasons, resulting in disadvantages. For example, in demand response mode, when it is desired to reduce power consumption, if the storage-type water heater 2 that has been removed from the group mode performs a heating operation, power consumption will increase. Therefore, the system prevents the deletion of the first setting information in the initialization mode while the demand response mode is set.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the server 3 and the water heater remote control 29 are connected via a network router 5 and a HEMS device 4. However, if the server 3 controls the water heating operation using only information about the storage-type water heater 2, such as its settings, power consumption, and stored heat capacity, then information about other home appliances is not required. In such cases, the HEMS device 4 may not be used, and the server 3 and the water heater remote control 29 may be connected using only the network router 5.

[0049] Furthermore, while the second setting information is deleted and initialized in initialization mode regardless of the group mode settings, it is recommended to delete and initialize the user's personal information when there are new occupants, so it is deleted. However, the learning history of the storage-type water heater 2 and the stored information that stores the hot water temperature and volume set by the user are useful information for determining the start time of the heating operation, so they may not be deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1. Hot water supply system 2. Storage-type water heater 3. Server (Management Device) 4 HEMS equipment 5. Network Router 6. Hot water storage tank 27 Control device 28. Water heating operation control means 29. Water heater remote control 32 Display section 33 Remote Control Unit 43. Memory Unit (Remote Control)

Claims

1. A storage-type water heater is installed in each household and is equipped with a hot water storage tank. A server that is connected to the aforementioned hot water storage type water heater via a network in a manner that enables communication with the hot water storage type water heater, A remote control having an operation unit for inputting setting information relating to the hot water storage type water heater and the server, and a storage unit for storing the setting information input by the operation unit, A control device is provided that is communicatively connected to the aforementioned remote control. The control device includes a heating operation control means for controlling the heating operation that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank, The control device is A storage-type water heater having an initialization mode in which it is possible to select whether or not to initialize the setting information stored in the storage unit, and a group mode in which the server issues instructions for the heating operation to a plurality of storage-type water heaters, including the storage-type water heater, via the network, and the storage-type water heaters perform the heating operation according to the instructions of the server, The aforementioned configuration information includes: The first configuration information is the information necessary for executing the group mode, It has a second configuration information which is information not necessary for the execution of the group mode, A storage-type water heater characterized in that, when the initialization mode is selected and operated, the second setting information is initialized, but the first setting information is not initialized.

2. The storage-type water heater is configured to be connected to the server via a network router, and the first setting information includes setting information relating to the connection between the storage-type water heater and the network router, as described in claim 1.

3. The storage-type water heater according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the initialization mode is performed when power is restored after a power outage lasting a predetermined period of time or longer.

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