Parameter setting program and combustion system

Abstract

Provided is a parameter setting program with which it is possible to efficiently perform, with respect to a plurality of combustion devices, a setting operation of parameters required for the operation of the combustion devices. This parameter setting program operates on an information terminal (50) capable of wirelessly communicating with a combustion device (10), and is capable of causing the information terminal (50) to execute: a process for storing, in the information terminal (50) or an external storage device, a parameter inputted to the information terminal (50) when a parameter is set for one combustion device (10); a process for displaying, on the information terminal (50), an option instructed to the information terminal (50) for writing the stored parameter to the other combustion device when setting the parameter to the other combustion device after the storage; and a process for writing the stored parameter to another combustion device (10) when the option is selected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a parameter setting program for a combustion device and a combustion system. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, regarding a hot water supply device equipped with a combustion device, there is known a technique of setting parameters (gas type, exhaust change, number, bathroom type, brand name, etc.) required for operation control of the combustion device in a control unit of the hot water supply device as shown in Patent Document 1.

[0003] In this technique, when setting values of a plurality of parameters, the model of the hot water supply device is determined based on the values, and values of other parameters are automatically set according to the model.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014 - 185828 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] However, in facilities such as apartment houses, a plurality of combustion devices (hot water supply devices, etc.) of the same specification are mostly installed. In this case, if parameters are set for each combustion device as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to separately perform the operation of inputting values of several parameters required to determine the model for each of the plurality of combustion devices, and the work efficiency is poor. In particular, when the number of parameters required to determine the model is large, a large amount of labor and time are required before completing the operation of setting parameters for the plurality of combustion devices. In addition, input errors of parameters are likely to occur for several combustion devices.

[0009] The present invention has been completed in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a parameter setting program and a combustion system capable of efficiently performing the operation of setting parameters required for operation of a plurality of combustion devices.

[0010] Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the parameter setting program of the present invention is a parameter setting program that operates on an information terminal capable of wireless communication with a combustion device, and is characterized in that the parameter setting program operates to be able to execute the following processing on the information terminal:

[0012] In a case where a combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters associated with the operation of the combustion device are not set, a process of displaying, on the information terminal, a parameter input screen that is a screen for inputting set values of the parameters;

[0013] A process of writing the parameters input to the information terminal into the combustion device that is the wireless communication target of the information terminal according to the display content of the parameter input screen;

[0014] A process of storing the input parameters in the information terminal or an external storage device capable of communicating with the information terminal;

[0015] After this storage, in a case where another combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters are not set, a process of displaying, on the information terminal, an option for instructing the information terminal to write the set value of the parameters stored to the other combustion device; and

[0016] A process of writing the set value of the stored parameters into the other combustion device in a case where this option is selected.

[0017] According to the parameter setting program of the present invention, the parameters set for one combustion device are stored and held by the information terminal or the external storage device. Moreover, the set value of the parameters stored and held can be directly written to other combustion devices. Therefore, for other combustion devices, the operation of inputting the set value of the parameters to the information terminal can be omitted.

[0018] Therefore, according to the parameter setting program of the present invention, the operation of setting the parameters required for the operation of the combustion device can be efficiently performed on multiple combustion devices.

[0019] In this parameter setting program, the parameters may include at least one of a set value related to the exhaust resistance of the exhaust path connected to the combustion device and a set value related to the type of fuel gas supplied to the combustion device.

[0020] In multiple combustion devices installed in a condominium or the like, the structure of the exhaust path or the type of fuel gas used is mostly the same. Therefore, the set value related to the exhaust resistance of the exhaust path or the type of fuel gas is a common parameter for multiple combustion devices installed in a condominium or the like.

[0021] Therefore, by applying the parameter setting program of the present invention to multiple combustion devices installed in a condominium or the like, parameter setting can be efficiently performed for multiple combustion devices.

[0022] In addition, the combustion system of the present invention is a combustion system including a combustion device and an information terminal capable of wireless communication with the combustion device, characterized in that the combustion system is configured to be able to execute the following processes:

[0023] When the combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters associated with the operation of the combustion device have not been set, the information terminal displays a parameter input screen that is a screen for inputting a set value of the parameter; a process of sending the set value of the parameter input to the information terminal to the combustion device that is the wireless communication target of the information terminal according to the display content of the parameter input screen; a process of storing the input parameter in the information terminal or an external storage device capable of communicating with the information terminal; when, after this storage, another combustion device that has newly started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters have not been set, a process of displaying an option for instructing the information terminal to write the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device; and a process of sending the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device when this option is selected,

[0024] Each of the combustion devices is configured to store and hold the set value of the parameter received from the information terminal through wireless communication with the information terminal.

[0025] According to the combustion system of the present invention, similar to the parameter setting program, after storing the set value of the parameter set for one combustion device in the information terminal or an external storage device, for other combustion devices, the operation of inputting the set value of the parameter to the information terminal can be omitted.

[0026] Therefore, according to the combustion system of the present invention, the operation of setting the parameters required for the operation of the combustion device can be efficiently performed on multiple combustion devices.

[0027] Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the combustion system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processes related to parameter setting.

[0030] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processes related to parameter setting. Detailed Embodiment

[0031] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 an embodiment of the present invention will be described. With reference to Figure 1, The combustion system 1 of this embodiment includes: a hot water supply device 10 having the function of a combustion device; and an information terminal 50 capable of wireless communication with the hot water supply device 10.

[0032] The hot water supply device 10 includes: a heat source machine 11 capable of performing hot water supply operation of heating hot water supply water and discharging hot water; and a remote controller 30 for operating the heat source machine 11. A combustion device main body 12 and a water passage 20 through which hot water supply water flows are mounted on the heat source machine 11.

[0033] The combustion device main body 12 includes: a burner 13; a combustion housing 14 that houses the burner 13 inside (combustion chamber); a fuel supply device 15 that supplies fuel (gas in this embodiment) to the burner 13 from a fuel supply passage 15a; a combustion fan 16 that supplies combustion air to the burner 13; and an ignition device (not shown). An exhaust passage 14a is connected to the combustion housing 14 to discharge combustion exhaust generated by the combustion operation of the burner 13 to the outside.

[0034] The fuel supply device 15 includes: two on-off valves 15b, 15c (such as solenoid valves) that open and close the fuel supply passage 15a; and a fuel adjustment valve 15d (such as a proportional valve) that adjusts the fuel supply amount supplied to the burner 13. By controlling the opening of the on-off valves 15b, 15c, gas can be supplied to the burner 13.

[0035] Moreover, while supplying gas to the burner 13 through the fuel supply device 15, combustion air is supplied to the burner 13 through the combustion fan 16, and the ignition device is made to operate, thereby enabling ignition of the burner 13 to start combustion operation. Further, during the combustion operation of the burner 13, the fuel supply amount and the combustion air supply amount supplied to the burner 13 are controlled via the fuel adjustment valve 15d and the combustion fan 16 respectively, so that the combustion amount of the burner 13 can be controlled.

[0036] A heat exchanger 21 is mounted on the combustion housing 14, and the heat exchanger 21 can be heated by the combustion operation of the burner 13. The water passage 20 included in the heat source machine 11 is configured as follows: hot water supply water supplied from a water supply source (not shown) flows in parallel from a water supply passage 20a through a flow passage 20b passing through the heat exchanger 21 and a bypass passage 20c to a hot water supply passage 20d, and flows from the hot water supply passage 20d to a hot water supply faucet, a shower head, etc. of a hot water supply target portion (not shown). It should be noted that the ratio of the water flow rate in the bypass passage 20c to the water flow rate in the heat exchanger 21 (i.e., the bypass ratio) can be adjusted, for example, by controlling the operation of a valve device 22 such as an electric three-way valve assembled at the connection portion of the water supply passage 20a and the bypass passage 20c.

[0037] A control device 40 having a function of controlling the operation of the heat source machine 11 is mounted on the heat source machine 11, and the control device 40 is connected by wire so as to be able to communicate with the remote controller 30. Operations such as turning the heat source machine 11 on / off or setting a target value of the hot water supply temperature can be performed on the remote controller 30, or information indicating the working state of the heat source machine 11 or the like can be displayed.

[0038] The control device 40 is composed of one or more electronic circuit units including a processor such as a microcomputer (not shown), memories such as a RAM and a ROM, and an interface circuit. Through the functions realized by the installed hardware structure and program (software structure), the operation of the heat source machine 11 can be controlled (such as the combustion operation control of the burner 13).

[0039] In addition, the control device 40 includes a wireless communication module (not shown) such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and infrared communication, and can perform wireless communication with the information terminal 50 via the wireless communication module.

[0040] The information terminal 50 is a communication terminal used by operators such as the installer of the hot water supply device 10 or the service provider for maintenance, inspection, etc., and is composed of a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a dedicated terminal, or the like. In the information terminal 50, an application program (hereinafter referred to as a parameter setting application program) is pre-installed, which is used to set or confirm parameters related to the heat source machines of various types of hot water supply devices including the heat source machine 11 of the hot water supply device 10. This parameter setting application program is an example of the parameter setting program of the present invention.

[0041] Among them, the above parameters are data required for the operation of the hot water supply device 10, and include, for example, the type of gas, the extension amount relative to the standard length of the exhaust passage 14a, the upper limit value of the target hot water supply temperature, etc. In addition, the extension amount of the exhaust passage 14a corresponds to a set value related to the exhaust resistance of the exhaust passage 14a. The set value related to the exhaust resistance is not limited to the extension amount of the exhaust passage 14a, and may include, for example, the cross-sectional area of the exhaust passage 14a.

[0042] The following description is a specific description of the operation of the operator using the information terminal 50 after installing the hot water supply device 10 in each household of an apartment building or the like. Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 . This description is made by taking, for example, the case where the same model of hot water supply device 10 is installed in multiple households of an apartment building and the parameters of the hot water supply device 10 of each household are set using the information terminal 50. In this case, it is assumed that the parameter setting of the control device 40 of each hot water supply device 10 has not been performed.

[0043] It should be noted that in the following description, the hot water supply device 10 for which parameter setting will be performed is referred to as the target hot water supply device 10, and the control device 40 of the target hot water supply device 10 is referred to as the target control device 40.

[0044] The following description is about the related processing when setting parameters for any first hot water supply device 10 among multiple hot water supply devices 10. Refer to Figure 2 In this case, a communication connection (such as pairing) is established between the control device 40 of the target hot water supply device 10, which is the first hot water supply device 10, and the information terminal 50. Then, through the completion of this communication connection, the wireless communication between the target control device 40 and the information terminal 50 is started. When the parameters of the target control device 40 have not been set yet, if this wireless communication starts, then in STEP1, the parameter setting application on the information terminal 50 starts the boot setting mode (set to ON).

[0045] This boot setting mode is a mode in which the parameter setting application guides the user of the information terminal 50 to set parameters while making the display 51 of the information terminal 50 display an input screen for the set values of the parameters, that is, a parameter input screen, thereby enabling the user to perform an input operation for the set values of the parameters.

[0046] When the boot setting mode is started, in STEP2, the user sets multiple parameters according to the guidance (performs an operation of inputting the set values of the parameters into the information terminal 50).

[0047] Then, when the input operation of the set values of the parameters is completed, the user confirms the set values of the input parameters (setting confirmation) in STEP3. In this case, the parameter setting application makes the display 51 of the information terminal 50 display the set values of each parameter input by the user.

[0048] Next, in STEP4, the user performs an operation to complete the parameter setting on the information terminal 50 (an operation to confirm the set values of the parameters). Correspondingly, the parameter setting application sends the set values of the parameters input by the user from the information terminal 50 to the target control device 40. At this time, the control device 40 stores and holds the received set values of the parameters in the memory. Thus, the set values of the parameters input by the information terminal 50 are written to the target control device 40.

[0049] Then, in STEP5, the parameter setting application program starts the main menu mode (set to ON). In this main menu mode, the user can perform an operation of saving (storing and holding) the input parameters on the information terminal 50 (STEP6), or an operation of confirming or updating the set values of the parameters saved on the information terminal 50 (STEP7), or an operation of batch setting the set values of the parameters saved in the information terminal 50 for the control device 40 of the target hot water supply device 10 (STEP8).

[0050] Among them, the user who has set the parameters for the control device 40 of the first hot water supply device 10 as the target hot water supply device 10 in the guided setting mode performs the operation of STEP6. Thus, the set values of all the parameters set for the control device 40 of the first hot water supply device 10 are stored and held by the information terminal 50 in a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM. In this case, in STEP6, the user can attach identification information such as an arbitrary name to the set value group of the saved parameters, and the set values of the parameters are stored and held together with this identification information.

[0051] It should be noted that in the case where the information terminal 50 can communicate via an external storage device such as an external server and an external network such as the Internet, the set values of the parameters and the identification information can also be saved (stored and held) on this external storage device.

[0052] The following description is about the related processing when setting parameters for other hot water supply devices 10 other than the above-mentioned first hot water supply device 10, refer to Figure 3 . In this case, a communication connection (such as pairing) is established between the control device 40 of the target hot water supply device 10, which is the other hot water supply device 10, and the information terminal 50. Then, through the completion of this communication connection, the wireless communication between the target control device 40 and the information terminal 50 starts. In the case where the parameters have not been set for the target control device 40, if this wireless communication starts, then in STEP11, the parameter setting application program of the information terminal 50 displays a screen on the display 51 of the information terminal 50 to allow the user to select whether to perform batch setting of the parameters for the target control device 40. Here, batch setting is a process of batch writing the set value group of the parameters saved in the information terminal 50 (or the external storage device) into the target control device 40.

[0053] In STEP11, if the user selects to perform batch setting, then in STEP12, the user performs an operation through the information terminal 50 to select the saved information (set value group of the parameters) to be batch-set according to the identification information.

[0054] Then, in STEP13, the user instructs the information terminal 50 to batch-set the set value group of the selected parameters to the target control device 40. Further, in STEP14, the user performs a completion operation for parameter setting on the information terminal 50. Correspondingly, the parameter setting application program sends the set value group of the selected parameters from the information terminal 50 to the target control device 40. At this time, the control device 40 stores and holds the received set value group of the parameters in the memory. Thus, the batch setting of the parameters for the target control device 40 is completed.

[0055] When the batch setting of the parameters is completed, in STEP15, the parameter setting application program starts the main menu mode. This main menu mode is the same as the main menu mode started in STEP5 above.

[0056] In addition, in STEP11, when the user does not select batch setting, in STEP16, the parameter setting application program starts the boot setting mode. This boot setting mode is the same as the boot setting mode started in STEP1 above. Therefore, it is also possible to set the parameters of the control device 40 of other hot water supply devices 10 other than the first hot water supply device 10 in the boot setting mode.

[0057] Supplementary note, in a state where the parameters have been set for the control device 40 of the hot water supply device 10 and when the communication connection between the control device 40 and the information terminal 50 is made, the parameter setting application program of the information terminal 50 starts the main menu mode.

[0058] At this time, in the case where there is a set value group of parameters that has been saved, in Figure 2 In STEP8 shown, it is possible to perform batch setting of the set values of the parameters for the control device 40 of the hot water supply device 10 (the control device 40 that communicates with the information terminal 50) in the same manner as the processing in STEP12 to 14 above. Thus, it is possible to quickly update the set values of the parameters stored and held in the control device 40.

[0059] According to the embodiment described above, when setting parameters for a plurality of hot water supply devices 10 provided in an apartment building or the like, it is possible to perform parameter setting for the second and subsequent hot water supply devices 10 by batch setting, so that it is possible to efficiently perform parameter setting for a plurality of hot water supply devices 10.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the combustion device in the present invention is not limited to using gas as fuel, and liquid fuels such as kerosene can also be used. In addition, the combustion device is not limited to the hot water supply device, and can also be a combustion type warm air heater, a combustion type clothes dryer, a combustion type bathroom heater, etc.

[0061] Symbol Explanation

[0062] 10: Hot water supply device (combustion device); 50: Information terminal.

Claims

1. A program for parameter setting, which operates on an information terminal capable of wireless communication with a combustion device, characterized in that The parameter setting program is configured to be able to perform the following processes on the information terminal: When the combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters associated with the operation of the combustion device are not set, a process of displaying, on the information terminal, a parameter input screen that is a screen for inputting a set value of the parameter; A process of writing the parameter input to the information terminal into the combustion device that is the wireless communication target of the information terminal according to the display content of the parameter input screen; A process of storing the input parameter in the information terminal or an external storage device capable of communicating with the information terminal; After this storage, when another combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters are not set, a process of displaying, on the information terminal, an option for instructing the information terminal to write the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device; and A process of writing the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device when this option is selected.

2. The parameter setting program according to claim 1, wherein the parameter includes at least one set value of a set value related to the exhaust resistance of the exhaust passage connected to the combustion device and a set value related to the type of fuel gas supplied to the combustion device.

3. A combustion system includes a combustion device and an information terminal capable of wireless communication with the combustion device, characterized in that The combustion system is configured to be able to perform the following processes: When the combustion device that has started wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters associated with the operation of the combustion device are not set, a process of the information terminal displaying a parameter input screen that is a screen for inputting a set value of the parameter; a process of sending the set value of the parameter input to the information terminal to the combustion device that is the wireless communication target of the information terminal according to the display content of the parameter input screen; a process of storing the input parameter in the information terminal or an external storage device capable of communicating with the information terminal; After this storage, when another combustion device that newly starts wireless communication with the information terminal is a combustion device for which parameters are not set, a process of displaying an option for instructing the information terminal to write the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device; and a process of sending the set value of the stored parameter to the other combustion device when this option is selected, Each of the combustion devices is configured to store and hold the set value of the parameter received from the information terminal through wireless communication with the information terminal.

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