Heating medium circulation system and method for controlling heating medium temperature

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a heating medium circulation system that can improve convenience by enabling the retrofitting of a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner. The heating medium circulation system according to the present disclosure includes an outdoor unit configured to supply a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit, a heating medium circulation pipe configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment, and an auxiliary heater attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heating medium circulation system, and a method for controlling a heating medium temperature.Description of the Related Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-177105 discloses a warm water unit that uses a water refrigerant heat exchanger through which a high pressure side flammable refrigerant of a heat pump cycle and a heating medium flow to exchange heat with each other. A heater portion including a heater disposed inside a case that forms a channel for the heating medium is previously incorporated in the warm water unit. The heater portion is used to heat the heating medium in an auxiliary manner such that the heating medium becomes a predetermined temperature. For example, the heater portion is used when the heating capacity of the heat pump cycle is reduced due to a drop in the outside air temperature, and the heating medium cannot be sufficiently heated by heat dissipation of the refrigerant in the water refrigerant heat exchanger. The heater portion may also be used when the heat pump cycle is broken down.

[0003] The present disclosure provides a highly-convenient heating medium circulation system by enabling the retrofitting of a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner even when the heater is not previously incorporated in a heating medium circulation system that circulates the heating medium heated by an outdoor unit into a room.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One aspect of a heating medium circulation system according to the present disclosure includes an outdoor unit configured to supply a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit, a heating medium circulation pipe configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment, and an auxiliary heater attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium.

[0005] One aspect of a method for controlling a heating medium according to the present disclosure is a method for controlling a heating medium temperature executed by a heater control device of a heating medium circulation system, the heating medium circulation system including an outdoor unit configured to supply a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit, a heating medium circulation pipe configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment, an auxiliary heater attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium, an auxiliary temperature sensor attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater and the heat utilization equipment, and an outlet temperature sensor provided on the outdoor unit, the outlet temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe, the method including controlling, by the heater control device, energization of the auxiliary heater using a higher one of a detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor and a detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor.Advantageous Effect of Invention

[0006] The present disclosure can provide a highly-convenient heating medium circulation system by enabling the retrofitting of a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner even when the heater is not previously incorporated.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heating medium circulation system in an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a mode of attachment of an auxiliary heater and an auxiliary temperature sensor to a heating medium circulation pipe; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the auxiliary heater; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the auxiliary temperature sensor; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a heater control device; and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the operation of the heating medium circulation system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(Knowledge and the Like Underlying Present Disclosure)

[0008] At the time when the inventors conceived of the present disclosure, there was a technique in which a heater portion including a heater disposed in a case that forms a channel for a heating medium is previously incorporated inside a warm water unit including a water refrigerant heat exchanger that heats the heating medium using a flammable refrigerant of a heat pump cycle, and the heater portion heats the heating medium to a predetermined temperature when the heating capacity of the heat pump cycle is reduced.

[0009] However, the inventors have found such a problem that the above conventional technique does not provide means of retrofitting an auxiliary heater to the warm water unit in which the heater portion is not previously incorporated and there is room for improvement in terms of expandability of functions and convenience, and have come to constitute the subject matter of the present disclosure to solve the problem.

[0010] Thus, the present disclosure provides a heating medium circulation system having high expandability and convenience by enabling the retrofitting of a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner.

[0011] Hereinbelow, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that more details than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters or repetitive description for substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description unnecessarily redundant and facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

[0012] Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.(Embodiment)

[0013] Hereinbelow, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.[1. Configuration of Heating Medium Circulation System]

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a heating medium circulation system 1 of the embodiment.

[0015] The heating medium circulation system 1 includes an outdoor unit 2 that supplies a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment 3 that uses, in an indoor space S, the heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit 2, and a heating medium circulation pipe 4 that circulates the heating medium between the outdoor unit 2 and the heat utilization equipment 3.

[0016] The heat utilization equipment 3 is any equipment that uses the heat of the heating medium from the outdoor unit 2, and may be, for example, a water heater that provides hot water heated by the heat of the heating medium, a heater that heats the indoor space S using the heat of the heating medium, or a floor heating panel that heats the floor of the indoor space S.

[0017] The outdoor unit 2 is disposed outside a building H such as a house that has the indoor space S in which the heat utilization equipment 3 is disposed. The outdoor unit 2 includes a compressor 21 that compresses a refrigerant and discharges the high-temperature refrigerant, and a decompression device 22 that decompresses the refrigerant. The decompression device 22 is, for example, an electromagnetic expansion valve.

[0018] In addition, the outdoor unit 2 includes an evaporator 23 that performs heat exchange between air and the refrigerant, a four-way valve 24 that changes a channel for the refrigerant, and a water refrigerant heat exchanger 25 that performs heat exchange between the heating medium and the high-temperature refrigerant to generate a high-temperature heating medium. The outdoor unit 2 is also provided with an air-blowing fan 26 that blows air to the evaporator 23 to facilitate the heat exchange between air and the refrigerant.

[0019] The compressor 21, the decompression device 22, the evaporator 23, the four-way valve 24, and the water refrigerant heat exchanger 25 are annularly connected through a refrigerant pipe 20a to constitute a heat pump cycle.

[0020] The heating medium circulation pipe 4 is connected to the heating medium pipe 20b inside the outdoor unit 2 through an outlet connector 27a and an inlet connector 27b that are provided on the outdoor unit 2.

[0021] In the water refrigerant heat exchanger 25, the high-temperature refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 20a that constitutes the heat pump cycle and the heating medium in the heating medium pipe 20b that is connected to the inside of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 flow to exchange heat with each other, and the heating medium heated by the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant is supplied to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the heating medium circulation pipe 4. For example, water or antifreeze can be used as the heating medium.

[0022] The heating medium flows through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 from the water refrigerant heat exchanger 25 to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the outlet connector 27a, passes through the heat utilization equipment 3, and then enters the outdoor unit 2 through the inlet connector 27b and flows back to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 25.

[0023] A part of the heating medium pipe 20b, the part being connected to the outlet connector 27a, is provided with an outlet temperature sensor 28a that measures an outlet temperature that is the temperature of the heating medium flowing out of the outdoor unit 2 through the outlet connector 27a. In addition, a part of the heating medium pipe 20b, the part being connected to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 25 inside the outdoor unit 2 through the inlet connector 27b, is provided with an inlet temperature sensor 28b that measures the temperature of the heating medium that flows back to the inside of the outdoor unit 2 through the inlet connector 27b.

[0024] The outdoor unit 2 also includes a control device 29. The control device 29 is, for example, a computer that includes a processor and a memory, and operates by executing a program stored in the memory. The control device 29 controls the operation of the compressor 21, the decompression device 22, and the four-way valve 24 that constitute the heat pump cycle inside the outdoor unit 2, and the operation of the air-blowing fan 26. Hereinbelow, the control of the operation of the compressor 21, the decompression device 22, and the four-way valve 24, and the operation of the air-blowing fan 26 is referred to as heat pump cycle control.

[0025] In the embodiment, in particular, the heating medium circulation system 1 includes an auxiliary heater 5 that is attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment 3 in the flow of the heating medium.

[0026] Accordingly, in the heating medium circulation system 1, even when a heater portion in which a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner is provided inside a case that forms a channel for the heating medium is not previously incorporated as in the conventional technique, the auxiliary heater 5 may be attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 after the heating medium circulation system 1 is installed. Thus, in the heating medium circulation system 1, the expandability and convenience of the heating medium circulation system 1 can be enhanced by enabling the retrofitting of the auxiliary heater 5.

[0027] The heating medium circulation system 1 also includes an auxiliary temperature sensor 6 that is attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater 5 and the heat utilization equipment 3. The auxiliary temperature sensor 6 detects the temperature of the heating medium flowing inside the heating medium circulation pipe 4 through a pipe wall of the heating medium circulation pipe 4.

[0028] Accordingly, in the heating medium circulation system 1, after the installation of the heating medium circulation system 1, the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 that can be used for control of energization of the supplementary heater 5 can be retrofitted to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 together with the auxiliary heater 5. Thus, the control of the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 can be appropriately performed.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the mode of attachment of the auxiliary heater 5 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4. For example, the auxiliary heater 5 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 may be configured as cylindrical components that are attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a sectional arrow view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 and shows an example of the configuration of the auxiliary heater 5. The auxiliary heater 5 includes, for example, a sheet-shaped heater 5a that covers the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, and a cylindrical heat insulating cover 5b that covers the periphery of the sheet-shaped heater 5a. The sheet-shaped heater 5a includes, for example, a heating wire that is sandwiched between two resin films. The heat insulating cover 5b includes, for example, two heat insulating members 50 each of which has a shape obtained by bisecting a cylinder along its central axis. The two heat insulating members 50 can stably maintain the sheet-shaped heater 5a on the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, for example, by press-fitting a recess and a projection that are to be fitted, the recess and the projection being provided on faces that face each other when the heat insulting members 50 are attached.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a sectional arrow view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2 and shows an example of the configuration of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6. The auxiliary temperature sensor 6 includes, for example, a sheet-shaped temperature sensor 6a that is disposed on a part of the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, and a cylindrical heat insulating cover 6b that covers the periphery of the sheet-shaped temperature sensor 6a. The sheet-shaped temperature sensor 6a includes, for example, a temperature detecting element such as a thermocouple or a thermistor that is sandwiched between two resin films. The heat insulating cover 6b includes, for example, two heat insulating members 60 and 61 each of which has a shape obtained by bisecting a cylinder along its central axis. The heat insulating member 60 includes, on its inner face, a recess that houses the sheet-shaped temperature sensor 6a. The two heat insulating members 60 and 61 can stably maintain the sheet-shaped temperature sensor 6a disposed on the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, for example, by press-fitting a recesses and a projection that are to be fitted, the recess and the projection being provided on faces that face each other when the heat insulting members 60 and 61 are attached.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, the heating medium circulation system 1 may also include a remote control 8 that is operated by a user, a heater control device 7 that controls the operation of the auxiliary heater 5, and a server 9 with which the heater control device 7 can communicate through a communication network NW such as the Internet.

[0033] The heater control device 7 may be disposed, for example, in a piping area PA inside the building H in which the heating medium circulation pipe 4 is laid together with the auxiliary heater 5 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6.

[0034] The remote control 8 is communicatively connected to the control device 29 of the outdoor unit 2 and the heater control device 7. The remote control 8 transmits operation instructions and setting instructions to the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 in accordance with the user's operation. For example, the remote control 8 transmits a heating medium target temperature that is the target temperature of the heating medium to be supplied to the heat utilization equipment 3 to the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 in accordance with an input from the user. The remote control 8 also receives information about the operation and state of the outdoor unit 2 from the control device 29 and displays the received information, and receives information from the heater control device 7 and displays the received information.

[0035] The control device 29 receives the heating medium target temperature from the remote control 8 and calculates a target value of an outlet temperature that is the temperature of the heating medium to be fed out from the outlet connector 27a. In the calculation of the target value of the outlet temperature, the control device 29 may take into consideration a heat loss of the heating medium in a section from the outlet connector 27a to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the heating medium circulation pipe 4. The control device 29 executes the heat pump cycle control such that the outlet temperature becomes the calculated target value, based on an inlet temperature that is the temperature of the heating medium passing through the inlet connector 27b detected by the inlet temperature sensor 28b. The heat loss may be input to the control device 29 through the remote control 8 and stored in the control device 29 when the outdoor unit 2 is installed.

[0036] In addition, the control device 29 transmits an unreached notification to the heater control device 7 when the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a does not reach the calculated target value as a result of executing the heat pump cycle control. In addition, the control device 29 transmits operation information of the outdoor unit 2 including the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a and the detected temperature of the inlet temperature sensor 28b to the heater control device 7 at predetermined time intervals.

[0037] When the heater control device 7 receives the unreached notification from the control device 29, the heater control device 7 controls the operation of the auxiliary heater 5 based on the heating medium target temperature received from the remote control 8. In addition, the heater control device 7 transmits the operation information of the outdoor unit 2 received from the control device 29, a current passed through the auxiliary heater 5, and the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the server 9 at predetermined time intervals. The server 9 receives these piece of information, stores the received information as an operation history of the heating medium circulation system 1, and manages the operation of the heating medium circulation system 1.[2. Configuration of Heater Control Device]

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the heater control device 7.

[0039] The heater control device 7 is a computer including a processor 70 such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU), a memory 71, and a communication device 72. The communication device 72 is a transmitter-receiver for communicating with the control device 29 included in the outdoor unit 2, the remote control 8, and the server 9.

[0040] The memory 71 includes a magnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage element such as a flash read only memory (ROM), and / or another type of nonvolatile storage device. The memory 71 may include a random access memory (RAM) that constitutes a work area of the processor 70.

[0041] The processor 70 includes an operation control unit 74 and an information collection unit 75 as functional elements or functional units. These functional elements included in the processor 70 are implemented, for example, by the processor 70 of the heater control device 7, which is a computer, reading and executing a program 73 stored in the memory 71. The program 73 may be stored on any computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, all or some of the functional elements included in the processor 70 may be configured as hardware including one or more electronic circuit components.

[0042] The operation control unit 74 receives, from the remote control 8, the heating medium target temperature that is the target temperature of the heating medium to be supplied to the heat utilization equipment 3. The operation control unit 74 controls the operation of the auxiliary heater 5 based on the heating medium target temperature. When the operation control unit 74 receives, from the control device 29 of the outdoor unit 2, an unreached notification indicating that the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a has not reached the target value even after the execution of the heat pump cycle control, the operation control unit 74 starts control of the operation of the auxiliary heater 5 in order to perform auxiliary heating of the heating medium using the auxiliary heater 5. Hereinbelow, the control of the operation of the auxiliary heater 5 for the auxiliary heating is referred to as auxiliary heating control.

[0043] In the embodiment, in particular, the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the higher one of the detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 and the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 28a of the outdoor unit 2.

[0044] Accordingly, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a, that is, when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 appropriately detects the temperature of the heating medium in the heating medium circulation pipe 4 heated by the auxiliary heater 5, it is possible to accurately control the auxiliary heater 5 such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment 3 becomes the heating medium target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6.

[0045] On the other hand, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is lower than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a, that is, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 becomes a low temperature that deviates from the temperature of the heating medium passing through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 due to an abnormality in the state of attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4, the auxiliary heater 5 can be controlled such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment 3 becomes the heating medium target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a.

[0046] The deviation between the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 and the temperature of the heating medium in the heating medium circulation pipe 4 as described above may occur due to, for example, an abnormality in the attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4 or a low thermal conductivity of the pipe wall of the heating medium circulation pipe 4. In addition, as the abnormality in the attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6, for example, a case in which the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is attached in a state floating from the peripheral face of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 or a case in which the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is in imperfect contact with the heating medium circulation pipe 4 may be assumed.

[0047] Specifically, the operation control unit 74 may operate as follows, for example.

[0048] First, at the start of the auxiliary heating control, the temperature of the heating medium in the auxiliary heater 5 is lower than the temperature of the heating medium passing through the outlet connector 27a due to a heat loss that occurs while the heating medium flows in the heating medium circulation pipe 4 from the outlet connector 27a to the auxiliary heater 5. Thus, the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a is higher than the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6. Therefore, the operation control unit 74 performs feedforward control of the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a.

[0049] In the feedforward control, for example, the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 such that the auxiliary heater 5 generates a target heat quantity that is obtained by adding a heat quantity for compensating for the heat loss of the heating medium in the section from the outlet connector 27a to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 to a heat quantity required to raise the temperature of the heating medium from the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a to the heating medium target temperature. The heat loss may be input to the heater control device 7 through the remote control 8 and stored in the memory 71 when the outdoor unit 2 is installed.

[0050] Then, when the temperature of the heating medium passing through the position of the auxiliary heater 5 rises due to the energization of the auxiliary heater 5, and the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 becomes higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a, the operation control unit 74 performs feedback control of the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 that is located downstream of the auxiliary heater 5 in the flow of the heating medium.

[0051] In the feedback control, for example, the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 such that the auxiliary heater 5 generates a target heat quantity that is obtained by adding a heat quantity for compensating for the heat loss of the heating medium in the section from the auxiliary heater 5 to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 to a heat quantity required to raise the temperature of the heating medium from the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium target temperature. A value of the heat loss may be input to the heater control device 7 through the remote control 8 and stored in the memory 71 when the auxiliary heater 5 is attached to the heating medium circulation pipe 4.

[0052] However, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 does not exceed the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a even when the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 is started, the operation control unit 74 continues the feedforward control described above using the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a that is higher than the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6.

[0053] The operation control unit 74 detects whether the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is good, and controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 28a when the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is bad. For example, when a detection signal or detection data that is input through a terminal that is provided on the heater control device 7 for connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 indicates a temperature within an appropriate detection temperature range, the operation control unit 74 may determine that the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is good. In addition, for example, when the detection signal or the detection data that is input through the terminal that is provided on the heater control device 7 for connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 corresponds to an open state of the terminal (a state in which nothing is connected to the terminal) or a short circuit state between terminals (a short circuit between the terminals), or indicates a temperature that falls outside the appropriate detection temperature range by a predetermined value or more, the operation control unit 74 may determine that the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is bad. Here, the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 being bad may include the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 not being connected to the heater control device 7.

[0054] Accordingly, in the heating medium circulation system 1, even when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is forgotten to be attached to the heating medium circulation pipe 4, or when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is not appropriately connected to the heater control device 7, the auxiliary heater 5 can heat the heating medium.

[0055] The information collection unit 75 transmits the operation information of the outdoor unit 2 received from the control device 29, the current passed through the auxiliary heater 5, and the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the server 9 at predetermined time intervals. In the embodiment, in particular, when the operation control unit 74 detects bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6, the information collection unit 75 notifies a user of the bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 through the remote control 8 and also notifies the server 9 of the bad connection.

[0056] Accordingly, in the heating medium circulation system 1, for example, when bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is detected in trial operation when the heating medium circulation system 1 is installed, the bad connection is notified to the user through the remote control 8 and notified to the server 9. Thus, it is possible to promptly deal with forgetting to attach the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4 or an abnormality in the attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6.[3. Operation]

[0057] Next, the operation of the heating medium circulation system 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a method for controlling a heating medium temperature performed by the computer included in the heating medium circulation system 1. The computer included in the heating medium circulation system 1 includes the control device 29 of the outdoor unit 2 and the heater control device 7 in the present embodiment.

[0058] The process shown in FIG. 6 starts when the power of the outdoor unit 2 and the heater control device 7 is turned on.

[0059] When the processing starts, the control device 29 of the outdoor unit 2 first determines whether an operation start instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S100). The operation start instruction is transmitted from the remote control 8 to the control device 29 in response to the user performing an operation start operation on the remote control 8.

[0060] When the operation start instruction has not been received from the remote control 8 (S100, NO), the control device 29 returns to step S100 and repeats the process, and waits for receiving the operation start instruction from the remote control 8. On the other hand, when the operation start instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S100, YES), the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 receive, from the remote control 8, the heating medium target temperature that is the target temperature of the heating medium to be supplied to the heat utilization equipment 3 (S102). The heating medium target temperature is, for example, input to the remote control 8 by user operation, and is transmitted from the remote control 8 to the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 following the operation start instruction.

[0061] Next, the control device 29 calculates the target value of the outlet temperature that is the temperature of the heating medium to be fed out from the outlet connector 27a, based on the received heating medium target temperature (S104). As described above, in the calculation of the target value, the heat loss of the heating medium in the section from the outlet connector 27a to the heat utilization equipment 3 through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 may be taken into consideration.

[0062] Next, the control device 29 starts heat pump cycle control such that the outlet temperature becomes the calculated target value, based on the inlet temperature that is the temperature of the heating medium passing through the inlet connector 27b detected by the inlet temperature sensor 28b (S106).

[0063] Next, the control device 29 determines whether an operation stop instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S108). The operation stop instruction may be transmitted from the remote control 8 to the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 in response to the user performing an operation stop operation on the remote control 8.

[0064] Then, when the operation stop instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S108, YES), the control device 29 finishes the process. On the other hand, when the operation stop instruction has not been received from the remote control 8 (S108, NO), the control device 29 determines whether the outlet temperature has reached the target value calculated in step S104 within a predetermined time from the start of the heat pump cycle control in step S106 (S110). For example, in accordance with a temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the target value at the start of the heat pump cycle control, the predetermined time may be set to a longer time as the temperature difference increases, using a predetermined calculation formula.

[0065] Then, when the outlet temperature has reached the target value within the predetermined time (S110, YES), the control device 29 returns to step S106 and continues the heat pump cycle control. On the other hand, when the outlet temperature has not reached the target value within the predetermined time (S110, NO), the control device 29 transmits an unreached notification to the heater control device 7. The heater control device 7 starts auxiliary heating control that is the process from step S112 to step S120, in response to receiving the unreached notification from the control device 29.

[0066] In the auxiliary heating control, the operation control unit 74 of the heater control device 7 first determines whether the connection between the heater control device 7 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is good (S112). Then, when the connection between the heater control device 7 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is good (S112, YES), the operation control unit 74 determines whether the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is equal to or higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a (S114).

[0067] Then, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is equal to or higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a (S114, YES), the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 (S116). Specifically, the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 through the feedback control described above.

[0068] Next, the operation control unit 74 determines whether an operation stop instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S122). As described above, the operation stop instruction may be transmitted from the remote control 8 to the control device 29 and the heater control device 7 in response to the user performing an operation stop operation on the remote control 8.

[0069] Then, when the operation stop instruction has been received from the remote control 8 (S122, YES), the operation control unit 74 finishes the process. On the other hand, when the operation stop instruction has not been received from the remote control 8 (S122, NO), the operation control unit 74 returns to step S112 and repeats the auxiliary heating control.

[0070] On the other hand, when the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a is higher than the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 in step S114, that is, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is lower than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a (S114, NO), the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a (S120). Specifically, the operation control unit 74 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 through the feedforward control described above. Then, the operation control unit 74 shifts the process to step S122.

[0071] On the other hand, when the connection between the heater control device 7 and the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is bad in step S112 (S112, NO), the information collection unit 75 notifies the user of the bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 through the remote control 8 and also notifies the server 9 of the bad connection (S118). Then, the operation control unit 74 shifts the process to step S120 and controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a.[1-3. Effects and the Like]

[0072] As described above, the heating medium circulation system 1 of the embodiment includes the outdoor unit 2 that supplies the heating medium heated, the heat utilization equipment 3 that uses, inside a room, the heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit 2, and the heating medium circulation pipe 4 that circulates the heating medium between the outdoor unit 2 and the heat utilization equipment 3. The heating medium circulation system 1 also includes the auxiliary heater 5 that is attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 in the part of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment 3 in the flow of the heating medium.

[0073] Accordingly, in the heating medium circulation system 1, even when the heater that heats, in an auxiliary manner, the heating medium to be supplied from the outdoor unit 2 to the inside of the room is not previously incorporated inside the outdoor unit 2, the auxiliary heater 5 can be attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 after the heating medium circulation system 1 is installed. Thus, the expandability and convenience of the heating medium circulation system 1 can be enhanced by enabling the retrofitting of the auxiliary heater 5.

[0074] In addition, the heating medium circulation system 1 of the embodiment further includes the heater control device 7 that controls the operation of the auxiliary heater 5, the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 that is attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe 4 in the part of the heating medium circulation pipe 4, the part being located between the auxiliary heater 5 and the heat utilization equipment 3, and the outlet temperature sensor 28a that is provided on the outdoor unit 2 and measures the temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe 4. The heater control device 7 controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the higher one of the detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 and the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 28a.

[0075] Accordingly, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a, that is, when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 appropriately detects the temperature of the heating medium in the heating medium circulation pipe 4 heated by the auxiliary heater 5, it is possible to accurately control the auxiliary heater 5 such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment 3 becomes the target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6. On the other hand, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is lower than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a, that is, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 becomes a low temperature that largely deviates from the temperature of the heating medium passing through the heating medium circulation pipe 4 due to an abnormality in the state of attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4, the auxiliary heater 5 can be controlled such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment 3 becomes the target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a.

[0076] In addition, according to the embodiment, the heater control device 7 detects whether the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is good, and controls the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor 28a when the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is bad.

[0077] Accordingly, even when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is forgotten to be attached to the heating medium circulation pipe 4, or when the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is not appropriately connected to the heater control device 7, the auxiliary heater 5 can heat the heating medium.

[0078] In addition, the heating medium circulation system 1 of the embodiment further includes the remote control 8 that provides the outdoor unit 2 with an operation instruction, and the server 9. When the heater control device 7 detects that the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is bad, the heater control device 7 notifies the user of the bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 through the remote control 8 and notifies the server 9 of the bad connection.

[0079] Accordingly, for example, when bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 is detected in trial operation when the heating medium circulation system 1 is installed, the bad connection is notified to the user through the remote control 8 and notified to the server 9. Thus, it is possible to promptly deal with forgetting to attach the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 to the heating medium circulation pipe 4 or an abnormality in the attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6.

[0080] In addition, the method for controlling the heating medium temperature executed by the heating medium circulation system 1 of the embodiment includes controlling, by the heater control device 7, the energization of the auxiliary heater 5 using the higher one of the detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 and the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 28a.

[0081] Accordingly, it is possible to enable the retrofitting of the auxiliary heater 5 and the auxiliary temperature sensors 6 after the installation of the heating medium circulation system 1 and appropriately control the auxiliary heater 5 by properly using the auxiliary temperature sensors 6 and the outlet temperature sensors 28a in accordance with the state of the auxiliary temperature sensor 6 detecting the heating medium temperature.

[0082] As above, the embodiment has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technique in the present disclosure is not limited thereto and is also applicable to embodiments with changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like. In addition, the elements described in the above embodiment can be combined to constitute a new embodiment.

[0083] Note that since the embodiment described above is intended to exemplify the technique in the present disclosure, various changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like can be made within the scope of the claims or a scope equivalent thereto.(Supplement)

[0084] The description of the above embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0085] (Technique 1) A heating medium circulation system including: an outdoor unit configured to supply a heating medium heated; heat utilization equipment configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit; a heating medium circulation pipe configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment; and an auxiliary heater attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium.

[0086] Accordingly, even in the case of the heating medium circulation system in which the heater that heats, in an auxiliary manner, the heating medium to be supplied from the outdoor unit to the inside of the room is not previously incorporated, the auxiliary heater can be attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe after the heating medium circulation system is installed. Thus, the expandability and convenience of the heating medium circulation system can be enhanced by enabling the retrofitting of the auxiliary heater.

[0087] (Technique 2) The heating medium circulation system according to technique 1, further including: a heater control device configured to control operation of the auxiliary heater; an auxiliary temperature sensor attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater and the heat utilization equipment; and an outlet temperature sensor provided on the outdoor unit, the outlet temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe, in which the heater control device controls energization of the auxiliary heater using a higher one of a detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor and a detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor.

[0088] Accordingly, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor is higher than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor, that is, when the auxiliary temperature sensor appropriately detects the temperature of the heating medium in the heating medium circulation pipe heated by the auxiliary heater, it is possible to accurately control the auxiliary heater such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment becomes the target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor. On the other hand, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor is lower than the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor, that is, when the detected temperature of the auxiliary temperature sensor becomes a low temperature that largely deviates from the temperature of the heating medium passing through the heating medium circulation pipe due to an abnormality in the state of attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor to the heating medium circulation pipe, the auxiliary heater can be controlled such that the temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat utilization equipment becomes the target temperature, based on the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor.

[0089] (Technique 3) The heating medium circulation system according to technique 2, in which the heater control device detects whether connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is good, and controls the energization of the auxiliary heater using the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor when the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is bad.

[0090] Accordingly, even when the auxiliary temperature sensor is forgotten to be attached to the heating medium circulation pipe, or when the auxiliary temperature sensor is not appropriately connected to the heater control device, the auxiliary heater can heat the heating medium.

[0091] (Technique 4) The heating medium circulation system according to technique 2 or 3, further including: a remote control configured to provide the outdoor unit with an operation instruction; and a server, in which the heater control device detects whether connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is good, when the heater control device detects that the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is bad, the heater control device notifies a user of the bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor through the remote control and notifies the server of the bad connection.

[0092] Accordingly, for example, when bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is detected in trial operation when the heating medium circulation system is installed, the bad connection is notified to the user through the remote control and notified to the server. Thus, it is possible to promptly deal with forgetting to attach the auxiliary temperature sensor to the heating medium circulation pipe or an abnormality in the attachment of the auxiliary temperature sensor.

[0093] (Technique 5) A method for controlling a heating medium temperature executed by a heater control device of a heating medium circulation system, the heating medium circulation system including an outdoor unit configured to supply a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit, a heating medium circulation pipe configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment, an auxiliary heater attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium, an auxiliary temperature sensor attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater and the heat utilization equipment, and an outlet temperature sensor provided on the outdoor unit, the outlet temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe, the method including controlling, by the heater control device, energization of the auxiliary heater using a higher one of a detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor and a detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor.

[0094] This achieves the same effects as those in the techniques 1 and 2.Industrial Applicability

[0095] The heating medium circulation system and the method for controlling the heating medium temperature according to the present disclosure can be suitably used as a heating medium circulation system and a method for controlling a heating medium temperature that can improve convenience by enabling the retrofitting of a heater that heats a heating medium in an auxiliary manner.Reference Signs List

[0096] 1heating medium circulation system 2outdoor unit 3heat utilization equipment 4heating medium circulation pipe 5auxiliary heater 5asheet-shaped heater 5b, 6bheat insulating cover 6auxiliary temperature sensor 6asheet-shaped temperature sensor 7heater control device 8remote control 9server 20arefrigerant pipe 20bheating medium pipe 21compressor 22decompression device 23evaporator 24four-way valve 25water refrigerant heat exchanger 26air-blowing fan 27aoutlet connector 27binlet connector 28aoutlet temperature sensor 28binlet temperature sensor 29control device 50, 60, 61heat insulating member 70processor 71memory 72communication device 73program 74operation control unit 75information collection unit Hbuilding NWcommunication network Sindoor space PApiping area

Claims

1. A heating medium circulation system (1) characterized by comprising: an outdoor unit (2) configured to supply a heating medium heated; heat utilization equipment (3) configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit; a heating medium circulation pipe (4) configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment; and an auxiliary heater (5) attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium.

2. The heating medium circulation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater control device (7) configured to control operation of the auxiliary heater; an auxiliary temperature sensor (6) attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater and the heat utilization equipment; and an outlet temperature sensor (28a) provided on the outdoor unit, the outlet temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe, wherein the heater control device controls energization of the auxiliary heater using a higher one of a detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor and a detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor.

3. The heating medium circulation system according to claim 2, wherein the heater control device detects whether connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is good, and controls the energization of the auxiliary heater using the detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor when the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is bad.

4. The heating medium circulation system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: a remote control (8) configured to provide the outdoor unit with an operation instruction; and a server (9), wherein the heater control device detects whether connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is good, when the heater control device detects that the connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor is bad, the heater control device notifies a user of the bad connection with the auxiliary temperature sensor through the remote control and notifies the server of the bad connection.

5. A method characterized for controlling a heating medium temperature executed by a heater control device (7) of a heating medium circulation system (1), the heating medium circulation system including an outdoor unit (2) configured to supply a heating medium heated, heat utilization equipment (3) configured to use, inside a room, heat of the heating medium supplied from the outdoor unit, a heating medium circulation pipe (4) configured to circulate the heating medium between the outdoor unit and the heat utilization equipment, an auxiliary heater (5) attached to a periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located upstream of the heat utilization equipment in a flow of the heating medium, an auxiliary temperature sensor (6) attached to the periphery of the heating medium circulation pipe in a part of the heating medium circulation pipe, the part being located between the auxiliary heater and the heat utilization equipment, and an outlet temperature sensor (28a) provided on the outdoor unit, the outlet temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the heating medium flowing out to the heating medium circulation pipe, the method comprising: controlling, by the heater control device, energization of the auxiliary heater using a higher one of a detected temperature detected by the auxiliary temperature sensor and a detected temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor.

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