Storage water heater

Abstract

To provide a storage water heater enabling an operation with electric power consumption that does not exceed an electric power consumption request value from an electric power consumption request source.SOLUTION: A storage water heater includes: heating means for heating water to a set boiling-up temperature; a hot water storage unit having a hot water storage tank that stores hot water heated by the heating means; and control means that receives an electric power consumption request value from an electric power consumption request source and controls the heating means so as to perform an operation with electric power consumption equal to or lower than the electric power consumption request value. In accordance with the electric power consumption request value received from the electric power consumption request source, the control means sets the boiling-up temperature so as to perform the operation with the electric power consumption equal to or lower than the electric power consumption request value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a storage water heater.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an energy management device for managing a heat pump device which is a storage water heater. This energy management device includes a collection unit and a calculation unit. The calculation unit calculates the total planned value of the energy consumed by each heat pump device based on the planned value and the actual value of the energy consumption of each heat pump device by time zone collected by the collection unit. According to this, highly reliable information about the energy consumption of a plurality of heat pump devices can be provided in advance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional technology, the rated capacity etc. of the storage water heater are not considered. For example, when the power consumption requirement value from the power consumption requester is small compared to the rated capacity of the storage water heater, the power consumption during operation of the storage water heater may exceed the power consumption requirement value.

[0005] The present disclosure is for solving the above problems. The object of the present disclosure is to provide a storage water heater capable of operating with power consumption that does not exceed the power consumption requirement value from the power consumption requester.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The hot water storage type water heater according to the present disclosure includes a heating means for heating water to a set boiling temperature, a hot water storage unit having a hot water storage tank for storing the water heated by the heating means, and a control means for receiving a power consumption required value from a power consumption required source and controlling the heating means so that operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or less than the power consumption required value. The control means sets the boiling temperature so that operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or less than the power consumption required value received from the power consumption required source according to the power consumption required value.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a hot water storage type water heater capable of operating at a power consumption not exceeding the power consumption required value from a power consumption required source.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Figure 9

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are assigned to common or corresponding elements in each figure to simplify or omit the description.

[0010] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hot water storage type water heater 1 according to Embodiment 1. The hot water storage type water heater 1 includes a heat pump unit 2 as a heating means and a hot water storage unit 3 having a hot water storage tank 31 for storing the water heated by the heat pump unit 2.

[0011] The heat pump unit 2 is a heat source machine capable of changing the heating capacity. The heat pump unit 2 can, for example, boil low-temperature water of about 9°C up to a high temperature of about 90°C without an electric water heater. The heat pump unit 2 heats the water so as to reach the set boiling temperature.

[0012] The heat pump unit 2 has a refrigerant circuit 20 as a heat pump circuit. The refrigerant circuit 20 has a compressor 21, a refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22, a decompression device 23, a water-air heat exchanger 24, and an outdoor fan 25. As the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 20, R32, fluorocarbon, carbon dioxide, or the like is used.

[0013] By adjusting the refrigerant flow rate of the compressor 21, the heating capacity of the heat pump unit 2 can be controlled. The compressor 21 is connected such that the suction side is to the water-air heat exchanger 24 which is an outdoor heat exchanger, and the discharge side is to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22. The refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22 heats the water in the hot water storage tank 31. The refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22 is connected to the hot water storage tank 31 by a hot water supply pipe 34 and a water inlet pipe 32 on the demand side. The decompression device 23 is, for example, an expansion valve. The water-air heat exchanger 24 is an air-cooled heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the air sent from the outdoor fan 25 and the refrigerant, and evaporates the refrigerant in a gas-liquid state by the heat of the air. The refrigerant inlet side of the water-air heat exchanger 24 is connected to the decompression device 23, and the refrigerant outlet side is connected to the compressor 21.

[0014] The storage type water heater 1 includes a control device 4 as control means. The control device 4 has, for example, a signal transmission / reception unit 41. The signal transmission / reception unit 41 receives a power consumption required value from an external aggregator Ag which is the source of the power consumption requirement. The control device 4 has a function of adjusting the rotation speed of the compressor 21 in the heating-up operation of the heat pump unit 2 so that the operation is performed with a power consumption below the power consumption required value.

[0015] The heating-up operation is an operation in which the hot water heated by the heat pump unit 2 is made to flow into the hot water storage tank 31 in the hot water storage unit 3. As described above, the heat pump unit 2 heats the water so as to reach the set heating-up temperature. The heating-up temperature means the temperature of the hot water flowing out from the heat pump unit 2 during the heating-up operation. The heating-up temperature is set to 65°C, for example, during normal times. The heat pump unit 2 can adjust the power consumption by changing the rotation speed of the compressor 21 with the heating-up temperature fixed.

[0016] The hot water storage unit 3 includes a hot water storage tank 31, a circulation pump 33, a temperature control valve 35, and a flow rate control valve 36. The hot water storage tank 31 stores the water heated by the heat pump unit 2. The circulation pump 33 circulates the hot water flowing out from the hot water storage tank 31 to the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22 to raise the temperature, and is for storing the heated hot water in the hot water storage tank 31. The hot water supply pipe 34 is a pipe for supplying the hot water heated by the refrigerant-water heat exchanger 22 to the hot water storage unit 3 side. The temperature control valve 35 is a three-way valve for adjusting the hot water supply temperature. The flow rate control valve 36 is a valve for adjusting the hot water supply amount.

[0017] The hot water storage tank 31 may be provided with a hot water storage temperature acquisition unit 311 that acquires the hot water storage temperature Tw, which is the water temperature at a specific position in the hot water storage tank 31, and a heat storage amount acquisition unit 312 that acquires the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31. The heat storage amount corresponds to the remaining hot water amount above the hot water supply temperature in the hot water storage tank 31. The hot water storage unit 3 may have a signal transmission unit 42. The signal transmission unit 42 transmits information such as the heat storage amount and the hot water storage temperature in the hot water storage tank 31 to the signal transmission / reception unit 41. The signal transmission unit 42, together with the signal transmission / reception unit 41, constitutes the control device 4.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the control device 4. Each function of the control device 4 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 400. The processing circuit may include a processor 401 and a memory 402. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as dedicated hardware 400, and the processing circuit may further include a processor 401 and a memory 402. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a part of the processing circuit is formed as dedicated hardware 400. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the processing circuit further includes a processor 401 and a memory 402 in addition to the dedicated hardware 400.

[0019] The processing circuit, a part of which is at least one dedicated hardware 400, includes, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0020] When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 401 and at least one memory 402, each function of the control device 4 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are described as programs and stored in the memory 402. The processor 401 realizes the functions of each part by reading and executing the programs stored in the memory 402. The processor 401 is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 402 includes, for example, non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM, or magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, mini-disks, and DVDs.

[0021] Thus, the processing circuit can realize the functions of the control device 4 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Note that each function of the control device 4 may be realized by the cooperation of a plurality of devices or by a single device. Also, at least a part of each function of the control device 4 may be implemented in a server or the like on an external network.

[0022] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the storage-type water heater 1 will be described. It is a flowchart showing an operation example of the storage-type water heater according to the first embodiment. When the storage-type water heater 1 receives a power consumption required value from an aggregator Ag that is a power consumption requester, it starts a boiling operation at a power consumption equal to or less than the received power consumption required value (step S01).

[0023] As described above, the control device 4 has a function of adjusting the rotational speed of the compressor 21 in the boiling operation of the heat pump unit 2 so that the operation is performed with power consumption equal to or less than the power consumption required value. However, depending on the rated capacity of the storage water heater 1 and the set value of the normal boiling temperature, it may not be possible to satisfy the power consumption required value only by adjusting the rotational speed of the compressor 21.

[0024] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control device 4 sets the boiling temperature so that the operation is performed with power consumption equal to or less than the power consumption required value according to the power consumption required value received from the aggregator Ag, which is the source of the power consumption required value (step S02). Note that the setting of the boiling temperature may be performed before starting the boiling operation, or may be performed so as to change the boiling temperature during the execution of the boiling operation. In the case of the storage water heater 1 according to the present embodiment, by adjusting the boiling temperature, it is possible to operate with power consumption that does not exceed the power consumption required value from the power consumption required source. Further, after performing the operation according to the power consumption required value, the actual value of the power consumption may be transmitted to the aggregator Ag, which is the source of the power consumption required value, by the signal transmission / reception unit 41.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the storage water heater 1 according to the first modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the storage water heater 1 according to the first modification of the first embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first modification of the first embodiment will be described.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the storage water heater 1 may be configured such that the water boiled by the heat pump unit 2 can flow into a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31, for example, the middle part or the lower part. The storage water heater 1 may include a pipe and a four-way valve 37 or the like for causing the water boiled by the heat pump unit 2 to flow into the middle part or the lower part of the hot water storage tank 31.

[0027] In this modified example, when the aggregator Ag, which is the power consumption requirement source, receives a power consumption requirement value, the boiling temperature is set so that the operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or lower than the received power consumption requirement value, and the boiling operation is started (step S11). Step S11 corresponds to steps S01 and S02 described above.

[0028] When the boiling operation is started in step S11, the stored hot water temperature Tw at a specific position in the hot water storage tank 31 and the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 are acquired (step S12).

[0029] If the stored hot water temperature Tw in the hot water storage tank 31 is lower than the first threshold value a (YES in step S13) and the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 is smaller than the second threshold value b (YES in step S14), that is, if the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank 31 is not sufficiently large, water boiled at the boiling temperature set in step S11 is made to flow in from a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31 (step S15).

[0030] The boiling temperature set in step S11 may be set to a lower temperature than normal in order to satisfy the power consumption requirement value. Therefore, as in this modified example, when the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank 31 is not sufficiently large, it is advisable to make the water boiled flow in from a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31. Thereby, the risk of running out of hot water in the hot water storage tank 31 can be reduced. The thick line and the broken line in FIG. 4 indicate the inflow path to the hot water storage tank 31 when the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank 31 is not sufficiently large. If the stored hot water temperature Tw in the hot water storage tank 31 is equal to or higher than the first threshold value a (NO in step S13), or if the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 is equal to or higher than the second threshold value b (NO in step S14), since the risk of running out of hot water is small, water is made to flow in from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31 as usual (step S16).

[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hot water storage type water heater 1 according to the second modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the hot water storage type water heater 1 according to the second modification of the first embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second modification of the first embodiment will be described.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the hot water storage type water heater 1 may be configured to be able to supply the water boiled up by the heat pump unit 2 for use in the secondary use device 50. The secondary use device 50 is, for example, a hot water use device 51 such as a floor heating and a bathroom dryer, a pump 52 for supplying a heat medium to the hot water use device 51, a heat exchanger 53 for heating the heat medium, and the like.

[0033] In this modification, when receiving the power consumption required value from the aggregator Ag which is the power consumption required source, the boiling temperature is set so that the operation is performed at the power consumption equal to or less than the received power consumption required value, and the boiling operation is started (step S21). Step S21 corresponds to step S01 and step S02 described above.

[0034] When the boiling operation is started in step S21, if the set boiling temperature is equal to or higher than the water temperature c required for the use of the secondary use device 50 (YES in step S22), the water heated to the boiling temperature is supplied for use of the secondary use device 50 (step S23). By supplying the boiled water for use of the secondary use device 50 without passing through the hot water storage tank 31, the heat radiation loss due to hot water storage in the hot water storage tank 31 can be reduced. If the set boiling temperature is lower than the water temperature required for the use of the secondary use device 50 (NO in step S22), the water heated to the boiling temperature is made to flow into the hot water storage tank 31 (step S24).

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hot water storage type water heater 1 according to the third modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the hot water storage type water heater 1 according to the third modification of the first embodiment. The third modification corresponds to a combination of the first modification and the second modification described above. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the third modification of the first embodiment will be described.

[0036] In the third modification example, the storage water heater 1 is configured such that the water boiled up by the heat pump unit 2 can flow into a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31. Further, in the third modification example, the storage water heater 1 is configured such that the water boiled up by the heat pump unit 2 can be supplied for use of the secondary use device 50.

[0037] In this modification example, when a power consumption required value is received from the aggregator Ag which is a power consumption required source, the boiling temperature is set so that operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or less than the received power consumption required value, and the boiling operation is started (step S31). When the boiling operation is started in step S31, the stored hot water temperature Tw at a specific position in the hot water storage tank 31 and the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 are acquired (step S32).

[0038] When the stored hot water temperature Tw in the hot water storage tank 31 is lower than the first threshold value a (YES in step S33), and the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 is smaller than the second threshold value b (YES in step S34), if the set boiling temperature is equal to or higher than the water temperature c required for use of the secondary use device 50 (YES in step S35), the water heated to the boiling temperature is supplied for use of the secondary use device 50 (step S36).

[0039] Further, when the stored hot water temperature Tw in the hot water storage tank 31 is lower than the first threshold value a (YES in step S33), and the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 is smaller than the second threshold value b (YES in step S34), if the set boiling temperature is lower than the water temperature c required for use of the secondary use device 50 (NO in step S35), water boiled up from a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31 is made to flow in (step S37). When the stored hot water temperature Tw in the hot water storage tank 31 is equal to or higher than the first threshold value a (NO in step S33), or when the heat storage amount Hs in the hot water storage tank 31 is equal to or higher than the second threshold value b (NO in step S34), water is made to flow in from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 31 (step S38). Thus, the above-described embodiments and their modification examples can be arbitrarily combined.

Description of Symbols

[0040] 1 Storage-type water heater, 2 Heat pump unit, 3 Hot water storage unit, 4 Control device, 20 Refrigerant circuit, 21 Compressor, 22 Refrigerant-water heat exchanger, 23 Pressure reducing device, 24 Water-air heat exchanger, 25 Outdoor fan, 31 Hot water storage tank, 32 Water inlet pipe, 33 Circulation pump, 34 Hot water outlet pipe, 35 Temperature control valve, 36 Flow control valve, 37 Four-way valve, 41 Signal transceiver, 42 Signal transmitter, 50 Secondary utilization device, 51 Warm water utilization device, 52 Pump, 53 Heat exchanger, 311 Hot water temperature acquisition unit, 312 Heat storage amount acquisition unit, 400 Dedicated hardware, 401 Processor, 402 Memory

Claims

1. heating means for heating water to a set boiling temperature; a hot water storage unit having a hot water storage tank for storing the water heated by the heating means; control means for receiving a power consumption required value from a power consumption required source and controlling the heating means so that operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or less than the received power consumption required value; comprising: The control means is a hot water supply machine of a hot water storage type that sets the boiling temperature so that operation is performed at a power consumption equal to or less than the power consumption required value received from the power consumption required source.

2. a hot water storage temperature acquisition unit for acquiring the hot water storage temperature at a specific position in the hot water storage tank; a heat storage amount acquisition unit for acquiring the heat storage amount in the hot water storage tank; comprising: The hot water supply machine according to claim 1, wherein when the hot water storage temperature is lower than a first threshold value and the heat storage amount is smaller than a second threshold value, water heated to the boiling temperature is configured to flow into the hot water storage tank from a position other than the upper part of the hot water storage tank.

3. When the boiling temperature is equal to or higher than the water temperature required for use of the secondary use device, the water heated to the boiling temperature is supplied for use of the secondary use device, and when the boiling temperature is lower than the water temperature required for use of the secondary use device, the water heated to the boiling temperature is configured to flow into the hot water storage tank. The hot water supply machine according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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