Floor heating device and method for controlling floor heating device

Abstract

To optimize energy consumption for controlling room temperature to a desired temperature at timing desired by a user.SOLUTION: A control device 50 determines stop timing of stopping the operation of a floor heating device 5 at first timing so that temperature of indoor A at second timing becomes a preset temperature by discharging heat that is stored in a heat storage panel 3. The control device 50 determines the stop timing by executing predetermined calculation using a heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 at the first timing, a first outside air temperature, and a second outside air temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a floor heating device and a control method for the floor heating device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent No. 6905172 discloses a floor heating device using a hot water circulation method. The control device of this floor heating device has a function of operating the floor heating device based on a reservation setting by the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above floor heating device, there are cases where the user wants to make a reservation setting so that the room temperature becomes a desired temperature (for example, 18 degrees) at a desired timing (for example, 6:00 in the morning). However, in the above floor heating device, such a reservation setting cannot be made. Further, even if the above floor heating device is made to include such a reservation setting function, there may arise a problem that the energy consumption in the floor heating device becomes excessive.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to optimize the energy consumption for controlling the room temperature to a desired temperature at a desired timing of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The floor heating device of the present disclosure heats the interior of a building. The floor heating device includes a floor heating device main body having a heating panel with a heating element that generates heat and a heat storage panel with a heat storage body that stores heat, and a control device that controls the operation of the floor heating device main body and has a memory. The memory stores the first outside air temperature outside the building at the first timing, the second outside air temperature outside the building at the second timing, and the set temperature inside the building at the second timing. The control device determines, at the first timing, a stop timing for stopping the operation of the floor heating device main body such that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel. The control device determines the stop timing by performing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature.

[0007] The control method of the present disclosure is a control method for a floor heating device that heats the interior of a building. The floor heating device includes a floor heating device main body having a heating panel with a heating element that generates heat and a heat storage panel with a heat storage body that stores heat. The control method of the floor heating device includes acquiring predetermined information. The predetermined information includes the first outside air temperature outside the building at the first timing, the second outside air temperature outside the building at the second timing after the first timing, and the set temperature inside the building at the second timing. The control method of the floor heating device further includes determining, at the first timing, a stop timing for stopping the operation of the floor heating device main body such that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel. Determining the stop timing includes performing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to optimize the energy consumption for controlling the room temperature to a desired temperature at a desired timing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described here, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also, when a plurality of upper limit values and lower limit values are described for specific parameters, any upper limit value and lower limit value can be combined to form a suitable numerical range.

[0011] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, unless otherwise specified, the same parts and corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations may not be repeated. Also, it is initially planned to use at least a part of the configurations in each embodiment in appropriate combination.

[0012] <First Embodiment> [Configuration of Bed Heating System] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a floor heating system 200 according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 1, the floor heating system 200 includes a floor heating device 100, a network NW, and a weather server 60.

[0013] The building 1 is, for example, a house or a building. The floor heating device 100 is installed in the building 1. The floor heating device 100 heats the interior A of the building 1. Also, in FIG. 1, the exterior B of the building 1 is shown.

[0014] The floor heating device 100 includes a floor heating device main body 5 and a control device 50 that controls the floor heating device main body 5. The floor heating device main body 5 has a heating panel 2 and a heat storage panel 3. The heating panel 2 and the heat storage panel 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In the example of FIG. 1, the control device 50 is arranged inside the building 1. The control device 50 has an arithmetic device 51, a memory 52, a user interface 53, and a communication interface 54. The arithmetic device 51 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executes various operations. The control device 50 or the arithmetic device 51 may be referred to as, for example, a "control circuit".

[0015] The memory 52 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM is a non-rewritable non-volatile memory, and the RAM is a volatile memory.

[0016] The user interface 53 receives commands (inputs) from the user. The user can use the user interface 53 to input operation commands, stop commands, reservation settings, etc. for the floor heating device 100. The operation command includes the set temperature of Room A. The reservation setting includes the set time and the reserved set temperature. By receiving the input of the reservation setting, the control device 50 controls the floor heating device main body 5 so that the room temperature in Room A becomes the set temperature at the set time. For the reserved set temperature, a predetermined range (hereinafter also referred to as the "set temperature range") is defined. The lower limit value of the set temperature range is also referred to as the minimum set temperature, and the upper limit value of the set temperature range is also referred to as the maximum set temperature. The set time and the reserved set temperature input by the user are stored in the memory 52. As a modification, a configuration may be adopted in which the command from the user is input to another device (for example, a tablet, etc.).

[0017] The communication interface 54 is configured to communicate with a device external to the control device 50. The communication interface 54 can communicate with the weather server 60 via the network NW based on an instruction from the control device 50. The weather server 60 transmits various information to the control device 50. In the present embodiment, the weather server 60 acquires the temperature of Outdoor B at a predetermined time (timing) and transmits it to the control device 50. The temperature of Outdoor B is also referred to as the outside air temperature.

[0018] As a modification, the control device 50 excluding the user interface 53 may be arranged inside a heat source machine that generates hot water.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the thickness direction of the heating panel 2 and the heat storage panel 3 is also referred to as the Z-axis direction. The heating panel 2 and the heat storage panel 3 are panels extending in the XY plane orthogonal to the Z-axis direction.

[0020] [Configuration of Floor Heating Device Main Body] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the floor heating device main body 5. As described above, the floor heating device main body 5 has a heating panel 2 and a heat storage panel 3. First, the heating panel 2 will be described.

[0021] The heat generating panel 2 includes a foamed resin body 21, a heating element 22, a heat equalizing sheet 24, etc. The foamed resin body 21 is composed of a rigid polypropylene foam, a rigid polyurethane foam, a polystyrene foam, etc.

[0022] In the present embodiment, the heating element 22 is a water pipe. The heating element 22 is constituted by a circulation path through which hot water circulates inside the heat generating panel 2. The control device 50 controls the heat generating panel 2 by controlling the temperature of the hot water circulating through the heating element 22 using a heat source (not particularly shown) based on the set temperature (reserved set temperature) set by the user. Thereby, the control device 50 can control the temperature of the heating element 22 so that the temperature of room A becomes the set temperature (reserved set temperature) set by the user. As a modification, the control device 50 may control the heat generating panel 2 by controlling the time interval for circulating the hot water. In FIG. 2, the surface 22A of the heating element 22 is shown.

[0023] The heat equalizing sheet 24 is disposed on the upper surface of the foamed resin body 21. The heat equalizing sheet 24 transfers the heat of the hot water of the heating element 22 to the heat storage panel 3. The heat equalizing sheet 24 is a film or sheet having excellent thermal conductivity.

[0024] Next, the heat storage panel 3 will be described. In the present embodiment, the heat storage panel 3 serves as the flooring of the building 1. The heat storage panel 3 incorporates a heat storage body 32 for storing heat. The heat storage body 32 is typically a latent heat storage material. The heat storage body 32 is constituted by, for example, a paraffin-based heat storage material composition such as a paraffin gel in which paraffin is immobilized in an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer.

[0025] The heat storage panel 3 is disposed on the heat equalizing sheet 24. That is, the heat storage panel 3 is disposed above (on the positive side in the Z-axis direction) the heat generating panel 2.

[0026] The surface 3A of the heat storage panel 3 is the surface exposed to the interior A of the building 1. The surface 3A is also the surface of the floor heating device main body 5. The user present in the interior A of the building 1 touches the surface 3A. The floor heating device main body 5 in the example of FIG. 2 employs a so-called hot water type, but other types (for example, electric type) may be employed.

[0027] [Latent heat peak temperature] Next, the latent heat peak temperature of the heat storage panel 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the latent heat peak temperature of the heat storage panel 3. The horizontal axis in FIG. 3 indicates the temperature of the heat storage panel 3, and the vertical axis indicates the specific heat of the heat storage panel 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature of the heat storage panel 3 and the specific heat of the heat storage panel 3 correspond to each other.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, for the temperature of the heat storage panel 3, a low temperature range, a phase change range, and a high temperature range are defined. Further, in the phase change range, a latent heat peak temperature is defined. The latent heat peak temperature is the temperature at which the specific heat of the heat storage panel 3 (or the specific heat per unit area of the heat storage panel 3) becomes the maximum value (peak). In the example of FIG. 3, the latent heat peak temperature is set to 30 degrees.

[0029] [Temperature relationship] Next, the relationship between the latent heat peak temperature and other temperatures will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the temperature of the heat storage body 32 and the like. In FIG. 4, the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 is defined as being equal to or higher than the first temperature T1 and equal to or lower than the second temperature T2. The surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 is the temperature of the surface 3A when the floor heating device 100 is in operation. The first temperature T1 is, for example, 25 degrees, and the second temperature T2 is, for example, 28 degrees.

[0030] Also, in FIG. 4, the range of the surface temperature of the heating element 22 is defined as being equal to or higher than the third temperature T3 and equal to or lower than the fourth temperature T4. The surface temperature of the heating element 22 is the temperature of the surface 22A when the floor heating device 100 is in operation. The third temperature T3 is, for example, 37 degrees, and the fourth temperature T4 is, for example, 60 degrees.

[0031] When the user sets the above-mentioned minimum set temperature, the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 becomes the first temperature T1, and the surface temperature of the heating element 22 becomes the third temperature T3. On the other hand, when the user sets the above-mentioned maximum set temperature, the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 becomes the second temperature T2, and the surface temperature of the heating element 22 becomes the fourth temperature T4. Thus, the higher the set temperature of the room temperature set by the user, the more the control device 50 controls the floor heating device main body 5 so that the surface temperature of the heating element 22 becomes higher. As a result, the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 also becomes higher. For example, if the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5 is 31 degrees, the room temperature will be 21 degrees to 23 degrees.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the latent heat peak temperature T of the heat storage panel 3 is larger than the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5. That is, the latent heat peak temperature T is larger than the second temperature T2 which is the maximum value of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5. Also, the latent heat peak temperature T of the heat storage panel 3 is smaller than the range of the surface temperature of the heating element 22. That is, the latent heat peak temperature T is smaller than the third temperature T3 which is the minimum value of the range of the surface temperature of the heating element 22. Therefore, since the floor heating device 100 can reduce the temperature change of the room temperature, it can provide a comfortable indoor space for the user while appropriately storing the amount of heat in the heat storage body 32.

[0033] Note that the lower limit temperature of the phase change range in FIG. 3 may or may not belong to the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body 5. Also, the upper limit temperature of the phase change range in FIG. 3 may or may not belong to the range of the surface temperature of the heating element 22.

[0034] [This stop timing] In the following description, it is assumed that the reservation setting made by the user has a setting time (desired timing) of 6:00 in the morning and a reserved setting temperature (desired temperature) of 18 degrees. When such a reservation setting is made, the floor heating device 100 of the present embodiment determines the stop timing at which the operation of the floor heating device main body 5 is stopped so that the room temperature reaches the desired temperature at the desired timing by using (consuming) the heat stored in the heat storage body 32. More typically, the floor heating device 100 determines the stop timing at which the operation of the floor heating device main body 5 is stopped so that the room temperature reaches the desired temperature at the desired timing by using (consuming) all the heat stored in the heat storage body 32. This stop timing corresponds to the "stop timing" of the present disclosure.

[0035] Also, in the present embodiment, a temporary stop timing and a temporary temperature are defined separately from the stop timing. The temporary stop timing is a timing after the first timing described later. The temporary temperature is the room temperature set temporarily. The temporary stop timing and the temporary temperature are determined in advance by the user or the like.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the method of determining this stop timing. The time column in FIG. 5 indicates the time. In the example of FIG. 5, the time for each unit time is shown. It is assumed that the unit time in the present embodiment is "1 hour".

[0037] In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the first timing (calculation timing) is 21:00. The calculation timing is the timing at which the following calculation (the calculation for determining the stop timing) is executed.

[0038] In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the second timing is 6:00. The second timing is a timing after the first timing. Typically, the second timing is the set time (desired timing) set by the user or the like. Hereinafter, the period from the first timing to the second timing is also referred to as the "target period". Also, in the example of FIG. 5, the temporary stop timing is set to 23:00.

[0039] In the room temperature column, the room temperature for each unit time is shown. In the example of FIG. 5, the room temperature at each timing for each unit time (1 hour) during the target period (the period from the first timing to the second timing) is described.

[0040] Here, the room temperature from the first timing (21:00) to the temporary stop timing (23:00) is regarded as the temporary temperature, and in the example of FIG. 5, it is 21 degrees. Also, the room temperature from the timing after the next unit time of the temporary stop timing (that is, 0:00) to the second timing is regarded as the reserved set temperature, and in the example of FIG. 5, it is 18 degrees. As described above, the room temperature at each of these timings (each timing from 21:00, 22:00,..., to 6:00) is predetermined. Since the temporary temperature and the reserved set temperature are predetermined values, the room temperature at each timing during the target period is a predetermined value. The temporary stop timing may also be referred to as the third timing.

[0041] The outside air temperature is the temperature of the outside B of Building 1 (see FIG. 1). In the outside air temperature column, the outside air temperature at each timing for each unit time during the target period is shown. The control device 50 of the present embodiment acquires the outside air temperature at the first timing and the outside air temperature at the second timing from the weather server 60 (see FIG. 1). The outside air temperature at the first timing and the outside air temperature at the second timing respectively correspond to the "first outside air temperature" and the "second outside air temperature" of the present disclosure.

[0042] Among the timings for each unit time during the target period, the timings other than the first timing and the second timing are also referred to as "target timings". That is, each timing for each unit time from 22:00 to 5:00 becomes the "target timing".

[0043] The control device 50 determines the outside air temperature at each target timing based on a division value obtained by dividing the difference between the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature by the number of target timings. In the example of FIG. 5, the difference between the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature is "6", and the number of target timings is "8". Therefore, the division value is 0.75. Therefore, for example, the outside air temperature at 22:00 is 8.3. The outside air temperatures at the other target timings are as shown in FIG. 5. This division value is also the gradient of the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature.

[0044] The temperature difference column shows the temperature difference between the room temperature and the outside temperature at each timing during the target period. For example, the temperature difference at 21:00 is 12 degrees (=21-9).

[0045] The heat dissipation amount column shows the amount of heat (amount of heat passing through) dissipated from indoor A to outdoor B during the period between "each timing" of the target period and "the timing one unit time before that timing" (i.e., unit time). For example, "1233", which is the amount of heat dissipation at 23:00, is the amount of heat dissipation from 22:00 to 23:00. The unit of heat dissipation is kJ. The amount of heat dissipation listed in the heat dissipation amount column is the amount of heat dissipation per unit time. The amount of heat dissipation is calculated using the following formulas (1) and (2).

[0046] Heat radiation amount = temperature difference × coefficient M (1) Coefficient M = Heat transfer coefficient × Contact area of ​​room A with the outside air × 3600 (seconds) ÷ 1000 (2) The "heat transfer coefficient" on the right side of equation (2) is the temperature difference between indoor A and outdoor B of building 1 of 1 degree. 2 Coefficient M is the amount of heat that passes through per unit area. In this embodiment, the heat transmission coefficient is 0.52. The contact area of ​​room A with the outside air is 49.4. In other words, coefficient M is approximately 92.4. Since the heat transmission coefficient and the contact area of ​​room A with the outside air are predetermined values, coefficient M is a value determined in advance based on the design specifications of building 1, etc.

[0047] In addition, the difference value column shows the difference values at each timing during the target period. The difference value is a value calculated by sequentially subtracting the heat dissipation amount from the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3. The maximum heat storage amount is a value determined in advance by the following formula (3).

[0048] Maximum heat storage amount of heat storage panel = Heat storage capacity (kJ / m 2 ) × Area of heat storage body (m 2 ) (3) In the present embodiment, the heat storage capacity of the heat storage panel 3 is 606 (kJ / m 2 ), and the area of the heat storage body is 14.9 (m 2 ). Therefore, it is assumed that the maximum heat storage amount is 9033 (kJ). Since the heat storage capacity and the area of the heat storage body are values determined in advance according to the design specifications of the building 1, the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel is a predetermined value.

[0049] Here, in the floor heating device 100 of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 at the first timing is the maximum heat storage amount (that is, 9033 kJ). That is, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the floor heating device 100 has executed the operation of the floor heating device main body 5 by the first timing.

[0050] The control device 50 executes arithmetic processing based on the idea of at which timing the operation of the floor heating device main body 5 should be stopped in order for the total heat dissipation amount at the second timing to be 9033 (or approximately 9033). Specifically, the control device 50 sequentially subtracts the heat dissipation amount at the corresponding timing with the difference value at the second timing as the maximum heat storage amount.

[0051] In the example of FIG. 5, by subtracting the heat dissipation amount “1387” at the second timing (6:00) from “9033”, the difference value (=7646) at 5:00, which is one hour before the second timing, is calculated. Then, the control device 50 repeats this subtraction process until the difference value becomes a negative value. In the example of FIG. 5, the timing when the difference value becomes a negative value is 22:00. The control device 50 determines this 22:00 as the main stop timing. Typically, the main stop timing is a timing between the first timing and the second timing.

[0052] When the floor heating device main body 5 is stopped at this 22:00, the total heat dissipation amount from 22:00 to 6:00 is predicted to be 1233 + 1017 + ··· 1325 + 1387 = 9646. Therefore, the control device 50 can maintain the room temperature at 18 degrees at the second timing by using (consuming) all the heat of the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3. Also, “9033” is the initial value of the difference value.

[0053] [Functional Configuration Example of Control Device] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control device 50. The control device 50 includes an acquisition unit 72, an arithmetic unit 74, a control unit 76, a storage unit 78, and a timer 80. A part of the memory 52 (see FIG. 1) is used as the storage unit 78.

[0054] The memory unit 78 stores information 101 indicating the first timing, information 102 indicating the second timing, information 103, and information 104. Information 101 is information indicating the first timing (21:00 in the example of FIG. 5). Information 102 is information indicating the second timing (6:00 in the example of FIG. 5). Information 103 is information indicating the room temperature for each target timing. In the example of FIG. 5, the room temperature for each target timing is the room temperature (21 degrees, 18 degrees) at each time from 21:00 to 6:00 as shown in the room temperature column. Information 104 is information indicating the temporary stop timing (23:00 in the example of FIG. 5). Note that the first timing indicated by information 101, the second timing indicated by information 102, the room temperature for each target timing indicated by information 103, and the temporary stop timing indicated by information 104 are all predetermined values.

[0055] The memory unit 78 further stores information 111 indicating the first outside air temperature and information 112 indicating the second outside air temperature. The first outside air temperature is the outside air temperature at the first timing in the example of FIG. 5. Also, the second outside air temperature is the outside air temperature at the second timing in the example of FIG. 5. As described above, the acquisition unit 72 acquires the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature from the weather server 60 at the first timing and stores them in the memory unit 78.

[0056] Also, the timer 80 measures time and outputs the measurement result as the current time to the acquisition unit 72, the calculation unit 74, and the control unit 76. When the current time reaches the first timing, the acquisition unit 72 requests and acquires the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature from the weather server 60. Also, when the current time reaches the first timing, the calculation unit 74 executes a predetermined calculation. The predetermined calculation is a calculation executed to determine the main stop timing as described with reference to FIG. 5. Specifically, the predetermined calculation includes calculating the outside air temperature at the target timing, calculating the temperature difference at each timing in the target period, calculating the heat dissipation amount corresponding to each timing in the target period, and calculating the differential difference at each timing in the target period, using the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature.

[0057] When the calculation unit 74 determines the main stop timing, it outputs the main stop timing to the control unit 76. When the current time reaches the main stop timing (22:00 in the example of FIG. 5), the control unit 76 stops the floor heating device main body 5. As a result, the floor heating device 100 can set the room temperature to the temporary temperature (21 degrees), which is the first desired temperature, until the first desired timing (23:00, which is the temporary stop timing) of the user. Further, the floor heating device 100 can set the room temperature to the second desired temperature (18 degrees) at the second desired timing (6:00, which is the second timing) of the user.

[0058] [Flowchart] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control device 50. The processing in FIG. 7 is executed every predetermined period (for example, 1 second). In step S2, the control device 50 determines whether the current time has reached the first timing (21:00 in the example of FIG. 5). If the current time has not reached the first timing (NO in step S2), the processing in FIG. 7 ends. If the current time has reached the first timing (YES in step S2), the processing proceeds to step S4.

[0059] In step S4, the control device 50 acquires from the storage unit 78 the room temperature (set temperature at the second timing) for each target timing. Also, in step S4, the control device 50 requests the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature from the weather server 60, and the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature transmitted from the weather server 60 are temporarily stored in the storage unit 78. Then, the control device 50 acquires the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature from the storage unit 78.

[0060] Next, in step S6, the main stop timing of the floor heating device main body 5 is determined. This determination process includes an arithmetic process for executing a predetermined arithmetic operation.

[0061] Figure 8 is a flowchart of arithmetic processing. In step S62, the control device 50 calculates the heat dissipation amount per hour (per unit time) during the target period from the first timing to the second timing (refer to the heat dissipation amount column in Fig. 5). Next, in step S64, the control device 50 sets the initial value of the variable N to "1". Also, the control device 50 sets the initial value of the difference value to the maximum heat storage amount (= 9033).

[0062] Next, in step S66, the control device 50 calculates the difference value N hours before the second timing. This calculation formula is a formula that subtracts the heat dissipation amount per unit time from the difference value. For example, when N = 1, in the example of Fig. 5, the control device 50 calculates the difference value "7646" at 5:00 by subtracting 1387 from 9033. Also, when N = 2, in the example of Fig. 5, the control device 50 calculates the difference value "6321" at 4:00 by subtracting 1325 from 7646.

[0063] Next, in step S68, the control device 50 determines whether the difference value is a negative value. If the difference value is not a negative value (NO in step S68), in step S70, the control device 50 increments N by "1". Then, the process of step S66 is executed again.

[0064] By repeating the processes of steps S66, S68, and S70, the subtraction process of step S66 is repeated until the difference value becomes a negative value (until it is determined as YES in step S68). When the difference value becomes a negative value (when it is determined as YES in step S68), the control device 50 determines, in step S72, the timing N hours before the second timing as the main stop timing.

[0065] [Parentheses] (1) As described above, the control device 50 determines the stop timing (this stop timing) at which the operation of the floor heating device main body 5 is stopped at the first timing (21:00) so that the temperature of Room A at the second timing (6:00) becomes the set temperature (18 degrees) by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel 3. In particular, the control device 50 determines the stop timing by executing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature. Therefore, the floor heating device 100 can set the room temperature to the desired temperature at the desired timing of the user. Furthermore, since all the heat stored in the heat storage panel 3 is utilized, the consumption energy can be optimized (suppressed). Also, all the heat amounts stored in the heat storage panel 3 are typically the sum of the following first heat amount and second heat amount. The first heat amount is the heat amount required to maintain the room temperature from the first timing until the timing (temporary stop timing) when the floor heating device main body 5 is no longer used. The second heat amount is the heat amount required to maintain the room temperature from the time when the floor heating device main body 5 is no longer used (after the temporary stop timing) until the second timing.

[0066] Also, in the case where a reservation is set to make the room temperature the desired temperature at the desired timing, in a floor heating device that does not execute the determination process in step S6 of FIG. 7 (hereinafter, also referred to as "the floor heating device of the first comparative example"), it is necessary to operate the stopped floor heating device main body at a timing before the desired timing, and there may occur a problem that the consumption energy increases.

[0067] On the other hand, the floor heating device 100 of the present embodiment determines the stop timing at which the operation of the heating panel is stopped so that all the heat stored in the heat storage panel 3 is released and the temperature of Room A at the second timing becomes the reserved temperature. Therefore, since the floor heating device 100 can use the heat storage of the heat storage panel 3 to make the temperature of Room A at the second timing the reserved temperature, the consumption energy can be suppressed.

[0068] In addition, in a floor heating device having a heat storage panel and a heat generating panel, a floor heating device that stops the operation of the floor heating device main body at the same time every day (hereinafter, also referred to as the "floor heating device of the second comparative example") can be considered. However, in this floor heating device of the second comparative example, when the outside air temperature at the second timing is higher than normal, the heat accumulated in the heat storage panel during the period before the second timing (for example, at night) is not sufficiently released, and the energy corresponding to the heat storage may be wasted. Further, when the outside air temperature at the second timing is lower than normal, the problem may occur that the room temperature at the second timing does not reach the desired temperature with the heat accumulated in the heat storage panel.

[0069] On the other hand, the floor heating device 100 of the present embodiment determines the stop timing by executing a predetermined calculation using the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as waste of energy corresponding to heat storage and the problem that the room temperature at the second timing does not reach the desired temperature, as in the floor heating device of the second comparative example.

[0070] (2) Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the arithmetic processing includes the processing of step S62 and the processing of steps S66 to S70. The processing of step S62 is an arithmetic operation for calculating the heat dissipation amount from the indoor A to the outdoor B per unit time during the target period (the period from the first timing to the second timing) based on the difference value between the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature. The control device 50 is an arithmetic operation for sequentially subtracting the heat dissipation amount per unit time from the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 in the processing of steps S66 to S70. According to such a configuration, the stop timing can be determined by a relatively simple calculation.

[0071] (3) Further, in the first embodiment, a predetermined calculation is executed with the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 as the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3. Specifically, as shown in step S64, the control device 50 executes arithmetic processing with the initial value of the difference value as the maximum heat storage amount (a predetermined value). Therefore, since the control device 50 can use a predetermined value, the stop timing can be determined by a simple calculation.

[0072] (4) Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat storage panel 3 is disposed above the heating panel 2. Therefore, the control device 50 can preferentially store heat in the heat storage panel 3 rather than in room A. Thus, it is easy to set the initial value of the difference value to the maximum heat storage amount, and the control device 50 can determine this stop timing by simple calculation.

[0073] (5) Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the latent heat peak temperature T of the heat storage panel 3 is higher than the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating apparatus main body 5. Further, the latent heat peak temperature T is lower than the range of the surface temperature of the heating element 22. Therefore, the floor heating apparatus 100 can reduce the temperature change of the room temperature, can provide a comfortable indoor space for the user, and can store an appropriate amount of heat in the heat storage body 32.

[0074] <Second Embodiment> In the above-described first embodiment, a configuration has been described on the premise that the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 is the maximum heat storage amount (that is, 9033 kJ) at the time of the first timing. However, if the floor heating apparatus main body 5 has not been operated before the first timing, the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 at the first timing may not be the maximum heat storage amount. In such a case, if the initial value of the difference value is set to the maximum heat storage amount, the temperature at the second timing may not be accurately set to the reserved temperature.

[0075] Therefore, in the second embodiment, an embodiment is described assuming that the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 is not the maximum heat storage amount at the first timing.

[0076] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control device 50 of the second embodiment. The processing in FIG. 9 is the processing in which steps S102, S104, and S106 are added after step S4 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 9, when the processing in step S4 is completed, the control device 50 estimates the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 in step S102. Here, regarding the method of estimating the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3, for example, the floor heating device 100 may be provided with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat storage panel 3. Then, the control device 50 may estimate the temperature of the heat storage panel 3 based on the temperature of the heat storage panel 3 detected by the temperature sensor. The control device 50 calculates the estimated heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 by substituting the temperature of the heat storage panel 3 into a predetermined calculation formula, for example.

[0077] Next, in step S104, the control device 50 determines whether the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount. In step S104, if the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount (YES in step S104), the process proceeds to step S6 described in the first embodiment.

[0078] If the estimated heat storage amount is not the maximum heat storage amount (that is, if the estimated heat storage amount is less than the maximum heat storage amount) (NO in step S104), the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the control device 50 operates the floor heating device main body 5 until the estimated heat storage amount reaches the maximum heat storage amount. The control device 50 calculates the execution time of the operation based on the difference value between the estimated heat storage amount and the maximum heat storage amount. The larger the difference value between the estimated heat storage amount and the maximum heat storage amount, the longer the execution time of the operation. When the estimated heat storage amount reaches the maximum heat storage amount, the process proceeds to step S6 described in the first embodiment.

[0079] According to such a configuration, when the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount (YES in step S104), the control device 50 executes a predetermined calculation with the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 as the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3. Therefore, since the control device 50 estimates the estimated heat storage amount and then executes the predetermined calculation, it can execute the predetermined calculation with high accuracy.

[0080] Also, when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount (NO in step S104), in step S106, the control device 50 operates the floor heating device main body 5 until the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 reaches the maximum heat storage amount. Therefore, regardless of whether the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount, a common predetermined calculation can be executed.

[0081] <Third Embodiment> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control device 50 according to the third embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 10 is a flowchart in which step S106 of FIG. 9 is replaced by step S108.

[0082] In step S108, the control device 50 sets a flag for changing the maximum heat storage amount (the initial value of the above-described difference value) to the estimated heat storage amount in a predetermined storage area. Then, in step S64 (see FIG. 8) of the processing in step S6 in a state where such a flag is set, the initial value of the difference value is set as the estimated heat storage amount.

[0083] According to such a configuration, when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount (NO in step S104), the control device 50 can execute a predetermined calculation using the estimated heat storage amount as the initial value of the difference value. Therefore, even when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount, the appropriate stop timing can be determined.

[0084] <Other Embodiments> (1) In the above-described embodiments, the arithmetic processing executed by the control device 50 has been described as being the processing described in FIG. 5. However, the arithmetic processing executed by the control device 50 may be other processing. The other processing may be, for example, processing based on artificial intelligence (AI: Artificial Intelligence) using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature. Also, the estimation of the estimated heat storage amount of the heat storage panel 3 in step S102 of FIGS. 9 and 10 may be processing using AI.

[0085] (2) Further, the user may be able to set whether the floor heating device 100 determines the above-described main stop timing. When it is set by the user that the floor heating device 100 determines the above-described main stop timing, the control device 50 determines the main stop timing by the above-described process. On the other hand, when it is set by the user not to determine the main stop timing, the operation of the floor heating device 100 is stopped manually by the user without determining the main stop timing. According to such a configuration, the convenience for the user can be improved.

[0086] (3) In the example of FIG. 6 described above, the configuration in which the information 101 indicating the first timing is stored in the storage unit 78 has been described. However, a configuration in which the information 101 indicating the first timing is not stored in the storage unit 78 may be adopted. In the case of such a configuration, a server (not shown) outside the floor heating device 100 may transmit an arithmetic instruction to the floor heating device 100 when the first timing is reached. When the floor heating device 100 receives the arithmetic instruction, the floor heating device 100 executes the processes after step S4 in FIG. 7. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0087] <Supplementary Note> (Item 1) The floor heating device of the present disclosure heats the interior of a building. The floor heating device includes a floor heating device main body having a heating panel having a heat generating body that generates heat and a heat storage panel having a heat storage body that stores heat, and a control device that controls the operation of the floor heating device main body and has a memory. The memory stores the first outside air temperature outside the building at the first timing, the second outside air temperature outside the building at the second timing, and the set temperature inside the building at the second timing. The control device determines the stop timing at the first timing so that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel. The control device determines the stop timing by executing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature at the first timing.

[0088] (2) The floor heating device according to item (1), wherein the predetermined calculation includes a calculation for calculating the heat dissipation amount from the indoor to the outdoor per unit time during the period from the first timing to the second timing based on the difference value between the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature, and a calculation for sequentially subtracting the heat dissipation amount per unit time from the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel.

[0089] (3) The floor heating device according to item (1) or (2), wherein the control device executes a predetermined calculation with the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel as the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel.

[0090] (4) The floor heating device according to item (3), wherein the control device estimates the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel as an estimated heat storage amount at the first timing. Further, when the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount, the control device executes a predetermined calculation with the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel as the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel.

[0091] (5) The floor heating device according to item (4), wherein when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount, the control device operates the floor heating device main body until the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel reaches the maximum heat storage amount.

[0092] (6) The floor heating device according to item (4), wherein when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount, the control device executes a predetermined calculation with the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel as the estimated heat storage amount.

[0093] (7) The floor heating device according to any one of items (1) to (6), wherein the heat storage panel is disposed above the heating panel.

[0094] (8) The floor heating device according to any one of items (1) to (7), wherein the latent heat peak temperature of the heat storage panel is higher than the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body. Further, the latent heat peak temperature is lower than the range of the surface temperature of the heating element.

[0095] (Item 9) The control method of the present disclosure is a control method for a floor heating device that heats the interior of a building. The floor heating device includes a floor heating device main body having a heating panel with a heat generating body that generates heat and a heat storage panel with a heat storage body that stores heat. The control method of the floor heating device includes acquiring predetermined information. The predetermined information includes the first outside air temperature outside the building at the first timing, the second outside air temperature outside the building at the second timing after the first timing, and the set temperature inside the building at the second timing. The control method of the floor heating device further includes determining, at the first timing, a stop timing for stopping the operation of the floor heating device main body such that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel. Determining the stop timing includes executing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature.

[0096] Also, each embodiment disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included. Also, the inventions described in the embodiments and each modification are intended to be implemented alone or in combination as much as possible.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0097] 1 Building, 2 Heating panel, 3 Heat storage panel, 3A, 22A Surface, 5 Floor heating device main body, 21 Foamed resin body, 22 Heat generating body, 24 Heat dissipation sheet, 32 Heat storage body, 50 Control device, 51 Control device, 52 Memory, 53 Interface, 60 Weather server, 70 Remote control, 72 Acquisition unit, 74 Calculation unit, 76 Control unit, 78 Storage unit, 80 Timer, 100 Floor heating device, 200 Floor heating system.

Claims

1. A floor heating device for heating the interior of a building, comprising: a floor heating device main body having a heating panel with a heating element that generates heat and a heat storage panel with a heat storage element that stores heat; a control device that controls the operation of the floor heating device main body and has a memory; The memory stores: a first outside air temperature outside the building at a first timing; a second outside air temperature outside the building at a second timing after the first timing; and a set temperature inside the building at the second timing, The control device determines a stop timing at the first timing to stop the operation of the floor heating device main body such that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel; The control device determines the stop timing by performing a predetermined calculation using the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature. Floor heating device.

2. The predetermined calculation includes: a calculation for calculating the amount of heat released from the inside of the building to the outside per unit time during the period from the first timing to the second timing based on the difference value between the first outside air temperature and the second outside air temperature; and a calculation for sequentially subtracting the amount of heat released per unit time from the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel. The floor heating device according to claim 1.

3. The control device performs the predetermined calculation with the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel being the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel. The floor heating device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. At the first timing, the control device estimates the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel as an estimated heat storage amount, The floor heating device according to claim 3, wherein when the estimated heat storage amount is the maximum heat storage amount, the control device performs the predetermined calculation with the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel being the maximum heat storage amount of the heat storage panel.

5. The floor heating device according to claim 4, wherein when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount, the control device operates the floor heating device main body until the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel becomes the maximum heat storage amount.

6. The floor heating device according to claim 4, wherein when the estimated heat storage amount is smaller than the maximum heat storage amount, the control device performs the predetermined calculation with the amount of heat stored in the heat storage panel being the estimated heat storage amount.

7. The heat storage panel is disposed above the heating panel. The floor heating device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The latent heat peak temperature of the heat storage panel is greater than the range of the surface temperature of the floor heating device main body, The floor heating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the latent heat peak temperature is lower than the range of the surface temperature of the heating element.

9. A control method for a floor heating device that heats the interior of a building, The floor heating device includes a floor heating device main body having a heating panel with a heating element that generates heat and a heat storage panel with a heat storage body that stores heat, The control method of the floor heating device is as follows: It includes obtaining predetermined information, The predetermined information is The first outside air temperature outside the building at the first timing, The second outside air temperature outside the building at the second timing after the first timing, And the set temperature inside the building at the second timing, The control method of the floor heating device further includes Determining, at the first timing, a stop timing for stopping the operation of the floor heating device main body so that the temperature inside the building at the second timing becomes the set temperature by releasing the heat stored in the heat storage panel, Determining the stop timing includes performing a predetermined calculation using the heat storage amount of the heat storage panel at the first timing, the first outside air temperature, and the second outside air temperature. A control method for a floor heating device.

Images