Hot water supply heater

Abstract

To suitably perform control in accordance with a temperature condition of an apparatus at starting of heating with regard to a hot water supply heater which can perform heating operation for supplying a heated heat medium to a heat radiation terminal.SOLUTION: A hot water supply heater 1 includes a heating high temperature sensor 40 for detecting a temperature of a heat medium in a heat medium circulation passage 48, a heating remote controller 73 which can set a target temperature TG of a first heat radiation terminal 39A, and a control device 70 for controlling adjustment valves 18, 44. When a detected temperature TA detected by the heating high temperature sensor 40 at starting of supply of the heated heat medium to the first heat radiation terminal 39A after starting of combustion of a heating burner 33A is equal to or higher than a threshold TH, the control device 70 controls an adjustment unit so that the detected temperature TA detected by the heating high temperature sensor 40 is closer to the target temperature TG while reducing a supply speed of gas with respect to the heating burner 33A in a prescribed time period after starting of combustion of the heating burner 33A than when the detected temperature TA is lower than the threshold TH.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a heating hot water system. This heating hot water system includes an indoor heater, a floor heating panel, a hot water circuit, and various thermistors. The hot water circuit includes a heat exchanger for heating and a flow sensor. Since the heat dissipation amount of the heat exchanger for heating is determined by the temperature difference between the inflowing hot water temperature and the outflowing hot water temperature and the passing flow rate, based on the target temperature set by the remote control, the temperature detected by various thermistors, and the flow rate detected by the flow sensor, by controlling the opening degree of the flow variable valve, the temperature of the indoor heater is adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a water heater and a heater capable of performing a heating operation so as to supply a heated heat medium to a heat dissipation terminal, it is desired to quickly bring the temperature of a monitoring target to the target temperature and to control so as not to deviate from the target temperature as much as possible. However, simply controlling only the temperature of the monitoring target has a concern of causing temperature overshoot or hunting. For example, in a case where a heating operation is performed so as to control the heat medium flowing through a heating circuit to a target temperature, when the temperature of the device is high at the start of the heating operation, if the heating speed of the heat medium is increased immediately after the start of the heating operation, the temperature of the heat medium reaches the target temperature earlier, but the overshoot after reaching the target temperature tends to be large, and hunting is likely to occur thereafter.

[0005] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a hot water heater that can perform a heating operation of supplying a heated heat medium to a heat dissipation terminal, and to provide a technology that can more appropriately perform control according to the temperature state of the device at the start of heating.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A hot water heater according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a hot water supply circuit that heats water supplied from the outside to supply hot water, a burner that burns gas, a regulator that adjusts the amount of gas supplied to the burner, a heat exchanger that is heated by the exhaust gas generated by the burner, and a heat medium circulation path that is a path for circulating the heat medium through the heat exchanger, and a heating circuit that heats the heat medium by the heat exchanger, and has a hot water heater that circulates the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path so as to supply the heat medium that has flowed through the heat medium circulation path to a heat dissipation terminal and to allow the heat medium that has flowed through the heat dissipation terminal to flow into the heat medium circulation path, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path, and a control unit that controls the regulator. The control unit performs feedback control to determine the control amount of the regulator so as to bring the detected temperature closer to a target temperature based on the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor, When the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor at the start of supply when starting the combustion of the burner and supplying the heated heat medium to the heat dissipation terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control amount of the feedback control is determined in a manner of suppressing the gain more than when it is lower than the threshold value in a predetermined period after starting the combustion of the burner.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The technology according to the present disclosure relates to a hot water heater that can perform a heating operation of supplying a heated heat medium to a heat dissipation terminal, and can more appropriately perform control according to the temperature state of the device at the start of heating.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Each of the following [1] to [7] is an example of a hot water heater included in the present disclosure.

[0010] 〔1〕 A hot water supply circuit that heats water supplied from the outside to supply hot water, A burner that burns gas, a regulating unit that regulates the amount of gas supplied to the burner, a heat exchanger that is heated by the exhaust gas generated by the burner, and a heat medium circulation path that is a path through which the heat medium circulates through the heat exchanger, and a heating circuit that heats the heat medium by the heat exchanger, having A hot water heater that circulates the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path so as to supply the heat medium that has flowed through the heat medium circulation path to a heat dissipation terminal and allow the heat medium that has flowed through the heat dissipation terminal to flow into the heat medium circulation path, A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path, A control unit that controls the regulating unit, The control unit Performs feedback control to determine the control amount of the regulating unit so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature based on the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor, When the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor at the start of supply when starting the combustion of the burner and supplying the heat medium heated to the heat dissipation terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control amount of the feedback control is determined in a method of suppressing the gain more than when it is less than the threshold value during a predetermined period after starting the combustion of the burner. Hot water heater.

[0011] In the hot water heater of the above [1], when the heating circuit is warm and the temperature of the heat medium is relatively high when starting the combustion of the burner and supplying the heat medium heated to the heat dissipation terminal (at the start of supply), if the gas supply speed is increased during the period after the start of combustion to promote the heating of the burner too much, after the temperature of the heat medium reaches the target temperature, it is likely to overshoot so as to greatly exceed the target temperature, and then, when controlling the temperature of the heat medium to the target temperature, hunting is likely to occur. On the other hand, in the above hot water heater, when the temperature of the heat medium is equal to or higher than the threshold value at the start of the above supply, the gain of the feedback control is suppressed during a predetermined period after the start of combustion, so it is easy to suppress overshoot after the temperature of the heat medium reaches the target temperature, and it is easy to suppress the occurrence of hunting. Thus, the above hot water heater can more appropriately perform control according to the temperature state of the device at the start of heating in a configuration capable of performing a heating operation of supplying the heated heat medium to the heat dissipation terminal.

[0012] Note that the hot water heater of the above [1] may be configured not to use a sensor for measuring the flow rate of the heat medium. By doing so, the hot water heater can adjust the temperature of the heat medium based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor without using a flow rate sensor for measuring the flow rate of the heat medium, and it is easy to reduce the cost by the amount of omission of the flow rate sensor. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to use the flow rate for calculation and the heating can be adjusted based on the temperature (reference temperature and detected temperature), the arithmetic processing can be easily simplified compared to the case where the heating is adjusted based on both the temperature and the flow rate.

[0013] In the case where the heat dissipation terminal, which is the supply destination of the heat medium from the water heater and heater, is a hot water heating device such as a floor heater, for example, even if there is a slight deviation from the set temperature compared to the hot water on the hot water supply side, the impact on the user is small. Therefore, even if a slight deviation is caused by omitting the flow rate sensor, it is unlikely to cause disadvantage to the user.

[0014] As a method different from the method of the water heater and heater described in [1] above, a method of comparing the indoor temperature or the like with the target temperature and increasing or decreasing the heating rate can be considered. However, in this method, the influence of heat dissipation based on the heated heat medium is difficult to be quickly reflected in the indoor temperature, and it tends to take a long time for the indoor temperature to reach the target temperature. On the other hand, by using a control method of bringing the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circulation path close to the target temperature, such as the above-mentioned water heater and heater, and determining the control amount of the feedback control based on the temperature of the heat medium at the start of the heating operation (when starting the combustion of the burner and starting the supply of the heated heat medium to the heat dissipation terminal), it is easier to make the monitored temperature reach the target temperature more quickly at an appropriate heating rate according to the heat medium temperature at the start.

[0015] 〔2〕 The control unit When the detected temperature is less than the threshold value at the start of the supply, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by the first determination method, and the adjustment unit is controlled in the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature close to the target temperature. When the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the threshold value at the start of the supply, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by the second determination method in which the gain is suppressed compared to the first determination method, and the adjustment unit is controlled in the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature close to the target temperature. Regardless of whether the first determination method or the second determination method is performed, after the detected temperature reaches the target temperature, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by the determination method using the gain used in the predetermined period, and the adjustment unit is controlled so as to bring the detected temperature close to the target temperature. When the burner is extinguished, the gain is reset. The water heating and heating apparatus according to [1].

[0016] When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively low at the start of supply, the water heating and heating apparatus according to [2] uses a first determination method that relatively increases the gain to determine the control amount, so it is easier to reach the target temperature earlier. When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively high at the start of supply, it uses a second determination method that suppresses the gain to determine the control amount, so it is easier to suppress overshoot and hunting. In any case, after reaching the target temperature, feedback control can be continuously and smoothly performed using the gain used during a predetermined period. When extinguishing the burner, the gain is reset, and when igniting the burner next and performing feedback control, it can be updated to an appropriate gain according to the temperature conditions at the new ignition time.

[0017] 〔3〕 The control unit When the detected temperature is less than the threshold value at the start of supply, determines the control amount of the feedback control by the first determination method and controls the adjustment unit in the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature. When the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the threshold value at the start of supply, determines the control amount of the feedback control by a second determination method that determines with a gain suppressed compared to the first determination method and controls the adjustment unit in the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature. After the detected temperature reaches the target temperature, determines the control amount of the feedback control by another determination method that increases the gain compared to the second determination method and controls the adjustment unit so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature. The water heating and heating apparatus according to [1].

[0018] When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively low at the start of supply, the hot water heater of [3] above uses a first determination method that relatively increases the gain to determine the control amount, so it is easier to reach the target temperature more quickly. When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively high at the start of supply, since a second determination method that suppresses the gain to determine the control amount is used, overshoot and hunting are easily suppressed. And when using the second determination method that determines by suppressing the gain, since it is possible to switch to another determination method that increases the gain after reaching the target temperature, it is possible to control the heat medium temperature to approach the target temperature with good responsiveness after reaching the target temperature.

[0019] 〔4〕The heat dissipation terminal includes a first heat dissipation terminal and a second heat dissipation terminal. As the heat exchanger, a first heat exchanger to which the exhaust gas generated by the burner is supplied and a second heat exchanger to which the exhaust gas after passing through the first heat exchanger is supplied are provided. The temperature sensor includes a first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium that has passed through the first heat exchanger and a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium that has passed through the second heat exchanger. The detected temperature is the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. The hot water heater according to any one of [1] to [3].

[0020] 〔5〕The control unit determines the gas supply amount based on fuzzy inference using the temperature difference between the detected temperature and the target temperature and the temporal slope of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The hot water heater according to any one of [1] to [4].

[0021] Generally, in PID control etc., a precise control amount is calculated by mathematical processing, but there is a problem that the burden of arithmetic processing increases when the control factors are increased to cope with various situations. According to the configuration of [5] above, since fuzzy inference is used, it is possible to perform control corresponding to various situations and reduce the burden of arithmetic processing.

[0022] 〔6〕The fuzzy inference determines the gas supply amount based on a membership function table associated with the temperature difference and the slope, and a table of the operation amount corresponding to the temperature difference and the slope based on the membership function table. The water heater according to 〔5〕.

[0023] With the configuration of 〔5〕 above, the configuration for determining the gas supply amount can be simplified.

[0024] 〔7〕The burner includes a multi-stage burner unit. The control unit changes the combustion stage in the burner unit according to the gas supply amount. The water heater according to any one of 〔1〕 to 〔6〕.

[0025] <First Embodiment> The following description relates to the water heater 1 according to the first embodiment. 1. Overall Configuration of the Water Heater 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of the water heater 1. The water heater 1 mainly includes a hot water supply circuit 2, a heating circuit 3, a bath circuit 4, etc., and is a device capable of performing hot water supply operation, automatic water filling operation, supplementary heating operation, heating operation, etc.

[0026] The water heater 1 is provided with a housing 1A configured as a metal casing in the housing, and a first combustion system 5 and a second combustion system 6 are configured inside the housing 1A. The housing 1A is configured as, for example, a metal can body or a metal box body, and is configured to accommodate a hot water supply burner 8A, a heating burner 33A which is an example of a burner, a hot water supply side heat exchanger 7, a heating side heat exchanger 32, etc. The first combustion system 5 is a combustion system that performs gas combustion and water heating when the hot water supply circuit 2 performs a hot water supply operation. The second combustion system 6 is a combustion system that performs gas combustion and water heating during heating operation or supplementary heating operation.

[0027] The hot water supply circuit 2 is a circuit that heats the water supplied from the outside of the hot water supply and heating unit 1 by the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 to supply hot water. The hot water supply circuit 2 includes a first combustion system unit 5, and specifically includes a plurality of hot water supply burners 8A and a hot water supply side heat exchanger 7. A hot water supply combustion chamber 5A is provided in the first combustion system unit 5, and a hot water supply side burner unit 8 and a hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 are provided in the hot water supply combustion chamber 5A. The hot water supply side burner unit 8 includes burner blocks 9A, 9B, and 9C, and each of the burner blocks 9A, 9B, and 9C includes a plurality of hot water supply burners 8A. Each of the plurality of hot water supply burners 8A is configured as a gas burner that burns gas.

[0028] The hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 is a heat exchanger that is heated by the exhaust gas generated by the hot water supply burner 8A. The hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 includes a hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A and a hot water supply side second heat exchanger 7B. The hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A has a plurality of fins 7Z. The first combustion system unit 5 is provided with the hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A above the plurality of hot water supply burners 8A, and the hot water supply side second heat exchanger 7B is provided above the hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A. A pipeline 7C is connected between the downstream end of the hot water supply side second heat exchanger 7B and the upstream end of the hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A, and the hot water flowing through the hot water supply side second heat exchanger 7B flows through the pipeline 7C to the hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A. The hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 heats the water passing through the inside by the exhaust gas (combustion exhaust gas) generated by burning gas with the plurality of hot water supply burners 8A. The hot water supply side first heat exchanger 7A recovers sensible heat from the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the hot water supply side burner unit 8, and the hot water supply side second heat exchanger 7B recovers latent heat from the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the hot water supply side burner unit 8.

[0029] The hot water supply circuit 2 further includes a water supply pipe 11, a control valve 13A, a water flow sensor 14, a hot water outlet pipe 10, a bypass pipe 12, a control valve 13B, a thermistor 15A (hot water supply inner cylinder thermistor), a thermistor 15B (hot water supply and outlet thermistor), etc. A water supply pipe 11 is connected to the inlet of the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7. The water supply pipe 11 is connected to an external pipe and is configured as a pipe that introduces tap water from, for example, a water supply and flows this tap water toward the upstream end (inlet) of the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7. The water flow sensor 14 is a sensor that detects the flow rate of water flowing through the water supply pipe 11. The control valve 13A is a valve for controlling the flow rate of water flowing through the water supply pipe 11 and is a valve that changes the opening degree of the water supply pipe 11 by control. A hot water outlet pipe 10 is connected to the downstream end (outlet) of the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7. The hot water outlet pipe 10 is a pipe through which the hot water heated by the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 flows. The hot water outlet pipe 10 forms a path for discharging the hot water heated by the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 outside the appliance.

[0030] A bypass pipe 12 is connected between the water supply pipe 11 and the hot water outlet pipe 10 so as to bypass the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7. A control valve 13B (bypass control valve) is provided in the bypass pipe 12. The control valve 13B is a valve for controlling the flow rate of water flowing through the bypass pipe 12 and is specifically configured as a valve that changes the opening degree of the bypass pipe 12 by control.

[0031] A thermistor 15A is provided on the upstream side of the connection portion of the bypass pipe 12 in the hot water outlet pipe 10. The thermistor 15A detects the temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7, and specifically detects the hot water temperature near the outlet of the first heat exchanger 7A on the hot water supply side. A thermistor 15B is provided on the downstream side of the connection portion of the bypass pipe 12. The thermistor 15B detects the hot water temperature after mixing of the water from the bypass pipe 12, and specifically detects the temperature of the hot water supplied on the downstream side of the confluence point of the bypass pipe 12 in the hot water outlet pipe 10. The temperatures of the hot water detected by these thermistors 15A and 15B are input to a control device 70 described later.

[0032] The hot water supply circuit 2 further includes a gas pipe 16, a main gas solenoid valve 17, a gas proportional control valve 18, and a switching valve 19. The gas pipe 16 is a pipe that passes the gas supplied from the outside of the hot water supply and heating machine 1 through the gas inlet, and forms a path for supplying gas to the hot water supply burner 8A. A main gas solenoid valve 17 is provided on the upstream side of the gas pipe 16, and a gas proportional control valve 18 is provided on the downstream side of the main gas solenoid valve 17. In the gas pipe 16, the downstream side of the gas proportional control valve 18 (hot water supply gas proportional valve) branches, and branch pipes 16A to each of the burner blocks 9A, 9B, 9C and branch pipes 16B to each of the burner blocks 34A, 34B are provided. Each branch pipe 16A is provided with a switching valve 19 configured as an electromagnetic valve. The switching valve 19 (hot water supply switching solenoid valve) switches the branch pipe 16A between an open state (supply possible state) and a closed state (cut-off state), and the supply and cut-off of the fuel gas to each of the burner blocks 9A, 9B, 9C are individually switched by each switching valve 19. By switching the switching valve 19, the combustion range of the hot water supply side burner unit 8 is switched, and each combustion range is associated as a number of steps.

[0033] The hot water supply circuit 2 further includes a fan 20. The fan 20 has a rotating body 20B that generates wind by its rotation and a drive source 20A that rotates the rotating body 20B. The fan 20 is provided below the hot water supply combustion chamber 5A, and by the operation of the fan 20, combustion air is supplied to each hot water supply burner 8A and the heating burner 33A, and the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the hot water supply side burner unit 8 and the heating side burner unit 33 is discharged from the exhaust port. The hot water supply circuit 2 is also provided with an igniter for ignition, an ignition electrode, a hot water supply flame rod, etc.

[0034] The bath circuit 4 includes a bath circulation path 63 and a bath heating side heat exchanger 50. The bath circulation path 63 forms a flow path configured to circulate the hot water derived from the external bathtub 52 and introduce it into the bathtub 52. The bath heating side heat exchanger 50 is configured as a liquid-liquid heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat medium flowing through the bath heating pipe 51 and the hot water flowing through the bath circulation path 63.

[0035] The bath heating side heat exchanger 50 is provided with a pipe 50A that is a part of the bath circulation path 63, and the bath heating pipe 51 is arranged in the pipe 50A. The bath circulation path 63 is composed of the pipe 50A, the bath supply pipe 53, and the bath return pipe 54. When the bath circulation pump 55 is operating, the bath circulation path 63 functions as a flow path that draws hot water from the bathtub 52 installed outside the hot water heater 1, and functions as a flow path that circulates the drawn hot water and introduces it into the bathtub 52. The bath return pipe 54 is provided with the bath circulation pump 55 that flows the hot water in the bath return pipe 54 in a predetermined direction, and the water flow switch 57 that detects that the hot water is flowing in the bath return pipe 54 at a predetermined flow rate or more. The bath return pipe 54 is provided between the bathtub 52 outside the device and the pipe 50A, and forms a flow path that flows hot water from the bathtub 52 to the pipe 50A when the bath circulation pump 55 is operating. The bath supply pipe 53 is provided between the pipe 50A and the bathtub 52, and forms a flow path that allows hot and cold water to flow from the pipe 50A to the bathtub 52 when the bath circulation pump 55 is operating. The bath supply pipe 53 is provided with a bath supply thermistor 64 that detects the temperature of the hot and cold water flowing out from the bath heating side heat exchanger 50 to the bathtub 52. The bath return pipe 54 is provided with a bath return thermistor 65 that detects the temperature of the hot and cold water flowing from the bathtub 52 to the bath return pipe 54.

[0036] A drop pipe 59 is connected to the bath return pipe 54, branching off from the hot water outlet pipe 10. The drop pipe 59 is connected to the bath return pipe 54. The drop pipe 59 is provided with a hot water supply solenoid valve 60, a drop water volume sensor 61, and multiple check valves 62. When the hot water supply circuit 2 is in operation, the hot water supply solenoid valve 60 provided in the drop pipe 59 is opened, so that hot water heated in the hot water supply circuit 2 is supplied to the bathtub 52 through the drop pipe 59.

[0037] The heating circuit 3 is a circuit that can heat the heat medium by means of the heating-side heat exchanger 32 and supply the heat medium to the heating terminals (heat radiation terminals 39A and 39Z) via the heat medium circulation path 48. In the present embodiment, the heat medium is, for example, hot water. The heating circuit 3 includes a second combustion system unit 6 and a heat medium circulation path 48. The second combustion system unit 6 is provided with a heating combustion chamber 6A, and a heating-side burner unit 33 and a heating-side heat exchanger 32 are provided in the heating combustion chamber 6A. The heating combustion chamber 6A is partitioned from the hot water supply combustion chamber 5A by a partitioning member 80 within the housing 1A, and a combustion chamber internal temperature sensor 82 for detecting the temperature of the heating combustion chamber 6A is provided on the partitioning member 80.

[0038] The heating-side burner unit 33 includes burner blocks 34A and 34B, and each of the burner blocks 34A and 34B includes a plurality of heating burners 33A. Each of the plurality of heating burners 33A is configured as a gas burner that burns gas.

[0039] The heating-side heat exchanger 32 is a heat exchanger heated by the exhaust gas generated by the heating burner 33A. Specifically, it is a device that acts to heat the heat medium passing through its interior by the combustion exhaust gas of the heating burner 33A. The heating-side heat exchanger 32 includes a first heating-side heat exchanger 32A and a second heating-side heat exchanger 32B. The first heating-side heat exchanger 32A has a plurality of fins 32Z. In the second combustion system unit 6, the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A is provided above the plurality of heating burners 33A, and the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B is provided above the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A. The heating-side heat exchanger 32 heats the heat medium passing through its interior by the exhaust gas (combustion exhaust gas) generated by burning gas with the plurality of heating burners 33A. The first heating-side heat exchanger 32A recovers sensible heat from the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the heating-side burner unit 33, and the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B recovers latent heat from the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the heating-side burner unit 33.

[0040] The heat medium circulation path 48 is a path for circulating the heat medium so as to pass through the heating-side heat exchanger 32, and forms the flow path of the heat medium. The heat medium circulation path 48 includes a first internal flow path 38A as a heating high-temperature forward pipe, a second internal flow path 38B as a heating low-temperature forward pipe, and a common return flow path 38C as a heating return pipe.

[0041] When the first heat dissipation terminal 39A as a heating terminal is connected as shown in FIG. 1, the heat medium circulation path 48 is configured such that the heat medium circulates through the common forward flow path 38K, the first internal flow path 38A, the first terminal flow path 38G of the first heat dissipation terminal 39A, and the common return flow path 38C. When the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z as a heating terminal is connected as shown in FIG. 1, the heat medium circulation path 48 is configured such that the heat medium circulates through the common forward flow path 38K, the second internal flow path 38B, the second terminal flow path 38H of the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z, and the common return flow path 38C.

[0042] The heating circuit 3 further includes an expansion tank 36, a heating circulation pump 37, a heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40, and a heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41. The first internal flow path 38A is configured to communicate with the first heat dissipation terminal 39A and is connected to the first heat dissipation terminal 39A outside the appliance. The common return flow path 38C is a pipe for flowing the heat medium discharged from the first heat dissipation terminal 39A and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z through the heating-side heat exchanger 32 (the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B). The common return flow path 38C is configured to communicate with the first heat dissipation terminal 39A and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z and is connected to the first heat dissipation terminal 39A and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z outside the appliance. Between the outlet of the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B and the inlet of the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A, there are an intermediate pipe 38D which is a part of the common return flow path 38C, and an intermediate pipe 38E which is a part of the common return flow path 38C and the first internal flow path 38A. An expansion tank 36 and a heating circulation pump 37 are provided in the paths of the intermediate pipes 38D and 38E. The intermediate pipe 38D is provided between the outlet of the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B and the expansion tank 36, and the intermediate pipe 38E is provided between the expansion tank 36 and the inlet of the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A. A heating circulation pump 37 is provided in the middle of the intermediate pipe 38E.

[0043] The second internal flow path 38B is provided in a configuration where a plurality of internal branch paths 38F branch off. A second valve 39G is provided in each internal branch path 38F as a valve for opening and closing each branch path 39F. In the example of FIG. 1, one internal branch path 38F communicates with the second heat radiation terminal 39Z and is connected to the second heat radiation terminal 39Z outside the appliance. The downstream sides of the first heat radiation terminal 39A and the second heat radiation terminal 39Z communicate with a common return flow path 38C. The first heat radiation terminal 39A is, for example, a high-temperature heating terminal such as a heating blower that blows out warm air in a bathroom or a dressing room. The second heat radiation terminal 39Z is, for example, a low-temperature heating terminal such as floor heating in a dressing room.

[0044] The heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 is provided in the first internal flow path 38A on the outlet side of the heating-side heat exchanger 32, and detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the heating-side heat exchanger 32 (specifically, the heat medium flowing out from the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A). The temperature detected by the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 corresponds to the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the first heat radiation terminal 39A during the circulation of the heat medium passing through the first heat radiation terminal 39A. The heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 is provided in the expansion tank 36. The temperature detected by the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 corresponds to the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the second heat radiation terminal 39Z during the circulation of the heat medium passing through the second heat radiation terminal 39Z.

[0045] The heating circuit 3 includes a plurality of branch pipes 16B and a plurality of heating electromagnetic control valves 44 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as control valves 44). As described above, the branch pipes 16B are provided in a configuration branched from the gas pipe 16 to the heating circuit 3 side. Each heating electromagnetic control valve 44 is provided in each branch pipe 16B. The heating electromagnetic control valve 44 is configured to switch the branch pipe 16B in which it is provided between an open state (supply possible state) and a closed state (shut-off state). The supply and shut-off of the fuel gas to each of the burner blocks 34A, 34B are individually switched by each heating electromagnetic control valve 44. By adjusting the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 along with the opening and closing of the heating electromagnetic control valve 44, the supply amount of the combustion gas is adjusted. By switching the heating electromagnetic control valve 44, the combustion range of the heating-side burner unit 33 is switched, and each combustion range is associated as a number of steps. Note that the heating circuit 3 is also provided with an ignition electrode, a heating frame rod, and the like.

[0046] In the heating circuit 3, due to the operation of the heating circulation pump 37, the hot water heated by the heating side heat exchanger 32 circulates through the heat medium circulation path 48. Specifically, in the heating circuit 3, when the heating circulation pump 37 operates, the hot water flowing through the heat medium circulation path 48 is heated by the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the heating side burner unit 33 in the heating side heat exchanger 32, and circulates through the common return flow path 38C, the first internal flow path 38A, and the first heat dissipation terminal 39A, and also circulates through the common return flow path 38C, the second internal flow path 38B, and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z. In the example of FIG. 1, the first heat dissipation terminal 39A is configured as a high-temperature heating terminal, and hot water is supplied to the first heat dissipation terminal 39A according to the operation of the first valve 39H which is a built-in thermostatic valve. The second heat dissipation terminal 39Z is configured as a low-temperature heating terminal, and hot water is supplied to the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z according to the operation of the second valve 39G which is a thermostatic valve inside the appliance.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the bath heating pipe 51 is provided in a configuration branched from the first internal flow path 38A. The bath heating pipe 51 branches from a position on the downstream side of the heating side heat exchanger 32 in the heat medium circulation path 48 (specifically, on the downstream side of the first heating side heat exchanger 32A), and forms a flow path for guiding the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circulation path 48 to the bath heating side heat exchanger 50 side. The bath heating pipe 51 is connected between the first internal flow path 38A and the common return flow path 38C so as to communicate with each other.

[0048] The control valve 58 is a valve provided on the upstream side of the bath heating side heat exchanger 50 in the bath heating pipe 51. The control valve 58 is configured to open and close the bath heating pipe 51, and is configured to switch between a closed state in which the water flow passing through itself in the bath heating pipe 51 is blocked, and an open state in which the water flow passing through itself in the bath heating pipe 51 is allowed. The control valve 58 has a switch. This switch is configured as a limit switch, and when the control valve 58 is in the fully open state where it is most open, it enters a first state in which a predetermined first signal (for example, an on signal) is output, and when the control valve 58 is in the fully closed state where it is blocked, it enters a second state in which a second signal (for example, an off signal) different from the first signal is output.

[0049] The hot water supply and heating apparatus 1 further includes a control device 70, a hot water supply remote controller 71, a bath remote controller 72, a heating remote controller 73, and a room temperature thermistor (not shown). The control device 70 corresponds to an example of the control device 70 (control unit), and is an electronic control device including an information processing device such as a CPU, a memory such as a semiconductor memory device, an interface circuit, etc., and functions as a controller for performing various controls. Various programs, data tables, set values, etc. are stored in the above memory. The control device 70 is configured to be able to acquire signals from various sensors and switches (thermistor, water volume sensor, switch, etc.), and controls a hot water supply circuit 2, a heating circuit 3, a bath circuit 4, etc. The above room temperature thermistor is provided, for example, in the dressing room as a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the dressing room. 2. Basic operations of the hot water supply and heating apparatus 1 (Normal hot water supply operation) When a hot water supply faucet provided outside the apparatus to communicate with the hot water outlet pipe 10 is opened and water flows into the apparatus, and the water volume sensor 14 outputs a signal indicating water flow, the control device 70 rotates the fan 20 for a predetermined time to discharge the combustion exhaust gas stored in the hot water supply combustion chamber 5A (purging). Thereafter, the control device 70 opens the main gas solenoid valve 17 and each switching valve 19 of the gas pipe 16, and opens the gas proportional control valve 18 at a predetermined opening degree, and controls to supply gas to each hot water supply burner 8A, and operates the igniter to ignite the hot water supply burner 8A. When gas is burned by the hot water supply burner 8A by such control, the water passing through the hot water supply side heat exchanger 7 is heated by the combustion exhaust gas generated by the combustion and the hot water outlet operation is performed so as to flow to the hot water outlet pipe 10, and the heated hot water is discharged from the above hot water supply faucet.

[0050] During the above hot water discharging operation, the control device 70 monitors the hot water temperature detected by the thermistor 15B provided in the hot water discharge pipe 10, and controls the opening and closing of the switching valve 19 and adjusts the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 so that the hot water temperature becomes the set temperature instructed by the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bath remote control 72. At the same time, the air volume is continuously changed by controlling the rotation speed of the fan 20. When the hot water supply faucet is closed during the above-described hot water discharging operation and the signal output by the water volume sensor 14 becomes a signal indicating a water flow stop state, the control device 70 closes the original gas solenoid valve 17 and the switching valve 19 to extinguish the hot water supply burner 8A, and rotates the fan 20 for a predetermined time to perform post-purge.

[0051] (Automatic water filling operation) The control device 70 can perform control to automatically fill the bathtub 52 with hot water. For example, when the water filling switch provided on the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bath remote control 72 is pressed, the control device 70 sets the hot water temperature to the water filling temperature set on the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bath remote control 72 as the target temperature TG (for example, 40 ° C) and starts water filling. Specifically, the control device 70 opens the electromagnetic valve 60 for hot water supply in the drop pipe 59 to put the hot water supply circuit 2 into a water flow state, and burns the hot water supply burner 8A so that the heated hot water flows into the hot water discharge pipe 10. The hot water flowing through the hot water discharge pipe 10 in this way is supplied to the bathtub 52 through the drop pipe 59 and the bath return pipe 54.

[0052] After the control device 70 starts supplying hot water to the bathtub 52 in this way, it monitors whether the water volume (total water volume since the start of automatic water filling) detected by the drop water volume sensor 61 provided in the drop pipe 59 has reached the set water volume. When it is confirmed that the water volume has reached the set water volume, the control device 70 closes the electromagnetic valve 60 for hot water supply to stop the water flow, extinguishes the hot water supply burner 8A, and ends the water filling. Thereafter, the control device 70 operates the bath circulation pump 55 to circulate the hot water in the bathtub 52 in the bath circuit 4. When the water filling is finished, the control device 70 notifies the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bath remote control 72 of the end of the water filling.

[0053] (Automatic reheating operation) The control device 70 can perform control to automatically reheat (boil up) the water stored in the bathtub 52. For example, when the reheat switch provided on the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bathtub remote control 72 is pressed, the control device 70 sets the reheat temperature to the target temperature (e.g., 40°C) set on the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bathtub remote control 72 and starts the reheat. Specifically, the control device 70 ignites the heating burner 33A, opens the control valve 58, operates the bathtub circulation pump 55, and performs reheat by heating with the bathtub heating side heat exchanger 50 while circulating the hot water in the bathtub 52. After starting such reheat, the control device 70 monitors whether the hot water temperature detected by the bathtub return thermistor 65 has reached the target temperature. When it is confirmed that the target temperature has been reached, the control device 70 extinguishes the heating burner 33A, stops the bathtub circulation pump 55, and ends the reheat. When the control device 70 ends the reheat, it notifies the hot water supply remote control 71 or the bathtub remote control 72 of the end of the reheat.

[0054] 3. External Configuration of the Hot Water Supply and Heating Machine 1 The hot water supply and heating machine 1 shunts and supplies the heat medium to the external first heat dissipation terminal 39A and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z, and constitutes a hot water supply system while being connected to the first heat dissipation terminal 39A and the second heat dissipation terminal 39Z.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the downstream end of the common return flow path 38C in the heat medium circulation path 48 is a branch portion 38J, and the downstream side of the branch portion 38J branches into a first internal flow path 38A and a second internal flow path 38B. The downstream end of the first internal flow path 38A is a first outflow portion 35B that can be connected to the outside and through which the heat medium flows out, and the downstream end of the second internal flow path 38B is a second outflow portion 35C that can be connected to the outside and through which the heat medium flows out. Further, the upstream end of the common return flow path 38C is an inflow portion 35A that can be connected to the outside and through which the heat medium flows in.

[0056] Outside the water heater and heater 1, a first heat radiating terminal 39A and a second heat radiating terminal 39Z are provided, to which the heat medium is supplied from the water heater and heater 1 and which communicate with the heat medium circulation path 48. The first heat radiating terminal 39A has a first terminal flow path 38G through which the heat medium flows, and radiates the heat of the heat medium flowing through the first terminal flow path 38G. The second heat radiating terminal 39Z has a second terminal flow path 38H through which the heat medium flows, and radiates the heat of the heat medium flowing through the second terminal flow path 38H. The downstream end of the first terminal flow path 38G and the downstream end of the second terminal flow path 38H are connectable so as to communicate with the inflow portion 35A of the water heater and heater 1. The inflow portion 35A is an inlet through which the heat medium that has flowed through the first terminal flow path 38G and the heat medium that has flowed through the second terminal flow path 38H flow in. The first outflow portion 35B is an outlet through which the heat medium flows out from the first internal flow path 38A to the first terminal flow path 38G, and the second outflow portion 35C is an outlet through which the heat medium flows out from the second internal flow path 38B to the second terminal flow path 38H.

[0057] The supply of the heat medium to the first terminal flow path 38G is switched between a state of blocking the supply of the heat medium and a state of permitting the supply by opening and closing the first valve 39H. The supply of the heat medium to the second terminal flow path 38H is switched between a state of blocking the supply of the heat medium and a state of permitting the supply by opening and closing the second valve 39G. Both the first valve 39H and the second valve 39G are thermostatic valves. The thermostatic valve, for example, expands the expansion body with the heat of a heating element (Positive Temperature Coefficient) when the power is turned on, pushes the piston to open the valve so that hot water can flow, and when the power is turned off, the heating element radiates heat naturally to contract the expansion body and close the valve.

[0058] The heat medium that has flowed into the inflow portion 35A circulates through the heat medium circulation path 48 in the water heater and heater 1. Specifically, the heat medium flows from the inflow portion 35A into the common return flow path 38C, and moves downstream by the power of the heating circulation pump 37 in the common return flow path 38C. After the heat medium is heated by the second heating-side heat exchanger 32B in the middle of the common return flow path 38C, it passes through the expansion tank 36 and is divided at the branch portion 38J into the heat medium going to the first internal flow path 38A and the heat medium going to the second internal flow path 38B. The heat medium flowing through the first internal flow path 38A is heated by the first heating-side heat exchanger 32A on the way.

[0059] The refrigerant flowing through the first internal flow path 38A flows out toward the first terminal flow path 38G with the first outflow portion 35B as the outlet. The refrigerant flowing through the second internal flow path 38B flows out the heat medium toward the second terminal flow path 38H with the second outflow portion 35C as the outlet.

[0060] The first valve 39H that opens and closes the first terminal flow path 38G, the second valve 39G that opens and closes the second internal flow path 38B, and the heating circulation pump 37 are controlled by the control device 70. The control device 70 is connected to each of the first valve 39H, the second valve 39G, and the heating circulation pump 37 via a wired or wireless signal line, and performs opening and closing control of the first valve 39H and the second valve 39G, and drive control of the heating circulation pump 37.

[0061] 4. Combustion operation of the hot water supply and heating machine 1 When the heating circuit 3 performs a heating operation, the control device 70 calculates the required combustion amount required by the heating side burner unit 33 according to the temperature of the hot water detected by the temperature sensors 40 and 41, and controls the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 and the opening and closing of the switching valve 19 so that the obtained required combustion amount is obtained, thereby adjusting the gas supply amount GS. The gas proportional control valve 18 and the switching valve 19 correspond to an example of the adjustment unit. The gas supply amount GS is the "combustion amount" and the "input required amount". The fan 20 controls the target rotation speed so that the supply amount of combustion air corresponds to the gas supply amount GS. The control of the fan rotation speed is executed according to an arithmetic formula or a table that defines the correspondence between the gas supply amount GS (combustion amount) and the fan rotation speed.

[0062] Similarly, when the hot water supply circuit 2 performs a hot water supply operation, the required combustion amount required by the hot water supply side burner unit 8 is calculated by a known method according to the temperature of the hot water detected by the thermistors 15A and 15B, and the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 and the opening and closing of the switching valve 19 are controlled so that the obtained required combustion amount is obtained, thereby adjusting the gas supply amount GS. Then, the target rotation speed of the fan 20 is controlled so that the supply amount of combustion air corresponds to the gas supply amount GS.

[0063] The burner blocks 34A and 34B each consist of a plurality of heating burners 33A with different numbers. The number of heating burners 33A in the burner block 34B is larger than that in the burner block 34A. In the heating-only control that controls the heating operation without performing the hot water supply operation, the control device 70 controls the combustion of the burner block 34A with the minimum number of heating burners 33A in one stage according to the gas supply amount GS, then controls the combustion of the burner block 34B with a larger number of heating burners 33A than the burner block 34A in two stages, and controls the simultaneous combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B in three stages, and executes switching control to switch the combustion stage (hereinafter also referred to as the combustion step) of the heating-side burner unit 33 in three steps according to the required gas supply amount GS. Information on the corresponding relationship of each combustion step is stored in the memory of the control device 70 as an arithmetic expression or a table for determining the target rotation speed based on the gas supply amount GS. Similarly, for the hot water supply circuit 2, switching control is executed to switch the combustion stage of the hot water supply-side burner unit 8 in five steps by burner blocks 9A, 9B, and 9C with different numbers of hot water supply burners 8A according to the required gas supply amount GS.

[0064] 5. Configuration for Controlling Gas Supply Amount in Heating Circuit Information on the detected temperature TA detected by the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40, which corresponds to an example of a temperature sensor, is input to the control device 70 and can be stored in, for example, the memory.

[0065] In addition, in the memory of the control device 70, in addition to the overall gain, membership function table (Figure 2), and operation amount table (Figure 3) for calculating the increase and decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS described later, the target temperature TG (for example, the target temperature input by the heating remote controller 73, which corresponds to an example of an operation unit) is stored. The overall gain includes the value of the cold determination gain when the detected temperature TA is low and the value of the hot determination gain when the detected temperature TA is high. In the representative example described below, the value of the cold determination gain is 70, and the value of the hot determination gain is 20. Also, in the memory of the control device 70, the relationship between the gas supply amount GS and the number of stages of the heating burner 33A (Figure 4) is stored.

[0066] The control device 70 controls the heating temperature of the heating by adjusting the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS based on the detected temperature TA of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40, the target temperature TG, the overall gain, etc.

[0067] Specifically, the control device 70 is configured to calculate the gas supply amount GS at short time intervals, and calculates the increase / decrease amount INP with respect to the gas supply amount GS calculated in the previous operation by the formula INP = GA·GB [kcal / h]. INP is the increase / decrease amount of the gas supply amount, GA is the overall gain, and GB is a value determined by the operation amount table. For example, when temperature detection by the temperature sensor is performed at a cycle of 0.1 seconds, the gas supply amount GS is calculated in units of 0.1 seconds. When calculating the current gas supply amount GS at a certain timing, the current increase / decrease amount INP is obtained by the formula INP = GA·GB [kcal / h], and the current gas supply amount GS is calculated by adding the current increase / decrease amount INP to the gas supply amount GS obtained previously.

[0068] The control device 70 controls the number of stages and combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B according to the relationship between the gas supply amount GS and the number of stages in the heating burner 33A shown in FIG. 4. For example, when the required gas supply amount GS is the minimum gas supply amount GS0, the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B is set to the above-mentioned 1st stage (heating 1st stage). When the required gas supply amount GS (calculated gas supply amount) does not exceed GS12 while the control device 70 sets the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B to the above-mentioned 1st stage (heating 1st stage), it maintains the heating at the 1st stage. When the required gas supply amount GS (calculated gas supply amount) exceeds GS12 while the control device 70 sets the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B to the above-mentioned 1st stage (heating 1st stage), the control device 70 switches the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B from the 1st stage (heating 1st stage) to the 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage). When the required gas supply amount GS (calculated gas supply amount) exceeds GS23 while the control device 70 sets the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B to the above-mentioned 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage), the control device 70 switches the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B from the 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage) to the 3rd stage (heating 3rd stage). When the required gas supply amount GS (calculated gas supply amount) becomes less than GS32 while the control device 70 sets the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B to the above-mentioned 3rd stage (heating 3rd stage), the control device 70 switches the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B from the 3rd stage (heating 3rd stage) to the 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage). When the required gas supply amount GS (calculated gas supply amount) becomes less than GS21 while the control device 70 sets the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B to the above-mentioned 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage), the control device 70 switches the combustion of the burner blocks 34A and 34B from the 2nd stage (heating 2nd stage) to the 1st stage (heating 1st stage).

[0069] Note that GS0 < GS21 < GS12 < GS32 < GS23 < GSM [cal / h], and GS21 ≠ GS12, GS32 ≠ GS23 are set so that the combustion stage is not repeatedly switched due to the increase or decrease of the gas supply amount GS immediately after the combustion stage is switched.

[0070] 6. Control of Gas Supply Amount by Control Device When a predetermined start condition is satisfied, the control device 70 executes the control shown in FIG. 5. The predetermined start condition may be that power is supplied to the control device 70, that power of the hot water heating machine 1 is turned on, or other conditions.

[0071] When the control device 70 starts the control shown in FIG. 5, it determines whether or not the operation start condition of the heating circuit 3 is satisfied in step S11. The operation start condition of the heating circuit 3 is a condition for starting the circulation of the heat medium by igniting the heating burner 33A from a state where none of the heating burners 33A are ignited. For example, it may be that the user has performed a predetermined operation (for example, an operation to start heating using the heating remote controller 73), or other conditions. When the control device 70 determines in step S11 that the operation start condition of the heating circuit 3 is not satisfied (No in step S11), it repeats the determination in step S11 until it determines that the operation start condition of the heating circuit 3 is satisfied. When the control device 70 determines in step S11 that the operation start condition of the heating circuit 3 is satisfied (Yes in step S11), it proceeds to step S12.

[0072] The control device 70 determines whether or not the detected temperature TA detected by the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 in step S12 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value TH (that is, whether or not the temperature difference between the detected temperature TA and the target temperature is equal to or less than a certain value). The threshold value TH is a value that serves as a boundary at which the set value (gain) for changing the increase or decrease amount of the gas supply rate (gas supply amount per unit time) changes. An appropriate threshold value TH is appropriately set so as to suppress the occurrence of overshoot and hunting as much as possible and so that the time required to reach the target temperature TG is not too long.

[0073] When the control device 70 determines in step S12 that the detected temperature TA is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value TH (Yes in step S12), it proceeds to step S13 and sets the gain GA, which is the value of the first degree of change for determining the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS, to "20" so as to reduce the degree of increase / decrease of the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS. When the control device 70 determines in step S12 that the detected temperature TA is lower than the predetermined threshold value TH (No in step S12), it proceeds to step S19 and sets the gain GA to "70" so as to increase the degree of increase / decrease of the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS. In the present embodiment, the method of setting the gain GA to "70" is an example of the "first determination method", and the method of setting the gain GA to "20" is an example of the "second determination method of determining with a gain suppressed compared to the first determination method".

[0074] After step S13 or step S19, in step S14, the control device 70 calculates the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS by the formula INP = GA·GB. GB is the value of the second degree of change for determining the increase / decrease amount INP. In the representative example described below, for GB, the value extracted using the membership function table and the operation amount table using fuzzy inference as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used. In FIGS. 2 and 3, X' = TA - TG and Y' = (TA - TA1) / T0.

[0075] Here, each value is as follows. X': Deviation between the detected temperature TA of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 and the target temperature TG Y': Temporal increase / decrease slope of the detected temperature TA of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 TA: Detected temperature of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 TA1: Detected temperature of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 at the previous time (before a predetermined time) TG: Target temperature T0: Time between the detection timings of the current detected temperature TA and the previous detected temperature TA1

[0076] Note that the slope Y’ of the temporal increase or decrease of the detected temperature TA is not limited to the above formula. For example, it may be set as Y’ = dTA / dt, and the slope of the detected temperature TA may be obtained by differentiation with respect to time.

[0077] For example, when the current detected temperature TA is 20°C, the previous detected temperature TA1 is 19°C, the target temperature TG is 28°C, and T0 is 1 second, the difference between the current detected temperature TA and the target temperature TG is -8°C. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, since X’ = -8, X’ → “-A’”, and since TA - TA1 = 1 and Y’ = 1.0, Y’ → “B’”.

[0078] Next, according to the operation amount table in Fig. 3, since X’ → “-A’” and Y’ → “B’” obtained by the above calculation, according to Fig. 3, it becomes “-7”. Therefore, GB = -7. For GA, for example, when the threshold value TH = 17, since the detected temperature TA > TH, the overall gain GA = 20. Therefore, the increase or decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS = GA·GB = 20×(-7) = -140 [kcal / h].

[0079] Also, for example, when the current detected temperature TA is 10°C, the previous detected temperature TA1 is 9°C, the target temperature TG is 28°C, and T0 is 1 second, the difference between the current detected temperature TA and the target temperature TG is -18°C. Therefore, since X’ = -18, X’ → “-C’”, and since TA - TA1 = 1 and Y’ = 1.0, Y’ → “B’”.

[0080] Next, according to the operation amount table in Fig. 3, since X’ → “-C’” and Y’ → “B’” obtained by the above calculation, according to Fig. 3, it becomes “7”. Therefore, GB = 7. For GA, for example, when the threshold value TH = 17, since TA < TH, the overall gain GA = 70. Therefore, the increase or decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS = GA·GB = 70×7 = 490 [kcal / h].

[0081] After calculating the increase / decrease amount INP of the gas supply amount GS in step S14, the control device 70 controls the adjustment unit (the gas proportional adjustment valve 18 and the adjustment valve 44) in step S15 to supply the gas with the gas supply amount GS (the current gas supply amount GS) obtained by adding the increase / decrease amount INP calculated in step S14 to the previous gas supply amount GS.

[0082] For example, when the increase / decrease amount obtained in step S14 is -140 [kcal / h], the control device 70 controls the opening degree of the gas proportional adjustment valve 18 and the opening / closing of the heating electromagnetic adjustment valve 44 so that the current gas supply amount decreases by 140 [kcal / h] with respect to the previous (predetermined time before) gas supply amount GS1. Alternatively, when the increase / decrease amount obtained in step S14 is 490 [kcal / h], the control device 70 controls the opening degree of the gas proportional adjustment valve 18 and the opening / closing of the heating electromagnetic adjustment valve 44 so that the current gas supply amount increases by 490 [kcal / h] with respect to the previous (predetermined time before) gas supply amount.

[0083] By using such a control method, when the gain GA for calculating the increase / decrease amount INP is set to "20" (when the gain is relatively suppressed), the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 and the opening / closing of the heating electromagnetic control valve 44 are controlled so as to relatively decrease the absolute value of the gas supply rate to the heating burner 33A while bringing the detected temperature TA closer to the target temperature TG, thereby enabling control to gently approach the target temperature TG. When the gain GA for calculating the increase / decrease amount INP is set to "70" (when the gain is relatively increased), the opening degree of the gas proportional control valve 18 and the opening / closing of the heating electromagnetic control valve 44 are controlled so as to relatively increase the absolute value of the gas supply rate to the heating burner 33A while bringing the detected temperature TA closer to the target temperature TG, thereby enabling control to approach the target temperature TG more quickly. When controlling the gas supply amount GS in this way, the target rotational speed of the fan 20 is also controlled so as to be the supply amount of combustion air corresponding to the gas supply amount GS, and the stage number (combustion range) of the burner blocks 34A and 34B is controlled by the above-described stage control. After setting GA in step S13 or S19, GA remains constant until the detected temperature TA reaches the target temperature TG, but GB changes according to the detected temperature TA.

[0084] The control device 70 calculates INP in step S14, reflects the INP in step S15, and then determines in step S16 whether the detected temperature TA has reached the target temperature TG. When the control device 70 determines in step S16 that the detected temperature TA has reached the target temperature TG (Yes in step S16), the process proceeds to step S17, and when it determines that it has not reached (No in step S16), the process returns to step S14. Note that the control of steps S14 to S16, which is repeated until the detected temperature TA reaches the target temperature TG in FIG. 5, is an example of feedback control. And the increase / decrease amount INP calculated in step S14 is an example of a control amount.

[0085] The control device 70 determines whether the gain GA = 20. When the gain GA = 20 (Yes in step S17), it proceeds to step S20 and sets the gain GA to XA, which is greater than 20 (the set value). XA may be, for example, 70, or it may be other values. In this example, the case of setting the gain GA to "XA (> 20)" is an example of "another determination method of increasing the gain more than the second determination method". Thereby, the gas supply rate to the heating burner 33A is determined, and the control device 70 can control the control valves 18 and 44 so that the detection temperature TA approaches the target temperature TG by increasing or decreasing the gas supply amount more significantly than before reaching the target temperature TG. After setting the gain GA to XA in step S20, the same processing as in steps S14 and S15 may be repeated every predetermined short time, or other feedback controls may be used.

[0086] When the control device 70 determines in step S17 that the gain GA is not equal to 20 (when the gain GA = 70; No in step S17), it performs a normal heating operation. The normal heating operation may be an operation that repeats the same processing as in steps S14 and S15 every predetermined short time after setting the gain GA to the above-mentioned XA, or other feedback controls may be used.

[0087] 7. Examples of effects In the above-described water heater and space heater 1, when the heating circuit 3 is warm and the temperature of the heat medium is relatively high at the time of starting the combustion of the heating burner 33A in the heating circuit 3, if the absolute value of the gas supply rate is increased too much after the start of combustion of the heating circuit 3 to promote the heating of the heating burner 33A, after the temperature of the heat medium reaches the target temperature TG, it is likely to overshoot so as to greatly exceed the target temperature TG, and then, when controlling the temperature of the heat medium to the target temperature TG, hunting is likely to occur. On the other hand, when the heating circuit 3 is warm and the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path 48 is higher than or equal to the threshold value TH, the water heater and space heater 1 reduces the gain during a predetermined period after starting the combustion of the heating burner 33A, thereby reducing the absolute value of the gas supply rate to the heating burner 33A. Therefore, overshoot after the temperature of the heat medium reaches the target temperature TG can be suppressed, and the occurrence of hunting can be suppressed. Thus, the water heater and space heater 1 can more appropriately perform control according to the temperature state of the device at the start of heating in a configuration capable of performing a heating operation of supplying the heated heat medium to the heat dissipation terminals 39A and 39Z.

[0088] Note that the water heater and space heater 1 may be configured not to use a sensor for measuring the flow rate of the heat medium. By doing so, the water heater and space heater 1 can adjust the temperature of the heat medium based on the temperatures detected by the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 and the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 (temperature sensors) without using a flow rate sensor for measuring the flow rate of the heat medium. As a result, it is easy to reduce the cost by omitting the flow rate sensor. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to use the flow rate for calculation and the heating can be adjusted based on the temperature (reference temperature and detected temperature TA), the arithmetic processing can be easily simplified compared with the case where the heating is adjusted based on both the temperature and the flow rate.

[0089] For the water heater and space heater 1, for example, when the heat dissipation terminals 39A and 39Z, which are the supply destinations of the heat medium from the water heater and space heater 1, are hot water heating devices such as floor heating, even if there is a slight deviation from the set temperature compared with the hot water on the hot water supply side, the influence on the user is small. Therefore, even if a slight deviation is caused by omitting the flow rate sensor, it is unlikely to cause a disadvantage to the user.

[0090] As a method different from the method of the above-described hot water heater 1, a method of comparing the indoor temperature or the like with the target temperature TG to increase or decrease the heating rate can be considered. However, in this method, the influence of heat radiation based on the heated heat medium is not easily reflected quickly in the indoor temperature, and it tends to take a long time until the indoor temperature reaches the target temperature TG. On the other hand, as in the above-described hot water heater 1, by using a control method of bringing the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circulation path 48 close to the target temperature TG, and determining the gas supply rate (heating rate) based on the temperature of the heat medium at the start of the heating operation (when starting the combustion of the heating burner 33A and starting the supply of the heated heat medium to the heat dissipation terminals 39A and 39Z), it is easier to make the monitored temperature reach the target temperature TG at an appropriate heating rate according to the heat medium temperature at the start.

[0091] When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively low at the start of supply, the hot water heater 1 uses the first determination method of determining a large gain, so it is easier to reach the target temperature earlier. When the temperature of the heat medium is relatively high at the start of supply, the second determination method of suppressing the gain is used, so it is easier to suppress overshoot and hunting. And when using the second determination method of suppressing the gain, since it is possible to switch to another determination method of increasing the gain after reaching the target temperature, it is possible to control the heat medium temperature to approach the target temperature with good responsiveness after reaching the target temperature.

[0092] <Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by the above description and drawings. For example, the features of the above-described or below-described embodiments can be combined in any combination within a non-contradictory range. Also, any feature of the above-described or below-described embodiments can be omitted if it is not explicitly stated as essential. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be modified as follows.

[0093] In the above-described embodiment, after determining that the target temperature has been reached in step S16, if a low gain has been used until then (when GA = 20), the gain is increased in step S20. However, this method does not have to be used. For example, in FIG. 5, steps S17 and S20 are omitted. After determining Yes in step S16, the gain determined in either step S13 or S19 (the gain used in step S14) is used as it is in step S18, and feedback control is performed for a predetermined period, and the control amount is determined for each period. In this case, in step S18, a feedback operation is performed at a predetermined period so as to bring the heat medium temperature closer to the target temperature (or maintain it if the heat medium temperature is the target temperature) using the gain used in step S14, and the adjustment unit may be controlled with the control amount calculated for each period. The control device 70 continues such control (control to bring the heat medium temperature closer to the target temperature or maintain it at the target temperature) in step S18, and ends the control of FIG. 5 when the end condition is satisfied (for example, when a stop instruction is given from the remote control, etc.).

[0094] In the example of FIG. 5, the timing to start the operation of the pump 37 by igniting the heating burner 33A from the state where all the heating burners 33A are extinguished may be between steps S11 and S12, immediately before step S14 which is performed first after the control of FIG. 5 starts (immediately after step S13 or step S19), or immediately before step S15 which is performed first after the control of FIG. 5 starts. And in this example, the "predetermined period after starting the combustion of the burner" is the period from when the heating burner 33A is ignited until the detected temperature TA reaches the target temperature TG. Note that the present invention is not limited to this example, and the "predetermined period" may be the period from when the heating burner 33A is ignited until the detected temperature TA reaches a temperature slightly lower than the target temperature TG, the predetermined fixed period before the detected temperature TA reaches the target temperature TG after the heating burner 33A is ignited, or the period until other end conditions are satisfied may be the "predetermined period".

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, the detected temperature TA of the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 as the temperature sensor is compared with the threshold value TH to control the gas supply amount GS, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the detected temperature TA of the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 as the temperature sensor may be compared with the threshold value to control the gas supply amount GS. When comparing the detected temperature TA of the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 with the threshold value, a threshold value (low-temperature threshold value) corresponding to the low detected temperature TA of the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41 may be set. Further, the temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium is not limited to the heating high-temperature temperature sensor 40 or the heating low-temperature temperature sensor 41, and may be another sensor or the like provided in the heat medium circulation path 49. In this case, an appropriate threshold value is appropriately set according to the position of the temperature sensor in the heat medium circulation path 49.

[0096] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed this time, and it is intended that all modifications within the scope shown by the claims or within the scope equivalent to the claims be included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0097] 1: Hot water supply and heating machine 2: Hot water supply circuit 3: Heating circuit 4: Bath circuit 18: Gas proportional control valve (control section) 32: Heating side heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 33A: Heating burner (burner) 39A: First heat dissipation terminal (heat dissipation terminal) 40: Heating high-temperature temperature sensor (temperature sensor) 44: On-off valve (control section) 48: Heat medium circulation path 70: Control device (control section) 73: Heating remote controller (operation section) GS: Gas supply amount INP: Increase / decrease amount of gas supply amount TA: Detected temperature TG: Target temperature TH: Threshold value

Claims

1. A hot water supply circuit that heats water supplied from the outside to supply hot water, a burner that burns gas, a regulator that adjusts the amount of gas supplied to the burner, a heat exchanger heated by the exhaust gas generated by the burner, and a heat medium circulation path that is a path for circulating the heat medium so as to pass through the heat exchanger, and a heating circuit that heats the heat medium by the heat exchanger, having, a hot water supply and heating machine that circulates the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path so as to supply the heat medium that has flowed through the heat medium circulation path to a heat dissipation terminal and cause the heat medium that has flowed through the heat dissipation terminal to flow into the heat medium circulation path, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium in the heat medium circulation path, a control unit that controls the regulator, wherein the control unit performs feedback control to determine the control amount of the regulator so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature based on the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor, when the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor at the start of supply when starting the combustion of the burner and supplying the heat medium heated to the heat dissipation terminal is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control amount of the feedback control is determined in a manner of suppressing the gain more than when it is less than the threshold value during a predetermined period after starting the combustion of the burner Hot water supply and heating machine.

2. The control unit when the detected temperature is less than the threshold value at the start of supply, determines the control amount of the feedback control by a first determination method and controls the regulator during the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature, when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold value at the start of supply, determines the control amount of the feedback control by a second determination method that determines with a gain suppressed more than the first determination method and controls the regulator during the predetermined period so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature, regardless of whether the first determination method or the second determination method is performed, after the detected temperature reaches the target temperature, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by a determination method using the gain used during the predetermined period and the regulator is controlled so as to bring the detected temperature closer to the target temperature, and when extinguishing the burner, the gain is reset The hot water supply and heating machine according to Claim 1.

3. The control unit When the detected temperature is less than the threshold value at the start of the supply, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by the first determination method, and the adjustment unit is controlled in the predetermined period so that the detected temperature approaches the target temperature. When the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the threshold value at the start of the supply, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by a second determination method that determines with a gain suppressed compared to the first determination method, and the adjustment unit is controlled in the predetermined period so that the detected temperature approaches the target temperature. After the detected temperature reaches the target temperature, the control amount of the feedback control is determined by another determination method that increases the gain compared to the second determination method, and the adjustment unit is controlled so that the detected temperature approaches the target temperature. The hot water heater according to claim 1.

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