Hot water heating device

Abstract

To provide a hot water heating device capable of preventing deterioration of comfort during heating operation.SOLUTION: During execution of heating operation, when room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that a detection value of a room temperature sensor 41 is not expected to increase by a predetermined specified amount within a predetermined time, a control unit 19 shortens the predetermined time for increasing a target value of circulating fluid flowing through a floor heating panel 30. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a room temperature is difficult to increase due to factors such as large heat radiation from a room where heating operation is being performed, and the same temperature level continues for a long period of time to prevent the temperature of the circulating fluid circulating through the floor heating panel 30 from increasing, resulting in decrease in heating feeling, and it is thus possible to increase user comfort.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot water heating system that heats a room by supplying heated hot water to a heating terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a hot water heating device that operates a heat source unit so that, when a heating terminal installed in an air-conditioned space performs heating operation, a predetermined target value based on the difference between the value detected by a room temperature sensor and a preset temperature is detected by a heat medium temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the heating terminal, and if the room temperature rise during heating operation is small and continues for more than a predetermined time, the predetermined target value is corrected to increase, thereby increasing the feeling of warmth in the room and improving user comfort (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-74396 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with this conventional system, if it is difficult to raise the room temperature during heating operation due to a large amount of heat radiation from inside the room, for example, a correction is made so that a predetermined target value, which is the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the heating terminal, increases if the room temperature rise remains small for a predetermined period of time or more.However, if it takes a long time for the correction to increase the predetermined target value to be made, the user will have difficulty feeling the rise in room temperature, which reduces comfort, so there was room for improvement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, in claim 1 of the present invention, a heat source device that heats a heat medium, a heating terminal that heats the room by supplying the heat medium heated by the heat source device; a heat medium temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the heating terminal; a room temperature sensor that detects the temperature in a room where the heating terminal is installed; A setting means for setting a set temperature in a room where the heating terminal is installed; a control unit that controls a heating operation to operate the heat source device so that a predetermined target value based on a difference between the set temperature set by the setting means and a detected value by the room temperature sensor is detected by the heat medium temperature detection means, When the control unit determines that the detected value of the room temperature sensor has not reached the set temperature during the heating operation and that a state in which the detected value of the room temperature sensor has not increased by a predetermined range has continued for a predetermined time or more, the control unit corrects the predetermined target value to be higher, a room temperature estimation means for estimating whether the detected value of the room temperature sensor is expected to increase by the predetermined range within the predetermined time period due to the heating operation; When the heating operation is performed, if the room temperature estimation means estimates that the detected value of the room temperature sensor is not expected to increase by the specified range within the specified time, the control unit changes the specified time to be shorter.

[0006] In claim 2, an outside air temperature sensor is provided to detect the outside air temperature, The room temperature estimation means is characterized in that if the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor is below a predetermined value when the heating operation is being performed, it estimates that the detected value of the room temperature sensor is not expected to increase by the predetermined range within the predetermined time period.

[0007] In addition, claim 3 is characterized in that, when the heating operation is performed, the control unit changes the specified time so that it is shorter when the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor is a second specified value that is lower than the first specified value than when the detected value is a first specified value that is lower than the first specified value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this invention, when heating operation is performed, if the room temperature estimation means estimates that the detection value of the room temperature sensor is not expected to increase by a specified amount within a specified time, the control unit changes the specified time to be shorter.Therefore, even if the room temperature is difficult to increase due to a large amount of heat radiation from inside the room, the user can feel the room temperature increase and a decrease in comfort can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing the main units of a hot water heating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating control during heating operation in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart illustrating temperature level correction control during heating operation in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined time period for performing correction control of the temperature level during heating operation in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Example 1 Referring to Fig. 1, the hot water heating device 1 has a heat pump type heat source unit 10, a floor heating panel 30, and a remote control 40. The heat pump type heat source unit 10 is connected by a refrigerant pipe 12 that constitutes a heat pump circuit 11. The floor heating panel 30 as a heating terminal is installed in the air-conditioned space 50 and is connected by a forward pipe 21 and a return pipe 22 that constitute the load side circulation circuit 20. The remote control 40, which serves as a setting means, is installed in the air-conditioned space 50 and is equipped with multiple switches and a screen (not shown). By pressing a switch that corresponds to the user's instructions, the screen display changes, operating the drive unit within the heat pump type heat source unit 10 and bringing it into a state that corresponds to the user's instructions.

[0012] Referring to Figure 2, the heat pump type heat source unit 10 has a circular refrigerant pipe 12 that constitutes a heat pump circuit 11. The refrigerant pipe 12 is provided with a compressor 13 as a drive unit with a variable rotation speed that compresses the refrigerant, an expansion valve 14 as a decompression means that decompresses the refrigerant and as a drive unit, and a heat source side heat exchanger 15 in which the refrigerant flowing inside exchanges heat with air blown by a blower fan 16 as a drive unit, all of which are installed midway through the pipe.

[0013] The heat pump type heat source machine 10 is also equipped with a discharge temperature sensor 17a that detects the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 13, a heat exchanger temperature sensor 17b that detects the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the heat source side heat exchanger 15, an outside air temperature sensor 17c that detects the outside air temperature, and a control unit 19 that is composed of a microcomputer and has a memory unit and a calculation unit.

[0014] The load side circulation circuit 20 is equipped with a load side heat exchanger 23 connected to the refrigerant piping 12 and the supply pipe 21, a load side circulation pump 24 located in the piping and circulating a circulating fluid such as water or antifreeze, a cistern tank 25 capable of storing a predetermined amount of circulating fluid for pressure adjustment, a return temperature sensor 26a as heat transfer medium temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing in the return pipe 22, and a supply temperature sensor 26b for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing in the supply pipe 21.

[0015] The load-side heat exchanger 23 is a plate-type heat exchanger. This plate-type heat exchanger is made up of a plurality of stacked heat transfer plates, with refrigerant flow paths for circulating the refrigerant and fluid flow paths for circulating a fluid such as a circulating liquid alternately formed on either side of each heat transfer plate. This allows heat exchange between the refrigerant and the circulating liquid within the load-side heat exchanger 23.

[0016] The floor heating panel 30 is installed under the floor that constitutes the air-conditioned space 50, and the high-temperature circulating liquid flows inside, thereby enabling floor heating. The floor heating panel 30 is not limited to a single panel, and multiple floor heating panels 30 can be installed by adding additional supply pipes 21 and return pipes 22. When multiple floor heating panels 30 are installed, the user can select the floor heating panel 30 that will perform heating operation using the remote control 40, and multiple floor heating panels 30 can be operated in heating mode simultaneously.

[0017] Refer to Figure 3. The control unit 19 has a room temperature estimation means 19a that estimates whether the detected value of the room temperature sensor 41 can be expected to rise by a predetermined amount within a predetermined time during heating operation in which high-temperature circulating fluid is circulated within the floor heating panel 30 to perform floor heating. The room temperature estimation means 19a estimates whether the room temperature can be expected to rise by a predetermined amount within a predetermined time from the temperature rise in a predetermined time measured by the room temperature sensor 41 during heating operation. Details will be described later.

[0018] The remote control 40 and the control unit 19 are connected by a communication line. The set temperature of the air-conditioned space 50 is set by operating a switch (not shown) on the remote control 40 and is transmitted to the control unit 19, and the control unit 19 operates a drive unit in the heat pump type heat source unit 10 based on the received set temperature. In addition, the remote control 40 has a built-in room temperature sensor 41 that can detect the room temperature in the air-conditioned space 50 in which the floor heating panel 30 is installed, and transmits the detected value from the room temperature sensor 41 to the control unit 19 when heating operation is performed.

[0019] Next, control during heating operation by the floor heating panel 30 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0020] When a user operates an operation switch (not shown) on the remote control 40 to issue a command to start heating operation, the control unit 19 drives the compressor 13 and the blower fan 16 of the heat pump circuit 11, and also drives the load-side circulation pump 24 of the load-side circulation circuit 20. Then, based on the discharge pressure estimated from the detection value of the discharge temperature sensor 17a, the control unit 19 adjusts the opening of the expansion valve 14 to control the refrigerant to flow stably within the heat pump circuit 11.

[0021] As a result, the refrigerant that has been made high temperature and high pressure by the compressor 13 on the heat pump circuit 11 side and the circulating liquid flowing through the load side circulation circuit 20 side exchange heat in the load side heat exchanger 23, heating the circulating liquid. The heated high temperature circulating liquid flows into the floor heating panel 30 via the outgoing pipe 21, and the circulating liquid flows through piping (not shown) installed within the floor heating panel 30. As the high temperature circulating liquid flows through the floor heating panel 30, floor heating is performed, and the temperature of the air-conditioned space 50 in which the floor heating panel 30 is installed rises.

[0022] When heating operation is performed, the control unit 19 checks the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature previously set by the user using a switch (not shown) on the remote control 40 from the detected value, which is the current room temperature of the air-conditioned space 50, detected by the room temperature sensor 41, determines which zone the temperature difference belongs to, and operates the drive unit within the heat pump type heat source unit 10 so that the detected value of the return temperature sensor 26a becomes the target value set for each temperature level in each zone.

[0023] To explain each zone in more detail, zone a is set when the temperature difference between the current room temperature and the set temperature is less than -10, and zone i is set when the temperature difference between the current room temperature and the set temperature is greater than or equal to +1. Zones b through h are set when the temperature difference between the current room temperature and the set temperature is greater than or equal to the lower limit and less than the upper limit for each zone. For example, if the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the current room temperature is -7, the room belongs to zone C and is set at temperature level 7, and the target value of the return temperature sensor 26a is set at x+11.

[0024] The target value x is an arbitrary positive number that is set in advance. As the temperature difference between the current room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 41 and the set temperature increases, the temperature level increases, and the target value of the return temperature sensor 26a is set to increase.

[0025] Furthermore, when the heating operation is being performed and the current room temperature is lower than the set temperature, the control unit 19 counts the time that the same temperature level has continued and determines whether the counted time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. If the control unit 19 determines that the time that the same temperature level has continued is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, it performs correction control to increase the currently set temperature level by one, thereby increasing the target value of the return temperature sensor 26a. As a result, when the rise in room temperature due to heating operation is small and the user does not easily feel the rise in room temperature due to heating operation, the temperature level rises and the target value of the return temperature sensor 26a increases, so the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing within the floor heating panel 30 increases, making it easier for the user to feel the rise in room temperature due to heating operation.

[0026] Next, problems that may occur in the heating operation in the first embodiment will be described.

[0027] When the outdoor temperature is low (for example, below 5°C) during heating operation, the amount of heat dissipated from the room where heating operation is being performed is greater than when the outdoor temperature is high, making it difficult for the room temperature to rise, and the same temperature level continues for a long time.If this occurs, the same temperature level will continue for a predetermined time or longer, and correction control will be implemented to increase the currently set temperature level by one.However, if the predetermined time until correction control to increase the temperature level by one is implemented is uniform, there is a problem.

[0028] In other words, when the outside temperature is low and the room temperature is unlikely to rise, if the current room temperature is lower than the set temperature and the same temperature level continues for a specified period of time without any change, users in the room will not easily notice the rise in room temperature, and the comfort provided by the heating operation will decrease. The present invention relates to a control that aims to prevent a loss of comfort for a user due to the room temperature rise caused by heating operation being less noticeable. Specific control content will be described in detail below.

[0029] Next, details of the control relating to the change of the temperature level during the heating operation in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0030] When the operation switch (not shown) on the remote control 40 is operated to issue an instruction to start heating operation, the control unit 19 determines whether the current room temperature, which is the value detected by the room temperature sensor 41, is lower than the set temperature on the remote control 40 (step S101).If it determines that the current room temperature is lower than the set temperature, it checks the zone to which the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the current room temperature belongs, sets the temperature level for that zone, and operates the drive unit in the heat pump type heat source unit 10 so that the value detected by the return temperature sensor 26a becomes the target value for the set temperature level, and starts counting the time that the temperature has continued at the same temperature level (step S102).

[0031] In step S102, the temperature level is set based on the difference between the current room temperature and the set temperature, and after starting the time count, the control unit 19 determines whether the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 17c is equal to or less than a predetermined value (step S103). If the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 17c is equal to or less than the predetermined value in step S103, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that the current room temperature, which is the detected value of the room temperature sensor 41, cannot be expected to rise by a predetermined amount to switch the temperature level within the predetermined time for determining whether or not to perform correction control to increase the temperature level, and the control unit 19 sets An, which is a predetermined value A minus n, for the predetermined time for determining whether or not to perform correction control to the temperature level (step S104). Here, A and n are positive numbers, and the relationship A>n holds.

[0032] Furthermore, if the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 17c is higher than the predetermined value in step S103, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that within the predetermined time for determining whether or not to perform correction control to increase the temperature level, the current room temperature, which is the detected value of the room temperature sensor 41, is expected to rise by a predetermined amount to switch the temperature level, and the control unit 19 sets the predetermined time for performing correction control of the temperature level to a predetermined value A (step S105).

[0033] After setting the time for performing the temperature level correction control in step S104 or step S105, the control unit 19 determines whether the counted time continued at the same temperature level has reached or exceeded the predetermined time set in step S104 or step S105 (step S106). If it determines that the counted time has reached or exceeded the predetermined time, the control unit 19 performs correction control to increase the temperature level by 1 and restarts counting the elapsed time at the same temperature level (step S107). If the control unit 19 determines in step S106 that the count time is less than the predetermined time, it repeats the determination in step S106.

[0034] After performing the correction control to raise the temperature level in step S107 and starting to count the elapsed time at the same temperature level, the control unit 19 determines whether an instruction to stop the heating operation has been issued by a switch (not shown) on the remote control 40 or the like (step S108), and if it determines that an instruction to stop the heating operation has been issued, it terminates the control, and if it determines that an instruction to stop the heating operation has not been issued, it repeats the determination in step S103.

[0035] Moreover, if it is determined in step S101 that the current room temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the control unit 19 determines in step S108 whether or not an instruction to stop the heating operation has been issued.

[0036] As described above, when heating operation is being performed and the current room temperature is lower than the set temperature and the outside air temperature is below a predetermined value, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that the current room temperature, which is the value detected by the room temperature sensor 41, is not expected to rise by the predetermined amount to switch the temperature level within the predetermined time for determining whether or not to perform correction control to raise the temperature level, and shortens the predetermined time for performing correction control of the temperature level.Therefore, in a state where the room temperature is difficult to raise due to the low outside air temperature, it is possible to prevent a situation from occurring in which heating operation at the same temperature level continues for a long period of time, making it difficult for the user to feel the warmth and reducing comfort.

[0037] Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described. The effects of the first embodiment are also exhibited in the second embodiment described below.

[0038] When the heating operation is being performed, if the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that the detected value of the room temperature sensor 41 is not expected to increase by a predetermined amount within a predetermined time, the control unit 19 shortens the predetermined time for increasing the target value of the circulating fluid flowing through the floor heating panel 30. This prevents a situation in which the room temperature is difficult to increase due to factors such as large heat radiation from the room where the heating operation is being performed, and the same temperature level continues for a long period of time, preventing the temperature of the circulating fluid circulating through the floor heating panel 30 from increasing, thereby reducing the feeling of warmth during the heating operation and impairing user comfort.

[0039] Furthermore, if the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 17c is equal to or lower than a predetermined value during heating operation, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that the detected value of the room temperature sensor 41 cannot be expected to rise by a predetermined amount within a predetermined time. Whether the room temperature in the air-conditioned space 50 to be heated can be expected to rise by a predetermined amount within a predetermined time during heating operation can be determined by a simple means.

[0040] <Example 2> Next, a description will be given of a heating operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0041] The control during the heating operation in Example 2 is basically the same as that in Example 1 described in FIG. 5. The parts where the control is different from Example 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0042] If it is determined in step S103 that the detected value by the outside air temperature sensor 17c is less than or equal to a predetermined value, in step S104, the control unit 19 sets so that the predetermined time until the correction control for increasing the temperature level is performed becomes shorter as the detected value by the outside air temperature sensor 17c becomes lower.

[0043] Specifically, when the detected value T by the outside air temperature sensor 17c is a first predetermined value that is less than or equal to 5°C and higher than -5°C (-5 < T ≤ 5), the control unit 19 sets the predetermined time as A - n obtained by subtracting n from a predetermined value A set in advance, similar to step S104. Also, when the detected value T by the outside air temperature sensor 17c is a second predetermined value that is less than or equal to -5°C (T ≤ -5), the control unit 19 sets the predetermined time as A - 2n obtained by subtracting 2n from the predetermined value A set in advance. However, A and n are positive numbers, and the relationship is A > n and A > 2n.

[0044] As described above, when the current room temperature is lower than the set temperature during the heating operation, when the detected value by the outside air temperature sensor 17c is a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value rather than the first predetermined value, the predetermined time until the correction control for increasing the temperature level is performed is set to be shorter. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is lower and the heat dissipation amount from the room is large, and it is difficult to feel the room temperature rise due to the heating operation, the temperature level is increased in a shorter time so that the high-temperature circulating liquid flows in the floor heating panel 30. Thus, it is possible to prevent in advance the reduction of the heating feeling in the heating operation and the impairment of the user's comfort.

[0045] Next, the effects of Example 2 will be described. The effects common to Example 1 will be omitted from the description.

[0046] When the heating operation is performed, the control unit 19 changes the predetermined time so that it is shorter when the value detected by the outside air temperature sensor 17c is a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value than when the value is a first predetermined value equal to or lower than the first predetermined value. As a result, when the heating operation is performed, the predetermined time until corrective control to raise the temperature level is set shorter when the outside air temperature is lower. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is low and the influence of heat radiation from inside the room is large, making it difficult to raise the temperature through heating operation, the temperature level rises early and the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing into the floor heating panel 30 is raised, thereby preventing a decrease in the feeling of heating and a loss of comfort for the user.

[0047] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. These novel embodiments may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates, based on the outside air temperature, whether the room temperature can be expected to rise by a predetermined range at the same temperature level during heating operation, causing the temperature level to switch within a predetermined time period, but this is not limited to this. For example, the room temperature estimation means 19a may estimate, based on the level of insulation performance of the air-conditioned space 50 in which the heating operation is performed, whether the room temperature can be expected to rise by a predetermined range at the same temperature level during heating operation, causing the temperature level to switch within a predetermined time period. Specifically, the control unit 19 learns the rate of rise in room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 41 relative to the outdoor temperature detected by the outdoor temperature sensor 17c during heating operation, and determines the level of insulation performance of the air-conditioned space 50 in which heating operation is performed based on the rate of rise in room temperature at each outdoor temperature. If the rate of rise in room temperature during heating operation is small, the amount of heat dissipated from the air-conditioned space 50 is large, making it difficult for the room temperature to rise, and therefore insulation performance is determined to be low. If the insulation performance of the air-conditioned space 50 is determined to be low, the room temperature estimation means 19a estimates that the room temperature cannot be expected to rise by a predetermined amount to switch the temperature level within a predetermined time at the same temperature level during heating operation. As a result, if the insulation performance of the air-conditioned space 50 is low, the predetermined time until corrective control to raise the temperature level is performed is shortened, preventing the user from feeling a sense of warmth and thereby reducing comfort.

[0049] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the floor heating panel 30 is used as the heating terminal, but this is not limited to this. For example, the control of the present invention may be applied to a radiant panel that is installed on the wall or ceiling surface of a room and performs radiant heating.

[0050] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the return temperature sensor 26a is used as the heat transfer medium temperature detection means, but this is not limited to this. For example, the supply temperature sensor 26b may be used, or a temperature sensor may be installed inside the floor heating panel 30 to directly detect the temperature of the circulating fluid circulating therein. In other words, anything that detects the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing inside the floor heating panel 30, which is the heating terminal, can be used as the heat transfer medium temperature detection means of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Hot water heating system 10 Heat pump type heat source machine 17c Outside air temperature sensor 19 Control Unit 19a Room temperature estimation method 26a Return temperature sensor 30 Floor heating panel 40 Remote Control 41 Room temperature sensor

Claims

1. a heat source machine that heats a heat medium; a heating terminal that heats the room by supplying the heat medium heated by the heat source device; a heat medium temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the heating terminal; a room temperature sensor that detects the temperature in a room where the heating terminal is installed; A setting means for setting a set temperature in a room where the heating terminal is installed; a control unit that controls a heating operation to operate the heat source device so that a predetermined target value based on a difference between the set temperature set by the setting means and a detected value by the room temperature sensor is detected by the heat medium temperature detection means, When the control unit determines that the detected value of the room temperature sensor has not reached the set temperature during the heating operation and that a state in which the detected value of the room temperature sensor has not increased by a predetermined range has continued for a predetermined time or more, the control unit corrects the predetermined target value to be higher, a room temperature estimation means for estimating whether the detected value of the room temperature sensor is expected to increase by the predetermined range within the predetermined time period due to the heating operation; When the heating operation is performed, if the room temperature estimation means estimates that the detected value of the room temperature sensor is not expected to increase by the specified range within the specified time, the control unit changes the specified time to be shorter.

2. Equipped with an outside temperature sensor that detects the outside temperature, The hot water heating device of claim 1, wherein the room temperature estimation means estimates that if the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor is below a predetermined value when the heating operation is being performed, the detected value of the room temperature sensor is not expected to increase by the predetermined range within the predetermined time.

3. The hot water heating device of claim 2, characterized in that when the heating operation is performed, the control unit changes the specified time so that it is shorter when the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor is a second specified value lower than the first specified value than when the detected value is a first specified value lower than the first specified value.

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