Hot water storage type water heater

Abstract

To provide a hot water storage type water heater capable of suppressing hot water shortage caused by failure to secure a necessary boiling time and suppressing additional boiling operation.SOLUTION: In a hot water storage type water heater 1 comprising a hot water storage tank 10 for storing hot water, heating means for heating hot water, a control device 31 for controlling the boiling operation in which the heating means heats the hot water in a hot water storage tank 10, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the control device 31, the terminal device can arbitrarily set the time when the boiling operation can start and the time when the boiling operation can end as setting information, and the control device 31 is provided with setting guidance means 32 for guiding the setting information so that a boiling possible time required to boil a total amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 from a small amount of hot water can be secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage type hot water supply device that can arbitrarily set the time period during which a heating operation is performed to heat water in a hot water storage tank. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a hot water storage type water heater linked to a solar power generation system is known to efficiently heat water during the daytime using the electricity generated by the solar power generation system.

[0003] In recent years, electricity rate plans that make the electricity rates the same during the daytime and at night have become known for users who install solar power generation systems and storage-type hot water heaters.Storage-type hot water heaters that are linked to solar power generation systems perform heating operation using electricity generated by the solar power generation system during the daytime when the sun is up, and also perform heating operation during the daytime when the sun is not up at the same electricity rate as heating operation during the nighttime.Therefore, daytime-operating storage-type hot water heaters are known that can reduce electricity bills by using electricity generated by the solar power generation system to heat water during the daytime when the sun is up,

[0004] As in Patent Document 1, a system has been known in which the user can arbitrarily set the time period for heating operation so that the user can use the hot water in the hot water storage tank according to their own schedule. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 02-30610 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] If the time period for boiling operation is set arbitrarily, as in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the amount of hot water expected to be used in a day will not be sufficient within the boiling time set, and if there is a shortage of hot water, there is a possibility that the water will run out or additional boiling operation will be performed during times when the solar power generation system cannot be used, which creates the problem of poor usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The hot water storage type water heater of the present invention comprises a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heating means for heating the hot water, a control device that controls the boiling operation in which the heating means heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank, and a terminal device that can communicate with the control device.In the hot water storage type water heater system, the control device reserves a small amount of hot water in the tank before the boiling operation is performed during the daytime.The terminal device can arbitrarily set the time when the boiling operation can start and the time when the operation can end as setting information, and the control device is provided with a setting guidance means that guides the setting information so that the boiling time required to boil the entire amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank from the small amount of water is secured.

[0008] In addition, if the setting information set on the terminal device does not ensure the time available for boiling, the setting guidance means notifies the terminal device to reset the setting so that the time available for boiling can be ensured.

[0009] Furthermore, if the setting information set on the terminal device does not ensure the time available for boiling, the setting guidance means automatically sets at least one of the time available for starting operation and the time available for finishing operation in a direction away from the time available for boiling so that the time available for boiling can be ensured.

[0010] Furthermore, the operation start time and the operation end time can be selected arbitrarily from a plurality of options, and when at least one of the times in the setting information is set, the setting guidance means narrows down the options for the other time so that the required time available for boiling can be secured.

[0011] The setting information is arbitrarily set within the range of the daytime period. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the storage-type hot water supply device of the present invention, when setting information is set on the terminal device, if the time required to boil the entire amount of hot water from a small amount cannot be secured, the guidance setting means will guide the user to secure the time required to boil the entire amount of hot water from a small amount, thereby avoiding a situation where the boiling time is insufficient and suppressing running out of hot water and the need for additional boiling operations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot water supply system including a storage type hot water supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] The remote control of this embodiment. [Figure 3] The screen of the terminal device when setting the setting information. [Figure 4] The screen of the terminal device when setting the setting information. [Figure 5] The screen of the terminal device when setting the setting information. [Figure 6] 10 is a table showing the selectable range of one of the setting information when the other is selected. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing the daytime heating operation of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An embodiment of a hot water storage type water heater 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot water supply system 100 including a storage type hot water supply device 1 in this embodiment.

[0016] The hot water supply system 100 includes a distribution board 2, a solar power generation system 3, a server 6, and a storage type hot water supply apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "hot water supply apparatus 1").

[0017] The distribution board 2 is installed in a building such as a house (hereinafter simply referred to as "the house") together with the solar power generation system 3 and the hot water supply system 1. The distribution board 2 is connected to a commercial power source 2a and the solar power generation system 3. The distribution board 2 supplies commercial power supplied from the commercial power source 2a and privately generated power generated by the solar power generation system 3 to the hot water supply system 1 used in the house and to electrical load devices in the house other than the hot water supply system 1, such as air conditioners (hereinafter simply referred to as "air conditioners, etc. 7" in the following explanation and in FIG. 1).

[0018] The solar power generation system 3 includes a solar power generation panel 4 and an inverter 5. The solar power generation panel 4 is installed on the roof of a house or the like. The inverter 5 converts the power generated by the solar power generation panel 4 into AC power.

[0019] Server 6 is connected to water heating apparatus 1 and user terminal 9 via network 8. Server 6 transmits and receives information necessary for various processes executed by water heating apparatus 1 to and from water heating apparatus 1 and user terminal 9. User terminal 9 is a device owned by the user of water heating apparatus 1 that is capable of communicating with server 6 via network 8, such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.

[0020] The hot water supply device 1 includes a hot water storage tank 10, a heat pump unit 19, a circulation circuit 27, a remote control 33, and a control device 31.

[0021] The hot water storage tank 10 stores hot water to be supplied to hot water supply terminals such as a bath, a kitchen, etc. The hot water storage tank 10 has a water supply pipe 11, a hot water outlet pipe 12, a water supply bypass pipe 13, a hot water supply pipe 15, and a hot water temperature sensor 18.

[0022] Water supply pipe 11 is connected to hot water storage tank 10 at the bottom thereof and supplies water to hot water storage tank 10. Water outlet pipe 12 is connected to hot water storage tank 10 at the top thereof and supplies hot water from hot water storage tank 10. Water supply bypass pipe 13 is a pipe branching off from water supply pipe 11 and is connected to hot water outlet pipe 12 via mixing valve 14. Mixing valve 14 mixes the hot water from water outlet pipe 12 and the water from water supply bypass pipe 13 to a hot water supply temperature set by remote control 33.

[0023] Hot water supply pipe 15 supplies hot water supplied via mixing valve 14 to the hot water supply terminal. Hot water supply pipe 15 has hot water supply flow rate sensor 16 and hot water supply temperature sensor 17. Hot water supply flow rate sensor 16 detects the hot water supply flow rate and outputs a corresponding detection signal to control device 31. Hot water supply temperature sensor 17 detects the hot water supply temperature and outputs a corresponding detection signal.

[0024] The hot water temperature sensor 18 detects the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 and outputs a corresponding detection signal to the control device 31. A plurality of hot water temperature sensors 18 are provided at different height positions on the side of the hot water storage tank 10. When each of these hot water temperature sensors 18 detects a hot water temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value that is set in advance corresponding to the temperature of hot water in a sufficiently heated state, it outputs a corresponding detection signal to the control device 31. The control device 31 detects the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 that is in a sufficiently heated state (i.e., the amount of hot water stored) based on the number of hot water temperature sensors 18 that output detection signals.

[0025] The heat pump unit 19 operates using privately generated electricity and commercial electricity, and exchanges heat with water to boil it. The heat pump unit 19 includes a compressor 20, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21, an expansion valve 22, an air heat exchanger 23, a refrigerant pipe 26, and a blower 24.

[0026] The compressor 20 compresses the refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure and transports it. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21 exchanges heat between the high temperature, high pressure refrigerant and water from the hot water storage tank 10. The expansion valve 22 decompresses and expands the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21. The air heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat between outside air and the low pressure refrigerant, evaporating the low pressure refrigerant. The refrigerant pipe 26 circulates the refrigerant through the compressor 20, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21, the expansion valve 22, and the air heat exchanger 23. The blower 24 blows outside air to the air heat exchanger 23.

[0027] The heat pump unit 19 also has a discharge temperature sensor 25 and an outside air temperature sensor 30. The discharge temperature sensor 25 detects the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 20 and outputs a corresponding detection signal to the control device 31. The outside air temperature sensor 30 detects the outside air temperature and outputs a corresponding detection signal to the control device 31.

[0028] The circulation circuit 27 circulates the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 between the hot water storage tank 10 and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21. The circulation circuit 27 has a heating supply pipe 27a, a heating return pipe 27b, a heating circulation pump 28, and a boiling temperature sensor 29.

[0029] Heating supply pipe 27a connects the bottom of hot water storage tank 10 to the water-side inlet of water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21. Heating return pipe 27b connects the water-side outlet of water-refrigerant heat exchanger 21 to the top of hot water storage tank 10. Heating circulation pump 28 is arranged on heating supply pipe 27a and circulates hot water. Boiling temperature sensor 29 is arranged on heating return pipe 27b and outputs a detection signal to control device 31.

[0030] Remote control 33 receives instructions from the user regarding water heating device 1, such as the set temperature of hot water to be supplied to the hot water terminal.

[0031] Furthermore, unlike conventional storage type hot water heaters 1 that perform heating operation during the night and finish heating operation before the user needs hot water, this embodiment is a storage type hot water heater 1 that has a solar power generation system 3 and is compatible with the same electricity rate plan regardless of the time of day, so it is necessary to arbitrarily set the time period for heating operation according to the user's daily schedule and the installation angle and direction of the solar power generation panel 4. For this reason, setting information including the time when operation can start and the time when operation can end can be arbitrarily set in the terminal device, which is the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9.

[0032] Control device 31 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and stores various programs and data necessary for the control of control device 31. Control device 31 controls the operation of water heating apparatus 1 overall in accordance with the various programs. Control device 31 is connected to remote control 33 and communicates with remote control 33 bidirectionally.

[0033] The control device 31 performs daytime heating operation based on the setting information set by the remote controller 33 or the user terminal 9. The daytime here refers to the time period when heating operation can be performed mainly using the self-generated power of the solar power generation system 3, for example, from 7:00 to 17:00.

[0034] The control device 31 is also provided with a setting guidance means 32 that guides the user to ensure that the setting information, including the possible operation start time and possible operation end time, is sufficient to boil the entire amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 to fill it to capacity. The time required to boil the entire amount of hot water is the time required to boil the entire amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 when the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 is low before boiling begins due to hot water use during the daytime, and in this case, at least five hours is required, so the setting guidance means 32 guides the user's operation so that the setting information is five hours or more.

[0035] The remote control 33 has a display unit 34 which is an alarm means for displaying characters, marks, etc. on the screen to communicate information to the user, an alarm unit 35 which is an alarm means for generating pre-stored voices and sounds to communicate information to the user, and up / down / left / right switches 36 which correspond to up / down / left / right and can be used to move items, change menus, raise / lower the hot water setting temperature, and raise / lower the time.

[0036] Next, the operation of the setting guide means 32 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0037] (1) in Figure 3 is the screen of the display unit 34 of the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9, and shows the operation time zone setting menu when the start (time when operation can start) is set to 10:00 and the end (time when operation can end) is set to 14:00.

[0038] Then, after setting the start (time when operation can begin) to 10:00 and the end (time when operation can end) to 14:00, when the user presses the "OK" button, if the time required to boil the entire amount of water, which is at least 5 hours, is not secured, as shown in (2) of Figure 3, the setting guidance means 32 will display a message on the screen of the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9 saying "Please set at least 5 hours," and will guide the user to reset the setting information because the time required to boil the entire amount of water has not been secured.

[0039] The setting guidance means 32 can not only notify by display, but also guide the user to reset the setting information by an error sound or voice from the notification unit 35 of the remote controller 33 or the speaker of the user terminal 9.

[0040] In this way, when setting information using the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9, if the time required to boil the entire amount of water, which is at least 5 hours, is not secured, an error sound, voice, or screen display will be emitted to prompt the user to reset the setting, so that the time required for full-boiling operation can be secured and the occurrence of running out of hot water or the need for additional boiling operation due to insufficient boiling time can be prevented.

[0041] FIG. 4(1) is a screen of the display unit 34 of the remote controller 33 or the user terminal 9, showing the state in which the start is first set to 10:00 and then the end is set to 14:00 in the menu for setting the operating time period.

[0042] When one setting information is set and the other setting information is set, if the time of 5 hours or more required to boil the entire amount is not secured, the setting guidance means 32 automatically switches the operation end possible time set after the previously set operation start possible time of 10:00 to 15:00, based on the previously set operation start possible time of 10:00, as shown in (2) of Figure 4. At this time, the setting guidance means 32 may notify the user that the automatic switch has been made, and although the automatic switch is made when the other setting information is set, it may also be made when the user performs the "OK" operation.

[0043] Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, when the possible operation end time is set to 14:00 first and the possible operation start time is set to 10:00 later, the setting guidance means 32 may automatically change the possible operation start time from 10:00 to 9:00 based on the previously set possible operation end time of 14:00.

[0044] In this way, by automatically switching the display of the other time based on either the time when operation can start or the time when operation can end, it is possible to ensure that the time required for full boiling operation is secured, and it is possible to prevent running out of hot water or the need for additional boiling operation due to insufficient boiling time.

[0045] 5(1) is the screen of the display unit 34 of the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9, where the user can select the available operation start time from "7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00" and the available operation end time from "14:00, 15:00, 16:00". Note that the options for each setting information are shown in speech bubbles in FIG. 5 to make them easy to understand, but the selection method can also be a method of scrolling within the screen of the display unit 34 of the remote control 33 or the user terminal 9 to make the selection, or a method of operating the up / down / left / right switch 36 one hour at a time.

[0046] In (2) of Figure 5, if the user selects the possible start time of driving as "10:00" before the possible end time of driving, the setting guidance means 32 narrows the selectable options for the possible end time of driving to "15:00, 16:00".

[0047] To explain this standard in more detail, as shown in the table in Figure 6, the standard can be either the time when operation can start or the time when operation can end. If one of the times is set first, options that do not allow for the five or more hours required to boil the entire amount based on the table are eliminated, narrowing the options for setting the time later.

[0048] In this way, by selecting one of the options for the time when operation can start as a standard, the options for the time when operation can be stopped are automatically narrowed down to those that do not provide the five hours or more required to boil the entire amount of water. This ensures that the time required for full boiling operation is secured, and prevents running out of hot water or the need for additional boiling operation due to insufficient boiling time.

[0049] Next, the daytime heating operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When daytime arrives (here, 7:00), the control device 31 calculates the amount of hot water required to be boiled from the history of the amount of hot water used in a day, and calculates the boiling operation time required from the start to the end of daytime boiling operation (S1).

[0050] The control device 31 determines the start time of the boiling-up operation by counting back the calculated necessary boiling-up operation time from the arbitrarily set possible end time of the boiling-up operation (S2).

[0051] When the water heating operation start time determined in S2 arrives (Yes in S3), the control device 31 performs daytime water heating operation for the amount of hot water predicted to be used in a day (S4). If the sun is out during daytime water heating operation and power is being generated by the solar power generation system 3, the daytime water heating operation is performed using privately generated power generated by the solar power generation system 3. If the sun is not out and power is not being generated by the solar power generation system 3, the daytime water heating operation is performed using power from the commercial power source 2a.

[0052] When the time when the daytime heating operation can be ended, which is set by the remote controller 33 or the user terminal 9, is reached (Yes in S5), the control device 31 ends the daytime heating operation (S6).

[0053] In this way, by making it possible to arbitrarily set the start and end times of daytime heating operation, the user can set the heating operation time according to the user's daily schedule, the installation angle of the solar power generation panel 4, and the direction, making it possible to provide a storage-type hot water supply device 1 with a user-friendly solar power generation system 3.

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0055] For example, it is desirable to have electricity rates set so that they are the same during the daytime and at night, but it is also acceptable for electricity rates to be slightly cheaper at night, and since heating operations can be carried out during the day using self-generated electricity when the sun is out, using a solar power generation system is more efficient in the long term.

[0056] Furthermore, the time required for the full-volume boiling operation is set to 5 hours, but the required time may be changed as appropriate depending on the capacity of the hot water storage tank 10 and the boiling capacity of the heat pump unit 19.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the terminal devices are described as the remote control 33 and the user terminal 9, but if the setting information cannot be set on the user terminal 9, there is no need to connect to the server 6 or the network 8, and if the solar power generation system 3 can perform daytime heating operation using self-generated electricity, electricity costs can be reduced by using self-generated electricity to perform daytime heating operation when the weather is good and the sun is out.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the amount of hot water required for one day is heated only during the daytime heating operation, but a small amount of hot water may be heated during the night, or a certain amount of hot water may be secured before the daytime heating operation is performed.

[0059] In addition, in S2 of the flowchart in Figure 7, the start time of the boiling operation is determined by going back the necessary boiling operation time calculated from the arbitrarily set time when the boiling operation can be completed, but the start time of the boiling operation may also be determined to be the time when the boiling operation can be started. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Storage-type hot water supply system (hot water supply system) 3. Solar power generation system 9 User terminals 10 Hot water tank 19 Heat pump unit 31 Control Unit 32 Setting Guidance Method 33 Remote Control 34 Display unit (notification means) 35 Notification unit (notification means)

Claims

1. A hot water storage tank for storing hot water; a heating means for heating the hot water; a control device that controls a boiling operation in which the heating means heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank; a terminal device capable of communicating with the control device, In a hot water storage type hot water supply system in which a small amount of hot water is reserved in the tank before the heating operation is performed during the daytime, the terminal device can arbitrarily set an operation start time and an operation end time of the heating operation as setting information, The control device is characterized in that it is provided with a setting guidance means for guiding the setting information so that the amount of time required to boil the entire amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank from the small amount of hot water is secured.

2. The hot water storage type hot water supply device of claim 1, characterized in that the setting guidance means is configured to notify the terminal device that the setting information set in the terminal device should be reset so that the available boiling time can be secured if the setting information set in the terminal device does not secure the available boiling time.

3. The hot water storage type hot water supply device of claim 1, characterized in that if the setting information set on the terminal device does not ensure the time available for boiling, the setting guidance means automatically sets at least one of the operation start time and the operation end time in a direction away from the time available so that the time available for boiling can be ensured.

4. The possible operation start time and the possible operation end time can each be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of options, The hot water storage type water heater of claim 1, characterized in that when at least one of the times in the setting information is set, the setting guidance means narrows down the options for the other time so that the required heating time can be secured.

5. 5. The hot water storage type hot water supply device according to claim 2, wherein the setting information is arbitrarily set within the range of the daytime hours.

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