Hot water supply device and hot water supply system

Abstract

To favorably utilize electric power generated with sunlight.SOLUTION: A hot water supply device includes a first hot water storage tank in which water to be heated is stored, a solar panel, and a first heater which heats the water stored in the first hot water storage tank with heat generated by direct current power gotten from the solar panel flowing through a resistance. The water (second temperature) in the first hot water storage tank heated by the first heater is fed into a second hot water storage tank and a water heater (backup water heater) having a second heater.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water heater and a water heater system. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to curb global warming, which has become a problem in recent years, attention has been focused on the use of renewable energy that does not emit greenhouse gases during power generation. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for generating power using solar energy, which is one type of renewable energy. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-053638 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, solar energy is converted into electricity by solar panels. The amount of electricity generated by solar panels is not constant because it depends on the amount of sunlight. Therefore, in order to utilize electricity generated by solar power, it is necessary to store and control the generated electricity and convert it into electricity with a stable supply, which results in losses.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to make suitable use of power generated by solar power. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a water heating device comprising a first hot water tank in which water to be heated is stored, a solar panel, and a first heater that heats the water stored in the first hot water tank by heat generated when direct current power obtained from the solar panel flows through a resistor, and the water in the first hot water tank heated by the first heater is sent to a water heater having a second hot water tank and a second heater.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, a water heater that adjusts the temperature of water to a temperature set by a user includes a hot water tank in which the water to be adjusted is stored, a solar panel, a first heater that heats the water stored in the hot water tank by heat generated when direct current power obtained from the solar panel flows through a resistor, and a second heater that adjusts the water stored in the hot water tank to the temperature.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the hot water storage tank includes a first hot water storage tank and a second hot water storage tank that stores water sent from the first hot water storage tank, and the first heater heats the water stored in the first hot water storage tank, and the second heater heats the water stored in the second hot water storage tank.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the water in the first hot water tank is not controlled according to the temperature set by the user.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the first heater and the second heater heat water stored in the same hot water tank.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a hot water supply system comprising: the above-mentioned hot water supply device; a first measurement unit that measures the power generated by the solar panel; a reduced CO2 calculation unit that calculates the reduced CO2 emissions based on the amount of power obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the first measurement unit and a CO2 emission coefficient that indicates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the use of a predetermined amount of energy in a predetermined comparison hot water supply device; and a calculation device that includes an output unit that outputs the calculated result.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the calculation device further includes a second measurement unit that measures the amount of energy supply required to heat water by the second heater, and the reduced CO2 calculation unit calculates the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by the water heating device based on the amount of energy supply measured by the second measurement unit and the CO2 emission coefficient of the supplied energy.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a hot water supply system comprising: the above-mentioned hot water supply device; a calculation device comprising a first measurement unit that measures the power generated by the solar panel; a second measurement unit that measures the power required to heat water using the second heater; a power saving rate calculation unit that calculates the ratio of the first power amount or the second power amount to a total power amount that is the sum of a first power amount obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the first measurement unit and a second power amount obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the second measurement unit; and an output unit that outputs the calculated result. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, solar-generated power can be used favorably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a basic configuration of a hot water supply system and a hot water supply device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a calculation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing an example of content displayed by the hot water supply system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing an example of the content displayed by the hot water supply system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a basic configuration of a water heater according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [Embodiment] A preferred embodiment of a hot water supply device and a hot water supply system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical or similar parts are designated by identical or similar reference numerals. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and includes various modifications and improvements. In other words, the components described below include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art and those that are substantially identical, and the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0017] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a basic configuration of a hot water supply system 1 and a hot water supply device 10 according to an embodiment. The hot water supply system 1 includes the hot water supply device 10 and a calculation device 40.

[0018] The water heater 10 heats water to a temperature desired by the user (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the set temperature) and provides it to the user. A user is someone who uses the water (hot water) dispensed from the water heater 10. The water heater 10 comprises a first water heater 20 and a second water heater 30. The first water heater 20 and the second water heater 30 have separate and independent hot water storage tanks. The water heated by the first water heater 20 is sent to the second water heater 30 where the temperature is adjusted. The water heated by the second water heater 30 is sent to a faucet, bathtub, etc. The first water heater 20 and the second water heater 30 are not electrically connected. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between water and hot water, they may simply be referred to as water.

[0019] The first water heater 20 includes a first hot water tank 21, a solar panel 22, and a first heater 23.

[0020] First hot water tank 21 temporarily stores water to be heated and sent to second hot water tank 31 of second hot water heater 30. Specifically, water at a first temperature (e.g., 10 to 20°C) is supplied to first hot water tank 21 from water supply unit 3. The water at the first temperature supplied from water supply unit 3 is water sent from a water purification plant, a well, or the like through a distribution pipe to a building where a user is located, and is not suitable for use as hot water due to its low temperature. Water at a second temperature heated in first hot water tank 21 is sent to second hot water tank 31 via hot water supply unit 4. The second temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the first temperature. The capacity of first hot water tank 21 may be determined depending on the user's intended use, the size of solar panel 22, the amount of power generation, etc., and may be, for example, 10 L. By setting the capacity of first hot water tank 21 to a small capacity of approximately 10 L, a user can easily secure the space required to install first hot water heater 20.

[0021] The solar panel 22 includes a plurality of solar cells. The solar panel 22 generates DC power when sunlight is irradiated onto the solar cells. The solar panel 22 supplies the generated DC power to the first heater 23. The solar panel 22 may be made of various materials, such as silicon, compounds, or organic materials. The solar panel 22 may be installed in an open space such as a garden, or on a building's exterior wall, roof, veranda, or veranda railing. In the case of apartment complexes and condominiums, there are many shared spaces, making it difficult for residents of each living space to secure space to install solar panels 22. Therefore, it is desirable to install the solar panel 22 on the veranda or veranda railing. By installing the solar panel 22 inside the veranda or on the veranda railing, solar power can be generated while also providing privacy for the veranda. To allow sunlight into the living space, a visible light-transmitting solar panel 22 may be installed on the veranda.

[0022] First heater 23 is a heater that heats the water in first hot water tank 21 by converting DC power supplied from solar panel 22 into heat. That is, first heater 23 is a heater that performs resistance heating, and generates heat when DC power flows through a resistance portion (heating section) of first heater 23. First heater 23 may be an electric heater, such as a sheathed heater, rubber heater, PTC heater, ceramic heater, or band heater. Furthermore, the resistance portion of first heater 23 may be made of various metals, such as silicon carbide (SiC), molybdenum, tungsten, or carbon.

[0023] First heater 23 generates thermal energy according to the amount of DC power supplied from solar panel 22. Therefore, first heater 23 is not controlled according to the temperature set by the user when heating the water in first hot water tank 21. The temperature in first hot water tank 21 (second temperature) increases as the amount of DC power supplied from solar panel 22 increases, and decreases as the amount of DC power supplied from solar panel 22 decreases. Note that if the amount of DC power supplied from solar panel 22 is large and the temperature of the water in first hot water tank 21 reaches a dangerous temperature during use (e.g., 50°C or higher), first water heater 20 may be provided with a safety switch that turns on and off the supply of power from solar panel 22 to first heater 23. The safety switch may be switched on and off based on a temperature sensor (not shown) in first hot water tank 21, the amount of power supplied from first heater 23, or the like.

[0024] The second water heater 30 includes a second hot water tank 31, a second heater 32, a temperature sensor 33, and a temperature control unit 34. The second water heater 30 may be a known water heater, such as a gas water heater, an electric water heater, an oil water heater, or a heat pump water heater, which heats water by any method. In this embodiment, the second water heater 30 is an electric water heater supplied with power from a power source 2. The power source 2 is, for example, an outlet or a distribution board, and supplies AC power to the second water heater 30 and the second heater 32.

[0025] The second hot water tank 31 stores water to be adjusted to a temperature set by the user. Water at a second temperature is supplied to the second hot water tank 31 from the first hot water tank 21 via the hot water supply unit 4. The water adjusted to the set temperature in the second hot water tank 31 is discharged via the hot water supply unit 5 and provided to the user. Hereinafter, the temperature of the water adjusted in the second hot water tank 31 may be referred to as the third temperature. The set temperature is a temperature (e.g., 40°C) set by the user using a remote control (not shown) attached to the second hot water heater 30. The second hot water tank 31 may be referred to as a backup hot water heater.

[0026] The second heater 32 heats the water in the second hot water tank 31. The second heater 32 is any device, such as a gas heater, an electric heater, a kerosene heater, or a heat pump. In this embodiment, the second heater 32 heats the water using power supplied from the power source 2.

[0027] Temperature sensor 33 measures the temperature of the hot water in second water heater 30 and the temperature of the water discharged from second water heater 30. Note that Fig. 1 shows an example in which temperature sensor 33 is provided in second hot water storage tank 31. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and temperature sensor 33 may be provided in hot water supply unit 5, for example.

[0028] Based on the measurement result of temperature sensor 33, temperature control unit 34 controls second heater 32 so that the temperature in second hot water tank 31 is equal to or higher than the set temperature. That is, when the water at the second temperature in second hot water tank 31 is below the set temperature, temperature control unit 34 controls second heater 32 so that the water in second hot water tank 31 is at the set temperature. Furthermore, when the water at the second temperature in second hot water tank 31 is equal to or higher than the set temperature, temperature control unit 34 controls second heater 32 so as not to heat the water in second hot water tank 31. That is, temperature control unit 34 may stop second heater 32 when the temperature of the water in second hot water tank 31 is higher than the set temperature.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a calculation device 40 according to an embodiment. The calculation device 40 includes a first measurement unit 41, a second measurement unit 42, a CO2 reduction calculation unit 43, a power saving rate calculation unit 44, and an output unit 45. Each of these functional units is implemented using, for example, a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory, and software. Each functional unit may also be implemented using an electronic circuit, if necessary. Furthermore, each functional unit does not have to be included in a single device, and the calculation device 40 may be configured from multiple devices.

[0030] The first measuring unit 41 is a sensor that measures the power supplied from the solar panel 22 to the first heater 23. Specifically, the first measuring unit 41 measures the current and voltage supplied from the solar panel 22 to the first heater 23.

[0031] The second measuring unit 42 is a sensor similar to the first measuring unit 41. The second measuring unit 42 measures the power required to heat water by the second heater 32. For example, the second measuring unit 42 may measure the power supplied to the second heater 32, or may measure the power supplied to the second water heater 30.

[0032] The reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by the water heating apparatus 10. First, the reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 obtains the value of the power generated by the solar panel 22 from the first measurement unit 41. The reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the amount of power generated by the solar panel 22 (hereinafter may be referred to as the first amount of power) by integrating the power values ​​measured by the first measurement unit 41. The reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 also obtains the value of the power supplied to the second water heater 30 or the second heater 32 from the second measurement unit 42. The reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the amount of power required to heat water by the second heater 32 (hereinafter may be referred to as the second amount of power) by integrating the power values ​​measured by the second measurement unit 42.

[0033] A specific description will be given below of the first calculation example performed by the CO2 reduction calculation unit 43. The CO2 reduction calculation unit 43 may, for example, calculate the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by the first water heater 20. In the following description, the water heater to be compared may be referred to as the alternative water heater, the heater of the alternative water heater as the alternative heater, and the power required by the alternative water heater as the alternative power amount.

[0034] In the first calculation example, the reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) reduced by the first water heater 20" by subtracting the "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when the first water heater 20 is used from the CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when an alternative water heater to the first water heater 20 is used."

[0035] The "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when using the first water heater 20" is calculated by "first amount of electricity (kWh) x CO2 emission coefficient for the first electricity (t-CO2 / kWh)" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the first formula).

[0036] In addition, the "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when using an alternative water heater for the first water heater 20" is calculated by "first electric energy (kWh) × thermal efficiency of the first heater 23 ÷ thermal efficiency of the alternative heater × CO2 emission coefficient for the alternative electric energy (t-CO2 / kWh)" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the second formula).

[0037] Here, since the first amount of power is the amount of power generated by solar energy, which is renewable energy, the "CO2 emission coefficient for the first power (t-CO2 / kWh)" is 0. Therefore, the "CO2 emissions reduced by the first water heater 20" is the same as the "CO2 emissions when using the alternative water heater."

[0038] Next, a specific description will be given below of a second calculation example performed by reduced CO2 calculation unit 43. Reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 may calculate, for example, the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by first water heater 20 and second water heater 30, i.e., water heating apparatus 10.

[0039] In the second calculation example, the reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) reduced by the water heater 10" by calculating "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when the first water heater 20 is used + CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when the second water heater 30 is used - CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when an alternative water heater for the first water heater 20 is used - CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when an alternative water heater for the second water heater 30 is used."

[0040] "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when using the first water heater 20" is calculated using the first formula, and "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when using an alternative water heater to the first water heater 20" is calculated using the second formula.

[0041] The "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when the second water heater 30 is used" is calculated by "second amount of electricity (kWh) x CO2 emission coefficient for second electricity (t-CO2 / kWh)".

[0042] In addition, the "CO2 emissions (t-CO2) when using an alternative water heater for the second water heater 30" is calculated by "second electricity consumption (kWh) × thermal efficiency of the second heater 32 ÷ thermal efficiency of the alternative heater × CO2 emission coefficient for the alternative electricity consumption (t-CO2 / kWh)".

[0043] Although the above description shows an example in which the second heater 32 and the alternative heater generate thermal energy using electricity, the present embodiment is not limited to this example, and thermal energy may be generated using, for example, gas, oil, or the like. When the second heater 32 and the alternative heater generate thermal energy using gas, oil, or the like, the second measurement unit 42 may measure the amount of energy used (supply) of gas, oil, or the like. Furthermore, the reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 may calculate the reduced CO2 emissions based on the amount of gas used or oil used instead of the amount of electricity.

[0044] The power saving rate calculation unit 44 calculates the first amount of power and the second amount of power, similar to the CO2 reduction calculation unit 43. The power saving rate calculation unit 44 calculates the ratio (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the power saving rate) of the first amount of power or the second amount of power to the sum of the first amount of power and the second amount of power (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the total amount of power).

[0045] The output unit 45 may output the results calculated by the CO2 reduction calculation unit 43 and the power saving rate calculation unit 44 to a water heater remote control that is installed near a kitchen, bathtub, etc. and allows the user to set the temperature, etc., or to a terminal device that the user has.

[0046] Fig. 3 is a first diagram showing an example of the content displayed by the hot water supply system 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 3 shows, as an example, a remote control R for the hot water supply device 10 installed on the wall of a building. The remote control R includes a display unit 1100, a temperature increase button 1210, a temperature decrease button 1220, an operation button 1300, an automatic hot water filling button 1400, and a lid 1500.

[0047] Information related to the water heating apparatus 10 is displayed on the display unit 1100. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the display unit 1100 displays the user's set temperature, the temperature in the hot water tank, and the amount of power generation. The temperature in the hot water tank (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the tank temperature) displayed on the display unit 1100 is measured by, for example, the temperature sensor 33. The higher the tank temperature, the lower the electricity cost required to boil water at a predetermined temperature. The user may use the displayed tank temperature as a factor in deciding whether to use hot water. The amount of power generation displayed on the display unit 1100 is measured by, for example, the first measurement unit 41. By displaying the amount of power generation by the solar panel 22 on the display unit 1100, which is visible on a daily basis, the user can easily appreciate the benefits of the solar panel 22. The display unit 1100 may also display other results calculated by the calculation device 40, such as the power saving rate and CO2 reduction amount.

[0048] The temperature increase button 1210 is a button for increasing the set temperature. The temperature decrease button 1220 is a button for decreasing the set temperature. The operation button 1300 is a button for switching the operation of the water heater, i.e., whether or not to supply hot water. The automatic hot water filling button 1400 is a button for filling the bathtub with hot water. The lid 1500 contains buttons for realizing various functions not shown in FIG. 3.

[0049] Fig. 4 is a second diagram showing an example of content displayed by the hot water supply system 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 4 shows an example of a display screen D that can be displayed on a terminal device or computer owned by a user. The display screen D has a screen configuration including generated power 2100, daily power generation amount 2210, monthly power generation amount 2220, annual power generation amount 2230, power saving rate 2310, power saving amount 2320, CO2 reduction amount 2410, estimated environmental value amount 2420, power generation amount trend display button 2510, and power saving rate trend display button 2520.

[0050] The generated power 2100 displays the current power generated by the solar panel 22 and supplied to the first heater 23. The daily power generation amount 2210 displays the accumulated power amount of the generated power 2100 for one day. The monthly power generation amount 2220 displays the accumulated power amount of the generated power 2100 for one month. The annual power generation amount 2230 displays the accumulated power amount of the generated power 2100 for one year.

[0051] The power saving rate 2310 displays the power saving rate calculated by the power saving rate calculation unit 44. The power saving rate displayed here may be the ratio of power saved by the solar panel 22 (first power amount of the total power amount), or may be the amount of power actually consumed relative to the amount of power when the solar panel 22 is not used (second power amount of the total power amount). The power saving amount 2320 displays the amount of power saved. The amount of power saved may be calculated, for example, by multiplying the first power amount by the electricity rate. The electricity rate may be a rate set by the user, or may be a guideline unit price of electricity (yen / kWh).

[0052] The CO2 reduction amount 2410 displays the amount of CO2 emissions calculated by the reduced CO2 calculation unit 43. The estimated environmental value amount 2420 displays the estimated amount of environmental value based on the amount of CO2 emissions. While FIG. 4 displays the amount of J-Credits as an example, the present embodiment is not limited to this example, and for example, the estimated sales amount of environmental value such as Green Power Certificates or Non-Fossil Certificates may also be displayed. The estimated amount of J-Credits may be calculated, for example, by multiplying the CO2 emissions reduced by the solar panel 22 by the average value of the successful bid prices for J-Credits.

[0053] The power generation amount trend display button 2510 is a button that displays the trend of the amount of power generated by the solar panel 22 over a predetermined period (for example, one month or one year). The power saving rate trend display button 2520 is a button that displays the power saving rate over a predetermined period. By looking at the trend of the power generation amount and the power saving rate, the user can recognize the time and season when hot water can be used economically.

[0054] The water supply unit 3, the hot water supply unit 4, and the hot water supply unit 5 described above are, for example, pipes through which water flows. The water supply unit 3 and the hot water supply unit 4 may also be provided with a flow control valve that controls the amount of water passing through.

[0055] In the above description, an example is shown in which the first water heater 20 and the second water heater 30 are combined to form the water heater 10. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this example, and only the first water heater 20 may be referred to as the water heater 10.

[0056] [Variations] Next, a water heater 10A according to a modified example will be described with reference to FIG.

[0057] 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the basic configuration of water heating apparatus 10A according to a modified example. Water heating apparatus 10A according to the modified example is similar to water heating apparatus 10 in that it includes solar panel 22, first heater 23, and second heater 32. Water heating apparatus 10A differs from water heating apparatus 10 in that first heater 23 and second heater 32 heat water in the same hot water tank.

[0058] The hot water supply device 10A includes a joint hot water tank 51 instead of the first hot water tank 21 and the second hot water tank 31. Water at a first temperature is supplied to the joint hot water tank 51 from the water supply unit 3. The water in the joint hot water tank 51 is adjusted according to a set temperature by the first heater 23 and the second heater 32. The water adjusted according to the set temperature in the joint hot water tank 51 is discharged from the hot water supply unit 5 and provided to the user.

[0059] [Summary of the embodiment] According to the above-described embodiment, the water heater 10 includes a first hot water tank 21 that stores water to be heated, a solar panel 22, and a first heater 23 that heats the water stored in the first hot water tank 21 using heat generated by DC power obtained from the solar panel 22 flowing through a resistor. The water heated by the first heater 23 in the first hot water tank 21 is sent to a water heater having a second hot water tank 31 and a second heater 32. Because the power generated by the solar panel 22 is unstable, it is common to control the power supply to ensure a stable power supply, resulting in power losses. The water heater 10 according to the embodiment uses the unstable power supplied by the solar panel 22 without controlling it, thereby efficiently using the power generated by the solar panel 22. Furthermore, because the degree of heating of the first heater 23 is not controlled, the power consumption of the entire water heater can be reduced by the amount of power required to control the temperature in the first hot water tank 21.

[0060] Furthermore, circuits that control the water heater and circuits that control solar-generated electricity are more susceptible to failure than solar panel 22 and first heater 23. In the case of a water heater in which the control circuit and heater are integrated, if the control circuit breaks down, it may be necessary to replace the entire water heater. First water heater 20 according to the embodiment does not have a complex control circuit, thereby extending the service life of first water heater 20.

[0061] Furthermore, the water heater 10 according to the embodiment can be easily realized by attaching the first water heater 20 to an existing water heater. Furthermore, the first water heater 20 assists in the function of providing hot water at the temperature and amount desired by the user, and does not need to realize all of the functions, so the size of the solar panel 22 and the capacity of the first hot water tank 21 can be flexibly changed. This allows the first water heater 20 to be installed even in environments where personal space is limited, such as apartment buildings. Therefore, the first water heater 20 can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions in apartment buildings and the like, where reducing CO2 emissions is difficult due to the limited space for generating renewable energy.

[0062] Furthermore, in water heating apparatus 10, first hot water tank 21 and solar panel 22 do not necessarily need to be installed in the same location. Therefore, unlike a solar water heater, it is not necessary to install a heavy hot water tank on a roof or balcony. Therefore, water heating apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can be flexibly installed in a location.

[0063] Furthermore, when solar power generation first began, the price of solar panels 22 was very high and they were not easily available. Therefore, when using solar panels 22, it was common to convert the power generated by the solar panels 22 into AC, store it, and manage it so that it could be used for various purposes. However, in recent years, the price of solar panels 22 has fallen, making them easy to use. Therefore, it is possible to propose a configuration in which the use of the power generated by the solar panels 22 is limited, as in the hot water heater 10 according to the embodiment.

[0064] According to the above-described embodiment, the hot water heating device 10, which adjusts the temperature of water to a user's setting, includes a hot water tank containing the water to be adjusted, a solar panel 22, a first heater 23 that heats the water stored in the hot water tank using heat generated by DC power from the solar panel 22 flowing through a resistor, and a second heater 32 that adjusts the water temperature to the set temperature. Generally, connecting only an unstable power source to a device that performs a certain function may result in the desired function not being achieved, so devices that use an unstable power source as is are rarely proposed. The hot water heating device 10 according to this embodiment supplies the unstable power from the solar panel 22 to the first heater 23 to heat the water in the hot water tank, and then adjusts the heated water to the set temperature using the second heater 32. The hot water heating device 10, which includes the second heater 32 to supplement the unstable first heater 23, allows the power generated by the solar panel 22 to be used directly, thereby reducing losses due to control and other factors. Therefore, water heating apparatus 10 can efficiently use the power generated by solar panel 22. Furthermore, because water heating apparatus 10 does not require a complex control circuit to maintain a constant level of power supply, it is less prone to breakdowns and its service life can be extended.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the hot water storage tank includes a first hot water storage tank 21 and a second hot water storage tank 31 that stores water sent from the first hot water storage tank 21. The first heater 23 heats the water stored in the first hot water storage tank 21, and the second heater 32 heats the water stored in the second hot water storage tank 31. That is, in the hot water supply device 10, the first hot water storage tank 21 and the first heater 23, and the second hot water storage tank 31 and the second heater 32 are provided separately and independently. As a result, the hot water supply device 10 according to the embodiment can be easily realized by attaching the first hot water storage tank 21, the solar panel 22, and the first heater 23 to an existing second hot water supply device 30 that has the second hot water storage tank 31 and the second heater 32. Furthermore, because the hot water supply device 10 according to the embodiment can be realized by attaching the first hot water supply device 20 to an existing hot water supply device, users can reduce installation costs.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the temperature of the water in first hot water tank 21 is not controlled according to the temperature set by the user. However, since water heating apparatus 10 according to this embodiment can ensure the temperature set by the user using second heater 32, there is no need to control the temperature of the water in first hot water tank 21, i.e., the degree of heating by first heater 23. This allows the unstable amount of power supplied by solar panel 22 to be supplied to first heater 23. Therefore, water heating apparatus 10 can directly use the power generated by solar panel 22, reducing losses due to control, etc., and efficiently utilizing the generated power. Furthermore, since water heating apparatus 10 does not require a complex control circuit to control the supplied power, it is less prone to breakdowns and its service life can be extended.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, first heater 23 and second heater 32 heat water stored in the same hot water tank. That is, by including joint hot water tank 51, water heating apparatus 10A unifies the configurations of first water heater 20 and second water heater 30. By unifying the configurations of first water heater 20 and second water heater 30 according to the embodiment into a single water heater, water heating apparatus 10A can be realized more easily.

[0068] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the hot water supply system 1 or 1A includes the hot water supply apparatus 10 or 10A, a first measurement unit 41 that measures the power generated by the solar panel 22, a calculation device 40 that includes a reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 that calculates the reduced CO2 emissions based on the amount of power obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the first measurement unit 41 and a CO2 emission coefficient that indicates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the use of a predetermined amount of energy in a predetermined comparison water heater, and an output unit 45 that outputs the calculation result. The reduced CO2 emissions are calculated and displayed, allowing users to grasp the amount of reduced CO2 emissions. Furthermore, users can use the calculation result calculated by the calculation device 40 when selling the environmental value obtained by reducing CO2 emissions.

[0069] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, calculation device 40 further includes second measurement unit 42 that measures the amount of energy supply (for example, the amount of electricity or gas supply) required to heat water by second heater 32, and reduced CO2 calculation unit 43 calculates the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by water heating apparatus 10 or 10A based on the amount of energy supply measured by second measurement unit 42 and the CO2 emission coefficient of the supplied energy. This allows the user to grasp the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by water heating apparatus 10 as a whole.

[0070] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the hot water supply system 1 or 1A includes the hot water supply device 10 or 10A, a first measurement unit 41 that measures the power generated by the solar panel 22, a second measurement unit 42 that measures the power required to heat water by the second heater 32, a power saving rate calculation unit 44 that calculates the ratio of the first power amount or the second power amount to the total power amount obtained by adding up the first power amount measured by the first measurement unit 41 and the second power amount measured by the second measurement unit 42, and a calculation result output unit that outputs the calculation result. Thus, by displaying the percentage of power saved by the solar panel 22, it is possible to increase the user's motivation to save power.

[0071] Note that all or part of the functions of each unit of water heating apparatus 10, water heating apparatus 10A, and computing device 40 in the above-described embodiment may be realized by recording a program for realizing these functions on a computer-readable recording medium, and reading and executing the program recorded on the recording medium into a computer system. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

[0072] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the configurations described in the above-described embodiments and examples can be combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1...Hot water supply system, 10...Hot water supply device, 20...First hot water heater, 21...First hot water storage tank, 22...Solar panel, 23...First heater, 30...Second hot water heater, 31...Second hot water storage tank, 32...Second heater, 33...Temperature sensor, 34...Temperature control unit, 2...Power supply, 3...Water supply unit, 4...Hot water supply unit, 5...Hot water supply unit, 40...Calculation device, 41...First measurement unit, 42...Second measurement unit, 43...Reduced CO2 calculation unit, 44...Power saving rate calculation unit, 45...Output unit

Claims

1. a first hot water tank in which water to be heated is stored; Solar panels and a first heater that heats the water stored in the first hot water tank by heat generated when DC power obtained from the solar panel flows through a resistor, The water in the first hot water tank heated by the first heater is sent to a water heater having a second hot water tank and a second heater. Water heater.

2. A hot water supply device that adjusts the temperature of water according to the user's setting, a hot water tank in which water to be adjusted is stored; Solar panels and a first heater that heats the water stored in the hot water tank by heat generated when DC power obtained from the solar panel flows through a resistor; a second heater that adjusts the temperature of the water stored in the hot water tank; A water heater comprising:

3. The hot water storage tank includes a first hot water storage tank and a second hot water storage tank that stores water sent from the first hot water storage tank, The first heater heats the water stored in the first hot water tank, The second heater heats the water stored in the second hot water tank. The water heater according to claim 2.

4. The water in the first hot water tank is not controlled according to the temperature set by the user. The water heater according to claim 3.

5. The first heater and the second heater heat water stored in the same hot water storage tank. The water heater according to claim 2.

6. The water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a first measurement unit that measures the power generated by the solar panel; a reduced CO2 calculation unit that calculates a reduced amount of CO2 emissions based on an amount of power obtained by integrating the values ​​of power measured by the first measurement unit and a CO2 emission coefficient that indicates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the use of a predetermined amount of energy in a water heater that is a predetermined comparison target; an output unit that outputs the calculated result; A hot water system comprising:

7. the calculation device further includes a second measurement unit that measures a supply amount of energy required to heat water by the second heater; the reduced CO2 calculation unit calculates the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by the water heater based on the supply amount measured by the second measurement unit and the CO2 emission coefficient of the supplied energy. The hot water supply system according to claim 6.

8. The water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a first measurement unit that measures the power generated by the solar panel; a second measuring unit that measures the power required to heat water by the second heater; a power saving rate calculation unit that calculates a ratio of the first amount of power or the second amount of power to a total amount of power, the total amount being a first amount of power obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the first measurement unit and a second amount of power obtained by integrating the power values ​​measured by the second measurement unit; an output unit that outputs the calculated result; A hot water system comprising:

Images