Air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning system capable of performing heating operation or drying operation by one air conditioner while performing cooling operation by the other air conditioner in the air conditioning system having two heat sources.SOLUTION: The air-conditioning system 1A is configured to be operated in a first operating state in which the flow passage passing through the second thermal source 20 is blocked and the bypass passage 41h is opened, and a second operating state in which the flow passage passing through the second thermal source 20 is opened and the bypass passage 41h is blocked, among the flow passage passing through the second thermal source 20 and the bypass passage 41h in the first heating medium circuit 40. A valve device (D valve device) 48 configured to be able to operate in a first operating state in a state where the heat medium can be circulated between the second heat source 20 and the second air conditioning device 4 via the third heat medium circuit 60; SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system that uses a heat medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, known air conditioning systems that use a heat medium to condition (heat or cool) an indoor space or the like include the air conditioning system disclosed in Patent Document 1. This air conditioning system includes a heat pump heat source and a combustion heat source, and is configured so that the heat medium flowing through a heat medium circuit to which multiple air conditioning devices (for example, an indoor air conditioner with a heater / cooler and a floor heating device) are connected is heated mainly by the heat pump heat source, and when the amount of heating is insufficient, the heat medium can be heated by the combustion heat source in addition to the heat pump heat source.

[0003] Furthermore, the air conditioning system can also cool the heat medium using a heat pump heat source.The air conditioning system can perform heating operation with an indoor air conditioner or floor heating device while the heat medium is heated, and can perform cooling operation with the indoor air conditioner while the heat medium is cooled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-159663 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In an air conditioning system equipped with multiple air conditioners that use a heat medium, it may be necessary to perform heating operation (or drying operation) with one of the air conditioners and cooling operation with the other air conditioners. For example, in an air conditioning system equipped with a bathroom heating unit installed in the bathroom and an indoor air conditioner installed in a room such as a living room, it may be necessary in summer to perform heating operation (or drying operation) with the bathroom heating unit for drying clothes in the bathroom while performing cooling operation with the indoor air conditioner.

[0006] However, in an air conditioning system such as that described in Patent Document 1, the heat medium that can be supplied simultaneously (in parallel) to the multiple air conditioners included in the air conditioning system is either a heated heat medium or a cooled heat medium. Therefore, it is not possible to perform cooling operation in one air conditioner while performing heating operation (or drying operation) in another air conditioner. It is also difficult to achieve a relatively large temperature difference between the temperature of the heat medium supplied to one air conditioner and the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the other air conditioners.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of this background, and aims to provide an air conditioning system with two heat sources, in which one air conditioning unit can perform cooling operation while the other air conditioning unit can perform heating or drying operation.

[0008] Alternatively, the object is to provide an air conditioning system equipped with two heat sources, which can operate these air conditioning units in parallel by making the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat medium supplied to one of the air conditioning units relatively large and the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the other air conditioning unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The air conditioning system of the present invention comprises: A first heat source capable of heating or cooling a heat medium; A second heat source capable of heating a heat medium; a first air conditioner that performs air conditioning of the indoor space by performing heat exchange between a heat medium and the indoor space; a second air conditioner that performs heat exchange between a heat medium and a predetermined space different from the indoor space to air condition the predetermined space; a first heat medium circuit connected to the first heat source, the first air conditioner, and the second heat source so as to circulate a heat medium between the first heat source and the first air conditioner via the second heat source; a bypass path connected in parallel to the second heat source so that the heat medium can flow from the upstream side of the second heat source to the downstream side of the second heat source in the first heat medium circuit without passing through the second heat source; a third heat medium circuit connected to the second heat source and the second air conditioner so as to circulate a heat medium between the second heat source and the second air conditioner; The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a D-type valve device that is operable in a first operating state in which, of the flow path passing through the second heat source in the first heat medium circuit and the bypass path, the flow path passing through the second heat source is blocked and the bypass path is opened, and in a second operating state in which the flow path passing through the second heat source is opened and the bypass path is blocked, and that is configured to be operable in the first operating state in a state in which the heat medium can circulate between the second heat source and the second air conditioning device via the third heat medium circuit.

[0010] According to this, when the D valve device is operated in the first operating state, it is possible to circulate the heat medium between the first heat source and the first air conditioner via a bypass path and to circulate the heat medium between the second heat source and the second air conditioner via a third heat medium circuit in parallel without generating heat exchange between the heat medium circulating via the first air conditioner and the heat medium circulating via the second air conditioner.

[0011] Therefore, for example, it is possible to cool the heat medium supplied to the first air conditioner with a first heat source while heating the heat medium supplied to the second air conditioner with a second heat source. Alternatively, by simultaneously heating the heat medium supplied to the first air conditioner with the first heat source and the heat medium supplied to the second air conditioner with the second heat source and setting the amount of heating of the heat medium by the first heat source and the second heat source to be different, it is also possible to create a relatively large temperature difference between the temperatures of the heat medium supplied to the first air conditioner and the second air conditioner.

[0012] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform cooling operation in one air conditioner (first air conditioner) while performing heating or drying operation in another air conditioner (second air conditioner). Alternatively, by making the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat medium supplied to one air conditioner (first air conditioner) and the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the other air conditioner (second air conditioner) relatively large, it is possible to operate these air conditioners in parallel.

[0013] In addition, in the air conditioning system, when the D valve device is operated in the second operating state, it is possible to circulate the heat medium between the first heat source and the first air conditioner via the second heat source, and to heat the heat medium in parallel with the first heat source and the second heat source, for example. Therefore, the heat medium to be supplied to the first air conditioner can be heated not only by the first heat source but also by the second heat source.

[0014] In this invention, an embodiment may be adopted in which the first heat medium circuit further comprises an inlet side communication path that connects a flow path in the first heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed into the first air conditioning device to a flow path in the third heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed into the second air conditioning device flows, an outlet side communication path that connects a flow path in the first heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed out of the first air conditioning device to a flow path in the third heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed out of the second air conditioning device flows, and a C-type valve device configured to be able to block at least one of the inlet side communication path and the outlet side communication path.

[0015] This makes it possible to achieve the effects described in the above invention when at least one of the inlet-side communication path and the outlet-side communication path is blocked by the C-th valve device. When the C-th valve device is operated to open the inlet-side communication path and the outlet-side communication path, it becomes possible to circulate the heat medium between the first heat source and the second air conditioner via the inlet-side communication path and the outlet-side communication path.

[0016] Therefore, the heat medium heated or cooled by the first heat source can be supplied to the second air conditioner to perform air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner. In this case, it is also possible to supply the heated or cooled heat medium to the first air conditioner in parallel with supplying the heated or cooled heat medium to the second air conditioner.

[0017] In this invention (an invention having an inlet side communication path, an outlet side communication path, and a C valve device), the first heat source may be a heat pump type heat source, the second heat source may be a combustion type heat source, and the second air conditioning device may be configured to perform air conditioning operation by radiating heat to the specified space in two operating modes, a high temperature mode and a low temperature mode, in which the temperatures of the heat medium required for the air conditioning operation are different from each other.

[0018] In this case, a further aspect can be adopted in which the C valve device is configured to operate in an operating state in which at least one of the communication paths is blocked when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in low temperature mode while the cooling operation of the first air conditioner is performed, and when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in high temperature mode, and when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in low temperature mode while the heating operation of the first air conditioner is performed, the C valve device is configured to operate in an operating state in which both the inlet side communication path and the outlet side communication path are open.

[0019] According to this, when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in either high temperature mode or low temperature mode, and regardless of whether the air conditioning operation of the first air conditioner is cooling mode or heating mode, the air conditioning operations of the first air conditioner and the second air conditioner can be performed in parallel. Furthermore, when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in low temperature mode, the first heat source, which is a heat pump heat source, is used as the heat source for heating the heat medium, thereby making it possible to improve energy efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to control of the air conditioning system of the first embodiment (or the third embodiment). [Figure 3] 5 is a flowchart showing the process related to the operation of the bathroom heating device provided in the air conditioning system of the first embodiment (or the second or third embodiment). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the air conditioning system of the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the air conditioning system of the third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the air conditioning system of the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the air conditioning system of the third embodiment. [Figure 18] 18A and 18B are diagrams showing the configuration of a valve device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. As shown in Figure 1, an air conditioning system 1A of this embodiment is a system that includes, as air conditioning devices, a heating air conditioner 2, a cooling and heating air conditioner 3, and a bathroom heater 4, as well as a heat pump unit 10 as a first heat source that can heat or cool a heat medium, and a combustion heat source machine 20 as a second heat source that can heat the heat medium. The heat medium in this air conditioning system 1A can be, for example, water or antifreeze.

[0022] Heating air conditioner 2, cooling and heating air conditioner 3, and bathroom heating unit 4 are all well-known air conditioners that have flow paths (not shown) for circulating a heat medium and heat or cool the indoor space in which they are located by exchanging heat between the heat medium flowing through the flow path and the indoor space in which they are located. Heating air conditioner 2 is an air conditioner that heats the indoor space in which it is located and is composed of, for example, a fan convector, a panel radiator, or a floor heating unit. Heating and cooling air conditioner 3 is an air conditioner that cools or heats the indoor space in which it is located and is composed of, for example, a fan coil unit. Bathroom heating unit 4 is an air conditioner that can heat, dry, ventilate, etc. the bathroom in which it is located.

[0023] In this embodiment, the first air conditioner in the present invention corresponds to air conditioner for heating and cooling 3, and the second air conditioner in the present invention corresponds to bathroom heating device 4. This also applies to the second and third embodiments described below. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between air conditioner for heating 2 and air conditioner for heating and cooling 3, they will simply be referred to as air conditioners 2 and 3.

[0024] The heat pump unit 10 includes a heat pump 11 having a known configuration. The heat pump 11 includes a heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 and a refrigerant circuit 13 including a compressor, an outdoor air-side heat exchanger, and an expansion mechanism (not shown). In this case, the refrigerant circuit 13 can circulate the refrigerant from the outdoor air-side heat exchanger through the compressor, the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12, and the expansion mechanism in that order. In this state, heat absorbed by the refrigerant from the outdoor air via the outdoor air-side heat exchanger is dissipated via the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 to a heat medium flowing through a first heat medium circuit 40 (described later), thereby heating the heat medium.

[0025] The refrigerant circuit 13 can also circulate the refrigerant from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 through the compressor, the outdoor air-side heat exchanger, and the expansion mechanism in that order. In this state, the heat medium can be cooled by radiating heat from the heat medium flowing through the first heat medium circuit 40 (described later) absorbed by the refrigerant via the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 to the outdoor air via the outdoor air-side heat exchanger. Therefore, the heat pump unit 10 functions as a heat source capable of heating or cooling the heat medium.

[0026] The combustion heat source machine 20 includes a heating section 21 that heats a heat medium. This heating section 21 is composed of a burner 22 and a heat exchanger 23 that is heated by the heat of combustion of the burner 22. The burner 22 is, for example, a gas burner, to which fuel gas is supplied from a fuel supply source (not shown) via a fuel supply path 24, and combustion air is supplied by the operation of a combustion fan (not shown). The fuel supply path 24 is fitted with an on-off valve 25 that can open and close the fuel supply path 24, and a fuel adjustment valve 26 that adjusts the amount of fuel gas supplied to the burner 22. The on-off valve 25 may be composed of a solenoid valve or the like, and the fuel adjustment valve 26 may be composed of a proportional valve or the like.

[0027] The burner 22 starts combustion operation by igniting it with an ignition device (not shown) while the combustion fan is activated and the on-off valve 25 is controlled to be open. During combustion operation of the burner 22, the combustion amount of the burner 22 can be controlled by controlling the fuel adjustment valve 26 and the combustion fan. Furthermore, the burner 22 is extinguished by controlling the on-off valve 25 to be closed. The fuel for the burner 22 is not limited to gaseous fuel, but may be liquid fuel such as kerosene.

[0028] The heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21 is connected to the second heat medium circuit 50 and the third heat medium circuit 60, which will be described later, so that the heat medium flows through the second heat medium circuit 50 or the third heat medium circuit 60, and is configured to heat the heat medium by radiating combustion heat provided by the combustion operation of the burner 22 to the heat medium. Note that the heating unit 21 may also be provided with a bypass path that allows the heat medium to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side of the heat exchanger 23 without passing through the heat exchanger 23, and a control valve for adjusting the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the bypass path and the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the heat exchanger 23.

[0029] The air conditioning system 1A further includes a heat exchanger unit 30 including a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 31 that exchanges heat between the heat medium heated by the heat pump 11 and the heat medium heated by the heating section 21; a first heat medium circuit 40 that connects the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 so as to circulate the heat medium therebetween; a second heat medium circuit 50 that connects the heat exchanger 23 of the combustion heat source machine 20 to the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30 so as to circulate the heat medium therebetween; a third heat medium circuit 60 that connects the heat exchanger 23 of the combustion heat source machine 20 to the bathroom heating device 4 so as to circulate the heat medium therebetween; and communication paths 70a, 70b that connect the first heat medium circuit 40 to the third heat medium circuit 60.

[0030] The heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30 has a first flow path 31a through which a heat medium to be heated by the heat pump 11 flows and a second flow path 31b through which a heat medium to be heated by the heating section 21 flows, so that heat exchange can be performed between them.

[0031] The first heat medium circuit 40 has an outgoing path 41 that supplies the heat medium from the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3, and a return path 42 that returns the heat medium from each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 to the heat medium side heat exchanger 12. One of the outgoing path 41 and the return path 42, for example the outgoing path 41, is configured to include a first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, and a bypass path 41e that allows the heat medium to flow from the upstream side of the first flow path 31a to the downstream side without passing through the first flow path 31a.

[0032] Specifically, the outbound path 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40 includes a first outbound path 41a that connects the heat medium outlet of the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to the heat medium inlet of the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31, a second outbound path 41b whose upstream end is connected to the heat medium outlet of the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31, third outbound paths 41c and 41d that branch off from the second outbound path 41b corresponding to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 and whose downstream ends are connected to the heat medium inlets of the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, and a bypass path 41e that branches off from a portion of the first outbound path 41a and merges with a portion of the second outbound path 41b (and is thus connected in parallel to the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31).

[0033] The return path 42 of the first heat transfer medium circuit 40 includes first return paths 42a, 42b each having an upstream end connected to the heat transfer medium outlet of each of the air conditioners 2, 3, and a second return path 42c connected downstream of the first return paths 42a, 42b and having a downstream end connected to the heat transfer medium inlet of the heat transfer medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11.

[0034] An electric pump 43 serving as a power source for circulating the heat medium is attached to the first outbound line 41a upstream of the junction between the first outbound line 41a and the bypass line 41e of the outbound line 41. In this embodiment, the pump 43 is mounted on the heat pump unit 10. However, the pump 43 may be mounted on the heat exchanger unit 30, for example, or may be disposed outside the heat pump unit 10 and the heat exchanger unit 30. The pump 43 may also be attached to the second outbound line 41b of the outbound line 41 downstream of the junction between the second outbound line 41b and the bypass line 41e, or to the second inbound line 42c of the inbound line 42.

[0035] An electrically operated three-way valve 44 is attached to the connection between the first outward path 41a and the bypass path 41e. The three-way valve 44 corresponds to the valve device B of the present invention. The three-way valve 44 can be operated in two states: an operating state in which the heat medium flows from the first outward path 41a on the upstream side thereof only through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 (an operating state in which the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 is opened to the first outward path 41a on the upstream side of the three-way valve 44 and the bypass path 41e is blocked), and an operating state in which the heat medium flows from the first outward path 41a on the upstream side only through the bypass path 41e (an operating state in which the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 is blocked to the first outward path 41a on the upstream side of the three-way valve 44 and the bypass path 41e is opened).

[0036] In addition, the three-way valve 44 may be configured to adjust the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 and the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the bypass path 41e to a required target ratio (including the case where the flow rate of the first flow path 31a is set to zero and the case where the flow rate of the bypass path 41e is set to zero).

[0037] In this embodiment, the three-way valve 44 is mounted on the heat exchanger unit 30. However, the three-way valve 44 may also be disposed outside the heat exchanger unit 30. The three-way valve 44 may also be attached to the connection between the second outward path 41b and the bypass path 41e. Alternatively, instead of the three-way valve 44, an open / close valve or a flow control valve may be provided in each of the bypass path 41e and a flow path that passes through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 from the connection between the first outward path 41a and the bypass path 41e to the connection between the second outward path 41b and the bypass path 41e.

[0038] Thermal valves 45, 46 that can open and close the third outward path 41c corresponding to the heating air conditioner 2 and the third outward path 41d corresponding to the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 are respectively attached. Note that the thermal valves 45, 46 may be attached to the first return paths 42a, 42b, respectively, or may be mounted on the air conditioners 2, 3, respectively.

[0039] Since the first heat medium circuit 40 is configured as described above, when the pump 43 is operated with one or both of the thermal valves 45, 46 open, the heat medium flows back from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 via the outward path 41, one or both of the air conditioners 2, 3, and the return path 42 in that order to the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12, thereby circulating the heat medium between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 and one or both of the air conditioners 2, 3. In this case, by controlling the operation of the three-way valve 44, the heat medium can be made to flow via either (or both) the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e of the heat exchanger 31.

[0040] The second heat transfer medium circuit 50 includes an outward path 51 that supplies the heat transfer medium from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 of the combustion heat source unit 20 to the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, and a return path 52 that returns the heat transfer medium from the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 to the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21.

[0041] The outbound path 51 is arranged to connect the heat medium outlet of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 to the heat medium inlet of the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, and the return path 52 is arranged to connect the heat medium outlet of the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30 to the heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21.

[0042] A pump 53 serving as a power source for circulating the heat medium is attached to the return line 52. An on-off valve 54 capable of opening and closing the return line 52 is attached to the return line 52 upstream of the pump 53. The on-off valve 54 may be configured as a thermal valve, a solenoid valve, or the like. The on-off valve 54 corresponds to the A-th valve device in the present invention, and can function as a valve device that cuts off the circulation of the heat medium between the second heat source 20 and the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31.

[0043] In this embodiment, the pump 53 is mounted on the combustion heat source machine 20, and the on-off valve 54 is mounted on the heat exchanger unit 30. However, the pump 53 may be disposed outside the combustion heat source machine 20, and the on-off valve 54 may be disposed outside the heat exchanger unit 30. In addition, one or both of the pump 53 and the on-off valve 54 may be assembled to the outbound path 51.

[0044] Since the second heat medium circuit 50 is configured as described above, when the pump 53 is operated with the on-off valve 54 open, the heat medium flows back from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 via the outward path 51, the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31, and the return path 52 in this order to the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21, thereby allowing the heat medium to circulate between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30. Furthermore, when the on-off valve 54 is closed, the circulation of the heat medium between the second heat source 20 and the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 can be blocked.

[0045] Third heat medium circuit 60 comprises an outgoing path 61 that supplies heat medium from heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 of combustion heat source unit 20 to bathroom heating device 4, and a return path 62 that returns the heat medium from bathroom heating device 4 to heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21. In this embodiment, outgoing path 61 branches off from a portion of outgoing path 51 of second heat medium circuit 50, and its downstream end is connected to the heat medium inlet of bathroom heating device 4. The upstream end of return path 62 is connected to the heat medium outlet of bathroom heating device 4, and its downstream end is connected to a portion of return path 52 of second heat medium circuit 50 (the portion between pump 53 and on-off valve 54).

[0046] Therefore, in this embodiment, the flow path of the outward path 51 of the second heat medium circuit 50 upstream from its junction with the outward path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60, and the flow path of the return path 52 of the second heat medium circuit 50 downstream from its junction with the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60, are shared by the second heat medium circuit 50 and the third heat medium circuit 60. In addition, the pump 53 is a pump shared by the second heat medium circuit 50 and the third heat medium circuit 60.

[0047] A thermal valve 63 that can open and close outgoing path 61 is attached to outgoing path 61. Thermal valve 63 may also be attached to return path 62, or may be mounted on bathroom heating device 4.

[0048] Since the third heat medium circuit 60 is configured as described above, when the pump 53 is operated with the thermal valve 63 open, the heat medium flows from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 through the upstream part of the outbound path 51 of the second heat medium circuit 50 (the part upstream of the connection with the outbound path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60), the outbound path 61, the bathroom heating device 4, the return path 62, and the downstream part of the return path 62 of the second heat medium circuit 50 (the part downstream of the connection with the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60), and then returns to the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21, thereby circulating the heat medium between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bathroom heating device 4.

[0049] In this case, when on-off valve 54 of second heat medium circuit 50 is closed, the heat medium can be circulated only between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating device 4. When on-off valve 54 is open, the heat medium can be circulated between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and both second flow path 31b of heat exchanger 31 of heat exchanger unit 30 and bathroom heating device 4.

[0050] In this embodiment, the pump 53 is shared by the second heat medium circuit 50 and the third heat medium circuit 60, but separate pumps may be provided for the second heat medium circuit 50 and the third heat medium circuit 60. For example, a pump for the second heat medium circuit 50 may be provided in the outgoing line 51 of the second heat medium circuit 50 downstream of the connection with the outgoing line 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60, or in the return line 52 of the second heat medium circuit 50 upstream of the connection with the return line 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60, and a pump for the third heat medium circuit 60 may be provided in the outgoing line 61 or the return line 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60.

[0051] Of the communication paths 70a, 70b, the communication path 70a is arranged to connect a midpoint of the outgoing path 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40 (a midpoint upstream of the thermal valves 45, 46), for example a midpoint of the second outgoing path 41b, to a midpoint of the outgoing path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60 (a midpoint upstream of the thermal valve 63), and the communication path 70b is arranged to connect a midpoint of the return path 42 of the first heat medium circuit 40, for example a midpoint of the second return path 42c, to a midpoint of the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60. The communication path 70a corresponds to the inlet side communication path in this invention, and the communication path 70b corresponds to the outlet side communication path in this invention.

[0052] The communication paths 70a, 70b are respectively fitted with on-off valves 71a, 71b that can open and close the respective paths. The on-off valves 71a, 71b correspond to the C-th valve device in the present invention and can be constituted by a thermal valve, a solenoid valve, or the like. Since the on-off valves 71a, 71b are fitted to the communication paths 70a, 70b respectively in this manner, when the pump 43 of the first heat medium circuit 40 is operated with the on-off valves 71a, 71b and the thermal valve 63 open, the heat medium flows from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 through the outgoing path 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40 (the outgoing path 41 upstream from the connection with the communication path 70a), the communication path 70a, the outgoing path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60 (the communication path The heat medium can be circulated between the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the bathroom heating device 4 by returning the heat medium to the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 via the following sequence: the outgoing path 61 downstream from the connection with the connecting path 70a), the bathroom heating device 4, the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60 (the return path 62 upstream from the connection with the connecting path 70b), the connecting path 70b, and the return path 42 of the first heat medium circuit 40 (the return path 42 downstream from the connection with the connecting path 70b).

[0053] In this case, by opening the on-off valves 71a, 71b and the thermal valve 63, and also opening one or both of the thermal valves 45, 46 of the first heat transfer medium circuit 40, the heat transfer medium can be circulated between the heat transfer medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the bathroom heating device 4, and also between the heat transfer medium side heat exchanger 12 and one or both of the air conditioning devices 2, 3.

[0054] Furthermore, when on-off valves 71a, 71b are closed, communication paths 70a, 70b are blocked, preventing the heat medium from flowing from first heat medium circuit 40 to bathroom heating device 4. It is also possible to provide on-off valves 71a, 71b in only one of communication paths 70a or 70b, rather than providing on-off valves 71a, 71b in each of communication paths 70a, 70b.

[0055] 2, the air conditioning system 1A further includes a control device 80 that controls the operation of the air conditioning system 1A, and a remote control 85 that allows a user to operate the air conditioning system 1A. The control device 80 is configured with one or more electronic circuit units including, for example, a processor such as a microcomputer (not shown), memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), an interface circuit, a communication circuit, etc.

[0056] For example, control device 80 may be configured as an assembly of multiple electronic circuit units that are mounted on heating air conditioner 2, cooling and heating air conditioner 3, bathroom heater 4, heat pump unit 10, combustion heat source unit 20, and heat exchanger unit 30, and that communicate with each other and cooperate to control the operation of air conditioning system 1A. In this case, the assembly of electronic circuit units may be configured so that one of the electronic circuit units functions as a higher-level control device that oversees the overall operation of air conditioning system 1A, and the other electronic circuit units function as control devices that perform local operation control of heating air conditioner 2, cooling and heating air conditioner 3, heat pump unit 10, combustion heat source unit 20, and heat exchanger unit 30, respectively.

[0057] The control device 80 receives sensing signals (detection signals) from a plurality of sensors, such as a plurality of temperature sensors 90, provided in the air conditioning system 1A. In this embodiment, the temperature sensors 90 include, for example, a temperature sensor 90a that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 through the outward path 41 (first outward path 41a) of the first heat medium circuit 40 into the three-way valve 44 (the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12), a temperature sensor 90b that detects the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3 through the outward path 41 (second outward path 41b) downstream of the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e of the heat exchanger 31, a temperature sensor 90c that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21 into the outward path 51 of the second heat medium circuit 50, a temperature sensor 90d that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing from the outward path 51 into the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31, and a temperature sensor 90e that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 into the return path 52 of the second heat medium circuit 50, as shown in FIG.

[0058] Control device 80 can also communicate with remote control 85 via wired or wireless communication. Through this communication, control device 80 can receive command information related to the operation of heating air conditioner 2, cooling and heating air conditioner 3, and bathroom heating device 4 from remote control 85, and can also send various notification information to remote control 85 to output.

[0059] Air conditioning system 1A may include multiple remote controls rather than one remote control 85. For example, air conditioning system 1A may include separate remote controls for heating air conditioner 2, cooling and heating air conditioner 3, and bathroom heating device 4.

[0060] Control device 80 has the function of executing control processes related to the operation of air conditioners 2 and 3 and bathroom heating device 4, as functions realized by the implemented hardware configuration and program (software configuration). In this case, control device 80 can control the operation of heat pump 11, burner 22 of heating unit 21, three-way valve 44, thermal valves 45, 46, and 63, on-off valves 54, 71a, and 71b, and pumps 43 and 53, which are the elements to be controlled, and controls the operation of air conditioners 2 and 3 and bathroom heating device 4 through this operation control.

[0061] In the operation control of the heat pump 11, switching between heating and cooling of the heat medium is controlled by controlling the switching of the flow path of the refrigerant circuit 13 and the operation of the compressor, and the output of the heat pump 11 is controlled. In addition, in the operation control of the burner 22, ignition of the burner 22, adjustment of the combustion amount, and extinguishing are performed by controlling the operation of the on-off valve 25 and fuel adjustment valve 26 of the fuel supply path 24, as well as an ignition device and combustion fan (not shown). Additionally, although reference numerals in parentheses are used for the controlled elements in Figure 2, these reference numerals are reference numerals related to the third embodiment described below.

[0062] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 1A of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation during heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3 will be described. During heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in a heating operation mode (an operation mode in which the refrigerant circuit 13 is operated so as to flow heated refrigerant through the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12), and also operates the pump 43 with the thermal valves 45 and 46 corresponding to the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, open.

[0063] As a result, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioners 2, 3 via the first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium heated in the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3, thereby performing heating operation of the air conditioners 2, 3 (heat dissipation operation from the air conditioners 2, 3 to the indoor space).

[0064] In this case, the control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium by controlling the output of the heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90b) supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 becomes a required target temperature (for example, a temperature in the range of 40 to 60°C). The target temperature is determined according to the heating set temperature (or the set value for the heating strength), which is the heating temperature set by the remote control 85.

[0065] When the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 can be raised to the target temperature by operating the heat pump 11 alone, the control device 80 operates the three-way valve 44 of the first heat medium circuit 40 so as to cause the heat medium to flow only through the bypass path 41e of the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30.

[0066] As a result, the heat medium circulates between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and air conditioners 2 and 3 via bypass path 41e, as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the flow paths through which the heat medium flows are indicated by thick solid lines, and the flow paths through which the heat medium does not flow are indicated by dashed lines. This also applies to Figures 5 to 17, which will be described later. Note that Figure 4 also shows the flow of the heat medium related to bathroom heating device 4, which will be described later.

[0067] Additionally, it is also possible to supply all or part of the heat medium heated in the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to the air conditioners 2 and 3 via the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30. However, in order to minimize heat radiation loss during the supply of the heat medium to the air conditioners 2 and 3, it is desirable to supply the entire heat medium to the air conditioners 2 and 3 via the bypass path 41e.

[0068] In addition, when the heat transfer medium in the air conditioners 2 and 3 emits a large amount of heat, even if the heat pump 11 is operated at its maximum output, the temperature of the heat transfer medium supplied from the heat transfer medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to the air conditioners 2 and 3 cannot be raised to the target temperature. In this case, in addition to the heat pump 11, a combustion-type heat source machine 20 is used as an auxiliary to heat the heat transfer medium.

[0069] In this case, in addition to operating the heat pump 11 and the pump 43, the control device 80 starts the combustion operation of the burner 22 of the heating section 21 of the combustion type heat source unit 20, operates the pump 53 with the opening / closing valve 54 of the second heat medium circuit 50 open, and further operates the three-way valve 44 so that the heat medium flows only through the first flow path 31a of the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, or through both the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e.

[0070] 7, the heat medium heated by the combustion operation of the burner 22 in the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 circulates in the second heat medium circuit 50 via the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, while the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioners 2, 3 via the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31. Consequently, the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3 is heated not only by the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11, but also by heat exchange with the heat medium (heat medium heated in the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21) flowing through the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 while flowing through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31.

[0071] The control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 by adjusting the combustion amount of the burner 22 of the heating unit 21 so that the temperature of the heat medium (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90b) becomes the target temperature while operating the heat pump 11 at or near the upper limit output. Note that in this temperature control, in addition to adjusting the combustion amount of the burner 22, or while maintaining the combustion amount of the burner 22 at a constant combustion amount, it is also possible to control the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 by adjusting the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 and the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the bypass path 41e via the three-way valve 44.

[0072] Additionally, in the above explanation, the heating operation is performed by both the air conditioners 2 and 3. However, when the heating operation is performed by only one of the air conditioners 2 and 3, only the thermal valve 45 or 46 corresponding to the air conditioner 2 or 3 performing the heating operation is opened. The heat pump 11 and the pump 43 are operated in the same manner as when the heating operation is performed by both the air conditioners 2 and 3. Furthermore, when the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioner 2 or 3 performing the heating operation cannot be raised to the target temperature by the heat pump 11 alone, the on-off valve 54 is opened, and the burner 22 is put into combustion operation and the pump 53 is operated, as in the heating operation by both the air conditioners 2 and 3.

[0073] Next, we will explain the operation of the cooling and heating air conditioner 3 during cooling operation. During cooling operation of the cooling and heating air conditioner 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in a cooling operation mode (an operation mode in which the refrigerant circuit 13 is operated so as to flow cooled refrigerant to the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12), and also operates the pump 43 with the thermal valve 46 corresponding to the cooling and heating air conditioner 3 open. The control device 80 also operates the three-way valve 44 of the first heat medium circuit 40 so as to flow the heat medium only through the bypass path 41e out of the first flow path 31a and the bypass path 41e of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30.

[0074] As a result, as shown in Figure 5, the heat medium circulates between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and cooling and heating air conditioner 3 via bypass path 41e of first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium cooled in heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to cooling and heating air conditioner 3, thereby performing cooling operation of cooling and heating air conditioner 3 (heat absorption operation from the indoor space by cooling and heating air conditioner 3). Figure 5 also shows the flow of heat medium related to bathroom heating device 4, which will be described later.

[0075] Next, we will explain the operation of bathroom heater 4 when it is in heating or drying mode. In air conditioning system 1A of this embodiment, bathroom heater 4 can be operated in heating or drying mode in two different modes: one that uses heat pump 11 as the heat source for heating the heat medium supplied to bathroom heater 4 (hereafter referred to as HP heating mode), and one that uses combustion-type heat source unit 20 as the heat source (hereafter referred to as combustion heating mode).

[0076] When the remote control 85 is operated to instruct the bathroom heating device 4 to perform heating or drying operation, the control device 80 determines whether the heating or drying operation will be performed in HP heating operation mode or combustion heating operation mode, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 3, for example.

[0077] Specifically, in STEP 1, control device 80 determines whether the required heat medium temperature, which is the temperature of the heat medium required for bathroom heating device 4 to operate in heating or drying mode, is high (e.g., 80°C) or low (e.g., 40 to 60°C). This determination is made based on the target bathroom temperature set by remote control 85 or the strength of the heating or drying mode.

[0078] In addition, heating operation or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 when the required heat medium temperature is high corresponds to air conditioning operation in high temperature mode in the present invention, and heating operation or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 when the required heat medium temperature is not high (when it is low) corresponds to air conditioning operation in low temperature mode in the present invention.

[0079] If the judgment result in STEP 1 is positive, in STEP 2, the control device 80 determines the operating mode of the bathroom heating device 4 to be the combustion heating operating mode and sets a high required heat transfer medium temperature (e.g., 80°C) as the target temperature of the heat transfer medium to be supplied to the bathroom heating device 4.

[0080] In this combustion heating operation mode, controller 80 keeps on-off valve 54 of second heat medium circuit 50 and on-off valves 71a and 71b of communication lines 70a and 70b closed, operates pump 53 with thermal valve 63 for bathroom heating device 4 open, and starts the combustion operation of burner 22 of heating section 21. Controller 80 then controls the combustion amount of burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by temperature sensor 90c) becomes the high-temperature required heat medium temperature (80°C).

[0081] As a result, as shown in Figure 4 for third heat medium circuit 60, the heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, and the heat medium temperature-regulated to the above-mentioned high-temperature side temperature (80°C) is supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4. As a result, bathroom heating apparatus 4 operates in heating or drying mode in high-temperature mode.

[0082] In this way, the heating or drying operation in high-temperature mode of bathroom heating device 4 is performed while circulating the heat medium between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating device 4, even when one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 are performing heating operation, or when air conditioner 3 for heating and cooling is performing cooling operation. For example, Figure 4 shows the flow of the heat medium when the heating operation of air conditioners 2 and 3 is performed in parallel with the heating or drying operation of bathroom heating device 4.

[0083] If the determination result in STEP 1 is negative (the required heat medium temperature is low), control device 80 determines in STEP 3 whether heat pump 11 is operating in cooling operation mode. If the determination result in STEP 3 is positive, control device 80 determines in STEP 4 the operation mode of bathroom heating device 4 to be combustion heating operation mode and sets the target temperature of the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating device 4 to a low required heat medium temperature (e.g., 60°C).

[0084] In this combustion heating operation mode, controller 80 keeps on-off valve 54 of second heat medium circuit 50 and on-off valves 71a and 71b of communication lines 70a and 70b closed, operates pump 53 with thermal valve 63 for bathroom heating device 4 open, and starts the combustion operation of burner 22 of heating unit 21. Controller 80 then controls the combustion amount of burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by temperature sensor 90c) becomes the low-temperature required heat medium temperature (60°C).

[0085] As a result, as shown in Figure 5 for third heat medium circuit 60, the heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, while the heat medium temperature is controlled to the required low heat medium temperature (60°C) and supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4. As a result, bathroom heating apparatus 4 performs heating or drying operation in low-temperature mode. In parallel with this, as shown in Figure 5 for first heat medium circuit 40, the heat medium circulates between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and air conditioning unit 3, while air conditioning unit 3 performs cooling operation as described above.

[0086] If the determination in Step 3 is negative, controller 80 selects the HP heating mode for bathroom heater 4 in Step 5. In this HP heating mode, controller 80 operates heat pump 11 in heating mode and pump 43 while opening on-off valves 71a and 71b in communication lines 70a and 70b and thermal valve 63 for bathroom heater 4. Furthermore, controller 80 operates three-way valve 44 in first heat medium circuit 40 to direct heat medium only through bypass line 41e and first flow path 31a of heat exchanger 31 in heat exchanger unit 30. If either air conditioner 2 or 3 is already operating in heating mode, on-off valves 71a and 71b in communication lines 70a and 70b and thermal valve 63 for bathroom heater 4 are opened while heat pump 11 and pump 43 continue to operate.

[0087] Then, as in the case of heating operation of air conditioners 2 and 3, control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium by adjusting the output of heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by temperature sensor 90b) becomes the low-temperature required heat medium temperature (a temperature within the range of 40 to 60°C) determined according to the heating temperature (or the degree of heating strength) set by remote control 85.

[0088] As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the heat medium circulates through communication paths 70a and 70b between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and bathroom heating device 4, and the heat medium temperature-controlled to the required low heat medium temperature is supplied to bathroom heating device 4. Note that Figure 6 shows the flow of heat medium when air conditioners 2 and 3 are also performing heating operation in addition to bathroom heating device 4.

[0089] As described above, in the air conditioning system 1A of this embodiment, when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a high required heat medium temperature (in high temperature mode), or when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a low required heat medium temperature (in low temperature mode) during cooling operation of the heating and cooling air conditioner 3, the heat medium can be circulated between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bathroom heating device 4 via the third heat medium circuit 60, so that heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at the high required heat medium temperature, or heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at the low required heat medium temperature, can be performed while the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 is operating in cooling mode.

[0090] Furthermore, even when heating operation is being performed on both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3, a heat medium at a higher temperature (80°C) than the temperature of the heat medium supplied to both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3 (temperature in the range of 40 to 60°C) can be supplied to the bathroom heating device 4, and heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 can be performed at the required high-temperature heat medium temperature.

[0091] Furthermore, when a request is made to run bathroom heating device 4 in heating or drying mode at a low required heat medium temperature other than when air conditioning device 3 is in cooling mode, the heat medium can be circulated between heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and bathroom heating device 4 while the heat medium is heated by heat pump 11, regardless of whether heating mode is being performed in both or one of air conditioning devices 2 and 3, so that bathroom heating device 4 can run in heating or drying mode with high energy efficiency.

[0092] Additionally, in this embodiment, second heat transfer medium circuit 50 is provided with on-off valve 54, but on-off valve 54 may be omitted. In this case, when bathroom heating apparatus 4 is operated in heating or drying mode in the combustion heating operation mode, heat transfer medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, and simultaneously heat transfer medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and second flow path 31b of heat exchanger 31.

[0093] In this case, however, when one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 are in heating operation, or when air conditioner 3 is in cooling operation, heat exchange between the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating unit 4 and the heat medium supplied to one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 can be prevented by circulating the heat medium through bypass path 41e in first heat medium circuit 40. Therefore, while supplying heat medium at the required temperature to one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 and bathroom heating unit 4, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation (heating operation or cooling operation) of one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3, and heating operation or drying operation of bathroom heating unit 4.

[0094] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 12. Note that an air conditioning system 1B of this embodiment differs from the air conditioning system 1A of the first embodiment only in the configuration of a portion of the heat medium circuit, and therefore, a description of the same matters as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0095] 8, the air conditioning system 1B of this embodiment has a configuration in which the bypass line 41e and the three-way valve 44 are removed from the first heat medium circuit 40 of the air conditioning system 1A of the first embodiment. In this case, the first outgoing line 41a of the outgoing line 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40 is connected to the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30 so that the entire amount of heat medium flowing from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 flows to the first flow path 31a, and the second outgoing line 41b is connected to the first flow path 31a so that only the heat medium that has passed through the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31 flows in.

[0096] In the air conditioning system 1B of this embodiment, the control device 80 is configured to be able to control the operation of the control target elements (control target elements with reference symbols other than those in parentheses) shown in Figure 2 other than the three-way valve 44 (heat pump 11, burner 22 of heating section 21, thermal valves 45, 46, 63, on-off valves 54, 71a, 71b, pumps 43, 53), and through this operation control it is possible to control the operation of the air conditioners 2, 3 and the bathroom heating device 4. The configuration of the air conditioning system 1B of this embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioning system 1A of the first embodiment, except for the points described above.

[0097] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 1B of this embodiment will be described. First, during heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in a heating operation mode, as in the first embodiment, and operates the pump 43 with the thermal valves 45 and 46 corresponding to the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, open.

[0098] 9 with respect to the first heat medium circuit 40, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioners 2, 3 via the first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium heated in the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3, thereby performing heating operations of the air conditioners 2, 3. In this case, the heat medium circulates in the first heat medium circuit 40 steadily via the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31.

[0099] At this time, the control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium by controlling the output of the heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90b) becomes the required target temperature (for example, a temperature within the range of 40 to 60°C) determined according to the heating setting temperature (or the setting value for the heating strength) set by the remote control 85.

[0100] In addition, when the heat transfer medium in the air conditioners 2 and 3 emits a large amount of heat, and the temperature of the heat transfer medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 cannot be raised to the target temperature even when the heat pump 11 is operated at its maximum output, a combustion-type heat source machine 20 is used as an auxiliary means in addition to the heat pump 11 to heat the heat transfer medium.

[0101] In this case, in addition to operating the heat pump 11 and the pump 43, the control device 80 starts the combustion operation of the burner 22 of the heating section 21 of the combustion type heat source unit 20, and operates the pump 53 with the opening / closing valve 54 of the second heat medium circuit 50 open.

[0102] 12, the heat medium heated by the combustion operation of the burner 22 in the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 circulates in the second heat medium circuit 50 via the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchanger unit 30, and heat exchange occurs between the heat medium flowing through the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31 and the heat medium flowing through the first flow path 31a. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 is heated by heat transfer from the heat medium flowing through the second flow path 31b of the heat exchanger 31, in addition to being heated by the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11.

[0103] The control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 at the upper limit output or a constant output close to it, and adjusts the combustion amount of the burner 22 of the heating section 21 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90b) becomes the target temperature, thereby controlling the temperature of the heat medium.

[0104] Supplementally, the above description has been given of the case where both air conditioners 2 and 3 perform heating operation, but when only one of air conditioners 2 and 3 performs heating operation, of the thermal valves 45 and 46, only the thermal valve 45 or 46 corresponding to the air conditioner 2 or 3 performing heating operation is opened. In either case where the burner 22 of the heating unit 21 does not perform combustion operation (when the heat pump 11 alone can raise the temperature of the heat medium to the target temperature) or where the burner 22 performs combustion operation (when the heat pump 11 alone cannot raise the temperature of the heat medium to the target temperature), the heat medium whose temperature has been controlled to the target temperature is supplied to the air conditioner 2 or 3, just as when both air conditioners 2 and 3 perform heating operation.

[0105] Furthermore, when the air conditioning unit 3 is in cooling operation, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in the cooling operation mode, as in the first embodiment, and operates the pump 43 with the thermal valve 46 corresponding to the air conditioning unit 3 open.

[0106] As a result, as shown in Figure 10 with respect to the first heat medium circuit 40, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 through the first heat medium circuit 40 (via the first flow path 31a of the heat exchanger 31), and the heat medium cooled in the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the heating and cooling air conditioner 3, thereby performing cooling operation of the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 (heat absorption operation from the indoor space by the heating and cooling air conditioner 3).

[0107] Next, when bathroom heater 4 is to be operated in heating or drying mode, controller 80, as in the first embodiment, selects either HP heating mode or combustion heating mode as the operating mode for bathroom heater 4 according to the flowchart in Figure 3. If combustion heating mode is selected (if the judgment result in STEP 1 of Figure 3 is positive or if the judgment result in STEP 3 is positive), controller 80, as in the first embodiment, keeps on-off valve 54 of second heat medium circuit 50 and on-off valves 71a and 71b of communication lines 70a and 70b closed, while opening thermal valve 63 for bathroom heater 4, operates pump 53, and further starts combustion operation of burner 22 of heating unit 21.

[0108] Furthermore, when heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a high required heat medium temperature (e.g., 80°C) is requested (when the judgment result of STEP 1 in Figure 3 is positive), the control device 80 controls the combustion amount of the burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90c) becomes the high required heat medium temperature (80°C).

[0109] As a result, as shown in Figure 9 for third heat medium circuit 60, heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, and the heat medium temperature is controlled to the required high-temperature heat medium temperature (80°C) and supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4. As a result, bathroom heating apparatus 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required high-temperature heat medium temperature (high-temperature mode).

[0110] In this way, the heat medium is circulated between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating device 4, and bathroom heating device 4 performs heating or drying operation at the required high heat medium temperature. This is done in the same way as above when one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 are performing heating operation, or when air conditioner 3 for heating and cooling is performing cooling operation. For example, Figure 9 shows the flow of heat medium when air conditioners 2 and 3 perform heating operation in parallel with bathroom heating device 4's heating or drying operation.

[0111] Furthermore, when the cooling and heating air conditioner 3 is operating in cooling mode and the bathroom heating device 4 is operating in heating or drying mode at a low required heat medium temperature (when the judgment result of STEP 3 in Figure 3 is positive), the control device 80 controls the combustion amount of the burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90c) becomes the low required heat medium temperature (for example, 60°C).

[0112] As a result, as shown in Figure 10 for third heat medium circuit 60, heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heater 4, while heat medium temperature-controlled to the required low heat medium temperature (60°C) is supplied to bathroom heater 4. As a result, bathroom heater 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required low heat medium temperature (low-temperature mode). In parallel with this, as shown in Figure 10 for first heat medium circuit 40, heat medium circulates between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and air conditioner 3 for heating and cooling, while air conditioner 3 for heating and cooling operates in cooling mode as described above.

[0113] Furthermore, when controlling bathroom heating device 4 is in heating or drying operation and control device 80 selects HP heating operation mode (when the result of STEP 3 in FIG. 3 is negative), it operates heat pump 11 in heating operation mode and pump 43 while opening on-off valves 71a and 71b in communication paths 70a and 70b and thermal valve 63 for bathroom heating device 4. Note that if either air conditioner 2 or 3 is already in heating operation, heat pump 11 and pump 43 continue to operate.

[0114] The control device 80 then controls the temperature of the heat medium by adjusting the output of the heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90b) becomes the low required heat medium temperature (for example, a temperature within a range of 40 to 60°C) determined according to the heating temperature (or the degree of heating strength) set by the remote control 85.

[0115] As a result, as shown in Figure 11, the heat medium circulates through communication paths 70a and 70b between heat pump 11's heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 and bathroom heating device 4, supplying the heat medium whose temperature has been controlled to the required low-temperature heat medium temperature to bathroom heating device 4. As a result, bathroom heating device 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required low-temperature heat medium temperature (in low-temperature mode). Note that Figure 11 shows the flow of heat medium when air conditioners 2 and 3 are also operating in heating mode in addition to bathroom heating device 4.

[0116] In the air conditioning system 1B described above, when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a high required heat medium temperature (in high temperature mode), or when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a low required heat medium temperature (in low temperature mode) while the air conditioning device 3 for heating and cooling is in cooling operation, the heat medium can be circulated between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bathroom heating device 4 via the third heat medium circuit 60, so that the bathroom heating device 4 can perform heating or drying operation at the high required heat medium temperature, or heating or drying operation at the low required heat medium temperature, while the air conditioning device 3 for heating and cooling is in cooling operation.

[0117] Furthermore, even when heating operation is being performed on both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3, a heat medium at a higher temperature (80°C) than the temperature of the heat medium supplied to both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3 (temperature in the range of 40 to 60°C) can be supplied to the bathroom heating device 4, and heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 can be performed at the required high-temperature heat medium temperature.

[0118] Furthermore, when a request is made to run bathroom heating device 4 in heating or drying mode at a low required heat medium temperature other than when air conditioning device 3 is in cooling mode, the heat medium can be circulated between heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and bathroom heating device 4 while the heat medium is heated by heat pump 11, regardless of whether heating mode is being performed in both or one of air conditioning devices 2 and 3, so that bathroom heating device 4 can run in heating or drying mode with high energy efficiency.

[0119] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 17. Note that an air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment differs from the air conditioning system 1A of the first embodiment only in the configuration of a portion of the heat medium circuit, and therefore, a description of the same matters as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0120] Referring to Figure 13, the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment has a first heat medium circuit 40 that connects the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 so that a heat medium can circulate between them, but has a configuration different from that of the first embodiment, and also has a third heat medium circuit 60 that connects the heat exchanger 23 of the combustion heat source unit 20 to the bathroom heating device 4 so that a heat medium can circulate between them, and communication paths 70a and 70b that connect the first heat medium circuit 40 to the third heat medium circuit 60, but have a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0121] The first heat medium circuit 40 has an outgoing path 41 that supplies the heat medium from the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3, and a return path 42 that returns the heat medium from each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 to the heat medium side heat exchanger 12. One of the outgoing path 41 and the return path 42, for example the outgoing path 41, is configured to include a flow path that passes through the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 of the combustion type heat source unit 20 (first outgoing path 41f and second outgoing path 41g described below), and a bypass path 41h that allows the heat medium to flow from the upstream side of the heat exchanger 23 to the downstream side without passing through the heat exchanger 23.

[0122] Specifically, the outbound path 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40 includes a first outbound path 41f that connects the heat medium outlet of the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 to the heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21, a second outbound path 41g whose upstream end is connected to the heat medium outlet of the heat exchanger 23, third outbound paths 41c and 41d that branch off from the second outbound path 41g corresponding to each of the air conditioners 2 and 3 and whose downstream ends are connected to the heat medium inlets of the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, and a bypass path 41h that branches off from a portion of the first outbound path 41f and joins a portion of the second outbound path 41g (and is thus connected in parallel to the heat exchanger 23).

[0123] The return path 42 of the first heat medium circuit 40 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and includes first return paths 42a, 42b whose upstream ends are connected to the heat medium outlets of the air conditioners 2, 3, respectively, and a second return path 42c that is connected downstream of the first return paths 42a, 42b and whose downstream end is connected to the heat medium inlet of the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11.

[0124] Electric pumps 43 and 47 are respectively attached to the outgoing path 41 on the upstream side of the connection between the first outgoing path 41f and the bypass path 41h and the outgoing path 41f on the downstream side of the connection, as power sources for circulating the heat medium. In this embodiment, the pump 43 is mounted on the heat pump unit 10, and the pump 47 is mounted on the combustion type heat source apparatus 20. However, the pump 43 may be disposed outside the heat pump unit 10, and the pump 47 may be disposed outside the combustion type heat source apparatus 20.

[0125] The pump 43 may be mounted, for example, on the second outgoing line 41g of the outgoing line 41 downstream of the connection between the second outgoing line 41g and the bypass line 41h, or on the second return line 42c of the return line 42. The pump 47 may be mounted, for example, on the second outgoing line 41g upstream of the connection between the second outgoing line 41g and the outgoing line 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60.

[0126] An electrically operated three-way valve 48 is attached to the connection between the first outgoing path 41f and the bypass path 41h. The three-way valve 48 corresponds to the D-th valve device of the present invention. The three-way valve 48 can be operated in two states: an operating state in which the heat transfer medium flows from the upstream first outgoing path 41f only to the downstream first outgoing path 41f (an operating state in which the downstream first outgoing path 41f is opened relative to the upstream first outgoing path 41f of the three-way valve 48 and the bypass path 41h is closed), and an operating state in which the heat transfer medium flows from the upstream first outgoing path 41f only to the bypass path 41h (an operating state in which the downstream first outgoing path 41f is closed relative to the upstream first outgoing path 41f of the three-way valve 48 and the bypass path 41h is opened).

[0127] In addition, the three-way valve 48 may be configured to be able to adjust the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium flowing in the first outward path 41f downstream thereof and the flow rate of the heat medium flowing in the bypass path 41h to a required target ratio (including the case where the flow rate in the first outward path 41f downstream is set to zero and the case where the flow rate in the bypass path 41h is set to zero).

[0128] Furthermore, the three-way valve 48 may be mounted on, for example, the heat pump unit 10 or the combustion-type heat source apparatus 20. The three-way valve 48 may be attached to the connection between the second outbound path 41g and the bypass path 41h. Alternatively, instead of the three-way valve 48, an open / close valve or a flow control valve that can be opened / closed may be provided in each of the flow path that passes through the heat exchanger 23 from the connection between the first outbound path 41f and the bypass path 41h to the connection between the second outbound path 41g and the bypass path 41h.

[0129] In this embodiment, since the first heat medium circuit 40 is configured as described above, when the pump 43 is operated with one or both of the thermal valves 45, 46 open, the heat medium flows from the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 through the outward path 41, one or both of the air conditioners 2, 3, and the return path 42 in this order, and returns to the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12. This allows the heat medium to circulate between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 and one or both of the air conditioners 2, 3. In this case, by controlling the operation of the three-way valve 48, the heat medium can be made to flow through either the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21 or the bypass path 41h (or both). When the heat medium is made to flow through the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21, a pump 47 may be operated in addition to the pump 43.

[0130] As in the first embodiment, third heat medium circuit 60 comprises an outgoing line 61 that supplies heat medium from heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 of combustion heat source unit 20 to bathroom heating device 4, and a return line 62 that returns the heat medium from bathroom heating device 4 to heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21. In this embodiment, outgoing line 61 branches off from a portion of second outgoing line 41g upstream of the junction between second outgoing line 41g and bypass line 41h of first heat medium circuit 40, and its downstream end is connected to the heat medium inlet of bathroom heating device 4. The upstream end of return line 62 is connected to the heat medium outlet of bathroom heating device 4, and its downstream end is connected to a portion of first outgoing line 41f between pump 47 and three-way valve 48 of first heat medium circuit 40.

[0131] Therefore, in this embodiment, the flow path of the outward path 41 of the first heat medium circuit 40, from the connection point between the first outward path 41f and the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60 to the connection point between the second outward path 41g and the outward path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60, is a flow path shared by the first heat medium circuit 40 and the third heat medium circuit 60.

[0132] As in the first embodiment, a thermal valve 63 capable of opening and closing outflow path 61 is attached to outflow path 61. Thermal valve 63 may alternatively be attached to return path 62, or may be mounted on bathroom heating device 4.

[0133] In this embodiment, since the third heat medium circuit 60 is configured as described above, the thermal valve 63 When the pump 47 is operated with the valve open, the heat medium flows from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 through the upstream part of the second outward path 41g of the first heat medium circuit 40 (the part upstream of the connection with the outward path 61 of the third heat medium circuit 60), the outward path 61, the bathroom heating device 4, the return path 62, and the downstream part of the first outward path 41f of the first heat medium circuit 40 (the part downstream of the connection with the return path 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60), and then returns to the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21, thereby circulating the heat medium between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bathroom heating device 4.

[0134] In addition, in the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment, the control device 80 is capable of controlling the operation of the heat pump 11, the burner 22 of the heating section 21, the three-way valve 48, the thermal valves 45, 46, 63, the on-off valves 71a, 71b, and the pumps 43, 47, which are the controlled elements indicated by the parenthesized reference symbols in Figure 2, and controls the operation of the air conditioners 2, 3 and the bathroom heating device 4 through this operation control.

[0135] In addition, the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment is equipped with multiple temperature sensors 90, including a temperature sensor 90f that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing from the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 through the outward path 41 (first outward path 41f) of the first heat medium circuit 40 into the three-way valve 48 (the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the heat medium side heat exchanger 12), a temperature sensor 90g that detects the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3 through the outward path 41 (second outward path 41g) downstream of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bypass path 41h, and a temperature sensor 90h that detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing out from the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 to the second outward path 41g of the first heat medium circuit 40. The configuration of the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioning system 1A of the first embodiment, except for the points described above.

[0136] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation during heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3 will be described. During heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in a heating operation mode (an operation mode in which the refrigerant circuit 13 is operated so as to flow heated refrigerant through the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12), and also operates the pump 43 with the thermal valves 45 and 46 corresponding to the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, open.

[0137] As a result, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioners 2, 3 via the first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium heated in the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the air conditioners 2, 3, thereby performing heating operation of the air conditioners 2, 3 (heat dissipation operation from the air conditioners 2, 3 to the indoor space).

[0138] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 1C of this embodiment will be described. First, during heating operation of the air conditioners 2 and 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in a heating operation mode, as in the first embodiment, and operates the pump 43 with the thermal valves 45 and 46 corresponding to the air conditioners 2 and 3, respectively, open. Furthermore, the control device 80 operates the three-way valve 48 of the first heat medium circuit 40 so that the heat medium flows only through the bypass path 41h of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21 and the bypass path 41h.

[0139] 14, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioners 2 and 3 via the first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium heated in the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3, thereby performing heating operations of the air conditioners 2 and 3. In this case, the heat medium circulates in the first heat medium circuit 40 via the bypass path 41h.

[0140] At this time, the control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium by controlling the output of the heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90g) becomes the required target temperature (for example, a temperature within the range of 40 to 60°C) determined according to the heating setting temperature (or the setting value for the heating strength) set by the remote control 85.

[0141] In addition, when the heat transfer medium in the air conditioners 2 and 3 emits a large amount of heat, and the temperature of the heat transfer medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 cannot be raised to the target temperature even when the heat pump 11 is operated at its maximum output, a combustion-type heat source machine 20 is used as an auxiliary means in addition to the heat pump 11 to heat the heat transfer medium.

[0142] In this case, in addition to operating the heat pump 11 and the pump 43, the control device 80 operates the three-way valve 48 to flow the heat medium only through the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bypass path 41h, or through both the heat exchanger 23 and the bypass path 41h, and further starts the combustion operation of the burner 22 of the heating section 21 of the combustion type heat source unit 20.

[0143] As a result, as shown in Figure 17, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the air conditioning devices 2, 3 via the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bypass path 41h (or via the heat exchanger 23 only), and part (or the entirety) of the heat medium heated in the heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 is further heated in the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21.

[0144] The control device 80 controls the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 by adjusting the combustion amount of the burner 22 of the heating unit 21 so that the temperature of the heat medium (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90g) becomes the target temperature while operating the heat pump 11 at or near its upper limit output. Note that in this temperature control, in addition to adjusting the combustion amount of the burner 22, or while maintaining the combustion amount of the burner 22 at a constant combustion amount, it is also possible to control the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioners 2 and 3 by adjusting the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heat exchanger 23 and the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the bypass path 41h via the three-way valve 48.

[0145] Additionally, in the above description, the heating operation is performed by both the air conditioners 2 and 3. However, when the heating operation is performed by only one of the air conditioners 2 and 3, only the thermal valve 45 or 46 corresponding to the air conditioner 2 or 3 performing the heating operation is opened. The heat pump 11, the pump 43, and the three-way valve 48 are operated in the same manner as when the heating operation is performed by both the air conditioners 2 and 3. Furthermore, when the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the air conditioner 2 or 3 performing the heating operation cannot be raised to the target temperature by the heat pump 11 alone, the three-way valve 48 is operated to cause the heat medium to flow through the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21, and the burner 22 is operated in the same manner as when the heating operation is performed by both the air conditioners 2 and 3.

[0146] When a part (or the whole) of the heat medium to be supplied to both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3 passes through the heat exchanger 23 of the heating unit 21, the pump 47 may be operated in conjunction with the control of the operation of the three-way valve 48 in order to set the ratio between the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heat exchanger 23 and the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the bypass path 41h to a required ratio. In this case, the flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heat exchanger 23 can be controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the pump 47.

[0147] Furthermore, during cooling operation of the cooling and heating air conditioner 3, the control device 80 operates the heat pump 11 in the cooling operation mode, as in the first embodiment, and operates the pump 43 with the thermal valve 46 corresponding to the cooling and heating air conditioner 3 open. Furthermore, the control device 80 operates the three-way valve 48 of the first heat medium circuit 40 so that the heat medium flows only through the bypass path 41h out of the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bypass path 41h.

[0148] As a result, as shown in Figure 15 for the first heat medium circuit 40, the heat medium circulates between the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of the heat pump 11 and the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 via the bypass path 41h of the first heat medium circuit 40, and the heat medium cooled in the heat medium side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the heating and cooling air conditioner 3, thereby performing cooling operation of the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 (heat absorption operation from the indoor space by the heating and cooling air conditioner 3).

[0149] Next, when bathroom heater 4 is to be operated in heating or drying mode, controller 80, as in the first embodiment, selects either HP heating mode or combustion heating mode as the operating mode for bathroom heater 4 according to the flowchart in Figure 3. If combustion heating mode is selected (if the determination result in Step 1 or Step 3 in Figure 3 is affirmative), controller 80 closes on-off valves 71a and 71b of communication lines 70a and 70b, operates three-way valve 48 to block first outgoing line 41f upstream from first outgoing line 41f downstream (the flow path leading to heat exchanger 23 of heating unit 21) (opening only bypass line 41h), and opens thermal valve 63 for bathroom heater 4. Controller 80 then operates pump 47 and starts combustion operation of burner 22 of heating unit 21.

[0150] Furthermore, when heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a high required heat medium temperature (in high temperature mode) is requested (when the judgment result of STEP 1 in Figure 3 is positive), the control device 80 controls the combustion amount of the burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90h) becomes the high required heat medium temperature (e.g., 80°C).

[0151] As a result, as shown in Figure 14 for third heat medium circuit 60, the heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, and the heat medium temperature is controlled to the required high-temperature heat medium temperature (80°C) and supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4. As a result, bathroom heating apparatus 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required high-temperature heat medium temperature (high-temperature mode).

[0152] In this way, the heat medium is circulated between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating device 4, and bathroom heating device 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required high heat medium temperature. This is done in the same way as above when one or both of air conditioners 2 and 3 are operating in heating mode, or when air conditioner 3 is operating in cooling mode. For example, Figure 14 shows the flow of heat medium when air conditioners 2 and 3 are operating in heating mode in parallel with bathroom heating device 4's heating or drying mode.

[0153] In addition, when refrigerant operation is being performed in the cooling and heating air conditioner 3, if the bathroom heating device 4 is performing heating or drying operation in combustion heating operation mode at a low required heat medium temperature (if the judgment result of STEP 3 in Figure 3 is positive), the control device 80 controls the combustion amount of the burner 22 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90h) becomes the low required heat medium temperature (for example, 60°C).

[0154] As a result, as shown in Figure 15 for third heat medium circuit 60, the heat medium circulates between heat exchanger 23 of heating section 21 and bathroom heating apparatus 4, while the heat medium temperature is controlled to the required low heat medium temperature (60°C) and supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4. As a result, bathroom heating apparatus 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required low heat medium temperature. In parallel with this, as shown in Figure 15 for first heat medium circuit 40, the heat medium circulates between heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and air conditioning / heating apparatus 3 via bypass path 41h, while air conditioning / heating apparatus 3 operates in cooling mode as described above.

[0155] Furthermore, when controlling bathroom heater 4 in heating or drying mode, if controller 80 selects HP heating mode (i.e., if the result of STEP 3 in FIG. 3 is negative), controller 80 operates heat pump 11 in heating mode and pump 43 while opening on-off valves 71a and 71b of communication lines 70a and 70b and thermal valve 63 for bathroom heater 4. Controller 80 also operates three-way valve 48 so that first outflow line 41f on the upstream side is open only to bypass line 41h (blocking it from first outflow line 41f on the downstream side). If either air conditioner 2 or 3 is already operating in heating mode, heat pump 11 and pump 43 continue to operate.

[0156] The control device 80 then controls the temperature of the heat medium by adjusting the output of the heat pump 11 so that the temperature of the heat medium supplied to the bathroom heating device 4 (the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 90g) becomes the low required heat medium temperature (for example, a temperature within a range of 40 to 60°C) determined according to the heating temperature (or the degree of heating strength) set by the remote control 85.

[0157] As a result, as shown in Figure 16, the heat medium circulates through communication paths 70a and 70b between heat pump 11's heat medium-side heat exchanger 12 and bathroom heating device 4, supplying the heat medium whose temperature has been controlled to the required low-temperature heat medium to bathroom heating device 4. As a result, bathroom heating device 4 operates in heating or drying mode at the required low-temperature heat medium temperature. Note that Figure 16 shows the flow of heat medium when air conditioners 2 and 3 are also operating in heating mode in addition to bathroom heating device 4.

[0158] In the air conditioning system 1C described above, when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a high required heat medium temperature (in high temperature mode), or when a request is made to perform heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at a low required heat medium temperature (in low temperature mode) during cooling operation of the heating and cooling air conditioner 3, the heat medium can be circulated between the heat exchanger 23 of the heating section 21 and the bathroom heating device 4 via the third heat medium circuit 60, so that heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at the high required heat medium temperature, or heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 at the low required heat medium temperature, can be performed while the heating and cooling air conditioner 3 is operating in cooling mode.

[0159] Furthermore, even when heating operation is being performed on both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3, a heat medium at a higher temperature (80°C) than the temperature of the heat medium supplied to both or one of the air conditioners 2 and 3 (temperature in the range of 40 to 60°C) can be supplied to the bathroom heating device 4, and heating or drying operation of the bathroom heating device 4 can be performed at the required high-temperature heat medium temperature.

[0160] Furthermore, when a request is made to run bathroom heating device 4 in heating or drying mode at a low required heat medium temperature other than when air conditioning device 3 is in cooling mode, the heat medium can be circulated between heat medium side heat exchanger 12 of heat pump 11 and bathroom heating device 4 while the heat medium is heated by heat pump 11, regardless of whether heating mode is being performed in both or one of air conditioning devices 2 and 3, so that bathroom heating device 4 can run in heating or drying mode with high energy efficiency.

[0161] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments described above, and other embodiments are also possible. Some examples of other embodiments are described below. In each of the above embodiments, bathroom heating device 4 operates in combustion heating mode for heating or drying, not only when air conditioner 3 operates for heating and cooling, but also when bathroom heating device 4 is required to operate in high-temperature mode.

[0162] However, bathroom heating apparatus 4 may be configured to operate in the combustion heating mode for heating or drying only when air conditioner 3 is in cooling mode, for example. In addition, bathroom heating apparatus 4 may be configured to operate in the HP heating mode for heating or drying when air conditioner 3 is not in cooling mode, regardless of whether air conditioners 2 and 3 are in heating mode. In this case, bathroom heating apparatus 4 may operate in the combustion heating mode for heating or drying when air conditioner 3 is in cooling mode, either in the high-temperature mode or the low-temperature mode.

[0163] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when bathroom heating apparatus 4 is operating in heating or drying mode in combustion heating mode, the temperature of the heat medium supplied to bathroom heating apparatus 4 is controlled to either a high-side temperature (e.g., 80°C) or a low-side temperature (e.g., 60°C), but the temperature of the heat medium may also be controlled to only one of the high-side temperature or the low-side temperature. Alternatively, the target temperature of the heat medium may be variably set depending on the heating setting temperature (or heating strength) set by remote control 85, and the temperature of the heat medium may be controlled.

[0164] In the above embodiments, bathroom heating device 4 can be operated in either combustion heating mode or HP heating mode for heating or drying. However, it may be operated only in combustion heating mode, for example. In this case, communication paths 70a and 70b and on-off valves 71a and 71b are not required.

[0165] In each of the above embodiments, the communication paths 70a, 70b are provided with on-off valves 71a, 71b as the C-th valve device, but only one of the communication paths 70a, 70b may be provided with the on-off valve 71a or 71b. Also, as a valve device (C-th valve device) capable of shutting off the communication paths 70a, 70b, three-way valves 72a, 72b may be provided instead of the on-off valves 71a, 71b, as shown in Fig. 18A, or a four-way valve 73 and an on-off valve 74 may be provided as shown in Fig. 18B.

[0166] 18A, three-way valve 72a is installed at the connection between outgoing path 61 of third heat medium circuit 60 and communication path 70a, and three-way valve 72b is installed at the connection between returning path 62 of third heat medium circuit 60 and communication path 70b. In this case, communication paths 70a and 70b are isolated from bathroom heating device 4 by operating three-way valve 72a to open outgoing path 61 upstream of three-way valve 72a to the outgoing path 61 downstream and close it off to communication path 70a, and by operating three-way valve 72b to open return path 62 upstream of three-way valve 72b to the return path 62 downstream and close it off to communication path 70b.

[0167] In addition, by operating three-way valve 72a to block the outbound path 61 downstream of three-way valve 72a from the outbound path 61 upstream and opening it to communication path 70a, and by operating three-way valve 72b to block the return path 62 upstream of three-way valve 72b from the return path 62 downstream and opening it to communication path 70b, communication paths 70a and 70b are opened to the bathroom heating device 4.

[0168] 18B, the four-way valve 73 is assembled to a midpoint of the return line 62 of the third heat medium circuit 60, and communication lines 70a and 70b are connected to it. The four-way valve 73 has four ports, a first port 73a to a fourth port 73d, and is operable in a first operating state (a state in which flow paths indicated by solid lines in the four-way valve 73 shown in FIG. 18B are formed) in which the first port 73a and the second port 73b communicate with each other and the third port 73c and the fourth port 73d communicate with each other, and in a second operating state (a state in which flow paths indicated by dashed lines in the four-way valve 73 shown in FIG. 18B are formed) in which the first port 73a and the fourth port 73d communicate with each other and the second port 73b and the third port 73c communicate with each other.

[0169] The first port 73a and the second port 73b of the four-way valve 73 are connected to the downstream side and the upstream side of the return line 62, respectively, and the third port 73c and the fourth port 73d are connected to the communication lines 70a and 70b, respectively. Furthermore, the first port 73a of the four-way valve 73 is also connected to the outgoing line 61 via an on-off valve 74. The on-off valve 74 is configured, for example, by a thermal valve or the like.

[0170] In the example shown in Figure 18B, four-way valve 73 and on-off valve 74 are provided as described above, so by operating four-way valve 73 to the first operating state and closing on-off valve 74, communication paths 70a, 70b are blocked from bathroom heating device 4. By operating four-way valve 73 to the second operating state and opening on-off valve 74, communication paths 70a, 70b are opened to bathroom heating device 4.

[0171] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the heat pump unit 10, which is a heat pump type heat source, is exemplified as the first heat source, and the combustion type heat source unit 20, which is a combustion type heat source, is exemplified as the second heat source. However, the first heat source and the second heat source may be other types of heat sources. For example, both the first heat source and the second heat source may be heat pump type heat sources or combustion type heat sources.

[0172] In addition, while the above embodiments have exemplified a bathroom heater 4 as the second air conditioner, the second air conditioner is not limited to a bathroom heater 4. For example, the second air conditioner may be an air conditioner installed in a storage room or the like that requires heating or drying regardless of the season. Furthermore, the second air conditioner is not limited to an air conditioner capable of heating or drying operation, and may also be an air conditioner capable of cooling operation. In this case, the second air conditioner can perform cooling operation in the HP heating operation mode described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0173] 1A, 1B, 1C...Air conditioning system, 3...Air conditioning device for heating and cooling (first air conditioning device), 4...Bathroom heating device (second air conditioning device), 10...Heat pump unit (first heat source, heat pump type heat source), 20...Combustion type heat source device (second heat source, combustion type heat source), 31...Heat exchanger, 31a...First flow path, 31b...Second flow path, 40...First heat medium circuit, 41e...Bypass path, 44... Three-way valve (valve device B), 48... three-way valve (valve device D), 50... second heat medium circuit, 54... on-off valve (valve device A), 60... third heat medium circuit, 70a... communication path (inlet side communication path), 70b... communication path (outlet side communication path), 71a, 71b... on-off valve (valve device C), 72a, 72b... three-way valve (valve device C), 73... four-way valve (valve device C), 74... on-off valve (valve device C).

Claims

1. a first heat source capable of heating or cooling a heat medium; a second heat source capable of heating a heat medium; a first air conditioning device that performs air conditioning of the indoor space by performing heat exchange between a heat medium and the indoor space; a second air conditioner that performs heat exchange between a heat medium and a predetermined space different from the indoor space to air condition the predetermined space; a first heat medium circuit connected to the first heat source, the first air conditioning device, and the second heat source so as to circulate a heat medium between the first heat source and the first air conditioning device via the second heat source; a bypass path connected in parallel to the second heat source so that the heat medium can flow from the upstream side of the second heat source to the downstream side of the second heat source in the first heat medium circuit without passing through the second heat source; a third heat medium circuit connected to the second heat source and the second air conditioner so as to circulate a heat medium between the second heat source and the second air conditioner; an air conditioning system comprising: a D-type valve device operable in a first operating state in which the flow path passing through the second heat source in the first heat medium circuit and the bypass path are blocked and the bypass path is opened, and a second operating state in which the flow path passing through the second heat source is opened and the bypass path is blocked, and the D-type valve device is configured to be operable in the first operating state in a state in which the heat medium can circulate between the second heat source and the second air conditioning device via the third heat medium circuit.

2. In claim 1, an inlet-side communication path that connects a flow path in the first heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed into the first air conditioning device to a flow path in the third heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed into the second air conditioning device; an outlet-side communication path that connects a flow path in the first heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed out of the first air conditioning device to a flow path in the third heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed out of the second air conditioning device to a flow path in the third heat medium circuit through which the heat medium to be flowed out of the second air conditioning device; and a C-type valve device configured to be able to block at least one of the inlet-side communication path and the outlet-side communication path.

3. In claim 2, the first heat source is a heat pump type heat source, the second heat source is a combustion type heat source, and the second air conditioner is configured to be able to perform air conditioning operation in which heat is radiated to the specified space in two operating modes, a high temperature mode and a low temperature mode, in which the temperatures of the heat medium required for the air conditioning operation are different from each other; An air conditioning system characterized in that the C valve device is operated to an operating state in which at least one of the communication paths is blocked when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in low temperature mode while the air conditioning operation of the first air conditioner is performed in cooling mode, and when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in high temperature mode, and when the air conditioning operation of the second air conditioner is performed in low temperature mode while the air conditioning operation of the first air conditioner is performed in heating mode, the C valve device is operated to an operating state in which both the inlet side communication path and the outlet side communication path are open.

Images