Heating system

Abstract

This invention provides a heating system that controls a gas-fired radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system at appropriate operating outputs. [Solution] A heating system that heats a predetermined space using a heating device including a gas combustion radiant heating device 4 and an electric heat exchange air conditioning device 5 includes a heating level setting device 6 that sets a heating level indicating the heating intensity of the heating device, and an operating output calculation unit 20 that calculates the appropriate operating output of the gas combustion radiant heating device 4 and the appropriate operating output of the electric heat exchange air conditioning device 5 necessary to achieve the heating level, based on the heating level, the operating efficiency information of the heating device, and the operating cost information of the heating device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating system for heating a predetermined space by a heating device including a gas combustion type radiant heating device and an electric heat exchange air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] In the heating system according to Patent Document 1, it is possible to selectively switch between the independent operation of the floor heating device, the independent operation of the air conditioner, and the combined operation of the air conditioner and the floor heating device. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for detecting the room temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, and only the floor heating device performs heating operation. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is lower than the predetermined temperature, the air conditioner shifts to an operation in which the output is adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the heating system according to Patent Document 1, in the prior art, interlocking control of the floor heating device and the air conditioning device is performed based on a temperature sensor, but specific appropriate control considering the efficiency and cost of each device is not disclosed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a heating system that controls a gas combustion type radiant heating device and an electric heat exchange air conditioner with appropriate operating outputs in consideration of the efficiency and cost of a heating device including the gas combustion type radiant heating device and the electric heat exchange air conditioner.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The heating system according to the present invention is a heating system that heats a predetermined space using a heating system that includes a gas combustion radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system, and comprises a heating level setting device that sets a heating level indicating the heating intensity of the heating system, and an operating output calculation unit that calculates the appropriate operating output of the gas combustion radiant heating system and the appropriate operating output of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system necessary to achieve the heating level, based on the heating level, operating efficiency information of the heating system and operating cost information of the heating system.

[0007] This configuration allows for combined operation of a gas combustion radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system, including standalone operation of each. The operating output of each system in this combined operation is calculated based on the heating level (high / low level) indicating the heating intensity of the heating system, the operating efficiency information of the heating system (operating efficiency information of the gas combustion radiant heating system and electric heat exchange air conditioning system that constitute the heating system), and the operating cost information of the heating system (operating cost information of the gas combustion radiant heating system and electric heat exchange air conditioning system that constitute the heating system). As a result, the operation of each system, the gas combustion radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system, is performed at an economical rate calculated considering both operating efficiency and operating cost. More specifically, the combination of the operating output of a gas-burning radiant heating system and the operating output of an electric heat exchange air conditioning system required to achieve a set heating level varies depending on whether the operating output of the gas-burning radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system are variable. However, by considering energy costs such as gas and electricity charges, the amount of primary energy consumed for gas and electricity, and carbon dioxide emissions, the appropriate combination of the operating output of the gas-burning radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system can be determined appropriately. The purpose of this invention is to calculate the appropriate operating output of a gas-burning radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system required to achieve a set heating level. In this invention, gas-burning radiant heating systems include floor heating systems, ceiling heating systems, wall heating systems, etc., and electric heat exchange air conditioning systems include air conditioners, etc.

[0008] For example, gas combustion radiant heating systems tend to maintain their heating efficiency even when the temperature outside the space (outside air temperature) fluctuates, while electric heat exchange air conditioning systems tend to decrease in heating efficiency as the outside air temperature decreases. Therefore, if the operating efficiency information includes data on the relationship between outside air temperature and operating efficiency, it is possible to calculate a combination of operating output that is efficient according to the outside air temperature. Furthermore, in the case of electric heat exchange air conditioning systems such as air conditioners, the relationship between the operating output of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system and power consumption is such that power consumption increases as the outside air temperature decreases. It is preferable to consider this when calculating a combination of operating output that is efficient. In addition, if energy prices that fluctuate over time, such as variable pricing electricity rates, are applied as energy prices, if the operating cost information includes energy price data, it is possible to calculate a combination of operating output that is cost-effective each time. For these reasons, the present invention proposes that the operating efficiency information includes data on the relationship between outside air temperature (the temperature outside the space) and operating efficiency, and that the operating cost information includes energy price data for the energy required for the heating, which fluctuates over time.

[0009] Electric heat exchange air conditioning systems require greater heating capacity to raise the internal temperature of a space to a certain temperature in a given time, especially when the outside air temperature is low. To calculate a more appropriate operating output considering this, it is necessary to obtain the predicted outside temperature. While the heating capacity of gas combustion radiant heating systems is less affected by outside temperature, the time it takes for the internal temperature (room temperature) to reach the set temperature tends to be longer than that of electric heat exchange air conditioning systems. Predicted outside temperatures can be obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency or weather service companies via communication networks such as the internet. Therefore, in this invention, the operating efficiency information includes the predicted outside temperature, and this predicted temperature is used as one of the conditions for calculating the appropriate operating output. The operating output calculation unit calculates the appropriate operating output by considering the time difference between the time required for the internal temperature to rise to a predetermined temperature by the gas combustion radiant heating system and the time required for the internal temperature to rise to a predetermined temperature by the electric heat exchange air conditioning system. This configuration also makes it possible to calculate the optimal appropriate operating output according to the installation location (region) of the heating system. Furthermore, if the expected outside temperature over time is used instead of the current outside temperature, it becomes possible to calculate the operating output while considering the difference in responsiveness (temporal characteristics of temperature rise at the start of heating) between gas combustion radiant heating systems and electric heat exchange air conditioning systems.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of heating control that takes into account the difference in responsiveness between a gas combustion radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system, the present invention proposes that, during the heating period set by the heating level setter, the heating system is started when the estimated outside air temperature, determined from the predicted temperature, falls below an operation start threshold, and the heating system is stopped when the estimated outside air temperature falls above an operation stop threshold. In this configuration, the operation start and stop of the gas combustion radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system are automatically controlled based on forecast temperature data of the outside air temperature, thereby eliminating the need for manual operation by the user. Furthermore, by adjusting the operation start threshold of the gas combustion radiant heating system based on acquired weather forecast data, it is possible to start the operation of the gas combustion radiant heating system earlier than the operation start of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system, thereby enabling heating control that compensates for the slowness in raising the temperature of the interior space by the gas combustion radiant heating system.

[0011] There is a significant difference in the time it takes for the internal space temperature (room temperature) to rise or fall after operation begins between a gas combustion radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system, with the gas combustion radiant heating system being slower. This problem is also affected by the heat transfer characteristics of the space, such as the insulation performance of the house. Therefore, for example, by operating the gas combustion radiant heating system alone and detecting the change in room temperature after operation begins and after operation ends using a temperature sensor installed at the intake port of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system, and then starting or stopping the gas combustion radiant heating system earlier than the electric heat exchange air conditioning system by the time it takes for the temperature to change to a predetermined temperature based on the detection results, a more appropriate combined operation can be achieved. For this reason, the present invention proposes that the time difference between the start and stop of operation between the gas combustion radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system be corrected based on the heat transfer characteristics of the space. In this case, the start time and stop time for the gas combustion radiant heating system before the electric heat exchange air conditioning system may be fixed, but it is more preferable to vary them depending on the environment and season in which the heating system is installed. For example, in a specific embodiment, it is preferable to set the time until the room temperature rises to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 10°C) after the gas combustion radiant heating system starts up as the pre-start time prior to the start of operation of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system, and the time until the room temperature drops to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 8°C) after the gas combustion radiant heating system stops up as the pre-stop time prior to the stop of operation of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system.

[0012] In floor heating systems, which are an example of gas-fired radiant heating systems, cyclical operation may be performed during steady-state operation, in which the operating state and the stopped state are alternately repeated at a certain interval. If the timing of the gas-fired radiant heating system stopping and the timing of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system stopping due to the activation of the thermostat's OFF function may overlap, the user's perceived temperature may decrease, potentially impairing user comfort. Therefore, in the present invention, if the gas-fired radiant heating system is capable of cyclical operation in which the operating time and the stopped time are alternately repeated, and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system is capable of automatically stopping operation when the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space, reaches a stop temperature set based on a target temperature, it is proposed that, while the gas-fired radiant heating system is performing the cyclical operation, the stop temperature when the gas-fired radiant heating system is stopped is set to be a predetermined temperature higher than the stop temperature when the gas-fired radiant heating system is operating. While the gas combustion radiant heating system is performing the cyclical operation, the target temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating system is stopped may be set to be a predetermined temperature higher than the target temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating system is in operation. By adjusting the operating conditions of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system based on the operating cycle of the gas combustion radiant heating system, the operating balance of the gas combustion radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system can be adjusted, enabling economical heating operation that prevents unnecessary operation while maintaining comfort. In addition, the automatic adjustment of the stop temperature (or target temperature) of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system in order to avoid compromising user comfort has the effect of keeping the stop temperature (or target temperature) low, leading to economical operation and stable indoor conditions.

[0013] Other features, functions, and effects of the present invention will be revealed by the following description of the invention with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a reference diagram that visually shows the heating level and the operating output of the underfloor heating and air conditioning systems within the heating system. [Figure 2] This schematic diagram visually illustrates the relationship between the operating output of underfloor heating and air conditioning, and energy costs, in an example of heating control at an outside temperature of 15°C and a heating level of 50%. [Figure 3] This schematic diagram visually illustrates the relationship between the operating output of underfloor heating and air conditioning, and energy costs, in an example of heating control at an outside temperature of 0°C and a heating level of 50%. [Figure 4] This schematic diagram visually illustrates the relationship between the operating output of underfloor heating and air conditioning, and energy costs, in an example of heating control at an outside temperature of 15°C and a heating level of 80%. [Figure 5] This schematic diagram visually illustrates the relationship between the operating output of underfloor heating and air conditioning, and energy costs, in an example of heating control at an outside temperature of 15°C and a heating level of 20%. [Figure 6] This is a functional block diagram showing an example of a heating system. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing the difference in start-up time and stop-down time between underfloor heating and air conditioning. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing the operating and stopping times between the underfloor heating and air conditioning, various temperatures, and the hot water flow rate of the underfloor heating. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows an example of a heating system's shutdown temperature control. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The heating system according to the present invention is a system that heats a predetermined space using a heating system that includes a gas combustion radiant heating system and an electric heat exchange air conditioning system. In this system, the operating output, or capacity ratio, of the gas combustion radiant heating system and the electric heat exchange air conditioning system is optimally determined based on conditions such as energy costs. In the following description, a floor heating system (hereinafter simply referred to as "floor heating") is used as an example of a gas combustion radiant heating system, and an air conditioning system (hereinafter simply referred to as "air conditioner") that primarily uses electricity for heating is used as an example of an electric heat exchange air conditioning system.

[0016] Before describing an embodiment of this heating system, some heating control examples in this heating system will be described using FIGS. 1 to 5. FIGS. 1 to 5 are schematic diagrams visually showing the heating level of the heating system and the operation output which is the capacity ratio between the floor heating and the air conditioner.

[0017] In FIGS. 1 to 5, each operation output which is the capacity ratio between the floor heating and the air conditioner in the heating system is visually shown by a stacked bar graph. The height of this stacked bar graph indicates the heating level (0% to 100%, or stop / weak / medium / strong) set for the heating system, and each stacked part of the stacked bar graph indicates the operation output which is the heating capacity of each of the floor heating (lower stacked part) and the air conditioner (upper stacked part). In FIGS. 1 to 5, the area of the floor heating is drawn with horizontal lines, and the area of the air conditioner is drawn with vertical lines. FIG. 1 is a reference diagram for explaining the stacked bar graph, and the operation output representing the heating capacity of each of the floor heating and the air conditioner varies from 0% (stop) to 100% (full power). FIGS. 2 to 5 show actual heating control examples.

[0018] In Fig. 2, under the condition that the outside air temperature is 15°C, the operating outputs (capacity ratios) from 100% to 0% of the floor heating and the air conditioner respectively when the heating level of the heating system is 50%, that is, the heating intensity is medium, are shown by a stacked bar graph, and the energy cost at each operating output is shown by a line graph. This line graph showing the energy cost is a graph created from energy price data obtained as external information and information regarding energy, and hereinafter will be referred to as the energy cost graph. The vertical axis of the energy cost graph is the energy cost, and the horizontal axis is the operating output (air conditioner ratio and floor heating ratio), and is drawn as a bold solid line in Figs. 2 to 5. The left end of the horizontal axis indicates the floor heating operation alone with the operating output of the floor heating being 100%, and the right end of the horizontal axis indicates the air conditioner operation alone with the operating output of the air conditioner being 100%. The minimum point of the energy cost graph is indicated by the intersection of the crosshairs, and the intersection of the vertical line of the crosshairs and the horizontal axis gives the operating output with the lowest energy cost. In the heating control example of Fig. 2, when the heating level is 50%, the lowest energy cost is achieved when the operating output of the floor heating is 30% and the operating output of the air conditioner is 70%.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows a heating control example in which, under the condition that the outside air temperature is 0°C, the energy cost graph is different compared to Fig. 2. In this heating control example, when the heating level is 50%, the lowest energy cost is achieved when the operating output of the floor heating is 80% and the operating output of the air conditioner is 20%.

[0020] In Fig. 4, under the condition that the outside air temperature is 15°C, the operating outputs (capacity ratios) from 100% to 0% of the floor heating and the air conditioner respectively when the heating level of the heating system is 80%, that is, the heating intensity is high, are shown by a stacked bar graph, and the energy cost at each operating output is shown by a line graph. At the left end of the horizontal axis, the floor heating operation with the operating output of the floor heating being 100% is shown, and at the right end of the horizontal axis, the air conditioner operation with the operating output of the air conditioner being 100% is shown. In this heating control example, when the heating level is 80%, the lowest energy cost is achieved when the operating output of the floor heating is 95% and the operating output of the air conditioner is 75%.

[0021] Figure 5 shows a stacked bar graph illustrating the operating output of both the underfloor heating and air conditioning from 40% to 0% under the condition of an outside temperature of 15°C, with a heating level of 20% (i.e., low heating intensity). The energy cost at each operating output is shown in a line graph. The left end of the horizontal axis shows underfloor heating operating alone at 40% output, and the right end of the horizontal axis shows air conditioning operating alone at 40% output. In this heating control example, the lowest energy cost is achieved when the heating level is 20%, the underfloor heating operating output is 0% (i.e., underfloor heating is turned off), and the air conditioning operating output is 40%.

[0022] Next, an embodiment of a heating system capable of providing heating at the operating output shown in the various heating control examples described above will be explained using the functional block diagram in Figure 6. This heating system comprises a control unit 1, which is a core component; a floor heating system (hereinafter simply referred to as floor heating 4), which is an example of a gas combustion type radiant heating system; an air conditioner 5, which is an example of an electric heat exchange air conditioning system; a heating level setter 6, which is a remote control for the heating unit; and an external data acquisition unit 7, which acquires various external information from various internet servers 8.

[0023] The control unit 1 is essentially composed of a computer unit, and the main functional parts, such as the operation output calculation unit 20, are constructed by executing the installed program. Furthermore, the control unit 1 includes an external information processing unit 10 and a heating control unit 30.

[0024] The external information processing unit 10 processes the external information acquired via the external data acquisition unit 7, converting it into data that can be handled by the functional units of the control unit 1. The converted data is then provided to each functional unit of the control unit 1, for example, the operation output calculation unit 20. The external information includes operating efficiency information for the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5, and operating cost information related to the heating operation of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5. Based on the operating cost information, the external information processing unit 10 also creates energy cost curve data as shown in Figures 2 to 5. The energy cost curve data may also be received as external information from the external data acquisition unit 7. Furthermore, the operating efficiency information includes the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space heated by this heating system, and the outside temperature, which is the temperature outside the space. In addition, relationship data between the operating efficiency of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5 at the internal temperature and the outside temperature of the space is also included in the operating efficiency information, or is generated from the operating efficiency information. Regarding the outside air temperature, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor at the air intake of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 5 can be used, and regarding the internal temperature, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor at the air outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner 5 can be used. Such temperatures can also be transferred as external information to the external information processing unit 10 via the external data acquisition unit 7.

[0025] The heating control unit 30 receives from the operating output calculation unit 20 the economical operating output (floor heating ratio and air conditioning ratio) of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5, as well as other heating information necessary for heating control, as shown in Figures 2 to 5. Furthermore, the heating control unit 30 gives floor heating control commands to the floor heating control unit 41 of the floor heating 4 and air conditioning control commands to the air conditioning control unit 51 of the air conditioner 5.

[0026] The heating level setting unit 6 functions as a remote control unit for the heating system and includes an operation panel 61 and a display 62 capable of displaying heating information and other information. In particular, functions relevant to the present invention include the ability to set the heating level of the heating system via the operation panel 61 and the ability to provide the set heating level to the control unit 1. The heating level represents the strength of the combined heating operation of the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5, expressed as a numerical value from 0 to 10, or as characters such as stop, weak, medium, or strong. The heating level setting unit 6 also has a timer function that operates the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 during a set heating time period.

[0027] The external data acquisition unit 7 acquires various external information from internet servers 8, such as weather service providers and energy management providers. Of course, the external data acquisition unit 7 can also acquire various external information in batches via data memory devices, etc. Furthermore, the external data acquisition unit 7 can also acquire detected temperatures as external information from temperature sensors installed inside or outside the space to be heated. The external information acquired by the external data acquisition unit 7 is provided to the external information processing unit 10.

[0028] The operating output calculation unit 20 primarily calculates the economically appropriate operating output for the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5, as shown in the heating control examples in Figures 2 to 5. The operating output calculation unit 20 includes a threshold management unit 21, an operation start time calculation unit 22, and an operation stop time calculation unit 23.

[0029] The operating output calculation unit 20 calculates the operating output (from 0% to 100%) of the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 using the following parameters for calculating the operating output: heating level, internal temperature of a predetermined space to be heated (such as a room, classroom, or hall), outside temperature of the space (for example, ambient temperature around the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 5, which may be a directly measured temperature or a predicted temperature), electricity price data which is energy charge data for the air conditioner 5 (which may be data that fluctuates over time), and gas price data which is energy charge data for the floor heating 4 (which may be data that fluctuates over time). Furthermore, in the case of air conditioner 5, the relationship between the operating output of air conditioner 5 and power consumption is such that power consumption increases as the outside temperature decreases. Therefore, the operating output of the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 is calculated by considering the outside temperature, the operating output of air conditioner 5, and power consumption. The set heating level is achieved by heating with the calculated operating output of air conditioner 5 and floor heating 4. The outside temperature of the space may be estimated from predicted temperatures as external information announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency or other sources. In particular, the operating output calculation unit 20 uses the predicted temperature as one of the important conditions (conditions for calculating the appropriate operating output) when calculating the appropriate operating output.

[0030] The specific calculation of the operating output (appropriate operating output) involves the following: (1) a machine learning model generated by inputting the above-mentioned operating output calculation parameters and outputting the operating outputs of floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5; (2) calculation formulas generated to derive the operating outputs of floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 from the above-mentioned operating output calculation parameters; (3) a lookup table generated to derive the operating outputs of floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 from the above-mentioned operating output calculation parameters; and (4) a rule-based system created using the above-mentioned operating output calculation parameters.

[0031] This operating output calculation unit 20 has a special heating control function that controls the heating of the air conditioner 5 and the floor heating 4, taking into account the time difference required for the internal temperature between the air conditioner 5 and the floor heating 4 to rise to a predetermined temperature. Specifically, during the heating period set by the heating level setter 6, the operation of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5 is started at the timing (time) when the estimated outside air temperature obtained from the predicted temperature falls below the operation start threshold, and the operation of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5 is stopped at the timing (time) when the estimated outside air temperature obtained from the predicted temperature falls above the operation stop threshold.

[0032] In the example shown in Figure 7, the heating period (time zone) is from 6:00 to 22:00, with the start threshold being t1 and the stop threshold being t2. In the example shown in Figure 7, the air conditioner 5 starts operating at temperature t0, the floor heating 4 starts operating earlier than the air conditioner 5 by the "air conditioner pre-start time", and the floor heating 4 stops operating earlier than the air conditioner 5 by the "air conditioner pre-stop time". The start threshold and stop threshold are managed by the threshold management unit 21, the "start time" is calculated by the start time calculation unit 22, and the "stop time" is calculated by the stop time calculation unit 23. The time difference between the start and stop of operation between the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5 is determined by experimental consideration, etc., and is, for example, put into a lookup table. Furthermore, this time difference can be corrected based on the heat transfer characteristics of the materials formed inside and outside the space being heated, or it can be arbitrarily corrected by the user.

[0033] The floor heating system 4 can be configured to perform cyclical operation in which operating time and stopping time alternate at a fixed interval. The air conditioner 5 can also be configured to automatically stop operation when the internal temperature of the space being heated reaches a stop temperature set based on the target temperature. In such a case, if the timing of the floor heating system 4 stopping and the timing of the air conditioner 5 stopping due to, for example, the activation of the OFF function by the thermostat, the user's perceived temperature may decrease, potentially compromising the user's comfort.

[0034] The following will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 8. In the example in Figure 8, the temperature is controlled between the required temperature t3 and temperature t4 by using the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5. The floor heating 4 is in cycle operation mode. The air conditioner 5 automatically starts operation (turns on) when the temperature falls below the set target temperature and automatically stops when the temperature rises above the set target temperature. The heating time is between 5 and 7 hours, and the operating time (operating cycle, floor heating ON) of the floor heating 4 is indicated by C1, C2, and C3. The stopping time (stopping cycle) of the floor heating 4 is indicated by S1 and S2. Note that C0 indicates the time before the floor heating 4 enters cycle operation mode.

[0035] The graph in Figure 8 shows the trends in floor temperature, room temperature (temperature of the interior space), hot water flow rate, supply hot water temperature, and air conditioner outlet temperature. Floor temperature is the average of temperatures measured at multiple points on the floor. Room temperature is the temperature of the interior space being heated, and is the average of temperatures measured at multiple points in the interior space. Hot water flow rate is the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water pipes used for floor heating 4. Supply hot water temperature is the temperature of the hot water as it flows through the hot water pipes used for floor heating 4. Air conditioner outlet temperature is the temperature of the hot air blown out from air conditioner 5.

[0036] The floor temperature tends to rise with a slight delay after the start of floor heating 4 operation, and continues to rise for a certain period of time after floor heating 4 is stopped before decreasing. The room temperature tends to rise with a slight delay after the start of air conditioner 5 operation, and decreases sharply after air conditioner 5 is stopped. The hot water flow rate is maintained at a predetermined flow rate when floor heating 4 is running, and becomes 0 (zero) when floor heating 4 is stopped. The supply hot water temperature becomes high when floor heating 4 is running and becomes low when floor heating 4 is stopped. The air conditioner outlet temperature becomes high when air conditioner 5 is running and becomes low when air conditioner 5 is stopped.

[0037] The operating time (operating cycle, air conditioner ON) of air conditioner 5 is indicated by D1, D2, and D3. The stopping time (stopping cycle) of air conditioner 5 is indicated by A and B. The first operating time D1 of air conditioner 5 starts partway through the first operating time C1 of floor heating 4 and continues partway through the first stopping time S1 of floor heating 4. The second operating time D2 of air conditioner 5 starts partway through the first stopping time S1 of floor heating 4 and continues partway through the second operating time C2 of floor heating 4. The third operating time D3 of air conditioner 5 starts partway through the second stopping time S2 of floor heating 4 and continues partway through the second stopping time S2 of floor heating 4.

[0038] In the operating cycle of the air conditioner 5, the stop time A between the first operating time D1 and the second operating time D2 is the time when the air conditioner 5 is stopped, for example, when the OFF function of the thermostat (hereinafter referred to as the "thermo OFF function") is activated while the floor heating 4 is stopped. During this stop time A, the decrease in room temperature due to the stopping of the air conditioner 5 and the decrease in floor temperature due to the stopping of the floor heating 4 occur simultaneously, which may impair user comfort. On the other hand, in the same operating cycle of the air conditioner 5, the stop time B between the second operating time D2 and the third operating time D3 is the time when the air conditioner 5 is stopped, for example, when the thermo OFF function is activated while the floor heating 4 is running. During this stop time B, even if the room temperature decreases due to the stopping of the air conditioner 5, the floor temperature is expected to rise due to the operation of the floor heating 4, so user comfort is more likely to be maintained.

[0039] Therefore, if the floor heating system 4 is capable of cyclical operation in which operating time and stopping time alternate at a fixed interval, and the air conditioner 5 is capable of automatically stopping operation when the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space, reaches a stop temperature set based on the target temperature, then, while the floor heating system 4 is performing cyclical operation, the stop temperature when the floor heating system 4 is stopped is set to be a predetermined temperature higher than the stop temperature when the floor heating system 4 is operating.

[0040] Specifically, when the air conditioner 5 is in operation and the floor heating 4 is stopped, the system controls the air conditioner 5 to raise the temperature at which its thermo-OFF function is triggered by a predetermined temperature (for example, 1°C). This makes it less likely for the air conditioner 5 to stop when the floor heating 4 is stopped. In other words, one example of a stop temperature at which the air conditioner 5 automatically stops is the temperature at which its thermo-OFF function is triggered.

[0041] Figure 9 shows an example of the stop temperature control of the heating system during the cyclical operation of the floor heating system 4. In step #01, when the operation of air conditioner 5 is started (ON), the operating status of floor heating 4 is checked in step #02. In step #02, if it is determined that the operation of floor heating 4 is stopped (OFF) (step #02, Yes), in step #03, the stop temperature of air conditioner 5 is set to be raised by a certain temperature from the initial temperature, or the stop temperature is maintained at a certain temperature above the initial temperature. On the other hand, in step #02, if it is determined that floor heating 4 is operating (ON) (step #02, No), in step #04, the stop temperature of air conditioner 5 is reset to the initial value.

[0042] Subsequently, in step #5, the stop temperature of air conditioner 5 is compared with the room temperature. If the room temperature is equal to or greater than the stop temperature of air conditioner 5, the operation of air conditioner 5 is stopped in step #6. On the other hand, if the room temperature is less than the stop temperature of air conditioner 5 in step #5, the operation of air conditioner 5 continues, and the system returns to just before step #2, with the stop temperature of air conditioner 5 being reset in steps #2 to #4.

[0043] In this way, by controlling the stop temperature of the air conditioner 5 according to the operating status of the floor heating 4, user comfort when using the heating system is ensured. The control of the stop temperature of the air conditioner 5 can be achieved by using the operation output calculation unit 20, heating control unit 30, floor heating control unit 41, and air conditioner control unit 51, etc.

[0044] The heating system may also use the following control instead of the above control, which sets the stop temperature when the floor heating 4 is stopped while the floor heating 4 is in cyclic operation to be a predetermined temperature higher than the stop temperature when the floor heating 4 is in operation: When the floor heating 4 is in cyclic operation, the target temperature set by the air conditioner 5 when the floor heating 4 is stopped to be a predetermined temperature higher than the target temperature when the floor heating 4 is in operation. Specifically, the air conditioner 5 implements a control to raise the target temperature (an example of the stop temperature of the air conditioner 5) by a predetermined temperature (e.g., 1°C) in its internal settings. The above control can be made possible, for example, by replacing the "stop temperature" of the air conditioner 5 with the "target temperature" of the air conditioner 5 in the flowchart of Figure 9. Note that other changes to the flowchart of Figure 9 include the condition that the room temperature exceeds the target temperature of the air conditioner 5 by a predetermined temperature in step #05, and the addition of "reduction of air conditioner 5's airflow" in step #06 in addition to "stopping the air conditioner 5".

[0045] [Another embodiment] (1) In the embodiments described above, a machine learning model, calculation formula, lookup table, etc., are used to calculate the operating output of the floor heating 4 and the air conditioner 5. However, a function may be provided that allows the user to adjust the operating output calculated by these, or a function may be provided that allows the user to set the operating output independently.

[0046] (2) The functional block diagram in Figure 6 is for illustrative purposes only, and the integration or further division of each functional part can be done as desired.

[0047] (3) In the embodiment described above, the operating output of the floor heating 4 and air conditioner 5 at the point where the energy cost graph is at its lowest was defined as the appropriate operating output for each, and the energy charges that fluctuate over time were used as the parameters of the energy cost. Alternatively, the amount of primary energy consumed for gas or electricity or the amount of carbon dioxide emitted may be used as the parameters of the energy cost, or a weighting coefficient (a value between 0 and 1) may be assigned to each of the energy charges, primary energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, and all of these may be used as parameters of the energy cost.

[0048] Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no inconsistencies arise. Moreover, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the object of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0049] The present invention applies to a heating system that heats a predetermined space using a heating system that includes a gas combustion radiant heating device and an electric heat exchange air conditioning device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1: Control Unit 4: Underfloor heating (gas combustion radiant heating system) 5: Air conditioner (electric heat exchange air conditioning system) 6: Heating level setting device 7: External data acquisition unit 10: External Information Processing Unit 20: Operating output calculation unit 21: Threshold Management Department 22: Unit for calculating the start time of operation 23: Unit for calculating the time to stop operation 30: Heating control unit 41: Floor heating control unit 51: Air Conditioner Control Unit

Claims

1. In a heating system that heats a predetermined space using a heating device including a gas combustion radiant heating device and an electric heat exchange air conditioning device, A heating level setter for setting a heating level that indicates the heating intensity of the heating device, A heating system comprising: an operating output calculation unit that calculates the appropriate operating output of the gas combustion radiant heating system and the appropriate operating output of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system necessary to achieve the heating level, based on the heating level, the operating efficiency information of the heating system, and the operating cost information of the heating system.

2. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the operating efficiency information includes data relating to the outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the space, and the operating efficiency, and the operating cost information includes data on the energy price of the energy required for the heating, which fluctuates over time.

3. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the operating efficiency information includes the predicted outside temperature, the predicted temperature is used as one of the conditions for calculating the appropriate operating output, and the operating output calculation unit calculates the appropriate operating output by considering the time difference between the time required for the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space, to rise to a predetermined temperature by the gas combustion radiant heating device and the time required for the internal temperature to rise to a predetermined temperature by the electric heat exchange air conditioning device.

4. The heating system according to claim 3, wherein, during the heating period set by the heating level setter, the heating device is started when the estimated outside air temperature obtained from the predicted temperature falls below an operation start threshold, and the heating device is stopped when the estimated outside air temperature falls above an operation stop threshold.

5. The heating system according to claim 3, wherein the operation of the gas combustion radiant heating system is started earlier than the operation of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system, and the operation of the gas combustion radiant heating system is stopped earlier than the operation of the electric heat exchange air conditioning system.

6. The heating system according to claim 5, wherein the time difference between the start and stop of operation between the gas combustion radiant heating device and the electric heat exchange air conditioning device is corrected based on the heat transfer characteristics of the space.

7. The aforementioned gas combustion type radiant heating system is capable of cyclical operation in which operating time and stopping time are alternately repeated. The electric heat exchange air conditioning unit is capable of automatically stopping operation when the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space, reaches a stop temperature set based on a target temperature, and the heating system according to claim 1, wherein the stop temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating unit is stopped is set to be a predetermined temperature higher than the stop temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating unit is in operation, while the gas combustion radiant heating unit is performing the cyclic operation.

8. The aforementioned gas combustion type radiant heating system is capable of cyclical operation in which operating time and stopping time are alternately repeated. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the electric heat exchange air conditioning unit is capable of operating so that the internal temperature, which is the temperature inside the space, reaches a target temperature, and the target temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating unit is stopped is set to be a predetermined temperature higher than the target temperature when the gas combustion radiant heating unit is operating, while the gas combustion radiant heating unit is performing the cyclic operation.

9. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the gas combustion type radiant heating device is a floor heating device, and the electric heat exchange air conditioning device is an air conditioning device.

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