Hot water storage system

Abstract

To provide a hot water storage and supply system that can store hot water in a storage tank so that the amount of heat in the storage tank does not become insufficient, even if the past hot water supply times are not consistent. [Solution] The hot water storage and supply system (1) includes a hot water storage tank (21), a heat source unit (10) for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a hot water outlet passage (27) for the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a means for detecting the amount of heat output in the outlet passage, a hot water supply means (55) for supplying hot water via a hot water supply passage (54) downstream of the outlet passage, and a control means (29) that predicts the required amount of heat for each time period based on the hot water output record including the amount of heat output and the time of hot water output, and controls the storage of hot water for a total amount of heat obtained by summing the required amount of heat for a predetermined number of time periods. The control means calculates the amount of heat for one hot water supply and the predicted amount of heat for each time period using the hot water supply record by the hot water supply means and the hot water supply record other than hot water supply included in the hot water output record, extracts the time periods in which hot water supply was performed, sets multiple time periods consecutive from the earliest starting time period among the extracted time periods as the hot water supply prediction period (T), and sets the amount of heat for one hot water supply to the starting time period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic hot water storage and supply system that predicts future hot water output based on past hot water output records and stores hot water in a hot water storage tank according to this prediction.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a hot water storage and supply system that uses a heat pump type heat source machine as a heat source machine to perform a hot water storage operation of heating and storing hot water in a hot water storage tank and uses the hot water stored in this hot water storage tank for hot water supply or pouring hot water into a bathtub has been widely used. For example, there are types that store hot water for the next day the previous night using late-night electricity that is set at a lower cost than during the day, and types that store the amount of heat required for future hot water supply predicted based on past hot water output records before using the hot water for supply.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that as hot water output records, the amount of hot water drained from the bathtub and the amount of hot water output other than draining are stored, and hot water storage for the total amount of the hot water drained and the hot water output other than draining is started before the scheduled start time of draining (pouring hot water).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Generally, heat pump heat sources are more energy-efficient than combustion heat sources, but they take longer to heat up. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, they are often configured to predict future hot water start times and heat output amounts based on past hot water output records over a predetermined reference period, and to store the required amount of heat before the predicted start time. In this case, the average value of the heat output amount for each time period divided into predetermined time intervals is used as the required heat amount for each time period, and the required heat amounts for multiple time periods are stored together to some extent to minimize startup losses and heat dissipation losses of the heat pump heat source.

[0006] When applying the above-described heat quantity prediction to the amount of heat poured, which corresponds to the amount of hot water dispensed when filling a bathtub as described in Patent Document 1, if the time of pouring varies from day to day, the prediction of the amount of heat poured may be divided into multiple time periods. However, normal pouring is performed only once over a period of about 10 to 20 minutes, and is not performed intermittently in multiple time periods. If hot water is stored according to the prediction of the amount of heat poured, which is divided into multiple time periods, if hot water is poured in the earlier time period of the prediction, the predicted amount of heat poured in the later time period will not be stored, resulting in a shortage of heat in the hot water storage tank (running out of hot water).

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a hot water storage and supply system that can store hot water so as not to run out of hot water even if the timing of past hot water supply operations is not consistent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The hot water storage and supply system of the invention of claim 1 comprises a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heat source for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank, a hot water outlet passage for dispensing hot water from the hot water storage tank, a hot water outlet heat amount detection means for detecting the amount of heat discharged from the hot water outlet passage, a hot water pouring means for pouring hot water through a hot water pouring passage connected to a bathtub downstream of the hot water outlet passage, and a means for predicting the required amount of heat for each time period divided into predetermined time intervals based on the amount of heat discharged detected by the hot water outlet heat amount detection means and past hot water discharge records including the time of discharge, and storing the sum of the required heat amounts for a predetermined number of time periods. In a hot water storage and supply system having a control means for controlling the hot water supply, the control means calculates the amount of heat for one hot water supply and the predicted amount of heat for hot water supply for each time period using the hot water supply record by the hot water supply means and the hot water supply record other than hot water supply included in the hot water supply record, extracts the time periods in which hot water supply was performed, sets the earliest time period among the extracted time periods as the starting time period, sets a plurality of time periods consecutive to this starting time period as the hot water supply prediction period in which one hot water supply is expected to be performed, and sets the amount of heat for one hot water supply in the starting time period.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the control means predicts the required heat amount for each time period based on hot water output records and stores the total required heat amount for a predetermined number of time periods. In predicting the required heat amount, the amount of heat for one pour and the predicted amount of hot water supply for each time period are calculated, the time periods in which hot water pouring was performed are extracted, and the earliest time period among the extracted time periods is set as the starting time period, and a hot water pouring prediction period is set in which it is predicted that one hot water pour will be performed after this starting time period. The calculated amount of heat for one hot water pour is then set in the starting time period. Therefore, even if the hot water pouring time is long because the hot water pouring time is not constant in past hot water output records, the amount of heat for one hot water pour can be stored by the time the hot water pouring prediction period is completed, so there will be no hot water shortage.

[0010] The hot water storage and supply system of the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, when the current time moves to the next time period within the hot water supply prediction period without hot water supply being performed, the control means shifts the amount of heat for one hot water supply to the next time period after the time period to which the current time moves, and resets the amount of heat for one hot water supply to zero if the time period to which the shift setting is set is outside the hot water supply prediction period. With the above configuration, if hot water has not yet been poured during the hot water pouring prediction period, the amount of heat required for one pour is maintained within the hot water pouring prediction period. Therefore, if a portion of the stored hot water for pouring is used up due to hot water supply exceeding the predicted amount of hot water supply, resulting in a shortage of heat for one pour, hot water can be stored to replenish this shortage, preventing a hot water shortage. Furthermore, since the amount of heat required for one pour is not shifted outside the hot water pouring prediction period, it is possible to avoid the waste of maintaining the amount of heat required for one pour even after the hot water pouring prediction period.

[0011] The hot water storage and supply system of the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, when hot water is poured or the water in the bathtub is reheated, the control means limits the amount of heat for one pour to zero until the heat limit period set after the pour is completed. According to the above configuration, if hot water is added to the bathtub or the bathwater is reheated, there will already be water in the bathtub. In this case, it is unlikely that the amount of hot water equivalent to one hot water addition will be added in the near future. Therefore, after adding hot water or reheating, the amount of hot water equivalent to one hot water addition can be limited to zero until the heat limit period ends, preventing unnecessary storage of hot water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the hot water storage and supply system of the present invention, hot water can be stored in a way that prevents running out of hot water even if the timing of past hot water supply operations is not consistent. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a hot water storage and supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is a configuration diagram of the auxiliary heat source machine in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart for predicting the hot water injection heat quantity. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing a prediction example of the required heat quantity based on the actual hot water output. [Figure 5] It is a prediction example of the required heat quantity when shifting to the next time zone of the prediction example in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is an example of setting the heat quantity deadline period. [Figure 7] It is an example where the prediction of the required heat quantity within the hot water injection prediction period is completed. [Figure 8] It is an example of shift setting of the heat quantity for one hot water injection when reaching the hot water injection prediction period. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing the reset of the heat quantity for one hot water injection when reaching the final time zone of the hot water injection prediction period.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.

Example

[0015] First, the hot water storage and supply system 1 will be described based on FIG. 1. The hot water storage and supply system 1 includes a heat pump type main heat source machine 10 (heat source machine), a hot water storage unit 20 having a hot water storage tank 21, and an auxiliary heat source machine 40. The auxiliary heat source machine 40 is, for example, a combustion type heat source machine, and heats the hot water supplied from the hot water storage unit 20 through the hot water passage 41 according to its temperature, or supplies it without heating, for example, to a hot water faucet 8 connected to the hot water supply passage 42.

[0016] At the bottom of the hot water storage tank 21, a main heat source machine forward passage 23 equipped with a pump 22 is connected to supply the hot water in the hot water storage tank 21 to the main heat source machine 10. At the top of the hot water storage tank 21, a main heat source machine return passage 24 for returning the hot water heated by the main heat source machine 10 to the hot water storage tank 21 is connected. In the middle of the main heat source machine return passage 24, a switching valve 25 for switching the flow path of the hot water is arranged, and a return branch passage 24a branched from the main heat source machine return passage 24 by the switching valve 25 is connected to the upstream side portion of the pump 22 of the main heat source machine forward passage 23.

[0017] A plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 21a to 21d are arranged in the hot water storage tank 21, and the temperature and the amount of stored hot water in the hot water storage tank 21, that is, the stored heat amount of the hot water, can be detected. In the upstream side portion of the switching valve 25 of the main heat source machine return passage 24, a return temperature sensor 24b for detecting the temperature of the hot water heated by the main heat source machine 10 is arranged. For example, when the detected temperature of the return temperature sensor 24b is low immediately after the start of the main heat source machine 10, the switching valve 25 is switched from the hot water storage tank 21 side to the return branch passage 24a side, and the hot water is circulated without returning to the hot water storage tank 21 until it can be sufficiently heated.

[0018] At the bottom of the hot water storage tank 21, a water supply passage 26 for supplying make-up water is connected as shown by the arrow CW. At the top of the hot water storage tank 21, a hot water discharge passage 27 for discharging the hot water in the hot water storage tank 21 outside the hot water storage unit 20 is connected. A water supply branch passage 26a branched from the middle of the water supply passage 26 is connected to a mixing valve 28 arranged in the middle of the hot water discharge passage 27.

[0019] A water supply temperature sensor 26b is installed in the water supply passage 26 to detect the temperature of the tap water supplied from the water supply passage 26 (water supply temperature). A hot water outlet passage 27 is installed in the hot water outlet passage 27, a hot water outlet temperature sensor 27b and a hot water outlet temperature sensor 27c. The hot water outlet flow rate sensor 27a detects the flow rate of hot water from the hot water storage unit 20. The hot water storage tank outlet temperature sensor 27b detects the temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water storage tank 21 (hot water storage tank outlet temperature). The hot water outlet temperature sensor 27c detects the temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water storage unit 20. The hot water outlet flow rate sensor 27a and the hot water outlet temperature sensor 27c correspond to the hot water heat quantity detection means, and the hot water heat quantity is detected (calculated) based on the hot water flow rate detected by the hot water outlet flow rate sensor 27a and the hot water temperature detected by the hot water outlet temperature sensor 27c.

[0020] The hot water outlet passage 27 of the hot water storage unit 20 and the water inlet 40a of the auxiliary heat source unit 40 are connected by a hot water passage 41. The hot water outlet 40b of the auxiliary heat source unit 40 is connected to a hot water supply passage 42 which is connected to a hot water tap 8. The hot water dispensed from the hot water storage unit 20 is supplied to the hot water tap 8 via the auxiliary heat source unit 40, and hot water is supplied from the hot water tap 8 as indicated by the arrow HW.

[0021] The hot water storage unit 20 has a control unit 29 (control means) for controlling the hot water storage operation, which involves driving a pump 22 to circulate hot water between the hot water storage tank 21 and the main heat source unit 10, and storing the hot water heated by the main heat source unit 10 from the top of the hot water storage tank 21. Based on the hot water outlet temperature of the hot water storage tank, the water supply temperature, and the hot water flow rate, the control unit 29 adjusts the mixing ratio in the mixing valve 28 to dispense hot water so that the temperature detected by the hot water outlet temperature sensor 27c becomes, for example, a preset hot water supply set temperature or a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature is set so that the auxiliary heat source unit 40 heats the hot water supplied from the hot water storage unit 20 to the hot water supply set temperature and dispenses it.

[0022] For example, an operating terminal 30 is installed on the wall of an indoor area such as a kitchen, which is equipped with a display unit that shows information related to hot water supply and hot water storage operation, and for setting the hot water supply temperature and bath temperature, and for filling the bathtub with hot water (filling). This operating terminal 30 is connected to the auxiliary heat source unit 40 in a communicative manner and is configured to supply hot water at the hot water supply temperature set on the operating terminal 30 to the hot water tap 8. In addition, the operating terminal 30 is connected to the control unit 29 of the hot water storage unit 20 in a communicative manner via the auxiliary heat source unit 40, and can perform setting operations related to hot water storage operation.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the auxiliary heat source unit 40 includes a fuel gas supply unit 43, a blower fan 44 for supplying combustion air, a hot water burner 45 and a bath burner 46 for burning the fuel gas, a hot water heat exchanger 47 for heating hot water using the heat of the high-temperature combustion gas generated by combustion, and a bath heat exchanger 48 for heating the hot water in the bathtub 3. In the hot water supply passage 49 that supplies hot water from the hot water storage unit 20 to the hot water heat exchanger 47 as indicated by arrow W, a hot water temperature sensor 49a for detecting the temperature of the hot water and a hot water flow rate sensor 49b for detecting the flow rate of hot water supplied to the hot water heat exchanger 47 are provided. Upstream of the hot water temperature sensor 49a and the hot water flow rate sensor 49b, a distribution valve 50 with an adjustable distribution ratio is provided.

[0024] The auxiliary heat source unit 40 has an auxiliary heat source unit control unit 51 in order to control the distribution ratio of the distribution valve 50 based on the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 49a, and to control the combustion of the hot water burner 45. The auxiliary heat source unit control unit 51 burns the hot water burner 45 and heats the hot water in the hot water heat exchanger 47 according to the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 49a. This heated hot water is supplied to the auxiliary heat source unit outlet passage 52, and is mixed with unheated hot water from a bypass passage 53 that branches off from the hot water supply passage 49 and is connected to the auxiliary heat source unit outlet passage 52 in the distribution valve 50, and the temperature is adjusted.

[0025] When the hot water supply destination is the hot water tap 8, hot water adjusted to the hot water set temperature is supplied to the hot water tap 8. When the hot water supply destination is the bathtub 3, hot water adjusted to the bath set temperature is poured into the bathtub 3 via the pouring passage 54 branched from the auxiliary heat source unit's hot water outlet passage 52. Pouring is performed when the pouring valve 55 (pouring means) that opens and closes the pouring passage 54 is open. The flow rate of hot water poured into the bathtub 3 is detected by a pouring flow rate sensor 56 located upstream of the pouring valve 55. The auxiliary heat source unit control unit 51 calculates the amount of hot water poured into the bathtub 3 based on this pouring flow rate and the time the pouring valve 55 is open (pouring time), and pours a predetermined amount of hot water to reach a preset water level.

[0026] A reheating passage 58 equipped with a bath pump 57 is connected to the bath heat exchanger 48 to circulate the hot water from the bathtub 3. The auxiliary heat source control unit 51 controls the reheating operation by driving the bath pump 57 and burning it with the bath burner 46, thereby heating the hot water from the bathtub 3 that has been circulated through the reheating passage 58 in the bath heat exchanger 48 and returning it to the bathtub 3.

[0027] The hot water supply passage 54 is connected to the reheating passage 58 via the bath pump 57. When hot water is supplied, the hot water supply valve 55 is opened, and hot water adjusted to the bath set temperature by the hot water storage unit 20 or the auxiliary heat source unit 40 is supplied to the bathtub 3 from the hot water supply passage 54 via the reheating passage 58. The open / closed state of the hot water supply valve 55, the amount of heat supplied by the auxiliary heat source unit 40, etc., are transmitted from the auxiliary heat source unit control unit 51 to the control unit 29.

[0028] The control unit 29 has a function to learn and store as hot water output records the time of hot water output from the hot water storage unit 20, and the amount of heat output calculated from the hot water flow rate detected by the hot water flow rate sensor 27a and the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 27c. The amount of heat output when the hot water supply valve 55 is open, and the amount of heat heated and output by the auxiliary heat source unit 40 when the hot water supply valve 55 is open, are each learned and stored by the control unit 29 as the amount of heat supplied, along with the time of the hot water supply. On the other hand, the amount of heat output when the hot water supply valve 55 is closed, and the amount of heat heated and output by the auxiliary heat source unit 40 when the hot water supply valve 55 is closed, are each learned and stored by the control unit 29 as the amount of heat supplied, along with the time of the hot water supply.

[0029] The control unit 29 predicts the future amount of hot water to be dispensed as the required amount of heat for each time period divided into predetermined time intervals (e.g., 1 hour) based on past hot water dispensing records that it has learned and stored. It then controls the hot water storage operation by summing up the required amounts of heat for a predetermined number of consecutive time periods and storing the hot water so that the storage of the required amount of heat is completed before that time period. The prediction of the required amount of heat is based on the hot water dispensing records for a predetermined reference period (e.g., the past 14 days). The predetermined number of consecutive time periods may be, for example, four time periods, but is not limited to this.

[0030] The required heat quantity is predicted, for example, every hour, specifically every time the current time transitions to the next time zone. The prediction of the amount of heat to be poured, part of this required heat quantity prediction, will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 3. In the figure, Si(i=1,2,···) represents a step.

[0031] When the hot water heat quantity prediction starts, in S1, the hot water output data for the reference period is obtained, and the process proceeds to S2, in order to predict the amount of hot water to be supplied from the next time period to which the current time belongs up to, for example, 18 hours later. The hot water output data includes the amount of hot water supplied when the hot water supply valve 55 is open (amount of hot water supplied, time of hot water supply) and the amount of hot water supplied other than hot water when the hot water supply valve 55 is closed (amount of hot water supplied, time of hot water supply), etc. The hot water supply heat quantity prediction is performed before or after the hot water heat quantity prediction based on the hot water supply data for the same reference period. The difference temperature between the current hot water supply set temperature and the water supply temperature detected by the water supply temperature sensor 26b is multiplied by the average hot water supply amount for each time period to calculate the predicted hot water supply heat quantity for each time period. Note that the period for predicting the amount of hot water to be supplied and supplied is not limited to 18 hours as described above, but can be, for example, 12 hours or 24 hours.

[0032] In S2, the amount of heat for one hot water pour is calculated from the average amount of hot water poured per pour based on the hot water pouring record during the reference period, the current bath setting temperature, and the water supply temperature detected by the water supply temperature sensor 26b, and the process proceeds to S3. The amount of heat for one hot water pour is calculated by multiplying the temperature difference between the bath setting temperature and the water supply temperature by the average amount of hot water poured per pour. Next, in S3, time periods in which the total amount of hot water poured for each time period within the hot water pouring judgment period is equal to or greater than the standard value are extracted, and the process proceeds to S4. The hot water pouring judgment period may be the same as the reference period, but it is set to, for example, the most recent 7 days so that recent hot water pouring records are reflected. The standard value is, for example, 100L, but it is set appropriately so that it can be determined that hot water pouring is definitely being performed during that time period.

[0033] In S4, it is determined whether there is a time slot that has been extracted because it is above the threshold value. If the determination in S4 is Yes, the process proceeds to S5, where it is determined whether a hot water pouring prediction period has not yet been set for the extracted time slot. The hot water pouring prediction period is a set of multiple consecutive time slots, during which the amount of heat for one hot water pour is set, as one hot water pour is predicted to occur.

[0034] If the result in S5 is Yes, proceed to S6, where the earliest (first) time slot extracted in S6 is set as the starting time slot and proceed to S7. Next, in S7, multiple time slots consecutive to the starting time slot are set as the pouring prediction period T and proceed to S8. Then, in S8, the amount of heat for one pour calculated in S2 is set as the starting time slot and proceed to S9.

[0035] For example, Figure 4 shows an example of the predicted heat requirements when the current time is 0:00. The heat requirements are predicted from 1:00 to 19:00, with hot water supply predicted for the morning, midday, and 17:00 to 19:00 time slots. The heat required for one hot water pour is set as the starting time slot around 18:00, and the time slot from 18:00 to 0:00 is set as the hot water pouring prediction period T. The hot water pouring prediction period T is set for six time slots, including the starting time slot, but is not limited to these and can be changed as needed.

[0036] In Figure 4, the required heat for the 18:00 hour is the sum of the heat required for one hot water pour and the predicted heat supply for the 18:00 hour. For example, as shown in Figure 5, when the current time becomes 1:00, the predicted heat supply for the 19:00 hour is added. However, even if a hot water pour was performed in the 19:00 hour in the actual pouring record, the predicted heat supply is not added because the heat required for one hot water pour has already been set for the 18:00 hour within the hot water pouring prediction period T.

[0037] In S9 of Figure 3, it is determined whether there are any other extracted time periods that do not belong to the pouring prediction period T, after the end of the pouring prediction period T. If the determination in S9 is Yes, proceed to S10, where the other pouring prediction periods corresponding to the other extracted time periods and the amount of heat for one pour are set in the same way as above, and proceed to S11. If time progresses and the required amount of heat for time periods after the pouring prediction period T is predicted, other pouring prediction periods can be set after the pouring prediction period T. There may be multiple other pouring prediction periods. If the determination in S9 is No, proceed to S11. On the other hand, if the determination in S4 is No or the determination in S5 is No, proceed to S11.

[0038] In S11, it is determined whether the current time has not yet reached the predicted hot water filling period T. If the determination in S11 is Yes, the process proceeds to S12, where it is determined whether hot water has been poured into the bathtub 3 or whether the water in the bathtub 3 has been reheated. If the determination in S12 is Yes, the process proceeds to S13, where a heat quantity limit period is set after the hot water filling or reheating is performed, and the amount of heat for one hot water filling set during this heat quantity limit period is limited to zero, and the process proceeds to S14. If the determination in S12 is No, the process proceeds to S14.

[0039] In this case, for example as shown in Figure 6, if hot water is added or reheated during the 2 o'clock hour, the heat limit period after the addition is set to, for example, two consecutive time periods following the time period to which the current time belongs, and if the heat amount for one hot water addition is set within the heat limit period, this heat amount for one hot water addition is limited to zero. Also, although not shown in the diagram, for example, if hot water is added or reheated during the 16 o'clock hour, the 17 o'clock and 18 o'clock hours after the addition are set as the heat limit period, and the heat amount for one hot water addition set within this heat limit period is limited to zero.

[0040] The act of adding hot water or reheating indicates that there is already hot water in the bathtub 3. Therefore, even if the amount of heat for one hot water addition is set during this heat limit period, it is unlikely that the hot water will be added immediately, and thus the storage of hot water is limited. Note that the hot water addition in S12 in Figure 3 is earlier than predicted before reaching the hot water addition prediction period T, and if the amount of heat stored in the hot water storage tank 21 is insufficient, the auxiliary heat source unit 40 is used to heat and add the hot water. When the heat limit period ends, the limit on the amount of heat for one hot water addition is lifted.

[0041] In S14 of Figure 3, it is determined whether the next predicted time for hot water injection has arrived. If the determination in S14 is No, the process returns to S12. If the determination in S14 is Yes, the hot water injection heat quantity prediction is terminated, and a new hot water injection heat quantity prediction is started from S1. The prediction of required heat (hot water injection heat quantity prediction and hot water supply heat quantity prediction) is performed each time the current time transitions to the next time period. For example, when the current time becomes 5 o'clock, the prediction of required heat within the hot water injection prediction period T is completed as shown in Figure 7. The required heat quantity, which is the sum of the heat quantity for one hot water injection in the starting time period of the 18:00 hour and the predicted hot water supply heat quantity for the same time period, is stored so that storage is completed by 18:00. Therefore, even if hot water is injected at the earliest time in the hot water injection heat quantity prediction, there will be no shortage of stored hot water for injection. Note that the hot water injection prediction period T, the heat quantity for one hot water injection, and the heat quantity limit period are carried over to subsequent predictions of required heat until those periods end.

[0042] On the other hand, if the determination in S11 in Figure 3 is No (the current time has reached the pouring prediction period T), the process proceeds to S15, where it is determined whether the current time has not yet reached the final time period of the pouring prediction period T. If the determination in S15 is Yes, the process proceeds to S16, where the set amount of heat for one pour is shifted to the next time period to which the current time belongs, and the process proceeds to S17. Even if the amount of heat for one pour is limited to zero, it is shifted to the next time period, and if this shifted time period is within the heat limit period, the limit is continued; otherwise, the limit is lifted.

[0043] For example, as shown in Figure 8, when the current time reaches 18:00 and the hot water supply prediction period T is reached, the amount of heat for one hot water supply that was set for the 18:00 start time period is shifted to the next 19:00 time period. Since the amount of heat for one hot water supply is already stored in the hot water storage tank 21 when it reaches 18:00, unless the amount of heat for one hot water supply becomes insufficient due to the hot water supply, the amount of heat for one hot water supply will not be stored even if it is shifted. If the amount of hot water supplied in the 18:00 time period exceeds the predicted amount of heat for hot water supply, a portion of the stored amount of heat for one hot water supply will be used for hot water supply, but hot water will be stored so that the sum of the amount of heat for one hot water supply that was shifted to the 19:00 time period and the predicted amount of heat for hot water supply in the same time period will be secured by 19:00, making it less likely or impossible for the hot water to run out.

[0044] Next, in S17 of Figure 3, it is determined that the amount of heat for one pour during the predicted pouring period T is not zero. If the amount of heat for one pour is not zero and the determination in S17 is Yes, the process proceeds to S18, where it is determined whether or not pouring hot water into the bathtub 3 or reheating the water in the bathtub 3 has been performed.

[0045] If the result of S18 is Yes, the process proceeds to S19, where the amount of heat for one hot water pour during the predicted pouring period T is limited to zero, and the process proceeds to S21. If hot water pouring or reheating has been performed, there is already hot water in the bathtub 3, so it is unlikely that another amount of heat for one hot water pouring will be added to the bathtub 3. Therefore, a heat limiting period is set to limit the amount of heat for one hot water pouring to zero. If the result of S17 is No, or if the result of S18 is No, the process proceeds to S21.

[0046] On the other hand, if the determination in S15 is No, the process proceeds to S20, where the amount of heat for one pour is reset to zero and the process proceeds to S21. For example, as shown in Figure 9, when the current time is 23:00 and the final time period of the pouring prediction period T has been reached, the amount of heat for one pour that was shifted to this final time period, the 23:00 hour, is reset to zero. The amount of heat for one pour is shifted to be maintained within the pouring prediction period T, so it cannot be shifted to a time period outside of the pouring prediction period T, and is therefore reset to zero.

[0047] Then, in S21, it is determined whether or not the next predicted time for pouring the hot water has arrived. If the determination in S21 is No, the process returns to S17. If the determination in S21 is Yes, the hot water pouring heat prediction is terminated and a new hot water pouring heat prediction is started.

[0048] The operation and effects of the above-described hot water storage and supply system 1 will be explained. The hot water storage and supply system 1 uses a control unit 29 to predict the required heat for each time period based on past hot water output records, and stores the total required heat for a predetermined number of time periods. In this heat requirement prediction, the system calculates the heat required for one hot water pour and the predicted heat for each time period, extracts the time periods in which hot water pouring was performed, and sets the earliest time period among the extracted time periods as the starting time period, and sets a predicted pouring period T in which it is predicted that one hot water pour will be performed after this starting time period. The calculated heat required for one hot water pour is then set in the starting time period. Therefore, even if the predicted pouring period in which one hot water pour is predicted to be performed is long because the time of hot water pouring is not consistent in past hot water output records, it is possible to store enough heat for one hot water pour by the time the predicted pouring period ends, thus preventing a hot water shortage.

[0049] The control unit 29 shifts the amount of heat for one hot water pour to the next time period within the hot water pouring prediction period T when the current time transitions to the next time period without hot water pouring being performed. This ensures that if hot water pouring has not yet been performed during the hot water pouring prediction period T, the amount of heat for one hot water pour is maintained within the hot water pouring prediction period T. Therefore, if a portion of the stored hot water for pouring is released due to hot water supply exceeding the predicted amount of hot water supplied, resulting in a shortage of heat for one hot water pour, hot water can be stored to replenish this shortage, preventing a hot water shortage. Furthermore, if the time period to which the shift setting is set falls outside the hot water pouring prediction period T, the amount of heat for one hot water pour is reset to zero. Since the amount of heat for one hot water pour is not shifted outside the hot water pouring prediction period T, it is possible to avoid the waste of maintaining the amount of heat for one hot water pour beyond the hot water pouring prediction period T.

[0050] When the control unit 29 fills the bathtub 3 with hot water or reheats the water in the bathtub 3, it limits the amount of heat for one hot water fill to zero until the heat limit period set after the fill or reheating is completed. Since it is unlikely that the amount of hot water for one hot water fill will be filled again in the near future, for example, a few hours after the fill or reheating, the amount of heat for one hot water fill is limited to zero until the heat limit period is completed after the fill or reheating is completed, thereby preventing unnecessary hot water storage.

[0051] The above configuration may also be applied to a hot water supply system that has a heat pump type heat source and a large-capacity hot water storage tank, but does not have an auxiliary heat source. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can implement the above embodiment in various modified forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention encompasses such modified forms. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1: Hot water storage and supply system 3: Bathtub 8: Hot water tap 10: Main heat source machine (heat source machine) 20: Hot water storage unit 21: Hot water storage tank 21a~21d: Hot water storage temperature sensor 22: Pump 23: Passage to the heat source unit 24: Heat source return passage 24a: Return branch passage 24b: Return temperature sensor 25: Switching valve 26:Water supply passage 26a: Water supply branching passage 26b: Water supply temperature sensor 27: Hot spring access passage 27a: Hot water flow sensor 27b: Hot water storage tank outlet temperature sensor 27c: Hot water temperature sensor 28: Mixing valve 29: Control unit (control means) 30: Operating terminal 40:Auxiliary heat source machine 40a: Water inlet 40b: Hot water outlet 41:Hot water passage 42: Hot water supply passage 43: Fuel Gas Supply Department 44: Blower fan 45: Hot water burner 46: Bath Burner 47: Hot water heat exchanger 48: Bath heat exchanger 49:Hot water supply passage 49a: Hot water temperature sensor 49b: Hot and cold water flow sensor 50: Distribution valve 51: Auxiliary heat source unit control 52: Auxiliary heat source unit hot water outlet passage 53: Bypass passage 54: Pouring channel 55:Pouring valve (pouring means) 56: Pouring flow sensor 57: Bath pump 58: Reheating passage

Claims

1. A hot water storage and supply system comprising: a hot water storage tank for storing hot water; a heat source unit for heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank; a hot water outlet passage for dispensing hot water from the hot water storage tank; a hot water outlet heat quantity detection means for detecting the amount of heat discharged from the hot water outlet passage; a hot water pouring means for pouring hot water through a hot water pouring passage connected to a bathtub downstream of the hot water outlet passage; and a control means for predicting the required amount of heat for each time period divided into predetermined time intervals based on the amount of heat discharged detected by the hot water outlet heat quantity detection means and past hot water discharge records including the time of discharge, and controlling the system to store the total amount of heat obtained by summing the required amounts of heat for a predetermined number of time periods, The hot water storage and supply system is characterized in that the control means calculates the amount of heat for one hot water injection and the predicted amount of heat for hot water supply for each time period using the hot water injection results and hot water supply results other than hot water injection included in the hot water output results, extracts the time periods in which hot water injection was performed, sets the earliest time period among the extracted time periods as the starting time period, sets a plurality of consecutive time periods from this starting time period as the hot water injection prediction period in which one hot water injection is expected to be performed, and sets the amount of heat for one hot water injection in the starting time period.

2. The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means shifts the amount of heat for one hot water pour to the next time period within the hot water pouring prediction period when the current time transitions to the next time period to which the current time transitions, and resets the amount of heat for one hot water pour to zero if the time period to which the shift setting is made falls outside the hot water pouring prediction period.

3. The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the control means performs hot water pouring or reheating of the bath water, it limits the amount of heat for one pouring of hot water to zero until the heat limiting period set after the performance ends.

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