Heat pump hot water system

Abstract

To provide a heat pump hot water supply system capable of prioritizing a request for hot water supply and hot water delivery over a boiling-up operation by using a heat pump heat source machine and allowing the boiling-up operation by using the heat pump heat source machine if it is required to increase a temperature of hot water stored in a hot water storage tank when a PV power generation amount is large.SOLUTION: A heat pump hot water supply system (S) includes a heat pump heat source machine (3), a hot water storage tank unit (2) and a photovoltaic power generation device (40), and has a normal operation mode of heating hot water by using one or both of electric power supplied from the photovoltaic power generation device (40) and electric power supplied from a commercial power source and a PV self-supporting operation mode of performing an operation only by using the electric power supplied from the photovoltaic power generation device (40) after transfer from the normal operation mode in the case of emergency. In the PV self-supporting operation mode, when it is required to prioritize hot water supply and hot water filling on the basis of information on necessity of prioritizing the hot water supply and hot water filling, the boiling-up operation by using the heat pump heat source machine is temporarily prohibited.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat pump hot water supply system, and more particularly to a heat pump hot water supply system equipped with a solar power generation device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, heat pump hot water supply systems have been put into practical use, which include a heat pump hot water supply device (so-called hybrid heat pump) having a heat pump heat source unit, a hot water storage tank, and a combustion-type auxiliary heat source unit, a solar cell power generation device having multiple solar cell panels that generate electricity using sunlight, and a power measuring device that measures the power generated by the solar cell power generation device and the power used within the home.

[0003] This type of heat pump hot water system is generally configured such that the power measuring device and the heat pump hot water heater can be communicatively connected so that the heat pump hot water heater can receive power generation status data, and therefore the operation of the heat pump hot water heater can be appropriately controlled according to the power generation status of the solar power generation device. A method for controlling the heat pump hot water heater of such a heat pump hot water system is disclosed in various documents.

[0004] For example, in the heat pump hot water supply system described in Patent Document 1, the hot water supply operation by the heat pump heat source unit is prohibited or limited depending on the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device and the operating costs.

[0005] In the heat pump hot water storage and supply system with a solar power generation device described in Patent Document 2, when the surplus generated power is less than the power consumption of the heat pump heat source unit, the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is stopped. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6036016 [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-44849 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In Japan, where natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes are common, there is a demand for a heat pump hot water storage and hot water supply system that is not only useful in daily life but also can be effectively used in emergencies. In the event of a natural disaster, when there is a power outage and gas outage, the heat pump hot water storage and hot water supply system can be operated by supplying electricity from the emergency power source of the solar power generation system.

[0008] Even in this type of PV independent operation mode, if the heat pump heat source unit is operating when a user requests hot water supply or pouring, there is a problem that the heat pump heat source unit consumes a lot of power, which can lead to insufficient power generation from the solar power generation unit and the power to the heat pump hot water storage and supply system being cut off.

[0009] Although there is electricity to supply hot water and there is enough hot water, there are cases where the heat pump heat source unit is activated and hot water cannot be supplied. This is an insufficient emergency response and does not satisfy users.

[0010] The technology in Patent Document 1 only prohibits or limits hot water supply operation based on the amount of power generation and operating costs, making it difficult to supply or dispense hot water according to the user's needs. Furthermore, in the technology of Patent Document 2, when the amount of surplus electricity generated is less than the power consumed by the heat pump heat source unit, the heating operation of the heat pump heat source unit is stopped, so that only the storage of hot water in the hot water tank is prioritized, making it difficult to respond to users' requests for hot water supply and hot water delivery.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump hot water supply system that can prioritize requests for hot water supply and hot water discharge over heating operation by a heat pump heat source unit, and can permit heating operation by a heat pump heat source unit when there is a large amount of PV power generation and it is necessary to increase the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The heat pump hot water supply system of claim 1 is a heat pump hot water supply system equipped with a heat pump heat source unit, a hot water storage tank unit, and a solar power generation device, and is equipped with a normal operation mode in which hot water is heated using one or both of the power supplied from the solar power generation device and the power supplied from a commercial power source, and a PV independent operation mode in which, in an emergency, the normal operation mode is switched to and operation is performed using only the power supplied from the solar power generation device, and in the PV independent operation mode, when hot water supply and hot water supply priority are required based on information on the necessity of hot water supply and hot water supply priority, the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited from heating operation, and the necessity of hot water supply and hot water supply priority is configured to be selectable by the user when the PV independent operation mode is set.

[0013]

[0014] The heat pump hot water supply system of claim 2 is 1 In the invention, the amount of PV power generation supplied from the solar power generation device is compared with the maximum power consumption of the heat pump hot water system, and if the amount of PV power generation is greater, the heat pump heat source unit is allowed to perform boiling operation.

[0015] The heat pump hot water supply system of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, when the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation amount supplied from the solar power generation device is compared with the predicted power consumption of the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit, and if the PV power generation amount is greater and anti-freeze operation is in progress or the water temperature in the hot water storage tank is below a set value, operation by the heat pump heat source unit is permitted.

[0016] The heat pump hot water supply system of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, when the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation amount supplied from the solar power generation device is compared with the predicted power consumption of the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit, and if the PV power generation amount is greater and the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is above a set value, the operation of the heat pump heat source unit is permitted only if the hot water supply or hot water pouring is not in progress, it is outside the set hot water supply usage time, and it is outside the predicted hot water supply usage time.

[0017] The heat pump hot water supply system of claim 5 is the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a combustion-type auxiliary heat source unit capable of heating the hot water to be discharged. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the invention of claim 1, in the PV independent operation mode, when hot water supply and hot water filling priority are required based on the information on whether hot water supply and hot water filling priority are required, the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, so that the heat pump heat source unit, which consumes a lot of power, is stopped to prevent the heat pump hot water supply system from being powered off, while reliably responding to the user's hot water supply and hot water filling requests.

[0019] Furthermore, since the need for hot water supply / hot water pouring priority can be selected by the user when the PV independent operation mode is set, it is possible to reliably meet the user's request for hot water supply / hot water pouring priority.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 2, the PV power generation amount and the maximum power consumption of the heat pump hot water system are compared, and if the PV power generation amount is greater, there is no risk of the heat pump hot water system being powered down, so heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is permitted.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 3, when the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation amount and the predicted power consumption of the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit are compared, and if the PV power generation amount is greater and hot water at a temperature higher than a set value is required (for example, if there is a request for anti-freeze operation), the operation by the heat pump heat source unit is permitted, thereby responding to the request for anti-freeze operation while preventing the power to the heat pump hot water supply system from being cut off.

[0022] According to the invention of claim 4, the PV power generation amount is compared with the predicted power consumption of the heat pump heat source unit during heating operation. If the PV power generation amount is greater and the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is higher than the set value, the heat pump heat source unit is allowed to operate, provided that there is no need for hot water supply or discharge for the time being. This makes it possible to store hot water in the hot water storage tank while preventing the power to the heat pump hot water supply system from being cut off.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 5, since the combustion type auxiliary heat source device capable of heating the hot water to be dispensed is provided, it is possible to respond to requests for hot water supply and dispense as long as the gas supply is not stopped. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heat pump hot water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart of control for enabling or disabling the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit of the heat pump hot water supply apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. EXAMPLES

[0026] First, the overall structure of the heat pump hot water supply system S will be briefly described. As shown in Figure 1, the heat pump hot water supply system S includes a heat pump hot water supply device 1 consisting of a hot water storage tank unit 2 and a heat pump heat source unit 3 (HP heat source unit), a solar power generation device 40 (PV power generation device) that generates electricity using solar light, and a power measuring device 45 that measures the power generated by the solar power generation device 40 and the power used within the home, and is configured so that the power measuring device 45 and the heat pump hot water supply device 1 are communicatively connected to enable the heat pump hot water supply device 1 to receive power generation status data.

[0027] Next, the heat pump hot water supply device 1 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the heat pump water heater 1 is composed of a hot water storage tank unit 2 with a large-capacity hot water storage tank 12 for storing hot water and a gas-fired auxiliary heat source unit 13, a heat pump heat source unit 3 with a heat pump circuit, and hot water circulation piping 9 that circulates hot water between the hot water storage tank unit 2 and the heat pump heat source unit 3. Hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 is supplied to supply small amounts of hot water to the kitchen, etc., and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 is used to supply large amounts of hot water to the bath, etc., but the auxiliary heat source unit 13 is driven to supply hot water as needed.

[0028] Next, the hot water storage tank unit 2 will be described. 1, the hot water tank unit 2 includes a hot water tank 12 having a vertically long cylindrical outer peripheral surface, various pipes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, a main control unit 11, an auxiliary heat source unit 13, and an exterior case 14. The hot water tank 12 stores high-temperature hot water heated by the heat pump heat source unit 3, and is made of stainless steel plate material with excellent corrosion resistance.

[0029] A water supply pipe 7, such as a water pipe, and a lower pipe 8, which is connected to an upstream pipe 9a of a hot water circulation pipe 9, are connected to the lower end of the hot water storage tank 12. An on-off valve 15 for supplying tap water to the hot water storage tank 12 is provided on the water supply pipe 7. Normally, the on-off valve 15 is open to supply tap water into the hot water storage tank 12.

[0030] The hot water circulation piping 9 has an upstream piping 9a and a downstream piping 9b, and hot water (reserved water) is sent from the hot water storage tank 12 via a liquid transfer pump 16 through the lower piping 8 and the upstream piping 9a to the heat pump heat source unit 3. The hot water heated in the hot water heating heat exchanger 21 of the heat pump heat source unit 3 flows to the downstream piping 9b.

[0031] An upper pipe 10, which is connected to the downstream pipe 9b and the hot water outlet pipe 6, is connected to the upper end of the hot water storage tank 12. An on-off valve 17 is provided on the upper pipe 10. Normally, the on-off valve 17 is open, and high-temperature hot water (for example, 80 ~ 90°C) can be stored in the hot water storage tank 12, and high-temperature hot water in the hot water storage tank 12 can be supplied to the upper piping 10 when supplying hot water.

[0032] The outer surface of the hot water tank 12 is covered with a heat retaining material 12a made of a foamed heat insulating material formed by foaming a resin such as foamed polypropylene or foamed polystyrene. ~ The temperature sensors 31 (#1 to #4 thermistors) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the height direction. ~ 34 is connected to the main control unit 11, and the temperature sensor 31 ~ A temperature detection signal 34 is supplied to the main control unit 11 .

[0033] The hot water outlet pipe 6 has an upstream pipe 6a through which high-temperature hot water flows, and a downstream pipe 6b through which mixed hot water, which is a mixture of cold water and high-temperature hot water, flows. The downstream end of the upstream pipe 6a is connected to a mixing valve 27, the upstream end of the downstream pipe 6b is connected to the mixing valve 27, and a branch pipe 7a branching off from a midway portion of the water supply pipe 7 is connected to the mixing valve 27. An auxiliary heat source unit 13 is installed in a midway portion of the downstream pipe 6b of the hot water outlet pipe 6. A hot water tap 4 is connected to the downstream end of the downstream pipe 6b.

[0034] The auxiliary heat source unit 13 is a gas water heater that uses city gas as fuel, and includes a combustion unit 13a consisting of a gas burner, a blower 13b for supplying combustion air to the combustion unit 13a, and a heat exchanger 13c for reheating water with the combustion heat generated from the combustion unit 13a to generate hot water, and gas is supplied to the combustion unit 13a through a gas pipe extending from the outside. In addition, a bypass pipe 36 is provided to bypass the downstream pipe 6b that passes through the auxiliary heat source unit 13, and a switching valve 37 can be used to selectively switch between the downstream pipe 6b and the bypass pipe 36.

[0035] The exterior case 14 is formed in a box shape made of thin steel plates, and includes the main control unit 11, the hot water storage tank 12, the pipes 6, 7, 8, 10, most of the hot water circulation pipes 9, the auxiliary heat source unit 13, the liquid transfer pump 16, the on-off valves 15, 17, the mixing valve 27, and a plurality of temperature sensors 28. ~ It accommodates 30 and more.

[0036] Next, the heat pump heat source unit 3 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the heat pump heat source unit 3 has an outside air heat absorption heat exchanger 18 as an evaporator, a compressor 20, a hot water heating heat exchanger 21 as a condenser, and an expansion valve 22 that rapidly expands high-pressure refrigerant to reduce its temperature and pressure. These devices 18, 20, 21, and 22 are connected via refrigerant piping 23 to form a heat pump circuit, and the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant piping 23 is used to perform hot water heating operation.

[0037] The heat pump heat source unit 3 further includes a blower fan 19 for the evaporator driven by a blower motor 19a, an auxiliary control unit 24 connected to the main control unit 11 and controlling the heat pump heat source unit 3, and an outer case 25 for housing these.

[0038] The outside air heat absorbing heat exchanger 18 has an evaporator passage portion 18a included in the refrigerant pipe 23, and this evaporator passage portion 18a has a plurality of fins, and in this outside air heat absorbing heat exchanger 18, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator passage portion 18a and the outside air, and the refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside air and is vaporized. The compressor 20 is a known hermetic compressor that adiabatically compresses the refrigerant in a gas phase state to increase the temperature.

[0039] The hot water heating heat exchanger 21 has a heat exchanger passage portion 21a and an internal passage 21b which is a part of the refrigerant piping 23, and this internal passage 21b is formed of a copper pipe having a pressure resistance of, for example, 16 MPa or more. In this hot water heating heat exchanger 21, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through the internal passage 21b and hot water supplied from the upstream piping 9a to the heat exchanger passage portion 21a, the hot water is heated, and the refrigerant is cooled and liquefied.

[0040] The expansion valve 22 adiabatically expands the refrigerant in a liquid phase to lower the temperature. The expansion valve 22 is a control valve with a variable throttle amount. Note that an expansion valve with a fixed throttle amount may be used instead of the expansion valve 22.

[0041] In the heat pump heat source unit 3, the heated refrigerant compressed to high pressure by the compressor 20 is sent to the heat exchanger 21 for heating hot water, and by driving the liquid transfer pump 16, it exchanges heat with hot water or water that flows from the lower end of the hot water storage tank 12 through the lower piping 8 and the upstream piping 9a into the heat exchanger passage section 21a, heating the hot water or water.The heated hot water passes through the downstream piping 9b and the upper piping 10 and is stored in the hot water storage tank 12 of the hot water storage tank unit 2, and by repeating the heating operation via the heat pump heat source unit 3, high-temperature hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 12.

[0042] Next, the main control unit 11 will be described. The main control unit 11 is configured to be communicatively connected to various devices via a communication interface, such as an operation remote control 35 that can be operated by a user, a power measuring device 45 that measures various types of power, and the auxiliary control unit 24, and is capable of data communication between the operation remote control 35, the power measuring device 45, and the auxiliary control unit 24.

[0043] When a user operates the hot water supply, the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 12 flows into the hot water outlet pipe 6, and the hot water is mixed with tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 7 in the mixing valve 27, and the hot water is heated to a predetermined temperature and supplied to the hot water tap 4 such as a faucet. Temperature sensors 28 for detecting the hot water temperature or the inlet water temperature are provided upstream and downstream of the mixing valve 27 and midway through the water supply pipe 7, respectively. ~ 30 are provided, and these temperature sensors 28 ~ The detection signals of the temperature sensors 28 and 30 are supplied to the main control unit 11. ~ Based on the temperature detection data detected by 30, the mixing valve 27 is controlled to adjust the mixing ratio of hot water and cold water, thereby adjusting the temperature of the hot water to be supplied and supplying hot water.

[0044] In addition, when the temperature of the hot water is insufficient, the main control unit 11 drives the auxiliary heat source device 13 to reheat the hot water or heat tap water to supply hot water. Furthermore, during the hot water heating operation, the main control unit 11 detects the target hot water temperature data and the temperature sensor 31. ~ Based on the temperature detection data from 34, the heating temperature to which the hot water is heated by the heat pump heat source device 3 is determined, and the heating temperature is instructed to the auxiliary control unit 24.

[0045] The auxiliary control unit 24 is capable of data communication with the main control unit 11, and controls the drive of various devices (such as the blower motor 19a and the compressor 20) of the heat pump heat source device 3 according to commands from the main control unit 11. At the outlet side of the hot water heating heat exchanger 21, a temperature sensor 26 for detecting the hot water temperature is provided in the downstream pipe 9b, and a detection signal from the temperature sensor 26 is supplied to the main control unit 11. The auxiliary control unit 24 receives the command temperature and the temperature detection data from the main control unit 11, and operates the heat pump heat source device 3 so that the heating temperature of the hot water becomes the commanded temperature.

[0046] Next, the operation remote controller 35 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the operation remote control 35 is equipped with a microcomputer (not shown), a display unit 35a that can visually confirm various information such as the operating status and operation status of the heat pump water heater 1, and a number of switches 35b that can be used to remotely control the heat pump water heater 1 and perform various setting operations on the operation remote control 35.

[0047] Display unit 35a of operation remote control 35 displays not only the amounts of city gas and tap water used calculated from various sensors, but also the power purchased from the power company, the power sold to the power company, and the total amount of power used in the home, transmitted from power measuring device 40. When a hot water supply temperature setting (for example, about 40°C) is set by operating a switch, the hot water supply temperature setting data is transmitted from operation remote control 35 to main control unit 11.

[0048] Next, the solar power generation device 40 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a solar power generation device 40 has a plurality of solar cell panels 41, a power conditioner (not shown), etc., and is installed on an installation surface such as a roof via a stand, and the generated power is transmitted to a distribution board 43 via a power line 42. The plurality of solar cell panels 41 are installed, for example, arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. The solar cell panel 41 has a general structure including a rectangular panel body capable of receiving light and generating power, and a frame provided on the outer periphery of the panel body for fixing the panel body. The shape and number of the solar cell panels 41 do not need to be limited to those described above and can be changed as appropriate.

[0049] Next, the power measuring device 45 will be described. 1, the power measuring device 45 is provided in a distribution board 43 corresponding to the two-system connection between the commercial power source and the solar power generation device 40 or in the vicinity of the distribution board 43. That is, the power measuring device 45 is composed of a power meter that measures the power generated by the solar power generation device 40, a power meter that measures the power used in the home, and a power meter that measures the power purchased from the power company and the power sold to the power company.

[0050] The power measuring device 45 is communicatively connected to the heat pump hot water heater 1 via a signal line 46, and can transmit power generation state data and various types of power data to the main control unit 11 of the heat pump hot water heater 1.

[0051] Next, the control of whether or not to perform the water heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3, which is performed by the main control unit 11 while the solar power generation device 40 is generating electricity, will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 2. Note that the water heating operation is an operation in which hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 12 until it becomes full with hot water at the target temperature for hot water storage tank heating. In addition, symbols Si (i=1, 2, . . . ) in the figure indicate each step. A control program for controlling whether or not the heat pump heat source device 3 can perform the heating operation is stored in advance in a storage unit (e.g., ROM) of the computer of the main control unit 11.

[0052] In the flowchart of Fig. 2, when this control is started, the normal operation mode is set in S1, and while the normal operation mode is continued, if an earthquake, tsunami, or typhoon occurs, causing a power outage and a stop in the gas supply, and the user operates the operation remote controller 35 to switch to the PV independent operation mode, the determination in S2 becomes Yes, and the process moves to the next S3. As long as the determination in S2 is No, the process returns to S1, and S1 and S2 are repeated.

[0053] In S3, a PV independent operation mode in which operation is performed only with the power generated by the solar power generation device 40 is set. Incidentally, PV is an abbreviation for "Photovoltaic" and means solar power generation. Next, it is determined whether hot water supply and hot water pouring priority (hot water supply and hot water pouring priority) are set by operating the operation remote control 35. Hot water supply means supplying hot water to the hot water tap, and pouring means filling the bathtub with hot water.

[0054] If the determination in S4 is No, the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is permitted in S5, and if the determination in S4 is Yes, the hot water supply and pouring is given priority, so the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is prohibited in S6. The process moves from S5 to S4.

[0055] Next, in S7, it is determined whether the current PV power generation amount by sunlight is greater than the predicted power consumption of the HP heat source unit 3. The predicted power consumption of the HP heat source unit 3 is calculated by a predetermined arithmetic formula using the average temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water tank 12, the target temperature for heating the hot water tank, and the discharge flow rate of the liquid transfer pump 16. The current PV power generation amount is a value detected by the power measuring device 45 from moment to moment. It is preferable that the target temperature for heating the hot water tank is 55°C.

[0056] If the determination in S7 is No, the PV power generation amount does not allow for the HP heat source unit 3 to perform the heating operation, so the process returns to S6 and the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is prohibited. If the determination in S7 is Yes, the process proceeds to S8. In S8, it is determined whether or not there is a request for freeze prevention operation.

[0057] During the freeze prevention operation, the liquid feed pump 16 is driven to circulate hot water through the hot water circulation pipe 9 .

[0058] If the determination in S8 is Yes, hot water must be stored in the hot water storage tank 12, so the process proceeds to S14 and heating operation by the HP heat source unit is permitted. If the determination in S8 is No, then in S9 it is determined whether the current PV power generation amount is less than the maximum power consumption of the HP hot water supply system. Note that the maximum power consumption of the HP hot water supply system is determined using a value stored in advance in main control unit 11.

[0059] If the determination in S9 is No, the current PV power generation amount is sufficient and the HP heat source unit 3 is capable of performing the water heating operation, so the process proceeds to S14 and the HP heat source unit is permitted to perform the water heating operation. If the determination in S9 is Yes, the process proceeds to S10. In S10, similarly to S7, it is determined whether the current PV power generation amount is greater than the predicted power consumption of the HP heat source unit 3 when heating at 65°C. However, it is preferable that the hot water tank heating target temperature used to calculate the predicted power consumption is 65°C heating.

[0060] If the determination in S10 is No, the PV power generation amount is not large enough to perform the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3, so the process moves from S10 to S6, and heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is prohibited. If the determination in S10 is Yes, in S11, it is determined whether or not a refresh operation is requested or whether the detected temperature of the hot water storage thermistor #1 is higher than (hot water supply setting temperature + 3°C), and if the determination is No, the process moves from S11 to S14 in order to heat up the hot water in the hot water storage tank 12. Note that the refresh operation is an operation in which the hot water storage tank 12 is filled with hot water at 65°C or higher in order to sterilize the Legionella bacteria in the hot water storage tank 12.

[0061] If the determination in S11 is Yes, the process proceeds to S12. In S12, it is determined whether hot water is being supplied or poured or is waiting to be discharged again, and if the determination is Yes, hot water is being used or is scheduled to be used, so the process moves to S6 and the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is prohibited. Note that "hot water is being supplied or poured" means that hot water is being supplied or poured.

[0062] If the determination in S12 is No, the process moves to S13 since no hot or cold water use is planned. In S13, it is determined whether or not the current time is outside the preset hot water supply usage time or outside the predicted hot water supply usage time. The preset hot water supply time refers to a preset hot water supply time, an automatic hot water filling time, a heating reservation time, or the like. The predicted hot water usage time is the time when hot water usage is predicted in a hot water usage prediction system that uses learning control to predict and store hot water usage and time periods for each hourly time period and stores the hot water in advance.

[0063] If the determination in S13 is No, the process returns to S6 to deal with the use of hot water, and the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is prohibited. If the determination in S13 is Yes, it is presumed that no use of hot water will occur, so the process proceeds to S14, where the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is permitted, and then the process proceeds to S4.

[0064] The operation and effect of the heat pump hot water supply system S including the above-described control for enabling or disabling the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 will be described. In the PV independent operation mode, when it is determined that priority is required for hot water supply and hot water filling based on the information on the necessity of hot water supply and hot water filling priority, the heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is temporarily prohibited, so that the HP heat source unit 3, which consumes a lot of power, is stopped, preventing the power to the heat pump hot water supply system S from going off, while ensuring that the user's request for hot water supply and hot water filling is met.

[0065] The system is configured so that the user can select whether or not to prioritize hot water supply and hot water pouring when the PV independent operation mode is set, so that the user's request for priority hot water supply and hot water pouring can be reliably met.

[0066] The amount of PV power generation is compared with the maximum power consumption of the heat pump hot water system S. If the amount of PV power generation is greater, there is no risk of the heat pump hot water system S being powered off, so heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is permitted.

[0067] When water heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation is compared with the predicted power consumption of water heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3, and if the PV power generation is greater and hot water at a temperature higher than the set value is required (for example, if there is a request for freeze prevention operation or refresh operation), water heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3 is permitted, thereby responding to the request for freeze prevention operation or refresh operation while preventing the power to the heat pump hot water supply system S from being cut off.

[0068] The amount of PV power generation is compared with the predicted power consumption of the hot water heating operation by the HP heat source unit 3, and if the amount of PV power generation is greater and the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is above the set value, then, on the condition that there is no need for hot water supply or dispensing for the time being, the HP heat source unit 3 is permitted to start heating operation, so hot water can be stored in the hot water storage tank 12 while preventing the power to the heat pump hot water supply system from going off. Because it has a combustion-type auxiliary heat source unit that can heat the hot water to be dispensed, it can respond to requests for hot water supply and dispensing as long as the gas supply is not stopped.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the HP predicted power consumption judgment is performed in two stages, at 55°C heating (S7) and 65°C heating (S10), but it is also possible to only perform the HP predicted power consumption judgment at 65°C heating. In that case, it becomes possible to judge at once whether freeze prevention operation is required, whether refresh operation is required, and whether the temperature detected by hot water storage thermistor #1 is 3°C higher than the hot water supply setting temperature.

[0070] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and a person skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention also encompasses such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] S Heat pump hot water system 1. Heat pump water heater 2 Hot water tank unit 3. Heat pump heat source unit 11 Main Control Unit 12 Hot water tank 40 Solar power generation equipment 45 Power measurement device

Claims

1. In a heat pump hot water supply system including a heat pump heat source unit, a hot water storage tank unit, and a solar power generation device, The system has a normal operation mode in which hot water is heated using either or both of the power supplied from the photovoltaic power generation device and the power supplied from the commercial power source, and a PV independent operation mode in which the system switches from the normal operation mode in an emergency and operates using only the power supplied from the photovoltaic power generation device, In the PV independent operation mode, when hot water supply and hot water supply priority are required based on the information on whether hot water supply and hot water supply priority are required, the heating operation by the heat pump heat source machine is temporarily prohibited, A heat pump hot water supply system characterized in that the necessity for hot water supply and hot water pouring priority is configured to be selectable by a user when the PV independent operation mode is set.

2. A heat pump hot water system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the amount of PV power generation supplied by the solar power generation device is compared with the maximum power consumption of the heat pump hot water system, and if the amount of PV power generation is greater, heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is permitted.

3. A heat pump hot water supply system as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation amount supplied from the solar power generation device is compared with the predicted power consumption of the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit, and if the PV power generation amount is greater and the freeze prevention operation or the water temperature in the hot water storage tank is below a set value, operation by the heat pump heat source unit is permitted.

4. A heat pump hot water supply system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit is temporarily prohibited, the PV power generation amount supplied from the solar power generation device is compared with the predicted power consumption of the heating operation by the heat pump heat source unit, and if the PV power generation amount is greater and the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is higher than the set value, the operation of the heat pump heat source unit is permitted only if the hot water supply or pouring is not in progress, it is outside the set hot water supply usage time, and it is outside the predicted hot water supply usage time.

5. A heat pump hot water supply system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a combustion-type auxiliary heat source unit capable of heating the hot water to be dispensed.

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