JP2009002622A - Heat pump type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat pump type water heater capable of efficiently using inexpensive energy. <P>SOLUTION: The heat pump type water heater is provided with a hot water storage tank 22 for supplying stored hot water to the outside and a heat pump unit 10 for heating hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 to a preset temperature. The heat pump type water heater is further provided with a display 46 and a speaker 47 for calculating the set temperature at which the energy of hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 heated by the heat pump unit 10 becomes equal to consumption energy per unit period based on the energy of hot water supplied from the hot water storage tank 22 to the outside for a past predetermined period, outputting the calculated set temperature and based on a difference between the calculated set temperature and a present set temperature 31a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus that heats hot water in a hot water storage tank to a set temperature by, for example, a heat pump unit.

Conventionally, a remote control provided with a hot water switch for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water to a bathtub has been provided, and when the hot water switch is operated, the remaining hot water amount is less than a predetermined amount and when the remaining hot water amount was previously reported for a predetermined time or more If it has passed, an electric water heater is known in which a remote controller of a kitchen or bathroom informs by voice that the amount of remaining hot water has been reduced (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-311557 A

  On the other hand, in the heat pump type hot water supply device, for example, hot water stored in a hot water storage tank is boiled to a preset set temperature during midnight hours when electricity charges are low, and low cost energy is used. For example, if the set temperature is too high and the hot water in the hot water tank is too hot to be used efficiently, or the preset temperature is too low, The problem is that you may not be able to use low-cost energy efficiently, such as when the hot water in the hot water tank needs to be boiled again due to high-cost energy outside the midnight hours when the hot water is used up. There was a point.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, The place made into the objective is to provide the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus which can use low-cost energy efficiently.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heat pump type hot water supply comprising a hot water storage tank that supplies stored hot water to the outside and a heat pump unit that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank based on preset conditions. In the device, the setting condition that the energy of the hot water in the hot water tank heated by the heat pump unit is equal to the energy consumption per unit period based on the energy of the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to the outside in the past predetermined period is calculated A heat pump type hot water supply apparatus is provided that includes a calculating unit that performs calculation, and an output unit that outputs the calculated setting condition based on a difference between the calculated setting condition and the current setting condition.

  According to this heat pump type hot water supply apparatus, the energy of the hot water in the hot water tank heated by the heat pump unit is equal to the energy consumption per unit period based on the energy of the hot water supplied from the hot water tank to the outside in the past predetermined period. The set condition is calculated, and the calculated set condition is output based on the difference between the calculated set condition and the current set condition. Thereby, for example, a set temperature that is equal to the energy consumption per day obtained based on the energy of the hot water supplied to the outside from the hot water storage tank in the past week is calculated. For example, the calculated set temperature and the current setting are calculated. Since the set temperature calculated when the difference from the temperature is not in the range of minus 5 ° C to 0 ° C is output, the hot water in the hot water storage tank may be excessive or insufficient when heated to the current set temperature. In this case, the user can be informed of the set temperature at which all the hot water in the hot water tank heated by the heat pump unit is supplied to the outside during the unit period.

  According to the present invention, if the hot water in the hot water storage tank is excessive or insufficient when heated to the current set temperature, all the hot water in the hot water storage tank heated by the heat pump unit is supplied to the outside during a unit period. Therefore, it is possible to alert the user to set the calculated setting condition as a new setting condition, and based on the calculated setting condition, By heating the hot water in the hot water storage tank at a cheap midnight time, low-cost energy can be used efficiently.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system configuration of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an external front view of the remote controller shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the operation of outputting the calculated temperature.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus includes a heat pump unit 10 and a hot water storage unit 20, and the heat pump unit 10 includes a compressor 12, a water heat exchanger 13, and a pressure reducing valve 14 through a refrigerant pipe 11 in which a refrigerant such as CO 2 is enclosed. And the refrigerant circuit 17 comprised by connecting the heat exchanger 15 in order is provided.

  The compressor 12 has a motor (not shown) as a drive source and has a known configuration in which the rotation speed is variably controlled. The compressor 12 is pressurized to circulate through the refrigerant circuit 17.

  The water heat exchanger 13 performs heat exchange between the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12 and flowing through the refrigerant pipe 11 and hot water flowing through a circulation pipe 21 described later. Thereby, the water heat exchanger 13 functions as a condenser, and the hot water flowing through the circulation pipe 21 described later is heated.

  The pressure reducing valve 14 is a well-known electric valve, and the refrigerant deprived of heat by the water heat exchanger 13 is decompressed to a low temperature and a low pressure.

  The heat exchanger 15 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing in from the pressure reducing valve 14 and the external air sucked by the blower fan 16, and causes the refrigerant to flow out to the compressor 12 through the refrigerant pipe 11. Thereby, the heat exchanger 15 functions as an evaporator and the refrigerant is heated.

  The hot water storage unit 20 includes a circulation circuit 24 configured by sequentially connecting a hot water storage tank 22, a circulation pump 23 and the aforementioned water heat exchanger 13 through a circulation pipe 21, a water supply pipe 25, a hot water supply pipe 26, and a flow meter 27. A thermometer 28 and a temperature sensor 29.

  The hot water storage tank 22 is provided with a circulation inlet 22a and a hot water outlet 22b at the upper part, and a circulation outlet 22c and a water inlet 22d at the lower part, and is supplied with an ordinary temperature from an external water source (not shown) through the water supply pipe 25 and the water inlet 22d. Hot water is supplied as needed.

  The circulation pump 23 pressurizes the hot water flowing out from the circulation outlet 22c, circulates through the circulation circuit 24, and flows in from the circulation inlet 22a. Thereby, the hot water flowing out from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 22 is heated by the hydrothermal exchanger 13 of the heat pump unit 10, and hot water having a set temperature described later is stored from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 22.

  Hot water having a set temperature stored in the hot water storage tank 22 is supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 26 from the hot water outlet 22b as required, and a flow meter 27 and a thermometer 28 provided in the hot water supply pipe 26. Detects the flow rate and temperature of hot water flowing out from the hot water outlet 22b.

  A plurality of temperature sensors 29 are provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction of the hot water storage tank 22, and each detects the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 20 at the installation position. As a result, the amount of hot water at a predetermined temperature and the amount of hot water at room temperature in the hot water storage tank 2 can be known from the installation position of the temperature sensor 29 that detects the set temperature.

  Next, a control system configuration of the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 30 and the remote controller 40 are each composed of a known computer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and other memories, and exchange control signals and data with each other. In the present embodiment, the control unit 30 and the remote controller 40 are configured by separate computers, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 30 and the remote control 40 may be configured by a single computer.

  The control unit 30 is for heating the water in the hot water storage tank 22 to preset warm water having a set temperature 31a, which will be described later. The control unit 30 includes a flow meter 27, a thermometer 28, each temperature sensor 29, The storage device 31, the compressor 12, the pressure reducing valve 14, the blower fan 16, and the circulation pump 23 are connected. Further, the control unit 30 includes data input from the flow meter 27, the thermometer 28, and each temperature sensor 29, a set temperature 31a described later stored in the storage device 31, and a program stored in its own memory. Based on this, a control signal is output, and the compressor 12, the pressure reducing valve 14, the blower fan 16, and the circulation pump 23 are driven.

  The storage device 31 includes a known large-capacity storage device that stores files, programs, and the like required by the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 stores or stores data in the storage device 31 as necessary. The data being read is being read.

  The remote controller 40 is for the user to operate various setting conditions of the heat pump type hot water supply device. The remote controller 40 includes a calculated temperature output button 41, selection buttons 42 and 43, a determination button 44, a cancel button 45, and a display 46. And a speaker 47 are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the front panel 40a of the remote control 40, the calculated temperature output button 41, the selection buttons 42 and 43, the decision button 44 and the cancel button 45 are in the lower center, the display 46 is in the upper center, and the speaker 47 is in them. Are provided on the right side of each.

  The user operates the selection buttons 42, 43, the determination button 44 and the cancel button 45 based on information output to the display 46 and the speaker 47, thereby setting conditions, for example, in the hot water storage tank 22 heated by the heat pump unit 10. The set temperature of the hot water can be set, the remote controller 40 outputs the set temperature data to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 stores the input set temperature data in the storage device 31 as the set temperature 31a.

  In the present embodiment, the setting temperature can be set as the setting condition. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The amount of hot water heated by the heat pump unit 10 or the heating time may be set, or a plurality of settings may be set. Each condition may be set.

  In such a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus, the control unit 30 is based on the temperature data input from each temperature sensor 29, when the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 exceeds a predetermined temperature or below a predetermined amount, or its own calendar function. And when a predetermined time based on the date and time by the clock function, for example, when it is a midnight time zone when the electricity bill is cheap, the set temperature 31a stored in the storage device 31 is read, and the compressor 12, the pressure reducing valve 14 and the blower fan 16 are read. And the circulation pump 23 is started and the heating of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is started. After that, the control unit 30 determines whether the hot water storage tank 22 is filled with the hot water of the set temperature 31 a stored in the storage device 31 based on the temperature data input from each temperature sensor 29, the compressor 12, the pressure reducing valve. 14, the blower fan 16 and the circulation pump 23 are stopped, and the heating of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is finished. Thereby, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is heated by the heat pump unit 10 to the set temperature 31a.

  Further, every time hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 22 is supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 26, the control unit 30 performs flow rate data input from the flow meter 27, temperature data input from the thermometer 28, and self Based on the time by the clock function, the energy, for example, calories, of the hot water supplied to the outside is calculated. The calorie history 31b stored in the storage device 31 stores the calories of the hot water supplied per day for the past week, and the control unit 30 reads the calorie history 31b from the storage device 31 and calculates the calories Is recorded in the calorie history 31b based on the date by its own calendar function and stored in the storage device 31.

  Next, an operation for outputting the calculated temperature in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user presses a calculated temperature output button 41 provided on the front panel 40a of the remote controller 40, the remote controller 40 to which a signal is input from the calculated temperature output button 41 outputs a control signal to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 A calculated temperature output process for outputting a calculated temperature described later is started. As described above, the calculated temperature is output when the user presses the calculated temperature output button 41 provided on the front panel 40a of the remote controller 40, so that the calculated setting condition can be notified arbitrarily by the user. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 30 reads the calorie history 31b from the storage device 31, and determines the calorie consumption per day based on the calorie history 31b (step S11).

  In the present embodiment, for example, an average value of calories of hot water supplied per day in the past week is calculated from the calorie history 31b and is set as calorie consumption per day. In addition, it is not limited to the case where the calorie consumption per day is determined based on the calorie history 31b, and the control unit 30 adds to the calorie history 31b, for example, outside temperature data input from an outside temperature meter (not shown) and the outside You may make it determine the calorie consumption per day based on the seasonal data showing transition of the average temperature received from a network (illustration omitted).

  Next, the control unit 30 calculates the calories consumed by the hot water in the hot water tank 22 heated by the heat pump unit 10 from the capacity of the hot water storage tank 22 stored in its own memory, as determined in the process of step S11. Is set (step S12). Thus, a set temperature (calculated temperature) that is equal to the daily calorie consumption calculated based on the calories of the hot water supplied to the outside from the hot water storage tank 22 in the past week is calculated.

  Next, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the difference between the calculated temperature and the current set temperature 31a stored in the storage device 31 is within a predetermined range, for example, within a range of minus 5 ° C. to 0 ° C. (step S13).

  As a result of the determination, when the difference between the calculated temperature and the current set temperature 31a is within the range of minus 5 ° C. to 0 ° C., the control unit 30 outputs a control signal and data to the remote controller 40. The speaker 47 is driven and a message indicating that the current set temperature 31a is appropriate is output as an image and sound (step 14). Thereafter, the control unit 30 ends the calculated temperature output process.

  When the difference between the calculated temperature and the current set temperature 31a is not within the range of minus 5 ° C. to 0 ° C., the control unit 30 outputs a control signal and calculated temperature data to the remote controller 40, and the remote controller 40 displays the display 46 and the speaker. 47 is driven to output the calculated temperature as an image and sound (step 15). As a result, if the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is excessive or insufficient when heated to the current set temperature 31a, all of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 heated by the heat pump unit 10 is exposed to the outside in one day. The calculated temperature to be supplied can be notified to the user.

  In this embodiment, the calculated temperature is output for both the image and the sound. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the calculated temperature may be output for either the image or the sound. Thereby, the user can easily recognize the calculated setting condition.

  At the same time, the remote controller 40 drives the display 46 and the speaker 47 and outputs a message asking whether or not to set the calculated temperature to a new set temperature as an image and sound (step 16).

  Next, the remote controller 40 determines whether or not the user has set the calculated temperature to a new set temperature by operating the selection buttons 42 and 43, the determination button 44, and the cancel button 45 (step S17).

  As a result of the determination, when the calculated temperature output by the user is set to a new set temperature, the remote controller 40 outputs a control signal to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 stores the calculated temperature in the storage device 31. The calculated temperature is set to a new set temperature 31a (step S18). As described above, the calculated temperature is set to the new set temperature 31a by the user operating the selection buttons 42, 43, the determination button 44, and the cancel button 45, so that the calculated setting condition can be arbitrarily set by the user. New setting conditions can be set.

  When the calculated temperature output by the user is not set to a new set temperature, the control unit 30 does nothing and ends the calculated temperature output process.

  In the present embodiment, the set temperature is used as the set condition, and the calculated temperature that is equal to the calorie consumption per day can be calculated and set to the new set temperature 31a. When 31a is near the upper limit of the settable temperature, the heating efficiency of the heat pump unit 10 is deteriorated. Therefore, in this case, for example, the set hot water amount and the set time are used as the setting conditions, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is heated a plurality of times per day in order to avoid the limitation due to the capacity of the hot water storage tank 22, and the heat pump unit 10 It is also possible to calculate the amount of hot water and the heating time in the hot water storage tank 22 to be heated.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the set temperature (calculated temperature) that is equal to the calorie consumption per day obtained based on the calories of the hot water supplied to the outside from the hot water storage tank 22 in the past week is calculated, Since the calculated temperature is output when the difference between the calculated temperature and the current set temperature 31a is not within the range of minus 5 ° C. to 0 ° C., the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 is too much when heated to the current set temperature 31a. When the temperature is insufficient or insufficient, it is possible to inform the user of the calculated temperature at which all the hot water in the hot water storage tank 22 heated by the heat pump unit 10 is supplied to the outside in one day. The user can be alerted to set a new setting condition, and the hot water storage tank 2 can be used in the midnight hours when the electricity rate is low based on the calculated setting condition. By heating the hot water of the inner it can be used energy cost efficiently.

  Further, since the calculated temperature is output by the user pressing the calculated temperature output button 41 provided on the front panel 40a of the remote control 40, the calculated setting condition can be notified arbitrarily by the user. Easily call attention to the user.

  Furthermore, since the calculated temperature is set to a new set temperature 31a by the user operating the selection buttons 42, 43, the determination button 44, and the cancel button 45, the calculated setting condition can be newly set by the user arbitrarily. Since the setting conditions can be set, an appropriate set temperature can be easily set, and low-cost energy can be used more efficiently.

  Further, since the calculated temperature is output from at least one of the image and the sound, the user can easily recognize the calculated setting condition, so that the user can be alerted easily.

  In addition, the structure of this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

Schematic configuration diagram of heat pump hot water supply system The block diagram which shows the control system structure of the heat pump type hot-water supply apparatus shown in FIG. External front view of the remote control shown in FIG. Flow chart related to operation for outputting calculated temperature

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Heat pump unit, 22 ... Hot water storage tank, 30 ... Control part, 31a ... Setting, 40 ... Remote control, 41 ... Calculation temperature output button, 42, 43 ... Selection button, 44 ... Decision button, 45 ... Cancel button, 46 ... Display 47. Speaker.

Claims (5)

In a heat pump type hot water supply apparatus comprising a hot water storage tank that supplies stored hot water to the outside and a heat pump unit that heats the hot water in the hot water storage tank based on preset conditions,
Calculation means for calculating a setting condition in which the energy of the hot water in the hot water tank heated by the heat pump unit is equal to the energy consumption per unit period based on the energy of the hot water supplied to the outside from the hot water storage tank in the past predetermined period When,
A heat pump type hot water supply apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the calculated setting condition based on a difference between the calculated setting condition and the current setting condition. The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller having an output operation unit that outputs the calculated setting condition. The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the remote controller includes setting means for setting the calculated setting condition as a new setting condition. The heat pump type hot water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output means outputs using at least one of an image and a sound. The heat pump hot water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the setting condition includes at least one of temperature, time, and amount of hot water.

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