JP2010032150A - Heat pump water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump type water heater that cuts off the power supply to a heat pump unit when it is unnecessary and suppresses the use of power consumption.
A heat pump type water heater of the present invention includes a heat pump unit 1 having a refrigeration cycle having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 12 for generating hot water, and a tank unit 2 having a hot water storage tank 16 for storing hot water. A heat pump type hot water heater that performs anti-freezing operation of a pipe connecting the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2, a circulating pump 17 that sends hot water from the hot water storage tank 16 to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12, and a water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 and a hot water temperature detecting means 35 for detecting the temperature of hot water discharged from the hot water 12. After the power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is cut off, the circulation pump 17 is driven every predetermined time T, and the circulation pump 17 is driven. The freeze prevention operation is performed based on the temperature information detected by the tapping temperature detecting means 35 until the predetermined time α elapses.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump type water heater, and more particularly to a method for detecting an outside air temperature.

  Conventionally, this type of heat pump type hot water heater has a heat pump unit having a refrigeration cycle and a tank unit having a hot water storage tank, and connects the heat pump unit and the tank unit with piping to generate hot water. In particular, since the heat pump unit exchanges heat between the atmosphere and the refrigerant, the value of the outside air temperature greatly affects the performance, and the water in the hot water supply pipe connecting the heat pump unit and the tank unit may freeze. In addition, since the heat pump type hot water heater fails, the information on the outside air temperature is always obtained to perform the freeze prevention operation (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional heat pump type water heater. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat pump water heater is divided into a heat pump unit 1 and a tank unit 2. First, the configuration of the heat pump unit 1 will be described.

  The heat pump unit 1 includes an inverter compressor 11 that compresses refrigerant, an evaporator 14 that exchanges heat with the atmosphere, a decompression device 13 that decompresses refrigerant, and a hot water supply heat exchanger 12 that exchanges heat with water through a refrigerant pipe 15. It has a refrigeration cycle that is connected in a ring shape, and carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. And the fan motor 20 for driving the ventilation fan 19 for encouraging the heat exchange with the air | atmosphere and refrigerant | coolant in the evaporator 14 and the ventilation fan 19 is provided.

  Further, an outside air temperature detecting means 33 for detecting the temperature of the outside air and a first control device 30 which is a control device for controlling each device arranged in the heat pump unit 1 are also provided. The first control device 30 acquires information on the detected outside air temperature.

  The tank unit 2 also has a hot water storage tank 16 for storing hot water and a circulation pump 17 for sending the hot water in the hot water storage tank 16 to the hot water supply heat exchanger 12, and the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16, the circulation pump 17, and hot water supply heat exchange. The hot water supply cycle is configured by sequentially connecting the upper portions of the water heater 12 and the hot water storage tank 16 with a hot water supply pipe to form a hot water supply cycle. Send to.

  A water supply pipe 21 for supplying water from a water supply source is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16, and a hot water discharge pipe 22 for discharging hot water is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 16. A second control device 31 that is a control device for controlling each device disposed in the tank unit 2 is provided, and power is supplied from a power supply unit (AC power supply) 32. The power supply to the first control device 30 disposed in the heat pump unit 1 is connected to the second control device 31 by the power supply line 34, and the second control device 31 is connected to the first control device 30. Electric power is supplied to the first control device 30.

In the heat pump type water heater configured as described above, since the power is always supplied to the first control device 30, the outside air temperature is obtained one by one through the outside air temperature detecting means 33, and the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2 are obtained. Was controlling each device. When the outside air temperature falls below a certain value, it is determined that the hot water supply pipe connecting the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2 may be frozen, and the circulation pump 17 is driven to perform the freeze prevention operation. It was.
JP 2007-139415 A

  However, in recent years, energy saving of home appliances has been accelerated, and further energy saving is demanded for heat pump water heaters. In particular, the heat pump water heater is a water heater that mainly uses midnight power to boil hot water, so there are few opportunities to supply power to the heat pump unit during the daytime, but to determine operation such as freezing prevention. It is necessary to acquire outside air temperature information, and power must be supplied to the heat pump unit at all times. For this reason, even when it is not necessary, power must be supplied to the heat pump unit, which causes a problem of increased power consumption.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a heat pump type water heater that cuts off the power supply to the heat pump unit when unnecessary and suppresses the use of power consumption.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a heat pump type hot water heater of the present invention includes a heat pump unit having a refrigeration cycle having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger for generating hot water, and a tank unit having a hot water storage tank for storing hot water. A heat pump type hot water heater for performing anti-freezing operation of a pipe connecting the heat pump unit and the tank unit, the circulation pump for sending hot water from the hot water storage tank to the water refrigerant heat exchanger, and the water refrigerant heat A hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water discharged from the exchanger, and after the power supply to the heat pump unit is cut off, the circulation pump is driven every predetermined time T, and the circulation pump is driven. By performing the anti-freezing operation based on the temperature information detected by the tapping temperature detecting means until the predetermined time α elapses. Even if the power supply to the heat pump unit is shut off, the outside air temperature can be estimated from the temperature information of the hot water remaining in the pipe connecting the heat pump unit and the tank unit, and the current outside air state can be recognized. Therefore, it is possible to provide a heat pump type water heater that can greatly reduce power consumption.

  The present invention can provide a heat pump type hot water heater that cuts off the power supply to the heat pump unit when unnecessary and suppresses the use of power consumption.

  The heat pump type hot water heater of the first invention includes a heat pump unit having a refrigeration cycle having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger for generating hot water, and a tank unit having a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, the heat pump unit and the tank A heat pump type water heater that performs anti-freezing operation of piping connecting the unit, a circulating pump that sends hot water from the hot water storage tank to the water refrigerant heat exchanger, and a temperature of hot water discharged from the water refrigerant heat exchanger Hot water temperature detection means for detecting the power supply, and after the power supply to the heat pump unit is cut off, the circulation pump is driven every predetermined time T until the predetermined time α elapses after the circulation pump is driven. Based on the temperature information detected by the tapping temperature detection means, the freeze prevention operation is performed, thereby Even if the supply is cut off, the temperature information of hot water remaining in the pipe connecting the heat pump unit and the tank unit can be used to estimate the outside air temperature and recognize the current outside air condition. It is possible to provide a heat pump type water heater that can suppress electric power.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a heat pump type hot water heater in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pump type water heater of the present invention has a heat pump unit 1 and a tank unit 2, and each is installed outdoors. Next, the configuration of each unit will be described. In addition, about the same structure part as the conventional heat pump type hot water supply machine, the same code | symbol as the block diagram of the conventional heat pump type water heater is attached | subjected and demonstrated.

  In the heat pump unit 1, an inverter compressor 11 that compresses the refrigerant, a water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water, a decompression device 13 that decompresses the refrigerant, and the atmosphere and the refrigerant are heated. It has the refrigerating cycle comprised by connecting the evaporator 14 which replaces with cyclic | annular connection with the refrigerant | coolant piping 15 sequentially. In addition, a blower fan 19 that sends air to the evaporator 14 to promote heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan motor 20 for driving the blower fan 19, and a thermistor 33 that is an outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature are provided. ing. And it is the 1st control apparatus for controlling each apparatus arrange | positioned in the heat pump unit 1, and has the electronic control apparatus 30 of the heat pump unit comprised by the microcomputer and its peripheral circuit.

  The tank unit 2 has a hot water storage tank 16 for storing hot water, a hot water supply pipe 21 for supplying water from a water supply source to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16, and hot water to the hot water supply terminal at the top of the hot water storage tank 16. A hot water supply pipe 22 for supplying is provided. In addition, a hot water supply circuit for sending hot water from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16 to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 and returning it to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 16 is provided, and between the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 and the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16. Is provided with a circulation pump 17 for conveying hot water.

  Further, a three-way valve 23 that is a flow path switching device is provided in a hot water supply pipe connecting the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 and the upper part of the hot water storage tank 16, and the three-way valve 23 is switched to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16. It has a hot water supply pipe through which hot water is guided. That is, by switching the three-way valve 23, it is possible to switch the guiding of the hot water generated by the water / refrigerant heat exchanger 12 to the top or bottom of the hot water storage tank 16.

  And it is the 2nd control apparatus for controlling each apparatus arrange | positioned in the tank unit 2, and has the electronic control apparatus 31 of the tank unit comprised with a microcomputer and its peripheral circuit. Furthermore, electric power is supplied from the AC power supply 32 to the second control device 31 from the outside of the tank unit 2, and the second control device 31 and the first control device 30 are connected by a power supply line 34 including a power line and a communication line. Therefore, electric power is supplied from the AC power source 32 to the first control device 30 via the second control device 31.

  In the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 12, the refrigerant that has been compressed by the inverter compressor 11 to high temperature and high pressure and the low-temperature water at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16 exchange heat to generate high-temperature water. And it has the thermistor 35 which is the tapping temperature sensor for detecting the temperature produced | generated with the water refrigerant | coolant heat exchanger 12, and a flow path is switched by the three-way valve 23 according to the temperature detected with the thermistor 35, The hot water is allowed to flow into the upper and lower portions of the hot water storage tank 16.

  In the heat pump type water heater configured as described above, a method for estimating the outside air temperature will be described below.

Normally, power is supplied from the AC power source 32 to the first control device and the second control device, the outside temperature is detected one by one by the thermistor 33, and the outside temperature information is received by the first control device. . Based on the outside air temperature information, the control of the refrigeration cycle and the freeze prevention operation are performed. In particular, in the late-night time zone when boiling hot water in the hot water storage tank 16, power is always supplied to the first control device that controls the heat pump unit 1.

  When the midnight time period ends, the hot water storage tank 16 is filled with high-temperature hot water, and thus the power supplied to the first control device via the second control device is cut off. As a result, power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is cut off, so that power consumption can be reduced.

  However, power is not supplied to the heat pump unit 1, and the outside temperature information detected by the thermistor 33 cannot be received by the first controller. Therefore, it will be in the state which cannot perform control using outside temperature information. In particular, since freezing prevention operation is performed using the outside air temperature information in cold districts and winter seasons, obtaining outside air temperature information is very important in the control of a heat pump type water heater.

  The freeze prevention operation is an operation that prevents the piping connecting the tank unit 2 and the heat pump unit 1 from freezing. If the outside air temperature falls below a predetermined value, the hot water in the pipe connecting the tank unit 2 and the heat pump unit 1 may freeze, and the hot water in the pipe expands and bursts. May stop functioning.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the temperature information of the water discharged from the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 12 is estimated and the freeze prevention operation is performed without directly obtaining the outside air temperature information. Hereinafter, a specific method for estimating the outside air temperature will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for estimating the outside air temperature of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the first control device always controls the compressor and the expansion valve based on the outside air temperature information, and further the outside air temperature information to the second control device 31 in the tank unit 2. To control the circulation pump (create operation instructions).

  However, when the power supply from the second control device 31 to the first control device 30 is interrupted, the outside air temperature information cannot be acquired. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, when the power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is interrupted, the circulation pump 17 is driven to estimate the outside air temperature and create the operation instruction. .

  In the present invention, when power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is interrupted, the circulation pump 17 is driven every predetermined time T. At this time, since the heat pump unit 1 is not operated, heat exchange is not performed in the water / refrigerant heat exchanger 12, and water at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 1 passes through the refrigerant / water heat exchanger 12 to the hot water storage tank 16. Returned.

  At this time, the flow path switching device 23 is switched so that water is sent to the bottom side of the hot water storage tank 16. As a result, the thermistor 35 can detect the temperature of the hot water at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16. In particular, when hot water is used at a hot water supply terminal or the like, water is supplied from the water supply source to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16, so the temperature of the hot water detected by the thermistor 35 is equal to the temperature of the hot water supplied from the water supply source. A relatively close value can be obtained.

Here, the temperature of the hot water supplied from the water supply source varies depending on the season, and in particular, the water supply temperature in winter is lower than the water supply temperature in summer. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the outside air temperature is high or low by storing the correlation between the feed water temperature and the outside air temperature in advance in the second control device.

  However, if hot water is not discharged from the hot water supply terminal during a predetermined time T from the end of the midnight time period to the time when the circulation pump is driven, the hot water storage tank 16 is filled with hot hot water. No cold water is supplied from When the circulation pump 17 is driven in this state, even when the outside air temperature is low and the feed water temperature is low, it is not yet supplied to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16. Is supplied to the refrigerant water heat exchanger 12. As a result, the temperature detected by the thermistor 35 becomes high, and it is determined that the outside air temperature is high although the outside air temperature may be low. In other words, accurate outside air temperature information cannot be estimated only by the correlation between the temperature detected by the thermistor 35 and the outside air temperature.

  On the other hand, the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2 are generally connected by two hot water supply pipes, and one is a pipe for sending hot water from the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16 to the water / refrigerant heat exchanger 12, and the other. One is a pipe for sending hot water from the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 to the hot water storage tank 16. In these two hot water supply pipes, hot water greatly affected by the outside air temperature remains accumulated unless the circulation pump 17 is driven.

  Therefore, in the present invention, focusing on the fact that detecting the temperature of the water accumulated in the pipe connected between the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2 can obtain a value close to the outside air temperature, The temperature was estimated.

  Specifically, when the power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is cut off, the circulation pump 17 is driven at a predetermined time T with a relatively small amount of circulation, and the circulation pump 17 starts to be driven for a predetermined time. Whether or not to start the freeze prevention operation is determined based on the temperature information detected by the thermistor 35 until the time α elapses. When the circulating pump 17 is driven and a predetermined time α elapses, the operation of the circulating pump 17 is stopped, and the circulating pump 17 is driven again after a predetermined time T.

  That is, the antifreezing operation is started based on temperature information until the hot water at the bottom of the hot water storage tank 16 is supplied to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12, and the bottom of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 12 and the hot water storage tank 16. The freeze prevention operation is performed based on the temperature of the hot water remaining in the hot water supply pipe connected to.

  As a result, it is possible to start freezing prevention operation with hot and cold water temperature information that is greatly affected by the outside air temperature without directly obtaining outside air temperature information. Freezing prevention operation can be performed.

  The predetermined time T and the predetermined time α are values experimentally calculated in advance from data such as the circulation amount of the circulation pump 17 and the pipe length connecting the heat pump unit 1 and the tank unit 2. It can be changed to various values depending on the form. In the present invention, the circulation pump 17 is driven in a state where the circulation amount is suppressed and the temperature of the hot water remaining in the pipe is detected. However, the circulation amount of the circulation pump 17 is not limited, and the inside of the pipe is not limited. As long as the temperature of the remaining hot water can be detected, there is no problem regardless of the circulation amount.

  Further, in the freeze prevention operation, not only the circulation pump 17 is driven, but also the power supply to the heat pump unit 1 is started and the refrigeration cycle is operated to generate high-temperature water in the water / refrigerant heat exchanger 12. It is possible to circulate high-temperature water in the hot water supply circuit, and it is possible to perform efficient freezing prevention operation.

  As described above, the heat pump type hot water heater according to the present invention can provide an energy saving type hot water heater, and in particular, the anti-freezing operation is realized very effectively for the heat pump type hot water heater such as a cold district. Is possible.

The block diagram of the heat pump type water heater in Embodiment 1 of this invention Flow chart of outside temperature estimation in the same embodiment Configuration diagram of conventional heat pump water heater

Explanation of symbols

11 Inverter compressor 12 Water refrigerant heat exchanger (hot water supply heat exchanger)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Pressure reducing device 14 Evaporator 15 Refrigerant piping 16 Hot water storage tank 17 Circulation pump 18 Liquid piping 19 Blower fan 20 Fan motor 21 Water supply piping 22 Hot water piping 23 Flow path switching device 30 Electronic control device (first control device) of heat pump unit
31 Electronic control device of tank unit (second control device)
32 AC power supply 33 Outside temperature detection means (thermistor)
34 Power supply plug 35 Hot water temperature detection means (thermistor)

Claims (1)

A heat pump unit having a refrigeration cycle provided with a water-refrigerant heat exchanger for generating hot water, and a tank unit having a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, and performing anti-freezing operation for piping connecting the heat pump unit and the tank unit A heat pump type hot water supply device, comprising: a circulation pump for sending hot water from the hot water storage tank to the water refrigerant heat exchanger; and a hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot water discharged from the water refrigerant heat exchanger, After the power supply to the heat pump unit is cut off, the circulating pump is driven every predetermined time T, and the temperature information detected by the tapping temperature detecting means until the predetermined time α elapses after the circulating pump is driven. Based on this, the heat pump type hot water heater is characterized in that the freeze prevention operation is performed.

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