JP5366915B2 - Snow melting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snow-melting system capable of quickly confirming a defect in construction. <P>SOLUTION: A snow-melting device has a test operation switch in a control device in addition to an operation switch provided in a remote control. The operation switch is for conducting a normal operation and the test operation switch is for conducting a test operation. When the operation switch is pressed (S1: YES) and the normal operation is started, first an initial check is performed (S2) and then a snow-melting operation is performed (S4). When the test operation switch is pressed (S7: YES) and the test operation process (S8) is started, the snow-melting operation is performed without the initial check. Therefore, the snow-melting device enables a contractor to quickly confirm whether or not antifreeze liquid circulates smoothly in a channel of the snow-melting device after installing the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a snow melting device that melts snow in a snow melting target region.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a snow melting device is known in which a heat medium heated by a hot water supply device is circulated through a heat radiating pipe embedded in a snow melting target region of a road surface to melt snow accumulation in the snow melting target region (for example, Patent Documents). 1). The contractor embeds a heat radiating pipe in the snow melting target area, installs a hot water supply device, a pump, etc., which are heat source devices, and connects them with various pipes. Thereafter, a remote control device is connected to check the communication status. If the communication status is normal, the construction of the snow melting device is completed.

  The user operates an operation switch provided in the remote control device in order to execute the snow melting operation. Then, in the snow melting device, an initial check is performed before the snow melting operation is executed. In the initial check, for example, checking whether the communication state with the remote control device is normal, checking of various sensors such as a flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of the heat medium and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat medium are performed. Is called. The snow melting operation is not started until all these checks are completed. Also, if there is an abnormality in these checks, the snow melting operation is not started. On the other hand, at the time when a path composed of pipes, hot water supply devices, pumps, pipes, etc., embedded in the snow melting target area is completed, the contractor determines at an early stage whether or not the antifreeze will circulate well in the path. It is desirable to confirm.

JP 2006-342578 A

  However, in the above snow melting device, the snow melting operation cannot be performed unless the remote control device is connected and the construction is completely completed. The contractor was inconvenient because it could not be confirmed early. Further, even when the remote control device is connected and the operation switch is pressed, if all the initial checks are not completed, the snow melting operation is not started, which is inconvenient. Also, if there was an abnormality in the initial check, it was inconvenient because the snow melting operation was not started.

  This invention is made | formed in order to solve the said subject, and it aims at providing the snow melting apparatus which can confirm the malfunction of construction at an early stage.

Snow melting apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, burners as a heat source, and a hot water supply device incorporating a heat exchanger for heating the heat medium in the thermal power of the burner, the buried pipe melting snow target area, A snow melting device comprising a pump for circulating a heat medium heated by the heat exchanger, and a control device for controlling the hot water supply device and the pump, respectively , provided in a remote control device for operating the snow melting device When an initial check including a communication check for checking at least a communication state between the remote control device and the control device is performed, and in the initial check, the communication check is completed and no abnormality is detected in the communication state. In addition, an operation switch for starting the snow melting operation by the snow melting device and a test operation for forcibly executing the snow melting operation by avoiding the initial check are started. Characterized in that a commissioning switch to.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 2 is a circulation that measures the circulation flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the pipe when the test operation is started by the test operation switch. A flow rate measuring unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the circulating flow rate measured by the circulating flow rate measuring unit is abnormal, and an abnormality that outputs abnormality information when the circulating unit determines that the circulating flow rate is abnormal Information output means.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 2, the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 3 is provided in the middle of a pipe connecting the pipe and the hot water supply device, and is a heat medium flowing in the pipe. A tank that stores a part thereof and adjusts the amount of the heat medium held by the snow melting device, a water level detection unit that detects a water level of the heat medium in the tank, and a change in the water level detected by the water level detection unit And a first trial run end means for terminating the trial run.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 2 or 3, the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 4 is a forward temperature for measuring the forward temperature of the heat medium flowing from the hot water supply device toward the snow melting target region. Measuring means, and return temperature measuring means for measuring the return temperature of the heat medium flowing from the snow melting target area toward the hot water supply device, wherein the circulating flow rate measuring means is measured by the forward temperature measuring means. The circulating flow rate is calculated and measured based on the going-out temperature, the return temperature measured by the return temperature measuring means, and the gas output per unit time of the hot water supply device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, the snow melting apparatus is measured by a test operation time measuring means for measuring the test operation time as the test operation time and the test operation time measuring means. A predetermined time arrival determining means for determining whether or not the test operation time has reached a predetermined time; and when the predetermined time arrival determination means determines that the test operation time has reached the predetermined time, the test operation is terminated. Second test operation end means.

  The snow melting device of the invention according to claim 6 is the return temperature measuring means for measuring the return temperature of the heat medium flowing from the snow melting target area toward the hot water supply device in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 5. And a return temperature determination means for determining whether or not the return temperature measured by the return temperature measurement means is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and the test run time measurement means starts a test run by the test run switch. Later, the return temperature determination means measures the elapsed time from when it is determined that the return temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature as the trial operation time.

  Further, the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 7 is the forward temperature measuring means for measuring the forward temperature of the heat medium flowing from the hot water supply device toward the snow melting target region in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 6. The circulating flow rate measuring means includes the forward temperature measured by the forward temperature measuring means, the return temperature measured by the return temperature measuring means, and an output amount of gas per unit time of the hot water supply device. Based on the above, the circulation flow rate is calculated and measured.

  In the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 1, a general user starts the snow melting operation by the snow melting device by the operation switch of the remote control device. In this case, an initial check of the snow melting device is performed, and the snow melting operation is started when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the initial check. On the other hand, the construction contractor starts trial operation of the snow melting device with the trial operation switch after construction of the snow melting device. In this case, since the trial operation is forcibly started without performing the initial check of the snow melting operation, it is possible to confirm the malfunction of the construction at an early stage. The contractor can embed a pipe in the snow melting target area and forcibly start a trial run with a trial run switch when a path composed of a hot water supply device, a pump, piping, and the like is completed. Therefore, even before the remote control device is connected, since it can be confirmed at an early stage whether or not the heat medium circulates well in the path, it is possible to confirm an operation defect at an early stage.

  Further, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, in the trial operation started by the trial operation switch, the circulation flow rate measuring means measures the circulation flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the pipe. To do. The determining means determines whether or not the circulating flow rate measured by the circulating flow rate measuring means is abnormal. When the determining means determines that the circulation flow rate is abnormal, the abnormality information output means outputs abnormality information to that effect. Thereby, the contractor can confirm the malfunction of construction at an early stage.

  In addition, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, during the test operation, air contained in the heat medium is released from the heat medium and released into the atmosphere. Therefore, the amount of the heat medium circulating in the snow melting device is reduced. To compensate for the decrease, the heat medium stored in the tank is drawn into the pipe, and the heat medium is replenished in the snow melting device. At this time, the water level of the heat medium in the tank decreases. The first test operation end means ends the test operation based on the water level change. Therefore, after the trial run is completed, the heat medium in the path of the snow melting device can be brought into a state in which the air is detached.

  Further, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2 or 3, the circulating flow rate measuring means is provided with the return temperature of the heat medium, the return temperature, and the unit time of the hot water supply device. Since the circulation flow rate is calculated based on the output amount of the gas, it is not necessary to use a flow rate sensor for measuring the circulation flow rate, so that the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, the second trial run end means is determined by the predetermined time arrival judgment means that the trial run time has reached the predetermined time. If so, end the trial run. By continuing the trial operation for a predetermined time, the heat medium is heated by the hot water supply device, so that the air contained in the heat medium can be separated from the heat medium. Thereby, after the trial run is completed, the heat medium in the path of the snow melting device can be in a state where the air is sufficiently separated.

  Further, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 5, the test run time measuring means is configured so that the return temperature determining means has the return temperature after the test run is started by the test run switch. The elapsed time from when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature is measured as the test run time. Therefore, even if the temperature of the heat medium is low at the start of the test operation, the elapsed time from when the heat medium is heated to the predetermined temperature is set as the test operation time, so that the air is sufficiently separated from the heat medium by continuing the predetermined time. be able to.

  In addition, in the snow melting device of the invention according to claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 6, the circulating flow rate measuring means includes the return temperature of the heat medium, the return temperature, and the gas per unit time of the hot water supply device. Since the circulation flow rate is calculated based on the output amount, it is not necessary to use a flow rate sensor or the like for measuring the circulation flow rate, so that the cost can be reduced.

1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a snow melting device 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a snow melting device 1. FIG. It is a main flowchart of a snow melting operation control process. It is a flowchart of a trial run process. It is a flowchart of the modification of a test run process.

  Hereinafter, a snow melting apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. The structure of the apparatus described below is merely an illustrative example, and is not intended to be limited to that unless otherwise specified.

  First, the configuration of the snow melting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The snow melting device 1 includes a hot water supply device 2 that is a parent device and hot water supply devices 3 and 4 that are child devices as heat source devices. Heat-dissipating heating pipes 19 are bent and embedded in the ground of the snow melting target area 6. In the snow melting device 1, the temperature of the ground in the snow melting target region 6 rises by flowing the antifreeze liquid heated by the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 through the heating pipe 19 as a heat medium. Thereby, the snow accumulation in the snow melting object area | region 6 can be melt | dissolved. The antifreeze liquid that has flowed through the heating pipe 19 returns to the hot water supply apparatuses 2 to 4 through various pipes 7 and 9 to 13 and an air separator 8 described later. The antifreeze liquid heated again by the hot water supply apparatuses 2 to 4 flows again through the heating pipe 19 via various pipes 14 to 17 described later. The snow melting device 1 can obtain a snow melting effect by performing such a snow melting operation.

  Next, the structure of the hot water supply device 2 that functions as a master unit will be described with reference to FIG. At the bottom of the housing 2A of the hot water supply device 2, there are a gas inlet 41 through which gas flows, a water inlet 42 through which antifreeze returned through the heating pipe 19 flows, and an antifreeze heated in the housing 2A. A water outlet 43 for discharging water is provided. A burner 50 is provided in the combustion chamber of the housing 2A. A gas supply pipe 45 connected to the gas inlet 41 is connected to the burner 50. In the vicinity of the burner 50, a thermocouple 105 (see FIG. 2) for detecting the flame temperature, a frame rod 106 (see FIG. 2) for detecting misfire, and an igniter 107 (FIG. 2) for igniting the burner 50. Each) is provided.

  A gas electromagnetic valve 51 that opens and closes the gas flow path is provided on the upstream side of the gas supply pipe 45 through which the gas flows. A gas proportional valve 52 that adjusts the gas flow rate and adjusts the heating power of the burner 50 is provided on the downstream side. A pipe 46 through which the antifreeze liquid flows is provided between the water inlet 42 and the water outlet 43. A heat exchanger (not shown) is provided in the middle of the pipe 46. On the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the pipe 46, a flow rate sensor 56 for detecting the return flow rate of the antifreeze liquid flowing through the pipe 46, and a return temperature for detecting the return temperature of the antifreeze liquid (water temperature entering the hot water supply device 2). A thermistor 55 is provided.

  Furthermore, the hot water supply device 2 includes a control device 5 (see FIG. 2) that controls the snow melting operation of the snow melting device 1. The control device 5 includes a remote control device 36 for instructing the operation of the snow melting device 1, a snowfall sensor 38 for detecting snow accumulation in the snow melting target region 6, an outside air temperature sensor 48 for detecting outside air temperature, and a snow melting target region 6 are connected to a road surface temperature sensor 35 for detecting the road surface temperature. The remote control device 36 is provided with an operation switch 36 </ b> A for executing the normal operation of the snow melting device 1. Further, the control device 5 is provided with a display unit 37 (see FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 1) for displaying various screens such as an error display. Information displayed on the display unit 37 is mainly confirmed by a contractor who performs inspection and maintenance work. In FIG. 1, the road surface temperature sensor 35 is installed in the approximate center of the snow melting target region 6, but the position is not limited to this.

  Next, the structure of the hot water supply devices 3 and 4 that function as slave units will be described with reference to FIG. The hot water supply devices 3 and 4 function as slave units. The hot water supply apparatuses 3 and 4 have substantially the same configuration as the hot water supply apparatus 2. A gas inlet 61, a water inlet 62, and a water outlet 63 are provided at the bottom of the housing 3 </ b> A of the water heater 3. A gas inlet 81, a water inlet 82, and a water outlet 83 are also provided at the bottom of the housing 4 </ b> A of the water heater 4. In the casings 3A and 4A of the hot water supply apparatuses 3 and 4, a burner 50, a gas supply pipe 45, a gas electromagnetic valve 51, a gas proportional valve 52, and a pipe 46 similar to the hot water supply apparatus 2 are provided.

  Next, the piping configuration of the snow melting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. One end of the first return pipe 7 is connected to one end of the heating pipe 19 on the downstream side where the antifreeze liquid flows. The other end of the first return pipe 7 is connected to the bottom of an air separator 8 for separating air from the antifreeze supplied from the first return pipe 7. One end of the second return pipe 9 is further connected to the bottom of the air separator 8. The other end of the second return pipe 9 is provided with a branch portion 21 that branches into two flow paths. One end of the third return pipe 10 for supplying the antifreeze liquid to the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 is connected to one of the branch parts 21, and one end of a bypass pipe 18 to be described later is connected to the other.

  The 3rd return pipe 10 is extended over the hot-water supply apparatuses 2-4. The third return pipe 10 is provided with connecting portions 22, 23 and 24 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction in which the antifreeze liquid flows. One end of the branch pipe 11 is connected to the connection part 22. The other end of the branch pipe 11 is connected to the water inlet 42 of the hot water supply device 2. One end of the branch pipe 12 is connected to the connection part 23. The other end of the branch pipe 12 is connected to the water inlet 62 of the hot water supply device 3. One end of the branch pipe 13 is connected to the connection part 24. The other end of the branch pipe 13 is connected to a water inlet 82 of the hot water supply device 4. A hot water supply side pump 31 is provided on the upstream side of the third return pipe 10 and between the branch portion 21 and the connection portion 22. The hot water supply device side pump 31 adjusts the flow rate of the antifreeze supplied to the hot water supply devices 2 to 4. The hot water supply device side pump 31 is a DC pump driven by a direct current power source. Therefore, when the hot water supply side pump 31 is driven, the antifreeze liquid flowing through the third return pipe 10 is connected to the hot water supply apparatuses 2, 3, 4 from the connection parts 22, 23, 24 via the branch pipes 11, 12, 13. Flow into.

  On the other hand, one end of the forward pipe 17 for flowing the antifreeze heated by the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 to the heating pipe 19 is connected to one end of the heating pipe 19 on the upstream side where the antifreeze flows. Similar to the third return pipe 10, the forward pipe 17 extends over the hot water supply devices 2 to 4. The forward pipe 17 is provided with connecting portions 25, 26, and 27 in order from the downstream side to the upstream side in the direction in which the antifreeze liquid flows. One end of the branch pipe 14 is connected to the connection portion 25. The other end of the branch pipe 14 is connected to the water outlet 43 of the hot water supply device 2. One end of the branch pipe 15 is connected to the connection part 26. The other end of the branch pipe 15 is connected to the water outlet 63 of the hot water supply device 3. One end of the branch pipe 16 is connected to the connection portion 27. The other end of the branch pipe 16 is connected to the water outlet 83 of the hot water supply device 3. The antifreeze liquid heated by each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 flows from the water outlets 43, 63, and 83 to the branch pipes 14, 15, and 16 and flows from the connecting portions 25, 26, and 27 to the forward pipe 17 to join. , Flowing toward the heating pipe 19.

  Further, a merging portion 28 is provided on the downstream side of the connecting portion 25 in the forward pipe 17. A bypass pipe 18 is provided between the branch part 21 of the second return pipe 9 and the joining part 28 of the forward pipe 17. The bypass pipe 18 allows a part of the antifreeze flowing through the second return pipe 9 to flow to the forward pipe 17 as it is without passing through the hot water supply devices 2 to 4. The bypass pipe 18 is provided with a heat radiation side pump 32. The heat radiation side pump 32 adjusts the total circulation amount in the snow melting device 1 by adjusting the flow rate of the antifreeze flowing through the bypass pipe 18. The heat radiation side pump 32 is also a DC pump driven by a DC power source. A forward temperature thermistor 58 for detecting the forward temperature of the antifreeze flowing through the forward pipe 17 is provided on the downstream side of the joining portion 28 in the forward pipe 17.

  Incidentally, a radiator cap 73 having an air vent valve 72 is provided on the upper portion of the air separator 8. The radiator cap 73 is provided with a communication pipe 74 through which a surplus of antifreeze in the air separator 8 flows. The communication pipe 74 is inserted to the lower part inside the expansion tank 70 provided next to the air separator 8. The expansion tank 70 absorbs the expansion of the antifreeze liquid from the air separator 8 as the temperature of the antifreeze liquid circulating in the snow melting device 1 rises. On the contrary, when the inside of the snow melting device 1 has a negative pressure, the expansion tank 70 supplies antifreeze into the air separator 8. An antifreeze liquid supply port 75 for supplying antifreeze liquid into the expansion tank 70 and a pair of water level electrodes 76 and 77 for detecting the water level in the tank are provided on the top of the expansion tank 70. An overflow water discharge pipe 78 is provided at the upper part of the side surface of the expansion tank 70 for discharging the antifreeze liquid overflowing from the tank to the outside.

  The water level electrodes 76 and 77 have different lengths. The water level electrode 76 has a length up to the vicinity of the lower portion of the expansion tank 70. The water level electrode 77 has approximately half the length of the water level electrode 76. In the present embodiment, the level of the water level in the expansion tank 70 can be detected by using the communication pipe 74 that is a copper pipe as the ground and using the water level electrodes 76 and 77. For example, the water level above the H1 water level, which is the lower end position of the water level electrode 77, is “high water level”, and the H1 water level to the H2 water level, which is the lower end position of the water level electrode 76, is “normal water level”, from the H2 water level. If the lower water level is set to the “low water level”, the CPU 101 of the control device 5 described later can recognize the level of the antifreeze liquid.

  In the snow melting apparatus 1 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the third return pipe 10 is a pipe through which only the antifreeze liquid supplied to each of the hot water supply apparatuses 2 to 4 flows. Therefore, even if the viscosity resistance of the antifreeze liquid changes with temperature, the flow rate of the antifreeze liquid flowing through the third return pipe 10 can be controlled by varying the capacity of the hot water supply apparatus side pump 31. Antifreeze can be stably supplied.

  Further, since the heat radiation side pump 32 flows the antifreeze liquid into the forward pipe 17 through the bypass pipe 18 without passing through the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 having a large pressure loss, the heating pipe 19 in the snow melting target area 6 The power of the heat radiation side pump 32 can be transmitted as it is. That is, there is an advantage that the heat radiation side pump 32 can be used efficiently.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the snow melting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The snow melting device 1 includes a control device 5 in a housing 2 </ b> A (see FIG. 1) of the hot water supply device 2. The control device 5 includes a CPU 101 that controls the snow melting device 1. A ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an EEPROM 104 are connected to the CPU 101. The ROM 102 is a non-volatile storage element that stores various programs such as a snow melting operation control program, initial values of various data, and the like. The RAM 103 is a readable and writable volatile storage element that temporarily stores a running program and stores various data. The EEPROM 104 is a non-volatile storage element that stores a counter and various types of information to be described later. Although not shown, the control device 5 is provided with an oscillator that supplies a clock to the CPU 101. The control device 5 includes a battery 20 as a power source.

  The CPU 101 includes a gas proportional valve drive circuit 52A, a magnet drive circuit 51A, a thermocouple circuit 115, a frame rod circuit 116, an igniter circuit 117, a hot water supply device side pump drive circuit 31A, and a heat dissipation side pump drive circuit 32A. The display unit drive circuit 37A, a test operation switch 39 for executing a test operation, an input / output (I / O) interface 121, and the like are connected to each other. A gas proportional valve 52 is connected to the gas proportional valve drive circuit 52A. A gas electromagnetic valve 51 is connected to the magnet drive circuit 51A. A thermocouple 105 is connected to the thermocouple circuit 115. The frame rod 106 is connected to the frame rod circuit 116. An igniter 107 is connected to the igniter circuit 117. The hot water supply side pump 31 is connected to the hot water supply side pump drive circuit 31A. A heat radiation side pump 32 is connected to the heat radiation side pump drive circuit 32A. A display unit 37 is connected to the display unit drive circuit 37A. Although the structure of the test run switch 39 is not limited, for example, a dip switch having good operability can be adopted. The safety circuit 114 driven by the detection signals output from the thermocouple circuit 115 and the frame rod circuit 116 is connected to the magnet drive circuit 51A.

  The input / output interface 121 includes a forward temperature thermistor (TH) 58, a return temperature thermistor (TH) 55, a flow sensor 56, a road surface temperature sensor 35, water level electrodes 76 and 77, a snowfall sensor 38, and an outside air temperature. A sensor 48 and a remote control device 36 are connected to each other. In addition to an input unit (not shown) for performing various inputs and settings, the remote control device 36 is provided with an operation switch 36A for executing normal operation.

  Next, the antifreeze will be described. The antifreeze used in this embodiment is a general one mainly composed of glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. The viscosity resistance of the antifreeze increases as the temperature of the antifreeze decreases. In the present embodiment, the viscosity resistance of the antifreeze liquid is controlled by maintaining the temperature of the antifreeze liquid within a predetermined temperature range.

  Next, the difference between “normal operation” and “trial operation” performed in the snow melting device 1 will be described. “Normal operation” means that the general user operates the snow melting device 1 by pressing the operation switch 36 </ b> A of the remote control device 36. In normal operation, an initial check is first performed. Snow melting operation is executed based on the result. The initial check includes at least a communication status check with the remote control device 36. Other check items include, for example, checks of various solenoid valves in the hot water supply apparatuses 2, 3, and 4, checks of the water level electrodes 76 and 77 of the expansion tank 70, and the like. If all these checks are not completed, the snow melting operation is not executed. Furthermore, if any abnormality is detected in these checks, the snow melting operation is not executed.

  On the other hand, the “trial operation” means that the contractor presses the trial operation switch 39 after installing the snow melting device 1 to avoid the initial check and forcibly execute the snow melting operation. The installer needs to confirm whether or not the antifreeze circulates in the route of the snow melting device 1 well after the snow melting device 1 is installed. However, when trying to confirm in normal operation, at least the remote control device 36 must be connected to the control device 5 first. In addition, if there is an abnormality in the initial check, the snow melting operation is not started, so that there is a disadvantage that the antifreeze circulation state cannot be confirmed.

  Therefore, by performing this test operation, the snow melting operation can be forcibly executed even if the remote control device 36 is not connected. Therefore, whether or not the antifreeze circulates at least in the route of the snow melting device 1 is determined. Can be confirmed early. In addition, as will be described later, during the trial operation, air is removed from the antifreeze and a check for abnormal circulation is performed. Therefore, by performing the trial operation, it is possible to easily detect an abnormal circulation early and prepare for the normal operation in advance.

  In the test operation, it may be checked whether each sensor is normal. For example, after the snowfall sensor 38 is connected, the snowfall sensor 38 may be turned on in the manual mode and may be determined to be normal if the no-voltage contact of the snowfall sensor 38 is turned on.

  Next, the snow melting operation control process executed by the CPU 101 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the power of the snow melting device 1 is turned on, this process is called and executed by the “snow melting operation control program” stored in the ROM 102 (see FIG. 2).

  First, it is determined whether or not the operation switch 36A of the remote control device 36 has been pressed or the test operation switch 39 has been pressed (S1, S7). While neither the operation switch 36A nor the test operation switch 39 is pressed (S1: NO, S7: NO), the process returns to S1 and S7 to monitor whether these switches are pressed.

  For example, if the general user determines that the operation switch 36A of the remote control device 36 has been pressed after the installation of the snow melting device 1 by the contractor (S1: YES), the initial check described above is executed (S2). . Further, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the initial check (S3). If there is an abnormality in the initial check (S3: YES), it is necessary to take immediate action, so the process is terminated without performing the snow melting operation. If there is an abnormality in the initial check, a general user may be notified by turning on or blinking an abnormal lamp or the like.

  On the other hand, when there is no abnormality in the initial check (S3: NO), a normal snow melting operation is executed (S4). In the snow melting operation, the hot water supply device side pump 31 and the heat dissipation side pump 32 are driven, and the burners 50 of the respective hot water supply devices 2 to 4 are ignited. Further, in each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4, combustion proportional temperature control is executed. In the combustion proportional temperature control, for example, when there is a difference between the antifreeze forward temperature detected by the forward temperature thermistor 58 and the set temperature, the opening of the gas proportional valve 52 is adjusted and the casings 2A to 4A. The heating power is adjusted by adjusting the rotational speed of a fan (not shown) provided inside, and the antifreeze liquid is adjusted to the set temperature. The antifreeze liquid adjusted to the set temperature flows through the heating pipe 19 by the hot water supply device side pump 31 and the heat radiation side pump 32, and the temperature of the ground in the snow melting target region 6 rises. Therefore, the snow accumulation in the snow melting target area 6 can be melted.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the operation switch 36A of the remote control device 36 is pressed during the snow melting operation (S5). When the general user wants to stop the snow melting operation, he presses the operation switch 36A again. Until the operation switch 36A is pressed (S5: NO), the process returns to S4 and the snow melting operation is continued. When the operation switch 36A is pressed (S5: YES), the hot water supply device side pump 31 and the heat dissipation side pump 32 are stopped, the burners 50 of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 are extinguished, and the snow melting operation is finished ( S6), returning to S1, the process is repeated.

  By the way, after the installation of the snow melting device 1 is completed, the contractor needs to confirm whether or not the antifreeze liquid circulates well in the route of the snow melting device 1 at an early stage. For example, when the trial run switch 39 is pushed by the contractor (S7: YES), a trial run process described later is executed (S8).

  Next, the trial operation process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the preparation stage for starting the trial operation, it is necessary to replenish the expansion tank 70 with the antifreeze liquid to at least a predetermined full water level above the H1 water level. This is to prevent air biting.

  First, it is checked whether or not the road surface temperature sensor 35 is normal (S11). For example, if the roadbed temperature detected by the road surface temperature sensor 35 is within the range of, for example, + 30 ° C. to −10 ° C. with respect to the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 48, it is determined as normal. If it is not within the range, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and a message “sensor abnormality” is displayed on the display unit 37 (S12). Thereby, the contractor can quickly recognize the abnormality of the road surface temperature sensor 35. The abnormality display on the display unit 37 is deleted by the contractor after the abnormality treatment. In addition, you may make it alert | report the sensor abnormality not only by the abnormality display by the display part 37 but by making an abnormality lamp light and blink.

  Subsequently, the hot water supply device side pump 31 and the heat dissipation side pump 32 are driven, and each burner 50 of each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 is ignited (S13). Thereby, the antifreeze liquid starts to circulate in the path of the snow melting device 1, and the snow melting operation is started. Subsequently, the timer counter c is reset and started (S14), and the test run time is measured. In each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4, combustion proportional temperature control is started (S15). The antifreeze liquid adjusted to the set temperature flows through the heating pipe 19 and the temperature of the ground in the snow melting target area 6 rises.

  Next, the circulation flow rate of the antifreeze flowing through the path of the snow melting device 1 is calculated (S16). In this process, the circulation flow rate is calculated based on the target output amount (kcal / h) per unit time of the hot water supply apparatuses 2 to 4, the antifreeze liquid return temperature, and the return temperature. The forward temperature and the return temperature are detected by the forward temperature thermistor 58 and the return temperature thermistor 55, respectively.

For example, when the target output amount of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 is 36,000 (kcal / h), the forward temperature is 30 ° C., and the return temperature is 10 ° C., the circulation flow rate is calculated by the following equation.
Circulation flow rate (L / min) = (36000/60) / (30-10) = 30 (L / min)

  Then, it is determined whether or not the calculated circulation flow rate is 40 (L / min) or more (S17). In the above example, the calculated circulation flow rate is 30 (L / min) and less than 40 (L / min) (S17: NO), so the flow rate is too small. Possible causes of the low circulation flow rate include, for example, clogging of dust in the path, clogging of a filter, and the like. In this case, since the message “circulation abnormality due to clogging of foreign matter” is displayed on the display unit 37 (S18), the contractor can quickly recognize that the circulation abnormality has occurred. On the other hand, when the calculated circulation flow rate is 40 (L / min) or more (S17: YES), nothing is done because the antifreeze is circulating well.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the level of the antifreeze liquid in the expansion tank 70 has decreased to the H1 level (S19). During the test operation, when the antifreeze liquid circulating through the path of the snow melting device 1 is warmed by the hot water supply devices 2 to 4, the air dissolved in the antifreeze liquid expands and leaves the atmosphere. Therefore, the reduced amount of antifreeze is drawn into the path from the expansion tank 70 via the communication pipe 74. Therefore, the water level of the expansion tank 70 gradually decreases.

  If the water level of the antifreeze liquid has not decreased to the H1 water level (S19: NO), it is determined whether the test run time has reached the predetermined time t1 (S20). The predetermined time t1 is, for example, a time sufficient for removing air from the antifreeze liquid based on past experience values. Until the test run time reaches the predetermined time t1 (S20: NO), the process returns to S17, the circulation flow rate is checked again, and the water level of the antifreeze liquid in the expansion tank 70 is checked again (S19).

  If the predetermined time t1 is reached before the water level drops to the H1 water level (S20: YES), since the air has sufficiently separated from the antifreeze, the hot water supply side pump 31 and the heat radiation side pump 32 are stopped. And each burner 50 of each hot water supply apparatus 2-4 is extinguished (S24), and a test run is complete | finished. Thus, after the trial run is completed, the antifreeze liquid in the path can be brought into a state in which the air is sufficiently separated. Then, the timer counter c is stopped (S25), the process returns to S1 of the main flow of FIG. 3 and the process is repeated.

  Further, before the predetermined time t1 is reached (S20: NO), when the water level of the antifreeze liquid in the expansion tank 70 is lowered to the H1 water level (S19: YES), the rate of decrease in the water level of the antifreeze liquid (mm / min) is calculated. (S21). The rate of decrease in the level of the antifreeze liquid is a value obtained by dividing the distance (mm) from the full water level to the H1 water level of the expansion tank 70 by the time (min) required to decrease from the full water level to the H1 water level.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated decrease rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S22). Here, for example, the predetermined value may be set as an abnormal value in which there is a high possibility that the antifreeze liquid is leaked in the route of the snow melting device 1 due to breakage of the pipe, poor connection, or the like. Therefore, when the calculated rate of decrease is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (S22: YES), it is highly likely that the decrease in the water level of the antifreeze liquid is not only due to air separation but also the leakage of the antifreeze liquid. In this case, a message “circulation abnormality occurred due to leakage” is displayed on the display unit 37 (S24). Thereby, since the construction contractor can recognize that the leak of the antifreeze liquid has arisen in the path | route of the snow melting apparatus 1, it can respond quickly. And the drive of the hot water supply apparatus side pump 31 and the thermal radiation side pump 32 is stopped, and each burner 50 of each hot water supply apparatus 2-4 is extinguished (S25), and test run is complete | finished. Next, the timer counter c is stopped (S26), the process returns to S1 of the main flow of FIG. 3, and the process is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the calculated decrease rate is less than the predetermined value (S22: NO), it can be estimated that the cause of the decrease in the water level of the expansion tank 70 is due to the separation of air. Therefore, the drive of the hot water supply device side pump 31 and the heat radiation side pump 32 is stopped, and each burner 50 of each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4 is extinguished (S24), and the trial operation is completed. Thus, after the trial run is completed, the air can be sufficiently separated from the antifreeze. Next, the timer counter c is stopped (S26), the process returns to S1 in the main flow of FIG. 3, and the processing so far is repeated.

  As described above, the snow melting device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the three hot water supply devices 2 to 4 as heat source devices, and melts the snow in the snow melting target region 6 using the antifreeze liquid as a heat medium. The snow melting device 1 includes a test operation switch 39 in the control device 5 in addition to the operation switch 36 </ b> A provided in the remote control device 36. The operation switch 36A is for executing a normal operation. The test operation switch 39 is for executing a test operation. When the normal operation is started, the snow melting operation is performed after the initial check. In the trial operation, the snow melting operation is executed without performing an initial check even when the remote control device 36 is not connected. As a result, the contractor embeds the heating pipe 19 in the snow melting target area 6 and completes a path composed of the hot water supply devices 2 to 4, the hot water supply device side pump 31, the heat dissipation side pump 32, various pipes, and the like. Thus, the trial run can be forcibly started by the trial run switch 39. Therefore, even before the remote control device 36 is connected, it can be confirmed at an early stage whether or not the antifreeze liquid circulates in the path well, so that a construction failure can be confirmed at an early stage. In addition, during the trial run, it is possible to check for circulatory abnormalities caused by clogging in the route and circulatory abnormalities caused by leakage of antifreeze liquid in the route, so that the contractor can quickly respond to these abnormalities.

  In the above description, the CPU 101 that executes S16 of FIG. 4 corresponds to the “circulation flow rate measuring means” of the present invention, the CPU 101 that executes the process of S17 corresponds to the “determination means” of the present invention, and performs the process of S18. The CPU 101 to be executed corresponds to the “abnormal information output unit” of the present invention. The expansion tank 70 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the “tank” of the present invention. The water level electrodes 76 and 77 and the communication pipe 74 as the earth correspond to the “water level detecting means” of the present invention. The CPU 101 that executes the processes of S19 and S25 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the “first operation end means” of the present invention.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, in the test operation processing executed by the CPU 101, the test operation is terminated based on the change in the level of the antifreeze liquid in the expansion tank 70. However, the test operation time is determined in advance, and the test operation is performed after the test operation time has elapsed. You may make it complete | finish.

  Therefore, a modified example of the trial run process executed by the CPU 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, since this modification is a modification of the trial run process of the said embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted about the overlapping process and it demonstrates focusing on a different process.

  First, S11 to S13 of FIG. 5 are the same processes as S11 to S13 of the trial operation process of FIG. Next, combustion proportional temperature control is started (S34). Further, it is determined whether or not the return temperature measured by the return temperature thermistor 55 is 30 ° C. or higher (S35). Until the return temperature reaches 30 ° C. or higher (S35: NO), the process returns to S35 and waits until it reaches 30 ° C. or higher.

  When the return temperature reaches 30 ° C. or higher (S35: YES), the timer counter c is reset and started (S36), and the actual test run time is measured. At the same time, the remaining time of the test run time is displayed on the display unit 37 (S37). For example, when the test run time is 30 minutes, the display is displayed until it is counted down from 0 to 0. Thereby, the contractor can easily recognize how much the test operation time is left.

  Next, the circulation flow rate of the antifreeze flowing through the path of the snow melting device 1 is calculated (S38). In this process, similarly to the above embodiment, the circulation flow rate is calculated based on the target output amount (kcal / h) of the hot water supply apparatuses 2 to 4, the antifreeze liquid return temperature, and the return temperature. The forward temperature and the return temperature are detected by the forward temperature thermistor 58 and the return temperature thermistor 55, respectively.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the calculated circulation flow rate is 40 (L / min) or more (S39). If it is less than 40 (L / min) (S39: NO), the message "circulation abnormality due to clogging of foreign matter" is displayed on the display unit 37 (S40), so that the contractor has a circulation abnormality. Can be recognized quickly. On the other hand, when the calculated circulation flow rate is 40 (L / min) or more (S39: YES), the antifreeze liquid circulates well and does nothing.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether the test run time after the antifreeze liquid is determined to be 30 ° C. or higher has reached a predetermined time (S41). Until the predetermined time is reached (S41: NO), there is a possibility that the air in the antifreeze has not yet sufficiently separated, so the process returns to S38, and the circulation flow rate is checked while continuing the trial operation.

  When the trial operation time reaches the predetermined time (S41: YES), the air is sufficiently separated from the antifreeze, so that the drive of the hot water supply side pump 31 and the heat radiation side pump 32 is stopped, and each of the hot water supply devices 2 to 2 is stopped. Each of the four burners 50 is extinguished (S42). Thereby, it can be set as the state which air fully removed from the antifreeze liquid after the trial run completion. Next, the timer counter c is stopped (S43), and the remaining time displayed on the display unit 37 is stopped (S44). Thus, the trial run is completed. Even in such a modified example, the trial run can be terminated in a state where the air in the antifreeze liquid is sufficiently separated.

  In the above modification, the CPU 101 that executes the process of S36 of FIG. 5 corresponds to the “driving time measuring means” of the present invention, and the CPU 101 that executes the process of S41 of the present invention “the predetermined time elapsed determination means”. The CPU 101 that executes the process of S42 corresponds to the “second test run end means” of the present invention.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, when the circulating flow rate of the antifreeze liquid is detected during the test operation, the circulating flow rate is calculated based on the return temperature of the antifreeze liquid, the forward temperature, and the target output amount. Thus, the circulating flow rate may be detected.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the two hot-water supply apparatuses of a subunit | mobile_unit are provided, the number of subunit | mobile_units is not limited. The number of slave units is preferably changed according to the environment in which the snow melting device 1 is installed, the weather conditions at the installation location, the snow melting load, the area of the snow melting target area, and the like. Accordingly, the number of slave units may be one, or three or more. Since the snow melting area, the snow melting load, and the like differ from site to site, the number of hot water supply devices as heat source devices may be adjusted according to the site.

  In the above embodiment, the flow rate of the antifreeze liquid and the return temperature are detected using the flow rate sensor 56 and the return temperature thermistor 55 provided in the hot water supply device 2 of the master unit. Alternatively, the flow rate sensor 56 and the return temperature thermistor 55 may be used for detection. Further, the flow sensor 56 and the return temperature thermistor 55 may be provided in the branch pipe 11 outside the housing 2A, not in the housing 2A.

  Moreover, the hot water supply device as a heat source device may be a latent heat recovery type hot water supply device capable of recovering sensible heat and latent heat in addition to a normal hot water supply device that heats a heat medium using sensible heat. The heating method of the hot water supply device is not limited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Snow melting apparatus 2-4 Hot water supply apparatus 5 Control apparatus 6 Snow melting object area | region 36 Remote control 48 Outside temperature sensor 50 Burner 101 CPU

Claims (7)

Burners as a heat source, and circulating hot water supply device incorporating a heat exchanger for heating the heat medium in the thermal power of the burner, the buried pipe melting snow target region, the heat medium heated in the heat exchanger a pump for causing, the water heater and the pump to a snow melting apparatus comprising a control device for each control,
Provided in a remote control device for operating the snow melting device, at least an initial check including a communication check for checking a communication state between the remote control device and the control device, the communication check is completed in the initial check , And an operation switch for starting a snow melting operation by the snow melting device when no abnormality is detected in the communication state ;
The initial check to avoid, snow melting apparatus being characterized in that a commissioning switch to start test operation to forcibly execute said snow melting operation. When the trial run is started by the trial run switch, a circulating flow rate measuring means for measuring a circulating flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the pipe,
Determining means for determining whether or not the circulating flow rate measured by the circulating flow rate measuring means is abnormal;
The snow melting device according to claim 1, further comprising abnormality information output means for outputting abnormality information when the determining means determines that the circulating flow rate is abnormal. A tank that is provided in the middle of a pipe connecting the pipe and the hot water supply device, stores a part of the heat medium flowing in the pipe, and adjusts the amount of the heat medium held by the snow melting device;
Water level detection means for detecting the level of the heat medium in the tank;
The snow melting device according to claim 2, further comprising first trial operation end means for ending the trial operation based on a change in the water level detected by the water level detection means. Outward temperature measuring means for measuring the forward temperature of the heat medium flowing from the hot water supply device toward the snow melting target area;
A return temperature measuring means for measuring a return temperature of the heat medium flowing from the snow melting target area toward the hot water supply device;
The circulating flow rate measuring means is based on the forward temperature measured by the forward temperature measuring means, the return temperature measured by the return temperature measuring means, and the amount of gas output per unit time of the hot water supply device. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circulating flow rate is calculated and measured. Trial run time measuring means for measuring trial run time which is the trial run time;
A predetermined time arrival determination means for determining whether or not the trial operation time measured by the test operation time measurement means has reached a predetermined time;
3. The snow melting device according to claim 2, further comprising: a second test operation end unit that ends the test operation when the test operation time is determined to have reached the predetermined time by the predetermined time arrival determination unit. . Return temperature measuring means for measuring a return temperature of the heat medium flowing from the snow melting target area toward the hot water supply device;
Return temperature determination means for determining whether or not the return temperature measured by the return temperature measurement means is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature,
The test operation time measuring means measures, as the test operation time, an elapsed time from when the return temperature determination means determines that the return temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature after the test operation is started by the test operation switch. The snow melting device according to claim 5. A forward temperature measuring means for measuring the forward temperature of the heat medium flowing from the hot water supply device toward the snow melting target region;
The circulating flow rate measuring means is based on the forward temperature measured by the forward temperature measuring means, the return temperature measured by the return temperature measuring means, and the amount of gas output per unit time of the hot water supply device. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circulating flow rate is calculated and measured.

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