JP6582966B2 - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The disclosure in this specification relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus.

  In patent document 1, when reducing the temperature of the hot water in a bathtub, the hot water supply apparatus which collect | recovers the heat which the hot water of a bathtub has in a hot water storage tank with a heat exchanger in heat recovery operation mode is disclosed.

JP 2013-32863 A

  However, if the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is higher than the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub, or if the difference between the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank and the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is small, Heat is not recovered in the hot water in the hot water storage tank, or it takes a long time to recover. Therefore, in that case, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub does not decrease or takes a long time to decrease.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide a hot water supply device that lowers the temperature of hot water in a bathtub.

  A plurality of aspects disclosed in this specification adopt different technical means to achieve each purpose. In addition, the reference numerals in the parentheses described in the claims and in this section are examples showing the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect, and limit the technical scope. is not.

One of the disclosed hot water supply apparatuses includes a hot water storage tank (10), a heat exchanger (30) for exchanging heat between hot water in the hot water storage tank and hot water in the bathtub (60), and heat of the hot water in the bathtub. A bath heat recovery operation unit (80m) for performing a bath heat recovery operation for recovering the hot water into the hot water in the hot water storage tank by a heat exchanger, and a water supply operation unit (80n) for performing a water supply operation for supplying tap water to the bathtub The temperature lowering determination unit (82) for determining whether or not the temperature of the hot and cold water in the bathtub is lowered to the target temperature by the bath heat recovery operation, and one of the bath heat recovery operation and the water supply operation are performed, and the temperature decrease When the determination unit determines that the temperature does not fall to the target temperature, the control unit (80j) includes a temperature lowering means switching unit (80j) that performs a water supply operation, and the temperature decrease determination unit performs a bath heat recovery operation in a predetermined manner. In the bathtub at the time Water is determined whether the host vehicle has reached the target temperature, cooling means switching section, when the cooling determination unit determines that whether, and switches to insert water operated bath heat recovery operation.

  According to this, when the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub does not drop to the target temperature by the temperature lowering operation by the bath heat recovery operation, it is possible to provide a hot water supply device that switches to the water supply operation. Therefore, when it is difficult to lower the temperature by the bath heat recovery operation, the temperature of the hot water can be lowered by the water feeding operation, so that the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub can reach the target temperature.

It is a block diagram of the hot water supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the hot-water supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the control procedure of 1st Embodiment.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the entire hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus 1. The hot water supply apparatus 1 includes a hot water storage tank 10, a heat exchanger 30 for a bathtub, and a control system 80.

  The hot water storage tank 10 is made of a metal container having excellent corrosion resistance, for example, a stainless steel container. The hot water storage tank 10 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is formed in a vertically long shape whose axial direction extends in the vertical direction. Since the hot water storage tank 10 has a heat insulating structure in which the outer surface is covered with a heat insulating material or a vacuum heat insulating structure with a double tank, hot hot water can be kept warm for a long time. The hot water storage tank 10 stores hot water heated by a heat pump unit (hereinafter referred to as an HP unit) 50.

  The hot water storage tank 10 is provided with a tank water temperature thermistor 71. A plurality of tank water temperature thermistors 71 are distributed in the height direction of the hot water storage tank 10. The tank water temperature thermistor 71 is a tank temperature detector for detecting the hot water storage amount and hot water temperature stored in the hot water storage tank 10. The tank water temperature thermistor 71 outputs temperature signals at respective height levels in the hot water storage tank 10 to the control system 80.

  A lower opening 10 a is provided in the lower part of the hot water storage tank 10. The lower opening 10 a is an outlet through which hot water on the lower side of the hot water storage tank 10 flows out. The lower opening 10 a is an inlet through which tap water flows into the hot water storage tank 10. The tap water flowing into the hot water storage tank 10 is supplied by the water supply pipe 11.

  The inlet-side hot water supply pipe 21 a guides hot water supplied from the lower opening 10 a to the lower side of the hot water storage tank 10 or tap water supplied by the water supply pipe 11 to the HP unit 50. A bypass pipe 21c is connected to the inlet-side hot water supply pipe 21a. The bypass pipe 21c makes it possible to guide hot water supplied from the lower opening 10a below the hot water storage tank 10 or tap water supplied by the water supply pipe 11 to the three-way valve 52, bypassing the HP unit 50. .

  The HP unit 50 includes a supercritical heat pump cycle that uses carbon dioxide having a low critical temperature as a refrigerant, and a boiling water pump 51 that pumps water to the heat pump cycle. According to the supercritical heat pump cycle, hot water having a temperature higher than that of a general heat pump cycle, for example, 85 ° C. to 90 ° C. can be stored in the hot water storage tank 10.

  The boiling water pump 51 is an electric water pump disposed in the inlet-side hot water supply pipe 21a. The boiling water pump 51 pressure-feeds hot water supplied from the lower side of the hot water storage tank 10 or tap water supplied by the water supply pipe 11 to the water passage of the water refrigerant heat exchanger. The boiling water pump 51 is controlled by the control system 80.

  The heat pump cycle includes a plurality of refrigeration cycle functional components. The plurality of refrigeration cycle functional components are at least an electric compressor, a water refrigerant heat exchanger, an electric expansion valve, an air heat exchanger, and an accumulator. These refrigeration cycle functional components are connected by a passage through which the refrigerant flows. A blower that blows air to the air heat exchanger is provided in the vicinity of the air heat exchanger.

  The expansion valve is a decompression unit that decompresses the high-pressure refrigerant flowing out of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the valve opening degree is electrically controlled by the control system 80. The air heat exchanger evaporates and evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve by heat exchange with the outdoor air blown by the blower, and supplies the gas refrigerant to the compressor. The rotation speed of the blower is controlled by the control system 80 so as to ensure the heat exchange performance of the air heat exchanger. The accumulator gas-liquid separates the refrigerant flowing out from the air heat exchanger, sucks only the gas-phase refrigerant into the compressor, and stores excess refrigerant in the cycle.

  The water-refrigerant heat exchanger is a heating heat exchanger that heats hot water or tap water pumped by the boiling water pump 51 with high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the discharge port of the compressor. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger has a refrigerant passage for circulating the refrigerant and a water passage for circulating hot water. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger has, for example, a two-layer structure that is arranged so that the surface of the refrigerant passage and the surface of the water passage are in close contact with each other so that heat exchange is possible. A lower opening 10a is connected to the inlet side of the water passage via an inlet-side hot water supply pipe 21a. Moreover, one of the inflow / outflow ports of the first joint 22 is connected to the outlet side of the water passage via the outlet side hot water supply pipe 21b. The first joint 22 is a three-way joint having three inlets and outlets.

  Another inlet and outlet of the first joint 22 is connected to the inlet side of the hot water supply side passage 30 a of the bathtub heat exchanger 30. One inflow / outflow port of the three-way valve 52 is connected to another inflow / outflow port of the first joint 22. A first upper opening 10 b provided on the upper side of the hot water storage tank 10 is connected to another inlet / outlet of the three-way valve 52. The other side of the three-way valve 52 is connected to the outlet side of the bypass pipe 21c.

  The three-way valve 52 is a switching valve that switches the flow path of hot water. The three-way valve 52 has a flow path that communicates the lower opening 10a and the first joint 22 via the bypass pipe 21c, and the lower opening 10a and the first upper opening 10b via the outlet-side hot water supply pipe 21b. Switch between communicating channels. The three-way valve 52 is controlled by the control system 80.

  Hot water heated by the water-refrigerant heat exchanger flows into the hot water storage tank 10 from the first upper opening 10b of the hot water storage tank 10 through the first joint 22 and the three-way valve 52. Therefore, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 tends to have a temperature distribution in which the temperature gradually decreases from the upper side to the lower side.

  The second upper opening 10 c is an outlet that is provided in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 10 and allows the hot hot water on the upper side out of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 to flow out. One inflow port of the middle temperature mixing valve 53 is connected to the second upper opening 10c.

  A first intermediate opening 10 d is provided at an intermediate portion of the hot water storage tank 10. The first intermediate opening 10d is an outlet through which hot water having an intermediate temperature at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction out of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 10 flows out. The other intermediate inlet of the intermediate temperature mixing valve 53 is connected to the first intermediate opening 10d. In addition, intermediate temperature hot water can be rephrased as medium temperature water. A second intermediate opening 10 e is further provided in the intermediate portion of the hot water storage tank 10. The second intermediate opening 10e is an opening into which hot water that has passed through the hot water supply side passage 30a of the bathtub heat exchanger 30 flows.

  The intermediate temperature mixing valve 53 adjusts the mixing ratio between the hot water flowing out from the second upper opening 10c and the hot water flowing out from the first intermediate opening 10d to adjust the temperature of the hot water flowing out downstream. It is a temperature control valve. The intermediate temperature mixing valve 53 includes, for example, a valve body that simultaneously changes a cross-sectional area of a passage through which hot water from the second upper opening 10c flows and a cross-sectional area of a passage through which hot water from the first intermediate opening 10d flows. This type of flow rate adjusting valve has an electric actuator that displaces the valve element. The intermediate temperature mixing valve 53 is controlled by the control system 80.

  One inflow port of the mixing valve 54 for bathtubs is connected to the outlet side of the mixing valve 53 for medium temperature. The water supply pipe 11 is connected to the other inlet of the bathtub mixing valve 54. The mixing valve 54 for the bathtub adjusts the mixing ratio between the hot water flowing out from the intermediate temperature mixing valve 53 and the tap water supplied from the water supply pipe 11 to adjust the temperature of the hot water flowing out downstream. It is a valve. The bathtub mixing valve 54 is controlled by the control system 80.

  One outlet of the second joint 43 disposed in the bathtub water circulation circuit 44 a is connected to the outlet side of the bathtub mixing valve 54 via the bathtub opening and closing valve 55. The second joint 43 is a three-way joint having three inlets and outlets. The bathtub open / close valve 55 opens and closes the bathtub pipe 44b that connects the outlet side of the bathtub mixing valve 54 and the bathtub water circulation circuit 44a, and the operation thereof is controlled by a control signal output from the control system 80. It is a solenoid valve to be controlled. Hot water flowing out of the bathtub mixing valve 54 is supplied into the bathtub 60 via the bathtub opening / closing valve 55 and the second joint 43.

  The bathtub water circulation circuit 44 a is a water circulation circuit that circulates hot water in the bathtub 60 that has flowed out of the bathtub 60 between the bathtub 60 and the bathtub hot water passage 30 b of the bathtub heat exchanger 30. In addition, the hot water in the bathtub 60 which flowed out of the bathtub 60 can be paraphrased as the hot water for bathtubs. A bathtub water pump 57 and a water level sensor 73 are disposed in the bathtub water circulation circuit 44a. The bathtub water pump 57 is an electric water pump that sucks hot water for a bathtub from a hot water inlet for the bathtub provided at an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the bathtub 60 and pumps the hot water to the bathtub hot water passage 30b. The bathtub water pump 57 is controlled by the control system 80. The water level sensor 73 is a sensor that is provided near the hot water inlet of the bathtub and detects the amount of hot water in the bathtub 60 based on the detected change in water pressure. The water level sensor 73 outputs the detected water level information to the control system 80.

  Another inlet / outlet of the second joint 43 is connected to the discharge port side of the bathtub water pump 57, and the inlet side of the bathtub hot water passage 30 b is connected to another inlet / outlet of the second joint 43. Yes. A bathtub hot water discharge port disposed on the lower side of the bathtub 60 is connected to the outlet side of the bathtub hot water passage 30b.

  The bathtub heat exchanger 30 includes a hot water supply side passage 30a through which the hot water flowing out from the first joint 22 circulates, and a bathtub hot water passage 30b through which the bathtub hot water circulating through the bathtub water circulation circuit 44a is circulated. The bathtub heat exchanger 30 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between hot water flowing through the hot water side passage 30a and hot water for bathtub flowing through the bathtub hot water path 30b. Thus, the bathtub heat exchanger 30 exchanges heat between the hot water heated by the HP unit 50 or the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 and the hot water in the bathtub 60 to realize a reheating operation or a bath heat recovery operation. .

  On the outlet side of the hot water supply side passage 30a, a hot water supply pump 56 that pumps hot water flowing out of the hot water supply side passage 30a to the second intermediate opening 10e is disposed. Hot water pump 56 is an electric water pump whose operation is controlled by control system 80.

  The control system 80 includes a controller 80b, an in-bathroom controller 90a, and an outside-bathroom controller 90b. The controller 80b includes a microcomputer having a storage medium readable by a computer as a main hardware element. The storage medium is a non-transitional physical storage medium that stores a predetermined program readable by a computer in a non-temporary manner. The storage medium can be provided by a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk.

  The controller 80b includes an interface unit 80c (hereinafter referred to as an I / F unit) to which the above-described devices to be controlled and various sensors are connected, a processing unit 80e that performs various determination processes, a program, and various types of detected A storage unit 80d for storing data.

  Connected to the I / F section 80c are devices constituting the HP unit 50, a three-way valve 52, a bathtub water pump 57, a hot water pump 56, a medium temperature mixing valve 53, a bathtub mixing valve 54, a bathtub opening / closing valve 55, and the like. Is done. The I / F unit 80c outputs to each of these control target devices. Further, an infrared sensor 74, a water level sensor 73, a tank water temperature thermistor 71, a bath water temperature sensor 72, a bathroom controller 90a, a bathroom outside controller 90b, and the like are connected to the I / F unit 80c. The I / F unit 80c inputs various signals to the controller 80b.

  The infrared sensor 74 is provided in the vicinity of the bathtub 60 in the bathroom. The infrared sensor 74 is a sensor for detecting a user's bathing situation. The infrared sensor 74 detects that the user has entered the bathtub 60 and has exited the bathtub 60 according to a change in the amount of infrared rays detected. The bathtub hot water temperature sensor 72 is a temperature sensor that is provided in the bathtub 60 and detects the temperature of hot water in the bathtub 60. Hereinafter, the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub 60 is also referred to as the bathtub temperature.

  In FIG. 2, the controller 80b includes a determination unit 80f, an operation switching unit 80i, and an operation control unit 80l as functional blocks. The determination unit 80f performs various determinations based on various detection information input via the I / F unit 80c and programs and various data stored in the storage unit 80d. The determination unit 80f includes a temperature decrease determination unit 80g that performs various determinations when the bathtub temperature is lowered, and a temperature increase determination unit 80h that performs various determinations when the bathtub temperature is increased.

  The operation switching unit 80i is a control switching unit that selects or switches the operation mode of the hot water supply device 1 according to the determination. The operation switching unit 80i selects either the bath heat recovery operation or the water pouring operation when the hot water temperature is reduced, and selects either the temperature lowering means switching unit 80j or the reheating operation or the hot water operation when the hot water temperature rises. And a temperature raising means switching unit 80k to be executed.

  The operation control unit 80l is a control output unit that performs control output of each operation mode in accordance with the output of the operation switching unit 80i. The control output of the operation control unit 80l is output to each control target device via the I / F unit 80c. The operation control unit 80l includes a bath heat recovery operation unit 80m that performs a bath heat recovery operation and a water supply operation unit 80n that performs a water supply operation as temperature lowering means. The operation control unit 80l includes a reheating operation unit 80o that performs reheating operation and an additional hot water operation unit 80p that performs additional hot water operation as temperature raising means.

  The in-bathroom controller 90a includes a in-bathroom switch unit that can be operated by the user, and an in-bathroom display unit 91a that displays a driving state. The bathroom controller 90a is a remote controller provided on the wall of the bathroom. The controller 90a in the bathroom is a set temperature switch in the bathroom that sets a target temperature as an operation switch, an automatic switch in the bathroom, a hot water switch 96a in the bathroom, a warm bath switch 94a in the bathroom, a hot water temperature setting switch in the bathroom, a bathroom An internal heating switch 95a, a bath heat recovery switch 93a in the bathroom, and the like are provided.

  The controller 90b outside the bathroom includes a switch unit outside the bathroom that can be operated by the user, and a display unit 91b outside the bathroom that displays the driving state. The controller 90b outside the bathroom is a remote controller provided on a wall of a room other than the bathroom, for example, a wall of a kitchen or a living room. The controller 90b outside the bathroom is a set temperature switch outside the bathroom for setting the target temperature, an automatic switch outside the bathroom, a bath outside hot water switch 96b, a bath warming switch 94b outside the bathroom, a hot water temperature setting switch outside the bathroom, and a bathroom. An external reheating switch 95b, an outdoor bath heat recovery switch 93b, and the like are provided. Each part of the hot water supply device 1 other than the controller and the bathtub 60 is installed in a suitable place such as outdoors.

  The in-bathroom controller 90a has an in-bathroom notification unit 92a that notifies the user of the operation mode being executed by the hot water supply device 1. The outside-bathroom controller 90b includes an outside-bathroom notification unit 92b that notifies the user of the operation mode being executed by the hot water supply device 1. The bathroom notification unit 92 a and the bathroom notification unit 92 b are notification units that notify the operation mode executed by the hot water supply device 1. The bathroom notification unit 92a and the bathroom outside notification unit 92b are provided, for example, in the bathroom display unit 91a and the bathroom display unit 91b, and display the operation mode being executed by the hot water supply device 1 so that the operation mode being executed is displayed. Is notified to the user as visual information. In addition, for example, a bathroom notification unit 92a may be provided in each of the bathroom water bath switch 96a, the bathroom warmth switch 94a, the bathroom reheating switch 95a, and the bathroom heat recovery switch 93a. At this time, the in-bathroom notification unit 92a of the switch corresponding to the operation mode being executed is turned on to notify the user of the operation mode being executed as visual information.

  The bath heat recovery switch 93a in the bathroom and the bath heat recovery switch 93b outside the bathroom are manual switching units that perform a bath heat recovery operation when operated. The bathroom bath slimming switch 94a and the bathroom outside bath slimming switch 94b are manual switching units that perform a water filling operation when operated. Even when the hot water supply device 1 is executing the hot water temperature reduction by the bath heat recovery operation, if the bath warming switch 94a in the bathroom or the bath warming switch 94b outside the bathroom is operated, the bath heat recovery operation is forcibly switched to the hot water operation. In addition, even when the hot water supply device 1 is executing the hot water temperature reduction by the water supply operation, if the bath heat recovery switch 93a in the bathroom or the bath heat recovery switch 93b outside the bathroom is operated, the water supply operation is forced to the bath heat recovery operation. Switch to.

  Next, the operation mode which the hot water supply apparatus 1 implements is demonstrated. The hot water supply device 1 reduces the bath temperature of the bath heat recovery operation for recovering the heat of the hot water in the bathtub 60 into the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 and the water supply operation for supplying tap water to the bathtub to reduce the bath temperature. Each possible mode of operation can be implemented. Furthermore, the hot water supply apparatus 1 can implement each operation mode in which the bath temperature can be raised, such as a reheating operation for heating the hot water in the bathtub 60, a boiling operation by the HP unit, and an additional hot water operation.

  The bath heat recovery operation is executed in order to recover the heat of hot water in the bathtub 60 into hot water in the hot water storage tank 10. The bath heat recovery operation is executed, for example, by operating a bath heat recovery switch of the in-bathroom controller 90a. In the bath heat recovery operation, the control system 80 operates the hot water supply pump 56 and the bathtub water pump 57 so that the three-way valve 52 is connected to the lower opening 10a and the first joint 22 via the bypass pipe 21c. Control. Therefore, the low temperature hot water flowing out from the lower opening 10a flows into the hot water side passage 30a through the bypass pipe 21c, the three-way valve 52 and the first joint 22. On the other hand, the hot water for bathtubs pumped by the bathtub water pump 57 from the bathtub 60 flows into the bathtub hot water passage 30b. In the bathtub heat exchanger 30, the low temperature hot water passing through the hot water side passage 30a and the hot water for bathtub passing through the bathtub hot water passage 30b exchange heat so that the temperature of the hot water rises and the hot water for the bathtub rises. Temperature drops. The hot water that has flowed out of the hot water side passage 30 a is recovered from the second intermediate opening 10 e to the hot water storage tank 10 by the hot water pump 56. On the other hand, the bathtub hot water that has flowed out of the bathtub hot water passage 30 b is returned into the bathtub 60. Thereby, the heat of the hot water in the bathtub 60 can be recovered into the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10.

  The water feeding operation is executed to reduce the bath temperature by supplying tap water into the bath 60. The water-feeding operation is executed, for example, by operating the bathroom warmth switch 94a of the bathroom controller 90a. In the water filling operation, the control system 80 controls the bathtub mixing valve 54 so that tap water flows into the bathtub piping 44b. Accordingly, the tap water flows into the bathtub 60 through the bathtub mixing valve 54, the bathtub opening / closing valve 55, and the bathtub piping 44b.

  The chasing operation is executed in order to heat the hot water in the bathtub 60 by the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10. The chasing operation is executed, for example, by operating the chasing switch of the in-bathroom controller 90a. In the chasing operation, the control system 80 operates the hot water supply pump 56 and the bathtub water pump 57 to control the three-way valve 52 so that the first upper opening 10b and the second intermediate opening 10e are connected. Therefore, the hot hot water flowing out from the first upper opening 10 b flows into the hot water side passage 30 a through the three-way valve 52 and the first joint 22. On the other hand, the hot water in the bathtub 60 pumped by the bathtub water pump 57 from the bathtub 60 flows into the bathtub hot water passage 30b. In the heat exchanger 30 for bathtubs, hot hot water passing through the hot water supply side passage 30a and hot water for bathtubs passing through the bathtub hot water passage 30b exchange heat so that the temperature of the hot water decreases and the hot water for the bathtub Temperature rises. The hot water that has flowed out of the hot water side passage 30a is recovered from the second intermediate opening 10e to the hot water storage tank 10 by the hot water pump. On the other hand, the bathtub hot water that has flowed out of the bathtub hot water passage 30 b is returned into the bathtub 60. Thereby, the hot water in the bathtub 60 can be heated by the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10.

  The boiling operation is executed to store heated hot water in the hot water storage tank 10. In the boiling operation, the control system 80 operates the HP unit 50 and controls the three-way valve 52 to connect the first joint 22 and the first upper opening 10b. Therefore, the hot water flowing out from the lower opening 10a or the tap water supplied by the water supply pipe 11 is pumped to the water passage of the water refrigerant heat exchanger by the boiling water pump 51 and exchanges heat with the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant. Heated. Hot hot water flowing out of the water passage flows from the first upper opening 10b through the first joint 22 and the three-way valve 52. The boiling operation is executed until the temperature of the hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 10 detected by the tank water temperature thermistor 71 exceeds a reference boiling temperature, for example, 90 ° C. The control system 80 performs the boiling operation using the midnight power mainly in the midnight time zone where the price setting is inexpensive. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress the power cost required for boiling hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 10. In addition, the control system 80 performs the boiling operation when it is determined that the amount of stored hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 is insufficient even in a time zone other than the midnight time zone.

  The additional hot water operation is executed in order to increase the bathtub temperature with hot hot water. The additional hot water operation is executed, for example, by operating an additional hot water switch of the in-bathroom controller 90a. In the addition hot water operation, the control system 80 controls the intermediate temperature mixing valve 53, the bathtub mixing valve 54, and the bathtub opening / closing valve 55 to make the second upper opening 10c and the bathtub piping 44b communicate with each other. Therefore, the hot hot water flowing out from the second upper opening 10 c passes through the intermediate temperature mixing valve 53, the bathtub mixing valve 54, and the bathtub opening / closing valve 55 and is supplied into the bathtub 60. Thereby, hot hot water can be added in the bathtub 60, and bathtub temperature can be raised.

  The automatic heat retaining operation is executed to maintain the bathtub temperature at the target temperature set by the in-bathroom controller 90a and the out-bathroom controller 90b. The automatic heat insulation operation is executed, for example, by operating a bath automatic switch of the in-bathroom controller 90a. The automatic heat insulation operation is a type of automatic operation that performs control to maintain the bathtub temperature detected by the bathtub water temperature sensor 72 at the target temperature unless the automatic heat insulation operation is canceled once set.

  Next, an example of control executed by the control system 80 will be described. The temperature decrease determination unit 80g of the control system 80 determines whether or not the bath temperature reaches the target temperature by the bath heat recovery operation. In addition, this process can be paraphrased as the temperature fall determination part 80g of the control system 80 judges whether bath temperature falls to target temperature by bath heat recovery driving | operation. The temperature lowering means switching unit 80j performs control so that the bath temperature is lowered by the water supply operation when the temperature lowering determination unit 80g determines NO. In addition, the fall of bathtub temperature can be paraphrased as hot water temperature reduction. Moreover, the fall of bathtub temperature can also be paraphrased as temperature fall of the hot water in the bathtub 60. FIG.

  The case where the bath temperature does not reach the target temperature due to the bath heat recovery operation means that the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 flowing to the hot water supply side passage 30a during the bath heat recovery operation flows to the bath hot water passage 30b. Is more expensive. In this case, the heat of the hot water in the bathtub 60 cannot be recovered into the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 via the bathtub heat exchanger 30. Such a situation can occur, for example, when hot hot water heated by the HP unit 50 is poured into the hot water storage tank 10 and the hot water storage tank 10 becomes full. Hereinafter, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 is also referred to as the tank temperature.

  Furthermore, when the bath temperature does not reach the target temperature due to the bath heat recovery operation, the tank temperature flowing to the hot water supply side passage 30a during the bath heat recovery operation is close to the bath temperature flowing to the bath hot water passage 30b. It is. In this case, the heat of the hot water in the bathtub 60 cannot be recovered into the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 via the heat exchanger 30 for the bathtub, or is long for recovery, for example, more than half of the expected bathing time. It can be considered that it cannot be recovered because it takes a long time. Such a situation can occur, for example, when the hot water storage tank 10 is filled with medium-temperature water.

  When the bath temperature cannot be reduced by the bath heat recovery operation as described above, the bath temperature cannot reach the target temperature during the user's bathing or takes a long time to reach. At this time, the user may feel annoyed.

  The control shown in FIG. 3 is executed if the hot water supply device 1 is in the automatic warming operation in order to avoid the above-described situation. The control shown in FIG. 3 is executed when the user sets a target temperature. The process of the flowchart is executed by the control system 80.

  First, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the bathtub temperature Tb detected by the bathtub hot water temperature sensor 72 is higher than the target temperature Tt. If it is determined in step 110 that the bathtub temperature Tb is higher than the target temperature Tt, it is necessary to lower the bathtub temperature Tb, and the process proceeds to step 120. In step 120, it is determined whether or not the difference between the bath temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta is a predetermined value Tth1, for example, 5 ° C. or less. If it is determined in step 120 that the value is equal to or less than the predetermined value Tth1, the process proceeds to step 130, and the temperature of the hot water is reduced by the water supply operation. The tank temperature Ta corresponds to the temperature detected by the tank water temperature thermistor 71 installed at the lowest position among the hot water storage tanks 10 among the plurality of tank water temperature thermistors 71.

  When the difference between the bath temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta is within the predetermined value Tth1 by the processing of step 120 and step 130, that is, when the bath temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta are close, the hot water temperature is reduced by the water supply operation. Can be executed. Furthermore, by the processing of step 120 and step 130, even when the difference between the bath temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta is negative, that is, when the tank temperature Ta is higher than the bath temperature Tb, the hot water temperature is reduced by the water supply operation. Can be executed.

  Thereafter, in step 140, the in-bathroom notification unit 92a and the out-of-bathroom notification unit 92b notify that the hot water temperature reduction operation using water is being performed. By the processing in step 140, it is possible to notify the user that the hot water temperature is being reduced by the water supply operation. In step 140, either the in-bathroom notification unit 92a or the outside-bathroom notification unit 92b may be notified. Then, it progresses to step 150 and determines whether the bathtub temperature Tb reached | attained target temperature Tt. If it is determined in step 150 that the target temperature Tt has been reached, the water filling operation is stopped and this flowchart is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 120 that the difference between the bath temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Tth1, the process proceeds to step 122 and a bath heat recovery operation is executed. Then, it progresses to step 124 and notifies that it is in the hot water temperature reduction operation by bath heat recovery operation by the notification part 92a in the bathroom and the notification part 92b outside the bathroom. In step 124, either the in-bathroom notification unit 92a or the outside-bathroom notification unit 92b may be notified. Then, it progresses to step 126 and determines whether the bathtub temperature reached | attained target temperature Tt. If it is determined in step 126 that the target temperature Tt has been reached, the bath heat recovery operation is stopped, and this flowchart is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 126 that the target temperature Tt has not been reached, it is determined in step 128 whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the bath heat recovery operation. If it is determined in step 128 that the predetermined time has elapsed, since it is impossible to reduce the hot water temperature by the bath heat recovery operation, the process proceeds to step 130 and the temperature lowering means is switched to the water supply operation.

  When the tank temperature Ta flowing to the hot water supply side passage 30a during the bath heat recovery operation is higher than the bathtub temperature Tb flowing to the bathtub hot water passage 30b by the processing of step 126, step 128, and step 130, Can be executed. Moreover, even if the tank temperature Ta changes after switching to the bath heat recovery operation and the bath heat recovery operation becomes impossible, it is possible to switch to the water feeding operation. The predetermined time in step 128 is set in the control system 80 in advance. For example, half the estimated bathing time is stored in the control system 80 as the predetermined time.

  After the water feed operation is executed in Step 130, Step 140 and Step 150 are executed.

  When it is determined in step 110 that the bathtub temperature Tb is equal to or lower than the target temperature Tt, the process proceeds to step 160, and it is determined whether or not the bathtub temperature Tb is lower than a predetermined temperature Tth2, for example, 30 ° C. When it is determined in step 160 that the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature Tth2, the process proceeds to step 170, and the bathtub temperature Tb is increased by performing the additional hot water operation. By the processing of Step 160 and Step 170, when the bathtub temperature Tb is too low, the bathtub temperature Tb can be raised to the target temperature Tt not by the time-consuming reheating operation but by the additional hot water operation.

  In step 180, it is notified that the hot water temperature is being increased by the additional hot water, and the routine proceeds to step 190. In step 190, it is determined whether or not the bath temperature Tb has reached the target temperature Tt. If it is determined in step 190 that the target temperature Tt has been reached, the hot water operation is stopped, and this flowchart is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 160 that the bathtub temperature Tb is higher than the predetermined temperature Tth2, the reheating operation is started. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 164, and the in-bathroom notification unit 92a and the outside-bathroom notification unit 92b are notified that the reheating operation is being performed, and then the process proceeds to step 166. In step 164, either the in-bathroom notification unit 92a or the outside-bathroom notification unit 92b may be notified. In step 166, it is determined whether or not the bath temperature Tb has reached the target temperature Tt. If it is determined in step 166 that the target temperature Tt has been reached, the chase operation is stopped and this flowchart is ended.

  If it is determined in step 166 that the vehicle has not been reached, the process proceeds to step 168, where it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the chasing operation. If it is determined in step 168 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the routine proceeds to step 170, where the hot water temperature raising means is switched from the reheating operation to the additional hot water operation. By the processing of Step 168 and Step 170, when the bath temperature Tb does not reach the target temperature Tt within a predetermined time even if the reheating operation is performed, that is, it takes time to increase the hot water temperature, the operation is switched to the additional hot water operation. be able to. Thereafter, in step 180, the in-bath reporting unit 92a and the outside-bath reporting unit 92b notify that the hot water operation is being performed, and in step 190, it is determined whether or not the bathtub temperature Tb has reached the target temperature Tt. In step 180, either the in-bathroom notification unit 92a or the outside-bathroom notification unit 92b may be notified. If it is determined in step 190 that the target temperature Tt has been reached, the additional hot water operation is stopped and this flowchart is terminated.

  Next, the effect which the hot water supply apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment brings is demonstrated. The hot water supply device 1 includes a hot water storage tank 10, a heat exchanger 30 for bath that performs heat exchange between hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 and hot water in the bathtub 60, and a control system 80. The control system 80 includes a bath heat recovery operation unit 80m, a water supply operation unit 80n, and a temperature decrease determination unit 80g that determines whether the bath temperature Tb reaches the target temperature Tt by the bath heat recovery operation. The control system 80 performs either the bath heat recovery operation or the water feeding operation, and when the temperature lowering determination unit 80g determines that the temperature does not fall to the target temperature Tt, the temperature lowering means switching unit performs the water feeding operation. 80j.

  According to this, when the bath temperature recovery operation does not reach the target temperature Tt, it is possible to provide the hot water supply device 1 that reduces the hot water temperature by the water supply operation. Therefore, when it is difficult to reduce the temperature of hot water by the bath heat recovery operation, the bath temperature Tb can be reached to the target temperature Tt by executing the hot water temperature reduction by the water supply operation. Moreover, since the bathtub temperature Tb can be rapidly reached to the target temperature Tt, the user's troublesomeness can be reduced.

  The temperature decrease determination unit 80g determines whether or not the bath temperature Tb has reached the target temperature Tt when the bath heat recovery operation is performed for a predetermined time, and the temperature decrease means switching unit 80j determines that the temperature decrease determination unit 80g is not. In this case, the bath heat recovery operation is switched to the water operation.

  According to this, it is possible to provide the hot water supply device 1 that switches to the water supply operation when the bath temperature Tb does not reach the target temperature Tt within a predetermined time even when the bath heat recovery operation is performed. Therefore, it can be avoided that it takes a long time to reduce the hot water temperature by the bath heat recovery operation.

  The temperature decrease determination unit 80g determines whether or not the difference between the tank temperature Ta and the bathtub temperature Tb is within a predetermined value Tth1, and the temperature decrease means switching unit 80j determines that the temperature decrease determination unit 80g is within the predetermined value Tth1. If this happens, the water feeding operation is executed. According to this, when the difference between the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 and the bath temperature is small, it is possible to provide a hot water supply device that reduces the hot water temperature by the water supply operation instead of the bath heat recovery operation. Therefore, it can be avoided that it takes a long time to reduce the hot water temperature by the bath heat recovery operation.

  When the control system 80 performs the bath heat recovery operation, the control system 80 notifies that the bath heat recovery operation is being performed, and when the water supply operation is performed, the control system 80 performs the water supply operation. As an alerting | reporting part which alert | reports this, it has the alerting | reporting part 92a in bathroom and the alerting | reporting part 92b outside a bathroom. According to this, when the bath heat recovery operation is executed, it is notified that the bath heat recovery operation is being performed, and when the water supply operation is executed, it is notified that the water supply operation is being performed. The hot water supply apparatus 1 can be provided. Therefore, the user can grasp whether the bath heat recovery operation is being performed or the water supply operation is being performed.

  The control system 80 is a manual switching unit that switches between a bath heat recovery operation and a water supply operation when operated by a user. The bathroom bath slimming switch 94a, the bathroom bath heat recovery switch 93a, the bathroom bath slimming switch 94b, And an outdoor bath heat recovery switch 93b. According to this, in addition to the selection execution of the temperature lowering means by the control system 80, the hot water supply apparatus 1 in which the user arbitrarily selects and executes the temperature lowering means can be provided. Therefore, regardless of the temperature lowering means selected by the control system 80, the hot water temperature can be reduced by the temperature lowering means desired by the user.

  The control system 80 includes a reheating operation unit 80o that performs a reheating operation in which the heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 10 is given to the hot water in the bathtub 60 by the heat exchanger 30 for the bathtub, and hot water that is higher than the bathtub temperature Tb. And an additional hot water operation unit 80p for performing an additional hot water operation to be supplied to the vehicle. The control system 80 further includes a temperature increase determination unit 80h that determines whether or not the bathtub temperature Tb rises to the target temperature Tt by the chasing operation. The control system 80 further performs either one of the reheating operation and the additional hot water operation, and the temperature raising means switching unit that performs the additional hot water operation when the temperature increase determination unit 80h determines that the temperature does not rise to the target temperature Tt. 80k.

  According to this, when it is difficult to reach the target temperature Tt by the chasing operation, it is possible to provide the hot water supply device 1 that raises the hot water temperature by the additional hot water operation. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the target temperature Tt from being reached or taking a long time to reach the target temperature Tt by increasing the bath temperature Tb by a chasing operation.

  The temperature increase determination unit 80h determines whether or not the bath temperature has reached the target temperature Tt when the reheating operation is performed for a predetermined time, and the temperature increase means switching unit 80k determines that the temperature increase determination unit 80h is not. In such a case, the chasing operation is added to the hot water operation. According to this, it is possible to provide a hot water supply device that switches to the additional hot water operation when the bathtub temperature Tb does not reach the target temperature Tt within a predetermined time even if the reheating operation is performed. Therefore, it can be avoided that it takes a long time for the hot water temperature to rise due to the chasing operation.

  The temperature increase determination unit 80h determines whether or not the bath temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature Tth2, and the temperature increase means switching unit 80k adds when the temperature increase determination unit 80h determines that the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature Tth2. Select and execute hot water operation. According to this, when the bathtub temperature Tb is low, it is possible to provide the hot water supply device 1 that performs hot water temperature reduction not by reheating operation but by adding hot water operation. Therefore, it can be avoided that it takes a long time for the bath temperature Tb to rise due to the chasing operation.

  The hot water storage tank 10 has a second intermediate opening 10e into which hot water that has passed through the bathtub heat exchanger 30 flows into an intermediate part. According to this, the above-described control can be executed in the hot water storage tank 10 into which the hot water having passed through the bathtub heat exchanger 30 flows into the intermediate portion. When the hot water that has become the intermediate temperature water by the bath heat recovery operation or the chasing operation flows into the intermediate portion of the hot water storage tank 10, the hot water storage tank 10 is easily filled with the intermediate temperature water. Therefore, even in the hot water supply device 1 including the hot water storage tank 10 that is easily filled with the medium temperature water, the hot water temperature can be reduced. When the user makes a request to lower the temperature Tb of the hot water in the bathtub 60, the temperature fall determination unit 80g determines whether or not the temperature Tb of the hot water in the bathtub 60 is lowered to the target temperature Tt by the bath heat recovery operation. judge. According to this, when the user sets the target temperature Tt so as to lower the bathtub temperature Tb, it is not necessary for the user to determine whether or not the temperature is lowered to the target temperature Tt by the bath heat recovery operation. User convenience can be improved.

Other Embodiments The disclosure herein is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the illustrated embodiments and variations by those skilled in the art based thereon. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combination of components and elements shown in the embodiments, and various modifications can be made. The disclosure can be implemented in various combinations. The disclosure may have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure includes those in which the components and elements of the embodiment are omitted. The disclosure encompasses parts, element replacements, or combinations between one embodiment and another. The technical scope disclosed is not limited to the description of the embodiments. The technical scope disclosed is indicated by the description of the scope of claims, and should be understood to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the scope of claims.

  The means and / or functions provided by the controller 80b can be provided by software recorded in a substantial memory device and a computer that executes the software, software only, hardware only, or a combination thereof. For example, if the controller 80b is provided by an electronic circuit that is hardware, it can be provided by a digital circuit including multiple logic circuits, or an analog circuit.

  In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined time in step 128 is set in advance. Alternatively, the control system 80 may calculate and set the predetermined time from various physical quantities. For example, the user's bathing time may be measured for a predetermined period using the infrared sensor 74 or the like, and the control system 80 may set the half of the user's average bathing time calculated from the measurement data as the predetermined time. Further, the control system 80 may arbitrarily set the predetermined time. For example, it is good also as a structure which can set the length of predetermined time arbitrarily by operating the controller 90a in a bathroom or the controller 90b outside a bathroom.

  In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the alerting | reporting part alert | reported the temperature fall means as visual information, it may replace with this and you may make it alert | report as auditory information. For example, a notification unit is provided as a speaker capable of reproducing sound in the bathroom controller 90a, and the operation mode being executed is notified to the user by a sound such as “During bath heat recovery operation” or “During water supply operation”. It is good also as a structure.

  In the above-described embodiment, the in-bathroom controller 90a has the in-bath bath heat recovery switch 93a and the in-bath bath slimming switch 94a independently. Instead of this, a single switch can be used for the bath heat recovery operation. You may make it switch to water driving. For example, a temperature lowering means switching switch may be provided in the bathroom controller 90a, and the bath heat recovery operation and the water feeding operation may be switched by operating the temperature lowering means switching switch.

In the above-described embodiment, the notification unit is provided in the bathroom controller 90a and the bathroom outside controller 90b as the bathroom notification unit 92a and the bathroom outside notification unit 92b, respectively. Good. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which has an alerting | reporting part independent of the controller 90a in a bathroom and the controller 90b outside a bathroom.
In the above-described embodiment, in step 120, whether or not the bathtub temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta are close and whether or not the tank temperature Ta is higher than the bathtub temperature Tb are determined at the same time. You may determine only whether the bathtub temperature Tb and the tank temperature Ta are close. For example, you may determine whether the absolute value of the difference of bathtub temperature Tb and tank temperature Ta is below a predetermined value.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hot water supply apparatus 10 ... Hot water storage tank 30 ... Heat exchanger for bathtubs 60 ... Bathtub 80 ... Control system 80g ... Temperature fall determination part 80j ... Temperature drop means switching part 80m ... Bath heat recovery operation part 80n ... Water feed operation part

Claims (9)

Hot water storage tank (10),
A heat exchanger (30) for exchanging heat between the hot water in the hot water storage tank and the hot water in the bathtub (60);
A bath heat recovery operation section (80 m) for performing a bath heat recovery operation for recovering the heat of the hot water in the bathtub into the hot water in the hot water storage tank by the heat exchanger;
A water supply operation section (80n) for performing water supply operation for supplying tap water to the bathtub;
A temperature lowering determination unit (80 g) for determining whether the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is lowered to a target temperature by the bath heat recovery operation;
A temperature lowering means switching unit (80j) that executes either the bath heat recovery operation or the water feeding operation and performs the water feeding operation when the temperature lowering determination unit determines that the temperature does not fall to the target temperature. When,
A control system (80) having,
The temperature lowering determination unit determines whether the hot water in the bathtub has reached the target temperature when the bath heat recovery operation is performed for a predetermined time,
The temperature lowering means switching unit is a hot water supply device that switches the bath heat recovery operation to the water feeding operation when the temperature lowering determination unit determines NO . The temperature lowering determination unit determines whether or not a difference between the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is within a predetermined value,
It said cooling means switching unit before when Kifu temperature determining section determines that the is within a predetermined value, water heater according to claim 1 to perform the feed water operation. When the control system performs the bath heat recovery operation, the control system informs that the bath heat recovery operation is performed, and when the control system performs the water supply operation, The hot-water supply apparatus of Claim 1 or 2 which has an alerting | reporting part (92a, 92b) which alert | reports performing the said water-feeding driving | operation. The control system, manual switching unit for switching between the feed water operation and the bath heat recovery operation by the user operates (93a, 94a, 93b, 94b ) in any one of claims 1 to 3 with The hot water supply device described. The control system further includes a reheating operation unit (80o) for performing a reheating operation in which the heat of the hot water in the hot water storage tank is given to the hot water in the bathtub by the heat exchanger;
An additional hot water operation unit (80p) for performing additional hot water operation for supplying hot water higher than the temperature of hot water in the bathtub to the bathtub;
A temperature rise determination unit (80h) for determining whether or not the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub rises to the target temperature by the reheating operation;
A temperature raising means switching unit (80k) that executes either the reheating operation or the additional hot water operation and executes the additional hot water operation when the temperature increase determination unit determines that the temperature does not rise to the target temperature. When,
The hot-water supply apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 4 which has these. The temperature increase determination unit determines whether or not the hot water in the bathtub has reached the target temperature at the time of performing the chasing operation for a predetermined time,
The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the temperature raising means switching unit switches the reheating operation to the additional hot water operation when the temperature raising determination unit determines NO. The temperature increase determination unit determines whether the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is lower than a predetermined temperature,
The hot water supply apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the temperature raising means switching unit executes the addition hot water operation when it is determined that the temperature increase determination unit is low. The hot water storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the hot water storage tank has an opening (10e) into which hot water having passed through the heat exchanger flows in an intermediate portion. The temperature lowering determination unit determines whether or not the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub is lowered to a target temperature by the bath heat recovery operation when the user requests to lower the temperature of the hot water in the bathtub. hot water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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