JP2010249443A - Hot water supply system and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and its control method capable of suppressing power consumption, preventing running-out of hot water, and rising a temperature in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: This hot water supply system includes storage tanks 10, 11 connected in series and respectively storing hot water, a circulation pump 12 connected between the storage tanks 10, 11 and circulating hot water in the storage tanks 10, 11, water heaters 14, 15 respectively connected to the storage tank 10 connected to a hot water supply line 19 and the storage tank 11, and a control means performing the control so that only the water heater 14 is operated when it is detected that amounts of hot water remaining in the storage tanks 10, 11 are designated amounts or less and a temperature of the hot water flowing in the hot water supply line 19 is less than a set temperature, and the circulation pump 12 and the water heater 15 are operated when the temperature of the hot water is the set temperature or higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water supply system using a heat pump and a control method for the hot water supply system.

  In recent years, air pollution and global warming associated with mass consumption of petroleum resources have become problems, and energy saving of products and facilities and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions have been attempted. Recreational facilities, hospitals, hotels, hot water pools, etc. are equipped with hot water supply systems to supply a large amount of hot water, but due to the above problems, many hot water supply systems using heat pumps have been proposed and adopted. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  The heat pump includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the outside air and the heat medium, a compressor that compresses the heat medium that has undergone heat exchange and a temperature increase, and heat between the compressed heat medium and the object to be heated. The heat exchanger to be exchanged and an expansion valve that expands the heat medium in a compressed state although the temperature is lowered are provided.

  In Patent Document 1, water is used as a heat medium, and heat is exchanged with the exhaust gas discharged from the boiler to prevent the outside air from becoming low temperature and heat exchange cannot be performed by the heat exchanger, thereby enabling the operation of the heat pump. I have to. Note that the heat pump is efficient in that heat about three times the power consumption can be effectively used because it is sufficient to give only the energy required to move the heat medium. Moreover, since it does not use liquid fuel like a boiler, it is not greatly affected by its market price.

  However, in such a hot water supply system using a heat pump, there is often one tank for storing the generated hot water, so its size is large, transportation and installation are not easy, and it takes time to cook again. There was a problem that it took.

  Then, the hot water supply system provided with the some tank is proposed (for example, refer patent document 2). In this system, a plurality of tanks are connected in series, a circulation pump and a hot water supply heat exchanger are provided, a flow path leading from the hot water supply heat exchanger to the upper part of the hot water supply side tank through a flow rate adjustment valve, The flow path led to the lower part of the water supply side tank through the flow rate adjusting valve in parallel from the heat exchanger for operation is configured to be switched by the flow rate adjusting valve. In this system, the flow rate of the hot water supply heat exchanger is adjusted by the flow rate adjustment valve so that the temperature of the hot water supplied from the upper part of the hot water supply side tank can be adjusted. It is configured to boil up with the body.

  Since this hot water supply system includes a plurality of tanks, it is possible to install a plurality of tanks having a small diameter and to reduce an installation space. In addition, when using midnight power at low power cost, energizing the heating element, warming the water in the hot water tank, and using a heat pump to increase boiling outside the midnight power time, Since hot water can be preferentially heated, it has excellent hot water properties.

JP 2008-8581 A JP-A-9-236316

  The conventional hot-water supply system is composed of a plurality of tanks and they are connected in series, so that it is possible to cope with the use load. However, the heating element is energized to add water in the tank. There is a problem that a large amount of electric power is consumed and the electric power cost is increased because of warming.

  In the hot water supply system, when the temperature of the hot water in the hot water supply side tank and the hot water supply side tank is lowered, the heating element is energized to raise the temperature. It takes.

  Further, the hot water supply system determines whether or not the temperature sensor attached to the lower part of the tank is 45 ° C. or higher. When the temperature sensor is lower than 45 ° C., the hot water supply system determines that the hot water has run out. Water is supplied to generate hot water, and stored in the order of the hot water supply side tank and the water supply side tank. Since hot water is stored with priority given to the hot water supply side tank, hot water can be supplied immediately, but hot water may run out.

  Therefore, it is desired to provide a system capable of suppressing power consumption, preventing running out of hot water, and capable of raising the temperature in a short time, and a control method therefor.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention connects a plurality of storage tanks for storing hot water in series, connects a circulation pump between the storage tanks to circulate hot water in all the storage tanks, and is connected to a hot water supply line. The system configuration is such that a hot water heater is connected to each of the first storage tank and one of the other storage tanks (second storage tank), and the control means specifies the remaining hot water amount of the first storage tank and the second storage tank. When it is detected that the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply line is less than a preset temperature, only the water heater connected to the first storage tank is operated and the temperature is When it is detected that the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, control is performed so that the circulation pump and the other water heater are operated.

  Thus, by connecting the storage tanks in series, the storage tank can function accurately with respect to the hot water usage load, and hot water can be supplied for a long time. Moreover, the temperature of the hot water in the plurality of storage tanks can be kept constant by circulating the hot water with a circulation pump. Furthermore, when there is a possibility of hot water running out, it is determined whether the hot water supply temperature is higher than the set temperature, and if it is determined that the temperature is lower than the set temperature, the hot water temperature is low and the remaining hot water amount is small. Only the water heater connected to the first storage tank is operated, the hot water in the first storage tank is raised in a short time and the amount of hot water is increased to enable sufficient hot water supply, and it is determined that the temperature is higher than the set temperature. In this case, since there is room in temperature, the circulating pump and the other water heater can be operated to increase the amount of hot water over time.

  Each hot water heater may have a capability of generating and storing hot water of 90 ° C. or more in all of the plurality of storage tanks within a specified time. In this case, one water heater generates and stores hot water in both the first storage tank and the second storage tank within the designated time, and the other water heater generates hot water only in the first storage tank. Therefore, it has a sufficient temperature raising capability, and can raise the temperature in a short time and increase the amount of hot water.

  In the present invention, a control method for the hot water supply system can also be provided. This method is realized by the control means, and has detected that the remaining hot water amounts of the first storage tank and the second storage tank are less than or equal to the specified amount. In response to the step of determining whether the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply line is equal to or higher than the set temperature, and if it is determined that the temperature is lower than the set temperature, only the water heater connected to the first storage tank is A step of operating the circulating means and the water heater connected to the second storage tank when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature.

The figure which showed the structural example of the hot water supply system. The figure which showed an example of the water heater used for a hot-water supply system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a hot water supply system. This hot water supply system includes two storage tanks 10 and 11 for storing hot water, which are connected in series by piping. A circulation pump 12 is installed between the two storage tanks 10 and 11 to send hot water in the storage tank 10 from the storage tank 10 to the storage tank 11 and circulate the hot water in the two storage tanks 10 and 11. Have been able to. A check valve 13 is provided from the storage tank 11 to the storage tank 10 so that hot water circulates through the pipe and the hot water flowing through the pipe does not flow backward.

  Hot water heaters 14 and 15 are connected to the respective storage tanks 10 and 11. These water heaters 14 and 15 are connected to a water supply line 16, and water is supplied by opening the motor-operated valves 17 and 18 provided in the water supply line 16. The water is heated to generate hot water, and the hot water is supplied to the storage tanks 10 and 11.

  Each storage tank 10, 11 may have any shape such as a cylindrical shape, and the installation position is determined so that hot water flows appropriately from the storage tank 11 to the storage tank 10. Moreover, since the storage tanks 10 and 11 store hot water of less than 100 ° C., the storage tanks 10 and 11 are made of a material having a strength that can withstand the temperature and does not break, for example, carbon steel or stainless steel.

The storage tanks 10 and 11 may have the same capacity or different capacities. For example, the capacity of the storage tank 10 can be about 4 m ³ and the capacity of the storage tank 11 can be about 6 m ³ .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the water heaters 14 and 15 include a hot water storage unit 30 and a heat pump unit 40, and the hot water storage unit 30 includes a hot water storage tank 31, a water supply receiving nozzle 32, a hot water supply and delivery nozzle 33, and a heat pump. Circulation nozzles 34 and 35 for circulating water for heating with the unit 40 can be provided.

  The heat pump unit 40 includes a heat absorption unit 41 that absorbs heat from the outside air and applies the heat to the heat medium, a compression unit 42 that compresses the heat medium, and a heating unit 43 that heats the water supplied to the hot water storage unit 30 by the compressed heat medium. And expansion means 44 for expanding the compressed heat medium and supplying it to the heat absorption means 41.

  The heat absorption means 41 is provided with a ventilation fan that takes in outside air and discharges the internal air, and transfers the heat of the taken outside air to the heat medium to warm the heat medium. Therefore, the heat absorption means 41 includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the outside air and the heat medium, and causes the heat medium to flow in the tube, bringing the outside air into contact with the tube, and giving the heat of the outside air to the heat medium in the tube. In order to improve the heat conduction efficiency in the heat exchanger, the heat transfer area can be increased. For example, a tube through which a heat medium flows can be formed in a coil shape, or fins can be provided on the surface of the tube. As the heat medium, a gas that can take a large compression ratio and greatly increases in temperature due to the compression is preferable, and examples thereof include air and carbon dioxide.

  The compression means 42 compresses the heat medium warmed by the heat absorption means 41. Since the compression performed by the compression means 42 is polytropic compression close to adiabatic compression, the discharge temperature rises depending on the compression ratio. For example, when air is used as the heat medium and air of about 0.1 MPa and about 20 ° C. is compressed to about 0.7 MPa, if there is no heat exchange with the outside, all the energy applied for the compression is all The temperature rises to about 260 ° C. in theory, but in reality, there is a heat loss, which is about 170 to 200 ° C. Although there is a heat loss, the temperature is higher than 100 ° C., so that water can be sufficiently heated. The compression means 42 is preferably a volumetric compressor, and examples thereof include a reciprocating compressor and a diaphragm compressor. In addition, when employ | adopting the storage tanks 10 and 11 of the said capacity | capacitance, a rated 25 kW compressor can be employ | adopted, for example.

  The heat medium thus compressed and brought to a high temperature is sent to the heating means 43 and gives the heat to the water supplied to the hot water storage unit 30. The heating means 43 can be a heat exchanger, and can be coiled or provided with fins in order to increase the heat transfer area.

  The heat medium whose temperature is lowered by applying heat to the water in the heating means 43 is maintained in a compressed state, and the temperature does not decrease below the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage unit 30. With this, the heat absorption means 41 cannot absorb the heat of the outside air. Therefore, the temperature is expanded by the expansion means 44 to lower the temperature. An expansion valve can be used as the expansion means 44. In the expansion means 44, when the pressure is increased from about 0.1 MPa to about 0.7 MPa by the compression means 42, the pressure can be reduced from about 0.7 MPa to about 0.1 MPa.

  The water heaters 14 and 15 heat the supplied water to make hot water and supply hot water. At that time, it is necessary to supply power to the compressor as the compression means 42. The cost of making the same amount of hot water can be significantly reduced because the heat pump can effectively use about three times the power consumption as described above, and the amount of energy required is also small. Therefore, energy saving can be achieved. Moreover, since liquid fuel is not used, generation | occurrence | production of the carbon dioxide as a warming gas can also be suppressed. Moreover, since the water heaters 14 and 15 are not used at the same time, the power load does not increase, and the above-described compressor with low power consumption can be provided.

  The water heaters 14 and 15 may have the ability to generate and store hot water of 90 ° C. or higher in all the storage tanks 10 and 11 within a specified time. In this case, since the water heater 14 has a large capacity with respect to the storage tank 10, the temperature raising capacity can be increased. That is, the hot water in the storage tank 10 can be raised to a predetermined temperature in a short time and the amount of hot water can be increased. The designated time can be a business heat storage contract time, which is a nighttime power band where the power cost is low. The storage tanks 10 and 11 can generate and store hot water at about 90 ° C. by using nighttime power whose power cost is low and using only the hot water heater 15.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the storage tank 10 is connected to the hot water supply line 19 and supplies hot water to each facility not shown. The hot water supply line 19 is provided with a thermometer 20, and the storage tanks 10, 11 are provided with a liquid level gauge (not shown) to detect the amount of remaining hot water and the hot water temperature. When the amount of remaining hot water is less than the specified amount by the liquid level gauge, it is determined that there is a possibility of running out of hot water, the hot water supply temperature at that time is measured by this thermometer 20, and the operation method is switched based on the measured temperature. Therefore, the hot water supply system includes a control unit (not shown).

  Examples of facilities that receive hot water from the hot water supply line 19 include recreational facilities, hospitals, and hotels. The temperature of the hot water supplied to these facilities can be set to, for example, about 65 ° C. The operation method can be switched between the case where the preset temperature is 65 ° C. and the thermometer 20 indicates 65 ° C. or more and the case where the thermometer 20 indicates less than 65 ° C. A control means judges whether it is 65 degreeC or more, and gives an instruction | indication to the circulation pump 12, the water heaters 14 and 15, and the motor operated valves 17 and 18 for each case, and makes it drive | operate. Therefore, the control means can be a control circuit or the like.

  When it indicates 65 ° C. or higher, as a normal operation, the control means gives an instruction to the motor operated valve 18, the water heater 15, and the circulation pump 12, opens the motor operated valve 18, and operates the water heater 15 and the circulation pump 12. The water heater 15 supplies electric power to a compressor which is an embodiment of the compressing means 42, starts the compressor, heats the heat medium, and transmits the heat to water to generate hot water. The generated hot water is sent to the storage tank 11 and sent from the storage tank 11 to the storage tank 10.

  The storage tank 10 is supplied to each facility through the hot water supply pipe 19, and the hot water is returned to the storage tank 11 by the circulation pump 12, whereby the hot water in the storage tanks 10 and 11 is circulated. By circulating the hot water in this way, the temperature of any hot water in the storage tanks 10 and 11 becomes substantially the same temperature, and even when a large amount of hot water is used at a time, it is possible to supply hot water at a constant temperature. It becomes.

  The water heater 15 heats the water to about 90 ° C. and supplies it to the storage tank 11. While the water heater 15 is being operated, the water heater 14 is not operated.

  The storage tanks 10 and 11 are wound with a heat insulating material or the like so that the temperature of the hot water is not easily lowered. However, since it cannot be kept warm, it gradually cools over time. Moreover, when the amount of remaining hot water in the storage tanks 10 and 11 is reduced by using hot water, the temperature drop is increased.

  The temperature of hot water flowing through the hot water supply line 19 decreases as the amount of remaining hot water decreases. Also, the temperature changes depending on the outside air temperature. In the case where the amount of remaining hot water is reduced and there is a possibility of running out of hot water, when the hot water supply temperature indicates 65 ° C. or higher, the hot water supply temperature has room, so the amount of hot water can be increased over time. On the other hand, when the temperature is lower than 65 ° C., the amount of hot water must be secured and the temperature must be raised to 65 ° C. or higher.

  In the normal operation described above, since both the storage tanks 10 and 11 are heated, it takes time to make hot water at 65 ° C. or higher. Therefore, only the water heater 14 is operated and only the storage tank 10 is used to supply hot water. If only the storage tank 10 is used, the capacity of the storage tanks 10 and 11 is small compared to the case where both the storage tanks 10 and 11 are heated. Hot water whose temperature has been raised can be supplied. In addition, when the water heater 14 has the ability to generate and store hot water of 90 ° C. or more in both of the plurality of storage tanks 10, 11, since it has sufficient temperature raising capability, it can be further shortened. The temperature can be raised.

  In this case, the control means gives an instruction to the electric valve 17 and the water heater 14, opens the electric valve 17, and operates only the water heater 14.

  When the hot water supply system of the present invention is installed in a facility such as a hotel, the operation can be switched according to the accommodation reservation status. When the number of reservations is small, only the water heater 14 is operated and only the storage tank 10 is heated. By generating and storing, it is possible to reduce the hot water supply load and suppress the running cost.

  On the other hand, when the number of reservations is large, the storage tanks 10 and 11 are connected in series by operating the water heater 15 and the circulation pump 12 to generate and store hot water in the storage tanks 10 and 11. The hot water can be supplied for a long time.

  So far, the hot water supply system and the control method by the control means of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments are described. It is possible to make changes within the range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, such as forms, additions, changes, deletions, etc. It is. Therefore, the water heaters 14 and 15 may not include the hot water storage unit 30, and the storage tanks 10 and 11 can be directly used instead of the hot water storage unit 30.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 11 ... Storage tank, 12 ... Circulation pump, 13 ... Check valve, 14, 15 ... Water heater, 16 ... Water supply line, 17, 18 ... Electric valve, 19 ... Hot water supply line, 20 ... Thermometer, 30 ... Hot water storage Unit: 31 ... Hot water storage tank, 32 ... Water supply receiving nozzle, 33 ... Hot water supply / delivery nozzle, 34, 35 ... Circulation nozzle, 40 ... Heat pump unit, 41 ... Heat absorption means, 42 ... Compression means, 43 ... Heating means, 44 ... Expansion means

Claims (3)

A hot water supply system that generates and supplies hot water,
A plurality of storage tanks each storing the hot water and connected in series;
A circulating means connected between the storage tanks for circulating the hot water in the plurality of storage tanks;
Of the plurality of storage tanks, absorbs heat of outside air connected to a first storage tank connected to a hot water supply line for supplying the hot water and a second storage tank other than the first storage tank. A water heater that generates hot water by heating water with a compressed heat medium;
When it is detected that the amount of remaining hot water in the first storage tank and the second storage tank is less than a specified amount and the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply line is lower than a set temperature, the first storage tank is connected to the first storage tank. A hot water supply system comprising: a control means for controlling only the hot water heater to be operated and, when the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the circulating means and the hot water heater connected to the second storage tank.   2. The hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein each of the water heaters has a capability of generating and storing hot water of 90 ° C. or more in all of the plurality of storage tanks within a specified time. A plurality of storage tanks each storing hot water and connected in series; a circulation means connected between the storage tanks for circulating the hot water in the plurality of storage tanks; Among them, the first storage tank connected to the hot water supply line for supplying the hot water and the second storage tank other than the first storage tank respectively absorb the heat of the outside air and are compressed by the heat medium A method for controlling a hot water supply system comprising a water heater for heating water to generate hot water, and a control means for controlling operation of the circulating means and the water heater,
Determining whether the temperature of the hot water flowing through the hot water supply line is equal to or higher than a set temperature in response to detecting that the amount of hot water remaining in the first storage tank and the second storage tank is less than a specified amount; When,
When it is determined that the temperature is lower than the set temperature, only the water heater connected to the first storage tank is operated, and when it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the circulation means and the first And a step of operating a water heater connected to the storage tank.

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