Heating and hot water supplying device

Abstract

A heating and hot water supplying device includes: a circulation passage that connects a heat exchanger and an external heating terminal; a bypass passage that bypasses the heating terminal by branching from the circulation passage; a hot water supply passage for supplying the hot water heated to a preset hot water supply temperature by the heat exchanger for hot water supply; a control unit that controls operations in which this plurality of units are used; and an operation terminal for performing various operations. A distribution valve is provided in the branching portion of the bypass passage. The distribution valve adjusts the distribution ratio so that each of a heating operation, a hot water supplying operation, and a simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is possible. The operation terminal is provided with a prohibit switch to prohibit the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation.

Claims

1. A heating and hot water supplying device comprising: a combustion means; a heat exchanger; a circulation passage which connects the heat exchanger with an external heating terminal; a circulation pump which is provided in the circulation passage; a bypass passage which branches from the circulation passage and bypasses the heating terminal; a heat exchanger for hot water supply which is provided in the bypass passage; a water supply passage which supplies tap water to the heat exchanger for hot water supply; a hot water supply passage which supplies hot water heated by the heat exchanger for hot water supply at a preset hot water supply temperature; a control unit which controls operations comprising a heating operation and a hot water supplying operation; an operation terminal which is connected with the control unit to be able to communicate with the control unit and performs various operations; and an external air temperature sensor which detects an external air temperature, wherein a distribution valve is provided in a branching portion of the bypass passage, the distribution valve is able to adjust a distribution ratio so that each of the heating operation, the hot water supplying operation, and a simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is possible, and a prohibit switch which prohibits the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is provided at the operation terminal, and wherein when the external air temperature detected by the external air temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference temperature, an operation of the prohibit switch is invalidated.

2. The heating and hot water supplying device according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that a heating capacity for performing the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is insufficient while the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is performed, a notification which prompts the operation of the prohibit switch is performed.

3. The heating and hot water supplying device according to claim 2, wherein the hot water supplying operation is prioritized over the heating operation in a state in which the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is prohibited by the operation of the prohibit switch.

4. The heating and hot water supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supplying operation is prioritized over the heating operation in a state in which the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is prohibited by the operation of the prohibit switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a heating and hot water supplying device of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation terminal.

(3) FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of displaying of setting for permitting a simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation when a prohibit switch is operated.

(4) FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of displaying of the setting for prohibiting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation when the prohibit switch is operated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(5) Hereinafter, the form for carrying out the present invention will be explained on the basis of an embodiment.

(6) First, the entire configuration of a heating and hot water supplying device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

(7) The heating and hot water supplying device 1 is configured to perform a heating operation by circulating a heating medium heated using heat generated in a combustion unit 2 between a heating terminal (not shown) installed in a room outside the heating and hot water supplying device 1 and to perform a hot water supplying operation by adjusting a temperature of tap water heated using heat of the heating medium to a hot water supply set temperature.

(8) The heating and hot water supplying device 1 includes the combustion unit 2 which is a combustion means, a heat exchanger 10, a circulation passage 4 which connects the heat exchanger 10 with a heating terminal provided in the room, and a circulation pump 11 provided on the upstream side of the circulation passage 4 from the heat exchanger 10. The combustion unit 2 mixes a fuel gas with air and burns it. The heat exchanger 10 exchanges heat between a combustion gas generated in the combustion unit 2 and the heating medium and heats the heating medium.

(9) Also, the heating and hot water supplying device 1 includes a bypass passage (a first bypass passage 12), a heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply which is provided in the first bypass passage 12, a water supply passage 19, and a hot water supply passage 21. The first bypass passage 12 branches from the circulation passage 4 on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 10 to bypass the heating terminal and joins the circulation passage 4 on the upstream side of the circulation pump 11. The water supply passage 19 supplies tap water to the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply. The hot water supply passage 21 supplies hot water heated by the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply to a hot water supply tap or the like.

(10) Furthermore, the heating and hot water supplying device 1 includes a control unit 5, and the above-described units including the control unit 5 are accommodated in a case 9. The control unit 5 receives a detection signal from a temperature sensor which will be described later and operates the circulation pump 11, a first distribution valve 15 or the like to control the heating operation, the hot water supplying operation, and so on. An operation terminal 6 which is an operation unit of the heating and hot water supplying device 1 is disposed in the room in which the heating terminal is installed. An external air temperature sensor 30 which is an external air temperature detection means is installed outdoors and connected to the control unit 5 to be able to communicate therewith.

(11) Next, the circulation passage 4 will be described.

(12) In the circulation passage 4, a first temperature sensor 13 is provided between the circulation pump 11 and the heat exchanger 10, and a second temperature sensor 14 is provided on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 10. The first temperature sensor 13 detects a temperature of the heating medium flowing into the heat exchanger 10. The second temperature sensor 14 detects a temperature of the heating medium heated by the heat exchanger 10.

(13) The first distribution valve 15 which is a distribution means is provided at a branch portion between the circulation passage 4 and the first bypass passage 12. The first distribution valve 15 distributes the heating medium heated by the heat exchanger 10 to the circulation passage 4 and the first bypass passage 12, and a distribution ratio thereof can be adjusted.

(14) A pressure release valve 16 which releases a pressure in the circulation passage 4 is provided between the heat exchanger 10 and the first distribution valve 15. A heating return temperature sensor 17 which detects a temperature of the heating medium returning from the heating terminal is provided on the upstream side of the circulation pump 11. A replenishment passage 18 which replenishes the heating medium is connected between the circulation pump 11 and the heating return temperature sensor 17.

(15) Next, the heat exchange 20 for hot water supply will be described.

(16) The heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply which is provided in the first bypass passage 12 is a plate type heat exchanger. In the plate type heat exchanger, a plurality of heat exchange plates are stacked, and a passage is formed between the heat exchange plates. In the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply, the heating medium and the tap water supplied from the water supply passage 19 flow alternately in the passages between the heat exchange plates to face each other without being mixed with each other. In these heat exchange plates, irregularities are formed to expand a surface area and to improve heat exchange efficiency.

(17) Next, the water supply passage 19 and the hot water supply passage 21 will be described.

(18) A second distribution valve 23, a flow rate adjustment valve 24, a hot water supply flow rate sensor 25, and an inflow water temperature sensor 26 are provided in the water supply passage 19. The second distribution valve 23 distributes the tap water to the water supply passage 19 and a hot water supply bypass passage (a second bypass passage 22) branched from the water supply passage 19 in the second distribution valve 23, and a distribution ratio thereof can be adjusted. Therefore, the second distribution valve 23 is a flow rate adjustment means which adjusts a flow rate of the tap water flowing through the second bypass passage 22. The flow rate adjustment valve 24 adjusts the flow rate of the tap water flowing into the second distribution valve 23. The hot water supply flow rate sensor 25 detects an adjusted flow rate of the tap water. The inflow water temperature sensor 26 detects a temperature of the tap water flowing into the second distribution valve 23.

(19) The hot water supply passage 21 joins the second bypass passage 22 at a joining portion C. A tapping temperature sensor 27 which is a temperature detection means is provided between the joining portion C and the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply. The tapping temperature sensor 27 detects a temperature of hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply.

(20) A hot water supply temperature sensor 28 is provided at a downstream end of the hot water supply passage 21. The hot water supply temperature sensor 28 detects a hot water supply temperature of hot water that is a mixture of hot water heated by the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply and the tap water flowing through the second bypass passage 22.

(21) Next, the control unit 5 and the operation terminal 6 will be described.

(22) Although not shown, the control unit 5 is connected to be able to receive detection signals from the temperature sensor and so on provided in the heating and hot water supplying device 1 and to be able to control the circulation pump 11, the first distribution valve 15 and the like. The operation terminal 6 disposed in the room is connected to the control unit 5 to be able to communicate therewith. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation terminal 6 includes a display means 7 capable of displaying, for example, a temperature, an operation state and the like, a switch unit 8 which performs a setting operation of the heating temperature or the hot water supply temperature and a start operation of the heating operation and the like, and an audio output unit (not shown) which outputs an alarm sound and the like.

(23) The display means 7 includes a display 7a of a numeral “1,” three 7-segment displays 7b, 7d and 7e on the right of the display 7a, and a display unit 7c of a symbol “:” (colon) between the 7-segment displays 7b and 7d. The 7-segment displays 7b, 7d and 7e can display the numbers 0 to 9 or letters.

(24) Further, the display means 7 includes a Fahrenheit display unit 7f and a Celsius display unit 7g which display temperature units, a combustion display unit 7h which displays combustion of the combustion unit 2, a heating display unit 7i which displays the heating operation, a hot water supply display unit 7j which displays the hot water supplying operation, and the like. The heating display unit 7i is displayed, for example, in orange while the first distribution valve 15 distributes and circulates the heating medium to the circulation passage 4 side. The hot water supply display unit 7j is displayed, for example, in orange while the hot water supply flow rate sensor 25 provided in the hot water supply passage 21 detects a flow rate equal to or more than a predetermined flow rate.

(25) A plurality of switches 8 including a function switch 8a which switches setting items, selection switches 8b and 8c which select options, numerical values or the like in the setting items, an input switch 8d, and so on are provided in the switch unit 8. Each of the switches is a push type switch, but a rotary type or slide type switch may be provided.

(26) The function switch 8a switches states of the plurality of setting items of the heating and hot water supplying device 1 one by one for each operation and displays the states on the display means 7. For example, when the function switch 8a is operated once, as shown in FIG. 3, a setting item number “1” indicating setting for the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is displayed on the 7-segment display 7b, and “on” indicating setting for permitting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is displayed in the 7-segment displays 7d and 7e. At this time, the heating display unit 7i and the hot water supply display unit 7j corresponding to the setting items may be displayed, and the displaying may be blinked during a setting change operation.

(27) When the selection switch 8b or the selection switch 8c is operated once, as shown in FIG. 4, “oF” (meaning “off”) indicating setting for prohibiting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is displayed on the 7-segment displays 7d and 7e. When the input switch 8d is operated, the changed setting is reflected, and the displaying returns to, for example, a heating set temperature or the like. By the same operation, the setting for prohibiting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation can be changed to the setting for permitting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation.

(28) Thus, although a prohibit switch which prohibits the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is constituted by combining the plurality of switches, a dedicated prohibit switch for setting the prohibition of the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation may be provided. Further, the display means 7 may be a display device capable of displaying the same content as the above-described display content, for example, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display device, or the like and the switch unit 8 may also be configured to be displayed on the display means 7 and to be touchable.

(29) Next, the operation and effect of the heating and hot water supplying device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(30) In the heating and hot water supply device 1, here, it is the setting for permitting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation, and it is assumed that the heating operation is being performed. At this time, the heating set temperature is displayed and the combustion display unit 7h and the heating display unit 7i are displayed on the display means 7.

(31) When the hot water supply flow rate sensor 25 detects a flow rate equal to or higher than a predetermined flow rate during the heating operation due to opening of the hot water supply tap or the like, the hot water supplying operation starts. The control unit 5 adjusts the first distribution valve 15 to circulate the heating medium only to the first bypass passage 12. Hot or cold water to be supplied is heated by heat exchange with the heating medium in the heat exchanger 20 for hot water supply. Further, the control unit 5 adjusts the distribution ratio of the second distribution valve 23 to supply the hot water having the hot water supply set temperature. Therefore, it is possible to quickly perform the hot water supply at the hot water supply set temperature. At this time, the hot water supply set temperature and the hot water supply display unit 7j are displayed on the display means 7, and the heating display unit 7i is not displayed.

(32) The control unit 5 determines whether the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is possible on the basis of the hot water supply set temperature, the tapping temperature detected by the tapping temperature sensor 27, and the like. When it is determined that the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is not possible, the hot water supplying operation is performed as it is, and when use of the hot water is finished, the heating operation is returned.

(33) On the other hand, when it is determined that the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is possible, the distribution ratio of the first distribution valve 15 is adjusted to distribute the heating medium to the heating terminal side. At this time, the heating display unit 7i is displayed again on the display means 7, and it is displayed that simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is being performed by simultaneously displaying the hot water supply display unit 7j. Further, although the hot water supply set temperature and the heating set temperature are alternately displayed on the display means 7, it may be selectable to display either one.

(34) During the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation, the heating capacity is determined on the basis of the distribution ratio of the first distribution valve 15. When the hot water supply flow rate increases during the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation, the first distribution valve 15 increases the heating medium distributed to the first bypass passage 12 on the hot water supply side and reduces the heating medium distributed to the circulation passage 4 on the heating side to prevent a decrease in the hot water supply temperature. When a state in which the heating side is smaller than a predetermined distribution ratio (for example, the heating side:the hot water supply side=1:9) continues for a predetermined period (for example, 3 seconds) or more, it is determined that the heating capacity is insufficient.

(35) On the other hand, when the heating set temperature is raised during the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation, or when a room temperature falls sharply, the heating load becomes large. At this time, the first distribution valve 15 increases the heating medium distributed to the circulation passage 4 on the heating side and reduces the heating medium distributed to the first bypass passage 12 on the hot water supply side. When a state in which the hot water supply side is smaller than a predetermined distribution ratio (for example, the heating side:the hot water supply side=1:9) continues for a predetermined period (for example, 3 seconds) or more, it is determined that the heating capacity is insufficient.

(36) When it is determined that the heating capacity is insufficient for the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation, the hot water supplying operation is prioritized. At this time, in the operation terminal 6, for example, the heating display unit 7i of the display means 7 is displayed in red, and sound or the like is output. In this way, a user of the heating and the hot water supply is notified of the state in which the heating capacity for performing the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is insufficient to urge the user to operate the prohibit switch for setting the prohibition of the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation to avoid this state. Since the guidance is provided not to cause the heating capacity to be insufficient, it is advantageous for the user of the hot water supply or the heating to take measures for avoiding the lack of heating capacity. Also, in addition to the operation of the prohibit switch, the user can take measures for stopping the heating operation, reducing the hot water supply flow rate, or the like.

(37) On the other hand, when there is no room in the heating capacity for the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation in accordance with the installation environment or the climate, once it is determined that the heating capacity is insufficient, it is expected that the heating capacity is determined to be insufficient whenever the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is performed. In this case, since it is possible to prohibit the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation by operating the prohibit switch, after the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is prohibited, the hot water supplying operation is prioritized, it is not determined that the heating capacity is insufficient, and it is possible to reduce the inconvenience or discomfort given to the user of the hot water supply. Further, there is no inconvenience or discomfort to the user due to the notification to the user performed whenever it is determined that the heating capacity is insufficient. Furthermore, when the hot water supply is used, it is possible to allow a sufficient heating capacity to cope with an increase in the hot water supply flow rate.

(38) When the external air temperature detected by the external air temperature sensor 30 is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference temperature, the heating load is reduced, and thus the lack of the heating capacity for the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation hardly occurs. Therefore, it is not necessary to prohibit the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation. Thus, when the external air temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference temperature, even when the prohibit switch is operated, the operation thereof is invalidated, and the state in which the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is permitted can be maintained. The operation of the prohibit switch for changing the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation to the permitted state is not invalidated.

(39) Next, an example in which the above-described embodiment is partially modified will be described.

(40) [1] A time period for permitting the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation or a time period for prohibiting the same may be set so that the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is prohibited in a time period in which the heating capacity is likely to be insufficient. With such a configuration, the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation may be prohibited, for example, in the morning time when the heating load and the hot water supply load increase, and thus it is possible to reduce the inconvenience or discomfort for the user of the hot water.
[2] The heating capacity may be determined in a state in which the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation starts without determining whether the simultaneous heating and hot water supplying operation is possible.
[3] In addition, those skilled in the art can implement the embodiment in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modifications.