JPH04165262A - electric water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable additionally heating the water freely as desired by providing a means for detecting the quantity of remaining hot water for detecting the remaining hot water with regard to a specified minimum quantity, a means for setting the temperature of hot water, a means for setting the present time, a means for setting automatic additional heating, and a means for setting manually controlled additional heating. CONSTITUTION:A quantity-detective means 32 for remaining hot water monitors the quantity of the remaining hot water in a hot-water storage tank 1; when the remaining hot water has decreased below a specified quantity, a means for setting automatic additional heating 33 acts to turn on the power supply to a heating element and automatically make it heat the water. This additional heating operates outside the regular time zone of power supply and can be repeated every time the hot-water temperature falls or can be effected not repetitively but as a single action that is to be resumed as occasion demands. When the use of hot water increases in quantity, such as on ceremonial occasions, forced heating of water can be effected by using a manually controlled starting means 34 for additional heating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in a control device for an electric water heater.

[Prior Art] Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional electric water heater.
FIG. 15 is an electrical circuit diagram of the main part.

In the figure, (1) is a hot water storage tank with a heating element (2
) are placed. (3) is a hot water temperature measuring means that is attached to the side wall of the hot water storage tank (1) and measures the supply water temperature and boiling temperature; (4) is a hot water temperature setting means that sets the hot water temperature to be used; (5) is a hot water temperature This calculation means calculates the net a11 time, the energization start time, and the boiling water temperature based on the information from the measurement means (8) and the hot water temperature setting means (4). Further, (6) is a late-night power source, (7) is a late-night power detection means for detecting the presence or absence of late-night power supply, and (8) is a calculation means (5), a late-night power detection means (7), and a hot water temperature measuring means ( This is a heating element control means that controls 0N10FF of the heating element (2) based on the information of 3).

In FIG. 15, (9) is a microcomputer,
CPU (10), memory (11), input circuit (12)
), an output circuit (13), an A/D converter (14), and an analog multiplexer (15).

(■6) shows a circuit constituting the heating element control means (8), including resistors (17), (18) and a transistor (19).
), relays (20), (21), and diodes (2
2) and (23), the coil of the relay (20) is connected between the positive terminal +V and the ground terminal via the transistor (19), and the base of the transistor (19) is connected via the resistor (17). and is connected to the output circuit (1B) of the microcomputer (8). Also relay (20
) is connected to the ground terminal via the positive terminal +v1 and the coil of relay (21), and both relays (
Diodes (22) and (23) are connected in parallel to both ends of the coils 20) and (21), respectively. In addition, the heating element (2) is connected to the normally open contact of the relay (21) and the midnight power supply (6).
) are connected in series.

The temperature measuring means (3) consists of a thermistor or the like, and the hot water temperature setting means (4) consists of a variable resistor. resistance(
24) is connected in series with the hot water temperature setting means (4), this series circuit is connected between the positive terminal 1V and the ground terminal, and the connection part between the resistor (24) and the hot water temperature setting means (4) is connected to an analog multiplexer (15). The resistor (25) is connected in series with the hot water temperature measuring means (3), and the series circuit is connected between the positive terminal +V and the ground terminal, and the resistor (25) and the hot water temperature measuring means (3) are connected in series. The connection part is connected to an analog multiplexer (15).

The circuit (26) constituting the late-night power detection means (7) consists of resistors (27) (28), diodes (29), and phototransistors (30).
The light emitting side of 0) is connected in series to the power source (6) via a resistor (27), and diodes (29) are connected in parallel to both ends thereof. On the other hand, phototransistor (30)
One end of the light receiving side is connected to the positive terminal 10 through the resistor (28), the other end is connected to the ground terminal, and the connection between the light receiving side and the resistor (28) is connected to the microcomputer (9).
) is connected to the input circuit (12).

Next, the operation of the conventional device configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that this flowchart shows the control means for the heating element (2) stored in the memory (11) of the microcomputer (9).

Turn on the late-night power supply and check whether there is a late-night power supply at the same time (
In step 51), if power is supplied late at night, a signal is input to the input circuit (12) of the microcomputer via the phototransistor (30), and a timer for counting elapsed time is started (step 52). Next, the water supply temperature Tv'C is measured by the hot water temperature measuring means (3) (step 53), and the set hot water temperature T'C is read (step 54).

The net energization time H at the set hot water temperature T''C can be calculated using the following formula (step 55).

Vx (T-Tv) H-□ P　X　860　X　O,9 Where ■: Hot water storage tank capacity (1) P: Heat generation capacity ff1 (kW) 880: 1 kvh calorific value 0.9: Efficiency It is.

Then, based on the above data, microcomputer (9)
The CPU (10) calculates the energization start time (step 56). If the late-night power supply time is 8 hours, the energization start time Hp can be calculated using the following formula.

p-8-H Next, it is determined whether the elapsed time by the timer has reached the energization start time (step 58), and when the energization start time has arrived, the output signal from the output circuit (13) of the microcomputer (9) is used to control the heating element. The transistor (
19), turns on the relays (20) and (21) to open the power supply circuit, and starts energizing the heating element (2) (
Step 59).

Next, the hot water temperature measuring means (3) measures the hot water temperature T1°C in the hot water storage tank (1) (Step 60), and then compares the boiling temperature T''C and the hot water temperature Tm'C (Step 61).
When the water temperature Ts reaches the boiling temperature T, the output signal from the output circuit (13) is cut off, the contact of the relay (21) is released, and the power circuit to the heating element (2) is turned off. Step 62) then ends the control.

Conventional electric water heaters are constructed and operate as described above.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional electric water heater described above, boiling time is limited because the boiling time is limited to a specific late-night power supply time period specified by the electric power company. . However, as hot water needs have diversified in recent years with changes in social life, such restrictions on boiling time cannot be said to be compatible with daily life rhythms. In addition, when the amount of hot water used is large, such as during ceremonial occasions, if there is a restriction on the boiling time, the amount of hot water will be insufficient and you will win. As described above, conventional water heaters are hardly considered to be suitable for today's hot water usage conditions, and improvements have long been sought.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional device, and uses constantly supplied power to energize the heating element during the main energization time, and when the amount of hot water used is large, it is additionally heated. The aim is to provide an electric water heater that can also be used.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electric water heater that includes: hot water temperature measuring means for measuring the supply water temperature and hot water temperature of a hot water storage tank; and for detecting a predetermined amount of remaining hot water. a remaining hot water amount detection means, a hot water temperature setting means for setting the boiling water temperature, a current time setting means for setting the current time, an automatic additional heating setting means for setting additional heating, and a manual additional heating setting. A calculation means for calculating the net boiling temperature and the energization start time and determining the start of energization, and a heating element control means for controlling the heating of the heating element.

[Function] The electric water heater according to the present invention is configured as described above. As a result, (1) the remaining hot water amount detection means detects the amount of remaining hot water in the hot water storage tank, and when the remaining amount of hot water falls below a predetermined amount, the automatic additional heating setting means is activated and the heating element is energized to automatically boil the water. can do. Note that this boiling process, which is performed outside of the electricity-on hours, can be repeated as many times as the water temperature drops, or you can boil it only once and repeat the operation if you need to boil it again. You can also make them do it.

(2) When a large amount of hot water is used for ceremonial occasions, etc., it is possible to forcefully boil the water using the manual additional heating start means.

[Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electric water heater showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 to 8 are the same or equivalent parts as in the conventional device;
31) is a current time setting means, (32) is a remaining hot water amount detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a predetermined amount of remaining hot water, (33) is an automatic additional heating setting means for setting automatic additional heating, and (34) is a manually forced hot water setting means. This is a manual additional heating setting means for setting additional heating.

Figure 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of the above embodiment, in which (35) is a power supply that can be used at all times, and (36) is a microcomputer (
9) is a display circuit that amplifies the output signal from the output circuit (13), and (37) is a display means that displays based on the output signal of the display circuit (36) and the output signal from the output circuit (13). It is.

(38) is a remaining hot water amount detection means (32) consisting of a thermistor.
A resistor is connected in series with the positive terminal +V and the ground terminal, and the connection between the resistor (38) and the remaining hot water amount detection means (32) is connected to the analog multiplexer (15) of the microcomputer (9). There is. (39), (40)
, (41), (42), and (43) are resistors, respectively consisting of switches, automatic additional heating setting means (33), manual additional heating setting means (34), and current time setting means (31).
are connected in series to the power supply +V and the ground terminal, and the connection between each switch and the resistor is connected to the input circuit (12) of the microcomputer (9).

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the operation section and display section of this embodiment.
(44), (45), and (46) are current time setting means consisting of switches. (44) indicates the time, (45) indicates the minutes, (48) is a switch for setting completion of time setting, and (47) is a lamp indicating the current time;
0) is an indicator light that displays the time.

In the figure, when the power is turned on, the display section lights up the current time lamp (47), and the indicator lamp (50) is oo:o.

flash. When the time setting switch (44) is then pressed, the indicator light (50) changes from 0 to 00, and further changes in one hour increments each time the switch is pressed. In other words, the sequence is repeated sequentially, so if the current time is, for example, 13:45, pressing the switch (44) 13 times will change the time display to 13:
00, and then press the switch (45).As with the time, the display changes from 13200 to 13:0 every time you press the switch.
1. The time will change in 1-minute increments, such as 13:02, so just press it 45 times to set it to 13:45.The minute display will change to 59 and return to the original 00.Once the hours and minutes are set, The setting of the current time is completed by operating the setting completion switch (4B).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the heating element control stored in the memory (11) of the microcomputer. Steps that are the same as or equivalent to those in the conventional example are given the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

First, turn on the power and set the current time (step 70).
Next, the set water temperature is read (step 54). Next, it is determined whether the current time falls within the energizing time zone stored in the calculating means (5), for example, from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am the next morning, and if it is the energizing time zone, the water supply temperature Tv step 53), then read the set hot water temperature T''C (step 54), calculate the net energization time H based on that information (step 55), and then calculate the energization start time Ha (step 54). 74).In this embodiment, the main energizing time period is from 23:00 to 7:00 the next morning, the net energizing time is 8 hours, and the net energizing time is H, so the energizing start time Ha is Ha. -23: 00+
(8-H) It can be found as follows.

Next, step 58 determines whether the energization start time has been reached.
), when the lower heating element (2) is energized to boil the supplied water (step 59), the hot water temperature Tl1l is measured (step 60), and Tel is compared with the boiling temperature T (step 61). When the temperature Tel reaches the boiling temperature T, the power supply to the heating element is stopped (step 62).

In step 73, if it is outside the main energization time period (from 11pm to 7am the next morning), it is determined whether automatic additional heating is set (step 75), and if it is set, the remaining hot water amount is detected by the remaining hot water amount detection means (32). Step 77
), if the remaining amount of hot water is less than the predetermined amount, the hot water temperature measuring means (
3), measure the water temperature Tm2 (step 78), and compare the water temperature T+n2 with the boiling temperature T (step 79).
, if the water temperature Ts2 is lower than the boiling temperature T, the heating element (
2) to heat the water supply (Step 80), the water temperature T
If m2 becomes higher than the boiling temperature T, the energization to the heating element (2) is stopped (step 81), and the ON10 F F of energizing the heating element is repeated unless it is during the main energization time, until the main energization start time is reached. Then (step 82), the heating element (
2) is stopped (step 83).

If automatic reheating is not set in step (75), it is determined whether manual reheating is set (step 84); if it is set, step 78 is reached and the heating element (2) is activated according to the water temperature. Repeat the energization.

Since the electric water heater according to the present invention is configured as described above, if manual reheating or automatic reheating is not set, reheating will be performed for 8 hours from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 the next morning. can be mainly In addition, even if it is not the main power supply time, it is possible to detect the amount of remaining hot water and automatically energize the heating element to heat the water supply if the amount of remaining hot water is less than a predetermined amount. It is also possible to heat the water supply by energizing the heating element.

In addition, in this example, the reason why the 0N10FF of the heating element (2) is repeated many times before reaching the main energization start time during additional heating is that if the amount of hot water used is small, the heating and cooling of the supplied water is repeated. This results in wasted power consumption. To avoid this, it is also possible to limit reheating to one time. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation. During additional heating, if the amount of hot water remaining in the tank is less than a predetermined amount (step 77),
Turn on the heating element (2) and heat the water supply until the hot water temperature Tl11
When the temperature reaches the boiling temperature T, the heating element (2) is turned off to complete the additional heating. That is, additional heating is performed only once, and 0N10FF of the heating element is not repeated. Whether reheating should be repeated or only once should be decided depending on the conditions of use of the hot water.If hot water is used frequently and you want to constantly supply high-temperature hot water, it is better to repeat reheating, but If hot water is used infrequently and you want to reduce wasteful power consumption, additional heating should be done only once.

In this embodiment, an electric water heater is equipped with various devices and provided with various functions, thereby making the electric water heater extremely efficient and easy to use. However, when actually used at home, not all of the above functions are required, and depending on the purpose of use, a low-cost water heater may be required even if some functions are sacrificed. Some of such water heaters will be listed below as other examples.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the water heater according to the above embodiment which lacks manual additional heating setting means, FIG. 7 is its electrical circuit diagram, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation. In this embodiment, since no manual additional heating means is provided, additional heating cannot be performed unless the hot water in the hot water storage tank falls below a predetermined amount.

In the above embodiment, the energization of the heating element is repeated 0N10FF unless it is stopped during additional heating, but the flowchart in FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which the additional heating is limited to one time.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, which is equipped with manual additional heating setting means in place of the automatic additional heating setting means, and FIG. 11 is an electric circuit diagram thereof;
FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts of the operation.

As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, daily boiling is performed during the main energization time period stored in the control device of the water heater, and manual supplementary heating setting means is also set as necessary outside of the main energization time period. It is configured such that it can be used to energize the heating element. Figure 12 shows the heating element turned on during additional heating.
FIG. 13 shows a flowchart when the heating element is energized only once when 10 F F is repeated.

[Effects of the Invention] The electric water heater according to the present invention performs daily boiling during the main energization time period and stably supplies hot water. In addition, in the unlikely event that the amount of hot water used increases, it is equipped with a remaining hot water amount detection means and an automatic additional heating setting means, and when the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank becomes less than a predetermined amount, the heating element is automatically energized to perform additional heating. Since the system is configured to start the hot water, there is no need to worry about running out of hot water during normal times even if you forget to add additional heating.

In addition to the above-mentioned automatic additional heating setting means, a manual additional heating setting means is provided so that additional heating can be performed at any time, so there is no need to run out of hot water even when a large amount of hot water is consumed, such as during ceremonial occasions. Ta.

Furthermore, the power to the heating element for additional heating can be turned ON outside of the energization time by changing the control device software.
It is possible to repeat 10 F F or only once, and it is convenient because it can be selected as appropriate depending on the usage situation of hot water.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electric water heater that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is its electric circuit diagram, Fig. 3 is a front view of the display section and operation section, and Figs. 4 and 5 are flow charts. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment, FIG. 7 is an electric circuit diagram thereof, FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts thereof, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of another embodiment.
11 is a block diagram of another embodiment, FIG. 11 is an electric circuit diagram thereof, FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts thereof, FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a conventional electric water heater, and FIG. 15 is an electric circuit diagram thereof. The circuit diagram and FIG. 16 are its flowcharts. In the figure, (1) is a hot water storage tank, (2) is a heating element, (3) is a hot water temperature measurement means, (4) is a hot water amount setting means, (5) is a calculation means, (8) is a heating element control means, (31) is an energization time period setting means, (32) is a remaining hot water amount detection means, (33) is an automatic additional heating setting means, and (34) is a manual additional heating setting means. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Patent Attorney Muneharu Sasaki

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A hot water storage tank, a heating element installed at the lower part of the hot water storage tank, a hot water temperature measuring means for measuring the supply water temperature and hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank, and a remaining amount of hot water for detecting the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank. It has a detection means, a water temperature setting means for setting the boiling water temperature, a current time setting means for setting the current time, and a built-in clock function to calculate the net energization time and the energization start time, and to store the results internally. calculation means for determining the start time of energization in the main energization time period; automatic additional heating setting means for automatically starting energization to the heating element according to information from the remaining hot water amount detection means; and manually controlling the heating element. energizing the heating element based on information from the manual additional heating setting means, the hot water temperature measuring means, the remaining hot water amount detection means, the calculation means, the automatic additional heating setting means, and the manual additional heating setting means. and heating element control means for controlling the water temperature, and energization of the heating element performed at times other than the main energization time period is repeated many times according to information from the hot water temperature measuring means. Electric water heater. (2) The electric water heater according to claim 1, wherein in the electric water heater, the heating element is energized only once during a time other than the energization time period. (3) a hot water storage tank, a heating element installed at the bottom of the hot water storage tank, a hot water temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the supplied water and the hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank, and a residual hot water amount for detecting the amount of hot water remaining in the hot water storage tank. It has a built-in water amount detection means, a water temperature setting means for setting the boiling water temperature, a current time setting means for setting the current time, and a clock function to calculate the net energization time and the energization start time and store them internally. calculation means for determining the start time of energization in the energization time period; automatic additional heating setting means for automatically starting energization of the heating element according to information from the remaining hot water amount detection means; and hot water temperature measuring means. and heating element control means for controlling energization to the heating element based on information from the remaining hot water amount measuring means, the calculation means, and the automatic additional heating setting means, and the heating element is controlled to be energized at a time other than the main energization time. An electric water heater characterized in that energization is repeated many times according to information from a hot water temperature measuring means. (4) The electric water heater according to claim 3, wherein in the electric water heater, the heating element is energized only once during a time other than the main energization time period. (5) a hot water storage tank, a heating element installed at the bottom of the hot water storage tank, a hot water temperature measuring means for measuring the supply water temperature and hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank, and a hot water temperature setting means for setting the boiling water temperature. , a current time setting means for setting the current time, a calculation means having a built-in clock function and calculating the net energization time and the energization start time, and determining the energization start time in the main energization time period stored internally; manual additional heating setting means for starting energization of the heating element according to the above, and heating element control means for controlling energization of the heating element based on information from the hot water temperature measuring means, calculation means, and manual additional heating setting means. An electric water heater, characterized in that the energization of the heating element performed at times other than the main energization time period is repeated many times according to information from the hot water temperature measuring means. (6) The electric water heater according to claim 5, wherein in the electric water heater, the additional heating is performed only once during a time other than the current-on time period.