JP-2026075839-A - Hot water storage system

JP2026075839AJP 2026075839 AJP2026075839 AJP 2026075839AJP-2026075839-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a hot water supply system that can automatically set whether or not to store hot water during the daytime according to weather forecast information. [Solution] In a hot water storage system (1) configured to be able to perform hot water storage operation using electricity generated by an external solar power generation device (4), the control means sets the time period during which power generation by the solar power generation device is expected to occur as the hot water storage allowance time period, and sets whether or not to store hot water for each unit time within the hot water storage allowance time period based on predetermined unit time weather forecast information obtained from an external server via a communication network. [Selection Diagram] Figure 6

Inventors

丸山和久

Assignees

株式会社ノーリツ

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20241023

Claims (7)

A hot water storage system comprising a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, a heat source unit for heating the hot water in the storage tank, a pump for circulating the hot water between the storage tank and the heat source unit, and control means for controlling a hot water storage operation that drives the heat source unit and the pump to store hot water in the storage tank according to a hot water usage forecast predicted based on learned and memorized past hot water supply performance, wherein the hot water storage operation is configured to be performed using electricity generated by an external solar power generation device, The hot water storage and supply system is characterized in that the control means sets the time period during which power generation is expected from the solar power generation device as the hot water storage allowable time period, and sets whether or not to store hot water for each unit time within the hot water storage allowable time period based on predetermined unit time weather forecast information obtained from an external server via a communication network.
The system further includes a display means for displaying information related to the hot water storage operation, The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means displays the weather forecast information and whether or not hot water storage is possible during the hot water storage allowance period on the display means.
The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means displays the weather forecast information and whether hot water storage is permitted for the following day's hot water storage period on the display means after the end of the permitted hot water storage period for the current day.
The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means sets the time period corresponding to the weather forecast information, within the hot water storage allowable time period, as the time period in which sunny weather is continuous, based on the weather forecast information.
The hot water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control means acquires the weather forecast information each time the unit time has elapsed and updates the hot water storage availability setting.
The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 5, characterized in that, if the control means cannot obtain the weather forecast information, it updates the hot water storage capability setting based on the last obtained weather forecast information.
The hot water storage and supply system according to claim 5, characterized in that, when updating the hot water storage availability setting for the time period to which the current time belongs within the hot water storage allowable time period, the control means updates the hot water storage availability setting based on the weather forecast information and the hot water storage availability setting that was set for the time period immediately preceding the time period to which the current time belongs.

Description

This invention relates to a household hot water storage and supply system that predicts future hot water usage based on past hot water usage data and stores hot water in a storage tank according to this prediction. More particularly, it relates to a hot water storage and supply system that can store hot water using electricity generated by a household solar power generation system. Traditionally, hot water supply systems using heat pumps as the heat source have been widely employed. These systems store heated water in a storage tank, and the stored water is then used for hot water supply. For example, some systems use inexpensive off-peak electricity to store water for the next day overnight, while others store the amount of heat needed for future hot water use based on past usage data. On the other hand, the installation of solar power generation systems in ordinary households has been increasing in recent years. The electricity generated by solar power systems is supplied to household appliances such as refrigerators, and any surplus electricity can be sold externally. However, given the recent decline in electricity selling prices, it has become more economical to use the electricity generated by solar power systems within the home (self-consumption) than to sell it. Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which the electricity generated is used to store hot water for the next day in a hot water storage system. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that, based on the weather forecast information for the following day, determines the night before whether hot water can be stored during the daytime the following day after receiving power from a solar power generation system. If hot water storage is possible, a notice of storage is displayed on the display means; if hot water storage is not possible, hot water is stored the night before, and a message indicating that hot water storage is not possible during the daytime is displayed. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for determining whether the weather conditions are suitable for hot water storage by receiving power from a solar power generation system during the designated operating time period of the following day, based on the weather forecast information obtained for the following day. Based on this determination, the system either stores hot water during the daytime, including the adjacent time periods before and after the designated operating time period, or stores hot water the night before. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a method for predicting the surplus power of a solar power generation system for the following day based on weather information, and adjusting the amount of hot water stored the previous night and the amount stored during the daytime the following day according to the predicted surplus power. This surplus power prediction is repeated at a predetermined cycle. Patent No. 7058700Patent No. 7414689Patent No. 6830843 This is a diagram showing the configuration of a hot water storage and supply system and its surroundings according to an embodiment of the present invention.Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hot water storage and supply system.This is an explanatory diagram for predicting hot water usage.This is an example of a display showing whether hot water storage is permitted outside of the allowed hot water storage time period.This is an example of a display showing whether or not hot water storage is permitted within the allowed hot water storage time period.This is a flowchart for setting whether or not hot water storage is possible.This is an example of setting whether or not hot water storage is possible for the initial target time period.The following is an example of setting whether or not hot water storage is possible for the specified time period. The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention based on examples.