Hot water supply apparatus, and method executed by computer for controlling hot water supply apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a hot water supply apparatus. Processing executed by the hot water supply apparatus includes the following. A hot water supply set temperature is read from a memory. A maximum temperature of a housing is set by combustion level (combustion stage number) in accordance with a setting pattern predetermined according to the hot water supply set temperature. When it is intended to detect an end of operation of the hot water supply apparatus in the case of detecting no change in the hot water supply set temperature, a combustion operation is continued. The maximum temperature of the housing is set again by combustion level (combustion stage number) in the case of detecting a change in the hot water supply set temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot water supply apparatus, comprising:
 a burner;   a housing, comprising a heat exchanger heated by the burner;   a water supply channel, supplying water to an inlet of the housing;   a hot water outflow channel, to which hot water is supplied from an outlet of the housing;   a bypass channel, bypassing the housing and connected to the water supply channel and the hot water outflow channel;   a first temperature sensor, detecting a temperature of the water supplied to the housing;   a second temperature sensor, detecting a temperature of the hot water at the outlet of the housing;   a third temperature sensor, detecting a temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus after the bypass channel and the hot water outflow channel join; and   a control device, controlling operation of the hot water supply apparatus, wherein   the control device
 receives input of a set value of the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus, 
 determines a combustion level of the burner based on the set value and amount of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus, and 
 controls a combustion operation performed by the burner in accordance with a maximum temperature of the housing predetermined according to the combustion level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the burner burns at a plurality of combustion levels;   the maximum temperature is set for each of the combustion level.   
     
     
         3 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is minimum is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is maximum.   
     
     
         4 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is minimum is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is maximum.   
     
     
         5 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         7 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the control device further detects that scale adheres inside the heat exchanger based on the temperature at the outlet of the housing, and, based on the detection that the scale adheres inside the heat exchanger, causes the hot water supply apparatus to perform a predetermined operation.   
     
     
         10 . The hot water supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing is able to be changed based on any one of the temperature of the water supplied to the housing, the temperature of the hot water delivered from the housing, the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus, the set value, and a hot water supply capacity required for the hot water supply apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . A method executed by a computer for controlling a hot water supply apparatus, comprising:
 receiving input of a set value of a temperature of hot water supplied from a hot water supply apparatus, wherein the hot water supply apparatus comprises a burner and a housing that comprises a heat exchanger heated by the burner;   determining a combustion level of the burner based on the set value and amount of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus; and   controlling a combustion operation performed by the burner in accordance with a maximum temperature of the housing predetermined according to the combustion level.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the burner burns at a plurality of combustion levels;   the maximum temperature is set for each of the combustion level.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is minimum is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is maximum.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is minimum is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the combustion level of the burner is maximum.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein
 in response to the combustion level being equal to or less than a preset combustion level, the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is lower than a predetermined temperature is lower than the maximum temperature of the housing when the set value is higher than the predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting that scale adheres inside the heat exchanger based on the temperature at the outlet of the housing; and   based on detecting that the scale adheres inside the heat exchanger, causing the hot water supply apparatus to perform a predetermined operation.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the maximum temperature of the housing is able to be changed based on any one of a temperature of water supplied to the housing, a temperature of hot water delivered from the housing, the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply apparatus, the set value, and a hot water supply capacity required for the hot water supply apparatus.