Water heater connection system

Abstract

A water heater connection system may include: water heaters connected in parallel between a water supply pipe and a discharge pipe; and a connection controller which controls the heaters. Each heater may include: a burner which heats water flowing from the supply pipe to the heater as required; a valve which regulates a flow rate of the water flowing from the supply pipe to the heater; a sensor which detects the water flow rate flowing from the supply pipe to the heater; and an individual controller which communicates with the connection controller. The individual controller may operate in a disconnected mode when the individual controller cannot communicate with the connection controller. When the sensor does not detect water flow in the disconnected mode, the individual controller may stand by with the valve set to a first opening degree being smaller than fully open and larger than fully closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater connection system comprising:
 a plurality of water heaters connected in parallel to each other and between a water supply pipe and a hot water discharge pipe; and   a connection controller configured to control operation of the plurality of water heaters,   wherein each of the plurality of water heaters includes:   a burner configured to heat water flowing from the water supply pipe to the water heater as required;   a flow rate regulation valve configured to regulate a flow rate of the water flowing from the water supply pipe to the water heater;   a flow rate sensor configured to detect the flow rate of the water flowing from the water supply pipe to the water heater; and   an individual controller configured to communicate with the connection controller,   the individual controller is configured to operate in a disconnected operation mode when the individual controller cannot communicate with the connection controller, and   when the flow rate sensor does not detect water flow in the disconnected operation mode, the individual controller stands by with the flow rate regulation valve set to a first opening degree which is smaller than being fully open and larger than being fully closed.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the individual controller is configured to ignite the burner when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined ignition flow rate, and
 the first opening degree is smaller than an opening degree corresponding to the ignition flow rate.   
     
     
         3 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the flow rate sensor detects water flow while the individual controller stands by with the flow rate regulation valve set to the first opening degree, the individual controller increases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve from the first opening degree to a second opening degree which is larger than the opening degree corresponding to the ignition flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 3 , wherein, when the individual controller increases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation value to the second opening degree and the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor increases accordingly, the individual controller further increases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve, and
 when the individual controller increases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation value to the second opening degree and the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor does not increase accordingly, the individual controller maintains the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve.   
     
     
         5 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor increases while the individual controller maintains the opening degree of the flow rate regulation value at the second opening degree, the individual controller increases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor decreases while the individual controller maintains the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve at the second opening degree, the individual controller decreases the opening degree of the flow rate regulation valve. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater connection system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of water heaters further comprises a notifier,
 when the individual controller cannot communicate with the connection controller, the individual controller notifies via the notifier that the individual controller is operating in the disconnected operation mode.