Hybrid energy heating control method

Abstract

The present invention proposes a hybrid energy heating control method, comprising the following steps: detecting water usage; when water usage is detected, detecting a set temperature Tse, and selecting a heating mode based on the set temperature Tse. The heating mode may include any combination of gas heating, electric heating, and heating using an auxiliary heat exchanger module. By detecting water usage and automatically switching heating modes based on the water usage and set temperature, the hybrid energy heating control method provides significant user convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of water-heating devices, and in particular relates to a hybrid energy heating control method with multiple heating modes. Background Art

[0002] Existing water heater heating systems typically rely on gas combustion and electric heating, resulting in a relatively simple and traditional control method. Temperature control can only be achieved by adjusting the gas flow or electric heating power, resulting in poor control accuracy. Furthermore, noise levels from gas water heaters remain a persistent issue.

[0003] Some water heaters currently use hybrid energy sources for heating, such as gas water heaters that combine both gas and electric heating. When multiple heating modes are available, switching between gas and electric heating is manually activated via buttons on the display panel. The switching logic can be either toggling between gas and electric heating or defaulting to one heating mode (gas). Each time the button is switched, a timer begins, switching back to the default mode after a certain period of time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention addresses the technical problem in the prior art that water heaters with multiple heating modes require manual switching of heating modes through buttons on the display panel, which brings inconvenience to use. The present invention proposes a hybrid energy heating control method with multiple heating modes, which can solve the above problem.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A hybrid energy heating control method comprises the following steps:

[0007] Detect water usage status;

[0008] When it is detected that water is turned on, the set temperature Tse is detected, and a heating mode is selected according to the set temperature Tse. The heating mode includes any combination of gas heating, electric heating and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating.

[0009] Furthermore, when Tse>T1, gas heating is started;

[0010] When T2<Tse≤T1, start gas heating and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating;

[0011] When Tj<Tse≤T2, start electric heating;

[0012] Among them, Tj is the inlet water temperature, T1>T2>0.

[0013] Furthermore, before starting gas heating, the following steps are also included to determine the ignition conditions:

[0014] Detect the water flow through the gas water heater. When the water flow is not less than the set flow L1, ignite and start gas heating.

[0015] Furthermore, when gas heating is started, the fire control method is included:

[0016] The fire row consists of several sections according to the size of the fire;

[0017] The fire grate that needs to be controlled for combustion is determined based on the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, as well as the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature Tc and the inlet water temperature Tj.

[0018] Furthermore, the fire row includes at least section A, section B, section C, and section D in descending order of firepower;

[0019] When Tse-Tj>T3, continue to determine the temperature difference between the inlet water temperature Tj and the outlet water temperature Tc:

[0020] When Tc-Tj>T4, control the combustion of the D-section fire row;

[0021] When Tc-Tj≤T4, control the combustion of the fire row in section C;

[0022] When Tse-Tj≤T3, control the combustion of section B fire row.

[0023] Furthermore, the fire grate control method further includes determining the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. When Tse-Tc≥T5, the currently burning fire grate is extinguished and the fire grate in section A is ignited.

[0024] Furthermore, the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, including:

[0025] When Tse-Tc≥T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at the rated power P; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a1 times the rated power;

[0026] When T6≤Tse-Tc<T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a2 times the rated power; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a3 times the rated power;

[0027] When Tse-Tc<T7, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a4 times the rated power, and the gas heating is turned off;

[0028] Wherein, Td1 is the temperature of the refrigerant in the auxiliary heat exchanger module, Td2 is the outlet water temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, T5>T6>T7>0;

[0029] 0<a4<a3<a2<a1<100%.

[0030] Furthermore, when Tse-Tc<T7, it also includes starting the auxiliary heating constant temperature control step, and the auxiliary heating constant temperature control step controls the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module.

[0031] Furthermore, when Tse-Tc<T7, the current working state remains unchanged;

[0032] When Tse-Tc>T8, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a5 times the rated power;

[0033] When Tse-Tc>T9, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a6 times the rated power;

[0034] When Tse-Tc>T10, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a7 times the rated power;

[0035] When Tse-Tc>T11, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to the rated power;

[0036] Among them, T7<T8<T9<T10<T11;

[0037] a4<a5<a6<a7<100%.

[0038] Furthermore, when the electric heating is started, the heating power of the electric heating is controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, the greater the heating power of the electric heating, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

[0039] Furthermore, during the electric heating process, when Tse-Tc<T7, it also includes starting the electric heating constant temperature control step; the greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the water outlet temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the electric heating module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are: the hybrid energy heating control method of the present invention detects the water usage status and automatically switches the heating mode according to the water usage status and the set temperature, without the need for manual setting and selection, which brings great convenience to users.

[0041] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of the hybrid energy heating control method proposed by the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of the hybrid energy water heater proposed by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0046] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" indicating directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or component described must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0047] Example 1

[0048] This embodiment proposes a hybrid energy heating control method, such as Figure 1 As shown, the following steps are included:

[0049] Detect water usage status;

[0050] When it is detected that water is turned on, the set temperature Tse is detected and a heating mode is selected according to the set temperature Tse. The heating modes include any combination of gas heating, electric heating and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating.

[0051] Detecting the water use status is to detect whether the water use terminal is turned on for water use. There are many detection methods. For example, the water flow rate flowing through the water heater can be detected. When any water use point turns on water use (in this embodiment, turning on water use means that the water use point has a demand for hot water. If the water use point only turns on cold water, it does not belong to the water use situation of this embodiment, because when only cold water is turned on, the water flow does not pass through the water heater), water flows through the water heater. The water use status can be determined by detecting the water flow rate flowing through the water heater.

[0052] The water usage status can also be detected by separately detecting the opening status of each water point, and each water point sends its opening status to the water heater through wired communication or wireless communication.

[0053] The set temperature Tse is set by the user through the control panel. If the user does not set it, it will be the default value.

[0054] When a water point is turned on for water use, the control module of the water heater automatically selects and switches to an appropriate heating mode according to the set temperature Tse, and the heating mode matches the set temperature Tse.

[0055] Specifically, gas heating, electric heating, and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating differ in their energy sources and corresponding heating principles, each with its own unique characteristics. For example, gas heating generally suffers from the technical issue of slow temperature rise, but it is highly efficient and can continuously output high-flow rates of high-temperature water. Electric heating, on the other hand, heats up quickly and produces hot water quickly, but its heating efficiency is low and it cannot continuously output high-flow rates of high-temperature water. Therefore, the hybrid energy heating control method of this embodiment provides great convenience to users by detecting water usage and automatically switching heating modes based on the water usage status and set temperature.

[0056] This embodiment of the water heater integrates an electric heating module and an auxiliary heat exchanger module based on the traditional water heater structure. The electric heating module includes a water tank and an electric heating module, while the auxiliary heat exchanger module includes an auxiliary heat exchanger, coils, and a compressor module. The auxiliary heat exchanger module's heating principle is that the compressor drives the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe to circulate. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside and transfers it to the water heater, where it releases heat to produce hot water.

[0057] The basic water circulation inside the water heater is that the user's tap water is connected to the water heater through the water inlet pipe, and flows into the internal copper pipe pipeline through the water pump and water regulating valve in turn.

[0058] In this embodiment, the arrangement order of the electric heating module, auxiliary heat exchanger module and gas heating module according to the water flow direction can be arranged arbitrarily as needed. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the gas heating module, auxiliary heat exchanger module and electric heating module in sequence according to the water flow direction is used as an example for explanation.

[0059] The water flow from the tap water pipe passes through the heat exchange tube of the gas heating module in turn, then flows through the heat exchange coil of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, and then enters the water tank of the electric heating module, which is equipped with an electric heating module, and finally flows out through the outlet pipe.

[0060] The basic gas circuit inside the water heater is consistent with that of traditional gas water heaters. The gas passes through the air inlet joint, the proportional valve and the distributor to the combustion module, and then the ignition needle ignites the gas and burns. The gas generated by combustion is exhausted by the DC fan and collected by the smoke hood, and discharged to the outside through the flue.

[0061] As a preferred embodiment, the method for selecting the heating mode according to the set temperature Tse in this embodiment is:

[0062] When Tse>T1, start gas heating;

[0063] When T2<Tse≤T1, start gas heating and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating;

[0064] When Tj<Tse≤T2, start electric heating;

[0065] Among them, Tj is the inlet water temperature, T1>T2>0.

[0066] T1 can be a relatively high temperature, such as T1 can be taken as but not limited to 50°C. When the set temperature Tse>T1, it means that the water temperature requirement is relatively high. Therefore, it is necessary to turn on the gas heating module with high heating efficiency for heating.

[0067] When T2<Tse≤T1, the gas heating module and the auxiliary heat exchanger module are started simultaneously for heating.

[0068] At this time, the number of fire strips and the opening of the proportional valve of the gas heating module can be mainly adjusted according to the set temperature Tse, water inlet temperature Tj, water outlet temperature Tc, the first antifreeze temperature Td1, and the second antifreeze temperature Td2, while the output power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module can be fine-tuned to achieve constant temperature control of the water outlet temperature.

[0069] The first antifreeze temperature Td1 is the temperature of the refrigerant in the auxiliary heat exchanger module, and the second antifreeze temperature Td2 is the outlet water temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger module. The first antifreeze temperature Td1 and the second antifreeze temperature Td2 are respectively measured by temperature sensors.

[0070] In order to prevent the situation where the water flow is detected but small due to reasons such as the water point not being closed tightly or the water pressure fluctuation in the pipe network, and to avoid erroneous heating, the present embodiment preferably includes a step of determining the ignition condition before starting the gas heating, including:

[0071] The water flow rate through the water heater is detected. When the water flow rate is not less than the set flow rate L1, the gas heating is ignited. Otherwise, the ignition and heating steps are not performed to ensure safe hot water production.

[0072] In addition, during the combustion and heating process of the gas heating module, the combustion stopping conditions are also judged: for example, when the current A-section fire grate is burning and the outlet water temperature is greater than 52°C, the combustion can be shut down.

[0073] During the user's water use, the mixed heating control and temperature control functions are activated to meet the user's water needs to the greatest extent, and achieve a user experience of rapid heating and constant temperature water flow.

[0074] When starting gas heating, including the fire control method:

[0075] The fire row consists of several sections according to the size of the fire;

[0076] The fire grate that needs to be controlled for combustion is determined based on the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, as well as the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature Tc and the inlet water temperature Tj.

[0077] As a preferred embodiment, this embodiment is described by taking the example that the fire barge includes at least section A, section B, section C, and section D in order from small to large fire power.

[0078] When Tse-Tj>T3, continue to determine the temperature difference between the inlet water temperature Tj and the outlet water temperature Tc:

[0079] When Tc-Tj>T4, control the combustion of the D-section fire row;

[0080] When Tc-Tj≤T4, control the combustion of the fire row in section C;

[0081] When Tse-Tj≤T3, control the combustion of section B fire row.

[0082] Among them, T3>T4>0.

[0083] T3 may be, but not limited to, 30°C, and T4 may be, but not limited to, 5°C.

[0084] This solution can select a fire grate of corresponding capacity according to the difference between the inlet water temperature Tj and the set temperature Tse, as well as the difference between the outlet water temperature Tc and the inlet water temperature Tj. The larger the above two differences are, the more powerful the fire grate is selected to provide enough heat to quickly heat the water to close to the set temperature.

[0085] The fire grate control method further includes determining the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. When Tse-Tc < T5, the currently burning fire grate is extinguished and the fire grate in section A is ignited. T5 can be, but is not limited to, 10°C.

[0086] To improve heating accuracy and keep the outlet water temperature as close to the set temperature as possible, this embodiment also controls the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module based on the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. This allows the outlet water temperature to gradually approach the set temperature, preventing excessive temperature increases that would compromise control accuracy and easily lead to excessively high or low temperatures. To address this issue, in this embodiment, the smaller the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, the lower the output power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module.

[0087] As a preferred embodiment, it includes:

[0088] When Tse-Tc≥T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at the rated power P; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a1 times the rated power;

[0089] When T6≤Tse-Tc<T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a2 times the rated power; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a3 times the rated power;

[0090] When Tse-Tc<T7, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a4 times the rated power, and the gas heating is turned off at the same time;

[0091] Among them, T5>T6>T7>0;

[0092] 0<a4<a3<a2<a1<100%.

[0093] When Tse-Tc<T7, the auxiliary heating constant temperature control step is also included. The auxiliary heating constant temperature control step is to control the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module.

[0094] T7 can be set to, but is not limited to, 1°C. When Tse-Tc < T7, the outlet water temperature is very close to the set temperature, and the gas heating module can be controlled to stop combustion. Due to the high temperature control accuracy of auxiliary heating constant temperature control, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is used for auxiliary heating constant temperature control.

[0095] The method of using the auxiliary heat exchanger module to perform auxiliary heating constant temperature control includes:

[0096] When Tse-Tc>T8, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a5 times the rated power;

[0097] When Tse-Tc>T9, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a6 times the rated power;

[0098] When Tse-Tc>T10, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a7 times the rated power;

[0099] When Tse-Tc>T11, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to the rated power;

[0100] Among them, T7<T8<T9<T10<T11;

[0101] a4<a5<a6<a7<100%.

[0102] When Tse - Tc > T11, the difference between the outlet water temperature and the set temperature is significant. At this point, if the water flow rate is high, heating to the set temperature will require significant energy consumption and a long cycle, making it impossible to achieve the desired temperature in a short period of time. Therefore, this embodiment achieves this by reducing the water flow rate. This reduced water flow rate allows the water temperature to be raised quickly to the target heating temperature while maintaining the same energy consumption, thus reducing user waiting time.

[0103] When the electric heating is started, the heating power of the electric heating is controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, the greater the heating power of the electric heating, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

[0104] For example, when Tse-Tj>30℃, the water tank electric heating module operates at 100% of the rated power.

[0105] When Tse-Tj>20℃, the electric heating module works at 70% of the rated power.

[0106] When Tse-Tj>10℃, the electric heating module works at 50% of the rated power.

[0107] When Tse-Tj>5℃, the water outlet temperature T2 is judged. When Tse-Tc>0℃, the electric heating module works at 30% of the rated power.

[0108] When Tse-Tc is less than 1℃, the water tank electric heating module operates at 10% of the rated power, and the water tank constant temperature control logic is turned on to maintain the user's constant water outlet temperature requirement.

[0109] During the electric heating process, when Tse-Tc<T7, it also includes starting the electric heating constant temperature control step; the greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the water outlet temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the electric heating module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

[0110] For example, when Tse-Tc>2°C, the electric heating module operates at 30% of the rated power.

[0111] When Tse-Tc>4℃, the electric heating module operates at 50% of the rated power.

[0112] When Tse-Tc>6℃, the electric heating module works at 70% of the rated power.

[0113] When Tse-Tc>10℃, the electric heating module works at 100% of the rated power.

[0114] When Tse-Tc is less than 1°C, the electric heating module operates at 10% of the rated power, and the electric heating constant temperature control logic continues to cycle.

[0115] When the water heater is in standby mode, that is, when no water is used, an anti-freeze protection step is also included to prevent the technical problem of the water in the water pipe freezing due to low ambient temperature, making the water heater unusable.

[0116] In this embodiment, the antifreeze control logic includes:

[0117] When Tj<0℃, the antifreeze function is activated.

[0118] If both Td1 and Td2 are greater than 0°C, the water pump starts and stops after running for 5 minutes. At this time, the temperature in the water pipe is not particularly low, and it only needs to circulate the water in the pipe to play an anti-freeze role.

[0119] If Td1 or Td2 is less than 0℃, the auxiliary heat exchanger module will work. When Td1 and Td2 are both greater than 10 degrees, it will stop working.

[0120] If Td1 or Td2 is less than 0°C and Tc is less than 0°C, the proportional valve opens to ignite combustion. When Tc is greater than 20°C, combustion stops. At this time, the water temperature in the water pipe is low, and the gas heating module is turned on for rapid heating.

[0121] When the water heater is in standby mode, that is, when no water is used, the method of this embodiment also includes a preheating step. By preheating the water in the water pipe during the time when no water is used, hot water can be quickly produced when the user uses water, saving the user waiting time.

[0122] The preheating step includes: when 0<Tj<10℃, starting the preheating function and the electric heating module works; when Tc>20℃, the electric heating module stops working and the preheating function is completed.

[0123] The method of this embodiment also includes a quick heating step, when 10<Tj<20℃, the user water quick heating function is activated. Specifically including:

[0124] If Tse-Tj>30℃, the auxiliary heat exchanger module will work, and when Tc>25℃, it will stop working.

[0125] If Tse-Tj<30℃, the machine remains in standby mode.

[0126] When Tj>20℃, the machine remains in standby mode.

[0127] The quick heating mode can further reduce the time users have to wait for water.

[0128] Example 2

[0129] This embodiment proposes a hybrid energy water heater, such as Figure 2 As shown, the system includes a burner 11, a heat exchanger 12, a water inlet pipe 13, a water outlet pipe 14, and a control device 15. The heat exchanger 12 includes a heat collecting cover 121 and heat exchange tubes 122 coiled around the heat collecting cover 121. It also includes an auxiliary heating module, which includes an auxiliary heat collecting cover 161, a heat exchange coil 162, and an external circulation system (not shown). The external circulation system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a valve connected to the refrigerant pipeline. The compressor drives the refrigerant to circulate between the evaporator and the heat exchange coil 162. The refrigerant carries heat and releases it in the heat exchange coil 162 for heating.

[0130] Auxiliary heat collection cover 161 is connected to heat collection cover 121. Auxiliary heat collection cover 161 defines a cavity within it that communicates with heat collection cover 121. Heat exchange coil 162 is housed within the cavity of auxiliary heat collection cover 161, with both ends extending outside of auxiliary heat collection cover 161 for connection to the refrigerant pipe. The evaporator is connected to the refrigerant pipe, and the compressor is connected between the heat exchange coil and the evaporator. Driven by the compressor, the refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator and releases heat as it circulates through the refrigerant pipe to the heat exchange coil 162, which is then used to generate hot water.

[0131] The hybrid energy water heater of this solution can be controlled according to the control logic described in the first embodiment.

[0132] The auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 is disposed within the cavity of the auxiliary heat collection cover 161, with both ends extending outward from the auxiliary heat collection cover 161. One end of the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 is connected to the heat exchange tube. The auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 and the heat exchange tube 12 are used to accommodate water flow. Depending on the direction of water flow, the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 can be disposed upstream and the heat exchange tube 12 downstream, or the heat exchange tube 12 can be disposed upstream and the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 downstream. This embodiment is described using the example of the heat exchange tube 12 disposed upstream and the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 disposed downstream.

[0133] When the burner 11 is turned on, the heat generated by combustion is accumulated in the heat collecting cover 121, and the heat exchange tube 122 is coiled on the heat collecting cover 121. Therefore, the cold water entering from the water inlet pipe 13 can absorb heat when flowing through the heat exchange tube 12, and the temperature increases.

[0134] When the auxiliary heating module is turned on for heating, the refrigerant releases heat to the auxiliary heat collection cover 161 when circulating in the heat exchange coil 162, and the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 is arranged in the auxiliary heat collection cover 161. Therefore, the cold water entering from the water inlet pipe 13 enters the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 after flowing through the heat exchange tube 12, and can absorb the heat released by the heat exchange coil 162 in the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163, and the temperature increases.

[0135] The control device 15 controls the working states of the auxiliary heating module and the burner according to the water use state, that is, controls the auxiliary heating module to start or shut down, and controls the burner 11 to start or shut down according to whether water use is turned on.

[0136] The water use status is to detect whether the water use terminal is turned on for water use. There are many detection methods. For example, the water flow rate flowing through the water heater can be detected. When any water use point turns on water use (in this embodiment, turning on water use means that the water use point has a demand for hot water. If the water use point only turns on cold water, it does not belong to the water use situation of this embodiment, because when only cold water is turned on, the water does not flow through the water heater), water flows through the water heater. The water use status can be determined by detecting the water flow rate flowing through the water heater.

[0137] The water usage status can also be detected by separately detecting the opening status of each water point, and each water point sends its opening status to the water heater through wired communication or wireless communication.

[0138] In this embodiment, the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161 is preferably arranged above the heat collecting cover 121 , and one end of the heat exchange tube 122 is connected to the water inlet pipe 13 , and the other end is connected to the auxiliary heat exchange tube 163 .

[0139] In this embodiment, the auxiliary heating module and the heat exchanger 12 can be started for heating separately or simultaneously.

[0140] The auxiliary heat collecting hood 161 is arranged above the heat collecting hood 121, and the heat collecting hood 121 is arranged above the burner 11. The smoke collecting hood 18 is connected to the top of the auxiliary heat collecting hood 161. The smoke generated by the combustion of the burner 11 passes through the heat collecting hood 121 and the auxiliary heat collecting hood 161 in sequence and enters the smoke collecting hood 18, and then is discharged to the outdoors through the exhaust pipe (not shown in the figure) connected to the smoke collecting hood 18.

[0141] The auxiliary heating module achieves heating through circulating refrigerant, and this heating method has the advantage of precise temperature control. When the ambient temperature is slightly disturbed, the heating temperature can be precisely controlled. In order to reduce the impact of the hot flue gas entering the heat collecting cover 121 on the temperature in the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161 and improve the temperature control accuracy of the auxiliary heating module, an insulation layer 17 is provided between the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161 and the heat collecting cover 121 in this embodiment. The insulation layer 17 is provided with a through hole (not shown in the figure due to angle reasons) for connecting the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161 and the heat collecting cover 121. The insulation layer 17 is used to block heat from being transferred to the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161 above, reducing interference with the temperature in the auxiliary heat collecting cover 161, thereby improving the temperature control accuracy of the auxiliary heating module.

[0142] The through holes of the heat collecting cover 121 are used to allow the smoke generated by combustion to pass through.

[0143] In order to further increase the types of energy sources of the water heater, the hybrid energy water heater preferably further includes an electric heating module 19 , which utilizes the principle of electric heating to electrically heat the water flowing through it.

[0144] In this embodiment, the electric heating module 19 is preferably arranged downstream of the heat exchange tube 122 and the auxiliary heating module. When the water flowing into the electric heating module 19 does not reach the target heating temperature, the electric heating module 19 can heat the incoming water to reach the target heating temperature.

[0145] In this embodiment, the electric heating module 19 is preferably arranged downstream of the auxiliary heating module, with one end of the electric heating module connected to the water outlet end of the auxiliary heating module and the other end connected to the water outlet pipe.

[0146] When used in winter, due to the low ambient temperature, the water in the water pipes is easily frozen, making the water heater unusable. The hybrid energy water heater in this embodiment also includes an antifreeze module.

[0147] The antifreeze module includes a first temperature detection element 20 for detecting the temperature Td1 of the refrigerant in the auxiliary heat exchanger module and a second temperature detection element 21 for detecting the water temperature Td2 at the outlet of the auxiliary heating module. The control device 15 controls the execution of the antifreeze logic according to the detection results.

[0148] A water pump 22 is connected to the water inlet pipe 12 or the water outlet pipe 13. The hybrid energy water heater further includes a circulation pipe for connecting the water inlet pipe 12 and the water outlet pipe 13. The antifreeze logic in this embodiment can be implemented according to the solution described in the first embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0149] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, it is still possible for a person skilled in the art to modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or to replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions claimed to be protected by the present invention.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy heating control method, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Detect water usage status; When water use is detected, the set temperature Tse is detected, and a heating mode is selected according to the set temperature Tse. The heating mode includes any combination of gas heating, electric heating, and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating; When Tse>T1, start gas heating; When T2<Tse≤T1, start gas heating and auxiliary heat exchanger module heating; When Tj<Tse≤T2, start electric heating; Where Tj is the inlet water temperature, T1>T2>0; When starting gas heating, including the fire control method: The fire row consists of several sections according to the size of the fire; Determine the fire row that needs to be controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, as well as the temperature difference between the outlet water temperature Tc and the inlet water temperature Tj; The fire row includes at least section A, section B, section C, and section D in descending order of firepower; When Tse-Tj>T3, continue to determine the temperature difference between the inlet water temperature Tj and the outlet water temperature Tc: When Tc-Tj>T4, control the combustion of the D-section fire row; When Tc-Tj≤T4, control the combustion of the fire row in section C; When Tse-Tj≤T3, control the combustion of the fire row in section B; Among them, T3>T4>0.

2. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before starting gas heating, the following steps are also required to determine the ignition conditions: Detect the water flow through the water heater. When the water flow is not less than the set flow L1, ignite and start gas heating.

3. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fire grate control method also includes determining the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. When Tse-Tc≥T5, the currently burning fire grate is extinguished and the fire grate in section A is ignited.

4. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, including: When Tse-Tc≥T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at the rated power P; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a1 times the rated power; When T6≤Tse-Tc<T5, if Td1<Td2, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a2 times the rated power; otherwise, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a3 times the rated power; When Tse-Tc<T7, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to operate at a4 times the rated power, and the gas heating is turned off; Wherein, Td1 is the temperature of the refrigerant in the auxiliary heat exchanger module, Td2 is the outlet water temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, T5>T6>T7>0; 0<a4<a3<a2<a1<100%.

5. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 4, characterized in that: When Tse-Tc<T7, the auxiliary heating constant temperature control step is also included. The auxiliary heating constant temperature control step controls the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the outlet water temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the auxiliary heat exchanger module.

6. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: When Tse-Tc<T7, keep the current working state unchanged; When Tse-Tc>T8, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a5 times the rated power; When Tse-Tc>T9, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a6 times the rated power; When Tse-Tc>T10, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to a7 times the rated power; When Tse-Tc>T11, the auxiliary heat exchanger module is controlled to increase the power to the rated power; Among them, T7<T8<T9<T10<T11; a4<a5<a6<a7<100%.

7. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the electric heating is started, the heating power of the electric heating is controlled according to the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj. The greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the inlet water temperature Tj, the greater the heating power of the electric heating, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

8. The hybrid energy heating control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: During the electric heating process, when Tse-Tc<T7, it also includes starting the electric heating constant temperature control step; the greater the temperature difference between the set temperature Tse and the water outlet temperature Tc, the greater the heating power of the electric heating module, and the maximum does not exceed the rated power of the electric heating module.

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