Water heater

Abstract

The application discloses a water heater, which comprises a shell, a burner, a combustion chamber, a main heat exchanger, a gas supply pipe and a fan, and further comprises a condensation heat exchanger and a drainage assembly; the condensation heat exchanger comprises a shell and a heat exchange pipe, a bottom plate of the shell is provided with a flue gas inlet and a drainage joint, a top plate of the shell is further provided with a flue gas outlet, and the heat exchange pipe is arranged in the shell and located between the flue gas inlet and the flue gas outlet; the drainage assembly comprises a condensate water collecting tank, a water level sensor, a drainage pipe and a heating and pressurizing module; the heating and pressurizing module comprises a gas tank, an electric heating component, a one-way valve and an electric control valve; a first air inlet cavity and a second air inlet cavity are formed at intervals at the bottom of the combustion chamber, the fan comprises a first fan and a second fan, and the gas supply pipe is located in the first air inlet cavity. The use reliability of the gas water heater is improved, and the requirement of automatic condensate water drainage is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular relates to a water heater. Background Technology

[0002] Water heaters are currently common household appliances. They are categorized into gas water heaters and electric water heaters, with gas water heaters being widely used due to their convenience. A typical gas water heater consists of a burner, combustion chamber, heat exchanger, and fume hood. The burner burns gas in the combustion chamber to heat the water flowing through the heat exchanger, while the flue gas is discharged outdoors through a fan in the fume hood.

[0003] After the initial heat exchange in a gas water heater, medium-temperature flue gas typically occurs at around 180℃. This flue gas has a high content of CO2 and NOx, and also contains water vapor with a high heat energy content. Direct emission of this gas not only pollutes the environment but also results in significant heat loss. Gas water heaters utilize a condensing heat exchanger for secondary heat exchange, preheating the water, recovering the latent heat of the medium-temperature flue gas, improving gas utilization, and significantly reducing the temperature of the flue gas discharged from the unit. Because the water vapor in the medium-temperature flue gas condenses into liquid condensate while releasing latent heat, and acidic gases such as CO2 and NOx in the flue gas dissolve in the condensate, making it corrosive, the condensate from the secondary heat exchange needs to be collected and treated centrally.

[0004] Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 217685851 U discloses a gas water heater that collects condensate in a condensate container and pumps it to a spray nozzle, which then sprays the condensate into the exhaust pipe to be discharged with the flue gas. However, the pump can be damaged by corrosion from the condensate over time, leading to reduced reliability. Therefore, the technical problem this invention aims to solve is how to design a gas water heater with high reliability that effectively discharges condensate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a water heater that improves the reliability of gas water heaters and meets the requirements for automatic condensate drainage.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a water heater, including a shell, a burner, a combustion chamber, a main heat exchanger, a gas supply pipe and a fan, wherein a flue is provided outside the shell, and the water heater also includes a condensing heat exchanger and a drainage assembly.

[0008] The condensing heat exchanger includes a shell and heat exchange tubes. The bottom plate of the shell is provided with a flue gas inlet and a drain connector, and the top plate of the shell is also provided with a flue gas outlet. The heat exchange tubes are disposed in the shell and located between the flue gas inlet and the flue gas outlet.

[0009] A drainage assembly includes a condensate collection tank, a water level sensor, a drain pipe, and a heating and pressurizing module. The heating and pressurizing module includes a gas tank, an electric heating element, a one-way valve, and an electrically controlled valve. The electric heating element is located on the gas tank, the one-way valve is located at the inlet of the gas tank, and the electrically controlled valve is located at the outlet of the gas tank. The condensate collection tank is provided with a condensate inlet, a condensate outlet, and a pressurizing air inlet. The water level sensor is arranged in the condensate collection tank. The drain pipe is connected to the condensate outlet, and the electrically controlled valve is connected to the pressurizing air inlet.

[0010] The bottom of the combustion chamber forms a first air inlet chamber and a second air inlet chamber, the fan includes a first fan and a second fan, and the gas supply pipe is located in the first air inlet chamber;

[0011] The combustion chamber and the fan are housed within the outer casing. The burner is located within the combustion chamber, and the main heat exchanger is positioned above the combustion chamber. The casing is located on top of the combustion chamber and covers the main heat exchanger. The first fan is connected to the first air inlet chamber, and the second fan is connected to the second air inlet chamber. The flue gas outlet pipe is connected to the flue gas outlet, and the drain connector is connected to the condensate inlet. The drain pipe extends into the flue gas outlet pipe, and the one-way valve is connected to the air outlet side of the first fan via a gas pipe.

[0012] By adding an additional drainage component, the condensate collection tank within the drainage component can temporarily store the condensate discharged from the casing. When the condensate in the collection tank accumulates to a certain amount, a water level sensor detects the water level signal, triggering the heating and pressurizing module to start. The gas tank in the heating and pressurizing module uses a one-way valve to inject airflow at a certain pressure generated by the fan, and further heats the gas tank through an electric heating element to form a higher-pressure gas. When it is necessary to discharge the condensate in the collection tank, the electric control valve opens, increasing the overall gas pressure in the collection tank due to the high-pressure airflow output by the heating and pressurizing module. Finally, under the action of the gas pressure, the condensate in the collection tank is forced into the drain pipe and ultimately discharged outdoors through the flue pipe. This satisfies the requirement of eliminating the need for manual condensate handling by the user and avoids equipment damage caused by condensate corrosion during prolonged use, thus improving the reliability of the gas water heater and meeting the requirements for automatic condensate discharge.

[0013] In addition, by configuring two independent fans, the airflow output by the first fan forms primary air to mix with the gas and enter the burner for combustion, while the airflow output by the second fan forms secondary air to enter the combustion chamber to assist the burner for combustion. In this way, during actual use, the two fans can be independently adjusted according to the CO content in the flue gas to precisely control the ratio of primary and secondary air, thereby ensuring complete combustion of gas and reducing the energy consumption of the gas water heater.

[0014] In one embodiment of this application, the electric heating component is a thick film wrapped around the outside of the gas tank.

[0015] In one embodiment of this application, the electric heating component is an electric heating tube inserted into the gas tank.

[0016] In one embodiment of this application, the gas tank is further provided with a pressure sensor, which is configured to trigger the electric heating component to turn off the power; the water level sensor is configured to trigger the electric heating component to turn on the power.

[0017] In one embodiment of this application, a ventilation plate and a partition are provided in the combustion chamber, and a plurality of ventilation openings are provided on the partition. The partition and the ventilation plate are spaced apart at the bottom of the combustion chamber to form a first air inlet cavity and a second air inlet cavity.

[0018] In one embodiment of this application, the ventilation plate includes a first ventilation plate and a second ventilation plate. The second ventilation plate is provided with a plurality of second ventilation holes. The second ventilation plate is located below the ventilation opening, and the first ventilation plate is located above the ventilation opening.

[0019] In one embodiment of this application, the interior of the condensate collection tank is provided with an overflow plate, which divides the interior of the condensate collection tank into a first cavity and a second cavity. The condensate inlet is arranged at the top of the condensate collection tank and communicates with the first cavity, and the condensate outlet is arranged at the bottom of the condensate collection tank and communicates with the second cavity.

[0020] In one embodiment of this application, an overflow port is formed between the overflow plate and the top of the condensate collection tank; a one-way valve plate is provided in the condensate collection tank, the top of the one-way valve plate is rotatably disposed in the condensate collection tank and located above the overflow plate, and the one-way valve plate is configured to overlap the overflow plate after pressurized gas is injected into the second cavity to close the overflow port.

[0021] In one embodiment of this application, a first air guide plate is provided in the housing, the first air guide plate covers the bottom of the flue gas outlet, a gap is formed between the first air guide plate and the flue gas outlet, the fixed end of the first air guide plate is provided on the inner wall of the housing, the free end of the first air guide plate is provided with a downwardly extending flange structure, and the heat exchange tube is located below the first air guide plate.

[0022] In one embodiment of this application, a second air guide plate is provided in the housing. The second air guide plate covers the top of the flue gas inlet and is located below the first air guide plate. A plurality of second ventilation holes are provided on the second air guide plate. The heat exchange tube is located between the second air guide plate and the flange structure.

[0023] In one embodiment of this application, a gas collection hood is further included. The top of the gas collection hood is provided with a communication port. The gas collection hood is disposed at the bottom of the housing. The communication port is connected to the flue gas inlet. The gas collection hood is disposed at the top of the combustion chamber and covers the main heat exchanger. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the gas water heater of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the condenser heat exchanger in one embodiment of the gas water heater of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 One of the structural schematic diagrams of the condensate collection tank;

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the condensate collection tank (Part 2);

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Longitudinal sectional view of the main heat exchanger;

[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle;

[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a portion of region B in the middle;

[0032] Figure 8 for Figure 1 Longitudinal sectional view of the main heat exchanger;

[0033] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of a portion of region C in the middle;

[0034] Figure 10 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of a central condenser heat exchanger;

[0035] Figure 11 for Figure 2 Partial cross-sectional view of a central condenser heat exchanger;

[0036] Figure 12 for Figure 2 Exploded view of a central condenser heat exchanger.

[0037] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0038] Outer casing 1, inlet pipe 11, outlet pipe 12;

[0039] Burner 2, gas supply pipe 21;

[0040] Main heat exchanger 3, end plate 32, bypass pipe 33, fins 34;

[0041] Combustion chamber 4, front panel 401, rear panel 402, extension 403;

[0042] Partition 41, First ventilation panel 42, Second ventilation panel 43, First panel 44, Second panel 45, Third panel 46;

[0043] First ventilation hole 421, upper folded edge 422, outward folded edge 423, third ventilation hole 424, second ventilation hole 431, outward folded edge 441, lower folded edge 442, fourth ventilation hole 443;

[0044] Fan 5, First Fan 51, Second Fan 52;

[0045] Condensing heat exchanger 6;

[0046] 61. Shell 61; heat exchange tube 62; drain connector 63;

[0047] Smoke outlet duct 7;

[0048] Drainage component 8;

[0049] Condensate collection tank 81, drain pipe 82, heating and pressurizing module 83;

[0050] Condensate inlet 811, condensate outlet 812, booster air inlet 813, overflow plate 814, one-way valve plate 815;

[0051] Gas tank 831, electric heating component 832, one-way valve 833, electric control valve 834. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0053] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," which indicate directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional 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 element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0054] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0055] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0056] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0057] A gas water heater is a type of water heater that uses gas as its primary energy source. It produces hot water by transferring the high-temperature heat generated by the combustion of gas to cold water flowing through a heat exchanger.

[0058] Gas water heaters typically include an outer casing, as well as components such as a burner, heat exchanger, fan, and fume hood housed within the casing.

[0059] In this process, the gas is delivered to the burner, where it is ignited by an ignition device, so that the burner can burn the delivered gas and generate heat.

[0060] The heat exchanger is equipped with heat exchange tubes. One end of the heat exchange tubes is connected to the water supply pipe, and the other end of the heat exchange tubes is connected to a shower head or faucet.

[0061] The heat generated by the burner burning the gas is used to heat the heat exchange tubes, thereby raising the temperature of the water inside the heat exchange tubes to form hot water.

[0062] When a gas water heater is working, cold water supplied by the water supply pipe flows into the heat exchange tube, and is then heated into hot water by the heat source generated by the burner. The hot water then flows out from the shower head or faucet through the hot water valve for the user's use.

[0063] At the same time, when the gas water heater is working, the fan is powered on and running simultaneously. Under the action of the fan, the flue gas generated by the burner is discharged outdoors.

[0064] Example 1, as Figures 1-9 As shown, this embodiment proposes a gas water heater, including:

[0065] The outer casing 1 is provided with a water inlet pipe 11 and a water outlet pipe 12, and a smoke outlet pipe 7 is also provided on the outside of the outer casing;

[0066] Burner 2 is used to burn fuel gas;

[0067] Main heat exchanger 3;

[0068] Combustion chamber 4;

[0069] The condenser heat exchanger 6 consists of a shell 61 and a heat exchange tube 62. The shell 61 is provided with a flue gas inlet 611 and a flue gas outlet 612. The heat exchange tube 62 is disposed in the shell 61 and located between the flue gas inlet 611 and the flue gas outlet 612. A drain connector 63 is also provided on the bottom plate of the shell 61 to drain the condensate in the shell 61.

[0070] Fan 5, the fan is configured to drive air into the combustion chamber and cause the flue gas generated in the combustion chamber to be output from the exhaust port;

[0071] The drainage assembly 8 includes a condensate collection tank 81, a water level sensor (not shown), a drain pipe 82, and a heating and pressurizing module 83. The heating and pressurizing module includes a gas tank 831, an electric heating element 832, a one-way valve 833, and an electric control valve 834. The electric heating element is located on the gas tank, the one-way valve is located at the inlet of the gas tank, and the electric control valve is located at the outlet of the gas tank. The condensate collection tank 81 is provided with a condensate inlet 811, a condensate outlet 812, and a pressurizing air inlet 813. The water level sensor is arranged in the condensate collection tank 81. The drain pipe 82 is connected to the condensate outlet 812, and the air outlet of the gas tank 831 is connected to the pressurizing air inlet 813 through the electric control valve 834.

[0072] Combustion chamber 4, main heat exchanger 3 and burner 2 are disposed in outer shell 1. Burner 2 is arranged at the bottom of combustion chamber 4 and is equipped with air inlet. Burner 2 is used to burn gas. Main heat exchanger 3 is arranged at the top of combustion chamber 4. Gas supply pipe 21 is provided with multiple jet nozzles. Gas supply pipe 21 extends into combustion chamber 4 and supplies gas to burner 2 through air inlet via jet nozzles.

[0073] The housing 61 is located at the top of the combustion chamber and covers the main heat exchanger. The flue gas outlet pipe is connected to the flue gas outlet. The drain connector is connected to the condensate inlet. The drain pipe extends into the flue gas outlet pipe. The water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the main heat exchanger 3 through the heat exchange pipe.

[0074] Specifically, for the condensing heat exchanger 6, the flue gas collected by the flue gas outlet pipe 7 is introduced into and output from the flue gas outlet pipe 7 through the shell 61. At the same time, the heat exchange tubes inside the shell 61 are connected to the water inlet side of the main heat exchanger 3, so that the water entering the main heat exchanger 3 can flow into the heat exchange tubes to be preheated by the flue gas.

[0075] The shell 61 of the condenser heat exchanger 6 is connected to the flue gas outlet pipe 7, so that the flue gas can be output to the outside through the shell 61 and then through the flue gas outlet pipe 7. In addition, the heat exchange tubes installed in the shell 61 can preheat the cold water flowing into the main heat exchanger 3, so as to make full use of the waste heat of the flue gas to heat the water flowing in the heat exchange tubes, thereby improving the utilization rate of gas heat.

[0076] During use, the condenser heat exchanger 6 will generate condensate. The condensate is collected in the shell 61 and flows by gravity through the drain connector 63 at the bottom to the condensate collection tank 81 at the bottom, so as to collect and temporarily store the condensate.

[0077] During user operation, the amount of condensate stored in the condensate collection tank 81 gradually increases, and the water level in the condensate collection tank 81 is detected by a water level sensor. When the water level in the condensate collection tank 81 exceeds the set value, the water level sensor feeds back the detected signal to the controller configured in the gas water heater, and the controller triggers the drainage component 8 to start and drain the condensate collection tank 81.

[0078] The specific process is as follows: The water level sensor detects that the condensate level in the condensate collection tank 81 exceeds the set value and sends a signal to the controller. The controller then activates the heating and pressurizing module 83 based on the signal. During normal operation of the gas water heater, the fan 5 pressurizes some air and inputs it into the gas tank 831 via the one-way valve 833, resulting in a certain amount of pressurized gas stored in the tank. After the heating and pressurizing module 83 is activated, the electric heating element 832 is energized to heat the gas stored in the tank 831. Once the gas reaches a certain temperature, the electric control valve 834 opens. At this time, the gas pressure in the tank 831 increases due to the increased temperature. After the electric control valve 834 opens, the high-pressure gas in the tank 831 enters the condensate collection tank 81, causing a sudden increase in pressure within the tank. Under this pressure, the condensate in the tank flows upward along the drain pipe 82 and is eventually discharged outdoors through the flue pipe 7, thus achieving automatic condensate drainage.

[0079] Instead of directly adding a water pump to the condensate collection tank 81 to discharge condensate, it uses externally injected gas to increase the internal air pressure, thereby using the air pressure to force the condensate out of the outer shell. This avoids condensate corrosion of components and drainage failure, thus improving reliability.

[0080] In addition, to precisely control the supply of primary and secondary air and facilitate adjustment of their ratio, the blower 5 includes a first blower 51 and a second blower 52, which together form an air supply assembly. The first blower 51 outputs airflow to form primary air, which mixes with the combustion gas in the burner 2. The second blower 52 outputs airflow directly into the combustion chamber of the combustion chamber to form secondary air to assist combustion.

[0081] Correspondingly, a partition 41 is vertically installed inside the combustion chamber 4. The partition 41 has multiple ventilation openings (unmarked). A first ventilation plate 42 is installed on one side of the partition 41, and a second ventilation plate 43 is installed on the other side of the partition 41. The first ventilation plate 42 has several first ventilation holes 421, and the second ventilation plate 43 has several second ventilation holes 431. The second ventilation plate 43 is located below the ventilation openings, and the first ventilation plate 42 is located above the ventilation openings. A first air inlet (unmarked) and a second air inlet (unmarked) are provided at the bottom of the combustion chamber 4. The partition 41 is spaced between the first air inlet and the second air inlet. The first air inlet is located below the first ventilation plate 42, and the second air inlet is located below the second ventilation plate 43.

[0082] The burner 2 is disposed in the combustion chamber 4 and above the second ventilation plate 43. The air inlet is connected to the ventilation port. The gas supply pipe 21 is disposed in the combustion chamber 4 and below the first ventilation plate 42. The jet nozzle is arranged opposite to the corresponding ventilation port. The partition 41 is located between the burner 2 and the gas supply pipe 21. The second fan 52 is connected to the second air inlet. The first fan 51 is connected to the first air inlet.

[0083] The first ventilation plate 42 forms a first air inlet cavity at the bottom of the combustion chamber 4 on the other side of the partition 41, and the second ventilation plate 43 forms a second air inlet cavity at the bottom of the combustion chamber 4 on one side of the partition 41; the gas supply pipe 21 is located in the first air inlet cavity. During use, the airflow output by the first fan 51 enters the first air inlet cavity, and the airflow enters the burner 2 through the ventilation port to form primary air. The primary air mixes with the gas output from the nozzle of the gas supply pipe 21 in the burner 2 and is finally output for ignition and combustion.

[0084] The airflow output by the second fan 52 enters the second air inlet cavity and enters the combustion cavity through a number of second ventilation holes 431 on the second ventilation plate 43 to form secondary air. The secondary air is delivered upward from the bottom of the burner 2 to assist the ignited gas in burning fully in the combustion cavity.

[0085] Since the airflow output by the first fan 51 and the second fan 52 is independent of each other, the speed of the first fan 51 and the second fan 52 can be controlled independently, thereby precisely adjusting the ratio of primary and secondary air.

[0086] Furthermore, the first vent on the first ventilation plate 42 can deliver a portion of the airflow generated by the first fan 51 into the combustion chamber to form tertiary air. The first vent allows for pressure relief of the airflow generated by the first fan 51, better buffering the pressure impact caused by independent airflow within the burner 2. When the first fan 51 starts or its speed is adjusted, it ensures that all the combustion gas enters the burner 2 to participate in combustion, ensuring reliable operation of the burner 2.

[0087] By adding an additional drainage component, the condensate collection tank within the drainage component can temporarily store the condensate discharged from the casing. Once the condensate in the collection tank reaches a certain level, a water level sensor detects the water level signal, triggering the airflow booster module to start. The airflow booster module generates a certain pressure and inputs it into the condensate collection tank. The high-pressure airflow output by the airflow booster module increases the overall air pressure inside the condensate collection tank. Finally, under the action of air pressure, the condensate in the collection tank is forced into the drain pipe and ultimately discharged outdoors through the flue pipe. This satisfies the requirement of eliminating the need for manual condensate handling by the user and avoids equipment damage caused by condensate corrosion during prolonged use, thus improving the reliability of the gas water heater and meeting the requirements for automatic condensate drainage.

[0088] By configuring two independent fans, the airflow output by the first fan forms primary air to mix with the gas and enter the burner for combustion, while the airflow output by the second fan forms secondary air to enter the combustion chamber to assist the burner for combustion. In this way, during actual use, the two fans can be independently adjusted according to the CO content in the flue gas to precisely control the ratio of primary and secondary air, thereby ensuring complete combustion of gas and reducing the energy consumption of the gas water heater.

[0089] Furthermore, by employing two fans to increase the overall airflow, the additional air resistance generated when flue gas enters the condenser heat exchanger 6 is overcome, thus satisfying both the normal secondary heat exchange between the flue gas and the condenser heat exchanger 6 and the smooth output of the airflow.

[0090] Preferably, to more thoroughly drain the condensate from the condensate collection tank 81 and shorten the start-up time of the heating and pressurizing module 83 to reduce energy consumption, a siphon pipe (not shown) can be added to the inlet of the drain pipe 82. The siphon pipe is connected to the drain pipe 82 and extends to the outside through the smoke outlet pipe 7. The free end of the siphon pipe is lower than the height of the condensate outlet 812 on the condensate collection tank 81. In this way, once the condensate in the condensate collection tank 81 is discharged from the siphon pipe through the drain pipe 82, the siphon pipe can continuously draw condensate from the condensate collection tank 81 using the siphon principle. Therefore, during the condensate drainage process, the heating and pressurizing module 83 does not need to work continuously to reduce energy consumption, and the siphon action can more thoroughly and effectively drain the condensate from the condensate collection tank 81.

[0091] In one embodiment, in order to compact the internal structure within the housing 1, the second fan 52 and the first fan 51 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the housing 1.

[0092] Specifically, the first fan 51 and the second fan 52 are arranged side by side in the outer casing 1, which makes full use of the thickness space of the outer casing 1 to install the first fan 51 and the second fan 52 at the same time, making the internal structure more compact to meet the requirements of miniaturized design of gas water heaters.

[0093] In another embodiment, in order to ensure the proportional distribution of secondary and tertiary air, the area of ​​the second ventilation plate 43 is larger than the area of ​​the first ventilation plate 42; and the opening ratio of the second ventilation plate 43 is greater than that of the first ventilation plate 42.

[0094] Specifically, the first ventilation plate 42 has a smaller area and a lower opening ratio, so that most of the airflow generated by the first fan 51 enters the burner 2 to form primary air. The second ventilation plate 43 has a larger area and a higher opening ratio, to ensure that the airflow generated by the second fan 52 can be evenly distributed and smoothly enter the combustion chamber of the combustion chamber 4.

[0095] In another embodiment of this application, in order to reduce the heat transfer from the inside of the combustion chamber 4 to the outside, especially to avoid severe baking of the front panel of the outer casing 1, a first plate 44 is provided on the inner side of the front panel of the combustion chamber 4, and a first air gap (not marked) is formed between the first plate 44 and the front panel. A first ventilation plate 42 is provided with an upper folded edge 422 near the edge of the front panel, and an outward flange 423 is provided at the top of the upper folded edge 422. At least one row of third ventilation holes 424 is also provided on the outward flange 423.

[0096] The edge of the outward flange 423 abuts against the inner surface of the front panel, the lower edge of the first plate 44 is located above the outward flange 423, and the third ventilation hole 424 is configured to blow air toward the first air gap.

[0097] Specifically, the high-temperature flue gas generated by the combustion of burner 2 in combustion chamber 4 will radiate heat outward due to heat conduction. In particular, the front panel of the outer casing 1 is usually a decorative panel and needs to be protected from prolonged high-temperature baking. By setting a first plate 44 inside combustion chamber 4, the first plate 44 and the front panel of combustion chamber 4 form a first air gap. Furthermore, the airflow generated by the first fan 51 is further output through the third through hole and enters the first air gap to form a cold air insulation layer, thereby achieving the effect of heat insulation.

[0098] Since the first fan 51 independently delivers airflow into the first air intake cavity, it ensures that the third through hole can output enough airflow to achieve cold air isolation, thereby optimizing the heat insulation effect.

[0099] In one embodiment, the lower edge of the first plate 44 is provided with an outer folded edge 441, the edge of the outer folded edge 441 is provided with a lower flange 442, the bottom of the lower flange 442 is attached to the upper folded edge 422, and the outer folded edge 441 covers the top of the third ventilation hole 424.

[0100] Specifically, the outer folded edge 441 and the lower folded edge 442 work together to ensure that the airflow output from the third ventilation hole 424 is primarily used to form an air barrier at the first plate 44. In a preferred embodiment, the outer folded edge 441 is provided with multiple fourth ventilation holes 443. During use, a portion of the airflow output from the third ventilation hole 424 is directly transported to the surface of the first plate 44 outside the first air gap via the fourth ventilation hole 443 to form a first layer of cold air barrier. The remaining airflow output from the third ventilation hole 424 enters the first air gap to form a second layer of cold air barrier, thereby more effectively improving the heat insulation capacity.

[0101] Similarly, a second plate 45 is provided on the inner side of the rear plate of the combustion chamber 4, and a second air gap is formed between the second plate and the rear plate. The edge of the second ventilation plate 43 is attached to the rear plate, and the bottom of the second plate 45 is attached to the second ventilation plate 43. The second ventilation hole 431 at the rear edge of the second ventilation plate 43 is also configured to blow air into the second air gap.

[0102] Specifically, for the back of the outer casing 1, in order to reduce heat leakage, a second air interlayer is formed between the second plate 45 and the rear plate of the combustion chamber 4, and air is supplied through the corresponding second ventilation hole 431 at the bottom to form a cold air isolation layer.

[0103] Similarly, the inner liner of each side plate of the combustion chamber 4 is provided with a third plate 46, and a third air gap is formed between the upper plate and the corresponding side plate; the second ventilation holes 431 at the two sides of the second ventilation plate 43 are also configured to blow air into the third air gap, and the first ventilation holes 421 at the two sides of the first ventilation plate 42 are also configured to blow air into the third air gap.

[0104] By setting an air-jacketed zone around the combustion chamber 4, the low thermal conductivity of the air in the air-jacketed zone effectively reduces heat transfer to the side walls of the combustion chamber 4, ultimately reducing heat transfer to the outer shell 1. Simultaneously, because the air in the air-jacketed zone is heated, the principle of hot air rising allows cold air from the bottom to quickly flow into the air-jacketed zone 100, effectively carrying away heat and further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0105] In one embodiment of this application, the condensing heat exchanger 6 is arranged on one side of the flue gas duct 7.

[0106] Specifically, by arranging the condenser heat exchanger 6 on one side of the flue gas duct 7, the internal space inside the outer casing 1 is fully utilized to install and distribute various functional components, thereby improving space utilization.

[0107] In one embodiment of this application, the smoke outlet is provided on the side of the smoke outlet pipe 7, and the smoke outlet is connected to the communication port through a horizontally arranged flue.

[0108] Specifically, by providing the exhaust port on the side of the exhaust pipe 7, it is convenient to connect the exhaust pipe to the housing 61 on one side, so that the flue gas can be quickly transported from the exhaust pipe 7 to the housing 61.

[0109] In another embodiment of this application, the electric heating component is a thick film wrapped around the outside of the gas tank; or, the electric heating component is an electric heating tube inserted into the gas tank.

[0110] In some embodiments, the gas tank is also equipped with a pressure sensor (not shown), which is configured to trigger the electric heating element to de-energize; the water level sensor is configured to trigger the electric heating element to energize.

[0111] Specifically, during use, the airflow pressure generated by the fan 5 is limited and cannot meet the pressure requirements for condensate discharge. Therefore, it is necessary to heat the gas tank 831 to increase the gas pressure. To improve safety and reliability, during the heating process, when the gas pressure in the gas tank 831 exceeds the set pressure, the electric heating component 832 will cut off the power and stop heating. At the same time, the electric control valve 834 will open, allowing the high-pressure gas in the gas tank 831 to enter the condensate collection tank 81.

[0112] In some embodiments of this application, an overflow plate 814 is provided inside the condensate collection tank 81. The overflow plate 814 divides the interior of the condensate collection tank 81 into a first cavity and a second cavity. A condensate inlet 811 is arranged at the top of the condensate collection tank 81 and connects to the first cavity, and a condensate outlet 812 is arranged at the bottom of the condensate collection tank 81 and connects to the second cavity.

[0113] Specifically, an overflow plate 814 is installed inside the condensate collection tank 81 to form two interconnected chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber. A downward-extending extension pipe (unmarked) is formed from the condensate inlet 811. This extension pipe's opening is sealed by a water seal as condensate flows into the first chamber, reducing the amount of flue gas entering the condensate collection tank 81. A water level sensor is located in the second chamber to monitor the water level. Since the volume of the first chamber is smaller than the second chamber, the condensate level in the first chamber rises above the overflow plate 84, causing the condensate to primarily accumulate in the second chamber. During the condensate drainage process, airflow generated by the gas tank 831 is injected into the second chamber to utilize air pressure to drain the condensate.

[0114] In another embodiment, an overflow port is formed between the overflow plate 814 and the top of the condensate collection tank 81; a one-way valve plate 815 is provided in the condensate collection tank 81, the top of the one-way valve plate 815 is rotatably disposed in the condensate collection tank 81 and located above the overflow plate 814, and the one-way valve plate 815 is configured to overlap the overflow plate 814 to close the overflow port after pressurized gas is injected into the second cavity.

[0115] Specifically, in order to reduce the pressure loss in the second chamber due to the connection with the first chamber during the process of discharging condensate using air pressure, a one-way valve plate 815 is additionally configured in the condensate collection tank 81. The one-way valve plate 815 can be flipped open towards the second chamber.

[0116] During use, condensate overflows from the first chamber, opening the one-way valve plate 815 and flowing into the second chamber. After the gas tank 831 injects air into the second chamber, the one-way valve plate 815 will be tightly pressed against the upper edge of the overflow plate 814 under the action of air pressure, so as to close the overflow port and ensure that there is enough air pressure in the second chamber to force the condensate out.

[0117] Example 2, based on Example 1 above, in order to improve the heat exchange efficiency of heat exchanger 6 and further fully utilize the waste heat of flue gas, such as... Figures 10-12As shown, a first air guide plate 64 is provided in the housing 61. The first air guide plate 64 covers the bottom of the flue gas outlet 612 and forms a gap between the first air guide plate 64 and the flue gas outlet 612. The fixed end of the first air guide plate 64 is provided on the inner wall of the housing 61, and the free end of the first air guide plate 64 is provided with a downwardly extending flange structure 641. The heat exchange tube 62 is located below the first air guide plate 64.

[0118] Specifically, during actual assembly, the heat exchange tube 62 is placed inside the casing 61 and positioned below the first air guide plate 64. During use, the condensing heat exchanger is installed inside the casing of the gas water heater and located above the combustion chamber. The high-temperature flue gas generated by the combustion of gas in the combustion chamber enters the casing 61 through the flue gas inlet 611.

[0119] The high-temperature flue gas entering the casing 61 exchanges heat with the heat exchange tubes 62. However, the high-temperature flue gas is blocked by the first guide plate 64 and cannot be directly discharged from the top flue gas outlet 612. Under the action of the first guide plate 64, the flue gas is confined to the bottom of the first guide plate 64, thus allowing the flue gas to fully exchange heat with the heat exchange tubes 62. Furthermore, the free end of the first guide plate 64 is equipped with a downward-extending flange structure 641. This flange structure 641 forces the flue gas entering the casing 61 to bypass the lower edge of the flange structure 641 before being discharged from the flue gas outlet 612, thereby maximizing the heat exchange time between the flue gas and the heat exchange tubes 62.

[0120] By installing a first air guide plate in the casing to block the flue gas outlet below, and also installing a flanged structure on the first air guide plate, during use, the flue gas enters the casing through the flue gas inlet and comes into contact with the heat exchange tube below the first air guide plate for heat exchange. As the flue gas rises, it is restricted by the first air guide plate and further restricted by the flanged structure, causing the flue gas to have a downward flow tendency in the casing. In this way, the flue gas can fully exchange heat with the heat exchange tube below the first air guide plate, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condensing heat exchanger and reducing the energy consumption of the gas water heater.

[0121] In another embodiment, the heat exchange tube 62 has a corrugated tube structure. Specifically, the heat exchange tube 62 can be composed of three or more layers of stainless steel corrugated tubes coiled together, with each layer of coils connected in parallel to reduce overall water resistance.

[0122] In one embodiment of this application, the first air guide plate 64 extends downward at an angle from the fixed end toward the free end.

[0123] Specifically, in order to reduce the wind resistance to the flue gas and guide the flue gas to flow smoothly in the housing 61, the first guide plate 64 is arranged at an angle in the housing 61. The fixed end of the first guide plate 64 is positioned relatively high. After the flue gas enters the housing 61, it will flow along the first guide plate 64 towards the flange structure 641, and finally bypass the flange structure 641 and rise to the top of the housing 61 to be discharged from the flue gas outlet 612.

[0124] In another embodiment, a plurality of first ventilation holes 642 are provided on the first air guide plate 64, and the first ventilation holes 642 are far away from the fixed end of the first air guide plate 64.

[0125] Specifically, in order to more effectively reduce wind resistance and ensure smooth output of flue gas, several first ventilation holes 642 are provided on the first air guide plate 64. During use, some flue gas can pass through the first ventilation holes 642 and be discharged, while the remaining flue gas bypasses the bottom of the flange structure 641 and flows to the flue gas outlet 612.

[0126] In some embodiments, the first ventilation hole 642 may be formed on the flange structure 641; and / or the first ventilation hole 642 may be formed at the free end of the first air guide plate 64.

[0127] In another embodiment of this application, a second air guide plate 65 is provided in the housing 61. The second air guide plate 65 covers the flue gas inlet 611 and is located below the first air guide plate 64. A plurality of second ventilation holes 651 are provided on the second air guide plate 65. The heat exchange tube 62 is located between the second air guide plate 65 and the flange structure 641.

[0128] Specifically, in order to effectively disperse the flue gas entering the shell 61 and distribute it more evenly to each position of the heat exchange tube 62, a second air guide plate 65 is additionally configured in the shell 61. The second air guide plate 65 covers the flue gas inlet 611. In this way, after the flue gas enters through the flue gas inlet 611, it will be output from the second ventilation hole 651 and flow laterally to one side of the heat exchange tube 62. This will evenly distribute the flue gas flow to the heat exchange tube 62 in the height direction, thereby more effectively improving the heat exchange uniformity of the heat exchange tube 62.

[0129] In one embodiment, the second air guide plate 65 has an inverted U-shaped structure, and a second ventilation hole 651 is provided on the side of the second air guide plate 65 adjacent to the heat exchange tube 62.

[0130] Specifically, the second air guide plate 65 with an inverted U-shaped structure can effectively cover the top of the flue gas inlet 611. The second air guide plate 65 forms a buffer zone for the flue gas to enter the housing 61. Furthermore, the second ventilation hole 651 formed on one side of the second air guide plate 65 is adjacent to the heat exchange tube 62, which can ensure that the output flue gas directly enters the area where the heat exchange tube 62 is located, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0131] In one embodiment, the flue gas inlet 611 is located below the fixed end of the first air guide plate 64, and the second air guide plate 65 covers the flue gas inlet 611.

[0132] Specifically, the flue gas output from the second ventilation hole 651 will be transported towards the flange structure 641. During the transport process, the flue gas rises and flows onto the first guide plate 64. The flue gas is guided by the inclined first guide plate 64, which ensures that the flue gas can exchange heat evenly with the heat exchange tube 62 and also ensures that the flue gas flows smoothly in the shell 61 to reduce the impact of wind resistance and ensure smooth exhaust.

[0133] In one embodiment of this application, a gas collection hood 66 is further included. The top of the gas collection hood 66 is provided with a communication port 661. The gas collection hood 66 is disposed at the bottom of the housing 61, and the communication port 661 is connected to the flue gas inlet 611.

[0134] Specifically, in order to better collect the flue gas generated in the combustion chamber of the gas water heater, a gas collection hood 66 is configured at the bottom of the housing 61. The gas collection hood 66 can better cooperate with the top of the combustion chamber to collect the flue gas and guide the flue gas into the housing 61.

[0135] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A water heater, comprising a casing, a burner, a combustion chamber, a main heat exchanger, a gas supply pipe, and a fan, wherein a flue gas outlet pipe is provided outside the casing, characterized in that, Also includes: Condensing heat exchanger and drainage assembly; The condensing heat exchanger includes a shell and heat exchange tubes. The bottom plate of the shell is provided with a flue gas inlet and a drain connector, and the top plate of the shell is also provided with a flue gas outlet. The heat exchange tubes are disposed in the shell and located between the flue gas inlet and the flue gas outlet. A drainage assembly includes a condensate collection tank, a water level sensor, a drain pipe, and a heating and pressurizing module. The heating and pressurizing module includes a gas tank, an electric heating element, a one-way valve, and an electrically controlled valve. The electric heating element is located on the gas tank, the one-way valve is located at the inlet of the gas tank, and the electrically controlled valve is located at the outlet of the gas tank. The condensate collection tank is provided with a condensate inlet, a condensate outlet, and a pressurizing air inlet. The water level sensor is arranged in the condensate collection tank. The drain pipe is connected to the condensate outlet, and the electrically controlled valve is connected to the pressurizing air inlet. The bottom of the combustion chamber forms a first air inlet chamber and a second air inlet chamber, the fan includes a first fan and a second fan, and the gas supply pipe is located in the first air inlet chamber; The combustion chamber and the fan are disposed in the outer casing. The burner is located in the combustion chamber. The main heat exchanger is disposed in the upper part of the combustion chamber. The casing is disposed on the top of the combustion chamber and covers the main heat exchanger. The first fan is connected to the first air inlet cavity, and the second fan is connected to the second air inlet cavity. The flue gas outlet is connected to the flue gas outlet. The drain connector is connected to the condensate inlet. The drain pipe extends into the flue gas outlet. The one-way valve is connected to the air outlet side of the first fan through a gas pipe. The combustion chamber is provided with a ventilation plate and a partition plate. The partition plate is provided with multiple ventilation openings. The partition plate and the ventilation plate are spaced apart at the bottom of the combustion chamber to form a first air intake cavity and a second air intake cavity. The ventilation plate includes a first ventilation plate and a second ventilation plate. The second ventilation plate is provided with a plurality of second ventilation holes. The second ventilation plate is located below the ventilation openings, and the first ventilation plate is located above the ventilation openings.

2. The water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric heating component is a thick film wrapped around the outside of the gas tank; or, the electric heating component is an electric heating tube inserted into the gas tank.

3. The water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas tank is also equipped with a pressure sensor, which is configured to trigger the electric heating component to turn off the power; the water level sensor is configured to trigger the electric heating component to turn on the power.

4. The water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condensate collection tank is equipped with an overflow plate, which divides the interior of the condensate collection tank into a first cavity and a second cavity. The condensate inlet is located at the top of the condensate collection tank and connects to the first cavity, and the condensate outlet is located at the bottom of the condensate collection tank and connects to the second cavity.

5. The water heater according to claim 4, characterized in that, An overflow port is formed between the overflow plate and the top of the condensate collection tank; a one-way valve plate is provided in the condensate collection tank, the top of the one-way valve plate is rotatably disposed in the condensate collection tank and located above the overflow plate, and the one-way valve plate is configured to overlap the overflow plate after pressurized gas is injected into the second cavity to close the overflow port.

6. The water heater according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a first air guide plate, which covers the bottom of the flue gas outlet. A gap is formed between the first air guide plate and the flue gas outlet. The fixed end of the first air guide plate is provided on the inner wall of the housing, and the free end of the first air guide plate is provided with a downwardly extending flange structure. The heat exchange tube is located below the first air guide plate.

7. The water heater according to claim 6, characterized in that, The housing is provided with a second air guide plate, which covers the flue gas inlet and is located below the first air guide plate. The second air guide plate is provided with a plurality of second ventilation holes, and the heat exchange tube is located between the second air guide plate and the flange structure.

8. The water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a gas collection hood, the top of which is provided with a communication port. The gas collection hood is located at the bottom of the housing, and the communication port is connected to the flue gas inlet. The gas collection hood is located at the top of the combustion chamber and covers the main heat exchanger.

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