Preheating control method and device of water heater and water heater

Abstract

The application relates to a preheating control method and device of a water heater and the water heater. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring a user-set temperature of the water heater, a cold water temperature of a circulation pipeline of the water heater and an ambient temperature; determining an ambient compensation temperature when the water heater is preheated according to the ambient temperature; determining a basic circulation temperature when the water heater is preheated according to the ambient compensation temperature and the user-set temperature; determining a circulation compensation temperature when the water heater is preheated according to a temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature; and controlling the water temperature of a water outlet of the water heater to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature within a preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the basic circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the basic circulation temperature. According to the method, the water temperature of the water outlet of the water heater is dynamically compensated during preheating, so that the water temperature at a water use point after preheating ends meets the user demand.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water heater technology, and in particular to a preheating control method, device and water heater for a water heater. Background Technology

[0002] As a category of water heaters, zero-cold-water gas water heaters are becoming increasingly popular. The "zero-cold-water" function means that before using hot water, the cold water in the circulation pipe is pumped back to the water heater for preheating. When the user needs hot water, the cold water in the pipe has already been heated, thus reducing waiting time and avoiding water waste.

[0003] Typically, users set the hot water temperature according to their needs and activate the preheating function. Once the water heater detects that the water temperature meets the activation conditions, it starts the water pump. The pump generates a water flow signal, and the water heater then heats the cold water in the pipes. However, with existing zero-cold-water gas water heaters, after preheating, the actual water temperature at the point of use often differs significantly from the user's set temperature due to variations in the circulation pipes or the ambient temperature during preheating, thus failing to meet the user's needs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a preheating control method for a water heater, so that the actual water temperature at the point of use after the water heater has preheated meets the user's needs.

[0005] The second technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a preheating control device for a water heater, so that the actual water temperature at the point of use after the water heater has preheated meets the user's needs.

[0006] The third technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a water heater in which the actual water temperature at the point of use meets the user's needs after the water heater has preheated.

[0007] The fourth technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, enables the actual water temperature at the point of use to meet the user's needs after the water heater has finished preheating.

[0008] The first technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0009] A preheating control method for a water heater, the method comprising: acquiring a user-set temperature of the water heater, a cold water temperature in the circulation pipe of the water heater, and an ambient temperature; determining an environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the ambient temperature; determining a base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature; determining a circulation compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature; and controlling the water temperature at the outlet of the water heater to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature within a preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the base circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the base circulation temperature.

[0010] The preheating control method for water heaters provided in this embodiment fully considers the influence of ambient temperature and the temperature drop caused by the mixing of hot and cold water along the circulation pipe. During preheating, the water temperature at the water heater outlet is dynamically compensated to ensure that the water temperature reaching the point of use after preheating meets the user's needs. Furthermore, the preheating control method can be adjusted in real time according to environmental changes, ensuring that the user's hot water temperature requirements are met in any environment and at any time. It also reduces the number of times the hot water circulates in the circulation pipe during preheating, thus reducing energy consumption and shortening preheating time.

[0011] In one embodiment, the step of determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature includes: obtaining the length of the circulation pipe; determining the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe based on the length of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference per unit length; and determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature and the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe.

[0012] In one embodiment, the step of determining the base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature includes: obtaining the length of the circulation pipe; determining the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient based on the length of the circulation pipe; and determining the base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the product of the environmental compensation temperature and the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient, and the user-set temperature.

[0013] In one embodiment, the preheating control method for the water heater further includes: acquiring a first moment, the first moment being the start time of the water heater when preheating with a first circulating water flow rate; acquiring a second moment, the second moment being the moment when the water temperature change at the inlet of the water heater reaches a set threshold when the water heater is preheating with the first circulating water flow rate; determining a first duration based on the interval between the first moment and the second moment, the first duration reflecting the time it takes for the hot water generated at the outlet of the water heater to reach the inlet through the circulating pipe; and determining the length of the circulating pipe based on the first duration, the first circulating water flow rate, and the radius of the circulating pipe.

[0014] In one embodiment, the step of determining the environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the ambient temperature includes: determining the temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs; and determining the environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the compensation value corresponding to the temperature range.

[0015] In one embodiment, the step of obtaining the ambient temperature includes: sending an ambient temperature read request to a first communication device, the first communication device being communicatively connected to the water heater; and receiving the ambient temperature fed back by the first communication device based on the ambient temperature read request.

[0016] In one embodiment, the preheating time is determined according to the following expression:

[0017]

[0018] Where T is the preheating time, r is the radius of the circulation pipe, L is the length of the circulation pipe, and V is the circulating water flow rate during water heater preheating.

[0019] The second technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0020] A preheating control device for a water heater, comprising:

[0021] The data acquisition module is used to acquire the user-set temperature of the water heater, the cold water temperature of the water heater's circulation pipe, and the ambient temperature.

[0022] An environmental compensation temperature determination module is used to determine the environmental compensation temperature during the preheating of the water heater based on the ambient temperature.

[0023] The basic circulation temperature determination module is used to determine the basic circulation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature.

[0024] The circulating compensation temperature determination module is used to determine the circulating compensation temperature during the preheating of the water heater based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature.

[0025] The water temperature control module is used to control the water temperature at the outlet of the water heater to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature during the preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the base circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the base circulation temperature.

[0026] The third technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0027] A water heater includes a controller, which includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the preheating control method for the water heater as described above.

[0028] The fourth technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0029] A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the preheating control method for a water heater as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gas water heater system in one embodiment;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a preheating control method for a water heater in one embodiment;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining the base circulation temperature during water heater preheating in one embodiment.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating in one embodiment.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the preheating temperature curve in one embodiment;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the process for determining the length of the circulation pipe in one embodiment;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the process for obtaining ambient temperature in one embodiment;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the preheating control device for a water heater in one embodiment.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0040] 10. Water heater; 20. Water point; 100. Water outlet; 200. Water inlet; 300. Circulation pipe; 400. Controller. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application will be thorough and complete.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0043] It is understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application may be used herein to describe various objects, but these objects are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one object from another.

[0044] Spatial relation terms such as “below,” “under,” “below,” “under,” “above,” “above,” etc., are used herein to describe the relationship between one element or feature shown in the figure and other elements or features. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientation shown in the figure, spatial relation terms also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, the element or feature described as “below,” “under,” or “below” will be oriented “above” the other element or feature. Therefore, the exemplary terms “below” and “under” can include both above and below orientations. Furthermore, the device may also include other orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatial descriptive terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0045] It should be noted that when one element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through an intermediary element. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, "connection" should be understood as "electrical connection," "communication connection," etc., if there is transmission of electrical signals or data between the connected objects.

[0046] When used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” may also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising / including” or “having,” etc., specify the presence of the stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Meanwhile, the term “and / or” as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the associated listed items.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a gas water heater system in one embodiment. Normally, when the water heater 10 starts preheating, it heats the water to the user-set temperature (i.e., the hot water temperature set by the user according to their needs). The heated water is discharged from the outlet 100 of the water heater 10, while cold water is drawn back from the inlet 200, thus circulating. However, the inventors discovered during the implementation process that the hot water experiences varying degrees of temperature drop after entering the circulation pipe 300. After the water heater completes preheating, the actual water temperature at the water point 20 is often lower than the user-set temperature, thus failing to meet the user's needs. The inventors discovered through creative work that the main reasons for this problem are as follows:

[0048] On the one hand, the hot water produced by the outlet 100 of the water heater 10 enters the circulation pipe 300, mixes with the cold water in the pipe in a certain proportion, and flows along the circulation pipe 30. The water temperature decreases at a slope, and the temperature decrease is related to the temperature difference between the hot and cold water, as well as the length of the circulation pipe 30.

[0049] On the other hand, depending on the specific installation of the circulation pipe, the ambient temperature of the circulation pipe 300 will vary, resulting in different water temperature drops.

[0050] Based on this, this application provides a preheating control method for a water heater, which enables the actual water temperature at the point of use to meet the user's needs after the water heater has finished preheating. Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a preheating control method for a water heater in practice. (Refer to...) Figure 2 As shown, and also refer to Figure 1 In one implementation, the preheating control method for a water heater includes the following steps:

[0051] Step S210: Obtain the user-set temperature of the water heater, the cold water temperature of the water heater's circulation pipe, and the ambient temperature.

[0052] The water heater 10 referred to in this embodiment is a device or system that raises the temperature of cold water to hot water within a certain period of time through various physical principles. This application does not limit the principle by which the cold water temperature is raised to hot water. Figure 1 The water heater 10 shown is a gas water heater, but it is only for illustration and does not limit the type of water heater. Therefore, the water heater 10 in this embodiment can be an electric water heater, a gas water heater, a solar water heater, a magnetic water heater, an air source water heater, a central heating water heater, etc. In this embodiment, the user-set temperature refers to the temperature set by the user according to their water usage needs, and the ambient temperature refers to the temperature of the environment where the water heater's circulation pipe 300 is located.

[0053] The following describes the subject responsible for executing the method shown in this embodiment.

[0054] The preheating control method for a water heater provided in this embodiment can be executed by a device with information processing capabilities within the water heater 10, such as the controller 400 of the water heater 10; or it can be an external electronic device connected to the water heater 10. In one embodiment, the external electronic device can be any computer device.

[0055] It should be clarified that the description of the execution subject in this embodiment is an optional example and is not limited, as long as the method shown in this example can be executed.

[0056] Step S220: Determine the environmental compensation temperature for the water heater during preheating based on the ambient temperature.

[0057] As mentioned above, the hot water produced by water heater 10 experiences heat loss during its flow within the circulation pipe 300, causing a drop in water temperature. Depending on the specific installation of the circulation pipe and the ambient temperature, the degree of temperature drop within the circulation pipe 300 varies; generally, the lower the ambient temperature, the greater the temperature drop. Therefore, to ensure that the water temperature at water point 20 is equal to or approximately equal to the user's set temperature, the water temperature at outlet 100 needs to be compensated for based on the ambient temperature of the circulation pipe 300 during preheating.

[0058] In one embodiment, the step of determining the environmental compensation temperature for water heater preheating based on ambient temperature includes: determining the temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs, and determining the environmental compensation temperature for water heater preheating based on the compensation value corresponding to the temperature range.

[0059] In this embodiment, different compensation values ​​can be set for different temperature ranges. For example, when the ambient temperature is greater than 0°C and less than or equal to 8°C, the compensation value is 3K; when the ambient temperature is greater than 8°C and less than or equal to 16°C, the compensation value is 2K; when the ambient temperature is greater than 16°C and less than or equal to 24°C, the compensation value is 1K; and when the ambient temperature is greater than 24°C, the compensation value is 0K.

[0060] Step S230: Determine the base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature.

[0061] In this embodiment, when determining the basic circulation temperature, the heat loss caused by the flow of hot water in the circulation pipe 300 should be considered. This heat loss is related to the ambient temperature. Therefore, the basic circulation temperature in this embodiment is based on the user-set temperature plus an environmental compensation temperature.

[0062] In one specific embodiment, the base cycle temperature can be the sum of the user-set temperature and the environmental compensation temperature. In another specific embodiment, the environmental compensation temperature can be multiplied by a preset compensation coefficient, and then summed with the user-set temperature to determine the base cycle temperature. The preset compensation coefficient can be set empirically or based on experimental data.

[0063] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the steps for determining the base circulation temperature during water heater preheating based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature include:

[0064] Step S310: Obtain the length of the circulation pipe.

[0065] Step S320: Determine the ambient temperature pipeline compensation coefficient based on the length of the circulation pipeline;

[0066] Step S330: Determine the base circulation temperature for water heater preheating based on the product of the environmental compensation temperature and the environmental temperature pipeline compensation coefficient, as well as the user-set temperature.

[0067] During the flow of hot water within the circulation pipe 300, its heat loss is related to both the ambient temperature and the length of the circulation pipe 300. Therefore, an ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient can be assigned based on different circulation pipe lengths. Generally, the longer the circulation pipe 300, the larger the ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient. In one embodiment, a correspondence is established between the circulation pipe length and the ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient. Once the length of the circulation pipe 300 is obtained, the ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient can be determined based on this correspondence.

[0068] In one embodiment, the compensation coefficient for ambient temperature pipelines can be determined according to the following expression:

[0069] S = L / L1

[0070] Where S represents the ambient temperature pipeline compensation coefficient; L represents the length of the circulation pipeline; L1 represents the unit length of the circulation pipeline defined based on the ambient temperature, and L1 is a specified constant, for example, L1 = 40m.

[0071] The environmental compensation temperature is compensated by using a determined environmental temperature pipeline compensation coefficient. The base circulation temperature during water heater preheating is determined based on the product of the environmental compensation temperature and the environmental temperature pipeline compensation coefficient, as well as the user-set temperature.

[0072] In one embodiment, the base cycle temperature is determined according to the following expression:

[0073] T i =S*T h +T S

[0074] Among them, T i The base circulation temperature is represented by S, the ambient temperature is represented by the pipeline compensation coefficient, and T is represented by T. h T represents ambient temperature. S This indicates the temperature set by the user.

[0075] Step S240: Determine the circulation compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature.

[0076] As the foregoing analysis shows, the hot water produced by the outlet 100 of the water heater 10 flows in the circulation pipe 300. Due to the influence of ambient temperature, heat loss occurs, leading to a drop in water temperature. Furthermore, the mixing of hot water with cold water present in the circulation pipe 300 also causes a drop in water temperature. While the aforementioned basic circulation temperature considers the influence of ambient temperature, it does not account for the temperature drop caused by the mixing of hot and cold water flowing along the circulation pipe 300. Therefore, this embodiment introduces a circulation compensation temperature, determined based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature. This compensation temperature is further considered on top of the basic circulation temperature to eliminate the impact of hot and cold water mixing.

[0077] In one embodiment, the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature can be used as the cycle compensation temperature, or the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature can be multiplied by a preset temperature difference coefficient as the cycle compensation temperature, wherein the preset temperature difference coefficient can be determined experimentally.

[0078] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the steps for determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature include:

[0079] Step S410: Obtain the length of the circulation pipe;

[0080] Step S420: Determine the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe based on the length of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference per unit length.

[0081] Step S430: Determine the circulation compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature.

[0082] When the water heater 10 is preheating, the hot water output from the outlet 100 mixes with the cold water in the circulation pipe 300 and flows along the pipe, causing a temperature drop. The magnitude of the temperature drop depends not only on the temperature difference between the hot and cold water but also on the length of the circulation pipe 300. Therefore, in determining the preheating circulation compensation temperature, this embodiment considers not only the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature but also the influence of the length of the circulation pipe 300. Thus, it can be understood that the circulation compensation temperature in this embodiment is used partly to compensate for the temperature drop caused by the mixing of hot and cold water and partly to compensate for the temperature drop caused by the flow of water in the circulation pipe 300.

[0083] The length of the circulation pipe 300 can be set by the user or measured using other methods. After obtaining the length of the circulation pipe 300, the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe is determined based on the length of the circulation pipe 300 and the temperature difference per unit length. In one embodiment, the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe can be determined with reference to the following expression:

[0084] T g =(L / L0)*b

[0085] Among them, T g The value represents the temperature compensation amount of the circulating pipeline; L represents the length of the circulating pipeline; L0 represents the unit length of the circulating pipeline based on the definition of circulating temperature compensation, and L0 can be a specified constant, such as L0 = 10m; b represents the temperature difference corresponding to the unit length, and b is a constant, such as b = 1.5℃.

[0086] In this implementation, the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature can be summed with the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe to determine the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating. In another implementation, the circulation compensation temperature can also be calculated using the following expression:

[0087] T p =a*(T s -T l )+(L / L0)*b

[0088] Among them, T p This indicates the circulating compensation temperature; 'a' represents the circulating water temperature difference coefficient, where 'a' is a constant, for example, 0.1; T s Indicates the user-set temperature; T l L represents the cold water temperature of the circulating pipe; L represents the length of the circulating pipe; L0 represents the unit length of the circulating pipe based on the circulating temperature compensation definition. L0 can be a specified constant, such as L0 = 10m; b represents the temperature difference corresponding to the unit length, where b is a constant, such as b = 1.5℃.

[0089] Step S250: Control the temperature of the water outlet of the water heater to decrease from the first temperature to the second temperature during the preheating time.

[0090] The first temperature T1 is determined by the sum of the base circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature. The first temperature can be equal to the sum of these two temperatures, or it can be appropriately modified from the sum. The second temperature T2 is determined by the base circulation temperature. The second temperature can be equal to the base circulation temperature, or it can be appropriately modified from the base circulation temperature. The preheating time can be set by the user. For example, the user can adjust the preheating time according to the location of the water point 20 to ensure that the hot water demand is met in the shortest possible preheating time.

[0091] When the water heater 10 is preheating, the water temperature at the outlet 100 is controlled. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the preheating temperature curve in one embodiment, referencing... Figure 5 As shown, the vertical axis represents the outlet water temperature, and the horizontal axis represents time, T. s This indicates the user-set temperature at the start of preheating, t. y1 The water temperature at the outlet is T1, and at the end of the preheating process t... y2 The water temperature at the outlet is T2, and the preheating time is (t). y2 -t y1 During the preheating period, the water temperature at outlet 100 decreases from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2. During this preheating process, the mixing of hot and cold water along the circulation pipe 300 causes the water temperature to drop. Simultaneously, the ambient temperature also contributes to the temperature decrease. Therefore, after preheating, the water temperature flowing to the water point 20 is equal to or approximately equal to the user-set temperature T. s To meet user needs.

[0092] In one specific embodiment, the water temperature at the outlet 100 can be controlled to linearly decrease from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2 during the preheating time, for example... Figure 5 As shown; it can also be gradually reduced from the first temperature T1 to the second temperature T2 according to the set gradient; or it can be reduced from the first temperature T1 to the second temperature T2 according to other non-linear temperature curves, as long as it can be ensured that the water temperature at the outlet drops to T2 after the preheating time is reached.

[0093] The preheating control method for water heaters provided in this embodiment fully considers the influence of ambient temperature and the temperature drop caused by the mixing of hot and cold water along the circulation pipe. During preheating, the water temperature at the water heater outlet is dynamically compensated to ensure that the water temperature reaching the point of use after preheating meets the user's needs. Furthermore, the preheating control method can be adjusted in real time according to environmental changes, ensuring that the user's hot water temperature requirements are met in any environment and at any time. It also reduces the number of times the hot water circulates in the circulation pipe during preheating, thus reducing energy consumption and shortening preheating time.

[0094] In one embodiment, regarding the length of the circulation pipe 300, refer to... Figure 6 As shown, and also refer to Figure 1 It can be determined using the following methods:

[0095] Step S610: Obtain the first moment, which is the start-up moment when the water heater is preheating with the first circulating water flow rate;

[0096] Step S620: Obtain the second time point, which is the moment when the water temperature change at the inlet of the water heater reaches a set threshold when the water heater is preheating with the first circulating water flow rate.

[0097] Step S630: Determine a first duration based on the interval between the first time and the second time. The first duration is used to reflect the time it takes for the hot water generated at the outlet of the water heater to reach the inlet through the circulation pipe.

[0098] Step S640: Determine the length of the circulation pipe based on the first duration, the first circulation water flow rate, and the radius of the circulation pipe.

[0099] In this embodiment, the length of the circulation pipe 300 is calculated by performing a preheating test. This preheating test can be performed during the first run of the water heater 10 after installation, or when the length of the circulation pipe 300 needs to be updated.

[0100] Taking the preheating calculation during the first run as an example, after the water heater 10 is installed, when the water heater is run for the first time, the water pump power of the water heater 10 is controlled to preheat at the first circulating water flow rate, and the start time of preheating is recorded. This start time is the first time t1. This start time can be the time when the water heater 10 starts heating. For example, for a gas water heater, this start time can be the ignition time of the gas water heater.

[0101] The water temperature change is detected at the inlet 200 of the water heater 10. If the detected water temperature change at the inlet 200 reaches a set threshold, it indicates that the hot water produced at the outlet 100 of the water heater 10 has returned to the inlet 200 of the water heater 10 along the circulation pipe 300. The moment when the water temperature change at the inlet 200 reaches the set threshold is recorded; this moment is the second moment t2. The set threshold for water temperature change can be set empirically, for example, by setting it to a 3K increase in water temperature within 5 seconds. The set threshold for water temperature change can also be determined based on experimental data.

[0102] The interval Δt between the first time t1 and the second time t2 reflects the time it takes for hot water from the water heater outlet to reach the inlet through the circulation pipe; this time is the first time. The length of the circulation pipe can be calculated based on the first time, the first circulating water flow rate, and the radius of the circulation pipe, as shown in the following expression:

[0103] L=V1*Δt / (π*r 2 )

[0104] Where L represents the length of the circulation pipe, V1 represents the first circulation water flow rate, Δt represents the first duration, and r represents the radius of the circulation pipe.

[0105] In one embodiment, the cold water temperature of the circulation pipe 300 can be measured at the outlet 100, and the lowest water temperature at the outlet 100 within a set time period can be used as the cold water temperature. In a specific embodiment, the outlet 100 of the water heater 10 is equipped with a water temperature sensor, and the lowest temperature detected by the water temperature sensor within 6 hours is used as the cold water temperature of the circulation pipe 300.

[0106] In one embodiment, the water heater 10 is equipped with an air temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature of the circulation pipe 300 is determined based on the data detected by the air temperature sensor.

[0107] In one embodiment, both the outlet 100 and the inlet 200 of the water heater 10 are equipped with water temperature sensors. The lowest temperature detected by the water temperature sensors within a set time period is taken as the ambient temperature. In a specific embodiment, the lowest temperature detected by the water temperature sensors within 6 hours is taken as the ambient temperature.

[0108] In one embodiment, refer to Figure 7 As shown, and also refer to Figure 1 The step of obtaining the ambient temperature includes:

[0109] Step S710: Send an ambient temperature reading request to the first communication device, wherein the first communication device is communicatively connected to the water heater;

[0110] Step S720: Receive the ambient temperature fed back by the first communication device based on the ambient temperature reading request.

[0111] The first communication device can be any type of device with communication function, such as a terminal device, such as a mobile phone or a smart tablet, or a server device. This embodiment does not limit the type of the first communication device.

[0112] The first communication device is connected to the water heater 10. The specific communication connection method is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the first communication device and the water heater 10 can connect via a mobile communication network, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. The water heater 10 can send an ambient temperature reading request to the first communication device. After receiving the request, the first communication device determines the ambient temperature and feeds it back to the water heater 10.

[0113] The first communication device can determine the ambient temperature through various methods. In one specific embodiment, the first communication device communicates with a first server to obtain environmental information data provided by the first server, thereby determining the ambient temperature. For example, the first server pushes weather forecast information to the first communication device, and based on this weather forecast information, the first communication device can determine the ambient temperature.

[0114] In another specific embodiment, the first communication device communicates with an indoor temperature detection module, which is used to detect the user's indoor temperature. The indoor temperature detection module can send the detected data to the first communication device, and the first communication device determines the ambient temperature based on the data sent by the indoor temperature detection module.

[0115] In one embodiment, the preheating time of the water heater can be determined according to the following expression:

[0116]

[0117] Where T is the preheating time, r is the radius of the circulation pipe, L is the length of the circulation pipe, and V is the circulating water flow rate during water heater preheating.

[0118] Reference Figure 1 As shown, the required preheating time varies depending on the location of the water point 20. In this embodiment, the preheating time is determined according to 1 / 2 of the length of the circulation pipe, which can meet the water demand in most cases.

[0119] It should be understood that, although Figures 2-7The steps in the flowchart are shown sequentially as indicated by the arrows, but these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless otherwise specified herein, there is no strict order in which these steps are executed, and they can be performed in other orders. Figures 2-7 At least some of the steps in the process may include multiple steps or multiple stages. These steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but may be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but may be executed in turn or alternately with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages in other steps.

[0120] Based on the above-mentioned preheating control method for water heaters, this application also provides a preheating control device for water heaters. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the preheating control device of a water heater in one embodiment, with reference to... Figure 8 As shown, the device includes a data acquisition module 810, an environmental compensation temperature determination module 820, a basic cycle temperature determination module 830, a cycle compensation temperature determination module 840, and a temperature control module 850.

[0121] The data acquisition module 810 acquires the user-set temperature of the water heater, the cold water temperature in the water heater's circulation pipe, and the ambient temperature. The environmental compensation temperature determination module 820 determines the environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the ambient temperature. The basic circulation temperature determination module 830 determines the basic circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature. The circulation compensation temperature determination module 840 determines the circulation compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature. The temperature control module 850 controls the water temperature at the water heater outlet to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature during the preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the basic circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the basic circulation temperature.

[0122] In one embodiment, the circulation compensation temperature determination module 840 is used to obtain the length of the circulation pipe, determine the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe based on the length of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference corresponding to the unit length, and determine the circulation compensation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature and the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe.

[0123] In one embodiment, the basic circulation temperature determination module 830 is used to obtain the length of the circulation pipe, determine the ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient based on the length of the circulation pipe, and determine the basic circulation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the product of the ambient temperature compensation temperature and the ambient temperature pipe compensation coefficient and the user-set temperature.

[0124] In one embodiment, the preheating control device for the water heater further includes a circulation pipe length determination module, used to acquire a first moment and a second moment, determine a first duration based on the interval between the first moment and the second moment, and determine the length of the circulation pipe based on the first duration, the first circulation water flow rate, and the radius of the circulation pipe. The first moment is the start-up moment when the water heater preheats at the first circulation water flow rate, and the second moment is the moment when the water temperature change at the water heater inlet reaches a set threshold during preheating at the first circulation water flow rate; the first duration reflects the time it takes for the hot water generated at the water heater outlet to reach the inlet through the circulation pipe.

[0125] In one embodiment, the environmental compensation temperature determination module 820 is used to determine the temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs, and to determine the environmental compensation temperature during the preheating of the water heater according to the compensation value corresponding to the temperature range.

[0126] In one embodiment, the data acquisition module 810 is further configured to send an ambient temperature reading request to the first communication device and receive the ambient temperature fed back by the first communication device based on the ambient temperature reading request. The first communication device is communicatively connected to the water heater.

[0127] In one embodiment, the preheating time is determined according to the following expression:

[0128]

[0129] Where T is the preheating time, r is the radius of the circulation pipe, L is the length of the circulation pipe, and V is the circulating water flow rate during the preheating of the water heater.

[0130] Specific limitations regarding the device can be found in the method limitations above, and will not be repeated here. Each module in the preheating control device of the aforementioned water heater can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in or independent of the processor in a computer device in hardware form, or stored in the memory of a computer device in software form, so that the processor can call and execute the operations corresponding to each module. It should be noted that the module division in this embodiment is illustrative and only represents a logical functional division; other division methods may be used in actual implementation.

[0131] This application also provides a water heater including a controller, the controller including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor executing the computer program to implement the steps of the preheating control method of the water heater as described above.

[0132] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the preheating control method for a water heater as described above.

[0133] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the methods described above. Any references to memory, storage, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, or optical storage, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can be in various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc.

[0134] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "some embodiments," "other embodiments," and "ideal embodiments" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples.

[0135] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0136] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A preheating control method for a water heater, characterized in that, The method includes: The system obtains the user-set temperature of the water heater, the cold water temperature in the water heater's circulation pipe, and the ambient temperature. The environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater is determined based on the ambient temperature. Determining the base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature includes: obtaining the length of the circulation pipe, determining the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient based on the length of the circulation pipe, and determining the base circulation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the product of the environmental compensation temperature and the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient and the user-set temperature. Determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature includes: determining the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe based on the length of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference per unit length; and determining the circulation compensation temperature during water heater preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature and the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe. The water temperature at the outlet of the water heater is controlled to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature during the preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the base circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the base circulation temperature.

2. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base cycle temperature is determined according to the following expression: in, This indicates the base cycle temperature. This represents the environmental temperature pipeline compensation coefficient. This indicates the ambient temperature. This indicates the user-set temperature.

3. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cycle compensation temperature is calculated according to the following expression: in, This indicates the cyclic compensation temperature; Indicates the circulating water temperature difference coefficient; This indicates the user-set temperature. This indicates the temperature of the cold water in the circulating pipe; Indicates the length of the circulation pipe; This represents the unit length of the circulating pipe as defined by circulating temperature compensation. This represents the temperature difference per unit length.

4. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first moment is the start-up moment when the water heater is preheating with the first circulating water flow rate; The second moment is the moment when the water temperature at the inlet of the water heater reaches a set threshold when the water heater is preheating with the first circulating water flow rate. A first duration is determined based on the interval between the first moment and the second moment, and the first duration is used to reflect the time it takes for the hot water generated at the outlet of the water heater to reach the inlet through the circulation pipe; The length of the circulation pipe is determined based on the first duration, the first circulation water flow rate, and the radius of the circulation pipe.

5. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for determining the environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater based on the ambient temperature include: Determine the temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs; The environmental compensation temperature for preheating the water heater is determined based on the compensation value corresponding to the temperature range.

6. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for obtaining the ambient temperature include: Send an ambient temperature reading request to a first communication device, which is communicatively connected to the water heater; Receive the ambient temperature fed back by the first communication device based on the ambient temperature reading request.

7. The preheating control method for a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preheating time is determined according to the following expression: in, The preheating time is... Let be the radius of the circulation pipe. The length of the circulation pipe, The circulating water flow rate during the preheating of the water heater.

8. A preheating control device for a water heater, characterized in that, include: The data acquisition module is used to acquire the user-set temperature of the water heater, the cold water temperature of the water heater's circulation pipe, and the ambient temperature. An environmental compensation temperature determination module is used to determine the environmental compensation temperature during the preheating of the water heater based on the ambient temperature. A basic circulation temperature determination module is used to determine the basic circulation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the environmental compensation temperature and the user-set temperature, including: obtaining the length of the circulation pipe, determining the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient based on the length of the circulation pipe, and determining the basic circulation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the product of the environmental compensation temperature and the environmental temperature pipe compensation coefficient and the user-set temperature; The circulation compensation temperature determination module is used to determine the circulation compensation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature. This includes: determining the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe based on the length of the circulation pipe and the temperature difference per unit length; and determining the circulation compensation temperature of the water heater during preheating based on the temperature difference between the user-set temperature and the cold water temperature and the temperature compensation amount of the circulation pipe. The temperature control module is used to control the water temperature at the outlet of the water heater to decrease from a first temperature to a second temperature during the preheating time, wherein the first temperature is determined by the sum of the base circulation temperature and the circulation compensation temperature, and the second temperature is determined by the base circulation temperature.

9. A water heater, characterized in that, The device includes a controller, which includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the preheating control method for a water heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the preheating control method for the water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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