Anti-freezing method of heating and ventilation system, heating and ventilation system and related equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses an anti-freezing method of a heating and ventilation system, the heating and ventilation system and related equipment. The heating and ventilation system comprises a heat source unit, a heat storage module and a control unit. The heat storage module is made of a phase change material, the heat source unit is connected with the heat storage module through an energy charging flow path, and a control valve and a circulating pump are arranged on the energy charging flow path. When the heat storage module is not charged with energy, the control unit controls the control valve of the energy charging flow path to be closed to the preset minimum opening degree, the circulating pump is started, and the heat supply medium continuously flows in the flow path, so that the risks of liquid retention and freezing are effectively avoided, and the operation stability and safety of the system in the cold environment are further improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of HVAC systems, and in particular to an anti-freezing method for HVAC systems, a HVAC system and related equipment. Background Art

[0002] With the increase in energy demand and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, phase change energy storage technology has received widespread attention in the field of HVAC systems. Phase change energy storage achieves efficient energy storage by absorbing or releasing a large amount of latent heat during the phase change (such as solid-liquid, gas-liquid) of the material. Compared with traditional sensible heat energy storage technology, its heat storage density is higher. For example, in the range of 10 to 65°C, the heat storage density of phase change thermal storage materials is twice that of water, which can reduce the volume of the thermal storage module to half of that of an independent water tank. The application of phase change energy storage technology in heat pump systems achieves efficient heat storage by absorbing the heat provided by the heat pump, and exchanges heat with low-temperature domestic hot water through a high-power heat exchanger during the heat release process to achieve instant hot water supply.

[0003] However, the water inlet and outlet of the phase change thermal storage module suitable for heat pumps in the prior art are usually located at the highest point of the heat exchanger, and each row of flow paths is arranged side by side, making it difficult to completely drain the internal liquid by blowing or pumping. In cold environments, the undrained liquid is prone to freezing, affecting the reliability and life of the system. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiment of the present application provides a method for preventing freezing of a HVAC system, a HVAC system and related equipment, which can effectively avoid the risk of freezing of liquid in the pipeline of the thermal storage module. The above technical solution is as follows:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a HVAC system, the HVAC system comprising:

[0006] Heat source unit;

[0007] A heat storage module, wherein the heat storage module has a phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through a charging flow path, and the charging flow path is provided with a control valve and a circulation pump;

[0008] A control unit configured to:

[0009] When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heating medium to flow in the charging flow path; the preset minimum opening is not zero.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a first temperature sensor, which is used to detect the ambient temperature; and the control unit is configured as follows:

[0011] When the heat storage module is not being charged, controlling the control valve to close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and determining whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold;

[0012] If yes, turn on the above mentioned circulation pump;

[0013] If not, turn off the above circulation pump.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a second temperature sensor, which is used to detect the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module; and the control unit is configured as follows:

[0015] When the thermal storage module is charged, determining whether the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor meets the set temperature;

[0016] If yes, the thermal storage module stops charging.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the control unit is configured as follows:

[0018] After receiving the heat storage signal, the control valve is controlled to open the charging flow path and turn on the circulation pump to charge the heat storage module.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a heating unit, the heat source unit is connected to the heating unit via a heating flow path, and the heating unit is connected in parallel with the heat storage module; the control unit is configured as follows:

[0020] When the heating unit is providing heat, controlling the heating flow path to be opened so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path;

[0021] When the heating unit is not providing heating, the heating flow path is controlled to be closed.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the control valve is used to control the switch of the charging flow path and the heating flow path; the control unit is configured as follows:

[0023] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is providing heat, the control valve is controlled to open the heating flow path and close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening degree.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the control unit is configured as follows:

[0025] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is not providing heat, the control valve is controlled to close the heating flow path and the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump is turned on and the heat source unit is turned off.

[0026] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an anti-freezing method for a HVAC system, which is applied to a HVAC system, wherein the HVAC system comprises:

[0027] Heat source unit;

[0028] A heat storage module, wherein the heat storage module has a phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through a charging flow path, and the charging flow path is provided with a control valve and a circulation pump;

[0029] The above methods include:

[0030] When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heating medium to flow in the charging flow path; the preset minimum opening is not zero.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a first temperature sensor, and the first temperature sensor is used to detect the ambient temperature; the method includes:

[0032] When the heat storage module is not being charged, controlling the control valve to close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and determining whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold;

[0033] If yes, turn on the above mentioned circulation pump;

[0034] If not, turn off the above circulation pump.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a second temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module; the method includes:

[0036] When the thermal storage module is charged, determining whether the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor meets the set temperature;

[0037] If yes, the thermal storage module stops charging.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the method includes:

[0039] After receiving the heat storage signal, the control valve is controlled to open the charging flow path and turn on the circulation pump to charge the heat storage module.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the HVAC system includes a heating unit, the heat source unit is connected to the heating unit via a heating flow path, and the heating unit is connected in parallel with the heat storage module; the method includes:

[0041] When the heating unit is providing heat, controlling the heating flow path to be opened so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path;

[0042] When the heating unit is not providing heating, the heating flow path is controlled to be closed.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the control valve is used to control the switching of the charging flow path and the heating flow path; the method includes:

[0044] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is providing heat, the control valve is controlled to open the heating flow path and close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening degree.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the method includes:

[0046] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is not providing heat, the control valve is controlled to close the heating flow path and the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump is turned on and the heat source unit is turned off.

[0047] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer storage medium, wherein the computer storage medium stores a plurality of instructions, and the instructions are suitable for being loaded by a processor and executing the above method steps.

[0048] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, comprising: a processor and a memory; wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the computer program is suitable for being loaded by the processor and executing the above method steps.

[0049] In one or more embodiments of the present application, a HVAC system is provided, which includes a heat source unit, a heat storage module and a control unit. The above-mentioned heat storage module adopts phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through a charging flow path, and a control valve and a circulation pump are provided on the charging flow path. When the heat storage module is not charged, the control unit controls the control valve of the charging flow path to close to a preset minimum opening, and starts the circulation pump to allow the heating medium to flow continuously in the flow path, thereby effectively avoiding the risk of liquid retention and freezing, and further improving the operating stability and safety of the system in cold environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a heat storage module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of another HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 4 A schematic flow chart of an anti-freezing method for a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 5 A schematic flow chart of another anti-freezing method for a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 6 A schematic flow chart of another anti-freezing method for a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Instead, they are only examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the attached claims.

[0059] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the previously associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0060] The present application is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0061] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The HVAC system includes a heat source unit 100, a heat storage module 200 and a control unit ( Figure 1 not shown).

[0062] The heat source unit 100 is a device for providing heat, which may be a heat pump, a boiler or other device capable of generating heat. The heat storage module 200 has a phase change material, which can achieve efficient energy storage by absorbing and releasing a large amount of latent heat through phase changes (such as solid-liquid conversion). Phase change materials have a higher heat storage density than traditional sensible heat storage materials (such as water) and can store more heat in a smaller volume. The heat source unit 100 is connected to the heat storage module 200 through a charging flow path so as to transfer heat to the heat storage module 200 so that the heat storage module 200 can effectively absorb and store heat.

[0063] The charging flow path can be understood as a connecting pipe between the heat source unit 100 and the heat storage module 200, which is used to transport the heat supply medium (such as water or other heat transfer fluid). During the charging process of the heat storage module 200, the heat source unit 100 transfers the generated heat to the phase change material in the heat storage module 200 through the charging flow path, thereby storing the heat. A control valve 300 and a circulating pump 400 are provided in the charging flow path to control the flow direction and flow rate of the heat supply medium.

[0064] The control valve 300 is a device for regulating the flow of fluid. By changing the opening of the valve, the flow of the medium in the pipeline can be controlled. In the embodiment of the present application, the control valve 300 is installed on the charging flow path, located between the heat source unit 100 and the heat storage module 200, to control the flow of the heating medium to the heat storage module 200. Optionally, the control valve 300 is a three-way valve, which can simultaneously control the switching or allocation of two flow paths, and can allocate the heating medium to different flow paths according to system needs. It can control the flow of the heating medium from the heat source unit 100 to the heat storage module 200, and it can also control the flow of the heating medium from the heat source unit 100 to other devices. Among them, the control valve 300 can be a small flow control valve, that is, when the control valve 300 closes the charging flow path, the minimum opening of the control valve 300 is not 0, which can realize the small flow circulation of the heating medium between the heat source unit 100 and the heat storage module 200 when the charging flow path is closed. For example, the minimum opening of the control valve 300 can be preset to 5, 10, 15, etc. (wherein, an opening of 100 is fully open, and an opening of 0 is fully closed). Optionally, the control valve 300 includes two states: open and closed. When the control valve is open, the opening of the charging flow path is the largest (such as an opening of 100), and when the control valve is closed, the charging flow path is the preset minimum opening (the preset minimum opening is not 0).

[0065] The circulation pump 400 is a device for promoting the flow of liquid in the system. It pushes the heating medium from the heat source unit 100 to the heat storage module 200 and then returns to the heat source unit 100 by providing the necessary power, so that the heating medium circulates repeatedly in the system, ensuring that a small amount of fluid is promoted to circulate when the heat storage module 200 is not charged, so as to prevent static liquid from freezing in a cold environment.

[0066] The control unit is responsible for the automatic control and regulation of the system. The control unit can be connected to sensors, control valves, circulation pumps and other equipment, and can execute preset control logic based on the data provided by the sensors. For example, it can decide when to open or close the control valve and start or stop the circulation pump. Optionally, the control unit also includes a communication module, which can realize remote control or data exchange with other systems.

[0067] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit is configured as follows:

[0068] When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heating medium to flow in the charging flow path.

[0069] Specifically, Figure 1As shown, when the heat storage module 200 is not charged, the control unit controls the control valve 300 to close to a preset minimum opening (the preset minimum opening is not 0), so that the charging flow path is closed to the preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump 400 is turned on at the same time, so that the heating medium can maintain the minimum flow circulation flow in the path of heat source unit 100-control valve 300-heat storage module 200-circulation pump 400-heat source unit 100, ensuring that the fluid in the system still keeps circulating to prevent freezing.

[0070] Optionally, when the HVAC system is charging the heat storage module 200, a circulating pump 400 can be used to push the heat supply medium from the heat source unit 100 to the heat storage module 200 so as to transfer the heat to the heat storage module 200. Optionally, the circulating pump 400 is a small-lift pump. When the heat storage module 200 is not charged, only a small amount of fluid flows in the charging flow path. According to the design conditions of the minimum flow rate of the charging flow path, the use of the corresponding small-lift pump can reduce energy consumption and extend the service life of the pump. Optionally, the charging flow path of the HVAC system also includes other pump equipment (large-lift pump). When the heat storage module 200 is charged, a large amount of heat needs to be quickly transferred to the heat storage module 200. Therefore, the charging flow path requires a higher flow rate to ensure that the heat supply medium can be quickly charged. The use of a large-lift pump can provide sufficient flow and pressure to ensure that the heat generated by the heat source unit 100 is efficiently transferred to the heat storage module 200.

[0071] In the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned heat storage module adopts phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through the charging flow path, and the charging flow path is provided with a control valve and a circulation pump. When the heat storage module is not charged, the control unit controls the control valve of the charging flow path to close to a preset minimum opening, and starts the circulation pump to make the heating medium flow continuously in the charging flow path, thereby effectively avoiding the risk of liquid retention and freezing, and further improving the operating stability and safety of the system in cold environments.

[0072] In some embodiments, the HVAC system includes a first temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor is used to detect the ambient temperature; and a control unit, configured to:

[0073] When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening, and it is determined whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold; if so, the circulation pump is turned on; if not, the circulation pump is turned off.

[0074] Specifically, the function of the first temperature sensor is to detect the temperature of the external environment of the HVAC system to help the control unit automatically make corresponding adjustments in a cold environment to prevent the system from freezing or other potential problems. The first temperature sensor should be set at a position that can represent the external ambient temperature of the entire system so that the surrounding air temperature can be accurately measured. Exemplarily, the first temperature sensor is set near the external air inlet of the HVAC equipment to directly sense the external temperature; the first temperature sensor is set in areas that are easily affected by the ambient temperature, such as the shell of the thermal storage module and the pipeline part. Optionally, multiple first temperature sensors can be set, and multiple first temperature sensors can be set in different areas to ensure accurate detection of changes in the external ambient temperature of the system. When the ambient temperatures detected by multiple first temperature sensors are different, the average of the multiple detected ambient temperatures can be used as the current ambient temperature or the lowest detected ambient temperature can be used as the current ambient temperature.

[0075] When the thermal storage module is not charged, the control valve closes the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, at which time the heating medium can still circulate at the minimum flow rate in the charging flow path. The control unit reads the ambient temperature data from the first temperature sensor. The control unit compares the ambient temperature detected by the sensor with the preset temperature threshold. For example, the preset temperature threshold can be set to a certain low temperature critical value (such as 8°C, 5°C or 0°C). When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold, the control unit starts the circulation pump to maintain the circulation of the heating medium even if the thermal storage module does not need to be charged. This is to ensure that the fluid in the pipeline will not freeze due to low temperature stagnation, thereby protecting the stability and life of the system. If the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold, the control unit will turn off the circulation pump to keep the system running in an energy-saving state and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

[0076] In this way, when the thermal storage module is not being charged, the system state can be automatically adjusted according to the temperature of the external environment. The circulation pump can be started in a cold environment to prevent the liquid from freezing, and the circulation pump can be turned off in a warm environment to save energy.

[0077] In some embodiments, the HVAC system includes a second temperature sensor, which is used to detect the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module; and a control unit, which is configured to:

[0078] When the heat storage module is charged, it is determined whether the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor meets the set temperature; if so, the heat storage module stops charging.

[0079] Specifically, the function of the second temperature sensor is to detect the temperature of the phase change material inside the thermal storage module to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of the charging process. The second temperature sensor is installed in the thermal storage module, close to the phase change material area, and can monitor the temperature of the phase change material in real time. Phase change materials store energy by absorbing or releasing heat, so accurate temperature monitoring is very important. The second temperature sensor can be set in the core area of ​​the thermal storage module to ensure that the actual temperature changes of the phase change material can be captured, thereby avoiding over- or under-charging.

[0080] When the heat storage module is charged, the control unit will continuously monitor the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor. The control unit will compare the temperature of the phase change material detected by the sensor with the set temperature. The set temperature can be the phase change point of the phase change material or a temperature close to the phase change point, such as the melting point or freezing point of the phase change material. The set temperature is a critical value set to achieve the best energy storage effect. If it is detected that the temperature of the phase change material has reached the set temperature, it means that the phase change material has absorbed enough heat to complete the heat storage process. At this time, the control unit will terminate the charging process of the heat storage module. In this way, overheating of the phase change material can be avoided, and energy waste or system damage can be prevented.

[0081] For example, Figure 1 As shown, when the thermal storage module 200 is charged, the heat source unit 100 is turned on, the control valve 300 opens the charging flow path, the circulating pump 400 is turned on, and the heat supply medium transfers heat from the heat source unit 100 to the thermal storage module 200. When the thermal storage module 200 stops charging, the heat source unit 100 can be closed, the control valve 300 closes the charging flow path (i.e., the lowest opening), the circulating pump 400 can be turned off, and the heating medium no longer flows; if the anti-freezing mode is turned on, the circulating pump 400 can be turned on, and the circulating pump 400 allows the heating medium to continue to flow in the charging flow path at the lowest flow rate, thereby effectively avoiding the risk of liquid retention and freezing.

[0082] Alternatively, if Figure 2As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the heat storage module. Among them, the second temperature sensor is arranged inside the phase change material 210, and the second temperature sensor includes multiple ones, which can be specifically divided into a high temperature zone temperature sensor 220-1 and a low temperature zone temperature sensor 220-2. During the phase change energy storage process, different areas of the heat storage module may present a temperature gradient. The phase change material in the upstream area of ​​the charging flow path (i.e., the high temperature zone) will preferentially absorb heat, and the temperature rises faster, while the phase change material in the downstream area of ​​the charging flow path (i.e., the low temperature zone) can absorb less heat and the temperature rises slower, resulting in temperature differences between different areas. The high temperature zone temperature sensor 220-1 is set in the upstream area of ​​the charging flow path, mainly used to monitor the temperature change of the phase change material in the high temperature zone. The low temperature zone temperature sensor 220-2 is set in the downstream area of ​​the charging flow path, mainly used to monitor the temperature change of the phase change material in the low temperature zone. When the temperature in the low temperature zone reaches the set temperature, it indicates that the phase change materials of the entire heat storage module have completed heat storage, and charging can be stopped at this time to avoid overheating. Optionally, when the lowest temperature detected by the plurality of second temperature sensors reaches a set temperature, it indicates that the thermal storage module has been fully charged, and the thermal storage module stops charging.

[0083] In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to:

[0084] After receiving the heat storage signal, the control valve is controlled to open the charging flow path and turn on the circulation pump to charge the heat storage module.

[0085] Specifically, when the HVAC system detects that a heat storage operation is required, the control unit receives a heat storage signal. The heat storage signal can come from many aspects, such as the overall energy demand of the HVAC system, schedule settings (such as heat storage during low electricity price periods), monitoring results of temperature sensors (such as low temperature of the phase change material in the heat storage module), or external user control signals (such as heat storage signals sent by users using remote controls).

[0086] After receiving the heat storage signal, the control unit will open the control valve and the charging flow path, so that the heat source unit can transfer heat to the heat storage module through the charging flow path for charging. At the same time, the control unit will also start the circulation pump on the charging flow path to provide the necessary power for the HVAC system and promote the flow of the heating medium in the system. The start of the circulation pump ensures that the heat generated by the heat source can be quickly transferred to the phase change material in the heat storage module, thereby efficiently completing the heat storage process.

[0087] See also Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The HVAC system includes a heat source unit 100, a heat storage module 200, a heating unit (i.e. Figure 3 The heating unit 500-1 and the heating unit 500-2) and the control unit ( Figure 3(not shown). The heat source unit 100 is connected to the heating unit through a heating flow path so as to transfer heat to the heating unit, and the heating unit 500 is connected in parallel with the heat storage module 200, that is, the heat source unit 100 can separately deliver the heating medium to the heat storage module 200 through the charging flow path, or separately deliver the heating medium to the heating unit through the heating flow path, or simultaneously deliver the heating medium to the heat storage module 200 and the heating unit, and part of the pipelines of the charging flow path and the heating flow path can be shared. The heating unit can be one or more devices, including but not limited to a fan tray and floor heating.

[0088] The heating flow path can be understood as a connecting pipe between the heat source unit 100 and the heating unit, which is used to transport the heating medium (such as water or other heat transfer fluid). During the heating process of the heating unit, the heat source unit 100 transfers the generated heat to the heating unit through the heating flow path, thereby performing heating. Control valves (such as Figure 3 The control valve 300-1 and the control valve 300-2) are used to control the flow direction and flow rate of the heating medium.

[0089] In the embodiment of the present application, the control unit is configured as follows:

[0090] When the heating unit is providing heat, the heating flow path is controlled to be opened so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path;

[0091] When the heating unit is not providing heating, the heating flow path is controlled to be closed.

[0092] For example, Figure 3 As shown, the heating unit 500-1 can be a fan disk, and the heating unit 500-2 can be a floor heating; when any heating unit is providing heat, the control unit can open the corresponding heating flow path through the control valve 300-1 and the control valve 300-2, so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path, and the heat is transferred from the heat source unit 100 to the heating unit, and the heating unit transfers it to the indoor environment to keep the indoor temperature comfortable. Optionally, the heat source unit 100 can be provided with a pump device to provide the necessary power for the HVAC system and promote the flow of the heating medium in the system. Among them, a circulating pump 400-1 is provided on the charging flow path, and the circulating pump 400-1 can provide the necessary power when the heat storage module is charged or when the heat storage module is anti-freezing, so that the heating medium can circulate in the charging flow path. Optionally, a circulating pump (such as Figure 3When the heating unit 500-1 is providing heat, the circulating pump 400-2 provides the necessary power so that the heating medium can circulate in the heating flow path including the heating unit 500-1; when the heating unit 500-2 is providing heat, the circulating pump 400-3 provides the necessary power so that the heating medium can circulate in the heating flow path including the heating unit 500-2. When neither the heating unit 500-1 nor the heating unit 500-2 is providing heat, the control unit can close the heating flow path through the control valve 300-1 and / or the control valve 300-2 to prevent the heat generated by the heat source unit 100 from continuing to flow into the heating unit through the heating medium, so as to save energy and avoid heat waste.

[0093] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the control valve 300-1 can be used to control the switch of the charging flow path and the heating flow path; the control unit is configured as:

[0094] When the heat storage module 200 is not charged and the heating unit is providing heat, the control valve 300 - 1 is controlled to open the heating flow path and close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening degree.

[0095] Specifically, the heat storage module 200 and the heating unit are parallel structures, and the control valve 300-1 can be a three-way valve that can control the opening and closing of the charging flow path and the heating flow path at the same time. When the heat storage module 200 is not charged and the heating unit is heating, the heating flow path can be opened and the charging flow path can be closed at the same time. The control valve 300-2 can be selected not to be set or to cooperate with the control valve 300-1 to open and close the heating flow path according to the design of the heating unit. Among them, when the control valve 300-1 controls the charging flow path to be closed, the charging flow path has a preset minimum opening and cannot be completely closed to ensure that the heating medium can circulate at the lowest flow rate in a cold environment to prevent the liquid from freezing in stillness.

[0096] It should be noted that when the heating unit is providing heat, the heat source unit 100 is working, and there is a pump device running in the system pipeline to provide power for the flow of the heating medium, such as the pump device provided in the heat source unit 100 or the circulating pump 400-2 or circulating pump 400-3 in the heating flow path. At this time, even if the circulating pump 400-1 in the charging flow path is not turned on, the heating medium can flow in the charging flow path with the lowest opening, so as to avoid the freezing of the liquid in the charging flow path when it is still. In addition, when the power provided in the system is insufficient, the heating medium cannot flow in the charging flow path with the lowest opening, and the circulating pump 400-1 can also be turned on to provide power for the heating medium in the charging flow path, so as to avoid the freezing of the liquid due to stagnation in the pipeline of the charging flow path.

[0097] like Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, the control unit is configured to:

[0098] When the thermal storage module 200 is not charged and the heating unit is not providing heat, the control valve 300 - 1 is controlled to close the heating flow path and the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump 400 - 1 is turned on and the heat source unit 100 is turned off.

[0099] Specifically, when the HVAC system is not in operation, that is, when the HVAC system is neither storing heat nor providing heating, the control unit will shut down the heat source unit 100. The HVAC system does not need to provide heat when it is not in operation. Shutting down the heat source unit 100 can reduce energy waste, and also reduce equipment wear and tear, thereby extending the service life of the system. At the same time, the control unit will shut down the heating flow path and the charging flow path. Closing the heating flow path ensures that the heating medium generated by the heat source will not continue to flow into the heating unit, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. After closing the charging flow path, the charging flow path will not be completely closed, but will maintain a preset minimum opening. At this time, turning on the circulating pump 400-1 in the charging flow path can push a small amount of heating medium to circulate in the charging flow path, thereby preventing the liquid from stagnating and freezing in the pipeline or the heat storage module.

[0100] It should be noted that the circulation pump in the charging flow path can be turned on only in a low temperature environment and turned off in a high temperature environment. As in the above embodiment, a first temperature sensor is used to detect the ambient temperature; it is determined whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold; if so, the circulation pump is turned on; if not, the circulation pump is turned off.

[0101] In addition, since the heating unit is generally located indoors, the heating flow path pipeline located outdoors can drain the liquid, so the heating flow path may not adopt the anti-freezing measures in the above embodiments. However, in some embodiments, a minimum opening degree can also be set for the heating flow path, and a small amount of heating medium can be circulated in a cold environment to prevent the liquid in the heating flow path from freezing. In some embodiments, the control valve that controls the switch of the charging flow path and the heating flow path can completely close the charging flow path and the functional flow path in a high temperature environment (an environment where freezing does not occur, such as above 10°C).

[0102] Next, we will combine Figure 1 The HVAC system provided hereby introduces the anti-freezing method provided in the embodiment of the present application. The anti-freezing method provided in this embodiment can effectively avoid the risk of liquid freezing in the pipeline of the thermal storage module. Figure 4 , Figure 4 A schematic flow chart of an anti-freezing method for a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The anti-freezing method comprises the following steps:

[0103] S401, determining whether the thermal storage module is being charged.

[0104] Specifically, it is determined whether the heat storage module needs to be charged. If the heat storage module does not need to be charged, step S402 is executed; if the heat storage module needs to be charged, step S403 is executed.

[0105] S402, controlling the control valve to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and turning on the circulation pump.

[0106] Specifically, when the heat storage module does not need to be charged, the control unit will control the relevant equipment of the heat storage module to enter the anti-freeze mode to prevent the liquid from freezing in the pipeline under low temperature environment. At this time, by adjusting the control valve, the charging flow path is closed to the preset minimum opening (the preset minimum opening is not 0). The preset minimum opening is not completely closed, but maintains a minimum channel to allow the liquid to still flow at a lower flow rate in the flow path. This ensures that there is still a certain amount of liquid circulation in the charging flow path, and even if the charging operation is not performed, the liquid will not freeze due to long-term residence.

[0107] In order to ensure that the heating medium in the charging flow path can flow, the circulation pump provided on the charging flow path can also be turned on to promote the continuous flow of the heating medium in the system. Although the charging operation is not performed at this time, the role of the circulation pump ensures that the heating medium remains in motion in the charging flow path to maintain the fluid temperature in the pipeline and prevent the liquid from stagnating and freezing into ice under low temperature conditions.

[0108] S402, controlling the control valve to open the charging flow path.

[0109] Specifically, when the heat storage module needs to be charged, the charging flow path is opened (such as the opening is set to 100), and the heat supply medium can quickly transfer the heat generated by the heat source unit to the heat storage module, so that the heat storage module can store heat and charge.

[0110] In the embodiment of the present application, the heat storage module uses phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through a charging flow path, and a control valve and a circulation pump are provided on the charging flow path. When the heat storage module is not charged, the control unit controls the control valve of the charging flow path to close to a preset minimum opening, and starts the circulation pump to allow the heating medium to continue to flow in the flow path, thereby effectively avoiding the risk of liquid retention and freezing, and further improving the operating stability and safety of the system in cold environments.

[0111] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flow chart of a method for preventing freezing of a HVAC system provided by the present application in combination with a specific implementation scenario. The structure of the HVAC system can be found in the above Figure 1 ; The anti-freezing method specifically includes the following steps:

[0112] S501, determining whether the heat storage module is in heat storage mode.

[0113] Specifically, it is determined whether the heat storage module is in the heat storage mode. In the heat storage mode, the heat storage module is charged, and in the non-heat storage mode, the heat storage module is not charged. When the heat storage module is in the heat storage mode, step S502 is executed, and when the heat storage module is in the non-heat storage mode, step S505 is executed.

[0114] S502, the heat source unit is turned on, the control valve opens the charging flow path, and the circulation pump is turned on.

[0115] Specifically, when it is detected that the heat storage module enters the heat storage mode, the heat source unit is started to provide heat. At the same time, the control valve is opened to allow the heat supply medium to flow to the heat storage module through the charging flow path. In addition, the circulation pump is started to promote the flow of the heat supply medium to ensure that the heat provided by the heat source unit can be effectively transferred to the phase change material in the heat storage module.

[0116] S503, collecting the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module.

[0117] Specifically, the temperature data of the phase change material is collected in real time by a second temperature sensor (see the second temperature sensor in the above embodiment) provided in the heat storage module. The temperature of the phase change material can accurately reflect the current heat storage state of the phase change material. Optionally, the temperature data can be collected at preset intervals, such as once every 3 minutes.

[0118] S504, determining whether the temperature of the phase change material meets the set temperature.

[0119] Specifically, if the phase change material temperature meets the set temperature, step S505 is executed; if the phase change material temperature does not meet the set temperature, step S503 is returned. The phase change material temperature is compared with the set temperature (i.e., the charging target temperature). If the phase change material temperature reaches the set temperature, it means that the heat storage process is completed and the system can stop charging; otherwise, the charging state is maintained until the phase change material temperature reaches the set temperature.

[0120] S505, the heat source unit is turned off, the control valve closes the charging flow path, and the circulation pump is turned off.

[0121] Specifically, when the temperature of the phase change material reaches the set temperature, the heat source unit stops heating, and the control valve in the charging flow path is closed to cut off the flow of the heating medium. At this time, the circulation pump also stops working, indicating the end of the heat storage process.

[0122] S506, collecting the ambient temperature.

[0123] Specifically, through the first temperature sensor (see the first temperature sensor in the above embodiment for details), the system collects the current ambient temperature in real time to determine whether there is a risk of freezing caused by the external environment. The first temperature sensor is installed at the external air flow position to accurately monitor the change of the external ambient temperature. Optionally, the temperature can be collected at intervals of a preset time, such as once every 3 minutes.

[0124] S507: Determine whether the ambient temperature is less than a preset temperature threshold.

[0125] Specifically, if the ambient temperature is less than the preset temperature threshold, execute step S508; if the ambient temperature is not less than the preset temperature threshold, return to step S506. Determine the freezing risk based on the collected ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature is less than the preset temperature threshold (such as 8°C), the system will take anti-freeze measures and enter the anti-freeze mode; if the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold, the ambient temperature is high and there is no freezing risk, and the system may not take anti-freeze measures. Optionally, when the ambient temperature is continuously higher than the preset temperature threshold for more than a preset time threshold (such as 30 minutes) or the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature threshold for more than a certain difference (such as 10°C), the frequency of ambient temperature collection can be reduced (such as once every 2 hours) to reduce power consumption.

[0126] S508, start the circulation pump.

[0127] Specifically, when the ambient temperature is detected to be lower than the preset temperature threshold, the circulation pump is started to keep the heat supply medium circulating at a low flow rate in the charging flow path. This can prevent the liquid in the pipeline and the heat storage module from freezing, ensuring the safety of the system in a low temperature environment.

[0128] It should be noted that after the HVAC system receives the heat storage signal, it can enter the heat storage mode and execute step S501.

[0129] See also Figure 6 , Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of an anti-freezing method for a HVAC system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The structural schematic diagram of the HVAC system can be combined with Figure 2 , the anti-freezing method specifically includes the following steps:

[0130] S601, determining whether the heating unit is providing heating.

[0131] Specifically, it is determined whether the heating unit needs to provide heating. If the heating unit does not need to provide heating, step S602 is executed; if the heating unit needs to provide heating, step S603 is executed.

[0132] S602, close the heating flow path.

[0133] Specifically, when it is determined that the heating unit does not need to provide heating, the control valve in the heating flow path is closed to stop the heating medium from flowing to the heating unit through the heating flow path. This can avoid unnecessary energy consumption and ensure efficient operation of the system. After closing the heating flow path, step S604 is executed.

[0134] S603, open the heating flow path.

[0135] Specifically, when it is detected that the heating unit needs to provide heating, the control valve in the heating flow path is opened to allow the heating medium to flow into the heating unit through the heating flow path, ensuring that the heating unit can perform heating operation normally. Then, step S604 is executed.

[0136] S604: Determine whether the thermal storage module is being charged.

[0137] Specifically, it is determined whether the heat storage module needs to be charged. If the heat storage module does not need to be charged, step S605 is executed; if the heat storage module needs to be charged, step S607 is executed.

[0138] S605, closing the charging flow path.

[0139] Specifically, when it is determined that the heat storage module does not need to be charged, the control valve of the charging flow path is closed to stop the heat supply medium from flowing to the heat storage module to prevent excessive heat from entering the heat storage module. In addition, the charging flow path is preset with a minimum opening and cannot be completely closed. At this time, the heat supply medium can flow at a low flow rate in the charging flow path, which can effectively prevent the liquid in the pipeline of the charging flow path from freezing. In addition, when the system detects that the heating flow path is closed, S606 is executed.

[0140] S606, when the heating flow path is closed, turn on the circulation pump of the charging flow path and turn off the heat source unit.

[0141] Specifically, if neither the heating unit nor the heat storage module is working properly, the heat source unit is turned off to save energy. When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature threshold (ambient temperature with freezing risk), the system enters the anti-freeze mode, turns on the circulation pump of the charging flow path, keeps the heating medium in the charging flow path flowing, and prevents the liquid from freezing.

[0142] S607, opening the charging flow path.

[0143] Specifically, when it is determined that the thermal storage module needs to be charged, the control valve of the charging flow path is opened to ensure that the heat supply medium can flow into the thermal storage module, thereby performing the charging operation. At this time, the HVAC system enters the heat storage mode until the thermal storage module reaches the set temperature. Optionally, in order to ensure that the heat supply medium can flow into the thermal storage module quickly, it is also necessary to start the circulation pump on the charging flow path to ensure that the heat supply medium has sufficient power.

[0144] It should be noted that the above steps S601 and S604 can be performed either first, then S601, or simultaneously. The above method steps are only examples, and the specific implementation process is not limited thereto.

[0145] See next Figure 7 , which is a structural block diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The electronic device is applied to Figure 1 or Figure 3 In the HVAC system shown in the figure, the electronic device may include one or more of the following components: a processor 710, a memory 720, an input device 730, an output device 740, and a bus 750. The processor 710, the memory 720, the input device 730, and the output device 740 may be connected via a bus 750.

[0146] The processor 710 may include one or more processing cores. The processor 710 uses various interfaces and lines to connect the various parts of the entire electronic device, and executes various functions of the HVAC system and processes data by running or executing instructions, programs, code sets or instruction sets stored in the memory 720, and calling data stored in the memory 720. Optionally, the processor 710 can be implemented in at least one hardware form of digital signal processing (DSP), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and programmable logic array (PLA). The processor 710 can integrate one or a combination of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a modem. It is understandable that the above-mentioned modem may not be integrated into the processor 710, but may be implemented separately through a communication chip.

[0147] The memory 720 may include a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM). Optionally, the memory 720 includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 720 may be used to store instructions, programs, codes, code sets, or instruction sets.

[0148] The input device 730 is used to receive input commands or data, and the input device 730 may include but is not limited to a remote controller, a microphone or other touch devices. The output device 740 is used to output commands or data.

[0149] In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure of the electronic device shown in the above drawings does not constitute a limitation on the electronic device, and the electronic device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently. For example, the electronic device also includes a radio frequency circuit, an input unit, a sensor, an audio circuit, a wireless fidelity (WIFI) module, a power supply, a Bluetooth module and other components, which will not be described in detail here.

[0150] Understandably, Figure 7 This is an optional structure of the electronic device shown for ease of understanding. The specific structure of the electronic device can be designed and changed according to actual conditions, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose specific limitations on this.

[0151] exist Figure 7 In the electronic device, the memory 720 may store any one of the above-mentioned programs for the anti-freezing method of the HVAC system. The processor 710 may be used to call any one of the programs for the anti-freezing method of the HVAC system stored in the memory 720.

[0152] For example, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may be used to call the anti-freezing method of the HVAC system stored in the memory 720, and specifically perform the following operations:

[0153] When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heating medium to flow in the charging flow path; the preset minimum opening is not zero.

[0154] In some possible embodiments, the HVAC system includes a first temperature sensor, and the first temperature sensor is used to detect the ambient temperature; the processor 710 further specifically executes:

[0155] When the heat storage module is not being charged, controlling the control valve to close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and determining whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold;

[0156] If yes, turn on the above mentioned circulation pump;

[0157] If not, turn off the above circulation pump.

[0158] In some possible embodiments, the HVAC system includes a second temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module; the processor 710 further specifically executes:

[0159] When the thermal storage module is charged, determining whether the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor meets the set temperature;

[0160] If yes, the thermal storage module stops charging.

[0161] In some possible embodiments, the processor 710 further specifically performs:

[0162] After receiving the heat storage signal, the control valve is controlled to open the charging flow path and turn on the circulation pump to charge the heat storage module.

[0163] In some possible embodiments, the HVAC system includes a heating unit, the heat source unit is connected to the heating unit through a heating flow path, and the heating unit is connected in parallel with the heat storage module; the processor 710 specifically further executes:

[0164] When the heating unit is providing heat, controlling the heating flow path to be opened so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path;

[0165] When the heating unit is not providing heating, the heating flow path is controlled to be closed.

[0166] In some possible embodiments, the control valve is used to control the switch of the charging flow path and the heating flow path; the processor 710 further specifically executes:

[0167] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is providing heat, the control valve is controlled to open the heating flow path and close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening degree.

[0168] In some possible embodiments, the processor 710 further specifically performs:

[0169] When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is not providing heat, the control valve is controlled to close the heating flow path and the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump is turned on and the heat source unit is turned off.

[0170] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a computer or a processor, the computer or the processor executes one or more steps in the above embodiment. If the above HVAC system anti-freezing method is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in the above computer-readable storage medium.

[0171] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The above-mentioned computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the above-mentioned computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the above-mentioned process or function according to the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The above-mentioned computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable devices. The above-mentioned computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted by the above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium. The above-mentioned computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, a computer, a server or a data center to another website site, a computer, a server or a data center by wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (Digital Subscriber Line, DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. that contains one or more available media integrated. The above-mentioned available media can be magnetic media (for example, floppy disks, hard disks, tapes), optical media (for example, digital versatile discs (DVD)), or semiconductor media (for example, solid state disks (SSD)), etc.

[0172] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above-mentioned methods. The aforementioned storage medium includes: ROM, RAM, magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes. In the absence of conflict, the technical features in this embodiment and the implementation scheme can be combined arbitrarily.

[0173] The embodiments described above are merely descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Without departing from the design spirit of the present application, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present application by ordinary technicians in this field should all fall within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

[0174] The above describes a specific embodiment of the present application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims and the specification can be performed in an order different from the order in the embodiments recorded in the specification and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the process depicted in the accompanying drawings does not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

Claims

1. A HVAC system, characterized in that: The HVAC system includes: Heat source unit; A heat storage module, wherein the heat storage module has a phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through an energy charging flow path, and the energy charging flow path is provided with a control valve and a circulation pump; A control unit configured to: When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heat supply medium to flow in the charging flow path; the preset minimum opening is not zero.

2. The HVAC system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The HVAC system includes a first temperature sensor, which is used to detect the ambient temperature; the control unit is configured to: When the heat storage module is not being charged, controlling the control valve to close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and determining whether the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature threshold; If yes, turn on the circulation pump; If not, the circulation pump is turned off.

3. The HVAC system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The HVAC system includes a second temperature sensor, which is used to detect the temperature of the phase change material in the thermal storage module; the control unit is configured to: When the thermal storage module is charged, determining whether the temperature of the phase change material detected by the second temperature sensor meets a set temperature; If so, the heat storage module stops charging.

4. The HVAC system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit is configured as follows: After receiving the heat storage signal, the control valve is controlled to open the charging flow path and turn on the circulation pump to charge the heat storage module.

5. The HVAC system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The HVAC system includes a heating unit, the heat source unit is connected to the heating unit through a heating flow path, and the heating unit is connected in parallel with the heat storage module; the control unit is configured as follows: When the heating unit is providing heat, controlling the heating flow path to open so that the heating medium flows in the heating flow path; When the heating unit is not providing heating, the heating flow path is controlled to be closed.

6. The HVAC system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control valve is used to control the switch of the charging flow path and the heating flow path; the control unit is configured as follows: When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is providing heat, the control valve is controlled to open the heating flow path and close the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening degree.

7. The HVAC system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control unit is configured as follows: When the heat storage module is not charged and the heating unit is not providing heat, the control valve is controlled to close the heating flow path and the charging flow path to the preset minimum opening, and the circulation pump is turned on and the heat source unit is turned off.

8. A method for preventing freezing of a HVAC system, characterized in that: Applied to a HVAC system, the HVAC system comprising: Heat source unit; A heat storage module, wherein the heat storage module has a phase change material, and the heat source unit is connected to the heat storage module through an energy charging flow path, and the energy charging flow path is provided with a control valve and a circulation pump; The method comprises: When the heat storage module is not charged, the control valve is controlled to close the charging flow path to a preset minimum opening and the circulation pump is turned on to allow the heat supply medium to flow in the charging flow path; the preset minimum opening is not zero.

9. A computer storage medium, characterized in that The computer storage medium stores a plurality of instructions, which are suitable for being loaded by a processor and executing the method steps of claim 8.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: A processor and a memory; wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the computer program is suitable for being loaded by the processor and executing the method steps as claimed in claim 8.

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