Water heater control method, water heater and storage medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method for a water heater, a water heater, and a storage medium, and relates to the technical field of water heaters. The control method for the water heater of the present invention includes the following steps: determining whether a drainage component meets drainage conditions, wherein the drainage component is used to collect condensed water in a condensing heat exchanger; if the drainage conditions are met, determining the drainage power of the drainage component, and causing the drainage component to discharge the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber at the drainage power; if the drainage conditions are not met, causing the drainage component to not drain. The drainage component can be used to drain the condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger to avoid a large amount of condensed water remaining in the condensing heat exchanger, so that the condensing heat exchanger has a higher heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the temperature outside the combustion chamber can be lowered, avoiding failures of parts in the combustion chamber due to poor heat dissipation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of water heaters, and in particular to a water heater control method, a water heater, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Condensing gas water heaters are popular among consumers for their high heating efficiency and low energy consumption. When the gas burns in the combustion chamber, the heat generated not only directly heats the heat exchange pipes in the combustion chamber but also directs the flue gas generated by the gas into the condensing heat exchanger, where it absorbs the heat from the flue gas and further heats the heat exchange pipes there, thereby improving heating efficiency.

[0003] However, when the gas is burning, the temperature of the combustion chamber is very high, causing the parts near the combustion chamber to be in a high-temperature environment. The high-temperature environment not only increases the failure rate of the parts, but also causes the shell of the water heater to have a high temperature, causing burns when the user touches the water heater shell. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a control method for a water heater, a water heater, and a storage medium, which are used to reduce high-temperature failures of the water heater and improve the user experience.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a water heater, which determines whether a drainage component meets a drainage condition, wherein the drainage component is used to collect condensed water in a condensing heat exchanger;

[0006] If the drainage condition is met, the drainage power of the drainage component is determined, and the drainage component is caused to discharge the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber at the drainage power;

[0007] If the drainage conditions are not met, the drainage component is prevented from draining.

[0008] In one embodiment, the drainage component includes an atomizer, which is used to atomize the collected condensed water and discharge it to the outer surface of the combustion chamber; the drainage conditions include that the water heater is started and the liquid level height of the atomizer reaches a first liquid level, or the liquid level height of the atomizer exceeds a second liquid level, wherein the second liquid level is higher than the first liquid level.

[0009] In one embodiment, determining the drainage power of the drainage assembly includes: determining whether the water heater is started;

[0010] If the water heater is started, determining the operating power of the atomizer according to the operating power of the water heater;

[0011] If the water heater is not started, the operating power of the atomizer is set to the first power.

[0012] In one embodiment, determining the operating power of the atomizer according to the operating power of the water heater includes calculating the operating power of the atomizer according to the following formula:

[0013] ,

[0014] in, is the operating power of the atomizer, is the operating power of the water heater, is the rated power of the water heater, is the rated power of the atomizer, k is the proportional coefficient, and 0<k<1.

[0015] In the second aspect, the present invention also provides a water heater, which includes: a combustion assembly, the combustion assembly includes a combustion chamber; a condensing heat exchanger, the condensing heat exchanger is connected to the combustion chamber; a drainage assembly, the drainage assembly is connected to the condensing heat exchanger to collect condensed water, the drainage port of the drainage assembly is facing the outer surface of the combustion chamber, so as to discharge the collected condensed water to the outer surface of the combustion chamber; and a controller, the controller is electrically connected to the drainage assembly, and the controller is used to execute the above-mentioned control method.

[0016] In one embodiment, the drainage assembly includes an atomizer and a liquid level detection device, wherein the liquid level detection device is connected to the atomizer and is used to measure the liquid level height of the condensed water in the atomizer; the controller is electrically connected to the atomizer, and the controller is electrically connected to the liquid level detection device.

[0017] In one embodiment, the drainage component also includes a neutralization device, one side of the neutralization device is connected to the condensing heat exchanger, and the other side of the neutralization device is connected to the atomizer, and the condensed water in the atomizer is the condensed water after acid and alkali neutralization by the neutralization device.

[0018] In one embodiment, the water heater further includes a shell, and the burner, the condensing heat exchanger and the drainage assembly are all arranged inside the shell; the shell is equipped with an exhaust device, and the exhaust device is used to discharge the gas in the shell.

[0019] In one embodiment, the condensing heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange component, and a second heat exchange component is provided at the combustion chamber, and the second heat exchange component is connected to the first heat exchange component.

[0020] In a third aspect, the present invention further provides a storage medium storing a computer program, which implements the control method described above when executed by a processor.

[0021] Compared to existing technologies, the present invention offers the advantage of utilizing a drainage assembly to drain condensed water from the condensing heat exchanger, preventing large amounts of condensed water from remaining in the condensing heat exchanger and improving heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, rather than draining the condensed water directly out of the water heater, utilizing the drainage assembly to drain the condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber can cool the combustion chamber and prevent failures of combustion chamber components due to poor heat dissipation. Furthermore, the condensed water can be used to absorb heat from within the water heater, preventing burns to the user and improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 is a flow chart of determining the drainage power of a drainage component in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a structural block diagram of a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 1 is another structural block diagram of a water heater in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 100. Combustion assembly; 110. Combustion chamber;

[0030] 200, condensing heat exchanger; 210, condensing heat exchange chamber;

[0031] 300, drainage assembly; 310, atomizer; 320, neutralization device; 330, conduit;

[0032] 400, housing;

[0033] 500, exhaust assembly; 510, exhaust fan;

[0034] 610, water inlet pipe; 620, water outlet pipe; 630, gas pipe; 640, smoke exhaust pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Condensing heat exchange water heaters are gaining popularity due to their ability to more fully utilize the heat of the fuel and their high heating efficiency. However, compared to traditional gas water heaters, condensing heat exchangers, which utilize flue gas heat to raise the water temperature, absorb heat from the water vapor in the flue gas during the heat exchange process, causing the gaseous water vapor to cool and form condensed water. The presence of condensed water reduces the efficiency of the condensing heat exchanger, and currently, condensed water is often discharged directly with the flue gas to improve its heating efficiency.

[0037] On the other hand, since the heat source of a condensing heat exchange water heater is still generated by gas combustion, the combustion process rapidly raises the temperature of the combustion chamber. To ensure that the water path surrounding the combustion chamber fully absorbs the heat in the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber is generally made of copper or other materials with excellent thermal conductivity. This also causes the heat outside the combustion chamber to be very high, and parts installed outside the combustion chamber often malfunction due to the high temperature. In addition, the water heater housing 400 will also reach a high temperature, causing the user to be burned by the water heater housing 400 when touching the water heater control panel.

[0038] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of residual condensed water and high temperature outside the combustion chamber, the embodiments of the present application provide a control method for a water heater, a water heater, and a storage medium.

[0039] See also Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, the control method of the water heater includes the following steps:

[0040] S01: Determine whether the drainage component 300 meets the drainage condition, wherein the drainage component 300 is used to collect condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger 200;

[0041] S02: If the drainage component 300 meets the drainage condition, the drainage power of the drainage component 300 is determined, so that the drainage component 300 discharges the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 at the drainage power;

[0042] S03: If the drainage condition is not met, the drainage component 300 is stopped from draining.

[0043] By discharging the condensed water collected from the condensing heat exchanger 200 to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, not only can the condensed water content in the condensing heat exchanger 200 be reduced, but the temperature outside the combustion chamber 110 can also be reduced, thereby cooling the components outside the combustion chamber 110 and preventing the components outside the combustion chamber 110 from malfunctioning due to high temperature. At the same time, due to the higher temperature in the combustion chamber 110, sufficient heat can be provided for the condensed water discharged outside the combustion chamber 110, preventing the condensed water from solidifying due to low temperature. Compared with discharging the condensed water to the smoke exhaust pipe 640, this has a better discharge effect, preventing the condensed water from solidifying in the smoke exhaust pipe 640 and flowing back into the condensing heat exchanger 200 when the external temperature rises.

[0044] in, Figure 1 The figure shows a solution of setting an atomizer 310 in the drainage component 300, which uses the atomizer 310 to atomize the condensed water and then spray it out, thereby expanding the spraying range of the condensed water and increasing the contact area between the condensed water and the outer surface of the combustion chamber, thereby achieving faster cooling of the parts outside the combustion chamber 110.

[0045] It is understandable that it is not necessary to set up an atomizer 310 in the drainage component 300. In other implementations, the drainage component 300 can be directly used to drop condensed water on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110. The condensed water can also be used to cool the outside of the combustion chamber 110, and the discharge area of ​​the condensed water can be better limited to avoid circuit damage caused by contact between the condensed water and electrical components.

[0046] Among them, since the drainage component 300 is only used to drain the condensed water when the drainage conditions are met, the drainage component 300 can be controlled to close when there is no need to cool the combustion chamber 110, thereby preventing the condensed water from affecting the temperature increase inside the combustion chamber 110.

[0047] See also Figure 1 As shown, in some implementations, the drainage assembly 300 includes an atomizer 310, which is used to atomize the collected condensed water and discharge it to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110. Atomizing the condensed water by the atomizer 310 can reduce the volume of the water droplets, thereby evenly spraying the condensed water to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0048] The structure of the atomizer 310 is complex and diverse, and can be generally divided into three types according to the principle of atomization:

[0049] 1. Liquid pressurized atomization

[0050] It only uses a pump to pressurize the liquid to the required pressure, which is called a liquid pressurized nozzle. The average spray particle size of this type of nozzle is coarser, and the finest spray particle size is about 50um (Micron).

[0051] 2. Gas-assisted atomization

[0052] Air-assisted nozzles use high-pressure gas as power to assist in liquid micro-atomization. The liquid supply method of this type of nozzle can be divided into two types: pressure type and siphon type. The average spray particle size is relatively fine, and the finest can reach 10~20um (Micron).

[0053] 3. Ultrasonic atomization

[0054] A titanium alloy ultrasonic generator is installed at the tip of the air-assisted nozzle. When the atomized droplets hit the titanium alloy ultrasonic generator at high speed, high-frequency oscillation and ultrasonic waves are immediately generated. The spray particle size is thus further refined, and the average zero-particle size can reach below 10μm (Micron).

[0055] The appropriate type of atomizer 310 can be selected based on cost and performance requirements. Since the spray particle size requirements for cooling are not particularly high, a liquid pressurized atomizer 310 is generally sufficient. Specifically, a motor-driven water pump can be installed in the atomizer 310 to pressurize the condensed water. The pressurized condensed water is then passed through the nozzle of the atomizer 310, atomizing the condensed water and improving the cooling effect of the condensed water.

[0056] The drainage conditions in step S01 include: 1. The water heater is started and the liquid level in the atomizer 310 reaches a first liquid level (reaching the first liquid level means that the liquid level is higher than or equal to the first liquid level); 2. The liquid level in the atomizer 310 exceeds a second liquid level, wherein the second liquid level is higher than the first liquid level.

[0057] That is to say, when one of the two requirements is met, it is determined that the drainage component 300 meets the drainage conditions, and the drainage component 300 can be controlled to spray condensed water toward the outer wall of the combustion chamber to achieve cooling of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0058] When the amount of condensed water in the atomizer 310 is low (higher than the first liquid level and lower than the second liquid level), the water heater must be started before the water drain condition is satisfied. When the amount of condensed water in the atomizer 310 is high, the water drain condition is satisfied immediately, regardless of whether the water heater is started.

[0059] It can be understood that the water heater start-up here refers to the heat dissipation chamber of the water heater starting to work, that is, the gas in the combustion chamber starts to burn.

[0060] Since the drainage conditions are set to the above conditions, the condensed water can be discharged first when there is too much condensed water in the atomizer 310, so as to avoid the condensed water content exceeding the capacity of the atomizer 310, thereby causing the condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger 200 to be unable to be directed to the drainage component 300, and still remain in the condensing heat exchanger 200, affecting the subsequent hot water work.

[0061] When there is less condensed water in the atomizer 310, there is no need to release the condensed water in the drainage component 300 too early. The condensed water is discharged through the drainage component 300 only when the water heater is operating normally, thereby utilizing the condensed water to achieve the effect of cooling the outer surface of the combustion chamber.

[0062] In some implementations, the first liquid level may be set to 20% of the maximum capacity of the atomizer 310, and the second liquid level may be set to 70% of the maximum capacity of the atomizer 310. In other implementations, the appropriate first and second liquid levels may be determined based on the performance of the atomizer 310. For example, if the storage capacity of the atomizer 310 is large, the first and second liquid levels may be appropriately increased.

[0063] See also Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in some implementations, determining the drainage power of the drainage component 300 in step S02 includes:

[0064] S021: Determine whether the water heater is started;

[0065] S022: If the water heater is started, the operating power of the atomizer 310 is determined according to the operating power of the water heater;

[0066] S023: If the water heater is not started, the operating power of the atomizer 310 is set to the first power.

[0067] That is, when the water heater is started, the operating power of the atomizer 310 needs to be adjusted in real time according to the operating power of the water heater. This increases the operating power of the atomizer 310 when the water heater power is high, so that the water droplets ejected by the atomizer 310 have a higher pressure, and the water droplets ejected from the nozzle are smaller. This allows the liquid ejected by the atomizer 310 to have a better cooling effect. In addition, when the operating power of the water heater is low, the operating power of the atomizer 310 is appropriately lowered, so that the particles of the water droplets ejected by the atomizer 310 are relatively larger, avoiding excessive cooling of the combustion chamber 110 and reducing the heating efficiency of the water heater.

[0068] Compared with setting the operating power of the atomizer 310 to a constant value, determining the operating power of the atomizer 310 according to the operating power of the water heater can better adapt to the operation of the water heater.

[0069] When the water heater is not started, the drainage condition it must meet is that the liquid level in the atomizer 310 exceeds the second liquid level. At this time, setting the operating power of the atomizer 310 to the first power allows for stable drainage of condensed water from the atomizer 310. In some implementations, the first power is 50% of the rated power of the atomizer 310. Compared to setting the power of the atomizer 310 to full load power, setting the first power to 50% of the rated power of the atomizer 310 can extend the service life of the atomizer 310. In other implementations, an appropriate first power is selected as the operating power of the atomizer 310 based on actual conditions.

[0070] In some implementations, determining the operating power of the atomizer 310 based on the operating power of the water heater includes calculating the operating power of the atomizer 310 according to the following formula:

[0071] ,

[0072] in, is the operating power of the atomizer 310, is the operating power of the water heater, is the rated power of the water heater, is the rated power of the atomizer 310, k is the proportional coefficient, and 0<k<1. In other words, the operating power of the atomizer 310 The operating power of the water heater In direct proportion, when the operating power of the water heater is greater, the operating power of the atomizer 310 needs to be set higher.

[0073] It is understandable that the operating power of the water heater The higher the power, the more condensed water is generated, resulting in more water being received by the atomizer 310. The higher the setting, the water in the atomizer 310 can be sprayed out in time to prevent the condensed water in the atomizer 310 from overflowing, and can provide a better cooling effect. It can ensure that the water amount in the atomizer 310 is maintained in a reasonable range to prevent the condensed water in the atomizer 310 from overflowing.

[0074] Preferably, 0.7<k<0.9. The reason for this setting is to make the operating intensity of the atomizer more consistent with the operating intensity of the water heater, and to protect the operating power of the atomizer to be limited to 70%~90% of the rated power, thereby protecting the service life of the atomizer.

[0075] In some implementations, the scaling factor k is 80%, avoiding the calculated Greater than In other implementations, the proportional coefficient k may be set according to actual conditions.

[0076] It can be understood that in order to prevent the condensed water sprayed from the atomizer 310 from corroding the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, the control method of the water heater can also include acid-base neutralization treatment of the condensed water collected by the drainage component 300 before the drainage component 300 discharges the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 with drainage power in step S02.

[0077] By performing acid-base neutralization treatment on the condensed water, the corrosiveness of the condensed water can be reduced, thereby avoiding corrosion of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 caused by the spraying of the condensed water, and extending the service life of the combustion chamber 110.

[0078] See also Figure 1 As shown, in some implementations, in order to achieve acid-base neutralization of the condensed water, a neutralization device 320 is further provided between the atomizer 310 and the condensing heat exchanger 200 , and the acid-base neutralization of the condensed water can be achieved after the condensed water passes through the neutralization device 320 .

[0079] It can be understood that before the drainage component 300 discharges the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 with drainage power in step S02, the drainage direction of the drainage component 300 can also be adjusted according to the heat distribution area on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, so that the drainage port of the drainage component 300 is directed toward the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0080] Specifically, multiple temperature detection devices can be set on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 to detect the temperature of each area on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110. The multiple temperature detection devices are electrically connected to the controller so that the controller can determine the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 based on the temperature data measured by the multiple temperature detection devices.

[0081] To adjust the direction of the drain assembly 300's drain outlet, a motor-driven shaft can be installed in the water heater, and the drain assembly 300 can be connected to the shaft. When the drain assembly 300's drain direction needs to be adjusted, the motor is controlled by a controller to rotate the drain assembly 300 on the shaft, thereby directing the condensed water discharged by the drain assembly 300 toward the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110. Alternatively, a robotic arm can be installed in the water heater, and the drain assembly 300 can be mounted on the robotic arm. The controller can control the movement of the robotic arm to direct the drain assembly 300's drain outlet toward the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0082] Of course, it is also possible to provide multiple injection ports with different injection directions in the drain assembly 300, and connect the multiple injection ports to a common condensed water collection container. During the injection process, the controller controls the injection port to spray toward the high-temperature outer surface area of ​​the combustion chamber 110, while controlling the other injection ports to be closed, so that the condensed water in the condensed water collection container is discharged to the high-temperature area of ​​the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, thereby more accurately regulating the temperature of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0083] Second, see Figure 1 、 Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a water heater, which includes: a combustion component 100, a condensing heat exchanger 200, a drainage component 300 and a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the drainage component 300 and is used to execute the above control method.

[0084] The combustion assembly 100 includes a combustion chamber 110, which is connected to a condensing heat exchanger 200. The condensing heat exchanger 200 utilizes the flue gas in the combustion chamber 110 to achieve heat exchange, directing the heat from the flue gas to the pipes that need to be heated, thereby improving the heating efficiency of the water heater. Furthermore, as the heat from the flue gas is transferred to the pipes in the condensing heat exchanger 200, the temperature of the gaseous water in the flue gas often drops, forming condensed water.

[0085] The drainage assembly 300 is connected to the condensing heat exchanger 200 to collect the condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger 200. Figure 1 As shown, the drainage component 300 is connected to the bottom of the exhaust pipe 640 of the condensing heat exchanger 200. When the gas water in the exhaust pipe 640 condenses to form condensed water, the condensed water will fall into the drainage component 300 under the action of gravity, so that the drainage component 300 can collect the condensed water.

[0086] The drainage port of the drainage component 300 faces the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 to drain the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 .

[0087] Since the drainage component 300 has a drainage port facing the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, when the controller controls the drainage component 300 to perform drainage, the condensed water collected in the drainage component 300 can be discharged to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, which not only consumes the collected condensed water, but also cools the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, thereby preventing parts outside the combustion chamber 110 from malfunctioning due to high temperature, and can also reduce the heat transferred from the combustion chamber 110 to the water heater shell 400, thereby preventing the temperature at the water heater shell 400 from rising too quickly, thereby improving the user experience.

[0088] See also Figure 1As shown, the height of the atomizer 310 can be set to be flush with the combustion chamber 110, or the height of the atomizer 310 can be set to be slightly higher than the height of the combustion chamber 110, so that when the condensed water in the atomizer 310 is sprayed toward the combustion chamber 110, even if it falls a certain distance due to gravity, it can still cover the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, thereby achieving cooling of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0089] See also Figure 1 、 Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some implementations, the drainage assembly 300 includes an atomizer 310 and a liquid level detection device, which is connected to the atomizer 310 and is used to measure the liquid level of condensed water in the atomizer 310 .

[0090] The controller is electrically connected to the atomizer 310 , and the controller is electrically connected to the liquid level detection device.

[0091] Since the drainage component 300 includes an atomizer 310, when the drainage component 300 drains water, the atomizer 310 can be used to atomize the condensed water in the drainage component 300, thereby separating the condensed water into many small-diameter condensed water particles. Compared with large particles of condensed water, the area between the atomized condensed water and the air and the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 is increased, the heat exchange efficiency is higher, and the heat in the combustion chamber 110 can be more quickly directed to the atomized condensed water, thereby achieving cooling of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110.

[0092] Currently, liquid level detection devices can be broadly classified based on their operating principles into capacitive level gauges, resistive level gauges, pressure level gauges, ultrasonic level gauges, magnetic float level gauges, radar level gauges, and others. All of these types of level gauges can be used in the liquid level detection device of this application, and the appropriate liquid level detection device can be selected based on the actual use environment.

[0093] By electrically connecting the liquid level detection device to the controller, the liquid level height data in the atomizer 310 measured by the liquid level detection device can be transmitted to the controller, and the controller can determine whether it is necessary to control the atomizer 310 to spray and discharge the condensed water stored therein according to the current liquid level height.

[0094] The provision of a liquid level detection device for detecting the liquid level in the atomizer 310 enables real-time monitoring of the liquid level in the atomizer 310. This prevents condensed water from overflowing from the atomizer 310 and failing to drain the condensed water in a timely manner. Furthermore, this prevents the condensed water from being drained from the atomizer 310 when the condensed water content is too low, which would result in an ineffective cooling effect.

[0095] It should be noted that atomizer 310 is equipped with a container for collecting condensed water, which is connected to a nozzle and a pressure pump. A liquid level detection device is used to detect the condensed water level in the container. The controller controls the opening and closing of the nozzle and the power of the pressure pump to achieve different levels of atomization. When the condensed water needs to be atomized into finer particles, the controller increases the power of the pressure pump.

[0096] See also Figure 1 As shown, in some implementations, the drainage assembly 300 also includes a neutralization device 320, one side of the neutralization device 320 is connected to the condensing heat exchanger 200, and the other side of the neutralization device 320 is connected to the atomizer 310, and the condensed water in the atomizer 310 is the condensed water after acid and alkali neutralization by the neutralization device 320.

[0097] Since the condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger 200 is often weakly acidic, directly spraying it onto the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 may corrode the metal on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 and shorten the service life of the combustion chamber 110.

[0098] The neutralization device 320 neutralizes the acid and alkali of the condensed water, so that the condensed water in the atomizer 310 is all neutralized condensed water with low corrosiveness, thereby extending the service life of the combustion chamber 110.

[0099] See also Figure 1 As shown, the drainage assembly 300 further includes a conduit 330 connected to the bottom of the condensing heat exchanger 200. The neutralization device 320 is connected to the condensing heat exchanger 200 through the conduit 330. To prevent the conduit 330 from being corroded by the unneutralized condensed water, it is made of a high temperature and corrosion resistant material.

[0100] See also Figure 1 As shown, in some implementations, the water heater also includes a shell 400, and the combustion component 100, the condensing heat exchanger 200 and the drainage component 300 are all arranged inside the shell 400; the shell 400 is equipped with an exhaust device, which is used to discharge the gas in the shell 400.

[0101] By providing an exhaust device on the housing 400, the condensed water ejected from the drainage device can be converted into water vapor and discharged from the housing 400, thereby preventing the formation of condensed water in the housing 400 after the temperature drops. Specifically, an exhaust port can be provided on the housing 400. The exhaust device may include an exhaust fan 510 installed at the exhaust port. The exhaust fan 510 accelerates the flow rate of gas within the housing 400 and discharges the water vapor in the housing 400. It will be understood that the exhaust fan 510 not only discharges the gas in the housing 400, but also improves the cooling efficiency of the housing 400, preventing the housing 400 from overheating and affecting the user experience.

[0102] In some implementations, the controller can be electrically connected to the exhaust assembly 500, and the exhaust assembly 500 can be opened while the atomizer 310 is spraying condensed water. After the atomizer sprays the condensed water onto the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, the exhaust assembly 500 can accelerate the gas flow rate within the housing 400, speeding up the evaporation rate of the condensed water on the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, thereby removing heat from the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 more quickly.

[0103] See also Figure 1 As shown, in some implementations, the condensing heat exchanger 200 includes a condensing heat exchange chamber 210 , which is connected to the combustion chamber 110 , and the flue gas generated by combustion in the combustion chamber 110 flows into the condensing heat exchange chamber 210 .

[0104] A first heat exchange tube is provided in the condensing heat exchange chamber 210. The first heat exchange tube can utilize the high-temperature flue gas in the condensing heat exchange chamber 210 to heat the water in the first heat exchange tube, thereby utilizing the heat of the high-temperature flue gas. A second heat exchange tube is provided in the combustion chamber 110, and the second heat exchange tube is connected to the first heat exchange tube. In other words, the second heat exchange tube directly utilizes the heat of the combustion chamber 110 to heat the water in the second heat exchange tube. Since the first heat exchange tube is connected to the second heat exchange tube, the fluid therein undergoes two heat exchanges, namely, in the combustion chamber 110 and the condensing heat exchange chamber 210, fully utilizing the heat of the gas combustion and improving the heating efficiency of the water heater.

[0105] See also Figure 1 As shown, the water heater also includes a water inlet pipe 610 and a water outlet pipe 620. The water inlet pipe 610 is connected to the second heat exchange pipe arranged at the combustion chamber 110. When water flows into the second heat exchange pipe through the water inlet pipe 610, the first heating of the water in the pipe is achieved, and then the water in the second heat exchange pipe will flow into the first heat exchange pipe, and the high-temperature flue gas in the condensation heat exchange chamber 210 will be used to achieve the second heating of the water. The water in the first heat exchange pipe will eventually flow into the water outlet pipe 620 connected to the first heat exchange pipe, and the heated water will be discharged for use by the user.

[0106] It is understood that the second heat exchange tube can be disposed outside the combustion chamber 110. By attaching the second heat exchange tube to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, the second heat exchange tube can receive heat from the combustion chamber 110. In other implementations, the second heat exchange tube can also pass through the combustion chamber 110 so that the second heat exchange tube directly contacts the flame in the combustion chamber 110, thereby improving the heating efficiency of the second heat exchange tube.

[0107] See also Figure 1As shown, the water heater also includes a gas pipe 630, and the combustion assembly 100 also includes a burner. The gas pipe 630 is connected to the burner to pass the gas into the burner. An ignition mechanism is provided in the burner, and the gas is ignited by the burner, so that the gas burns in the combustion chamber 110 to release a large amount of heat, thereby heating the water in the pipe.

[0108] See also Figure 1 As shown, the water heater further includes a smoke exhaust pipe 640, which is connected to the condensing heat exchange chamber 210 to discharge the exhaust gas. The exhaust pipe 640 can be integrated with an exhaust gas treatment component to absorb pollutants in the exhaust gas and reduce pollution to the atmospheric environment.

[0109] It is understandable that, although the present invention mainly describes the use of the drainage component 300 to drain the condensed water to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110, in some implementations, a drainage branch can also be provided outside the drainage component 300. And the drainage branch is connected to the drainage component 300. When the water heater is running at high power or it is detected that the temperature of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 exceeds the temperature threshold, the drainage component 300 is controlled to drain the condensed water to the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110. When the water heater is running at low power or it is detected that the temperature of the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 is lower than the temperature threshold, the drainage component 300 is controlled to direct the condensed water therein to the drainage branch, and the condensed water is directed to the exhaust pipe 640 through the drainage branch to avoid the condensed water being sprayed onto the outer surface of the combustion chamber 110 and affecting the heating efficiency at the combustion chamber 110.

[0110] See also Figure 1 、 Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the controller can be integrated into the water heater's control panel, which can be mounted on the outer surface of the housing 400 for easy user operation. To control the water heater's flow rate, a solenoid valve is installed on the water inlet pipe 610. To accurately control the heating temperature, a gas valve is installed on the gas pipe 630. Both the solenoid valve and the gas valve are electrically connected to the controller, which adjusts the opening of the gas valve based on the flow rate through the solenoid valve and the heating temperature set on the control panel, ensuring that the air intake of the gas pipe 630 meets the required heating temperature.

[0111] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, performs the above-mentioned water heater control method.

[0112] The processor may include, but is not limited to, one or more processors or microprocessors. Each processor may be implemented by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or other electronic components to execute the methods in the above embodiments.

[0113] The storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof. The computer-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, for example, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, computer storage media (such as hard disks, floppy disks, solid-state drives, removable disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, Blu-ray discs, etc.).

[0114] The storage medium may also store at least one computer executable program / instruction, such as a computer readable instruction. Computer readable storage media include, but are not limited to, volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. Volatile memory may include, for example, random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory. Computer readable storage media may include, for example, read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, a flash memory, etc. For example, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium may be connected to a computing device such as a computer, and then, when the computing device executes the computer readable instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, the various methods described above may be performed.

[0115] While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made and equivalent components may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner, provided no structural conflicts exist. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a water heater, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Adjust the drainage direction of the drainage component according to the heat distribution area on the outer surface of the combustion chamber so that the drainage port of the drainage component faces the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber; Determining whether a drainage component meets drainage conditions, wherein the drainage component is used to collect condensed water in the condensing heat exchanger; If the drainage condition is met, the drainage power of the drainage component is determined, and the drainage component is caused to discharge the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber at the drainage power; If the drainage conditions are not met, the drainage component is made not to drain; Controlling the exhaust device to discharge gas in the shell from the exhaust port, wherein the combustion chamber, the condensing heat exchanger, and the drainage assembly are all disposed inside the shell, the exhaust device includes an exhaust fan mounted at the exhaust port, and the exhaust port and the drainage assembly are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the combustion chamber; Wherein, the drainage assembly includes an atomizer, which is used to atomize the collected condensed water and discharge it to the outer surface of the combustion chamber; The drainage condition includes that the water heater is started and the liquid level of the atomizer reaches a first liquid level, or the liquid level of the atomizer exceeds a second liquid level, wherein the second liquid level is higher than the first liquid level; Determining the drainage power of the drainage component includes: Determine whether the water heater is started; If the water heater is started, determining the operating power of the atomizer according to the operating power of the water heater; If the water heater is not started, setting the operating power of the atomizer to the first power; Determining the operating power of the atomizer according to the operating power of the water heater includes calculating the operating power of the atomizer according to the following formula: ， in, is the operating power of the atomizer, is the operating power of the water heater, is the rated power of the water heater, is the rated power of the atomizer, k is the proportional coefficient, 0.7<k<0.

9.

2. A water heater, characterized in that: It includes: a combustion assembly, the combustion assembly comprising a combustion chamber; a condensing heat exchanger, the condensing heat exchanger being in communication with the combustion chamber; a drainage assembly, the drainage assembly being in communication with the condensing heat exchanger to collect condensed water, the drainage port of the drainage assembly being oriented toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber to discharge the collected condensed water toward the outer surface of the combustion chamber; as well as a controller, the controller being electrically connected to the drainage assembly, the controller being configured to execute the control method according to claim 1; The outer surface of the combustion chamber is provided with a plurality of temperature detection devices, and the plurality of temperature detection devices are electrically connected to a controller. The controller is further configured to determine the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber based on the temperature data measured and determined by the temperature detection devices, and to control the drainage outlet of the drainage assembly to be directed toward the area with the highest temperature on the outer surface of the combustion chamber; The water heater further comprises a shell, wherein the combustion assembly, the condensing heat exchanger and the drainage assembly are all arranged inside the shell; The shell is equipped with an exhaust device for discharging the gas in the shell from an exhaust port. The exhaust device includes an exhaust fan installed at the exhaust port, and the exhaust port and the drainage assembly are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the combustion chamber.

3. The water heater according to claim 2, characterized in that The drainage assembly includes an atomizer and a liquid level detection device, wherein the liquid level detection device is connected to the atomizer and is used to measure the liquid level of condensed water in the atomizer; The controller is electrically connected to the atomizer, and the controller is electrically connected to the liquid level detection device.

4. The water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that The drainage component also includes a neutralization device, one side of the neutralization device is connected to the condensing heat exchanger, and the other side of the neutralization device is connected to the atomizer. The condensed water in the atomizer is the condensed water after acid and alkali neutralization by the neutralization device.

5. The water heater according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The condensing heat exchanger includes a condensing heat exchange chamber, which is connected to the combustion chamber. A first heat exchange tube is provided in the condensing heat exchange chamber. A second heat exchange tube is provided at the combustion chamber, and the second heat exchange tube is communicated with the first heat exchange tube.

6. A storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the control method according to claim 1 is implemented.

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