Filter element detection method and water heater

Abstract

The invention discloses a filter element detection method and a water heater. The filter element detection method comprises the following steps that S1, an electric appliance is in a standby state; s2, judging whether a water flow signal exists or not, if yes, entering S3, and if not, returning to S1; s3, judging whether the electric appliance is provided with a filter element for the first time or not, if so, detecting the water flow and entering S4, and if not, entering S6; s4, judging whether the accumulated L is greater than the set L 1 or not, if so, detecting the actual concentration C of the filter material of the filter element, and entering S5; s5, judging whether the actual C is greater than the set C, if not, sending out a filter element replacement signal, automatically clearing L accumulation, and enabling the electric appliance to enter a standby state; s6, whether a water flow signal exists or not is judged, if yes, the water flow is detected, and the step S7 is executed; s7, judging whether the accumulated L is greater than the set L 2 or not, if yes, detecting the actual concentration C of the filter material of the filter element and entering S8, and if not, returning to S6; and S8, judging whether the actual C is greater than the set C or not, and if not, sending a signal that the filter element is not successfully replaced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a filter element detection method and a water heater. Background Art

[0002] Scale treatment has always been a difficult problem in household appliances. Scale accumulation will directly affect the service life of appliances and accelerate the corrosion of water pipes. The main methods of scale treatment are descaling and scale inhibition. Descaling is to remove scale by alkaline washing or acid washing after the scale accumulates to a certain extent. However, descaling has a lag and the chemical reaction time of alkaline washing is long. Acid washing may corrode metals, so scale inhibition is generally used (i.e., preventing the combination of calcium and magnesium ions with carbonate ions). At present, scale inhibition methods include electromagnetic anti-scaling, electronic treatment of metal particles, electrostatic adsorption, ion exchange, and scale inhibitors. The common methods in the market are ion exchange and scale inhibitors. Other scale inhibition methods are currently less used due to scale inhibition effects, but ion exchange requires high costs and large equipment volume, so scale inhibitors are more widely used. Scale inhibitors are a kind of chemical slow-release agent. Due to chelation and dispersibility, they will prevent the formation of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate to a certain extent. Moreover, a small amount of scale inhibitors can treat a large amount of water, which is highly practical.

[0003] Some electrical appliances, especially gas water heaters, set the scale inhibitor as a filter element, combined with the function of filtering impurities in the water, and used as an integrated filter at the water inlet end, with high scale inhibition efficiency and large water treatment volume. When the water treatment volume of the filter element reaches the design value, the scale inhibitor is consumed and a new filter element needs to be replaced. At present, the gas water heater will give a prompt before replacing the filter element, and then reset the water volume after replacing the filter element. At this time, the gas water heater will no longer prompt, and the user is assumed to have replaced the filter element. The system re-enters the filter element detection program again. This method may cause the user to fail to successfully replace the filter element (including not replacing the filter element or not replacing a new filter element). As long as the user performs the action of clearing the water volume, it is considered that the filter element has been replaced successfully. If the user has not successfully replaced the filter element, and the system determines that the user has successfully replaced it, it will cause scale to increase and shorten the service life of parts.

[0004] Therefore, a filter element detection method is urgently needed to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the problems existing in the existing related technologies to a certain extent. To this end, the present invention proposes a filter element detection method, which can quickly determine whether the user has successfully replaced the filter element. If the filter element is not replaced successfully, a prompt is issued indicating that the filter element has not been replaced successfully, thereby avoiding the situation where the user fails to replace the filter element and enters a new round of filter element consumption judgment cycle again, causing a long period of unfiltered water to continue to flow out of the appliance.

[0006] The above purpose is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A filter element detection method comprises the following steps:

[0008] S1: Appliance standby;

[0009] S2: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, go to S3; if not, return to S1;

[0010] S3: Determine whether the filter element is installed in the appliance for the first time. If so, detect the water flow and enter S4. If not, enter S6.

[0011] S4: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设1 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S5, if not, return to S2;

[0012] S5: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 If not, a signal to replace the filter element is issued. 累计 Automatically reset, the appliance enters standby mode;

[0013] S6: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, detect the water flow and enter S7. If not, return to S1.

[0014] S7: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设2 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S8, if not, return to S6;

[0015] S8: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 , if yes, then return to S2, if no, then go to S9;

[0016] S9: Sending a signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully;

[0017] Where: L 累计 is the accumulated water flow, L 设1 is the first preset water flow rate; L 设2 is the second preset water flow rate, C 设 is the preset concentration, L 设1 >L 设2 .

[0018] Optionally, in S5, if C 实 >C 设 , then proceed to the following steps:

[0019] S51: Determine whether there is a water flow signal, if so, go to S52, if not, return to S1;

[0020] S52: Determine whether the appliance enters the standby state. If so, return to S5; if not, repeat S52.

[0021] Optionally, in S9, after a signal indicating that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are performed:

[0022] S91:L 累计 After automatic clearing, it returns to S1.

[0023] Optionally, in S9, after a signal indicating that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are performed:

[0024] S92: Judge L 累计 Is it manually cleared? If yes, it returns to S1. If not, it returns to S9 and prompts the user to reset L after replacing the filter element. 累计 Perform manual zeroing.

[0025] Optionally, 100t≤L 设1 ≤150t, 2kg≤L 设2 ≤3kg.

[0026] Optionally, L 设1 =12t,L 设2 =2.5kg.

[0027] Optionally, the actual concentration of the filter material C 实 Detected by electrochemical sensors.

[0028] Another aspect of the present invention provides a water heater, comprising a filter element and an electrochemical sensor disposed in the filter element, wherein the filter element is detected by the above-mentioned filter element detection method.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0030] The filter element detection method provided by the present invention sets L 设1 and L 设2 , L 设1 >L 设2 . When the filter element is installed for the first time and the filter material in the filter element is consumed, it can quickly determine whether the user has successfully replaced the filter element. If the filter element is not replaced successfully, a prompt will be issued to prevent the user from entering a new round of filter element consumption judgment cycle again if the filter element is not replaced (the judgment of the new round of filter element consumption needs to reach L 累计 >L 设1 In this process, if the filter element is not replaced successfully, it means that the user needs to use L 设1The appliance can only issue a reminder to replace the filter element again after using unfiltered water). In this way, the filter element detection method provided by the present invention can, on the one hand, reduce the operating error rate of users when replacing the filter element, and on the other hand, it can also prevent the appliance from continuing to operate when the filter element fails, forcing the user to use a longer period of unfiltered water, and can also avoid the accumulation of scale in the appliance, thereby ensuring the life of the appliance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a step diagram of a filter element detection method provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following examples illustrate the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Modifications to the specific embodiments of the present invention or equivalent replacement of some technical features without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of the technical solution claimed by the present invention.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 The present invention provides a filter element detection method, comprising the following steps:

[0034] S1: Appliance standby (the filter element is set in the appliance, and the appliance can be a water heater, a water purifier or a dishwasher);

[0035] S2: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, go to S3; if not, return to S1;

[0036] S3: Determine whether the filter element is installed in the appliance for the first time. If so, detect the water flow and enter S4. If not, enter S6.

[0037] S4: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设1 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S5, if not, return to S2;

[0038] S5: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 If not, a signal to replace the filter element is issued. 累计 Automatically reset, the appliance enters standby mode;

[0039] S6: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, detect the water flow and enter S7. If not, return to S1.

[0040] S7: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设2 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S8, if not, return to S6;

[0041] S8: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 , if yes, then return to S2, if no, then go to S9;

[0042] S9: Sending a signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully;

[0043] Where: L 累计 is the accumulated water flow, L 设1 is the first preset water flow rate; L 设2 is the second preset water flow rate, C 设 is the preset concentration, L 设1 >L 设2 .

[0044] The filter element detection method provided by the present invention sets L 设1 and L 设2 , L 设1 >L 设2 . When the filter element is installed for the first time and the filter material in the filter element is consumed, it can quickly determine whether the user has successfully replaced the filter element. If the filter element is not replaced successfully, a prompt will be issued to prevent the user from entering a new round of filter element consumption judgment cycle again if the filter element is not replaced (the judgment of the new round of filter element consumption needs to reach L 累计 >L 设1 In this process, if the filter element is not replaced successfully, it means that the user needs to use L 设1 Thus, the filter cartridge detection method provided by the present invention can, on the one hand, reduce the operational error rate of users when replacing filter cartridges, and on the other hand, can also prevent the appliance from continuing to operate when the filter cartridge fails, forcing users to use a longer period of unfiltered water.

[0045] Optionally, in S5, if C 实 >C 设 , then proceed to the following steps:

[0046] S51: Determine whether there is a water flow signal, if so, go to S52, if not, return to S1;

[0047] S52: Determine whether the appliance enters the standby state. If so, return to S5; if not, repeat S52.

[0048] That is, when C 实 >C 设 After the appliance has been run once, the filter material concentration C 实 This is static detection, which has higher detection accuracy than real-time detection and is conducive to improving the accuracy of the detection results.

[0049] Optionally, in some embodiments, in S9, after a signal indicating that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are performed:

[0050] S91:L 累计 After automatic zeroing, return to S1. Wait for the next operation of the appliance and then reset C 实 Conduct testing and judgment.

[0051] Optionally, in this embodiment, in S9, after a signal indicating that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are performed:

[0052] S92: Judge L 累计 Is it manually cleared? If yes, it returns to S1. If not, it returns to S9 and prompts the user to reset L after replacing the filter element. 累计 Manual zeroing is performed. Specifically, when L 累计 When it is manually cleared, it means that the user has operated the appliance, and the filter element may have been replaced. At this time, it returns to S1 and waits for the next operation of the appliance to reset C. 实 Perform detection and judgment (this operation can prevent users from installing old filters as new filters into the appliance). 累计 If it is not manually cleared, it means that the user has not operated the appliance, and it is very likely that the filter element has not been replaced. In this case, the process returns to S9 and continues to send a signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully. At the same time, the user is prompted to reset L after replacing the filter element. 累计 Manually clear until the user resets L 累计 Manual zeroing is performed to improve the efficiency of judging the filter element replacement status.

[0053] Optionally, in this embodiment, the electrical appliance is a gas water heater. In the filter element of the gas water heater, the filter element can generally filter at least 100t of water. When the water flow rate of the new filter element reaches more than 2kg, the filter material can be fully released to filter the water flow. At this time, it can be determined whether the new filter element has been replaced. Therefore, 100t≤L 设1 ≤150t, 2kg≤L 设2 ≤3kg, which can meet the testing requirements for ordinary filter elements.

[0054] Optionally, in this embodiment, L 设1 =12t,L 设2 =2.5kg.

[0055] Optionally, the actual concentration of the filter material C 实 It uses an electrochemical sensor for detection, has a simple structure, and can be directly installed in the filter element for detection.

[0056] Another aspect of the present invention provides a water heater, including a filter element and an electrochemical sensor disposed in the filter element, wherein the filter element is detected by the above-mentioned filter element detection method.

[0057] The above are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the creative concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A filter element detection method, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1: Appliance standby; S2: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, go to S3; if not, return to S1; S3: Determine whether the filter element is installed in the appliance for the first time. If so, detect the water flow and enter S4. If not, enter S6. S4: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设1 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S5, if not, return to S2; S5: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 If not, a signal to replace the filter element is issued. 累计 Automatically reset, the appliance enters standby mode; S6: Determine whether there is a water flow signal. If so, detect the water flow and enter S7. If not, return to S1. S7: Determine whether L 累计 >L 设2 If yes, then detect the actual concentration C of the filter media in the filter element. 实 And enter S8, if not, return to S6; S8: Determine whether C 实 >C 设 , if yes, then return to S2, if no, then go to S9; S9: Sending a signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully; Where: L 累计 is the accumulated water flow, L 设1 is the first preset water flow rate; L 设2 is the second preset water flow rate, C 设 is the preset concentration, L 设1 >L 设2 .

2. The filter element detection method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S5, if C 实 >C 设 , then proceed to the following steps: S51: Determine whether there is a water flow signal, if so, go to S52, if not, return to S1; S52: Determine whether the appliance enters the standby state. If so, return to S5; if not, repeat S52.

3. The filter element detection method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S9, after the signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are entered: S91:L 累计 After automatic clearing, it returns to S1.

4. The filter element detection method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S9, after the signal that the filter element has not been replaced successfully is sent, the following steps are entered: S92: Judge L 累计 Is it manually cleared? If yes, it returns to S1. If not, it returns to S9 and prompts the user to reset L after replacing the filter element. 累计 Perform manual zeroing.

5. The filter element detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: 100t≤L 设1 ≤150t,2kg≤L 设2 ≤3kg。 6. The filter element detection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: L 设1 =12t, L 设2 = 2.5kg.

7. The filter element detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The actual concentration of the filter media C 实 Detected by electrochemical sensors.

8. A water heater, characterized in that: It comprises a filter element and an electrochemical sensor arranged in the filter element, and the filter element is detected by the filter element detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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