Water heater control device and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a water heater control device and method, and relates to the technical field of smart home, and the control device comprises a detection module which at least measures the flow information and temperature information of a water heater; the temperature control module is used for adjusting the heating state of the water heater; the control module obtains the heating power for heating water to the water outlet temperature in the using process of the water heater, obtains the initial heating power needed for heating the water to the target temperature in the initial state of the water heater, and controls the temperature of the water heater according to the heating power and the initial heating power of the water heater and the temperature difference between the water inlet temperature and the water outlet temperature in the initial state and the using process. Calculating scaling information; the control module controls the temperature control module to adjust the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information. According to the method, multiple influence factors are considered, and the influence of scaling on the performance of the heating pipe of the water heater can be evaluated more comprehensively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of smart home technology, and specifically, relates to a water heater control device and method. Background Art

[0002] At present, water heaters with bypass pipe heating elements need to heat the water inside at high temperature during use, and the difference in water quality in different regions may cause scaling inside the water heater. Especially for instant water heaters with bypass pipe heating elements, in areas with poor water quality, the instant water heater will quickly accumulate scale in the water pipe of the heating element after a short period of use, thereby affecting the heat transfer of the water heater and causing the outlet water temperature to fail to reach the target temperature; it may even cause the heating element to dry burn, so that the temperature of the heating element becomes higher and higher, resulting in overheating, the thermostat will be disconnected, and the whole machine will be powered off, affecting the normal use of the user. At present, the prediction results of the degree of scaling inside instant water heaters with bypass pipe heating elements are not accurate enough to provide users with timely reminders, and thus the above-mentioned problems cannot be avoided. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a water heater control device to solve the problem that the water heater in the prior art cannot directly obtain the scaling status in the water pipe. In addition, another purpose of the present application is to provide a water heater control method to obtain scaling information of the water heater.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted in this application is:

[0005] A water heater control device is provided, the control device comprising: a detection module: measuring at least flow information and temperature information of the water heater; a temperature control module, used to adjust the heating state of the water heater; the control module: obtaining the heating power of the water heater to heat water to an outlet water temperature during use; obtaining the initial heating power required for the water heater to heat water to a target temperature in an initial state; calculating scaling information according to the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet and outlet water in the initial state and during use; and the control module controlling the temperature control module to adjust the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information.

[0006] Furthermore, the water heater is an instant water heater with a bypass pipe; the control module calculates the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow detected by the detection module.

[0007] Furthermore, the control module calculates the initial heating power based on the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow; the initial heating pipe flow is obtained based on the bypass pipe flow and the bypass ratio of the heating pipe and the bypass pipe of the water heater in the initial state.

[0008] Furthermore, the detection module includes: a first temperature detection module: measuring the water inlet temperature of the water heater; a second temperature detection module: measuring the water outlet temperature of the water heater; a flow detection module: measuring the bypass pipe flow of the water heater; the control module calculates the temperature difference between the inlet water and the outlet water in the initial state and during use according to the inlet water temperature, the outlet water temperature and the bypass pipe flow detected by the first temperature detection module, the second temperature detection module and the flow detection module to obtain the scaling information.

[0009] Furthermore, when the scaling information is less than a preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop heating the water heater; preferably, when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop heating the water heater and controls the buzzer to sound an alarm.

[0010] Furthermore, the control device also includes a display panel; when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the display panel to display the scaling information in a target format; wherein the target format includes at least one of the following: text, symbols, and shapes.

[0011] Another object of the present application is to provide a water heater control method, the method comprising: obtaining the heating power of the water heater to heat water to an outlet water temperature during use; obtaining the initial heating power required for the water heater to heat water to a target temperature in an initial state; wherein the heating power and the initial heating power are both related to the bypass pipe flow of the water heater; calculating scaling information based on the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet and outlet water in the initial state and during use; and adjusting the heating state of the water heater based on the scaling information.

[0012] Furthermore, the water heater is an instantaneous water heater with a bypass pipe; the initial heating power is calculated based on the bypass pipe flow.

[0013] Furthermore, the calculating of the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow comprises: calculating the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow; the initial heating pipe flow is obtained according to the bypass pipe flow and the bypass ratio of the heating pipe and the bypass pipe of the water heater in the initial state.

[0014] Furthermore, adjusting the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information includes: determining whether the scaling information is less than a preset threshold; and controlling the water heater to stop heating when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold.

[0015] After adopting the above technical solution, the present application has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0016] 1. The application uses the detection results obtained by the detection module, and uses the control module to obtain the scaling information of the water heater according to the heating power of the water heater to heat the water to the outlet water temperature during use and the initial heating power required for the water heater to heat the water to the target temperature in the initial state. Taking into account multiple factors such as heating power, outlet water temperature (set value and actual value), inlet water temperature, etc., it can more comprehensively evaluate the impact of scaling on the performance of the water heater heating tube.

[0017] 2. The initial heating power is calculated based on the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow, and the initial heating pipe flow is calculated based on the bypass pipe flow and the bypass ratio of the heating pipe to the bypass pipe in the initial state of the water heater. For instant water heaters with bypass pipe heaters, it can be accurately and simply obtained, and the scaling situation can be accurately obtained without adding other detection devices, and the heating state of the water heater can be adjusted to avoid further performance degradation or failure of the water heater. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an instant water heater provided by the prior art;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a water heater control device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an instant water heater provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another instant water heater provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of a water heater control method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Description of reference numerals:

[0026] 301-water inlet pipe; 3012-total flow detection module; 3011-first temperature detection module; 302-bypass pipe; 3021-flow detection module; 303-heating pipe; 3031-over-temperature thermostat; 3041-second temperature detection module; 304-water outlet pipe; 401-main control board; 402-display board; 403-buzzer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of the present application, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0029] Water heaters are mainly used to heat cold water to a set temperature to meet the user's demand for hot water. According to the different heating methods, water heaters can be divided into instant water heaters and storage water heaters. Storage water heaters are water heaters that heat water in advance and store it for use when the user needs it. Instant water heaters are water heaters that can quickly heat water in a short time to provide hot water to users.

[0030] Among them, instant water heaters can be divided into instant water heaters with bypass pipes and instant water heaters without bypass pipes according to different needs. This application is mainly for instant water heaters with bypass pipes. When the instant water heater stops supplying water or the water temperature needs to be adjusted, the valve in the bypass pipe will open, allowing cold water to enter the heat exchanger and mix with high-temperature hot water. In other words, the bypass pipe is mainly used to pass cold water, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the water temperature of the water heater outlet. For ease of understanding, please refer to Figure 1 ,like Figure 1As shown, the water inlet pipe 301 is divided into a heating pipe 303 and a bypass pipe 302 . The water in the heating pipe is heated by the heating body and mixed with the water in the bypass pipe in the water outlet pipe, so that water of a certain temperature is output in the water outlet pipe 304 .

[0031] When an instant water heater heats cold water, it allows the cold water to flow through the heating element inside the instant water heater, which will quickly heat the cold water and convert it into hot water. This instant heating method requires the water heater to provide a large amount of heat energy in a short period of time, so it requires a higher power to support it. During the heating process, the minerals in the cold water will react chemically with the water to form water-insoluble precipitates, namely scale. The thermal conductivity of scale is extremely poor, which will seriously affect the transfer of heat, causing uneven heating of the water heater, local overheating or excessive local pressure, which will damage the water heater in the long run. Therefore, when there is scale in the heating tube, it is more likely that the heating body will dry burn when using an instant water heater, and the water outlet temperature will not reach the target temperature.

[0032] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a water heater control device. The control module in the control device of the present application determines the scaling information of the water heater through the bypass pipe flow and the water heater power, thereby adjusting the heating state of the water heater. For details, please refer to Figure 2 ,like Figure 2 As shown, the control device includes:

[0033] Detection module: at least measures the flow information and temperature information of the water heater;

[0034] A temperature control module, used to adjust the heating state of the water heater;

[0035] The control module is used to obtain the heating power of the water heater to heat water to the outlet water temperature during use;

[0036] Obtaining the initial heating power required by the water heater to heat water to a target temperature in an initial state;

[0037] Calculating scaling information according to the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet water and outlet water in the initial state and during use;

[0038] The control module controls the temperature control module to adjust the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information; wherein the heating power and the initial heating power are both related to the bypass pipe flow of the water heater.

[0039] Specifically, the present application can first use the detection module to measure the flow information and temperature information of the water heater. The temperature information here includes at least: water inlet temperature and water outlet temperature. The water outlet temperature here can be understood as the final water outlet of the water heater, that is, the temperature of the water obtained by mixing the water in the bypass pipe and the heating pipe. The water inlet temperature is the temperature of the water in the aforementioned water inlet pipe. Optionally, the temperature information can also include a target temperature, where the target temperature is the water outlet temperature that the user wants to achieve. In the initial state of the water heater (that is, the water heater is used for the first time, or the water heater is not scaled), the target temperature is the water outlet temperature of the water heater. After use, scale may affect the normal heating of the water heater, resulting in the water outlet temperature failing to reach the target temperature.

[0040] The flow information at least includes: bypass pipe flow. Since the water in the bypass pipe does not participate in heating, the diameter of the bypass pipe will not change during use. Therefore, even if the instant water heater has been used for a long time, it can be considered that the bypass pipe flow is the same as the bypass pipe flow in the initial state. In other words, the initial bypass pipe flow is the same as the bypass pipe flow during use. In order to avoid confusion, it will be collectively referred to as the bypass pipe flow in the following text.

[0041] Optionally, the flow information may also include: total flow, which is the flow of the water inlet pipe.

[0042] The temperature control module is mainly used to adjust the heating state of the water heater. The adjustments here include but are not limited to: increasing the heating power, reducing the heating power and stopping heating. For example, when there is scale in the water heater, but the scale is small, the temperature control module can increase the heating power of the water heater. For example, when the scale in the water heater is less than the preset threshold, it can be considered that there is a lot of scale and less water in the heating tube, which may cause the heating body to dry burn. The temperature control module can control the instant water heater to stop heating.

[0043] The control module is mainly used to calculate scaling information according to the detection results of the detection module, and control the temperature control module to adjust the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information.

[0044] Among them, scaling information is mainly obtained based on the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet water. The heating power is obtained based on the bypass pipe flow. The heating power is the power required to heat the total flow to the outlet water temperature during the use of the water heater; wherein the total flow includes the bypass pipe flow and the heating pipe flow. In other words, the present application combines power and flow to more accurately evaluate the scaling inside the water heater and the impact of scaling on the heating body.

[0045] Specifically, the control module can calculate the initial heating power of the water heater in the initial state according to the flow information obtained by the detection module. The initial heating power is the power required for the water heater to heat the initial total flow to the target temperature in the initial state; wherein the initial total flow includes the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow.

[0046] It should be noted that for different whole-machine systems, through simulation and actual verification, it is found that in the initial state, when the ratio of the initial heating pipe flow Q2 to the flow entering the bypass pipe Q1 is Q2:Q1=y, the whole-machine performance is optimal. y represents the bypass ratio of the heating body of different structures, and the bypass ratio of the heating body of the same structure is a fixed value. In other words, in the initial state of the water heater, no matter what the target temperature of the water heater is, the ratio of Q2:Q1 is y.

[0047] When the scale in the heating pipe increases, the water flow into the heating pipe decreases. Due to the presence of scale, the flow of the heating pipe cannot be accurately measured. At this time, the water flow through the heating pipe can be set to kQ2, where 0<k≤1. The k here can be understood as the scaling information of the water heater.

[0048] According to the energy of work done by the heating body in one minute, E = Pt = CMΔT, where the specific heat capacity constant C of water is 4.2×10 3 KJ / (KG.℃), the unit of time t is minute (min), according to the energy formula and the formula of flow Q and mass M: The unit of time t' is seconds (s), so, get We get P = 70*Q*ΔT. At this time, the relationship between heating power and flow rate can be expressed as:

[0049] P1 = 70*(Q1+kQ2)*(To'-Ti);

[0050] Wherein, P1 is the heating power of the water heater (which can also be understood as the required power applied to the heating body); To' is the outlet water temperature of the water heater, and Ti is the inlet water temperature of the water heater.

[0051] Among them, P1 can be calculated according to the current and voltage of the water heater, or it can be a set value.

[0052] Optionally, the actual value of the heating pipe flow kQ2 can be obtained according to the above formula: According to the above Q2:Q1=y, the initial heating pipe flow Q2 is y*Q1, which can be obtained

[0053] For example, according to the relationship between the initial heating power and the bypass pipe flow rate:

[0054] P2 = 70*(Q1+Q2)*(To-Ti);

[0055] Among them, P2 is the initial heating power of the water heater; To is the target temperature of the water heater. Thus, the initial heating power can be calculated, and according to the initial heating power and heating power, we can get:

[0056]

[0057] In other words, the present application comprehensively considers multiple factors such as heating power, water outlet temperature (set value and actual value), water inlet temperature and bypass ratio, and can more comprehensively evaluate the impact of scaling on the performance of the water heater heating tube. Instead of using only temperature or water outlet flow rate to evaluate the scaling of the water heater as in the prior art. In other words, the k value of the present application can more accurately reflect the scaling degree of the heating tube, avoiding the one-sidedness of single parameter evaluation.

[0058] Moreover, the key parameters can be easily obtained based on the structure of the water heater with a bypass pipe heater, and no other additional detection devices need to be added, so that the scaling condition of the water heater with a bypass pipe heater can be accurately judged.

[0059] Optionally, the control module can determine whether the scaling information is less than a preset threshold; when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, it means that there is more scale in the heating tube, which results in reduced heating efficiency. The water heater requires more power to reach the target temperature, which may cause the surface temperature of the heating body to become higher and higher, causing the over-temperature thermostat to trip and the whole machine to lose power, affecting user use. Therefore, the water heater can be controlled to stop heating at this time. When the scaling information is greater than the preset threshold, the low scaling information indicates that there is less scale accumulated inside the heating tube and there is no need to stop heating.

[0060] In summary, the present application obtains the detection results through the detection module, and uses the control module to obtain the scaling information of the water heater according to the heating power required for the water heater to heat the water to the outlet water temperature during use and the initial heating power required for the water heater to heat the water to the target temperature in the initial state. In other words, the present application comprehensively considers multiple factors such as heating power, outlet water temperature (set value and actual value), inlet water temperature and bypass ratio, and can more comprehensively evaluate the impact of scaling on the performance of the water heater heating tube. After obtaining the scaling information, the present application can also adjust the heating state of the water heater to avoid further degradation of the water heater performance or failure.

[0061] The detection module in the control device of the present application may include: a first temperature detection module: measuring the water inlet temperature of the water heater; a second temperature detection module: measuring the water outlet temperature of the water heater; a flow detection module: measuring the bypass pipe flow of the water heater. Figure 3 ,like Figure 3 As shown, a flow detection module 3021 may be provided on the bypass pipe 302. A first temperature detection module 3011 may be provided on the water inlet pipe 301, and optionally, a total flow detection module 3012 may be provided, that is, the total flow may be obtained. A second temperature detection module 3041 may be provided on the water outlet pipe 304, that is, to measure the outlet water temperature of the water heater. The over-temperature thermostat 3031 provided on the heating pipe 303 is the aforementioned temperature control module, which can adjust the heating state of the water heater.

[0062] Preferably, the control module obtains the initial heating pipe flow rate based on the bypass pipe flow rate detected by the flow detection module and the bypass ratio of the bypass pipe to the heating pipe in the initial state of the water heater; the control module calculates the temperature difference between the inlet water and the outlet water in the initial state and during use based on the inlet water temperature, the outlet water temperature and the bypass pipe flow rate detected by the first temperature detection module, the second temperature detection module and the flow detection module to obtain the scaling information.

[0063] In addition, the control device of the present application may also include a buzzer. When the scaling information is less than a preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop the water heater from heating; preferably, when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop the water heater from heating and controls the buzzer to sound an alarm. In this way, the user can be reminded when the heating tube is severely scaled and can be reminded to take timely measures.

[0064] Furthermore, the control device also includes a display panel; when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the display panel to display the scaling information in a target format; wherein the target format includes at least one of the following: text, symbol, shape. That is, when the scaling of the heating tube is serious, the display panel can also show the severity of the scaling to the user, that is, display the scaling information in an intuitive way such as text, symbol or shape, so that the user can quickly understand the current status of the water heater without a complicated interpretation process. The information on the display panel can clearly indicate whether the water heater needs maintenance and the urgency of the maintenance, helping the user to make timely decisions.

[0065] Please refer to Figure 4 ,like Figure 4As shown, the buzzer 403 can be set on the display panel, and the control module of the present application can be set on the main control panel 401. When the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the main control panel 401 controls the buzzer 403 to alarm and controls the display panel 402 to display the scaling information.

[0066] In addition, this application also provides a water heater control method, please refer to Figure 5 ,like Figure 5 As shown, the method specifically includes:

[0067] S501, obtaining the heating power required by the water heater to heat water to the outlet water temperature during use;

[0068] S502, obtaining the initial heating power required by the water heater to heat water to a target temperature in an initial state;

[0069] S503, calculating scaling information according to the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet water and outlet water in an initial state and during use;

[0070] S504, adjusting the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information; wherein the heating power and the initial heating power are both related to the bypass pipe flow of the water heater.

[0071] The initial heating power is the power required for the water heater to heat the initial total flow to the target temperature in the initial state; the initial total flow includes the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow; the heating power is the power required for the water heater to heat the total flow to the outlet water temperature during use; the total flow includes the bypass pipe flow and the heating pipe flow. The initial heating pipe flow is obtained by multiplying the bypass ratio of the heating pipe to the bypass pipe in the initial state by the bypass pipe flow.

[0072] Determine whether the scaling information is less than a preset threshold; when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, it means that there is a lot of scale in the heating tube, which reduces the heating efficiency and requires more power to reach the target temperature. This may cause the surface temperature of the heating body to become higher and higher, causing the over-temperature thermostat to trip and the whole machine to lose power, affecting user use. Therefore, the water heater can be controlled to stop heating at this time. When the scaling information is greater than the preset threshold, the low scaling information indicates that there is less scale accumulated inside the heating tube and there is no need to stop heating.

[0073] The above is only a preferred implementation of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A water heater control device, characterized in that: The control device comprises: A detection module, which at least measures the flow information and temperature information of the water heater; A temperature control module, used to adjust the heating state of the water heater; The control module obtains the heating power of the water heater to heat water to the outlet water temperature during use, Obtaining the initial heating power required by the water heater to heat water to the target temperature in the initial state, Calculating scaling information according to the heating power, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet water and outlet water in the initial state and during use; The control module controls the temperature control module to adjust the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The water heater is an instant water heater with a bypass pipe; The control module calculates the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow detected by the detection module.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The control module calculates the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow; the initial heating pipe flow is obtained according to the bypass pipe flow and the bypass ratio of the heating pipe and the bypass pipe of the water heater in the initial state.

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The detection module comprises: The first temperature detection module is used to measure the water inlet temperature of the water heater; The second temperature detection module is used to measure the outlet water temperature of the water heater; Flow detection module: measuring the flow of the bypass pipe of the water heater; The control module calculates the initial heating power according to the temperature difference between the inlet water temperature detected by the first temperature detection module and the target temperature, and the bypass pipe flow detected by the flow detection module, so as to obtain the scaling information.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: When the scaling information is less than a preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop heating the water heater; Preferably, when the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the temperature control module to stop the water heater from heating, and controls the buzzer to sound an alarm.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that The control device also includes a display panel; When the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the control module controls the display panel to display the scaling information in a target format; wherein the target format includes at least one of the following: text, symbol, shape.

7. A water heater control method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining the heating power of the water heater to heat water to the outlet water temperature during use; Obtaining the initial heating power required by the water heater to heat water to a target temperature in an initial state; Calculating scaling information according to the heating power of the water heater, the initial heating power, and the temperature difference between inlet water and outlet water in the initial state and during use; The heating state of the water heater is adjusted according to the scaling information.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The water heater is an instant water heater with a bypass pipe; The initial heating power is calculated according to the bypass pipe flow rate.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The calculating the initial heating power according to the bypass pipe flow rate comprises: The initial heating power is calculated according to the bypass pipe flow and the initial heating pipe flow; the initial heating pipe flow is obtained according to the bypass pipe flow and the bypass ratio of the heating pipe and the bypass pipe of the water heater in the initial state.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that The step of adjusting the heating state of the water heater according to the scaling information includes: Determining whether the scaling information is less than a preset threshold; When the scaling information is less than the preset threshold, the water heater is controlled to stop heating.

Images