Heat exchange system and water heater

Abstract

The invention discloses a heat exchange system and a water heater, and relates to the technical field of water heaters. The heat exchange system comprises a heat exchanger and a valve bank structure, a first flow channel and a second flow channel which are in heat exchange connection are arranged in the heat exchanger, the first flow channel is provided with a first inlet and a first outlet, the second flow channel is provided with a second inlet and a second outlet, and the first inlet and the first outlet are both used for being communicated with a water tank of the water heater. The valve group structure comprises a valve body and a water supplementing control assembly, the valve body is provided with a water inlet runner, a water outlet runner, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, the water inlet runner communicates with the cold water inlet and the second inlet, and the water outlet runner communicates with the second outlet and the hot water outlet; the water supplementing control assembly is provided with a water supplementing opening and is configured to communicate or block the water inlet flow channel and the water supplementing opening. According to the technical scheme, the water path arrangement compactness of the heat exchange system can be improved, the occupied space is reduced, and the size miniaturization of the water heater can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of water heaters, and particularly to a heat exchange system and a water heater. Background Art

[0002] In traditional storage water heaters, the water in the inner tank is usually heated by a heater and then directly supplied to users. This method has problems such as a large volume of the inner tank occupying a lot of space and being prone to bacteria growth.

[0003] In related technologies, a heat exchanger with an independent flow channel is set to enable the water use water path and the inner tank water to exchange heat without direct contact, realizing the function of heating and using live water. However, in this solution, various pipelines and control valves need to be set, and the distribution of various control valves and pipelines is relatively scattered, resulting in a large overall space occupied by the water heater. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main object of the present invention is to propose a heat exchange system, aiming to improve the compactness of the water path layout of the heat exchange system, reduce the occupied space, and facilitate the miniaturization of the volume of the water heater.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the heat exchange system proposed by the present invention includes: A heat exchanger, which is internally provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel in heat exchange connection. The first flow channel has a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second flow channel has a second inlet and a second outlet. Both the first inlet and the first outlet are used for communicating with the water tank of the water heater; and A valve group structure, including a valve body and a water replenishment control component. The valve body is provided with an inlet water flow channel, an outlet water flow channel, a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet. The inlet water flow channel connects the cold water inlet and the second inlet, and the outlet water flow channel connects the second outlet and the hot water outlet. The water replenishment control component is provided with a water replenishment port for communicating with the water tank, and the water replenishment control component is configured to conduct or block the inlet water flow channel and the water replenishment port.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component is connected to the inlet water flow channel, and the valve group structure is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, and the second outlet are located on the same side of the heat exchanger as the valve group structure.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, in the flow path of the inlet water flow channel, the water replenishment control component is located upstream of the second inlet.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, the first inlet and the first outlet are respectively arranged at diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively arranged at another diagonal position of the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet and the first inlet are respectively arranged at two ends of the heat exchanger in the height direction; The water inlet channel extends from a side of the first inlet away from the second inlet along the height direction of the heat exchanger to connect with the second inlet, and the water replenishment control component is located between the first inlet and the second inlet.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present application, the second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure also includes a first connecting pipe arranged at the first inlet, the outer wall of the first connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the valve body, and the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe is used to connect the first flow channel and the water tank.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present application, the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger; and the valve group structure is located on one side of the heat exchanger in the thickness direction.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component includes: A water supply pipe, provided with the water supply port and connected with the water inlet channel; A solenoid valve, provided in the water supply pipe, for controlling the on-off of the water supply pipe; and A one-way valve is arranged on the water supply pipe and is located at the downstream side of the solenoid valve, and is used for unidirectionally directing the flow channel from the water inlet channel to the water supply port.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present application, the valve body is further provided with a bypass channel connecting the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel, and a constant temperature control component is provided on the bypass channel, and the constant temperature control component is used to adjust the water flow rate of the bypass channel.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present application, the constant temperature control component is disposed below the heat exchanger; or, the constant temperature control component is disposed opposite to a side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present application, the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel are arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and both extend along the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the bypass channel vertically connects the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel.

[0018] To achieve the above object, the present application also provides a water heater, comprising: Water tank; a heater, installed in the water tank, for heating the water in the water tank; and The above-mentioned heat exchange system is arranged on one side in the width direction of the water tank; the first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to the water tank so that the first flow channel and the inner cavity of the water tank form a circulation loop, and the water replenishment port is connected to the circulation loop through a pipe.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present application, one side of the heat exchanger is mounted on the side wall of the water tank, and the valve group structure is arranged on a side of the heat exchanger away from the water tank.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present application, a water inlet pipe assembly and a water outlet pipe assembly are provided in the water tank, the water inlet pipe assembly is located in the upper area of ​​the water tank, and the water outlet pipe assembly is located in the lower area of ​​the water tank; In the height direction, the heat exchanger is located between the water outlet pipe assembly and the water inlet pipe assembly, the first inlet is located below the heat exchanger, and the first outlet is located above the heat exchanger.

[0021] In the heat exchange system of the technical solution of the present invention, the functional modules of the heat exchanger and the valve group structure are arranged centrally, and the valve group structure integrates the water inlet, water outlet and water replenishment functions, which can eliminate the redundant space occupied by the scattered pipelines and independent valves in the related technology, improve the compactness of the structural layout of the heat exchange system, reduce the occupied space, and is conducive to realizing the miniaturization of the overall volume of the water heater. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention 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, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a heat exchange system of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of an embodiment; Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the valve group structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve group structure in an embodiment of the present invention after the water replenishment control component and the constant temperature control component are hidden; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A full cross-sectional view of an embodiment; Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of a heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of the water heater of the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of the reference numerals in the attached drawings:

[0025] The realization, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments

[0026] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] It should be noted that if there are directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present invention, then the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0028] At the same time, the meaning of "and / or" or "and / or" appearing throughout the text is that it includes three solutions. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that satisfies both A and B at the same time.

[0029] In addition, if there are descriptions such as "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, then the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that those of ordinary skill in the art can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions appears to be contradictory or unable to be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0030] Traditional storage water heaters usually heat the water in the inner tank with a heater and directly supply it to users for use. However, this method has problems such as a large volume of the inner tank occupying a lot of space and being prone to bacterial growth.

[0031] In related technologies, a heat exchange type electric water heater with heat exchange pipes arranged in the inner tank is adopted to realize the application of live water heating, so that the water use water circuit is not in direct contact with the water stored in the inner tank, improving the water use quality. However, arranging heat exchange pipes in the inner tank has a relatively high installation and fixation difficulty, and various pipelines and control valves need to be set. Moreover, the distribution of various control valves and pipelines is relatively scattered. For example, various pipelines are separately connected to the heat exchanger, and various control valves are separately arranged at different flow channels, resulting in a large occupied space and an increase in the overall volume of the water heater.

[0032] Therefore, the present invention proposes a heat exchange system 100, which is applied to a water heater and aims to integrate the relevant pipelines and control valve structures connected to the heat exchanger 1 into an integral valve group structure 2. By directly assembling the integral valve group structure 2 with the heat exchanger 1, the overall structural layout can be simplified, the occupied space in the water heater can be reduced, and it is beneficial to realize the miniaturization of the volume of the water heater. Hereinafter, the structure of the heat exchange system 100 will be described by way of examples. Among them, the water heater is taken as an example of a heat exchange type water heater, and the water tank 200 has a water tank water inlet and a water tank water outlet, and the heat exchanger 1 has a water use water circuit. For the convenience of position and direction description, taking the installation state where the water heater is hung on the installation wall surface (such as a wall surface) as an example, among them, the height direction of the water heater is the direction extending upward along the installation wall surface, the width direction of the water heater is the left-right direction when facing the installation wall surface, and the thickness direction of the water heater is the normal direction of the installation wall surface.

[0033] As Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 7 shown, the heat exchange system 100 includes a heat exchanger 1 and a valve group structure 2.

[0034] The heat exchanger 1 is internally provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel that are in heat exchange connection. The first flow channel has a first inlet 101 and a first outlet 102, and the second flow channel has a second inlet 103 and a second outlet 104. The first inlet 101 is used to communicate with the water outlet of the water tank 200, and the first outlet 102 is used to communicate with the water inlet of the water tank 200; the valve group structure 2 includes a valve body 21 and a water replenishment control component 22. The valve body 21 is provided with an inlet flow channel 211, an outlet flow channel 212, a cold water inlet 201 and a hot water outlet 202. The inlet flow channel 211 communicates the cold water inlet 201 with the second inlet 103, and the outlet flow channel 212 communicates the second outlet 104 with the hot water outlet 202; the water replenishment control component 22 is provided with a water replenishment port 203 for communicating with the water tank 200, and the water replenishment control component 22 is configured to conduct or block the inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203.

[0035] In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 1 is externally disposed outside the water tank 200 of the water heater. The first flow channel in the heat exchanger 1 communicates with the inner cavity of the water tank 200 to form a water circulation loop in the water tank 200. The second inlet 103 of the second flow channel in the heat exchanger 1 communicates with the water inlet flow channel 211 of the valve body 21, and the second outlet 104 communicates with the water outlet flow channel 212 of the valve body 21. The cold water inlet 201 of the water inlet flow channel 211 is used to connect to a cold water inlet pipe (such as a tap water pipe), and the hot water outlet 202 of the water outlet flow channel 212 is used to connect to a water using terminal (such as a shower head, a faucet, etc.). That is, the second flow channel in the heat exchanger 1 is a part of the water using water circuit. Thus, heat exchange can be realized without direct contact between the water using water circuit and the water in the water tank 200, and the function of heating and using live water can be achieved. Compared with directly using the water that has been heated multiple times in the water tank 200, the water using quality is effectively improved. In addition, since the heat exchanger 1 is externally disposed outside the water tank 200 of the water heater, compared with internally disposing the heat exchanger 1 in the water tank 200, the installation position and fixing method of the heat exchanger 1 are more flexible and simple. For example, it can be disposed inside the water heater casing, such as above, below or on the side of the water tank 200; for example, it can also be disposed outside the water heater casing, such as near the casing or near the water using terminal. Thus, the installation and fixing difficulty of the heat exchanger 1 is simplified, and the assembly efficiency is improved. Optionally, the heat exchanger 1 can specifically be implemented by using a plate heat exchanger 1 or a shell and tube heat exchanger 1, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel provided inside it can form a heat conduction interface through metal plates or tube walls. The connection between the first flow channel and the water tank 200 can be realized by using structures such as flange connection, threaded interface or quick joint, etc., reducing the scattered layout of the external circulation pipeline.

[0036] The valve group structure 2 includes a valve body 21 and a water replenishment control assembly 22. Inside the valve body 21, there is a water inlet flow channel 211 connected to the second inlet 103 and a water outlet flow channel 212 connected to the second outlet 104. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is used to control the on-off of the water inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, realizing the switching between the water usage mode and the water replenishment mode of the water heater: When in the water usage mode, the water replenishment control assembly 22 blocks the water inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203. The hot water in the water tank 200 enters the first flow channel through the first inlet 101, exchanges heat with the cold water in the second flow channel, and then returns to the water tank 200 from the first outlet 102; the cold water flowing in from the cold water inlet 201 can flow through the second flow channel to exchange heat with the hot water in the first flow channel, and then flows out from the hot water outlet 202 to be used at the water usage terminal. When in the water replenishment mode, the water usage terminal is closed, and the water replenishment control assembly 22 conducts the water inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, enabling the water flowing in from the cold water inlet 201 to enter the water tank 200 for water replenishment. It can be understood that this valve group structure 2 integrates the functional modules for controlling water flow and water replenishment. During application, only the valve group structure 2 needs to be directly installed with the corresponding interfaces in the heat exchanger 1, making the water replenishment control assembly 22, the water flow channels, and the heat exchanger 1 form a compact layout. Optionally, the valve body 21 can be an integrally formed structure or a structure in which separate parts are fixed together, and the structure of the valve body 21 can be realized by injection molding or machining. Optionally, the cold water inlet 201 can adopt a quick connector; optionally, the hot water outlet 202 can adopt a quick connector.

[0037] The purpose of the water replenishment control assembly 22 is to be able to control the on-off of the water inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203. It can be understood that the water replenishment control assembly 22 can be connected to the water inlet flow channel 211. For example, the water replenishment control assembly 22 can be a control structure arranged inside the water inlet flow channel 211. At this time, the water replenishment port 203 can be formed on the side wall of the water inlet flow channel 211. In this way, the water replenishment control assembly 22 can realize the switching between the water replenishment mode and the water usage mode by opening or closing the water replenishment port 203; or, the water replenishment control assembly 22 can be arranged on a branch of the water inlet flow channel 211. At this time, the water replenishment control assembly 22 can realize the switching between the water replenishment mode and the water usage mode by controlling the on-off of the branch. During actual application, a tee structure or a bypass flow channel can be adopted to avoid the space occupation caused by an independent water replenishment pipe 221 path. Optionally, the water replenishment port 203 can adopt an external interface.

[0038] In summary, in the technical solution of the present invention for the heat exchange system 100, the functional modules of the heat exchanger 1 and the valve group structure 2 are centrally arranged. The valve group structure 2 integrates the functions of water inlet, water outlet, and water replenishment, can eliminate the redundant space occupied by the scattered pipelines and independent valves in the related art, improve the structural layout compactness of the heat exchange system 100, reduce the occupied space, and is beneficial to realizing the miniaturization of the overall volume of the water heater.

[0039] Please refer toFigure 1 and Figure 2 , in an embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure 2 is disposed on the side of the heat exchanger 1.

[0040] It can be understood that the water tank 200 is generally in a rectangular box structure, and the water tank inlet and the water tank outlet are arranged on the side surface in the width direction of the water tank 200. In order to facilitate connection with the water tank inlet and the water tank outlet, the heat exchanger 1 can be arranged on one side in the width direction of the water tank 200, so as to reduce the height dimension of the water heater, and at the same time, the connection path between the heat exchanger 1 and the water tank 200 can be shortened, improving the compactness.

[0041] In this embodiment, by integrating the valve group structure 2 on the side of the heat exchanger 1, the lateral side space of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively utilized, and the height occupied space can be reduced. Optionally, the valve group structure 2 can be arranged on the side of the heat exchanger 1 away from the water tank 200, or can be arranged on the side of the heat exchanger 1 close to the water tank 200.

[0042] As an example, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 , the heat exchanger 1 is a plate heat exchanger; the valve group structure 2 is located on one side in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger 1. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the thickness direction of the plate heat exchanger 1 is consistent with the width direction of the water heater. The plate heat exchanger 1 includes a plurality of heat exchange plates stacked along its thickness direction, and a heat exchange flow channel is formed between every two adjacent heat exchange plates. One of the adjacent two heat exchange flow channels is a first flow channel, and the other is a second flow channel. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are arranged alternately along its thickness direction. The first inlet 101, the first outlet 102, the second inlet 103, and the second outlet 104 are located on the side wall in the thickness direction of the plate heat exchanger 1. The valve group structure 2 is located on one side in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger 1, that is, on one side in the width direction of the water heater, improving the compactness of the structural layout. At the same time, it is more convenient for disassembly and maintenance.

[0043] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 , the first inlet 101, the first outlet 102, the second inlet 103, and the second outlet 104 are on the same side of the heat exchanger 1 as the valve group structure 2.

[0044] In this embodiment, by arranging the first inlet 101, the first outlet 102, the second inlet 103, and the second outlet 104 of the heat exchanger 1 on the same side of the heat exchanger 1 as the valve group structure 2, the distance between the valve group structure 2 and each inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively shortened, reducing the connection distance, making the overall lateral dimension smaller, and avoiding the problems of complex overall structure and low space utilization rate caused by the scattered pipeline connections when each inlet and outlet is located on different sides of the heat exchanger 1.

[0045] To further improve the compactness of the overall structural layout, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 6 , in an embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component 22 is disposed opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1.

[0046] As can be seen from the foregoing, the valve group structure 2 is located at the side of the heat exchanger 1. It can be understood that the valve group structure 2 can be located directly on the side or obliquely on the side of the heat exchanger 1. In this embodiment, by disposing the water replenishment control component 22 opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1, that is, the water replenishment control component 22 is located directly on the side of the heat exchanger 1, the space at the side of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively utilized, achieving the purpose of reducing the height dimension of the whole machine.

[0047] Optionally, the water replenishment port 203 of the water replenishment control component 22 can be oriented towards the water tank 200 of the water heater, or can be oriented towards the front or back of the water heater.

[0048] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 7 , in an embodiment of the present application, in the flow path of the water inlet flow channel 211, the water replenishment control component 22 is located at the upstream position of the second inlet 103.

[0049] With such a design, the water replenishment control component 22 is disposed in the middle section of the water inlet flow channel 211, at a position between the cold water inlet 201 and the second inlet 103 of the water inlet flow channel 211. Compared with the method of disposing the water replenishment control component 22 on the downstream extended flow path of the water inlet flow channel 211 at the second inlet 103, this embodiment effectively shortens the length of the water inlet flow channel 211, reduces the volume of the valve body 21, and makes the layout of the valve group structure 2 at the side of the heat exchanger 1 more compact.

[0050] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6 , the first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 are respectively disposed at the diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104 are respectively disposed at the other diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, wherein the second inlet 103 and the first inlet 101 are respectively disposed at both ends in the height direction of the heat exchanger 1; the water inlet flow channel 211 extends from the side of the first inlet 101 away from the second inlet 103 along the height direction of the heat exchanger 1 to be connected to the second inlet 103, and the water replenishment control component 22 is located between the first inlet 101 and the second inlet 103.

[0051] It can be understood that the center line of the first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 is arranged to cross the center line of the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104, the water inlet channel 211 extends in the height direction, the cold water inlet 201 is located below the heat exchanger 1, the water outlet channel 212 extends in the height direction, and the hot water outlet 202 is located below the heat exchanger 1, so as to facilitate the external connection of the cold water inlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe. The water replenishment control component 22 is located between the first inlet 101 and the second inlet 103, so that the water replenishment control component 22 is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1, does not occupy the space on both sides of the height direction of the heat exchanger 1, and reduces the height size of the water heater.

[0052] Further, the second inlet 103 is located above the first inlet 101 , and the first outlet 102 is located above the second outlet 104 .

[0053] With this design, water in the first flow channel enters from the lower left side wall of the heat exchanger 1 and flows out from the upper right side, and water in the second flow channel enters from the upper left side wall of the heat exchanger 1 and flows out from the lower right side, so that the water flow direction in the first flow channel and the water flow direction in the second flow channel are countercurrent, which can effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency and speed up the preparation of hot water.

[0054] For further information, see Figures 1 to 4 The valve group structure 2 also includes a first connecting pipe 24 arranged at the first inlet 101 , the outer wall of the first connecting pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the valve body 21 , and the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe 24 is used to connect the first flow channel with the water tank 200 .

[0055] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the second inlet 103 is located above the first inlet 101, and the water inlet channel 211 of the valve body 21 extends along the height direction of the heat exchanger 1. It can be understood that the water inlet channel 211 extends upward from the bottom of the first inlet 101 to the second inlet 103 above it. In this embodiment, by arranging the first connecting pipe 24 at the first inlet 101, the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe 24 is communicated with the first channel, and the outer wall of the first connecting pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the valve body 21. On the one hand, it can play a role in strengthening the support of the valve body 21 and improve the reliability of the integrated structure of the valve body 21 and the heat exchanger 1. On the other hand, it can ensure the isolation of the first channel and the water inlet channel 211, and prevent the water channel in the water tank 200 from flowing in series with the water-using water channel.

[0056] Optionally, the first connecting pipe 24 has two pipe sections connected at an angle, one pipe section is connected to the first inlet 101 perpendicular to the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, and the other pipe section is connected to the end of the previous pipe section away from the first inlet 101 and extends in a direction parallel to the side wall of the heat exchanger 1. The connecting corner of the two pipe sections is fixed to the valve body 21. Optionally, the pipe opening of the first connecting pipe 24 is a quick connector.

[0057] See alsoFigures 1 to 4 , in some embodiments, a second connecting pipe 25 connected to the valve body 21 may also be provided at the second inlet 103. The second connecting pipe 25 communicates the second inlet 103 with the water inlet flow channel 211. Structurally speaking, the second connecting pipe 25 can play a role in supporting and fixing the valve body 21. Optionally, the supporting effects of the second connecting pipe 25 and the first connecting pipe 24 on the valve body 21 can enable the water inlet flow channel 211 to extend along the height direction of the heat exchanger 1 and be arranged substantially parallel to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1, making the spatial arrangement of the valve body 21 and the heat exchanger 1 more regular. At the same time, the supporting effects of the first connecting pipe 24 and the second connecting pipe 25 on the valve body 21 make the valve body 21 and the heat exchanger 1 arranged at intervals, and also provide sufficient installation space for the installation of the water replenishment control assembly 22, avoiding the water replenishment control assembly 22 being too close to the heat exchanger 1 and being affected by high temperature to control the performance.

[0058] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 and Figure 7 , in an embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control assembly 22 includes a water replenishing pipe 221, a solenoid valve 222 and a check valve 223. The water replenishing pipe 221 is provided with a water replenishing port 203 and communicates with the water inlet flow channel 211; the solenoid valve 222 is arranged on the water replenishing pipe 221 for controlling the on-off of the water replenishing pipe 221; the check valve 223 is arranged on the water replenishing pipe 221 and is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 222 for unidirectionally conducting the flow channel from the water inlet flow channel 211 to the water replenishing port 203.

[0059] This embodiment exemplifies the specific structure of the water replenishment control assembly 22. Through the combined action of the solenoid valve 222 and the check valve 223, it is realized that in the water replenishment mode, the water in the water tank 200 is prevented from flowing back into the water inlet flow channel 211. Specifically, the water replenishing pipe 221 communicates with the water inlet flow channel 211, which is equivalent to a bypass branch of the water inlet flow channel 211. The solenoid valve 222 and the check valve 223 are both arranged on the water replenishing pipe 221, and the check valve 223 is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 222. The solenoid valve 222 plays a role in controlling the on-off of the water path of the water replenishing pipe 221, and the check valve 223 plays a role in unidirectionally conducting the water path from the water inlet flow channel 211 to the water replenishing port 203 when the solenoid valve 222 is opened, avoiding water backflow. Optionally, the solenoid valve 222 can be selected as a normally closed solenoid valve 222, which is closed during the normal water use state of the water heater and opened when the water tank 200 needs to be replenished. Such a design has a better anti-water-backflow effect compared with a water replenishing valve that only uses a single control valve to control the on-off.

[0060] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 and Figure 7 , in an embodiment of the present application, the valve body 21 is further provided with a bypass flow channel 213 that communicates the water inlet flow channel 211 with the water outlet flow channel 212. A constant temperature control assembly 23 is arranged on the bypass flow channel 213, and the constant temperature control assembly 23 is used for adjusting the water flow rate passing through the bypass flow channel 213.

[0061] In this embodiment, by providing a bypass flow channel 213 connecting the inlet water flow channel 211 and the outlet water flow channel 212, the cold water in the inlet water flow channel 211 can be mixed into the hot water in the outlet water flow channel 212, preventing the water temperature flowing out from the hot water outlet 202 of the outlet water flow channel 212 from being overheated, so as to make the water temperature for use more comfortable. Specifically, a constant temperature control component 23 is provided on the bypass flow channel 213, which can adjust the water flow rate of the bypass flow channel 213, that is, adjust the amount of cold water mixed into the outlet water flow channel 212, and improve the user's water use comfort. Optionally, the constant temperature control component 23 can be a proportional valve, and the proportional valve is configured with a stepper motor to achieve adjustment, with higher adjustment accuracy.

[0062] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 , in an embodiment of the present application, the inlet water flow channel 211 and the outlet water flow channel 212 are arranged in parallel at intervals and both extend along the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, and the bypass flow channel 213 is vertically connected to the inlet water flow channel 211 and the outlet water flow channel 212.

[0063] With such a design, the inlet water flow channel 211, the outlet water flow channel 212 and the bypass flow channel 213 form a substantially "H" - shaped structure, which can reduce the length of the bypass pipe, so that the cold water in the inlet water flow channel 211 can be quickly transported to the outlet water flow channel 212 through the shorter bypass flow channel 213 to be mixed with the hot water in the outlet water flow channel 212, thereby ensuring a faster bypass response speed and a more accurate bypass ratio. And the shortening of the length of the bypass flow channel 213 is beneficial to improving the structural stability of the entire valve body 21, avoiding the bypass flow channel 213 from deforming after long - term use and having an adverse impact on the bypass ratio and the bypass response speed. This overall structure is arranged on one side of the heat exchanger 1, and the bypass flow channel 213 extends along the thickness direction of the water heater, making full use of the space on the side of the heat exchanger 1.

[0064] In one embodiment, the constant temperature control component 23 is arranged below the heat exchanger 1. With such a design, the space below the heat exchanger 1 can be fully utilized, reducing the lateral size of the whole machine. Optionally, the inlet water flow channel 211 and the outlet water flow channel 212 extend downward and protrude from the lower surface of the heat exchanger 1, and the bypass flow channel 213 is connected to the parts of the inlet water flow channel 211 and the outlet water flow channel 212 located below the heat exchanger 1. At this time, the constant temperature control component 23 is installed on the side of the bypass flow channel 213 facing directly below the heat exchanger 1 to make full use of the area below the heat exchanger 1.

[0065] In one embodiment, the constant temperature control assembly 23 is disposed opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1. Such a design can make full use of the space on the side of the heat exchanger 1 and reduce the overall height dimension of the machine. Optionally, the water outlet channel 212 can extend upward from the second outlet 104, and the bypass channel 213 is connected to the part of the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212 corresponding to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1. The constant temperature control assembly 23 is installed on the bypass channel 213 and is opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1.

[0066] Please refer to Figure 7 , in one embodiment of the present application, a water flow sensor 3 is provided at the water inlet channel 211 near the cold water inlet 201. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, and the bypass channel 213 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3.

[0067] In this embodiment, the valve body 21 serves as the installation carrier of the water flow sensor 3, making the integration degree of the valve group structure 2 higher. By providing the water flow sensor 3 at the cold water inlet 201, the monitoring of the cold water inlet flow rate can be realized. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, and the bypass channel 213 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, effectively improving the control accuracy of the water replenishment flow rate and the bypass ratio.

[0068] The present invention also proposes a water heater. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 7 , the water heater includes a water tank 200, a heater 400, and a heat exchange system 100. The specific structure of the heat exchange system 100 refers to the above embodiment. Since this water heater adopts all the technical solutions of the above all embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here one by one. Among them, the heater 400 is installed in the water tank 200 for heating the water in the water tank 200; the heat exchange system 100 is disposed on one side in the width direction of the water tank 200. The first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 are both communicated with the water tank 200, so that the first flow channel forms a circulation loop with the inner cavity of the water tank 200, and the water replenishment port 203 is connected to the circulation loop through a pipeline.

[0069] Optionally, the heater 400 can be disposed outside or inside the water tank 200 to heat the water in the water tank 200. The heat exchange system 100 is disposed on one side in the width direction of the water tank 200, and can make full use of the space in the width direction of the water heater to arrange the heat exchanger 1 and the valve group structure 2. The water tank 200 and the first flow channel form a circulation loop, and a driving component (such as a water pump 300) is provided on the circulation loop to realize the circulation flow of driving the water in the water tank 200 from the water outlet of the water tank 200 through the first flow channel back to the water inlet of the water tank 200; the water inlet flow channel 211 of the valve group structure 2, the second flow channel of the heat exchanger 1, and the water outlet flow channel 212 of the valve group structure 2 are sequentially connected to form the water using water path of the water heater. Through heat exchange between the second flow channel and the first flow channel, the cold water in the water using water path absorbs the heat of the hot water in the first flow channel and then becomes hot water, which flows out from the hot water outlet 202 to the water using terminal for the user to use, realizing the function of heating and using live water.

[0070] The water replenishing port 203 of the water replenishing control assembly 22 is connected to the circulation loop through a pipeline. It can be understood that the water replenishing port 203 can be directly connected to the water tank 200 through a pipeline to realize the function of directly replenishing water into the water tank 200; or, the water replenishing port 203 can be connected to the first inlet 101 through a pipeline, so that the replenishing water flow can flow through the first flow channel and the first outlet 102 into the water tank 200 to realize the function of indirectly replenishing water into the water tank 200; or, the water replenishing port 203 can be connected to the position in the circulation loop close to the heat exchanger 1 through a pipeline.

[0071] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 1 is disposed outside the water tank 200. Compared with the method in the related art of disposing the heat exchange tube inside the water tank 200, the installation position and fixing method of this heat exchanger 1 are more flexible and simple. For example, it can be disposed inside the electric water heater casing, such as above, below or on the side of the water tank 200, etc.; for example, it can also be disposed outside the electric water heater casing, such as near the casing or near the water using terminal, etc. In this way, the installation and fixing difficulty of the heat exchanger 1 is simplified, and the assembly efficiency is improved.

[0072] In an embodiment of the present application, one side of the heat exchanger 1 is installed on the side wall of the water tank 200, and the valve group structure 2 is disposed on the side of the heat exchanger 1 away from the water tank 200. With such a setting, the horizontal space inside the water heater can be fully utilized, and the height dimension can be reduced.

[0073] In an embodiment of the present application, a water inlet pipe assembly 510 and a water outlet pipe assembly 520 are provided in the water tank 200. The water inlet pipe assembly 510 is located in the upper region of the water tank 200, and the water outlet pipe assembly 520 is located in the lower region of the water tank 200; in the height direction, the heat exchanger 1 is located between the water outlet pipe assembly 520 and the water inlet pipe assembly 510, the first inlet 101 is located below the heat exchanger 1, and the first outlet 102 is located above the heat exchanger 1.

[0074] With such an arrangement, the water flow entering from the water inlet assembly 510 can squeeze the water in the lower region of the water tank 200 out from the water outlet assembly 520 into the circulation loop to be heated by the heater 400, so that the water in the water tank and the water in the circulation loop are forced to convect, improving the heating efficiency of the circulation water path, and further improving the heat exchange efficiency and accelerating the preparation of hot water. In addition, in this embodiment, the water outlet assembly 520 is located in the lower region of the water tank 200, and the first inlet 101 is located at the lower position of the heat exchanger 1, effectively shortening the length of the connecting pipe section connecting the water outlet assembly 520 and the first inlet 101, and effectively saving the layout space; correspondingly, the water inlet assembly 510 is located in the upper region of the water tank 200, and the first outlet 102 is located at the upper position of the heat exchanger 1, effectively shortening the length of the connecting pipe section connecting the water inlet assembly 510 and the first outlet 102, and effectively saving the layout space.

[0075] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields, is included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system, characterized in that, Comprising: A heat exchanger, which is internally provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel that are in heat exchange connection. The first flow channel has a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second flow channel has a second inlet and a second outlet. Both the first inlet and the first outlet are used to communicate with the water tank of the water heater; and A valve group structure, including a valve body and a water replenishment control component. The valve body is provided with a water inlet flow channel, a water outlet flow channel, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet. The water inlet flow channel communicates the cold water inlet with the second inlet, and the water outlet flow channel communicates the second outlet with the hot water outlet. The water replenishment control component is provided with a water replenishment port for communicating with the water tank, and the water replenishment control component is configured to conduct or block the water inlet flow channel and the water replenishment port.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water replenishment control component is connected to the water inlet flow channel, and the valve group structure is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet and the second outlet are located on the same side of the heat exchanger as the valve group structure.

4. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 4, wherein In the flow path of the water inlet flow channel, the water replenishment control component is located at the upstream position of the second inlet.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 5, wherein The first inlet and the first outlet are respectively arranged at the diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively arranged at the other diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet and the first inlet are respectively arranged at both ends in the height direction of the heat exchanger; The water inlet flow channel extends along the height direction of the heat exchanger from the side of the first inlet departing from the second inlet to be connected with the second inlet, and the water replenishment control component is located between the first inlet and the second inlet.

7. The heat exchange system according to claim 6, wherein The second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet.

8. The heat exchange system according to claim 6, wherein The valve group structure further includes a first connecting pipe arranged at the first inlet. The outer wall of the first connecting pipe is fixedly connected with the valve body, and the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe is used to communicate the first flow channel with the water tank.

9. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger; the valve group structure is located on one side in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger.

10. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The water replenishment control component includes: A water replenishment pipe, which is provided with the water replenishment port and is communicated with the water inlet flow channel; An electromagnetic valve, which is arranged on the water replenishment pipe and is used to control the on-off of the water replenishment pipe; and A one-way valve, which is arranged on the water replenishment pipe and is located on the downstream side of the electromagnetic valve to unidirectionally conduct the flow channel from the water inlet flow channel to the water replenishment port.

11. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The valve body is further provided with a bypass flow channel that communicates the water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel. A constant temperature control component is arranged on the bypass flow channel, and the constant temperature control component is used to adjust the water flow rate passing through the bypass flow channel.

12. The heat exchange system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The constant temperature control component is arranged below the heat exchanger; or, the constant temperature control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchange system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel are arranged in parallel at intervals and both extend along the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the bypass flow channel is vertically connected to the water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel.

14. A water heater, characterized in that, Comprising: A water tank; A heater, which is installed in the water tank and is used to heat the water in the water tank; And The heat exchange system as described in any one of claims 1 to 13 is arranged on the outside of the water tank in the width direction; the first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to the water tank so that the first flow channel and the inner cavity of the water tank form a circulation loop, and the water replenishment port is connected to the circulation loop through a pipe.

15. The water heater according to claim 14, characterized in that, One side of the heat exchanger is installed on the side wall of the water tank, and the valve group structure is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger away from the water tank.

16. The water heater according to claim 14, characterized in that, A water inlet pipe assembly and a water outlet pipe assembly are provided in the water tank, wherein the water inlet pipe assembly is located in the upper area of ​​the water tank, and the water outlet pipe assembly is located in the lower area of ​​the water tank; In the height direction, the heat exchanger is located between the water outlet pipe assembly and the water inlet pipe assembly, the first inlet is located below the heat exchanger, and the first outlet is located above the heat exchanger.

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