Heat exchange system and water heater

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat exchange system and a water heater, which relate to the technical field of water heaters. The heat exchange system includes a heat exchanger and a valve group structure. The heat exchanger is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel connected in a heat exchange manner. 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. The first inlet and the first outlet are both used to communicate with the water tank of the water heater. The valve group structure includes a valve body and a water replenishment control assembly. The valve body is provided with an inlet flow channel, an outlet flow channel, a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet. The inlet flow channel connects the cold water inlet with the second inlet, and the outlet flow channel connects the second outlet with the hot water outlet. The water replenishment control assembly is provided with a water replenishment port. The water replenishment control assembly is configured to connect or block the inlet flow channel and the water replenishment port. The technical solution of the present invention can improve the compactness of the water path layout of the heat exchange system, reduce the occupied space, and facilitate the miniaturization of the water heater.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Traditional storage water heaters usually heat the water in the tank with a heater and then directly supply it to users. This method has problems such as the tank being large in size, taking up a lot of space, and being prone to breeding bacteria.

[0003] In the related art, a heat exchanger with an independent flow channel is provided to prevent the water channel from directly exchanging heat with the water in the tank, thereby achieving the function of heating the living water for use; however, in this solution, various pipelines and control valves need to be provided, and the distribution of various control valves and pipelines is relatively scattered, resulting in the water heater occupying a larger overall space. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main purpose of the present invention is to propose a heat exchange system, which aims to improve the compactness of the water path arrangement of the heat exchange system, reduce the occupied space, and facilitate the miniaturization of the water heater.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the heat exchange system proposed in the present invention includes:

[0006] a heat exchanger having a first flow channel and a second flow channel connected in heat exchange relation, the first flow channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, the second flow channel having a second inlet and a second outlet, the first inlet and the first outlet both being used to communicate with a water tank of the water heater; and

[0007] The valve group structure includes a valve body and a water replenishment control component. The valve body is provided with a water inlet channel, a water outlet channel, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet. The water inlet channel connects the cold water inlet with the second inlet, and the water outlet channel connects 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. The water replenishment control component is configured to conduct or block the water inlet channel and the water replenishment port.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component is connected to the water inlet channel, and the valve group structure is provided on the side of the heat exchanger.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present application, the first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, the second outlet, and the valve group structure are located on the same side of the heat exchanger.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present application, in the flow path of the water inlet channel, the water replenishment control component is located upstream of the second inlet.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present application, the first inlet and the first outlet are respectively provided at diagonal positions on the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively provided at another diagonal position on the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet and the first inlet are respectively provided at two ends in the height direction of the heat exchanger;

[0013] 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.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present application, the second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component includes:

[0018] a water supply pipe, provided with the water supply port and connected to the water inlet channel;

[0019] a solenoid valve, provided in the water supply pipe, for controlling the on-off of the water supply pipe; and

[0020] A one-way valve is provided in the water supply pipe and is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve, and is used for unidirectionally guiding the flow channel from the water inlet channel to the water supply port.

[0021] 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.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present application, 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] To achieve the above objectives, the present application further provides a water heater, comprising:

[0025] water tank;

[0026] a heater, installed in the water tank, for heating the water in the water tank; and

[0027] The above-mentioned heat exchange system is arranged on one side 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 replenishing port is connected to the circulation loop through a pipe.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present application, one side of the heat exchanger is mounted on a side wall of the water tank, and the valve group structure is provided on a side of the heat exchanger facing away from the water tank.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present application, 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;

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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. 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 facilitate the miniaturization of the overall volume of the water heater. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. 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 any creative work.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a heat exchange system of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the valve group in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] 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;

[0037] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A full cross-sectional view of an embodiment;

[0038] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure of the heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the water circuit structure of the water heater of the present invention.

[0040] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0041]

[0042] The purpose, features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), such directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0045] At the same time, the meaning of "and / or" or "and / or" appearing in the full text includes three options. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes option A, or option B, or an option in which both A and B are satisfied.

[0046] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, 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 number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features specified as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in this field can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0047] Traditional storage water heaters usually heat the water in the tank with a heater and then directly supply it to users. However, this method has problems such as the tank being large in size and taking up a lot of space, and being prone to bacterial growth.

[0048] In related technologies, live water heating is achieved by using heat exchange electric water heaters with heat exchange tubes arranged in the inner tank. This prevents direct contact between the water supply and the water stored in the inner tank, improving water quality. However, installing and securing the heat exchange tubes in the inner tank is difficult and requires the installation of various pipelines and control valves. These control valves and pipelines are relatively dispersed. For example, each pipeline is separately connected to the heat exchanger, and each control valve is separately arranged in different flow channels. This results in a large space occupation and an increase in the overall size of the water heater.

[0049] To this end, the present invention proposes a heat exchange system 100 for use in a water heater. This system integrates the associated piping and control valve structures connected to a heat exchanger 1 into a single valve assembly structure 2. By directly assembling the integrated valve assembly structure 2 with the heat exchanger 1, the overall structural layout can be simplified, reducing the space occupied within the water heater and facilitating miniaturization of the water heater. The structure of the heat exchange system 100 will be described below using an embodiment. A heat exchange water heater is used as an example. A water tank 200 has a water inlet and a water outlet, and the heat exchanger 1 has a water supply path. For ease of illustration of position and orientation, the water heater is mounted on a mounting surface (e.g., a wall). The height of the water heater is defined as the direction extending upward along the mounting surface, the width of the water heater is defined as the left-right direction when facing the mounting surface, and the thickness of the water heater is defined as the normal direction to the mounting surface.

[0050] like Figures 1 to 3 as well as Figure 7 As shown, the heat exchange system 100 includes a heat exchanger 1 and a valve group structure 2.

[0051] The heat exchanger 1 is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel connected in a heat exchange manner. 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 a water inlet flow channel 211, a water outlet flow channel 212, a cold water inlet 201 and a hot water outlet 202, the water inlet flow channel 211 connects the cold water inlet 201 and the second inlet 103, and the water outlet flow channel 212 connects the second outlet 104 and 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 water inlet flow channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203.

[0052] In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 1 is placed outside the water tank 200 of the water heater, and the first flow channel in the heat exchanger 1 is connected to 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 is connected to the water inlet channel 211 of the valve body 21, and the second outlet 104 is connected to the water outlet channel 212 of the valve body 21, wherein the cold water inlet 201 of the water inlet channel 211 is used to connect to the cold water inlet pipe (such as a tap water pipe), and the hot water outlet 202 of the water outlet channel 212 is used to connect to a water terminal (such as a shower, a faucet, etc.), that is, the second flow channel in the heat exchanger 1 is part of the water use water channel. In this way, the water use water channel can achieve heat exchange without direct contact with the water in the water tank 200, thereby realizing the function of heating living water for use. Compared with directly using the water that has been heated multiple times in the water tank 200, the water quality is effectively improved. In addition, the heat exchanger 1 is placed outside the water tank 200 of the water heater. Compared with the heat exchanger 1 built into 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 set inside the water heater casing, such as above, below or on the side of the water tank 200; for example, it can also be set outside the water heater casing, such as near the casing or near the water terminal. In this way, the difficulty of installing and fixing the heat exchanger 1 is simplified, and the assembly efficiency is improved. Optionally, the heat exchanger 1 can be implemented by a plate heat exchanger 1 or a shell and tube heat exchanger 1, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel arranged therein can form a heat conduction interface through a metal plate or a pipe wall. The connection between the first flow channel and the water tank 200 can be achieved by a flange connection, a threaded interface, or a quick connector, etc., to reduce the scattered layout of the external circulation pipeline.

[0053] The valve group structure 2 includes a valve body 21 and a water replenishment control component 22, wherein the valve body 21 is provided with a water inlet channel 211 connected to the second inlet 103 and a water outlet channel 212 connected to the second outlet 104, and the water replenishment control component 22 is used to control the on-off of the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, so as to realize the switching between the water use mode and the water replenishment mode of the water heater: when in the water use mode, the water replenishment control component 22 blocks the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, and the hot water in the water tank 200 enters the first channel through the first inlet 101, exchanges heat with the cold water in the second 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 channel and exchange heat with the hot water in the first channel, and then flow out from the hot water outlet 202 to the water use terminal for use. When in water replenishment mode, the water terminal is closed, and the water replenishment control component 22 connects the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, so that the water flowing in from the cold water inlet 201 enters the water tank 200 for water replenishment. It can be understood that the valve group structure 2 integrates the functional modules of controlling water flow and water replenishment. When used, it is only necessary to directly install the valve group structure 2 with the corresponding interface in the heat exchanger 1, so that the water replenishment control component 22, the water flow channel and the heat exchanger 1 form a compact layout. Optionally, the valve body 21 can be an integrally formed structure or a split structure fixed as an integral structure, which can be achieved by injection molding or machining the valve body 21 structure. Optionally, the cold water inlet 201 can adopt a quick interface; optionally, the hot water outlet 202 can adopt a quick interface.

[0054] The purpose of the water replenishment control component 22 is to be able to control the on-off of the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203. It can be understood that the water replenishment control component 22 can be connected to the water inlet channel 211. For example, the water replenishment control component 22 can be a control structure arranged inside the water inlet channel 211. In this case, the water replenishment port 203 can be formed on the side wall of the water inlet channel 211. In this way, the water replenishment control component 22 can switch between the water replenishment mode and the water use mode by opening or closing the water replenishment port 203; or, the water replenishment control component 22 can be arranged on a branch of the water inlet channel 211. In this case, the water replenishment control component 22 can switch between the water replenishment mode and the water use mode by controlling the on-off of the branch. In actual application, a three-way structure or a bypass channel can be used to avoid the space occupied by the independent water replenishment pipe 221. Optionally, the water replenishment port 203 can adopt an external interface.

[0055] In summary, in the heat exchange system 100 of the technical solution of the present invention, the functional modules of the heat exchanger 1 and the valve group structure 2 are arranged centrally, and the valve group structure 2 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 100, reduce the occupied space, and facilitate the miniaturization of the overall volume of the water heater.

[0056] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure 2 is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger 1.

[0057] It can be understood that the water tank 200 is roughly a rectangular box structure, and the water tank inlet and the water tank outlet are arranged on the side of the water tank 200 in the width direction. In order to facilitate the connection with the water tank inlet and the water tank outlet, the heat exchanger 1 can be set on one side of the water tank 200 in the width direction to reduce the height of the water heater. At the same time, the connection path between the heat exchanger 1 and the water tank 200 can be shortened to improve compactness.

[0058] In this embodiment, by integrating the valve assembly structure 2 into the side of the heat exchanger 1, the lateral space of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively utilized, reducing the height occupied. Optionally, the valve assembly structure 2 can be installed on the side of the heat exchanger 1 away from the water tank 200, or it can be installed on the side of the heat exchanger 1 close to the water tank 200.

[0059] As an example, Figure 1 and Figure 6 The heat exchanger 1 is a plate heat exchanger; the valve group structure 2 is located on one side of the heat exchanger 1 in the thickness direction. 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, with heat exchange channels formed between each two adjacent heat exchange plates, one of which is a first channel and the other is a second channel, and the first and second channels 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 of the plate heat exchanger 1 in the thickness direction. The valve group structure 2 is located on one side of the heat exchanger 1 in the thickness direction, that is, on one side of the water heater in the width direction, which improves the compactness of the structural layout and makes it easier to disassemble and maintain.

[0060] Further, see Figure 1 、 Figure 2 as well as Figure 6 The first inlet 101 , the first outlet 102 , the second inlet 103 , and the second outlet 104 are located on the same side of the heat exchanger 1 as the valve group structure 2 .

[0061] In this embodiment, by locating the first inlet 101, the first outlet 102, the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104 of the heat exchanger 1 and the valve group structure 2 on the same side of the heat exchanger 1, the distance between the valve group structure 2 and the various inlets and outlets of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively shortened, the connection distance can be shortened, and the overall lateral size can be smaller, avoiding the problem of complex overall structure and low space utilization caused by the dispersed pipeline connections when the various inlets and outlets are located on different sides of the heat exchanger 1.

[0062] To further improve the compactness of the overall structural layout, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 as well as Figure 6 In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component 22 is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger 1.

[0063] As can be seen from the foregoing, the valve group structure 2 is located on the side of the heat exchanger 1. It can be understood that the valve group structure 2 can be located on the right side or oblique side of the heat exchanger 1. In this embodiment, by arranging the water replenishment control component 22 relative to the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, that is, the water replenishment control component 22 is located on the right side of the heat exchanger 1, the space on the side of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively utilized to achieve the purpose of reducing the height of the entire machine.

[0064] Optionally, the water replenishment port 203 of the water replenishment control assembly 22 may be disposed toward the water tank 200 of the water heater, or may be disposed toward the front or back of the water heater.

[0065] See also Figures 1 to 3 as well as Figure 7 In one embodiment of the present application, in the flow path of the water inlet channel 211 , the water replenishment control component 22 is located upstream of the second inlet 103 .

[0066] In this design, the water replenishment control component 22 is arranged in the middle section of the water inlet channel 211, between the cold water inlet 201 and the second inlet 103 of the water inlet channel 211. Compared with the method of setting the water replenishment control component 22 on the downstream extension flow path of the water inlet channel 211 at the second inlet 103, this embodiment effectively shortens the length of the water inlet channel 211 and reduces the volume of the valve body 21, making the layout of the side valve group structure 2 of the heat exchanger 1 more compact.

[0067] Specifically, if Figure 6 The first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 are respectively arranged at diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, and the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104 are respectively arranged at another diagonal position of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, wherein the second inlet 103 and the first inlet 101 are respectively arranged at the two ends in the height direction of the heat exchanger 1; the water inlet 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 connect with the second inlet 103, and the water replenishment control component 22 is located between the first inlet 101 and the second inlet 103.

[0068] As will be appreciated, the centerline connecting the first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 intersects the centerline connecting the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104. The water inlet channel 211 extends vertically, with the cold water inlet 201 located below the heat exchanger 1. The water outlet channel 212 also extends vertically, and the hot water outlet 202 is located below the heat exchanger 1 to facilitate external connection to the cold water inlet and hot water outlet pipes. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is located between the first inlet 101 and the second inlet 103, so that it is positioned opposite the sidewalls of the heat exchanger 1, eliminating the space on either side of the heat exchanger 1 in the vertical direction and reducing the overall height of the water heater.

[0069] Furthermore, the second inlet 103 is located above the first inlet 101 , and the first outlet 102 is located above the second outlet 104 .

[0070] With this design, the 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 the 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.

[0071] Further, see Figures 1 to 4 The valve group structure 2 also includes a first connecting pipe 24 provided 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 and the water tank 200 .

[0072] As can be seen from the aforementioned embodiment, 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. Therefore, it can be understood that the water inlet channel 211 extends upward from below the first inlet 101 to the second inlet 103 above it. In this embodiment, a first connecting pipe 24 is provided at the first inlet 101, the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe 24 is connected to the first channel, and the outer wall of the first connecting pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the valve body 21. This not only strengthens the support of the valve body 21 and improves the reliability of the integrated structure of the valve body 21 and the heat exchanger 1, but also ensures the isolation of the first channel from the water inlet channel 211, preventing the water channel within the water tank 200 from flowing into the water channel.

[0073] Optionally, the first connecting pipe 24 has two pipe sections connected at an angle, one of which is connected to the first inlet 101 perpendicular to the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, and the other is connected to the end of the first pipe section facing 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.

[0074] See also Figures 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 connects the second inlet 103 with the water inlet channel 211. Structurally, the second connecting pipe 25 can support and secure the valve body 21. Optionally, the support provided by the second connecting pipe 25 and the first connecting pipe 24 on the valve body 21 can allow the water inlet channel 211 to extend along the height of the heat exchanger 1 and be arranged approximately parallel to the sidewall of the heat exchanger 1, thereby further regularizing the spatial arrangement of the valve body 21 and the heat exchanger 1. Furthermore, the support provided by the first connecting pipe 24 and the second connecting pipe 25 on the valve body 21 allows the valve body 21 to be spaced apart from the heat exchanger 1, providing sufficient space for the installation of the water replenishment control assembly 22, thereby preventing the water replenishment control assembly 22 from being too close to the heat exchanger 1 and affecting its control performance due to high temperatures.

[0075] See also Figures 1 to 5 as well as Figure 7 In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component 22 includes a water replenishment pipe 221, a solenoid valve 222 and a one-way valve 223. The water replenishment pipe 221 is provided with a water replenishment port 203 and is connected to the water inlet channel 211; the solenoid valve 222 is provided in the water replenishment pipe 221 to control the on-off of the water replenishment pipe 221; the one-way valve 223 is provided in the water replenishment pipe 221 and is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 222 to unidirectionally guide the flow channel from the water inlet channel 211 to the water replenishment port 203.

[0076] This embodiment illustrates the specific structure of the water replenishment control assembly 22. The solenoid valve 222 and the check valve 223 work together to prevent water from flowing from the water tank 200 into the water inlet channel 211 during the water replenishment mode. Specifically, the water replenishment pipe 221 communicates with the water inlet channel 211, acting as a bypass branch for the water inlet channel 211. Both the solenoid valve 222 and the check valve 223 are located in the water replenishment pipe 221, with the check valve 223 located downstream of the solenoid valve 222. The solenoid valve 222 controls the flow of water from the water inlet channel 211 to the water replenishment port 203. When the solenoid valve 222 is open, the check valve 223 provides one-way flow from the water inlet channel 211 to the water replenishment port 203, preventing water from flowing into the water tank 200. Alternatively, the solenoid valve 222 can be a normally closed solenoid valve 222, closed during normal water use and opened when the water tank 200 requires water replenishment. This design is more effective in preventing water leakage than a water supply valve that only uses a single control valve to control the on and off state.

[0077] See also Figures 1 to 5 as well as Figure 7 In one embodiment of the present application, the valve body 21 is further provided with a bypass channel 213 connecting the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212, and a constant temperature control component 23 is provided on the bypass channel 213, which is used to adjust the water flow rate of the bypass channel 213.

[0078] In this embodiment, a bypass channel 213 is provided connecting the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212, allowing cold water from the water inlet channel 211 to mix with the hot water from the water outlet channel 212, preventing the water from overheating at the hot water outlet 202 of the water outlet channel 212 and ensuring a more comfortable water temperature. Specifically, a thermostatic control assembly 23 is provided on the bypass channel 213 to adjust the water flow rate through the bypass channel 213, that is, to adjust the amount of cold water mixed into the water outlet channel 212, thereby improving user water comfort. Optionally, the thermostatic control assembly 23 can be a proportional valve equipped with a stepper motor for adjustment, which provides higher adjustment precision.

[0079] See also Figures 1 to 5 In one embodiment of the present application, the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and both extend along the side wall of the heat exchanger 1 , and the bypass channel 213 vertically connects the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212 .

[0080] With this design, the water inlet channel 211, the water outlet channel 212, and the bypass channel 213 form a roughly "H"-shaped structure, which can reduce the length of the bypass pipe, allowing the cold water in the water inlet channel 211 to be quickly transported to the water outlet channel 212 through the shorter bypass channel 213 to mix with the hot water in the water outlet channel 212, thereby ensuring a faster bypass response speed and a more accurate bypass ratio. In addition, the shortened length of the bypass channel 213 helps to improve the structural stability of the entire valve body 21, preventing the bypass channel 213 from deforming after long-term use, which would adversely affect the bypass ratio and bypass response speed. This overall structure is located on one side of the heat exchanger 1, and the bypass 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.

[0081] In one embodiment, the thermostatic control assembly 23 is located below the heat exchanger 1. This design fully utilizes the space below the heat exchanger 1 and reduces the lateral dimensions of the entire unit. Optionally, the inlet and outlet channels 211 and 212 extend downward and protrude from the lower surface of the heat exchanger 1, and the bypass channel 213 connects to the portion of the inlet and outlet channels 211 and 212 located below the heat exchanger 1. In this case, the thermostatic control assembly 23 is installed on the side of the bypass channel 213 facing directly below the heat exchanger 1, fully utilizing the area below the heat exchanger 1.

[0082] In one embodiment, the thermostatic control assembly 23 is positioned opposite the side wall of the heat exchanger 1. This design fully utilizes the space on the side of the heat exchanger 1 and reduces the overall height of the heat exchanger. Optionally, the outlet channel 212 can extend upward from the second outlet 104, with the bypass channel 213 connected to the portion of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1 corresponding to the inlet channel 211 and the outlet channel 212. The thermostatic control assembly 23 is mounted on the bypass channel 213, opposite the side wall of the heat exchanger 1.

[0083] See also Figure 7 In one embodiment of the present application, a water flow sensor 3 is provided in the water inlet channel 211 near the cold water inlet 201, the water replenishment control component 22 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, and the bypass channel 213 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3.

[0084] In this embodiment, valve body 21 serves as a mounting support for water flow sensor 3, further enhancing the integration of valve assembly structure 2. By installing water flow sensor 3 at cold water inlet 201, the cold water inlet flow rate can be monitored. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is located downstream of water flow sensor 3, and the bypass flow channel 213 is also located downstream of water flow sensor 3, effectively improving the control accuracy of the replenishment flow rate and the bypass ratio.

[0085] The present invention also provides a water heater, see 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 is similar to the above-mentioned embodiments. Since the present water heater adopts all the technical solutions of all the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and will not be described in detail here. Among them, the heater 400 is installed in the water tank 200 and is used to heat the water in the water tank 200; the heat exchange system 100 is arranged on one side of the water tank 200 in the width direction. The first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 are both connected to the water tank 200, so that the first flow channel and the inner cavity of the water tank 200 form a circulation loop. The water replenishment port 203 is connected to the circulation loop through a pipeline.

[0086] Optionally, the heater 400 can be externally or internally mounted on the water tank 200 to heat the water within the water tank 200. The heat exchange system 100 is located on one side of the water tank 200 in the width direction, making full use of the width-wise space of the water heater to arrange the heat exchanger 1 and valve assembly structure 2. The water tank 200 and the first flow channel form a circulation loop. A driving component (e.g., a water pump 300) is provided in the circulation loop to drive the water within the water tank 200 from the water outlet of the water tank 200 back through the first flow channel to the water inlet of the water tank 200. The inlet flow channel 211 of the valve assembly structure 2, the second flow channel of the heat exchanger 1, and the outlet flow channel 212 of the valve assembly structure 2 are sequentially connected to form the water supply path of the water heater. Through heat exchange between the second flow channel and the first flow channel, the cold water in the water supply path absorbs the heat of the hot water in the first flow channel and becomes hot water, which then flows out of the hot water outlet 202 to the water terminal for use by the user, thereby heating the running water.

[0087] The water replenishment port 203 of the water replenishment control component 22 is connected to the circulation loop through a pipeline. It can be understood that the water replenishment port 203 can be directly connected to the water tank 200 through a pipeline to achieve the function of directly replenishing water in the water tank 200; or, the water replenishment port 203 can be connected to the first inlet 101 through a pipeline, so that the replenishment water flow can flow into the water tank 200 through the first flow channel and the first outlet 102, thereby achieving the function of indirectly replenishing water in the water tank 200; or, the water replenishment port 203 can be connected to a position near the heat exchanger 1 in the circulation loop through a pipeline.

[0088] It should be noted that the heat exchanger 1 in this embodiment is installed outside the water tank 200. Compared with the related art method of internally installing the heat exchange tubes in the water tank 200, the installation location and fixing method of this heat exchanger 1 are more flexible and simple. For example, it can be installed inside the electric water heater casing, such as above, below, or to the side of the water tank 200; for example, it can also be installed outside the electric water heater casing, such as near the casing or near the water terminal. This simplifies the installation and fixing difficulty of the heat exchanger 1 and improves assembly efficiency.

[0089] In one embodiment of the present application, one side of the heat exchanger 1 is mounted on the side wall of the water tank 200, and the valve group structure 2 is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger 1 away from the water tank 200. This arrangement can fully utilize the horizontal space in the water heater and reduce the height dimension.

[0090] In one 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 area of ​​the water tank 200, and the water outlet pipe assembly 520 is located in the lower area 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.

[0091] With this arrangement, the water flow entering from the water inlet pipe assembly 510 can squeeze the water in the lower area of ​​the water tank 200 from the water outlet pipe assembly 520 into the circulation loop to be heated by the heater 400, thereby forcing convection between the water in the water tank and the water in the circulation loop, thereby improving the heating efficiency of the circulating water circuit, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency and accelerating the preparation of hot water. In addition, in this embodiment, the water outlet pipe assembly 520 is located in the lower area 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 pipe assembly 520 and the first inlet 101, effectively saving layout space; correspondingly, the water inlet pipe assembly 510 is located in the upper area 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 pipe assembly 510 and the first outlet 102, effectively saving layout space.

[0092] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made by using the contents of the present invention description and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system, characterized in that: include: a heat exchanger having a first flow channel and a second flow channel connected in heat exchange relation, the first flow channel having a first inlet and a first outlet, the second flow channel having a second inlet and a second outlet, the first inlet and the first outlet both being used to communicate with a water tank of the electric water heater; and The valve group structure includes a valve body and a water replenishment control assembly, wherein 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, wherein the water inlet flow channel connects the cold water inlet with the second inlet, and the water outlet flow channel connects the second outlet with the hot water outlet; the water replenishment control assembly is provided with a water replenishment port for communicating with the water tank, and the water replenishment control assembly is configured to connect or block the water inlet flow channel and the water replenishment port; The water replenishment control assembly is connected to the water inlet channel, the heat exchanger and the valve group structure are centrally arranged, and the valve group structure is provided on the side of the heat exchanger; The first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, the second outlet and the valve group structure are located on the same side of the heat exchanger; The first inlet and the first outlet are respectively provided at diagonal positions on the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively provided at another diagonal position on the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet and the first inlet are respectively provided at two ends in the height direction of the heat exchanger; the water inlet channel extends from the side of the first inlet away from the second inlet along the height direction of the heat exchanger to connect with the second inlet; The valve body is further provided with a bypass channel connecting the water inlet channel and the water outlet channel; The water inlet channel is provided with the cold water inlet, a connection port for connecting with the water replenishment control component, a connection port for connecting with the bypass channel, and a connection port for connecting with the second inlet along its height direction.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 2, wherein: In the flow path of the water inlet channel, the water replenishment control component is located upstream of the second inlet.

4. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, wherein: The water replenishment control component is located between the first inlet and the second inlet.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 4, wherein: The second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The valve group structure further includes a first connecting pipe provided at the first inlet, an outer wall of the first connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the valve body, and an inner cavity of the first connecting pipe is used to connect the first flow channel and the water tank.

7. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger; the valve group structure is located on one side of the heat exchanger in the thickness direction.

8. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The water replenishment control component includes: a water supply pipe, provided with the water supply port and connected to 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 provided in the water supply pipe and is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve, and is used for unidirectionally guiding the flow channel from the water inlet channel to the water supply port.

9. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The bypass flow channel is provided with a constant temperature control component, and the constant temperature control component is used to adjust the water flow rate of the bypass flow channel.

10. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein: 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.

11. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein: The water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel are arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and both extend along the side wall of the heat exchanger. The bypass flow channel vertically connects the water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel.

12. A water heater, characterized in that: include: water tank; a heater, installed in the water tank, for heating the water in the water tank; as well as The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 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 replenishing port is connected to the circulation loop through a pipe.

13. The water heater according to claim 12, wherein: 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.

14. The water heater according to claim 12, wherein: 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.

Images