Heat exchange system and water heater

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat exchange system and water heater, relating 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 an inlet flow channel, an outlet flow channel, a water inlet, a water outlet, and a thermostatic control component. The inlet flow channel connects the water inlet with the second inlet, and the outlet flow channel connects the second outlet with the water outlet. The thermostatic control component is configured to adjust the outlet water temperature. The technical solution of the present invention can improve the compactness of the arrangement of the pipelines and control valves in the water heater, 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] 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

[0003] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange system, which aims to improve the compactness of the arrangement of pipes and control valves in a water heater, reduce the occupied space, and facilitate the miniaturization of the water heater.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the heat exchange system proposed in the present invention includes:

[0005] 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

[0006] The valve group structure has an inlet channel, an outlet channel, a water inlet, a water outlet and a constant temperature control component. The inlet channel connects the water inlet with the second inlet, the outlet channel connects the second outlet with the water outlet, and the constant temperature control component is configured to adjust the outlet water temperature of the water outlet.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure is provided on a side of the heat exchanger.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure includes a first valve body and a second valve body arranged at intervals, the first valve body is provided with the water inlet channel and the water inlet, and the second valve body is provided with the water outlet channel and the water outlet;

[0009] The constant temperature control component connects the first valve body and the second valve body, and communicates the water inlet flow channel with the water outlet flow channel.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, the first valve body and the second valve body are both extended along the height direction of the heat exchanger, and the first valve body and the second valve body are spaced apart in the width direction of the heat exchanger.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present application, the water inlet is provided at the lower end of the first valve body, and the water outlet is provided at the lower end of the second valve body;

[0012] The thermostatic control assembly is located in the lower area of ​​the valve group structure.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present application, in the height direction of the heat exchanger, the constant temperature control component is located below the heat exchanger.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present application, the constant temperature control component is opposite to the lower surface of the heat exchanger.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present application, the constant temperature control component includes:

[0016] a bypass pipe connected between the first valve body and the second valve body to connect the water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel; and

[0017] A flow control component is provided in the bypass pipe and / or in a portion of the water outlet flow channel that is upstream of the bypass pipe.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present application, the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger; the first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, the second outlet and the valve group structure are located on one side of the heat exchanger in the thickness direction.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present application, the first inlet and the first outlet are respectively provided at diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively provided at another diagonal position of the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet;

[0020] The water inlet channel extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger to be connected to the second inlet, and the water outlet channel extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger to be connected to the second outlet.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure also includes a water replenishment control component connected to the water inlet channel, and the water replenishment control component is provided with a water replenishment port for communicating with the water tank of the water heater, and the water replenishment control component is configured to connect or block the water inlet channel and the water replenishment port.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component includes:

[0023] a water supply pipe, provided with the water supply port and connected to the water inlet channel;

[0024] a solenoid valve, provided in the water supply pipe, for controlling the on-off of the water supply pipe; and

[0025] The second 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.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger, or the water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the lower surface of the heat exchanger.

[0027] To achieve the above objectives, the present application further provides a water heater, comprising:

[0028] water tank;

[0029] a heater, configured to heat the water in the water tank; and

[0030] The heat exchange system is arranged on one side of the water tank in the width direction, and the first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to the water tank to form a circulation loop.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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;

[0033] 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 at the lower part of the heat exchanger, and the first outlet is located at the upper part of the heat exchanger.

[0034] 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 flow channel, the water outlet flow channel and the constant temperature control component, integrating the functions of heat exchange, water inlet, water outlet and constant temperature control. It 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

[0035] 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.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a heat exchange system of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of an embodiment;

[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of another embodiment from another perspective;

[0039] Figure 4 for Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of an embodiment;

[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the valve group structure in the embodiment;

[0041] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the heat exchange system of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of another embodiment from another perspective;

[0043] Figure 8 for Figure 6 A side view of an embodiment;

[0044] Figure 9 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the valve group structure in the embodiment;

[0045] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of another embodiment of the heat exchange system of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A side view of an embodiment;

[0047] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the structure of the heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 13 It is a structural schematic diagram of the water heater of the present invention.

[0049] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0050]

[0051] 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

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] To this end, the present invention proposes a heat exchange system 100 for use in a water heater. The 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. The water heater is a water storage tank 200 having a water inlet and a water outlet. 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.

[0059] like Figures 1 to 4 、 Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the heat exchange system 100 includes a heat exchanger 1 and a valve group structure 2.

[0060] 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 and the first outlet 102 are both used to communicate with the water tank 200 of the water heater; the valve group structure 2 has an inlet flow channel 211, an outlet flow channel 212, a water inlet 201, a water outlet 202 and a constant temperature control component 23. The inlet flow channel 211 connects the water inlet 201 and the second inlet 103, and the outlet flow channel 212 connects the second outlet 104 and the water outlet 202. The constant temperature control component 23 is configured to adjust the outlet water temperature of the water outlet 202.

[0061] 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 group structure 2, and the second outlet 104 is connected to the water outlet channel 212 of the valve group structure 2, wherein the 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 water outlet 202 of the water outlet channel 212 is used to connect to the 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.

[0062] The valve assembly structure 2 includes an inlet channel 211 connected to the second inlet 103 and an outlet channel 212 connected to the second outlet 104. The inlet 201 of the inlet channel 211 is connected to a cold water inlet pipe (e.g., a tap), and the outlet 202 of the outlet channel 212 is connected to a water terminal (e.g., a showerhead, faucet, etc.). The thermostatic control assembly 23 adjusts the outlet temperature of the water at the outlet 202 to ensure that the water flowing out of the water terminal is at the desired temperature, thereby improving the user's water comfort. In this embodiment, the valve assembly structure 2 integrates the functional modules for water inlet, water outlet, and thermostatic control. In use, the valve assembly structure 2 only needs to be directly installed on the corresponding interface of the heat exchanger 1, resulting in a compact layout of the thermostatic control assembly 23, water flow channel, and heat exchanger 1. Optionally, the inlet 201 can use a quick-connect connector; optionally, the outlet 202 can use a quick-connect connector.

[0063] It can be understood that the specific structure of the constant temperature control component 23 can be determined according to actual conditions. For example, it can be a two-inlet and one-outlet mixing valve structure. In this way, the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212 are both connected to the inlet end of the constant temperature control component 23, and are mixed into a suitable temperature inside the constant temperature control component 23 and then flow out from the outlet end; for example, it can be a one-inlet and one-outlet flow control valve structure. In this way, the cold water in the water inlet channel 211 can be introduced into the water outlet channel 212 and mixed into a suitable temperature before flowing out.

[0064] 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 channel 211, the water outlet channel 212 and the constant temperature control component 23, integrating the functions of heat exchange, water inlet, water outlet and constant temperature control, and 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.

[0065] See also Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 8 as well as Figure 11 In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure 2 is arranged on the side of the heat exchanger 1.

[0066] It can be understood that the water tank 200 is roughly a rectangular box structure, and the water inlet and the water outlet of the water tank 200 are arranged on the side of the water tank 200 in the width direction. In order to facilitate the connection with the water inlet and the water outlet of the water tank 200, the heat exchanger 1 can be set on one side of the width direction of the water tank 200 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] As an example, see Figure 12The heat exchanger 1 is a plate heat exchanger 1; the valve assembly 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 the two adjacent heat exchange channels is a first channel, and the other is a second channel. The first channel and the second channel are arranged alternately along their 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 assembly 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.

[0069] Further, see Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 8 as well as Figure 11 The first inlet 101 , the first outlet 102 , the second inlet 103 , the second outlet 104 and the valve group structure 2 are located on one side of the heat exchanger 1 in the thickness direction.

[0070] 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.

[0071] Specifically, 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 is located above the first inlet 101, and the first outlet 102 is located above the second outlet 104; the water inlet channel 211 extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger 1 to connect with the second inlet 103, and the water outlet channel 212 extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger 1 to connect with the second outlet 104.

[0072] In this embodiment, the center line connecting the first inlet 101 and the first outlet 102 is arranged to intersect with the center line connecting the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104. The water inlet channel 211 extends in the height direction. The cold water inlet is located below the heat exchanger 1. The water outlet channel 212 extends in the height direction. The hot water outlet is located below the heat exchanger 1 to facilitate external connection of the cold water inlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe. Among them, the second inlet 103 is located above the first inlet 101, and the first outlet 102 is located above the second outlet 104. It can be understood that the water in the first channel enters from the lower left side of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1 and flows out from the upper right side, and the water in the second channel enters from the upper left side of the side wall of the heat exchanger 1 and flows out from the lower right side. The direction of the water flow in the first channel and the direction of the water flow in the second channel are countercurrent, which can effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency and speed up the preparation of hot water.

[0073] See also Figure 1 、 Figures 3 to 5 In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure 2 includes a first valve body 21A and a second valve body 21B arranged at intervals, the first valve body 21A is provided with a water inlet channel 211 and a water inlet 201, and the second valve body 21B is provided with a water outlet channel 212 and a water outlet 202; the constant temperature control component 23 connects the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, and connects the water inlet channel 211 with the water outlet channel 212.

[0074] It is understood that the first valve body 21A can be a hollow pipe structure, the water inlet channel 211 is the inner cavity of the first valve body 21A, and the water inlet 201 can be a port of the first valve body 21A. Alternatively, the first valve body 21A can be a metal pipe or a plastic pipe. The second valve body 21B can be a hollow pipe structure, the water outlet channel 212 is the inner cavity of the second valve body 21B, and the water outlet 202 can be a port of the second valve body 21B. Alternatively, the second valve body 21B can be a metal pipe or a plastic pipe. The first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B are spaced apart. On the one hand, this can separate the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212 to prevent cross-flow and inconvenience in controlling the outlet water temperature. On the other hand, it can better adapt to the flow path layout of the heat exchanger 1 and facilitate connection with the second inlet 103 and the second outlet 104. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B are spaced apart and can be fixed together by a connector to ensure the integrity of the valve group structure 2. Optionally, the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B may be an integrally formed structure or a separate fixedly connected structure, which may be realized by injection molding or machining.

[0075] In this embodiment, the thermostatic control assembly 23 connects the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, and connects the water inlet channel 211 with the water outlet channel 212. This function of mixing water and discharging water at a constant temperature can be achieved by adjusting the amount of cold water mixed from the water inlet channel 211 into the water outlet channel 212, or by adjusting the amount of hot water entering the mixing section of the water outlet channel 212. Structurally, the thermostatic control assembly 23 connects the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, forming a generally "H"-shaped structure, which effectively improves the structural reliability of the valve group structure 2.

[0076] Specifically, see Figures 1 to 7 The constant temperature control assembly 23 includes a bypass pipe 231 and a flow control component 232. The bypass pipe 231 is connected between the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, connecting the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212; the flow control component 232 is arranged in the bypass pipe 231 and / or in the water outlet channel 212 at a position upstream of the bypass pipe 231.

[0077] In this embodiment, a bypass channel 2311 is formed within the bypass pipe 231 to connect the water inlet channel 211 and the water outlet channel 212. This allows cold water in the water inlet channel 211 to mix with hot water in the water outlet channel 212, preventing the water flowing out of the water outlet 202 of the water outlet channel 212 from overheating, thereby ensuring a more comfortable water temperature. Optionally, the bypass pipe 231 can be integrally formed with the first valve body 21A and / or the second valve body 21B. When the bypass pipe 231 is integrally formed with one of the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, the port of the bypass pipe 231 can be connected to the other of the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B by cannulation.

[0078] The flow control component 232 is used to adjust the water flow rate at the pipe where it is located. In this embodiment, the flow control component 232 can be separately provided on the bypass pipe 231 to adjust the water flow rate of the bypass flow channel 2311, that is, to adjust the amount of cold water mixed into the outlet flow channel 212 from the water inlet flow channel 211; alternatively, the flow control component 232 can be separately provided in the outlet flow channel 212 at a position upstream of the bypass pipe 231. In this case, the flow control component 232 adjusts the flow rate of hot water in the outlet flow channel 212 on the upstream side of the bypass pipe 231, so that when the hot water after the flow rate adjustment flows to the bypass pipe 231, it can be mixed with the cold water flowing from the bypass pipe 231 and then flow out from the water outlet 202 of the outlet flow channel 212; alternatively, the flow control component 232 can be provided on both the bypass pipe 231 and the outlet flow channel 212 to coordinately control the flow rate of cold water and the flow rate of hot water to achieve constant temperature water outlet.

[0079] As an example, a mounting seat 2312 is provided on one side of the bypass pipe 231. The flow control component 232 includes a drive unit and a control valve core. The drive unit is mounted on the mounting seat 2312. The control valve core is located in the bypass flow channel 2311. The drive unit can drive the control valve core to move in the bypass flow channel 2311 to adjust the water flow rate of the bypass flow channel 2311. Alternatively, the drive unit can be a stepping motor.

[0080] Further, see Figure 4 A first one-way valve 233 is provided in the bypass pipe 231 for one-way conduction from the water inlet channel 211 to the water outlet channel 212. In this way, hot water in the water outlet channel 212 can be prevented from flowing into the water inlet channel 211.

[0081] See also Figures 1 to 5 In order to further improve the compactness of the layout, in one embodiment of the present application, the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B are both extended along the height direction of the heat exchanger 1, and the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the heat exchanger 1.

[0082] Such a design makes the shape of the valve group structure 2 more regular, which can fully utilize the height space of the water heater, reduce the width of the water heater, and improve installation adaptability.

[0083] As can be understood, the bypass pipe 231 extends along the width of the heat exchanger 1 and is vertically connected to the first valve body 21A and the second valve body 21B, forming a roughly "H"-shaped structure. This can reduce the length of the bypass pipe 231, 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 2311 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 2311 is conducive to improving the structural stability of the entire valve group structure 2, and preventing the bypass channel 2311 from deforming after long-term use, which would adversely affect the bypass ratio and bypass response speed. In addition, such a design can further reduce the width of the water heater.

[0084] See also Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 In one embodiment of the present application, 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 first valve body 21A, and the inner cavity of the first connecting pipe 24 is used to connect the first flow channel and the water tank 200.

[0085] 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 first valve body 21A extends along the height 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 communicates with the first channel, and the outer wall of the first connecting pipe 24 is fixedly connected to the first valve body 21A. This not only strengthens support for the first valve body 21A, improving the reliability of the integrated structure of the valve assembly structure 2 and the heat exchanger 1, but also ensures isolation between the first channel and the water inlet channel 211, preventing cross-flow between the water channel within the water tank 200 and the water supply channel. Optionally, the first connecting pipe 24 comprises 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 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 first valve body 21A. Optionally, the pipe opening of the first connecting pipe 24 is a quick-connect fitting.

[0086] See also Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 In some embodiments, a second connecting pipe 25 connected to the first valve body 21A may also be provided at the second inlet 103. This second connecting pipe 25 connects the second inlet 103 with the water inlet passage 211. Structurally, the second connecting pipe 25 can support and secure the first valve body 21A. Optionally, the support provided by the second connecting pipe 25 and the first connecting pipe 24 for the first valve body 21A can enable the water inlet passage 211 to extend along the height of the heat exchanger 1 and be arranged substantially parallel to the sidewalls of the heat exchanger 1, thereby further regularizing the spatial arrangement of the first valve body 21A and the heat exchanger 1.

[0087] See also Figures 1 to 5 In one embodiment of the present application, the water inlet 201 is provided at the lower end of the first valve body 21A, and the water outlet 202 is provided at the lower end of the second valve body 21B; the constant temperature control component 23 is located in the lower area of ​​the valve group structure 2.

[0088] This design allows the water heater to be mounted on a wall, making it easier to connect the water inlet 201 and outlet 202 at the lower end of the valve block structure 2 to the corresponding cold water inlet and outlet pipes, improving assembly efficiency. The thermostatic control assembly 23, located in the lower area of ​​the valve block structure 2, shortens the flow path between the bypass pipe 231 and the water outlet 202 in the outlet flow channel 212, thereby reducing heat loss when the mixed constant-temperature hot water reaches the water outlet 202. Furthermore, the thermostatic control assembly 23's location in the lower area of ​​the valve block structure 2 makes it easier for staff to inspect and maintain the system.

[0089] See also Figure 1 、 Figures 6 to 8 In one embodiment of the present application, in the height direction of the heat exchanger 1 , the constant temperature control component 23 is located below the heat exchanger 1 .

[0090] This design fully utilizes the space below the heat exchanger 1 and reduces the overall horizontal dimensions. Optionally, the inlet and outlet channels 211, 212 extend downward and protrude from the lower surface of the heat exchanger 1. The bypass pipe 231 connects to the inlet and outlet channels 211, 212 below the heat exchanger 1. In this case, the thermostatic control assembly 23 is mounted on the side of the bypass channel 2311 facing directly below the heat exchanger 1, fully utilizing the area below the heat exchanger 1.

[0091] Further, see Figures 6 to 8 The constant temperature control assembly 23 is opposite to the lower surface of the heat exchanger 1. Such an arrangement can further reduce the lateral size of the heat exchange system 100 and reduce the volume of the entire machine.

[0092] See also Figure 1 、 Figures 6 to 11 as well as Figure 13 In one embodiment of the present application, the valve group structure 2 also includes a water replenishment control component 22 connected to the water inlet channel 211. The water replenishment control component 22 is provided with a water replenishment port 203 for communicating with the water tank 200 of the water heater. The water replenishment control component 22 is configured to connect or block the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203.

[0093] In this embodiment, the water replenishment control component 22 is connected to the water inlet channel 211 and is used to control the connection between the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203, thereby switching the water heater between the water use mode and the water replenishment mode. When in the water use mode, the water replenishment control component 22 blocks the water inlet channel 211 and the water replenishment port 203. 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 water inlet 201 can flow through the second channel, exchange heat with the hot water in the first channel, and then flow out from the water outlet 202 to the water terminal for use. When in the 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, allowing the water flowing in from the water inlet 201 to enter the water tank 200 for replenishment.

[0094] The water replenishment control component 22 is installed at the water inlet channel 211, and its purpose 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 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 an independent water replenishment pipeline. Optionally, the water replenishment port 203 can adopt an external interface.

[0095] Specifically, the water replenishment control component 22 includes a water replenishment pipe 221, a solenoid valve 222 and a second 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 for controlling the on and off of the water replenishment pipe 221; the second one-way valve 223 is provided in the water replenishment pipe 221 and is located on the downstream side of the solenoid valve 222 for unidirectionally guiding the flow channel from the water inlet channel 211 to the water replenishment port 203.

[0096] This embodiment illustrates the specific structure of the water replenishment control assembly 22. The solenoid valve 222 and the second one-way 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 for the water inlet channel 211. Both the solenoid valve 222 and the second one-way valve 223 are located in the water replenishment pipe 221, with the second one-way 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 second one-way valve 223 provides one-way flow from the water inlet channel 211 to the water replenishment port 203, preventing water from flowing through 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 needs to replenish water. 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.

[0097] See also Figure 10 and Figure 11 In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control assembly 22 is disposed opposite the side wall of the heat exchanger 1. By disposing the water replenishment control assembly 22 opposite the side wall of the heat exchanger 1, that is, by locating the water replenishment control assembly 22 directly to the side of the heat exchanger 1, the space on the side of the heat exchanger 1 can be effectively utilized, thereby reducing the height of the entire device.

[0098] See also Figures 6 to 9In one embodiment of the present application, the water replenishment control assembly 22 is disposed opposite the lower surface of the heat exchanger 1. By disposing the water replenishment control assembly 22 below the heat exchanger 1, the space below the heat exchanger 1 is fully utilized, and the lateral protrusion of the water replenishment control assembly 22 from the heat exchanger 1 is reduced. This shortens the lateral dimensions of the heat exchange system 100, reduces the lateral dimensions of the entire unit, and thereby reduces the lateral space occupied.

[0099] In one embodiment of the present application, Figure 13 The water inlet channel 211 is provided with a water flow sensor 3 near the water inlet 201 , the water replenishment control component 22 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3 , and the bypass channel 2311 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3 .

[0100] In this embodiment, the valve seat serves as a mounting support for the water flow sensor 3, further enhancing the integration of the valve assembly structure 2. By installing the water flow sensor 3 at the water inlet 201, the cold water inlet flow rate can be monitored. The water replenishment control assembly 22 is located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, and the bypass flow channel 2311 is also located downstream of the water flow sensor 3, effectively improving the control accuracy of the water replenishment flow rate and the bypass ratio.

[0101] The present invention also provides a water heater, such as Figure 13 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. The heater 400 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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 water outlet 202 to the water terminal for use by the user, thereby heating the running water.

[0104] 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.

[0105] See also Figure 13 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.

[0106] 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, causing forced convection between the water in the water tank 200 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.

[0107] 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 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 a valve group structure comprising a water inlet flow channel, a water outlet flow channel, a water inlet, a water outlet, and a constant temperature control component, wherein the water inlet flow channel connects the water inlet with the second inlet, the water outlet flow channel connects the second outlet with the water outlet, and the constant temperature control component is configured to adjust the outlet water temperature of the water outlet; The valve group structure is centrally arranged with the heat exchanger and is provided on the side of the heat exchanger; the valve group structure includes a first valve body and a second valve body arranged at intervals, the first valve body is provided with the water inlet channel and the water inlet, and the second valve body is provided with the water outlet channel and the water outlet; The first inlet and the first outlet are respectively provided at diagonal positions of the side wall of the heat exchanger, and the second inlet and the second outlet are respectively provided at another diagonal position of the side wall of the heat exchanger, wherein the second inlet is located above the first inlet, and the first outlet is located above the second outlet; the water inlet channel extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger to connect with the second inlet, and the water outlet channel extends from the bottom of the heat exchanger to connect with the second outlet; 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 first valve body, and an inner cavity of the first connecting pipe is used to connect the first flow channel and the water tank.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The constant temperature control component connects the first valve body and the second valve body, and communicates the water inlet flow channel with the water outlet flow channel.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 2, wherein: The first valve body and the second valve body are both extended along the height direction of the heat exchanger, and the first valve body and the second valve body are spaced apart in the width direction of the heat exchanger.

4. The heat exchange system according to claim 3, wherein: The water inlet is provided at the lower end of the first valve body, and the water outlet is provided at the lower end of the second valve body; The thermostatic control assembly is located in the lower area of ​​the valve group structure.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 4, wherein: In the height direction of the heat exchanger, the constant temperature control component is located below the heat exchanger.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 5, wherein: The constant temperature control assembly is opposite to the lower surface of the heat exchanger.

7. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: The constant temperature control assembly includes: a bypass pipe connected between the first valve body and the second valve body to connect the water inlet flow channel and the water outlet flow channel; and A flow control component is provided in the bypass pipe and / or in a portion of the water outlet flow channel that is upstream of the bypass pipe.

8. 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 first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, the second outlet and the valve group structure are located on one side of the heat exchanger in the thickness direction.

9. The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The valve group structure also includes a water replenishment control component connected to the water inlet channel, the water replenishment control component is provided with a water replenishment port for communicating with the water tank of the water heater, and the water replenishment control component is configured to connect or block the water inlet channel and the water replenishment port.

10. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein: 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 on the water supply pipe, for controlling the on-off of the water supply pipe; and The second 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.

11. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein: The water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the side wall surface of the heat exchanger, or the water replenishment control component is arranged opposite to the lower surface of the heat exchanger.

12. A water heater, characterized in that: include: water tank; a heater, used 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 provided on one side in the width direction of the water tank, and the first inlet and the first outlet are both connected to the water tank to form a circulation loop.

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 at the lower part of the heat exchanger, and the first outlet is located at the upper part of the heat exchanger.

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